A/N – Anonymous reviews are now enabled. Reviews always welcomed and appreciated.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

What comes next...Read on.

Chapter 10 One hand tied behind his back

The next morning, Gwen knocked gently on the door to Tayla's chambers. Morgana had spoken to her about helping Tayla as Gwen had the experience to understand Tayla's injury. As she stepped through the door, she noted Tristan at the bedside, holding a book.

"Good morning Princess. My Lord," said Gwen.

"Good morning Gwen," replied Tayla with a smile. Gwen returned the smile easily with one of her own.

"Morgana sent me to help you this morning. Breakfast should be here soon and I would like to check the dressing on your wound before then, if I may," Gwen replied as she walked toward the bed and put down the medical kit Gaius had given her.

"Of course. Tristan, would you excuse us please?" Tayla asked him. He stood and placed the book down beside her bed.

"My Lady, Gwen," Tristan nodded to her and the Princess before heading to his room.

"Do you prefer Gwen or Guinevere?" Tayla asked as Gwen was changing the bandages.

"Which ever you wish, my Lady," Gwen replied.

"Please Gwen, I would like to know. I have noticed everyone but Arthur calls you Gwen. He has spoken of you many times in his letters, so I have heard you referred to more often as Guinevere. I would not like to intrude on something special," Tayla said gently, hoping to encourage Gwen to give her some clue as to her feelings for Arthur.

"I guess I prefer Gwen from most people," Gwen admitted, wondering just what Arthur had told her. Gwen felt her respect for the Princess grow at her concern over a simple servant's feelings.

"Gwen it is then," said Tayla with a smile.

By the time Gwen had finished, breakfast had arrived and they all settled down to eat.

"How long have you known the Prince?" Gwen asked, curious about the relationship. She noticed Tristan's interest sharpen at her question.

"Forever, it seems. My parents brought me here when I was a baby, but the first time I really remember was when I was about two. Arthur is only a year older so we spent time together, more than with my brothers who are quite a bit older. I can not remember how many times we have been here or Arthur and his father came to Dover. It is unfortunate that things have not worked out for more frequent visits over the last few years. I have missed him." Tayla said, a slight sadness tinting her smile.

"I can not imagine Arthur as a young boy," Gwen replied.

"He was very cute! We had lots of fun playing as children, being similar in age." At the look of disbelief on Gwen's face, Tayla chuckled. "I know, it is hard to believe. Arthur having fun. We used to get into so much mischief. Honestly, being an only son and only daughter had it's advantages back then. We got away with a lot. As we got older, the play changed a little but we still had fun and spent a lot of time together, even when Arthur was training. He actually taught me to use a sword. I remember one time, Morgana and I were training with him and..."

There was a knock on the door, interrupting her, and Tristan walked over to answer it.

"Lady Morgana," he said. "Welcome."

"Thank you Sir Tristan," Morgana replied with one of her dazzling smiles.

"Tayla, how are you this morning?" Morgana asked, joining her carefully on the bed.

"I am feeling much better today. Your timing is perfect. I was just about to tell Gwen about the time Arthur challenged us," Tayla replied, mischief filling her voice at the coming story.

Morgana laughed. "Are you sure Arthur wants you to tell that story?" she asked.

"What Arthur doesn't know,..."

"What Arthur doesn't know, what?" Arthur asked, interrupting Tayla, as he walked through the door, Merlin following close behind.

"What? No knocking Arthur? Shame." Arthur just looked at Tayla.

"What were you about to say Tayla, that you do not want me to know about?" Arthur asked, with a small amount of dread in his voice. Perhaps he should have done something else this morning.

"When you were being a prat and boasting that you could beat the two of us with one hand tied behind your back." Tayla gestured to Morgana as she spoke.

"Oh," Arthur said, knowing it was pointless to stop Tayla and Morgana telling this story. He would just have to be thankful that they had kept it to themselves for so long. "Please continue."

Merlin looked at him and Arthur just shrugged, so Merlin moved closer to the conversation so as not to miss any of the details.

"The last time I came to Camelot, I was fourteen I think, and Arthur was training Morgana and I with the sword. He made the mistake of saying that he was better than both of us combined. He then stupidly..."

