Everyone sat around the table in the huge dining room. Tashia had sat next to her two siblings trying to avoid Evan and Lancelot to her best ability. She looked over at her mother as her mother started taping her fingers impatiently on the table. Breakfast hadn't been served yet because they were waiting on the King. A couple minutes later the king walked into the dining area and everyone turned to look at him.

"Let breakfast be served!" He boomed as he sat down and smiled at his wife, the Queen, "How are you this morning sweetheart?" He asked and her eyes narrowed as she glared at him.

"Hungry, how are you?" She asked as her fingers stilled from tapping on the table. Servants were bustling about serving breakfast now. Everyone looked down at the plates in front of them, trying to not get involved.

"I'm good. I'm thinking about going riding today. Would you care to join me my love?" The queen's eyes lit up and she smiled softly.

"I would love to," She replied as she picked up her fork and started to eat the food that was placed in front of her by one of the servants. Breakfast was quiet; no one wanted to ruin the good mood the king and queen were in. As soon as breakfast was over Tashia pushed her chair out from the table and tried to make it out of the dining room without meeting anyone.

"Tashia!" Her father called after her, Tashia slowed as her father caught up with her, "Madeline will be staying for a couple days at least. I had the maid ready an extra room but I want you to make her feel like she's at home and make her feel comfortable."

Tashia looked at her father and forced a smile.

"Anything for Madeline," Tashia said smiling, "Will you excuse me I'll go find her right now." Tashia quickly walked passed him, heading towards her room first.

"Tashia wait up!" She heard Evan call from behind her; Tashia looked over her shoulder and tried to speed up a little without making it obvious that she was trying to avoid him. Tashia made it to her bedroom door before Evan caught up to her.

"Can we just talk, I really want to make this work," He said watching her closely, just as Tashia was about to respond, Madeline called her name as she rounded the corner. Evan's eyes immediately went to the big chest, blond haired, blue eyed Madeline that was walking towards them. His lips parted a little and she saw his eyes follow every sway of her hips. Tashia frowned, and before she turned around to greet Madeline she quickly plastered a smile on her face.

"Madeline what a coincidence, I was just about to come find you. I heard that you talked to my father and everything was sorted out," Tashia replied and Madeline smiled as she nodded.

"Hello miss, I'm Evan," Evan introduced himself, bowing modestly and flashing a bright smile.

"Why hello there," Madeline said as she fluffed up her hair and stood a little taller, "I don't believe we've met before."

"Nor do I," He replied and Tashia tapped her foot impatiently.

"Evan why don't you go talk to my parents, I'm sure they're dying to hear news of your…courting," Tashia said as she muttered the last part, "Leave us girls to do girl stuff."

"Nonsense, you will need an escort. I will escort you," He said, offering his arm to Madeline who graciously took it by sliding her arm sensuously up his arm. The two of them started walking down the hallway; Tashia rolled her eyes and followed them.

"Now this is the library," Evan said as Madeline oooo'd and ahhhh'd.

"Tour done. Lunch will be served in a couple hours why don't you go freshen up Madeline," Tashia said as she pulled Evan out of Madeline's grasp, "It's been fun."

"I actually was going to go into town for a little…I need to buy some things. Did you want to escort me Evan, I really could use your help," Madeline said and a little batting of the eyelashes and flip of the hair and Tashia was left alone in the hallway as Evan and Madeline headed towards the front of the castle.

"You're supposed to be courting me," Tashia mumbled as she pushed open the library doors and then backed out slowly as she realized she was interrupting Arthur and his knights meeting.

"Where ya' goin' lass?" Bors boomed and the knights all turned to look at her.

"Didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just go," Tashia said.

"Please…join us," Arthur said, "I insist."

"Coming!" Tashia quickly called over her shoulder, into the empty corridor, "Really sorry, but my father's calling me. Not a good idea to make him wait." Tashia quickly closed the doors and paced down the hallway. Showing Madeline around the castle had taken the entire day, Madeline had wanted to see every nook and cranny and Evan was very willing to oblige.

"Princess!" Tashia slowed and waited for Lancelot to catch up to her.

"Sir Lancelot," Tashia murmured, "What can I do for you?"

"I thought maybe we could stroll in the gardens for awhile," He said his eyes wide and innocent as a lazy smile started to appear on his face.

"Anything for you," Tashia said sarcastically as she grasped his arm lightly and he led her towards the palace gardens, "Isn't it a just a bit too dark for us to appreciate the flowers?" Tashia glanced up at him through her eyelashes

"So how long have you been running away from home Princess?" Lancelot asked casually ignoring her question as they passed beneath the ivy covered towers that were the entrance to the garden. Tashia didn't answer for a long time taking in the bright colors of all the flowers and the artistic statues that were placed throughout the garden that she could see with the little light provided by the lanterns placed throughout the gardens.

"That was the first time. I just wanted to see the world and not be kept by my duties," Tashia said shrugging as she paused by a dark purple Zinnia and inhaled slowly. She smiled as the soft aroma surrounded her.

"So the King and Queen did not agree with your…curiosity and forbid you to leave?" Lancelot asked and Tashia nodded smiling briefly at him before she continued through the garden with him trailing behind her.

Lancelot caught up to Tashia as she slowed to appreciate more of the flower arrangements. Lancelot's fingers gently brushed against the back of her hand and she shivered slightly but didn't turn to look at him.

