The Ward 2/?
Title: The Ward 2/?
Author:tudor_rose445
Rating: Pg-13
Characters/Pairings:Arthur, Guinevere, Morgana, Uther, Igraine, Merlin, Gaius, Arthur/Guinevere, Igraine/Uther, Morgana/Merlin?.
Spoilers: Seasons 1-3
Disclaimer: I own nothing. BBC owns "Merlin".
Summary: AU. The life of Guinevere, daughter to Sir Thomas of Camelot, has seemingly changed over night. After the death of her father and brother she is sent to the court of King Uther to become his ward. There she grows amongst the two royal children, Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana. Her time with the Pendragons will have a large influence on her life, and help to shape her into the queen of legend.
Chapter 1:
Gwen is presented to the royal family and has words with a hot-headed prince.
Author’s notes: Beta-ed by the awesome Guardian Izz at http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1910271/Guardian_Izz.
A jolt ran through her legs as her feet finally touched the ground. Hours of riding had left her feeling stiff and tired; it was no wonder her muscles wished to fall apart now that she was standing. She held onto Gregory's arms even after he placed her on the ground to help steady herself. Though they had stopped at an inn for the night, two days of sitting on a horse had tired her out. She squinted against the sun, which had risen quite some time ago, to look over the foreign courtyard. A few servants milling by on their errands caught her attention as they paused to indiscreetly eye the group. It was neither them nor the rest of her party dismounting their steeds, who caught her attention. Instead her small eyes focused on the high turrets and expansive walls of the castle. The building looked massive compared to the rather homey feeling of her family's estate. She only looked back down once she felt Batilda tugging at her hand.
“Come, milady. The Queen wishes for you to call upon her first.”
The warm, comforting hand on her nurse encased Gwen's smaller one. She clung to it tightly, too afraid to know what would happen if she were separated from the woman once more. Batilda had been with her since her birth after her mother's death. She had only been told in recent years how her mother had died after complications during Guinevere’s birth. At the age of five when Gwen had pondered over her father's behavior on her birthday she would have been unable to understand the instances of her mother's death. But this past year it had been explained to her by her dear Batilda after Gwen had badgered her about it the entire month preceding her birthday. Batilda was, for all purposes, the mother she had been denied.
Guinevere felt herself pale at the very mention of a meeting with the queen. She had always begged her father after his return from Camelot's tournaments to tell her every detail of the proceedings, or at least, the court proceedings. She didn't care very much about who won the joust or which knight proved victorious in the arena. It was court life with its dazzling queen at the center of it that intrigued her. Queen Igraine was known all over Camelot as being the epitome of all that a queen should be. She was said to be very beautiful and fair looking; there was no question as to why she had caught Uther's eye. She was gentle and a mother to her people, frequently giving alms to those in the lower town after Sunday mass. To become a lady-in-waiting to the queen was a position sought after by many young noblewomen in the kingdom.
To meet this fairytale like woman set Guinevere's heart racing. What if she didn't like Gwen? What if she thought that the girl in her wrinkled dress with tear-strewn cheeks wasn't worthy of being raised alongside her children? There was little time for Gwen to considers the 'what ifs' of her situation as she and Batilda were soon being led into the castle by guards wearing the arms of Camelot. Gregory was the only member of her father's guard to follow the pair, keeping a step or two behind the ladies.
The hall they finally paused at was eerily quiet, despite the hour. By the rumbling in Gwen's stomach she could guess the time to be not long after breakfast. She should have been eating her morning porridge by now before going down to her father's rooms to greet him and Elyan... Out of nowhere her vision became blurry as tears invaded her eyes; they were hastily halted by her hand, as she tried to compose herself. She couldn't see the queen like this.
One of the Camelot guards knocked on the door to the queen's chambers, followed by a feminine face peeping out a few moments later. The woman opened the door wider to admit the nurse and her charge into the regally decorated sitting room. Gwen tightened her grip on Batilda's hand as she observed the group of noblewomen hastily moving about the room. Two were clearing away the queen's breakfast dishes while another was gathering up the woman's discarded night shift. A maid was on hand to collect the laundry and dishes from the women before discreetly exiting. In the middle of the hubbub sat a smiling, blond haired woman.
Gwen felt her breath catch in her throat as she locked eyes with the queen, slowly dropping Batilda's hand. The stories she had heard of Uther's queen didn't do the woman justice. She looked every bit the fairytale princess that Gwen had imagined. Slowly the woman stood up from the empty table before her to welcome the girl. With a start Gwen realized that Batilda was curtseying, and that she should follow suit. Hurriedly she dipped into a curtsey, mentally thanking Batilda for enforcing etiquette lessons since she had been old enough to comprehend them. She remained in this position, unable to lift her gaze from the queen's hem.
Finally the woman spoke.
“Arise, dear. Both you and your nurse are welcome here.”
