Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

On the edge of a small bustling village, a well tread dirt walkway leads to a cabin with a thatched roof nestled into the edge of a forest. Dew covered plots of herbs, mostly medicinal, border the front path with secure looking fences around each square. A low fog has finally started to recede into the trees and the sounds of chickens wrap around from behind the house. In the distance the creak of wooden cart wheels, chatter of farm animals, and crunch of footsteps on dirt become louder.

Inside the cottage, a young boy kneels by the fireplace, his attention absorbed with something on the stone tiles just out of reach of the flames. Behind him, a young woman stands at a long, worn wooden table up to her elbows in flour as she kneads a mound of dough. Her dark hair braided out of her face is already beginning to come loose.

‘Thomas, can you gather some mint please?’ Sebina asks while trying to move an escaped strand of hair with the back of her hand, smudging flour on her face. At the fire place, Thomas drops the burnt stick he was drawing with on the stone floor and bounds up to the table.

‘How much do you want?’ His brown pants, with soot at the knees, are just starting to get too short as he goes through another growth spurt.

‘One basket full if you please,’ dusting one hand off, she reaches up to the hanging pots, pans, and baskets above the table and hands him a small wicker basket.

‘Yes, milady,’ he says solemnly while doing an exaggerated curtsy.

‘My good sir!’ she playfully bows in return then ruffles his dark hair with her flour and dough covered hand. Running out the front door, basket in hand, he shakes his head like a puppy after a bath.

Just as his basket is almost full, the sound of horses approaching makes Thomas still. At the clank and flash of metal, he darts into the bordering forest, not forgetting to bring Sebina’s mint with him.

Sebina is interrupted from her dough by a sharp knock at the door. Wiping her hands on her apron, she answers the door and is greeted by the armor clad chests of two tall soldiers.

‘Milady,’ they bow and one presents a wax sealed letter.

With a straight back and clenched jaw, Sebina rips the letter from them and slams the door in their faces.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ she huffs to herself. Slamming the letter down on the table, she goes back to aggressively kneading her dough. A few minutes later she’s interrupted again by the muffled sound of arguing outside. The front door bursts open and an older woman waving her walking stick as she yells at the soldiers outside stomps in.

‘Not allowed into my own house, just you wait and see where you’ll be allowed when I’m through with you!’ Slamming and locking the door behind her. ‘Oh hi Sebina, how are you doing?’ she says effortlessly casual.

‘They brought me a letter from my father,’ she says through gritted teeth and slams the dough on the table. They can’t see it, but her knuckles are white under the tortured dough.

The older woman sighs and flops into her well worn chair. ‘My dear, that dough is lost.’

‘Ugh that bastard! How’d he find us?!’ Completely giving up on kneading it into anything useful, she sends up puffs of flour as she starts using it as a punching bag.

‘I have a feeling he always knew where you were and just didn’t want to bother with dragging you back. Have you read it yet?’ The older woman, Enid, points her walking stick at the letter on the table.

‘No. I’m tempted to burn it, but that might be dangerous.’ She glances at the letter like it might strike at any moment.

‘I’ll read it if you like?’ Enid offers, leaning forward and holding out her hand for it.

Before she can change her mind, Sebina gives the letter over.

‘By the way, where’s Thomas?’ asks Enid as she unceremoniously rips into the letter.

‘He was out front when they showed up, so he’s hiding in the forest.’ Sebina sets aside the dough to be used for something else and starts aggressively wiping down the table.

‘I guess you weren’t being paranoid teaching him that one after all.’ She’s quiet for a moment as she reads. ‘Huh,’ the older woman laughs to herself. ‘Your father wants you to come home or he’ll burn down my house. All this commotion with the new king has gotten all the Barons and social climbers in a fit. I bet you, he’s trying to angle for a higher position. Probably wants that sister of yours to be Queen.’

The mention of her sister catches Sebina up short. ‘Oh. No suitor was ever good enough. Now he’ll get in good with a new king who’s a stranger to all the politics of those idiots. And she’ll be caught right in the middle of it.’ Finally giving the table a break, she absentmindedly sits in a chair right behind her, ‘but I can’t go back. Gwen’s smart, she can take care of herself … right? I mean … she always was more under father’s thumb than I was though. She’ll probably see it as her duty to do whatever he wants.’

‘Not to make this harder for you, but you’ve heard the rumors of what happened to the last queen right? Even Vortigan’s wife disappeared the night Uther was killed. It’s not easy being married to a normal man, let alone a king.’

Head in her hands, Sebina squeezes her eyes shut as she mutters to herself, ‘no no no no, I can’t go back. I can’t. She’ll be fine. She can take care of herself. I just… I can’t.’

