"No, no. This one, Circa." Treila said as she held up a dark red, flowing gown with a low neckline and lace bodice.

"Alright, fine." I said, giving in to my little sister. We were getting ready to make the journey to Camelot where our Father, King Arden of Ivistor, was to take part in peace talks with King Uther of Camelot and the other rulers of the five kingdoms.

Our father had insisted that Treila and I both come, since one day one of us would be Queen and diplomacy would be a big part in the running of the kingdom.

There was one big difference between the two kingdoms of Ivistor and Camelot. Here, people were free to practice magic as they please and we would only intervene when dark magic was used. Whereas Camelot had exiled magic almost thirty years ago and even the slightest whisper of the word would send Uther into an execution frenzy. As a result of this difference the relationship between the Kings was tense and even though neither Treila nor I had met King Uther and his son Arthur, I was sure I was determined not like them.

I had never dabbled in magic but over the past year Treila had been teaching herself, which had already resulted in her turning my bed into a hundred toads and had caused all her hair to fall out. However, this did not deter her from wanting to learn more, so the rest of the palace learnt to put up with all manner of peculiarity.

"You know we're only gone for a week." I said to my sister as she lugged a huge case full of things to the door.

"Yes, but I never know what occasion I'll need to dress for." She replied matter of factly and I rolled my eyes as I went behind the screen to change into her choice of gown.

"Better?" I asked as I came out from behind the screen.

"Perfect." She smiled happily as there was a knock on the door. "Enter." Treila called and the door opened to reveal one of the palace guards standing in the doorway.

"The King wishes to know when you'll be ready." He said.

"We're ready now." I said and the guard nodded before looking despairingly at Treila's huge case. "Good luck with that." I said apologetically.

"Thanks. I'm going to need it." he replied, before hauling it out of the room.

I walked over to the mirror and checked my reflection once more. Half or my long, dark brown hair was tied up at the back, letting the rest fall down my back, with two shorted pieces left to hang at the front to frame my face. Small red beads were placed throughout my hair, making it look like red raindrops.

The dress Treila had chosen was perfect, although I wouldn't tell her that to her face. Even though the dress was a little to low-cut for my taste, my chest filled it politely.

Treila came to stand next to me and looked at herself with the same, blue eyes as me. We looked very similar, despite the three year difference. Same tanned skin from days spent bathing in the sea on Ivistor's boarders or out hunting, same athletic build and even same rings, which had been given to us by our mother as children, before she had died. However, the main difference was that Treila had blonde, curly hair, like our Mother's and I had inherited our Father's dark, straight locks.

"Come on. If we don't get going Father will have our heads." I said and pulled Treila away from the mirror and out of the room. We hurried down the white, stone steps of the palace and out into the courtyard where our Father was waiting with our best knights.

"Finally. I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost in the castle." Father laughed. "You both look beautiful. You truly live up to what they say, that you are the most beautiful women in all the lands." He said proudly.

"Father." I groaned sarcastically as a guard helped me onto my horse. "Good boy." I said to the black stallion as I stroked his neck.

"If we leave now we'll arrive in Camelot early afternoon." Father said and the party began to make it's way out of the courtyard and soon we were riding through lush forests and past lakes towards Camelot.

"You know what I'm looking forward to?" Treila asked me as she rode beside me.

"Do I want to know?" I asked skeptically.

"Trust me. You will." She said knowingly. "I hear that the knights of Camelot are very handsome, as brave as lions and the noblest of them all." She said eagerly.

"Of course that's what you're most excited about. I should've guessed. You're so predictable." I laughed.

"And so are you. I bet you'll turn your nose up at even the most handsome of

men." She replied.

"Because I have all the time in the world for that. For now, I'm focusing on my swordsmanship and riding." I pointed out. "Besides, anyone associated with Uther is guilty of persecution against those with magic, so no thank you." I finished as there was a shout from up ahead. We'd reached Camelot and soon I saw a tall, grey castle looming up ahead from between the thick forest.

Soon, our procession clattered into the stone courtyard of Camelot and their guards caught our horses. I was helped from my horse and walked beside Treila as the group was lead into the palace.

"Do I look okay?" Treila asked hurriedly as we arrived outside a large set of double, wooden doors.

"You have mud on your face." I lied.

"Really?" She squeaked.

"No. You look fine." I replied giving her a sideways smile.