Slowly Gwen stood back up, dragging her eyes to meet the smiling ones of the queen. The woman took a few steps toward her before gently taking Gwen's hands into hers. “I am Queen Igraine, my dear, and I am so glad to have you join us,” the woman said, gently squeezing Guinevere's hands. “Although I wish that it were under different circumstances.” The woman's face fell into a small frown. “I am terribly sorry about your family, my child. I hope, that in time, you will view my family as your own.”
Again the dazzling smile appeared on the queen's face. “But you must be hungry, dear. Aren't you?”
Gwen finally found it in herself to nod slowly, wondering if the queen had heard her grumbling stomach throughout her greeting. The queen led her to the empty table before carefully pulling aside a chair for her. The girl murmured a 'thank you' before taking her seat. The woman pushed her closer to the table before nodding toward one of the ladies. The servant quickly exited the room before returning with a tray of food. Gwen's eyes widened at the very sight of it. She had had only a few meager meals over the past two days and the very thought of having an actual breakfast seemed to be a treat.
The noblewomen placed two dishes before Gwen as the queen took a seat across from her. One plate contained a few sausages along with two rolls that emitted steam once Gwen broke them open. The other plate held an array of fruits that looked so refreshing the girl had a hard choice of what to eat first. She hesitated, as if afraid of making a mistake concerning table etiquette. She was put at ease once the queen laughed.
“Eat, Guinevere; you must be starving.”
She ate her fill of the food before drinking nearly an entire goblet of milk.
The queen watched her silently throughout the entire meal, but her observation didn't make Gwen feel nervous at all. The woman seemed to radiate a maternal air without even trying.
After a maid cleared away the dishes the queen rose again.
“Your chamber has been prepared by now, dear. I'm afraid that we don't have much clothing for you yet. Once my husband sends men to secure your estate once more we will be able to bring your things here. But for now, dear, we can lend you one of my daughter's dresses. She is only a year older than you, so it should fit you well.” Again the woman took up Gwen's hand. “I'll show you the way; you'll be in the same wing as my children. You'll meet them both along with my husband at the midday meal.”
Gwen quickly looked over her shoulder as she was led out of the room to ensure that Batilda was following before turning her attention to the path they began to trace through the castle's corridors. As servants passed they paused to either bow or curtsey to the pair, and Igraine acknowledged them each with a small smile.
She turned down a final corridor before coming to stop outside a door.
“This will be yours, Guinevere. If there is anything that you need, you must ask me. Don't be afraid to ask anything of me.” She knelt down to eye level with the girl, surprising Gwen greatly. The surprise must have registered on the girl's face, as the queen laughed gently before embracing her. Gwen found her own arms wrapping around the queen, relishing in the feeling of being comforted. Finally the queen withdrew enough to look at Gwen, cupping the girl's cheek in her hand.
“I'm sure we will be good friends, Guinevere. Everything will be alright now.” She smiled once more before starting off down the hall, leaving nurse and charge alone again.
Gwen turned to her long-time friend, a small smile flitting across her face. The woman patted her head before leading her into the room.
The chamber was much bigger than the one she had had back home. This room, much like the queen's, held a sitting room that opened up to her actual bedchamber. The sight of a bed made Gwen realize exactly how tired she was. Without being asked Batilda helped her over to it before unlacing Gwen's gown. She held her charge climb up onto the mattress before tucking her in.
“Sleep, Gwen,” the woman whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed to gently stroke Gwen's brow. It didn't take long for the girl to fall into what would be a fitful sleep.
A few hours later Guinevere awoke to find Batilda frowning above her. She held a damp rag in her head as she carefully wiped at the sweat on Gwen's brow. “You were having dreams, love. Nightmares it seemed,” she informed the girl quietly as she helped Gwen sit up. The girl shivered as the images of the dreams came flooding back to her.
Her father, her brother...their blood everywhere....
She choked on a sob as she clutched at her nurse, allowing the woman to comfort her in an effort to chase the images away.
oOoOo
Midday rolled around faster than she wished it to. Her short nap had done nothing to curb her fatigue, and her nightmares had only made it worse. After helping her charge freshen up Batilda brushed out Gwen's curls before pining them back. The gown - a blue velvet number with intricate silver embroidery, fit just as well as her other dresses back in her own clothes press. Gwen's heart jumped in her chest as a knock resounded on her chamber door. Quickly Batilda went to it, admitting a guard a moment later.
He bowed carefully toward her before speaking. “The King and Queen request that you join them for their midday meal, milady.” He straightened up, taking her nod as accepting the invitation. He began to walk out of the room, Gwen and her nurse following him so as to not become lost in the maze of the corridors.
She kept her gaze focused ahead of her the entire walk in order to try calm herself. Meeting the queen had been stressful, but meeting the king would be even harder. Not to mention facing his children for the first time. They were to be companions and she would hate for them not to get along.
