Young King Arthur was in the Royal Study with his mentor and magician Merlin and his owl Archimedes. It had been three months since he had pulled the sword from the stone and become the King of England. During that time he had been adjusting to his new duties and had been learning many new things with Merlin's aid, like how to read and write and such. He often found his royal position to be a heavy burden but Merlin was always assuring him he would get used to it in time and perhaps even come to enjoy it.

Arthur was reading a book aloud when he came upon a certain long word he didn't recognize.

"Meticulous? What does meticulous mean?" he asked his tutors.

"It means punctilious, fastidious, and precise," replied Merlin.

"Oh," said Arthur. "I wonder if I'll ever have to write such long words."

"You might," said Merlin. "After all, one does often expect a King to know the meaning of many things and to be precise with them."

Arthur sighed. "This just gets harder and harder for me all the time."

"That is just because it's all so new to you," Merlin replied. "It will ease up on you as time goes by as long as you just do your best at it."

"How do you know?" asked Arthur.

"Because when I was just your age I was developing my skills in magic and sorcery with a mentor and I found them to be quite hard to learn at first, but then as I pressed on I gained control over my powers and learned how to use them to my fullest extent."

"But I never wanted to become King in the first place," Arthur continued.

"No, but you were destined to be so," said Merlin. "You were born as the son of a king, King Uther Pendragon, remember?"

"Yes, you've told me about how you took me from him and gave me to Sir Ector after I was born," Arthur said. "But you still won't tell me why you did so?"

Merlin shook his head gently. "No. That must wait for a later time, when you are ready for it. Just remember that we all have a destiny to each our own, some bigger than others, and will must face them and face whatever life brings us."

Merlin then became more solemn as he continued, "A thing you must beware of though is arrogance. No matter what you accomplish you must keep clear that you are still just a player in a much bigger picture. If you let your pride get the better of you then all of your accomplishments will fall down hard. Remember all I say to you."

"I'll remember, Merlin," Arthur assured him.

It was later on the same day when Merlin went into the forest where he came to a large shimmering blue lake. He stood before it and bowed, and then spoke to it.

"Lady of the Lake, it is I, Merlin. I have come to you for advice once more."

Then all at once a fount of water splurged upward from the lake and a figure within it began to take form. When the water had cleared there was a lovely lady hovering just from the water's surface. She had very pale and fair whitish skin and hair that swirled all around her shoulders like tendrils. Around her neck there were tiny fish swimming around it. When she spoke to Merlin her voice was very musical.

"How may I help you, my friend?" she said.

"I wanted to tell you I think I may have fulfilled my task," Merlin said, "I have found the young boy of Uther Pendragon and he has been crowned King of England now. I come asking if there is more I should do for him and should I remain at his side for an extended time."

The Lady of the Lake spoke gravely to him. "Yes, there is, Merlin. First I must warn you there is more darkness ahead in the near future and to be on your guard for anyone or anything suspicious."

"I shall then," Merlin promised.

"And also there is a creature here in this forest that requires your attention," the Lady of the Lake continued.

"What sort of creature?" asked Merlin.

"A young squirrel under an enchantment," the Lady of the Lake replied. And so saying she turned again to water and splurged downward into the lake once more.

A young squirrel? I wonder? Merlin thought as he turned and began making his way back through the forest.

He began looking up at the high trees which were now sprouting baby leaves and twigs on their branches. He could hear the sounds of baby birds singing as well. Finally he looked up and saw a squirrel scurrying along one of the higher branches.

He took out a small looking glass that was enchanted to tell him if something was enchanted. He held it up to his eyes and looked up at the squirrel. And, sure enough, there was a light around the squirrel that let him now she was under an enchantment.

Merlin then took out his wand and focused his attention entirely on the squirrel as he lifted it up and spoke the disenchanting charm.

"Snik, snak, snorem!"

Then there was a large puff of glowing dust surrounding the squirrel, and the next moment Merlin saw a small figure was falling down from the high branch the squirrel had been on a moment before. Merlin quickly cast another spell.

"Ho-versious!"

And then the falling figure floated slowly and gracefully down from the trees and landed neatly into Merlin's outreached arms.

Merlin saw that it was a young girl of about Arthur's age. She had long brown hair that was in lost curls and she wore a simple green dress and tan shoes. Her eyes were closed for a moment and then they opened wide and she gasped audibly as she looked around frantically.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You are in a forest and you just fell from a high tree," Merlin explained gently.

"Who are you?" asked the girl staring at him.

"I am Merlin, the world's most powerful wizard," Merlin replied. "And I have just freed you from an enchantment you were under. Now can you tell me who you are, my dear?"

The girl looked stunned and confused at the same time and then she spoke quietly. "I don't know who I am. I don't know where I came from or why I'm here. All I can remember is I am called Gwen."

"Ah! It seems that whoever enchanted you also erased your memory," Merlin said. "Well, I'm sure they will return in time. Now I shall just bring back with me to the castle where you shall meet with my friend young King Arthur."

So Merlin brought Gwen to the castle and they were met by Arthur.

"Sire, this is Gwen," Merlin said. "She was in the forest and lost with no memory of herself or where she comes from. Might I request that she stay here until we find out where she lives?"

"Of course," replied Arthur with a smile. "I'm pleased to meet you, Gwen." He added with a small bow toward Gwen.

She bowed back and said, "Thank you, Your Grace."

So then Arthur led Gwen up to a room in the castle where she would be staying.

"You must be a great King to have such a wizard as Merlin here with you," said Gwen.

"Well, I've only just started out being King," replied Arthur humbly. "I just pulled a sword out of a stone which only the rightful heir to the throne could pull. Merlin says it's my destiny, though I sometimes wish it wasn't."

"But I can see in your eyes that you will be a good King," said Gwen.

"Well, Merlin thinks so too," said Arthur. "But I just feel so responsible for myself now."

Just then they came to a large door which Arthur opened and gestured for Gwen to go into. "Here is your room, Milady," he said courtly. "I shall let you know when dinner is served. We will be having a few guests here tonight also."

"What sort of guests?" asked Gwen.

"Sir Pelinore, and Sir Ector and his son Sir Kay who were my foster father and brother before I pulled out that sword last Winter."

"Thank you for your kindness, My Lord," said Gwen with a neat curtsy before she stepped inside the room.