"Oh, I hate you." She bristled, but didn't mean it. The large doors suddenly swung open to reveal a long room with wooden floorboards and huge floor to ceiling windows. Our Father walked into the room, followed by us and then our knights.

King Uther stood in the middle of the room with whom I assumed was his son Prince Arthur and behind them stood the knights of Camelot.

I glanced at Treila and tried to hide smirk as I saw her examining them intently.

"Uther. It's good to see you again my friend." Father said as the two kings embraced.

"Arden. Welcome back to Camelot." Uther grinned.

"It's good to see the enemy's territory again." Father teased. "When do the other's arrive?"

"Not till tomorrow." Uther replied. As I watched the two Kings speaking I linked my fingers together behind my back. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Prince Arthur. I hadn't had the chance to get a good look at him, so I went to glance at him, but quickly looked away when I saw he was looking at me.

"May I present my daughters." I Father said. "This is Princess Treila." He said and my sister stepped forward and curtseyed in front of Uther. "And my eldest, Princess Circa." Father added as I stepped forward and curtseyed.

"It is true what they say. You are the most beautiful in the land." Uther said.

"Thank you, my lord." I replied politely.

"And this is my son, Arthur." Uther said and patted his son on the shoulder who nodded at us.

. . .

"This'll be yours for the duration of your stay." A servant said as she walked into one of the castle chambers, with me following behind her. The room had wood paneling, a large bed and a set of three, brightly coloured, stain-glass windows. "Most of our guests are very comfortable here."

"Thank you…uh" I trailed off, realising I didn't know her name.

"Guinevere. But most people call me Gwen." She smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Gwen. " I smiled in return.

"Is there anything I can get for you?" she asked.

"Tell me, Gwen. If you had a free day in Camelot how would you spend it?" I asked, not feeling like being cooped up inside all day.

"Oh, well, uh, I'd probably go to the markets in the lower town." She replied. "They have some lovely things."

"Excellent. I'll get Treila and let's go to the markets." I said happily but stopped when I saw Gwen's slightly stunned expression. It didn't take me long to work out what was wrong. "I'm sorry. Back in Ivistor we're taught to treat our servants and guards like friends so everyone feels equal and enjoys their work." I rattled off.

"Oh, that's lovely." She said wistfully. "In that case, let's go to the markets." She smiled and I grinned.

After dragging Treila out of her room, Gwen lead us down, through the castle to the lower town where there was a long line of stalls in the street, selling everything from food to shawls and jewellery. As Gwen and Treila looked at beautifully patterned cloth, I walked a little further down to a stall selling silver rings. My mother had always loved rings and since she died I made sure I had plenty on each hand.

"Pardon me, my lady. I believe this belongs to you." I heard a voice say behind me and I turned around to see one of Camelot's knights, one who'd met us in the great hall, standing there with a small flower in his hand.

"Does it?" I asked skeptically.

"Of course." He said and bowed slightly, holding out the flower to me.

"Thank you, Sir Knight." I said, taking the flower.

"Gwaine." He grinned.

"Thank you, Gwaine. But why don't you give it to someone more receptive of your affections." I suggested.

"Ah, you see, but I only have eyes for you." He continued and I raised an eyebrow. He looked hopeful a moment longer before sighing, clearly confused and slightly concerned. "This usually works." He thought aloud.

"Sorry." I said, as I let a laugh slip out. "Here. Why don't you try my sister, Treila?" I suggested and pointed to her.

"Ah, yes. I was going to try her next." He said.

"Well don't tell her that." I suggested as I handed him back the flower.

"Got it." He grinned. "My Lady." He said, bowing once more before making a beeline for Treila. "Excuse me, my lady. I believe this belongs to you." I heard him say to her and I shook my head.

"Don't mind Gwaine." I heard Gwen say behind me. "He's rough around the edges and a lot of fun, but he's as loyal as they come. Your sister will be fine with him."

"It's not her you should be worried about." I replied as Treila and Gwaine walked past. She looked over her shoulder and gave me an excited smile, to which I replied to with a grin. "You know Gwaine well?" I asked.

"I know all the knights." She replied. "My brother, Elyan is one of them."

"Did I hear my name?" I heard someone ask and Gwen and I looked further up the markets to see four knights surrounding Prince Arthur coming down the street. One of them was grinning and looked almost identical to Gwen.

"Don't flatter yourself. Your heads already big enough as it is." Gwen replied and Elyan came over to hug her as we were joined by the rest of the group.

