Queen Annis walked through a field, watching how quickly and efficiently the tournament preparations went. Camelot had always been famous for their tournaments. Annis had already forgotten what it was like to be in Camelot. Behind her, the white castle was magnificent and beautiful. The whole town was clean and the people were happy. It was like the invasion barely two months ago had been just a bad dream. Her son walked beside her and watched their surroundings carefully. Annis had dragged her youngest child along with her, in spite of his protests. Andrew was almost the same age as Arthur. Now, Andrew was thrilled. He was determined to take part in the tournament now that he had seen Camelot.

"This is crazy, mother."

"I do not understand the difference between these and the tournaments we organise," Annis muttered.

"It's the atmosphere! All of this. Don't you feel it?" Andrew spread his arms wide and they stopped to watch how a group of men tried to set up a big tent.

"Gwaine, tighten that rope!" called one.

"You keep the middle column up, Percival, and let me handle this!" another called back.

"That doesn't seem to be working," someone said behind her, and Annis spun around to see tall thin man standing there. He looked familiar.

"Excuse me your majesty." The man smiled and bowed.

"Ah, I know you. You are that fool who came after Arthur," Annis remembered. Although, he looked much better dressed, but sicker.

"Yes, I was there. And, I wanted to thank you." The man hesitated little bit.

"What for?"

"For accepting Arthur's suggestion back then."

Annis smiled. She liked this man. She couldn't say why, but he seemed to be a bit of a riddle. And he reminded her someone. "Let me guess, you are not so foolish as Arthur claimed."

"Maybe sometimes. I'm Merlin. Now, I have to go. I have to see all these preparations. Majesty. Your highness." Merlin bowed to the prince and walked toward the tent, which was now standing upright.

"Good work, Gwaine," Merlin congratulated.

"I said that we could do it, didn't I?" Gwaine sounded proud.

"Shut up, Gwaine," Percival yelled from inside the tent.

"What?"

Everybody else was moving, laughing, towards the next tent when Merlin heard the familiar voice.

"It sure is lively in here, Merlin."

"Mother?"

#

"Is he a servant?" Andrew asked.

"I think he is something more. I noticed…" Annis held her tongue when she watched how Merlin hugged the woman.

"Mother? Is everything alright?" Andrew watched how Annis got paler.

"Yes, yes, everything is alright," she muttered. Her eyes were locked with those of the woman.

"Hunith…"

#

"Why are you here?" Merlin asked. He just couldn't believe that his mother had come.

"I received an invitation." Hunith produced a letter and Merlin noted Arthur's seal on it. "When his majesty calls and even sends the carriage to pick me up, how can I say no?"

"Maybe you can't."

"Aren't you glad that I'm here?" Hunith looked her son more carefully. "Have you been sick? Why haven't you written to me?"

"It's nothing. Not anymore. I tell you later. Actually, I have lot to tell you. But now I have some work to do. Can you…"

"Don't worry about me. Gwen wanted to see me, so I'll go to the castle. Oh, and congratulations. You really have lot to tell me. You never told me that you got promoted."

Merlin blushed. "Right. It's something to get used to."

"You are doing great, Merlin. I'm sure of it. Go. It's seems that those people are waiting for you."

"Ah! Yes, right, I have to go. You are sure…" Merlin backed away.

"Yes, yes. Go. Hush. I can handle myself." Hunith waved after her son. She looked at how the group of men surrounded Merlin and started to ask something.

"You are doing great, Merlin," she whispered.

"Your son, Hunith?"

Hunith froze. She closed her eyes. The voice was so much older, but still she knew it.

"Annis."

#

Gwen looked at the dress which she had prepared for Hunith. She was glad to have Merlin's mother in the castle. The time that Gwen had spent in Ealdor had brought them closer, and she was a little sorry that Hunith couldn't come for the wedding or the coronation. Gwen peeked out of the window and saw Hunith walking through the courtyard. With Queen Annis. It was odd, how they seemed to relate. As if they knew each other. They stopped in the middle of the courtyard, arguing about something. Hunith violently shook her head and continued to walk. Annis was left to look after her. Gwen saw a wide range of emotions flashing across the Queen's face. When she turned away, she only looked sad.

"What is going on?" Gwen muttered.