Powder Tough [The Future Queens Of Camelot]

[Guinevère]

Guinevère stood beside her horse that she was to ride out with today and looked back at Arthur. Being he was helping Morgana, she knew no one would wonder why she was looking at him, for they would assume she was looking at her mistress. Not the crown price. No one knew she was looking at the prince.

Arthur was helping Morgana mount the horse, and adjust her cape so it sat over the horse very regally. She would never admit it, nor was proud to even think it but she was very slightly jealous. Not of Morgana, but of the way things where. A stable boy helped her mount, by giving her box, and then she adjusted her own cloak.

When Morgana, started her horse, Guinevère urged her horse onward so she fell in place at Morgana's side and the guards surrounded them. Guinevère looked back over her shoulder, at Arthur once more. He was looking back. She finally looked back ahead of them, and rode on in silence. It was rare for her to be so silent but her mind wasn't thinking of pretending to be something she wasn't around Morgana. The only reason she'd not told Morgana about her and Arthur was because . . . .

Well because she'd told no one. And partly because once, a year or so ago she had wondered if Morgana liked Arthur more then she let on. Mostly, however, it was because it was so far from ever being able to happen that saying it allowed hurt. So instead she just rode and thought about the look on Arthur's face as they rode onwards.

They were visiting the grave of Morgana's father. Guinevère thought of her own father too. How he'd died and how she'd not been able to make the trip often to see him. She missed him, now more then ever.

[ladymorgana]

Morgana soothed her jittery horse as Arthur assisted her with saddling. Although her trip was grim, she was still grateful, just to be escaping the confines of the Castle for the day. Occasionally, her gaze flitttered over to Gwen, who would be escorting her, as she always did. Morgana couldn't help but notice, however, that Gwen was far more interested in what Arthur was doing. She allowed herself a small smile, which she concealed by lowering her head, to make as though she were soothing the horse, who continued to stamp restively into the beaten earth tracks.

Finally, however, by mid-morning, they were off. Together, Morgana and Guinevère were trotting side by side through the open, rolling countryside of the Kingdom, under clear blue skies, through the bright, and breezy day. There was only one thing missing. Gwen's chit chat. Usually, they would talk about anything, and everything. But Gwen was silent. Morgana cast a sidelong glance at her dear friend. Her face was clouded, as though her mid were far, far away. Still day dreaming? Morgana wondered silently to herself, and concealed another knowing smile.

It was then, however, that Morgana remembered, and guilt swelled up in her gut at the realisation of her thoughtlessness. Gwen had lost her father, too. This trip, this pilgrimage to visit the tomb of Gorlois, must pose difficulties of it's own for Gwen, too. As Morgana continued to ponder on how to raise the subject with tact, the journey continued in silence. She looked this way and that, at the hedgerows, the roadside verges, and the insects hovering on the breeze. But, it all slipped in and out of her mind, leaving not the faintest trace of recognition.

Finally, Morgana tugged on the reins of her horse, and slowed the animal down so that she was fully in step with Gwen. She reached across the small gap that divided them, and gave Gwen's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Gwen," Morgana kept her voice soft, and arranged her face into a mask of concern. "Is everything all right? I have never known you be so quiet."

The last thing Morgana wanted to do was intrude, but nor did she want to sit idly by as her friend slumped into a pit of misery. She tried to intrude, unintrusively.

[Guinevère]

She didn't even notice when Morgana' horse moved to come walk abreast of her own, and until she felt Morgana's firm and comforting hand over her's, she had still been lost in her own mind. Turning her hand so their fingers were linked she extended it so they could hide like that for a few moments with out Morgana having to lean so far over to touch her.

Morgana was Guinevère's best friend. The only one who came close was Merlin, and it was different. Merlin was a boy. There were so many things that Merlin just could not understand. Even though he tried. Morgana and Guinevère had been friends for so many years now. Unlike most nobles who over looked servants as if they were rugs, or plants, Morgana knew names and people and cared. Still everything a noble should be, she was still one of the stronger and kinder people she'd ever meet.