‘My dear,’ Enid leans forward in her chair and gently says, ‘it sounds like you’ve already decided. As much as you may hate it, you know what you’re going to do.’

Sebina looks up at Enid, tears gathering before the fall.

‘But I don’t want to.’ Flour hand prints on her face begin to streak with tears.

‘I know. But I think you know that you need to,’ Enid says with a grimace. Even though she knows it’s true, she regrets having to be right all the time. Being a healer, or a wise-woman as she was sometimes called, wasn’t a lonely business exactly, but it was nice being around people who weren’t in pain or in need of her services. For the first time in quite a while, she’d had someone to go home to, someone to ask about her day, and who’s day she could ask about in return. She’d gotten used to Sebina and Thomas running around, laughing, just being there.

‘Ugh how annoying.’ Sebina aggressively starts to rub off the flour and tears. ‘You’ll take care of Thomas, won’t you?’

‘Of course, for however long it takes him to realize this isn’t just another overnight trip.’

‘He can’t come with me. It’s too dangerous.’

‘I know that and you know that, but he won’t care. He won’t want to be left behind.’

‘Maybe I shouldn’t tell him. At least not everything. I’ll just say I’m going back to my father’s for a few days. By the time he realizes-‘

‘Do you really think he won’t find a way to your father’s? Or Camelot? At that point it’d be safer to take him with you so you could take care of him properly.’

‘I can’t risk it,’ Sebina says, shaking her head. ‘If I go back to my father, he’ll probably try to marry me off and Thomas will be in the way. If it looks like Thomas is preventing a good suitor, my father won’t hesitant to finish what he started. He’ll just be better prepared this time. Besides it’ll be easier to make a run for it if it’s just me. Although we wouldn’t be able to stay here-’

A cool breeze from the back door catches their attention as Thomas sneaks inside and drops his almost full basket of mint. ‘Why are the soldiers just waiting outside? I thought they would’ve dragged you away by now.’

‘They’re waiting to see if I’ll come willingly.’ Sebina sits and reaches out for him. He quickly settles into her lap. He’s almost too big for this to be comfortable, but they’re both looking for comfort as their past has come knocking.

‘I’m coming with you,’ he sits up straight and looks her in the eyes, determined.

‘You can’t. It’s too dangerous. Stay with Enid. I’ll just be gone a few days,’ she tries to sound as sincere as possible. She’s not really lying to him, right? How else can she protect him?

‘You won’t. He’ll keep you forever to punish you or marry you off.’ He hugs her tight as if he could physically keep her home.

‘I’ll be right back,’ she says consolingly, rubbing his back. ‘You know, he couldn’t keep me forever, even if he tried. I have my ways now, thanks to Enid.’ Sebina tries to smile reassuringly, but it’s hard to hide how upset she is at the idea being separated.

Thomas can’t muster a smile and just nestles even closer into her chest. Sebina is the only mother he’s ever known. After she’s sacrificed so much to protect him, he can’t even protect her when she needs him.

‘I need you to stay here. I’ll be back before you know it and I’ll make sure my father never bothers us again.’

An hour later Sebina steps out of the cabin with her chosen belongings. Her clothes, her book of lessons and recipes from Enid, and a kit of herbs, balms, and tonics. Enid watches from the doorway as Thomas peaks out behind her.

‘She’s not really going for a few days is she?’ He whispers from behind Enid’s skirts.

‘She’ll be back, Thomas. You have to trust her. She’s doing the best she can.’

As the party makes their way through the village Sebina had lived and worked in for the last five years, her neighbors and friends stare, quietly confused. Some even seem angry at the idea of her being arrested. Sebina tries to look confident, she doesn’t want to look guilty or ashamed, but like she’s just on another errand for Enid. Lord knows how soon everyone will rush to Enid’s to find out what’s going on. She hadn’t thought to come up with some story for the villagers.

Six hours of constant riding later, Sebina and the soldiers arrive at the castle that had once been her whole world. Everything looked the same, but felt distant, smaller somehow. When she looked at it now, she could see how tired and worn the servants were, the soldiers leering over them. She now understood why certain parts of the castle were always pristine, while others were falling apart. The beautiful nostalgia of her childhood felt hollow and cheap now that she could understand how much it had cost others.

‘Ah Sebina, finally.’ Her father barely glanced up from the papers in front of him. She stood in his chamber, in front of the desk she had always known. She’d traced the wood grain with her eyes every time he had yelled at her or punished her or lectured her.

‘Missed you too, father,’ she said with the smallest curtsy she could manage.

‘We leave for Camelot in two days. Gwen will help you get ready. Make sure to burn whatever clothing you brought with you,' he makes it clear she’s dismissed.

'No.’ She clasps her hands in front of her and stands up straight. She’s been preparing for this encounter for awhile, years actually, now with some more current modifications.

