"Lord Cendred," a voice bellowed from a dark clearing of ancient oaks. "Bandits!"

Cendred rolled his dark eyes. Disappointment poured from his mind; he hated when his plans were delayed. Cenred hated to wait. His lovely lady in red velvet would have brought him such joy. Yet, he could wait a few days longer. He would find his treat and savor her like a child with a cinnamon cookie. His dark eyes swept over Gwen's trembling body.

"Another day, Lovely."

'Of course, sire."

Gwen hadn't thought to breathe when Cenred grabbed her chin. His touch was warm, but it chilled her bones. His unwanted attention turned her stomach. Quickly, she thought of Arthur. What would Arthur do now? Arthur would face Cendred in a battle of swords. I can't do that. Merlin has magic. Elyan has a collection of weapons. Gawain has charm. Then again, it never helps him in a battle. Makes things worse for Gawain. What do I have? Gwen smiled. I have ingenuity and wit. Cleverness never fades.

"Is that I promise?"

"Of course, I'll wait for you."

Cenred chuckled. Gwen's eyes never watched him leave. Her head remained lowered as she listen for cracking twigs and horse hooves along dirt roads. Quietly, she stayed in Ealdor's woods until the dark king left.

Gwen grabbed her basket of herbs and hurried back to Hunith's house. Her eyes nervously scanned shadowy corners of the woods. A hooting owl made her heart jump. Owls are out. I've been gone far too long. Her feet jumped over small puddles of muddy water. She clasped her basket tighter. I just want to go back to Hunith's.

Gwen smiled when she saw grey smoke rising from chimneys. Her hands wiped her brow. She ducked around a few farmers to walk home. She noticed a small girl with blue eyes and blonde hair like Arthur's crying on a dirty stoop.

"Why are you crying?"

"It' so very cold in the morning. I have to go see my grandmother deep in the woods. I don't own a cloak. So, I get beat by my aunt. She never sends her children on that errand."

Gwen sadly smiled. She knew pain from a loved one. She still felt pain over Morgana's betrayal. "Do you like red?"

"Yes."

"What's your name?"

"Mary Hood."

"I'm Gwen.

Quickly, Gwen walked to Hunith's house. Warmth and the smell of soup greeted her as she rushed into the home. Guilt folded Gwen when she saw Hunith's worried face.

'Child, where have you been?"

"It was awful." Gwen quickly retold her encounter with King Cenred. Hunith paled.

"Thank goodness for bandits."

Gwen wrapped Arthur's cloak around her body on last time. "It's not safe."

Hunith shot Gwen a puzzled look. "Did you say something?"

"No. Do you have a pair of shears?"

Gwen waited until Hunith retired for the night. With heavy hands, Gwen cut Arthur's fine cloak into long strips of fabric. Her nimble fingers sewed as a full glowing Moon kept watch over her. As a tired moon faded and a morning sun rose, Gwen smiled in exhaustion. Her hands shook a small red cloak.

"This will keep you warm, Mary."

Gwen folded her present and wrote a quick note urging Mary to wear her cloak on cold mornings. Gwen warned against dangerous dark beast lurking in Ealdor's woods.

Impulsively, Gwen grabbed a patch of fabric. Her right hand reached for Hunith's shears. She cut a small heart. "I will make one every day until I reunite with Arthur.

A/N: Just a small transitional chapter. Couldn't leave Gwen with Cenred! Any guess on my first fairy tale that I borrow for my own purposes? For some odd reason, I couldn't remember how to spell Cendred. Too much Halloween. Why was it on a Sunday? School is nuts! It's Election Day in America. So, much to do! Which one is it? I can't look it up. No Live Journal to look it up! Feel foolish!