"Princess," Lancelot said as he gently turned her towards him, she looked up at him through her dark eyelashes and blinked, "You are beautiful." He murmured brushing his knuckles softly against her cheek.

"Lancelot," She whispered softly turning her head up towards him. Before she could tell him to stop he dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers. His hands went to the sides of her face as he softly kissed her. A quiet moan escaped Tashia's lips as she melted in his arms. At first her fingers were taut against his back but then they loosened and she held onto his strong arms while his fingers softly brushed against her cheek.

Lancelot slowly eased out of the kiss and leaned his forehead gently against hers.

"So beautiful," He whispered running his fingers slowly through her hair. Tashia sighed softly and closed her eyes. Her lips were swollen and her mind was racing. His hands fell to the soft swell of her hips and gripped her tightly, pulling their bodies together. Her lips parted and her eyes flashed open as she felt the hardness of him pressing against her lower stomach. Tashia looked up at him and saw the brilliant sparks in his eyes and suddenly she had to get away. She couldn't let him hold her or want her. That would be wrong, she wasn't worth anything Lancelot could give her. She didn't deserve the way he looked at her or touched her. Her father had taught her that a long time ago. She froze in his arms at she remembered.

Her father stood in front of her, holding his belt in his hands. Tashia cowered in the corner of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Please. Father it was just one-,"His belt whipped out and hit her across the shoulder. Tashia gasped and her eyes widened with the shock of the pain.

"You are worthless Tashia. No man will ever want you because you are useless! How dare you! I've tried to make you better Tashia, but you're just a hopeless cause. You will always be at the bottom, not pretty, not smart. No one wants you. Don't you care about how you would be ruining their lives? If they were caught dead with you the shame it would cause their families. They deserve better!" Tashia's father snapped at her as his belt came down repeatedly across her shoulders.

Tashia blinked back tears and pushed at his chest, trying to put some space between them.

"Lancelot," Tashia said through clenched teeth, putting all her strength into separating them, "Let me go. That…that shouldn't have happened. It w-was a mistake. Let me go!" His arms fell away from her and her push propelled her backwards.

"Princess-," Lancelot began.

"No. Don't," Tashia said as she turned and quickly walked further into the garden.

"We can talk-," Lancelot tried to follow her deeper into the garden but he didn't know the paths as well as Tashia did. She practically grew up in the garden, trying to forget about everything else except the flowers. Soon enough Lancelot lost sight of Tashia and couldn't even begin to figure out which way to get back to the castle.

"Lost are we?" Lancelot heard someone ask as they stepped from one of the paths that he was facing.

"Prince Darrion, how are you this evening?" Lancelot asked smiling slightly and trying to look innocent.

"Just fine and you Lancelot? How are you this evening?" Darrion asked as he leaned against one of the pillars in the garden.

"I'm good. Just catching some fresh air," Lancelot replied smiling and trying to look calm.

"Good. Because I would hate to have to find you out here with my sister without a chaperone. She does not need any more damage done to her reputation Lancelot," Darrion said pushing off the pillar and putting his mouth right besides Lancelot's ear, "Stay away from her Lancelot." Darrion glanced angrily at Lancelot before he too disappeared into the garden, leaving Lancelot standing there alone. Lancelot let out a deep breath that he was holding and he smiled.

Tashia darted through the garden so quickly that she almost knocked her sister and the man she was entwined around over. Tashia gasped and her sister glared at her, straightening her hair and clothes.

"Tashia," Elaine snapped unpleasantly.

"Elaine," Tashia replied, raising an eyebrow in the man's direction. Tashia could barely make out her sister and the man with all the shadows and lack of lights in the garden. The lanterns were spaced out so that dark spots fell across the garden every few feet. The man shuffled impatiently as he stared at Elaine and Elaine stared menacingly at Tashia. But Tashia was trying to discern any physical resemblance from the man. He was tall, taller than six feet and she could tell that he was thin but very widely built."Tashia," Elaine said clenching her teeth together, and Tashia looked at her sister and noticed the angry flame burning in her eyes.

"If you have a problem with me almost running over you, then maybe you should try making out somewhere other than the middle of the path? Just an idea," Tashia snapped as she brushed by Elaine and kept racing out of the garden and back towards the castle.

"I hear you have been having an increasingly difficult time with the woads here," Tashia heard Arthur say, and Tashia froze right outside the servants entrance into the castle. She looked up and Arthur and her father were standing on the balcony outside of the library.

"It is hardly anything to start worrying about right now. I do believe you have run into this…thing called Marlin before. Am I correct?" Her father said leaning his arm against the railing of the balcony. Tashia ducked behind one of the last statues of the garden and listened intently to her father and Arthur's discussion.

"Yes we have encountered him before. He sent his warriors to kill Bishop Germanius, who was on his way to Britain from Rome," Arthur said shaking his head, "Have you seen him?"

"If he is the old man that seems to hold a lot of power, then yes. He has been sighted standing outside of many parts of our forest," Tashia's father said turning to face Arthur.

"He is not just a man. You cannot deal with him like every other person who trespasses on your land,"

"Do not tell me what I can and cannot do Arthur," Tashia heard how her father said Arthur's name, full of threat and violence, "I will handle Merlin." Tashia hear someone's retreating footsteps and she assumed they were her father's. She walked out from behind the statue and saw Arthur staring off into the trees. He didn't see her as she carefully snuck her way into the castle.