Two guards posted outside the door that they stopped at admitted them before silently exiting. Batilda gently prodded her forward before taking a step back out into the hallway.
For the first time since their hurried flight on horseback two days earlier Gwen was without her caretaker. She held her head a bit higher in an attempt to hide her fear before taking a few steps toward the waiting royal family. She curtsied carefully, pausing before the king and queen.
“Your Majesties,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. She kept in her position until the king himself rested a hand on her shoulder for her to rise.
She looked up at him with wide eyes, finding a warm smile gracing his face.
“Welcome, Lady Guinevere,” he began. “On behalf of my family we are quite glad that you have joined us.” He held his hand out to his wife, who readily took it to stand before Gwen. His voice dropped a bit lower as he took on a solemn tone. “Word was sent to me as soon as the battle happened. I am terribly sorry about your father and brother. Your father's body is being sent to burial as we speak; he will be given all the honors a knight of his caliber deserves.”
“Thank you, your majesty,” she said, finding her throat tight with unshed tears. At least now her father would be put to rest with her mother. She wondered idly if the two were together at this very moment. Is that how the afterlife worked?
The king gently patted her shoulder before the queen beckoned over two children. Gwen quickly tried to compose herself as the two children stared at her curiously. The young girl looked to be about her age, which must make her the owner of the dress she was currently wearing. A bright smile broke out onto the princess' face at the sight of a new playmate. The boy didn't seem that interested at all and, at the sight of Gwen's thinly veiled sadness, he appeared to be bored of the entire event.
“These are our children: Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana,” Uther went on, nodding to each child. “You three will become fast friends, I am sure.”
Gwen felt a small smile come to her face by the inviting behavior of the other girl. She had only had one other female child to play with back home and that had been Cook's daughter. To have another would be fun, especially as they were so close in age.
The boy, Arthur, seemed a bit haughty on first glance. Anyway, boys were boring. He was probably just like Elyan and spoke only of knighthood whenever he could. She inwardly rolled her eyes, but at the thought of her brother she felt a pang in her chest. Carefully she had thought back on what the king had told her of her father's immanent burial. Why had he not mentioned her brother?
She had no chance to ask as the queen began leading her toward the table for their meal. She listened quietly to their chatter as she ate, taking in bits and pieces of their personalities throughout the meal. Morgana went on about a new piece of embroidery she had started, while Arthur updated his father on his fighting progress. It was clear to Gwen that the king and queen adored both their children. Gwen felt like an intruder for most of the meal before the pair began to ask her questions. What did she like doing? How was her embroidery? Did she like to ride?
At the end of the meal she felt a bit more comfortable and didn't feel as nervous curtseying to the royal couple before they took their leave of the children. As soon as her parents exited Morgana was at Gwen's side.
“I'm Morgana!” the dark haired girl introduced herself, omitting her title. Gwen visibly jumped at the sudden appearance, while the princess gestured down to the dress that Gwen was wearing. “Do you like it? Mother had it made for me last year.”
Gwen nodded, finally speaking, “I do...it's very beautiful.”
Morgana beamed. “You can borrow it for as long as you want. I can wear something else. You should see-”
Her rant on dresses was cut off by the exasperated sigh of her older brother.
“Really Morgana? I doubt the poor girl wants to hear about your entire wardrobe.”
Arthur rolled his eyes before stopping a few feet short of them.
His sister gave him a disgruntled face before lacing Gwen's arm with her own.
“Don't pay Arthur any mind,” the princess began, making sure to speak loudly enough for Arthur to hear. “He's just a dung-head is all.” She stuck her tongue out at him in a very un-princess-like fashion.
Gwen could see that slowly Arthur was getting riled up. “It's no wonder why your betrothal with the Prince of Mercia fell through, Morgana,” he started, relishing in the annoyed look growing on his sister's face. The eleven year old boy's face was clearly flaunting a smirk. “After all, who'd want to marry a toad?”
Had Gwen not been paying attention, she might have not been able to grab Morgana about the waist in time to avoid her attacking her brother. She held the other girl back as Arthur laughed. Gwen felt her skin begin to bristle at his teasing.
“Whoever this prince is, he probably isn't as much of a bully as you are!”
Morgana stopped squirming, turning with wide eyes to look at Gwen. Arthur, for his part, looked surprised that this eight year old stranger had called him out on his behavior. For a beat or two there was silence in the room, and Gwen was afraid that she had gone too far.
Morgana's laughter cut the tension as she resumed her arm in arm position with her new friend.
“You had best watch out, brother,” she taunted as she started to walk toward the door with Gwen in tow. “You've got two of us to tease you now.” She laughed again before the two new friends exited into the hall.
Arthur frowned as he watched them, unsure of what to think of this new girl.