Lady Scarlet of Camelot

Chapter 6

Over the next month, I settled into life at the palace. I take most of my meals with the Pendragon family, as well as trying to get used to my new role. Morgana and I hang out and enjoy each other's company almost daily. I send up a silent thank you to my mom for making me learn how to sew. I am working on a new dress that I will be able to wear to the tournament that will be coming up in a month. The dress is red with gold designs on it. The Pendragon coat of arms stitched, well, when I am done, on the train. The night before the tournament if my brother has not been found, Uther will announce me as his Royal Ward.

I listen to Morgana complain about being unable to walk about the marketplace alone as I stitch. My own sense of a golden cage understanding. Gwen and Isabella are working on patching any of our clothes that need it as well as keeping us well stocked on food. That has been one of the things that has let me gain my weight and strength back. That, along with Leon and Morgan accompanying me on walks in the afternoon, "I mean, I just want one hour without having people look at me or follow me around the market trying to gain favor with King Uther through me," Morgana flops down on her bed.

I give a chuckle, "I mean, why couldn't we," I whisper after setting my work down and moving over her way, "Isabella keeps her extra clothes in my room since she sleeps in there most time."

"Gwen," Morgana calls her over, "I need you to go a fetch some..."

"Apple thorn," I finish for her, "We want to make something special for Uther and Arthur this evening, and we need Apple thorn."

"Of course," Gwen stops what she is doing.

"Isabella, why don't you join her," I add, "Take your time and pick up some more gold thread on the way back."

"Of course, My Lady."

Waiting a few minutes after they left, we headed over to my room and quickly changed. We must have been giggling too loudly because just as we finished changing, a knock came on the door, "Who is it," I asked.

"It's Arthur. May I come in?"

"No," Morgana shouts quickly.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, we're just...." I rack my brain, "trying on some new dresses. So you can't come in."

"Alright. Both of you will be joining us for dinner this evening?"

"Of course, we will see then," we listen as Arthur's footsteps fade into the distance. Pulling our hoods over the tops of our heads, "You ready?"

Picking up her basket, "Yes."

I hide my coin bag, and we begin our mission of sneaking out. Sticking to the servant stairs and back hallways, we slip out the back and out into the village. We must continue wearing our hoods as the Knights of Camelot patrol the village. I keep an eye out as Morgana takes us to the first food chart. I am almost not able to keep up with her as she hurries from story to chart and onto the next.

"Scarlet," she calls out, looking at some apples. I hurry over and look them over deciding that I will cook these for the men tonight.

"I know how to cook these," I look over and pick out about fifteen apples, "How much for these," the owner asks fair price, and I pay.

"I think we should head back," Morgana states after a few more charts.

"Are you tired," we still had plenty of time before I needed to be back to cook the apples.