Prince Arthur Pendragon was pissed off, his father was yet again parading eligible women in front of him and demanding he select a wife. This was not what he had envisioned for himself at all, he had wanted to marry for love and not for state. He wasn't sure how long it would be before his father ordered him to marry. Uther had already threatened in the past to make his sister's son Mordred his heir if Arthur continued to defy him. The fact that Mordred was nine and might himself get refuse to marry whoever his grandfather picked out for him hadn't seemed to cross anyone's mind. Mind you he would probably do whatever he was told if he was to get the promise of being the next King out of it. His sister, Morgana, had always been miffed that even though she was the eldest as a woman she could not be considered her father's successor. When she married against her the kings wishes she was almost exiled, but as she had got pregnant so quickly then has a son stayed Uther's hand. It was the only thing that had ever caused a problem between the siblings. What Morgana had never accepted was that the knights would never accept a female ruler, they needed someone to follow into battle and that was just not a place for a woman. If her son was named Heir she would rule through him.

Arthur was taking out his frustrations on the training ground, his men taking the brunt of his anger. At the moment he was facing Leon and they had been clashing swords for long enough for both men to feel the burn in their arm muscles. As they finally called a halt and sat down to have a welcome drink of water Leon turned to his friend "So I hear we have more visitors coming to be paraded before you. I presume that's why you are in such a mood"

Leon was the only one who would have dared to mention such a topic to Arthur, but they had been friends for to long for something like that to come between them. "What do I have to do to get this to stop!?"Arthur growled

"Find one that you can at least tolerate. Eventually you will have to marry and the chances of you finding your love match aren't great are they. We are out in the field to much for that" Leon pointed out.

Arthur had to agree that was true, his father fight against magic meant that he was for ever in the field fighting enemy's, he had tried to tell his father that they were making more trouble for themselves with their stance, and his argument with King Lot his neighbour wasn't helping either.

Leon then added "Look at it this way if you marry your won't have to see much of her. Not until your King anyway"

"How true, and that will be years yet, not that I would want anything else. But when I am King I can't think of anything worse than being tied to someone I can't stand the sight of. It wouldn't be fair on her either." Arthur said to his friend.

"You can always do what the rest of them do, give her, her own rooms, and only visit when it's dark" Leon said "They say King Lot sees his Queen just long enough to get her pregnant then ignores her"

"It that all a King and Queen's life should be? Just to have an heir. Can't we have love as well?" Arthur said wistfully "I want someone to reign by my side as an advisor and confidant."

Leon gave his Prince a playful pat on the arm "Then let's hope this next one takes your fancy. Who are they anyway?"

"I have no idea, father did say but to be honest I wasn't listening, someone from a Kingdom to the north he wants a treaty with" Arthur admitted

"Look Arthur just calm down and wait and see she may not be as bad as you think, it's no point in hating her before the poor girl gets here. I don't suppose she will be any happier than you. At least you get to stay with your friends. She is being taken hundreds of miles from hers" the first knight said hoping to calm Arthur down. "Look they won't be here for a couple of days why don't we go hunting"

Hunting was always something that cheered Arthur up so he readily agreed. That afternoon they set off. They arrived back the night before the visitors were to arrive. Uther was furious with his son "The party from Gangani are due tomorrow you need to be prepared"

Arthur looked at his father "What do I need to do besides dress up and smile" he said curtly

"Know something of their culture for one" Uther told his son "I have had Geoffrey find out all he can I have read the documents and I want you to do the same. They are a sea going peoples, there boats and expertise will be of great benefit to us. They are also some of the most feared warriors of Hibernia. It seems there metal work is second to none. If we are to defeat our enemy's these people will be very useful to us. Think of the swords and the surprise we will have if we attack from the sea, out men well be fresh instead of riding great distances"

Arthur nodded knowing his father would not listen to reason "Do we know anything of the Princess?"

Uther snorted "She is a Princess what more do we need to know, she is younger than you by a couple of years and her father guards he jealously. My envoy tells me he has never seen her, she is not permitted to be seen by anyone outside the court. The language is not easy but he writes that the bards sing of her pale skin and hair like a raven's wing and eyes the colour of the bluest of skies and that she is slender" Uther glared at his son "Now go and read I will see you in the morning and dress to impress our visitors"

Arthur went to his chambers, he knew this time he would have a hard job to convince his father not to agree to the match, all he hoped was that the visiting King would find a reason not to agree to the treaty that would give his precious daughter away.

The next morning he was woken by this manservant George with breakfast and a bath. This clothes were paid out and he dressed with a heavy heart. With his red cape over his shoulders he went to the throne room and his father. It seemed the Gangani had made good progress and would be at Camelot within the hour. As he waited Morgana approached him "So brother how are you going to get out of this marriage?"

"That's what you want is it not sister" he asked her "Well I hear she is a rare beauty"

"Every father says that of his daughter, especially when he wants to use her to gain what he wants" Morgana smirked.

Arthur couldn't help but wonder where the easy friendship they used to share had gone. He knew Morgana was bitter that as a woman she could not inherit but they were siblings. Even though they had different mothers. Morganas had died and Uther had remarried only to lose his second wife in childbirth. It seemed strange to him that having both lost their mothers they could not have found comfort in each other and stayed friends. Their father after all was a stern and hard man who saw his children as pawns in the game of power he played. Well he would soon know what the prospective bride to be was like.

As the cavalcade approached Arthur looked at King Balinor with interest. He was a hard looking man, tall and well-built with long hair and a bushy beard. His escort were of much the same ilk. They looked like they would be formidable foes. There was a covered carriage that presumably carried the Princess. As the King dismounted and walked towards them Arthur noted his clothing was not as rich as theirs and in more muted colours. Made it seemed of wool much like the poorer folks in Camelot but thicker. But what Arthur could see of the weapons looked of superior quality and the Kings crown was worked in gold in a way that caught the light.

The king stood in front of Uther as Camelot's King welcomed him and introduced Arthur and Morgana. The visiting King looked at Uther and in a firm voice relied in a tongue he was clearly not used to using. "Uther Pendragon we come to make a treaty with you may it be beneficial to us both. My men will escort the treasure of my heart and people to the room you have set aside"

Uther raised his eyebrows but agreed "My son will show you the way. Will you and the Princess join my family for a feast?"

King Balinor looked at Uther as if scandalised he spoke to the man beside him. Then the man looked at Uther "Your highness with great respect, it would be against our beliefs for the pure one to be seen by strangers. However the King and his Queen would welcome to join you"

Arthur looked amazed "Am I not to meet the Princess?"

Once more the man spoke to his King before answering Arthur. "The King says that is a reasonable request, but only within the laws of our beliefs. The pure one will attend a small meeting of you and your family but not the feast"

Uther smiled "We welcome that, perhaps before the main fest in the throne room. I'm sure then the Princess will wish to rest. I will send a maid servant to her room.

The man spoke once more "Sire that will not be required the pure one has own people"

Arthur was surprised yet again when he showed the quarters to King Balinor. First he checked the room then his men surrounded the carriage and the Princess left the carriage surrounded by the guards so no glimpse could be seen of her. Once inside the room four of the visiting escort stood guard outside the room. King Balinor once satisfied looked Uther and his son "The will guard the pure one to the death."

After every one was settled Arthur stormed off to his room, Leon followed hoping to calm his friend and Prince.

"How can I marry someone I can't even see, is she so ugly they daren't let me see her?" He demanded of his friend

"Look on the bright side Arthur she will be pure. I'm sure you will see her. They have agreed to a private meeting"

Uther sent a message with George "Sire the King says the private meeting will be in one hour"