(A/n hey just to say the first chapter was really the prologue showing us how Zala came into the story then I'm going to continue over the years until we get to the start of the film. If it looks like it is getting too long tell me and I'll start off with the film stuff in another story but I'll see. From now on, it will jump between Gawain's, Arthur's and Zala's P.O.V. Thanks for reading btw!)

Arthur

I found myself walking along the line of all the new boys who I had seen with Pelagius only yesterday. They all looked sour and I could understand why but didn't dare say anything; the Roman officer was still around. I stopped walking and looked along the line again.

"Em…well…hi." I cursed myself at the stupid line of welcome but regained my composure enough to speak again.

"My name is Artorius Castus and I am to be your commander." I cast a shifty glance at the Roman officer who nodded and marched off. I breathed a sigh of relief then turned to the knights with a smile.

"Well thankfully he's gone. May I please know your names?" I asked politely. The group seemed startled by this question as though they had never heard such politeness. They looked around at each other in shock. I thought, with bitterness, that they probably hadn't.

"I no want to go! Gawain!" I started and spun round to see a small girl, probably only three, being carted away by a tough Roman soldier.

"Zala!" Someone cried from behind me and a boy rushed past towards her. "Let her go!"

"Stay out of this boy. She is going to the servant quarters. Where she belongs. Now get back to your ranks." I was shocked but when I saw the boy was not going to give in easily and a few other boys behind me were shifting about as though about to move I decided to step in. The girl looked so young and frightened I suddenly felt an urge to protect her.

"Soldier! Please release that girl or I shall go straight to the commander about this." I said with as much confidence as I could muster, half drawing my sword to prove I was being serious. The soldier stopped and looked at me with shock. He muttered something under his breath but dropped the girl from his shoulder and put her in front of me.

"Thank you. You may go now." I glared at him as he left then looked down with a smile at the small girl by my feet. She was looking up at me wide eyed so I knelt down beside her.

"Hello there. What's your name?" I asked pleasantly. She stood staring at me for a few moments and I was about to ask again when she ran at me and flung her small arms round my neck. I was so startled I nearly fell but recovered enough to pat her back awkwardly.

"Thank you! Thank you vewy vewy much!" She squealed and I chuckled. I suddenly noticed that the boy who had run forward to her had walked up to us, and was looking at me with awe and something else I did not recognise. I stood up - after gently detaching the girl from me - and looked at him. He flushed slightly and stuttered as he spoke.

"Em…I…I just…wanted to say…thanks. She…She doesn't normally…go to strangers. She's my cousin," He added and I nodded to show I understood. The little girl ran to the boy and wrapped her arms round his leg.

"That boy saved me Gawain!" She said in her high-pitched voice. I chuckled and patted her curly black hair.

"So you're Gawain are you?" I asked with a slight smile. The boy flushed again and nodded. I stuck out my hand and smiled awkwardly as he took it.

"Me Zala! Me Zala!" cried the little girl and she too stuck out her hand, mimicking her cousin. I laughed and bent to shake it gently.

"Please to meet you Zala." She grinned at me and I couldn't help but chuckle. I turned to the other boys who were all looking rather shocked. Just as I went to open my mouth a small hand grasped mine and started pulling me forward.

"I'll show you! I'll show you!" Zala led me up to the boys and she went along the line, tugging at their shirts as she told me all their names. I was surprised she had remembered most of them though she did stumble at a few. I suddenly caught the eye of the boy right at the end as Zala pulled me along. He shrugged and looked at the ground but Zala tugged his hand and said with excitement.

"Lancelot! Lancelot! Spin me! Spin me!" I looked on with amusement as the boy flushed and muttered something about 'not right now' but the young girl persisted and she managed to make a small smile tug at his lips.

"Alright. Come here." Zala squealed with excitement and she rushed to his open arms. He picked her up and spun her round in circles making her squeal with delight. When he put her down she giggled making me smile. I looked up at the boy called Lancelot, who caught my eye and grinned and I knew then that we would be friends for a long time.

"What you name?" I felt a tug on my shirt and looked down to see Zala looking up at me curiously. All the boys were smiling now and the atmosphere was a lot more friendly. I realized that this little girl was the cause of it and my fondness for her grew rapidly as I bent down and said slowly.

"I'm Artorius." She looked down at the floor as though puzzling over something then looked up and said in a surprisingly serious voice.

"I just call you Arthur." I laughed, as did many of the other boys. She giggled as she ran round in a circle then ran up to Gawain who was smiling at her with amusement.

"Gawain I tired." I noticed that she did sound tired and immediately offered my room instead of sending her to the servants quarters. Gawain shook his head but smiled.

"Thank you but… would it be ok if she slept in my room?" He asked. I nodded slowly and he smiled at me before taking his leave, carrying the little girl - who I knew everyone here would die to protect - with him and my fondness for her grew even more as she gave us all a small, tired wave.