He stills, jaw clenched, and glares up at her without lifting his head. ‘No?’

‘I’m not burning my clothes and I don’t want to go to Camelot.’

‘I had hoped that you’re little jaunt had tempered that attitude of yours, but clearly you’re just as stubborn as ever. Did poverty and squalor teach you nothing?’ Putting down his papers and leaning forward on his elbows, steepling his hands together.

God he’s doing that stupid thing with hands. Sebina fights to not roll her eyes.

‘Little jaunt?’ She straight up laughs. ‘It was 6 years and you had to threaten me to come back.’

‘I allowed you some freedom-‘

‘Allowed? You just didn’t want to deal with me anymore and my running away saved you any blame of getting rid of me-’

He stands, punching the desk. ‘You are MY daughter. I decide what you will and won’t do,’ his face begins to redden as he continues. ‘I am not asking, I am telling you: you will fulfill your duty, forget whatever it is you’ve been wasting your time on and come to Camelot. Your sister is going to marry the king and you need to show that our family bloodline is healthy and strong. If threats are all that works on you then so be it.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need to do anything. You need me and we both know it,’ crossing her arms. ‘Yell and threaten all you want, but we both know enough people at court remember me. Any excuse you make for my absence will bring up questions and doubt, risking Gwen’s chance of getting you a king. So if you want my help, I have conditions.’

With a deep breath and an even deeper scowl, her father throws himself into his chair.

‘What do you want?’

‘If I go with you, you have to agree that I am free to leave once Gwen is married. You will not try to marry me off, you will not try to find me again. You will leave me and mine alone.’

‘Once Gwen is married to the king I’ll conside-‘

‘Oh let’s be realistic. That man is going to have all the Barons throwing their daughters and nieces at him. I’m not tying my freedom to the slim chance that he even looks at Gwen. My deal stands as is, take it or leave it.’

‘And what if I leave it? What are you going to do?’ He leans forward menacingly.

‘If you force me into this shit, I will do everything in my power to ruin it all for you. You were worried about what my absence might imply, just watch what I can do with my presence.’

‘You are a disgrace to my name and I’ll be glad to be rid of you,’ he spits out.

‘Likewise.’ She turns sharply on her heel to leave.

‘How’s that precious brat of yours? Still following you like a shadow?’ Even from his desk, his voice still manages to creep over her shoulder and send a chill down her spine.

She half turns around. ‘He’s dead. Died of an illness three years ago.’

‘How convenient. Well if by some miracle he turns up, just remember I still know how to hurt you if necessary.’ He glares at her.

An adviser briskly walks into the room, oblivious to the tension, and starts rattling off figures to Sebina’s father. Her father’s the first to break eye contact as he turns to his adviser. Sebina turns to leave, closing the door behind her, and finds herself alone in a large foyer. In front of her, the front door to her father’s castle and the main gate. She could probably make it before anyone asked too many questions. As she’s fantasizing her escape, she notices a small familiar figure slowly making their way through the main gate and head off towards the stables, clearly trying to be sneaky.

‘Seriously?’ Sebina whispers to herself.

‘Sebina!’ A voice she’d recognize anywhere draws her attention away from Thomas heading towards the stables and directs it to the top of a staircase behind her. A tall, brunette woman a handful of years older than Sebina smiles, tears in her eyes.

‘Gwen!’ The sisters meet in the middle of the staircase, hugging, crying, and finally collapsing on the stairs in tears. ‘You look like such a lady! I can’t believe it! I don’t think I would’ve recognized you on the street.’

‘Me? Look at you! You look like a worldly version of mom. I’ve missed you,’ Gwen sighs.

‘I’ve missed you too!’

‘Come on, father has given very clear instructions that I’m to make you presentable for court.’ Gwen stands, offering her hand to Sebina and starts to move up the stairs.

‘Wait! I- I forgot my things in the carriage. If I don’t get them now, father will have them burned,’ she rolls her eyes. ‘Give me a just a moment.’

‘Oh okay.’

Sebina dashes downstairs and out the door, muttering to herself, ‘where’d that idiot go! Ugh that little shit. Can’t listen to a thing I say, for crying out loud.’ Scanning the courtyard and not seeing him, she makes her way to the stables. Hopefully Anders is still the stable master, for fucks sake. Just inside the stable doors, a stout older man is hugging a young boy and patting him much too hard on the back. This man is used to horses.

‘Anders! How lovely to see you!’ Sebina approaches them, trying so hard to give a natural smile, but her frustration is showing. ‘Can you believe how big our Thomas has gotten?’

