Thanks for all the continued reviews. They all equal love and virtual cookies. Can you tell it's the summer holidays? I'll be updating a bit more frequently than once a week now and i hope you'll enjoy what's in store for the final few chapters.

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Alethea could barely remember the previous evening's events but as she gradually left the world of dreams for one of reality, she found that she had just a bit of hangover from the amount of alcohol she'd consumed at the feast. Head muzzy, it took her a few moments to realise that the Prince was with her, kissing her awake. At this she panicked slightly, wondering just what exactly they had done. However, she need not have worried as she realised that they were both fully clothed and so nothing could have really happened. Her stomach lurched when she was told the time as she realised that she only had an hour before she was due to lunch with the King. The Prince duly left whilst Alethea sat up, trying to regain her balance and stop the room from swaying. She wondered if she'd be able to stomach any food and wished that tea had been discovered. A cup of tea was the English answer to everything, but alas, tea had not yet been found. Shame. It usually cured her hangivers. Sighing, she got off the bed and let her legs steady themselves before remembering what had happened last night.

She had a vague recollection of kneeling before the King with a load of speeches and cheering, and then dancing with Arthur before talking. The only problem was, she couldn't remember half of the conversation, nor just what honour the King had given her. Her head was like a sea of mud and would not give her the information she so dearly wanted. Hoping that it would all come back during the day and vowing never to drink so much wine again, she managed to get over to the basin of water and washed her face. Sleep gone from her eyes, she then turned to the matter of what to wear. She knew she was wearing the prettiest gown she owned but she didn't really want to wear the same gown two days going, even if it was the done thing here. What would Uther think if she turned up to all special events wearing the same gown? No, she needed to find something else to wear. Trying all of her dresses on and finding something wrong with each and every one of them, they piled up in a heap on the bed. Alethea sighed with frustration, wishing that she had some way of telling the time.

"My lady?" asked a girl, knocking on the door. Alethea was confused for a moment, wondering if the girl had gotten lost and was looking for Morgana. "Lady Alethea, can I come in?" Lady? Was that what Uther had made her the night before? Alethea swayed unsteadily on her feet, realising just what honour Uther had given her. She was held very highly in someone's eyes apparently if she had been given such a title.

"You may." Alethea told the young servant girl.

"The King sends his apologies but he may be a bit late. He asks that you will forgive him but also requests that you will wear this." The girl said, holding a Camelot red gown. Alethea just smiled, deciding that going through her wardrobe had all been for nothing. Disappearing behind the screen, Alethea got changed into it, struggling with one of the fastenings at the back.

"Could you…?"

"Of course my lady." The serving girl answered and did as asked before Alethea turned around. The serving girl looked to be just one or two years younger than Alethea and had blonde hair pinned back in the same style as Gwen had hers. She had blue eyes and Alethea couldn't help but find herself drawn to this girl. She had an air about her that Alethea liked.

"Tell me, what's your name?"

"Ceridwen my lady." She answered. "I am to be your maid."

"Oh… In which case you may call me Alethea."

"But my lady…" Ceridwen objected.

"That's an order by the way. You will also have to forgive me. I've never had a maid before."

"You're very lucky my la…" she started. "Alethea."

"Hmm? How so?" she asked out of curiosity. Alethea knew that she was lucky to have been made a Lady and to have Arthur but she just needed to hear it from someone else.

"Well, you managed to escape death and defeat a powerful sorceress. You have been made a Lady and the Prince loves you. Many girls are jealous of you."

"That doesn't surprise me." Alethea smiled.

"They all love the blonde. I don't think they'll forgive you for nearly killing him. You can't kill the Prince."

"Just as well I didn't." Alethea said, refusing to let the images of a dead Arthur come to mind. "Anyway, I've got an appointment with the King to keep. No rest for the wicked." Alethea said, quickly changing the subject and leaving Ceridwen to tidy up after her.

It didn't take Alethea, sorry, Lady Alethea to reach the Great Hall, even in her hung-over state, but by the time she was there, she was shaking like a leaf with nerves. It's always nerve wracking to meet your boyfriend's parents, but to do it alone… Well, Alethea just prayed that all would go well and that she wouldn't say anything that could have her executed. Now that would be a disaster. Taking a few deep breaths and wishing that she didn't have to do this alone, she offered a silent prayer that this would all go well before walking through the doors. Seeing King Uther sat on the side of the table, she flashed him a smile even though she felt anything but happy. What if he didn't like her? What if she was thrown out of Camelot and refused to see Arthur ever again? One foot wrong and it may happen. Alethea knew that much.

"I'm sorry if I'm late…" she started to apologise.

"Not at all. I'm just early." The King smiled at her.

"Thank you for the dress, and for making me a Lady of Camelot. It is a great honour."

"You are quite welcome. You deserved them and have proved yourself to be loyal to Camelot. Now, will you do me a favour and please sit down?" he motioned to the seat opposite him.

"Oh… Of course." Alethea said, only now realising that she was still standing. Looking at the food in front of her, her stomach rumbled with hunger.

"Tuck in, help yourself." So that's what Alethea did, trying bits of this, that and the other. "It's a very brave thing you did, standing up against and defeating a powerful sorceress. I can't help but wonder just how you managed without magic?" He said a few moments later before taking a swig of wine.

