Brigid looked up in surprise as the doors to her chamber flew open and she found her eldest sister in the doorway. "Bronny, is everything a'right?" She'd been reading one of the King's many books, so she set it down gently and stood.

"I do not know Brigid." Bronwen whispered, and the emotion was raw and almost anguished.

Brigid hurried to her sister and took the other girl's hands into her own. "Yer hands are like ice dearheart. What is troubling ye?"

"The King…" Bronwen's voice trembled. "Brigid, I must tell ye something, and we must speak of it quickly before any or our sisters hear." At Brigid's worried nod Bronwen continued. "King Arthur has just informed me we are to be wed two weeks hence. At the meeting of the Clans when they come to bend their knees."

Brigid's eyes widened. "Married? You and the King? I…don't know what to say…did he tell ye why?" Brigid led her sister to the bed and the two sank onto the edge.

"Aye. I'll try ta remember his words…he said he would na leave it ta chance that I would be taken by the MacGregor, and he would not leave it ta chance that one of you would be taken or injured. He said that we would be wed and then together we would make matches for all of you. He said I was his and would stay his…." Bronwen's eyes had focused on the wall past Brigid. "Last evening he kissed me Brigid. He kissed me and it felt like nothing I'd ever felt before, and then after he told me we were to be wed, and we argued…he kissed me again, this time with anger, and again I couldn't help myself but ta kiss him back."

Brigid sat quietly as she contemplated Bronny's words. "Ye have feelings fer him."

Tears began to stream from Bronwen's eyes. "Aye, and I don't want ta. He does na love me."

Brigid leaned into her sister. "But Bronwen, he wants ye, and that's the beginning. You can make him love you Bronwen McCree."

"How? How could a man like Arthur, a king, ever love meh?" Insecurity and fear shone in her blue eyes.

Brigid shook her head gently. "Oh Bronny, how could he not? Yer as smart as they come, and beautiful to boot. Yer fierce and loyal, and ye care fer everyone around ye. Arthur obviously has some feelings fer ye if he worries so. He's a good man." Brigid brushed Bronwen's hair back from her face. "And ye will make him a good wife, and a fine Queen."

Bronwen hugged her sister tightly, and Brigid returned the embrace. "We'd better tell the others before they learn of it through other means."

Arthur had called his knights to the Round Table and they now sat waiting for him to speak. Most of them were curious; they had no idea what was going on in his head. They'd been shocked when Merlin had entered, but even that wasn't completely out of the norm these days as the older man acted as both advisor and liaison between Arthur and the Woad who still lived in the forest.

Finally Arthur stood and cleared his throat. "The other Northern Clans will be arriving in Camelot within the fortnight. And the MacGregors…they make camp and wait. I do not trust them. They will look for any weakness we will show."

"The MacGregor wants the McCree women." Lancelot murmured. "He will try to take them by force. They have no clan to protect them. Since they have sworn fealty to you are we to offer them protection?"

"I plan to do more than that. I am to marry. For the past while it has been brought to my attention that a King should not be alone. After the events of the past few days I have come to agree with this sentiment. Bronwen McCree and I will be married at the gathering of the clans. Once we are wed we will begin to make marital arrangements for her sisters. Not right away, but in time…I will not leave them to be taken by that man or his brood. Suffering will no longer be their fate. They have already had to endure far too much in their young lives." Anger rumbled through Arthur's words. "When they are my family, the King's family, the MacGregor will not think of taking them…and if he does he will feel my blade."

If they were shocked by Arthur's words they did not show it. He dismissed them and they filed out of the room. All except for Tristan. The scout sat quietly staring at his king.

"Does something trouble you my friend?" Arthur asked softly.

"I wish to make a request."

This surprised Arthur. Never in the years Arthur had known him had Tristan asked for anything. Even when he'd almost died at the hands of the Saxon leader Tristan had healed in silence. "Whatever you ask I shall try to give."