‘Aye Milady, I almost didn’t recognize him myself, but Buttercup here did. He can’t pull one past her.’ Pointing over his shoulder to the honey colored mare in the stall. Thomas, with a grimace of a grin, has the decency to look guilty.

‘You’ll have to give me some pointers how to train wayward colts, Anders. It looks like I can’t even get smart little boys to listen.’

‘Now, Lady Sebina, you should know as well as I that foals will be uneasy if their mother is put in harms way. Even if she wants them to stay, they’d rather share the danger than die of heartache and shame in safety,’ he chides.

Sometimes being around animals too much can make other people feel uncomfortable around you. It’s not because of the smell or the noise, but the uncanny way animals have of teaching you to see into a person’s soul and find the tender spots they’re trying so hard to hide. As frustrated as she was, Sebina knew Anders was right and hated it.

‘Oh fine, you’re here, but you need to stay as far away from my father as possible. I tried to tell him you died, but he didn’t buy it.’ Turning to Anders, ‘could he stay in the stables as a stable boy?’

‘Yes, Milady. He’ll be a big help and he can help take care of the horses when you lot go to Camelot.’

‘Camelot?!’ Thomas rounds on her. ‘I knew you wouldn’t come right back, I just knew it!’

‘I didn’t want you to worry and I had hoped you would’ve listened to me and stayed with Enid. But I guess it’s better to know where you are than wonder, so … I think you should come with us,’ she says reluctantly. ‘Thank you for your help, Anders.’

‘Of course, milady. I was quite happy to hear you were coming back and I’m glad I can be of help to young Thomas here. I’ll put him to work and keep him out of the way.’ He gives her a wink.

Thomas stares at the ground.

‘I have to go back in,’ Sebina bends down trying to get him to look at her. ‘Hey, I’m sorry I lied to you. I was trying to keep you safe, but I should’ve told you instead of keeping you in the dark.’

Thomas peaks up at her before darting his eyes back down.

‘I am glad you’re here with me. Even as we enter the lion’s den.’ She turns and starts to walk out of the stables when she feels Thomas’ arms wrap around her waist from behind. His head doesn’t even reach her shoulder blade. Putting her arm over his head, she hugs him back. ‘I’ll come check on you tonight, okay?’

Without a word, he nods and runs further into the stables where Anders is feeding Buttercup an apple. Her worry and doubt feel like a knife at the back of her throat. Steadying herself with a deep breath, she straightens her back and squares her shoulders. If she is going to keep Thomas safe and get them back to their real life, she has to help Gwen catch the king’s attention and that is going to take some work.

Chapter Text

‘Alright, let’s get you a husband!’ Sebina hops up the stairs to her sister.

“Ugh don’t!’ Gwen laughs as they make their way through familiar corridors. ‘I knew you’d hate this.’

‘Wha- I didn’t even say anything!’ Sebina puts up her hands. ‘I’m just here to help.’

Gwen rolls her eyes, ‘you’ve already been arguing with him, haven’t you?’

‘What did you all expect? I’d come back with my tail between my legs?’ Sebina rolls her eyes and loops her arm through Gwen’s.

‘Father certainly did, but I knew better.’ Gwen turns down a hallway, walking a few steps before being pulled back when Sebina stops suddenly.

‘Mother’s rooms?’ Sebina asks in hushed disbelief.

Gwen nods. ‘Father had me move in here once the new king was crowned. Said it would help me prepare for my future. Have- have you been in here before?’ she asks quietly.

Sebina clears her throat. ‘Once,’ continuing down the hallway. ‘Father was gone, to the coast I think, and I snuck in.’

‘Are you kidding me? How’d you get the key? I thought-‘

‘That’s not the only copy. I had to watch him for months, but I finally found out he keeps a copy in his office for Angela to use. As far as I know, she’s the only other person he’s allowed in here … until now.’

‘Of course you did,’ Gwen rolls her eyes with a laugh.

‘What’s that suppose to-‘

‘Wait, that makes so much sense though. When we first opened the rooms, I thought there would years of dust to clean and we’d have to air them out and everything, but it was actually not too bad.’

‘That’s great- what does “of course you did” mean?’ Sebina asks in a spot on Gwen impression.

Gwen laughs, ‘oh my god, I just mean you’ve always been … clever? Stubborn? Delighted to do anything father told you not to?’

‘It’s not my fault he makes ridiculous rules,’ Sebina grumbles as they finally come to a set of double doors and a hush falls between them.

Gwen gives Sebina a faltering smile and solemnly opens the doors. ‘I haven’t changed much, couldn’t get myself to do it.’