"I was very lucky sire. Someone had left a shield lying around and somehow it managed to reflect Nimueh's spell so that she had a taste of her own medicine."

"No magic?"

"Not from me sire. Although, I did have another reason to stand up against her other than my own personal revenge."

"And what would that be?"

"At that moment in time, I thought that both Arthur and Merlin were dead. They had both fallen victim to one of her spells and my love for them both meant that I fought back even more."

"Love for them both?" The King asked, somewhat confused.

"I love Merlin as a friend sire, like one would love a brother or sister, but I love Arthur more than anything else in the world."

"Even though you tried to kill him?" Alethea gulped nervously. One foot wrong here and she was effectively dead.

"I was under a spell sire, and never did I want to have to kill the Prince. I would rather die than lose him." she told him truthfully before waiting for him to say something. There was a long pause but each second felt like a minute to Alethea.

"You risked your own life to save him I understand?"

"I did. I knew that your people needed time to escape and so I also knew that should I give in to Nimueh, Camelot was lost. I was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for you and your people sire, but it never needed making."

"So you love the Prince and are prepared to sacrifice yourself for others. But you left once before without saying goodbye. You broke my son's heart."

"A mistake I will not be making twice sire. I doubt I will be leaving Camelot for a long time yet." She paused. "Although should you wish me to leave than I shall. I don't want to overstay my welcome." King Uther laughed.

"Stay. Stay for the time being. Just promise me one thing…"

"Sire?"

"If you do have to leave, at least say good bye to Arthur before you go. He is very much in love with you."

"I promise. But I don't think I will be wanting to leave for some time." Alethea told him honestly and before long, the two were chatting quite happily. Uther began to tell Alethea about Arthur as a young child, including him running riot around the castle when he was six years old, and how he had liked to be a bit of a menace until he finally realised his duties. Laughing at these, Alethea could just imagine Arthur doing all of these things and more. At home parents would usually embarrass their children with baby photos. Here it was baby stories. Eventually though, lunch was finished and King Uther and Lady Alethea went separate ways, both enlightened and happy with how it had gone.

After leaving the Great Hall and feeling better for her lunch with the King, Alethea headed towards Morgana's room, deciding to find out for once and for all just what exactly she had to do as a Lady of Camelot. Walking along her head cleared and last night's events became clear to her, Alethea remembering that she, Arthur and Merlin were protectors of Camelot. She just hoped that there wouldn't be a war or an attack from some mythical being whilst she was still there. Put her in charge and it was likely to be a complete disaster considering she held her defeat of Nimueh down to luck and nothing more. Walking down the corridor, she paused at one of the corners as she noticed a beautifully woven tapestry hanging on the wall. The background was of a forest with mythical creatures hiding in amongst the woods. There were unicorns and griffins amongst dragons and serpents, fairies and pixies dancing in a mystic forest glade but in the centre there was a burst of red and orange colour. Looking closely at it, Alethea found a bird rising from the ashes and realised that it was a phoenix. Admiring the workmanship that had gone in to it, it was all that Alethea took to drag herself away from it. Eventually she did so and soon reached Morgana's chambers.

"Alethea, what can we do for you?" Gwen asked as she let Alethea in.

"Some information if you will give it to me."

"Go on." Morgana prompted, turning away from the window.

"I would love to know just what my duties entail."

"As a Lady of Camelot or as a Protector?"

"Both, if you can."

"Right, as a Lady you have to attend Court when it is in session, go to trials and watch any punishments being carried out. I'm afraid that it will include executions." Alethea shuddered at the thought of watching someone dying. That was one thing that she didn't want to have to do. "You will also have to attend any jousts, tournaments, fairs, feasts, celebrations, etc, etc…"

"Right. That sounds straight forward enough. And as a Protector of Camelot?"

"I shall assume that you will just have to help out when it comes to planning for defending Camelot, make sure that no harm comes to the Kingdom and protect the people."

"And fight as well?" Morgana thought for a moment.

"Perhaps. I don't know about that one."

"That's alright."

"Now, tell me, is the Prince driving you mad yet?" Alethea had to laugh at this.

"Not just yet." Talking for a little while longer and having a good girly chat, something Alethea had been missing, she eventually left the room with a few dresses over her arm. Unsure as to how exactly that had happened, she made her farewells before going out into the corridor where she bumped into the Prince. Giving her a hand, Arthur invited her to go on a ride the following day. Alethea said yes, forgetting the most important thing that would affect this. She couldn't ride. She didn't know how to.

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The next morning found Alethea dressed in riding gear waiting in the courtyard for Arthur to finish having his horse prepared. It was a crisp, cool February morning and the snow had cleared so that the paths were now easy to follow, if a little muddy. Wrapping her cloak around her, Alethea wondered if Arthur would remember that she couldn't ride but she didn't have to say anything. Mounting up, the Prince turned to her and held out his hand to help her up. Climbing onto the horse, she clung onto Arthur for dear life with her arms wrapped tight around Arthur's stomach.

"Ready?"

"Yes." She answered him. Well, she was as ready as she ever would be. Closing her eyes and her head resting against his back, Alethea prayed that she would get back to Camelot in one piece as they rode out of the gate towards the forest.