Gwen's father looks at his skeptically, his lips pursed into what looks like a circle. In the dimness of the candlelit room the creases and slight wrinkles around his lips are visible. They are the signs of time, that age has him bound, and nothing would stop the pendulum from slowly ticking away. Time had not been friendly to Gwen and her family the last past year. Her mother, Elaina, had died of some unknown disease. It was so fast neither of the children had the chance to say goodbye. This is what made Gwen's father worried about the future to come. It had left a once lively vessel empty and desolate.

As he stares at his daughter now she cannot help but cross her arms around her small chest. She turns around to face her father and brother.

"So, I don't understand if I completely comprehend your story. You have the job?" Gwen nods her head.

"Yes, the job is mine." She turns back around to start grabbing some plates from the cupboard. Elyan and her father are already seated at the small table. She takes the plates and sets them on the table placing one for each of them. After doing this she sits down next to her brother.

"I'm surprised they didn't have you head." Elyan jokes taken a fist full of bread into his hand and ripped it to shreds with his teeth. Their father smacks Elyan's hand and Gwen chuckles.

"What are we barbarians you know we say grace before we eat." Elyan sighs as he lays his bread on the plate before him. Gwen sticks out her tongue while her father's eyes are closed teasing her brother. Elyan rolls his eyes before the all take hands. They bawl their heads while their father says grace. Once he is finished they each begin to eat their food.

"So are the rumors true?" Elyan says as he stuffs another piece of bread into his mouth. Gwen looks up through her long black eye lashes.

"Is what true?" Elyan swallows the food inside his mouth and slowly clears his throat.

"That the prince is a spoiled neurotic brat." Gwen has to hold back a chuckle that wants to burst through her gut. Her mind finally reflects back to her encounter with the man from earlier. She immediately feels stupid for not recognizing the Prince. That word sinks in. She had been speaking to the prince, not only was he a prince, but their future king. She remembers the golden hue of his hair and the sweet politeness to his voice. Sure he was sarcastic but she wouldn't call him a complete brat. If he were a brat he wouldn't have taken kindness to her. She a mere blacksmiths daughter. "Gwen if your mouth is open anymore I'm afraid the flies from the horses next door will lay eggs inside of you." Gwen takes a piece of her bread and throws it at her brother.

"You're so idiotic sometimes Elyan!"

"Children! Have I taught you nothing!" Their father says eyeing both his daughter and son. "We mustn't waste food Guinevere you know this." At the mere utterance of her full name Gwen immediately looks down at the table in silence. Anytime her father uses her full name she knows she is in trouble. She clears her throat and says,

"sorry papa."

"You should be," Elyan coos. Gwen's father playfully smacks her brother across his bare head and Gwen desperately wants to burst out in a fit of giggles. She doesn't however, she merely bites her lower lip trying to control herself.

Gwen takes a long deep breath as she stands outside of the massive brown wooden doors. This is the first day of the rest of her life. This day will change everything and she knows that it has to be perfect. If she messed one little thing up it would mean the end not only for her but for her family. Gwen lets go of the deep breath that she has been holding. She tells herself to breathe and reassures herself that everything will be okay. Servants, just like herself bustle around her going about their daily rituals. Gwen smoothes out the wrinkles in her lavender dress after all she will have to make a good impression for the Lady Morgana. Gwen lifts up her feeble shaking hand and holds it in the air for a moment. A part of her wants to turn around and run back to the safety of her shed. There she could be herself. There she could be with people who loved her. But she knows that she is here for the people she cares about. That is what makes her knock gently on the door. At first there is utter silence and Gwen doesn't know if she should leave or knock again. As she leans her hand back to knock once more she hears.

"Enter," Gwen does as she is told. She slightly grasps the golden doorknob and opens the door. It creaks as she slowly opens the door fully. She tip toes into the room trying to make no unnecessary attention drawn on herself. As she walks into the room her lips purse in awe over the magnitude of the high ceilings and elaborately decorated furniture. Across the room towards the left of her is a full bed with white fluffy cushions that seem resemblance clouds. The fire place to the right of her burns brightly and crackles as she passes it. Towards the closed window is the figure of a woman, her back is facing Gwen. The grayness of the sky makes the room look quite dreary flushed of color but it doesn't take away from its elegance.

"Good day your highness," Gwen says as she stops in her tracks. She doesn't dare go any closer. Morgana finally turns around to stare upon the young woman in front of her. Gwen can finally see the beauty of this maiden and she cannot but see that all the rumors were true. The lady Morgana is quite lovely. Then again she is a princess, weren't all princesses bestowed a gift of beauty?

Morgana is wearing a fitted opaque gown that hugs her petite body gracefully. It is so sheer that it almost blends in with the porcelain that is her ravishing skin. A spill of darkness, like the night itself, is her hair which falls along her shoulders is spirals. Morgana's emerald eyes look at Gwen up and down. For a moment Gwen believes that Morgana is idly making accusations about her with her eyes. She immediately touches the side of her face to see if she has gotten every speck of dirt and dust off. Morgana finally smiles

"Welcome to my abode. I'm Morgana and?" She awaits Gwen's answer. Gwen tries to muster up the most proper curtsey that she can. When she was younger she had seen a lady do it in the town's square before a knight asked her to dance. The lady had looked so majestic and regal. Unfortunately Gwen looks manly and hunched over. Morgana chuckles slightly as Gwen lifts herself up from the curtsey.

"I'm Guinevere your highness but please call me Gwen."

"A yes," Morgana says as she goes to her bed slowly gathering a heap of clothes together in her hands. "Arthur spoke highly of you." Gwen immediately looks at Morgana with a raised eyebrow.

"He did?"

"Yes quite he said you were quite strong and could hold quite the persuading conversation. That you would be highly entertaining." Gwen nods her head. She is beginning to think that Arthur finds her more of a buffoon and that this complement really didn't exist. Morgana gracefully prances over the Gwen handing her the pile of clothes. Gwen holds onto the items tenderly they are so very soft on her skin. The mountain of clothes are so high that it piles up to her nose.

"Now, I want these clothes washed by mid day. I have a brunch with Uther and Arthur and it would be saddening if I cannot attend because I have nothing to wear. Oh," she points over towards her bed. The covers are not undone and the pillows are spilled across the bed. "Please make the bed when you're done and I want my bath water drawn for after brunch." Gwen nods her head.

"Yes Milady," her voice is muffled over the piles of clothes.

"Well, what are you waiting for. Go along."

Gwen hides a blistering scream that wants to rip through her chest as she leaves Morgana's chambers.