A suite of rooms opens before them. Even with fairly regular cleanings, the decades spent locked away weighs on the air, giving it a sense of hallowed ground. Entering in quiet reverence, Sebina can see Gwen’s newer and brighter things standing out against their mom’s faded fabrics and more earthen adornments. Just as she remembers from her brief breaking and entering as a child, small, faded paintings of nature scenes cover the walls, various sketches of Gwen as a baby and Lord Cadon mid-laugh. A small bookcase full of well worn books, rocks, and pressed flowers sits near the bed.

Gwen moves to a chest at the foot of the bed. ‘I found this when I was looking through her chests, I was hoping I’d be able to give it to you.’ Gwen hands Sebina a small bundle. Sebina holds it out in front of her and a small blanket unfolds. Half of it is embroidered with flowers, in one corner is her name in looping pink letters. Hugging it to her chest, she nestles her nose to try to catch a smell of her mother. Under the smells of dust and a fabric tucked away for too long, the smell of roses is so faint she can’t tell if she’s imagining it.

‘Thank you,’ she chokes out, a smile struggles to find purchase on her face. Gwen, teary eyed, rushes forward and hugs her.

‘I’m so happy you’re here. I know … you may not have been … excited to come back, but let me be selfish and be happy that you did.’

Sebina gives a wet chuckle. ‘Be selfish all you want, you should do it more often.’ Sebina pulls back from Gwen to look her in the face. ‘Gwen, you don’t have to do this. We could leave, right now, go somewhere he wouldn’t find us. I’ve learned so much, I could take care of you- we could have a good life somewhere he wouldn’t be able to hurt us.’

‘I know you mean well, that you want to protect me, but I want this.’

‘Why?’ Sebina asks, genuinely mystified.

‘Since you left, things have been… challenging. The raids to the coastal villages got worse. So much worse.’ Gwen gets a stricken far away look on her face. ‘Father let me go with him to try to help the survivors. I can still see their faces.’ She falls quiet for a moment. ‘Vortigan started trading with the Vikings directly on the condition that’d they stop and it was working. But there are rumors the King is stalling the trading, villagers have been trying to move inland, but it’s hard. If I marry the King, maybe I can help move things along,’ she gives Sebina a knowing smile, ‘and Father thinks they would be less likely to attack if we have such a powerful ally.’

Sebina finds herself at a loss for words, she even forgets to roll her eyes at the mention of her father. ‘What do you need me to do?’

Relief floods Gwen’s face, ‘thank you! Oh god, I’ll feel so much better with you there! Father had some new dresses made, but I’ve found some of mom’s that I want you try. I think they’ll bring us luck.’

Three days later, a day into their journey to Camelot, Gwen and two of their maids, Belinda and Lynette, are walking around after camp has been set up and see Sebina crouched amongst the trees picking at a plant.

‘Thyme?’ Gwen peers over Sebina’s shoulder.

‘Yea,’ Sebina answers looking up at them. ‘Good for coughs, sore throats, and congestion, among other things.’ She’s wrapping string around a small bundle before placing it in a leather pouch at her waist.

‘Lovely, if you’re not careful, I might try to keep you in Camelot just so I’ll never get sick again,’ Gwen jokes.

‘As if a huge place like that would be short on healers.’

‘True, plus I’m sure the king has his own personal physicians just for his household, but think how nice it would be to have my very own personal healer?’

‘From the rumors, you might need a personal healer,’ Sebina mutters to herself.

‘Sebina,’ Gwen warns.

‘I’m just saying, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Weird things seem to happen to women around these kings. Better safe than sorry.’

‘When did you become such a worry wart?’

‘I’ve always been a worrier, it’s just usually about Thomas.’

‘I’ll think about it, okay?’

Later that evening after dinner, one of Gwen’s maids, Belinda, finds Sebina coming back from visiting the horses (and Thomas).

‘Milady?’ She curtsies.

‘Yes, Belinda. Does Gwen need me?’ Sebina starts to stand.

“No, milady. I was wondering, if it’s not too presumptuous of me, you might help Lynette.’ Hearing that someone needs help, Sebina jumps up and starts looking her medicine bag. ‘She’s having some womanly issues and is feeling a bit too embarrassed to go to Lord Cadon’s physician.’

‘Of course! Let me get my things and throw something on. Did she say what the problem is?’ Sebina’s pace quickens and tone becomes business like.

At the maids’ tent, Lynette is grimacing, doubled over in pain on a pile of blankets rocking back and forth with her eyes closed.

‘What’s wrong, Lynette?’ Sebina asks as she kneels beside her and starts opening her bag, automatically looking for some herbs to relieve the pain.

‘Cramps,’ Lynette manages to get out through clenched teeth. ‘They aren’t normally this bad.’

‘Has your bleeding been normal lately?’

‘It’s been a bit weird. Heavier and longer the last two cycles.’