"Ah hmm," interrupted Arthur.

"Well, do you have a better word for it?" asked Morgana. Tayla raised her eyebrows at him.

Arthur was quiet for a moment before saying "Yes ... Very stupidly." Tayla chuckled before continuing.

"very stupidly, challenged us. Needless to say, Arthur spent more time flat on his back on the ground. He eventually admitted he had been wrong." Gwen and Merlin both looked at him in disbeilef . It was rare that he admitted that.

"It was an unfair fight. You hadn't told me you were going to change weapons. If I had known I would never have said anything. Tayla is brutal with a staff, especially two small ones, Guinevere," Arthur defended himself. He heard Tristan smother a laugh.

"Of course I changed weapons. You were so stuck up and smug you needed to be taught a lesson. You did not say that I could not," Tayla said.

"Well, if you two want a rematch I am sure..."

"My Lord," interrupted Tristan, "before you say anymore perhaps you should know that the Princess has improved both her sword and staff skills over the last couple of years, more so the staff."

Arthur looked at him and then looked back to Tayla, she raised her eyebrows at him, "You were saying?" she prompted, mischief sparkling in her eyes. Arthur really thought he had learnt his lesson back then.

"Never mind," said Arthur. The three women and Merlin laughed at his response. He shook his head at them, but smiled, in spite of the humiliation he could still remember from that day. Arthur was pleased that she was getting better with the sword. He walked over and sat by Tristan allowing the three women to continue their conversation.

"Tristan?" Arthur said.

"Yes my Lord?" replied Tristan turning to face him.

"Was there a reason she was fighting with sword instead of staff? If she is so much better with them..." Arthur trailed off.

"Yes my Lord there was. As you know, the staff is more a defensive weapon. In the event that her life was at risk, she needed to be able to ... kill quickly. A staff can only do so much and given the circumstances, she agreed to carry her sword for the trip," Tristan explained.

"I understand. Though I am sure it did not please her to think about that possibility," Arthur replied, knowing how Tayla felt about the idea of killing something, let alone someone.

"No my Lord, it did not," Tristan replied.

Arthur looked over at Tayla, seeing her smiling and hearing Gwen laugh at something she said. He had hoped she would get on with Gwen, though he was a little unsure what Tayla would get up to. Arthur had asked her to behave, he had even said please. But something in the glint in Tayla's eye as she looked over at him and winked, made him wonder if it was pointless. At the same time though, his heart gave a funny little leap at the thought of her on his side fighting for Gwen. If only.

When Tayla showed signs of tiredness, Gwen ushered everyone out, except Arthur who was to stay with Tayla again. Tristan was going to get some fresh air, on the insistence of Tayla, and Morgana had agreed to show him around the castle and grounds. As Gwen passed Arthur, she stopped and turned to him.

"Yes Guinevere?" asked Arthur.

"I am very proud of you my Lord," she said.

"For what?" Arthur asked, confused.

"Admitting your stupidity," Gwen said with a smile and reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Arthur was stunned.

As Gwen pulled back, she looked up at him. "A reward my Lord, for such bravery," she said with a smile and then left the room, leaving him speechless, standing there looking at the closed door.

Tayla's laugh brought his attention back to the room. He walked over to her.

"Did you really need to bring up that story? It was humiliating enough when it was just you and Morgana who knew," Arthur said to her, though for some reason, he didn't seem to mind that much.

"It was worth it though, wasn't it? She did give you a kiss!" Tayla smiled. Ah, perhaps that was the reason why he didn't mind, Arthur thought with a smile.

"What are you up to, Princess?" Arthur asked her.

"Just finding ways to entertain myself, since I am stuck in bed. You wouldn't want me to get bored would you," Tayla replied, mischief making her eyes sparkle even with the tiredness that was in them.

Arthur shuddered at the thought. "No, I definintely would not want that," he said, resigned to the possibility of more embarassing stories from their childhood being explored. Better that than other things she was sure to think about to help keep her entertained.

Her laugh was cut off by a yawn and he smiled at her.

"Sleep well, Tayla. I have some paperwork to do, but I will be here if you need anything."

"Thank you Arthur," Tayla said sleepily.