"Am I?" She asked, not surprised she was but knowing she wasn't know for her silence. Guinevère could be bold when she needed to but most times found her comfort standing behind Morgana. When she got nervous or frightened she tended to try to talk her way out of it. She was neither good at it, nor subtle. Giving Morgana's hand a firm squeeze, she let it go so they could just ride along beside each other. "I didn't mean to be, I was just thinking of everything that has happened in the last few months." Jousts, magical attacks, Morgana's kidnapping, and Arthur. Always Arthur.

"How are you holding up?" She asked, knowing this could not be easy for her. She worried that her sister like best friend would feel sad.

[ladymorgana]

"Don't worry about me," Morgana assured Gwen as they rode along the beaten earth tracks. "I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about. You seem..." Morgana's words trailed off as she selected the best way to phrase it. "Quiet."

Despite their long, and close, friendship, Gwen could sometimes slip too far into her role of servant. She would be too meek, and too mild. She would endure too much, and remain silent, thinking herself to be a burden to others. She always smiled, and she always had kind words. Gwen's heart and soul was the purest Morgana knew. But, sometimes, she wanted to be the one who looked after Gwen, and not the other way around, and the Gods knew that she deserved looking after. Especially after everything that had been going on lately.

However, Morgana let the companionable silence descend again; satisfied that the day away from the confines of the Citadel would do them both the world of good. Morgana took a deep, cleansing breath of the clean, country air. She would stop, occasionally, to point out rabbits that hopped over the bumpy terrain, or a brightly coloured insect that she had not seen before. But, mostly, she listened to the sweet, peaceful sound of the countryside. No market traders filling the air with their shouts, no merchants moaning about the price of wool, and -best of all-, no cursing Knights pretending to kill each other, noisily.

In the distance, the crunch of dry twigs, trodden underfoot, reached her ears as she listened for the wildlife. That, Morgana thought to herself, was no rabbit.

"Did you hear something?" Morgana asked Gwen as she pulled the reins of her horse to bring the animal to a halt. She glanced over to Gwen, a frown darkening her features. "I thought I heard something."

[Guinevère]

"I always worry about you." Guinevère told Morgana, knowing that Morgana was always up to something. If it wasn't trying to look smashing for the feast, it was annoying Arthur, or trying to help the people under Uther's rule, or fighting for some cause. Morgana was a good person, and Guinevère often she she had even an once of her confidence. She'd gotten better in the last year, especially since Eldor and fighting the bandits, but she still felt saver letting Morgana be the one who stood up and fought. She was proud to work for her! had been for years.

When Morgana pulled her horse to a stop however, Guinevère felt her heart skip a few beats. "I didn't hear anything!" She whispered, not even sure why she felt the need to do so. Morgana was better at this type of thing then Guinevère was. Gwen had been born in the country, but moved the Camelot when she was still a child and never really left it. Making camps, and trails and hearing things in the woods was beyond her. In fact the woods often frightened her!

She had come to a stop not far from Morgana, and was looking back at her rather then the woods, knowing that since they were surrounded by guards they were safe. Arthur would not have let them go if it were not. "We should not tarry here long, if there is some beast out there,." She remember the animals of the woods. The griffin that Lancelot had killed, and the others. The one that nearly killed Arthur, and the one that nearly got her killed when it swam in the well.

[ladymorgana]

Morgana was aware that she had given Gwen plenty of cause for concern, lately. It was something else that had been worrying her lately, on top of everything else. Unless Gwen was being all silent because there was a man involved!

"Is there anything else on your mind, then?" She asked. "A man...." She added in a sing-song voice, giving her maid a wink. "Anyway, whatever that noise was, I think it's passed."

Just to be safe, Morgana squinted, and peered through the gaps in the trees that formed the woodlands to one side of them. She could see nothing, but she could have sworn she saw something. She sighed deeply, she must have been imagining things, yet again. But still, Gwen was right. They must not tarry long here. Morgana urged her horse onwards, a little faster this time. But, they hadn't gone ten paces, when, over the sound of the horses hooves, the noises of approaching footsteps could be heard again.

"Gwen, run!" Morgana called to her friend, not far behind her.