‘Okay, I’ll give you something to help the cramps now, then we can figure out what’s changed with your bleeding.’ Sebina pulls herbs from various pouches and mashes them together in a mortar before mixing them with some wine. ‘Drink this.’ Turning to Belinda, ‘heat some water, I’ll get a pouch for it. Placing that where your cramps are will help a lot.’

An hour later, Lynette lays dozing fully stretched out on her back, hot water pouch on her lower belly. Next to her Sebina had left a second dose of herbs and wine and instructed Belinda to get her if needed.

As they continue on their journey, word spreads amongst the women of Sebina’s deft healing abilities and patience. In the evenings she starts being approached by timid maids and servants about various sensitive issues they’ve been too shy to bring to the male physicians.

The party finally draws near Camelot on the afternoon of the fifth day. Lord Cador, fixated on making a proper entrance and having the King’s full attention, decides to make camp just a few hours from town and sends ahead some of the servants to prepare for their arrival.

In the late morning the next day, after driving thru the city, the retinue pulls into the castle courtyard. Various servants going about their daily chores come to a stop to watch the arrival and unloading of the overdressed travelers. A group of men training at one end of the courtyard lower their arms to watch the procession of carriages. The servants seem better acquainted with ceremonial arrivals and lining up by social standing, but the men look amused, if a bit mystified, and even seem to be laughing.

Sebina’s father, having had their arrival announced earlier that morning, is pleased to be able to formally greet the King, but finds himself scanning a King-less courtyard. As the entourage all rustle to adjust themselves and line up by rank, they evasively glance around for any hint of the King. When they finally settle and there’s still no sign of King Arthur, Sebina’s father approaches a maid.

‘The King, where is he?’

She curtsies and points him in the direction of the group of men, ‘Pardon me milord-‘.

Not even waiting hear the rest of the answer, he struts in the direction she pointed. As he nears the sweaty, half dressed men, he grimaces in disgust before announcing ‘I’m Baron Cador, I’m here to meet the King. Where is he?’

Without a word, all of the men look to a man seated at the edge of the training area. He stands and steps forward. He’s casually dressed in a white shirt, dark brown pants, and boots, and looks amused by all the pomp and circumstance.

‘Baron Cador, it’s pleasure to meet you,’ the man says and extends his hand. Baron Cador is in silent shock and dumbly sticks his hand out.

‘What the?’ Sebina starts at seeing a familiar face talking to her father. ‘Who’s that?’

‘Hm?’ Gwen, startled to attention by Sebina’s sudden seriousness, follows her eye line. ‘Oh I don’t know. Maybe a knight of the king’s guard from the looks of it?’

Suddenly, awkwardly, Lord Cador remembers himself and bows low to this casually dressed man, causing the sisters and the rest of their party to still and straighten just as he turns and starts to walk towards them.

‘Oh no. Is that the king?’ Sebina asks in an urgent whisper as the blood drains from her face.

‘I- I don’t know? It must be. Why?’ Gwen stares at her, concerned by how serious she’s being.

Sebina closes her eyes and says, ‘shit.’

Chapter Text

THE PREVIOUS DAY

The party finally draws near Camelot on the afternoon of the fifth day. Lord Cador, fixated on making a proper entrance and having the King’s full attention, decides to stop at an inn just a few hours from town and sends ahead some of the servants to prepare for their arrival.

‘Why are we stopping so early?’ Sebina says as she steps out of the carriage behind Gwen.

Mid-stretch Gwen turns back to Sebina and says, ‘we have to make a proper entrance, first impressions matter.’

‘Right meeting a king in the morning is so much better than in the afternoon.’

‘Any meeting with a King will go well as long as you speak as little as possible,’ Lord Cador walks up behind Sebina, making her jump. ‘Gwen, how are you feeling? I need you well rested for tomorrow.’

‘I’m fine, Father. Just stiff.’

‘Right. Good. Turn in early tonight. And wear your blue dress tomorrow, it’ll bring out your eyes. And don’t wear anything too flashy. We want you to look at your best, but not overdone, tasteful. You’re a queen in need of crown. He’s not used to high-born women, we don’t want to overwhelm him. He needs to see you as the asset you are but still feel like he can approach you. He’s only been king for a few months, so he’s probably still getting his bearings with suddenly being a noble.’

‘Yes, Father.’

‘And make sure your sister looks presentable.’

‘I will, Father.’

‘Good. Well, I’ll have an early dinner brought, nothing too heavy.’ He leaves.

‘Good lord, I’m surprised he didn’t tell you the exact number of braids to put in your hair.’

‘He’s nervous. This a big moment.’

‘I know that, but you’ve spent your whole life learning to dress like a proper lady and suddenly he thinks he knows better.’ Sebina enters their shared bedroom and heads for Gwen’s trunks. ‘Well, since we’ve got some extra time and you’re going to bed any second, I’m going to look around.’ From the bottom of one of Gwen’s trunks, Sebina pulls out the clothes she arrived in.