"Princess." Prince Arthur greeted me with a slight bow.

"My lord." I replied.

"May I introduce Camelot's finest knights." He began. "This is Percival." He said, nodding towards a tall man with closely cut brown hair and the biggest muscles I'd even seen, visible from his short-sleeved chainmail. I would have felt intimidated by him if I hadn't seen him smile, which softened his face immediately.

"Lancelot." Arthur continued and patted a man with short brown hair and brown eyes on the back, who nodded.

"Leon." Arthur said, and a man with curly, light brown hair smiled.

"And Elyan." Arthur finished. "I have no idea where Gwaine is though." He added.

"That's okay. I've already met Gwaine." I smirked.

"And you're still sane? That's very impressed." Leon said, shaking his head as I laughed. The knights began talking with Gwen and Elyan, so I took my chance to ask a question that had been in the back of my mind all afternoon.

"My lord…" I began, turning to the Prince.

"Please, just call me Arthur." He said waving his hand dismissively as we began to continue walking down the street.

"Arthur, am I wrong in believing that King Uther has a ward, the Lady…Morgana?" I asked.

As soon as I mentioned her name an exhausted look washed over Arthur's face. "It's complicated." He sighed.

"Forgive me, you don't have say anything." I said quickly.

"No, it's fine." He said, shaking it off. "Morgana was Uther's ward, and over time she discovered she had magic. No one knew and I was too busy to notice how she was suffering."

"Poor girl." I said, shaking my head. "She would have been terrified, and once she realised what was going on she couldn't tell anyone. Add that onto the fact that those she loved would have her burnt at the stake without a second thought." I finished and it was quiet for a while before Arthur continued.

"My father, for one reason or another, kept it hidden from us that Morgana was his daughter, my sister." He said. "This just hurt her further and she became hell-bent on making Uther suffer as she had suffered. So she de-throned him with her half-sister and sorceress Morgause but she was forced out of Camelot." He said and sighed. "No one saw it coming. She was always so kind and compassionate, but all the while she was deceiving us and attempted to take my Father's life more that once."

"There is no hope for her?" I asked.

"She killed innocent civilians to prove her hatred for my father." He said bitterly. "So he would suffer as so many others had at his hand."

"So where is she now?" I asked.

"We haven't heard of her in six months, but it is rumored that she and Morgause are in Cenred's land under his protection. But these are nothing but rumors." He

replied. "And I fear she will not rest until she sits upon the throne."

"Which means she wants you dead just as much as Uther." I guessed and he nodded. "Well, I am truly sorry, Arthur. It must be hard for those involved in magic, especially if they are so unwillingly." I said, thoughtfully.

"My father has always said that magic was evil and a great plague upon Camelot." Arthur said.

"And do you believe that to be true?" I asked, stopping and turning to face him.

"It does not matter what I think. As long as the people of Camelot are safe, then that is all I care about." He replied.

"I do not wish to turn you against your father, but magic itself isn't evil. It's those who use it." I said. "In Ivistor we have nothing against magic, but if a crime is committed, actions are taken, magic or not."

"You see, that is where our customs differ the most." Arthur said and I nodded in agreement.

"Yes. While it can be used for evil, it can also be used to save lives, to help suffering people and for a bit of fun sometimes." I said. "My sister, Treila has caused quite a bit of havoc in the palace."

"She has magic?" Arthur asked.

"She's learning." I replied and I noticed he looked concerned.

"It's alright for you to disagree. Not everyone can be pleased." I said. "But we have a duty to our people and if they have done nothing wrong, then we do nothing." I finished as there was a commotion up ahead and two knights came towards us, dragging an elderly man between them.

"What happened?" Arthur asked them immediately.

"This man has been harbouring a sorcery in his house." One of the knight's said.

"I did not know! Please. I didn't know!" the man cried.

"Take him to the dungeons." Arthur ordered and the poor man was dragged

away. I hurried after Arthur as he followed behind the trio.

"What's going to happen to him?" I asked worriedly.

"He'll go on trial and will probably be sentenced to death." Arthur replied.

"What? For giving shelter to a stranger?" I asked, astounded.

"He was consorting with a sorcerer." Arthur replied.

"Which he didn't know about." I argued.

"The laws in Camelot state that anyone who involves themselves in magic does so on pain of death." He replied tersely and I stopped, watching them disappear into the crowd.