She didn't care about lowering her voice now. She just wanted them both out of this place. But, no sooner had she spoken aloud, than they were surrounded. It was as though the bandits had popped out of this. As though the rocks and trees themselves had come alive, and launched an attack on them. Morgana hardly had time to react, but she shot a worried glance over to Gwen, to see what was happening to her.

[Guinevère]

A man?! Guinevère's face turned a shade darker from the blush, but she hoped she'd was able to play it off when she told Morgana, "When do I meet any nice men?" She asked, trying to make it sound light and teasing. Guinevère spent most of her time with Morgana, so the men she meet was knights--men out of her league, and whom never even really saw her. The only knight who didn't over look her was Sir Leon. He was a good man, and while ranks made it were the could not be good friends, he still would speak to her very kindly, and often made sure she arrived home alright after leaving Morgana.

The other good man she knew was not a knight, but a prince. Arthur was showing sides of himself that Guinevère felt pride in, and knew that she was getting the pure honor of seeing the young arrogant prince turn in to a good man! He'd even come to her after her father had died, and in a way taken care of her. She no longer paid taxes or rent on her home. She'd never been bold enough to ask, but Arthur had promised her that it would be her's for life. She knew with out asking that he was the one taking care of her.

Morgana started moving and Guinevère urged her horse to follow her. Arthur might be taking care of her the only way that he could, but Guinevère still felt safe tucked by Morgana's side. With her being arrested for being a witch last year, and her father of magic just months ago, Guinevère still felt as if one wrong move would get her in trouble. She knew that Morgana, and Merlin believed her, and she knew that Arthur would not let anything happen to her, but she feared the king and of his judgment.

When she heard Morgana yell at her to run, she actually paused for a moment, as it took her a few seconds to see what was happening, and then fear made her take another few seconds to start thinking clearly. She then felt hands on her, pulling her off the horse! Guinevère let out a scream, and before the mysterious hands could pull her toward the woods, a knight was there to defend their party. The man dropped her, to pull his own sword, and Guinevère ran toward Morgana's horse.

[ladymorgana]

It all happened so fast. Within the beat of a heart. One of the guards shouted at them to run, but no sooner were the words out of his mouth, than there was an arrow deeply embedded in his back, and slumped across his mount, completely dead. Morgana screamed in terror as the rest of the guards were so swiftly subdued. The peace of the countryside rent by shouts, curses, and the soar of the arrows and bolts that swept through the air. The sound of blade on blade had her rigid with fear, struggling to control her horse who tried to bolt from the riot.

It soon became clear the Knights of Camelot were defeated. Morgana, however, barely had a second to contemplate the situation as a pair of rough hands hauled her from the saddle. She glanced around wildly, and realised that someone else had taken Gwen. She fought, lashing out with her legs as best as could, with her arms fast at her sides by the brute who all but immobilised her. She didn't see who struck the man down, but suddenly, he released her from his grip. The same had happened with Gwen. Siezing the initiative, she screamed out to her maid again.

"Gwen!" Her voice was subdued over the clash of the blades. "Run! Get to the woods! Go!"

In a blind panic, the two women ran for their lives. Morgana's heart beat furiously, painfully, against her ribs as ran blindly into the sparse woodlands. Her cloak flapped around her ankles, slowing her progress as she tried to avoid tripping over the hem. Soon, they were surrounded. She had known it was hopelessly. She moved to stand protectively at Gwen's side as a man dismounted his horse. His face was half obscured by a kerchief tied over his jaw.

Fearful, Morgana gripped Gwens hand, steadying herself as much as her maid. Stick together, Morgana thought to herself. We must stick together. As the man drew level with them, Morgana finally found her voice again, as weak and tremulous with fear as it was.

"I warn you, I am Uther Pendragon's ward!" She spoke as boldly as she could, her gaze darting between the faces of the bandits. "If any harm comes to me, he'll have your heads!"

"I have no intention of harming you," The chief bandit replied casually, as he finally removed the kerchief from his face. He seemed relaxed, as though this were a walk in the park. "At least, not yet."

A loose horse bolted through the woods, and Morgana's heart leapt in her throat in alarm, and the fragile grip on her nerve loosened a little further. In terror, she looked for reassurance at Gwen.