‘Why do you need those for a look around?’

‘To blend in. If I dress like a Baron’s daughter, everyone will treat me like one, and they won’t talk to me.’

‘People talk to us.’

‘People bow and scrap at us, it’s not the same.’ Sebina changes into her clothes, a white chemise, brown bodice and brown skirt. ‘I might be gone for a few hours, can you cover for me? Tell them I went to bed early like you?’

‘A few hours? Where are you going?’

‘I’m just going to look around.’

‘Sebina,’ an unspoken warning and question.

‘We’re so close to Camelot, this’ll be the easiest chance I’ll get to look around without all the bullshit and without Father watching me like a hawk.’

‘You’re going into Camelot? Are you crazy?’

‘I’ll be fine, I’ll bring Thomas with me.’

‘Sebina,’ weary pleading.

‘Thank you! Love you!’ Sebina leaves with a smile.

‘Shit! I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people before.’ Sebina, wide eyed, reaching for Thomas’ hand. ‘Stay close. I don’t want to lose you in the crowd.’

‘I didn’t know there were this many people in the world.’ Thomas hugs close to Sebina. ‘And we’re not really in town yet, are we?’

‘No, I think this is still the outskirts, technically.’

‘Spare a coin for a sick child, miss?’ A tired young woman wrapped in a tattered blanket sits on the ground with a toddler in her arms looking up at them.

‘What’s wrong?’ Sebina breaks from the stream of people heading into town, dragging Thomas along with her, and kneels down next to the young woman. The young woman looks taken aback to be directly addressed and looked at in the eyes.

‘I don’t know, miss. I think it’s a fever, but I can’t afford to take him to a physician. I can’t even afford food.’ Fighting back tears, the young woman holds her baby closer.

‘Can I see? I’m studying to be a healer.’ With in a few minutes, Sebina can tell it’s a fever with a cold. Being out of doors and with unreliable food is clearly making everything worse. Sebina takes off her cloak, and gives it to the young woman, helping her wrap her and the baby together. ‘I’ll be back with some medicine and food. Don’t move, okay? Try to keep him warm.’

‘Yes, miss. Thank you, miss.’ Her tears finally breaking free. ‘Thank you,’ she almost whispers.

Now with a purpose, Sebina and Thomas move with less timidity through the crowds. As they make their way further into town, more and more carts, stalls, and shops appear along the streets. The quality of the vegetables and herbs grow better the closer they get to the castle, which looms large over the city. Once they find what they need, they quickly realize they don’t have enough money to buy it all.

‘These prices are crazy!’ Sebina scoffs after leaving a stall.

‘What do we do?’

‘I wasn’t planning on buying anything today. I might have to find some money.’

Thomas perks up, ‘I’ve always wanted to see you pick pocket!’

‘Shh! I’m a bit out of practice, but I think I can manage.’ The hustle and bustle of the crowd and the chaos of the street worked in their favor. ‘It’s just about finding the right person.’

‘Why won’t you teach me? I could do it!’

‘I learned out of necessity. I don’t want to teach you to be a criminal.’

Groups of finely dressed glittering women, knights, and lords meander up and down the street, trying to be seen within their “natural” environment by each other. Up ahead of them a tall head on straight shoulders catches her eye. A man who was well dressed, but not flashy, strode down the street with ease. Whoever he was, he had the gravity of a full purse.

‘That one,’ she points him out to Thomas. ‘Okay, here’s what we’re going to do…’

Thomas runs up ahead and past their mark, turning to make eye contact with her at his designated spot. Sebina walks quickly down the street toward the man, bumping into him on the side she had seen him put his hand in his pocket. Just as she pulls a pouch from his pocket, a hand clamps around her wrist like a vice, and she’s spun around to come face to face with her victim. Amused clear blue eyes catch her attention, with a smirk to match.

‘That isn’t yours.’

‘Excuse me, sir, I don’t know what you mean?’

‘Don’t you?’ He was practically laughing. Thomas, watching everything go wrong, starts upending whatever boxes are near him and runs. The tender of the stall, screaming his head off, draws the attention of the whole street.

With the distraction in motion and his attention taken for a moment, Sebina moves the pouch from her caught hand to her free one and hands it off to Thomas as he runs by. Once he’s out of sight, she brings her heel down hard on the man’s instep and bolts the second his hand releases her. Running around the first corner she comes to, she almost bumps into Thomas. They quickly get as far away from the chaos as possible. Once even the sound of the commotion is out of earshot, they finally look at their spoils. While there are just enough coins to get what they need, there’s hardly anything else. Just a rough looking metal ring.

‘Weird. I thought he’d have more.’ Sebina slips the ring on her finger.

‘Should we just toss it? We shouldn’t be caught with it right?’

‘Eh, it won’t be hard to hide.’ Admiring it on her hand, ‘besides, I kinda like it.’

After buying some herbs, tonic, and food they leave town and find the young woman again. She looks surprised to see them actually come back, let alone with medicine and food. Having done everything she can for now, Sebina still feels reluctant to leave them to their fates. ‘Why are you out here like this? Isn’t there anyone who can help you?’

‘No one wants to. My husband was in King Vortigan’s service, he helped attack some of the resistance, now King Arthur’s people. So quite a few people feel like I deserve to suffer.’

‘Does the king encourage them?’

‘I haven’t dared tried to find out. I hear good things about him, but I don’t know how he’d feel about helping me.’

Thomas tugs at Sebina’s sleeve. ‘We need to leave. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be missed.’

With a last look at this young woman and her child, Sebina leaves, her brow furrowed. It’s a quiet trip back to camp. Thomas keeps glancing at her. When they finally get to camp, they separate outside of Sebina and Gwen’s very fancy looking tent. Before Thomas can head back to the horses were being kept, Sebina grabs and hugs him hard.

The next morning, the carriage bounces along with Sebina, Gwen, and Belinda all sitting stiffly dressed in their finest clothes. Sebina, quieter than usual, is still thinking about the young woman and child from the previous day and trying to not think about the tall man. As they near town, she keeps an out but doesn’t spot either the young woman or the child.

‘Oh no. Is that the King?’ Sebina asks in an urgent whisper as the blood drains from her face.

‘I- I don’t know? It must be. Why?’ Gwen stares at her, concerned by how serious she’s being.

Sebina closes her eyes and says, ‘shit. I robbed the King yesterday.’

‘What?!’ Gwen burst out before quieting herself, fervently looking between Sebina and the man with their father.

‘Oh my god! He’s going to kill me.’

‘Why? How?’

‘I swear it was for a good cause.’

‘Does he know that?’

‘No.’

‘Does he know it was you?’

‘Yup. He caught me, got a very good look at my face.’

Gwen’s face pales, ‘oh my god! Oh my god. Okay, it’s too late to pretend you’re sick or something, just try to not look him in the face, look at the ground or something.’

As their father and the King approach them, Gwen manages a tight smile and a well-practiced curtsy as she’s introduced first. Any thought of charm or a good first impression is out the window. All she can think about is surviving this interaction with Sebina’s head still attached.

‘May I present my eldest daughter, Lady Guinevere of Lothian,’ their father proudly gestures to Gwen, watching the King’s reaction carefully to gage her success, ‘and her sister Sebina,’ and doesn’t even bother gesturing at Sebina.

King Arthur politely acknowledges Gwen. As he turns from Gwen to Sebina, she keeps her eyes down and curtsy, completely missing his look of confusion. She can see his boots linger in front of her and she can’t help but glance up at him. Once they make eye contact, his confusion clears and his eyebrow pops up in amusement. She involuntarily gulps, fully expecting him to arrest here and now.

Instead, he turns to continue down the line to greet everyone else, with Lord Cador following. Gwen and Sebina look at each other, mystified at the interaction, not even daring to be relieved.

As the party settles into their guest rooms, Sebina and Gwen try to figure out what just happened.

Sebina starts unpacking her clothes, much to the dismay of Belinda and Lynette. Gwen dismisses them, for their own sakes. Once the door closes behind them, Sebina throws the clothes in her hands on the floor in frustration.

‘I don’t get it. Why didn’t he say anything? Why wouldn’t he punish me right away?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t want to admit that someone could rob him? Or he thought arresting you would be messy when dealing with father? He is just getting to know all the Barons after all.’ Gwen flops on her bed, the stress leading to some unladylike behavior. ‘Or he didn’t recognize you?’

‘He definitely recognized me. Didn’t you see his face? The second we made eye contact, it felt like he laughed right at me!’ Sebina flops face down on the bed next to Gwen and groans in frustration.

‘So far everything about him has been surprising. Belinda says the servants hinted that he was raised as an orphan in a brothel! Can you believe that?’

Sebina props herself up on her elbows. ‘So, what? He’s used to being a commoner, so he walks around town like one and doesn’t immediately chop off someone’s head when they’ve robbed him? As interesting as that will be for the kingdom, I just want to know what it’ll mean for me?’

‘Maybe just stay out of his way as much as you can. I’ll turn on the charm and hopefully you’ll be able to get out of here with your head. On your shoulders, if we’re lucky.’ Sebina drops her head back onto the bed and kicks her legs in frustration.