Two of the Same

Chapter one *Gwyn*

Chapter One *Gwyn*

Thirteen years later...

An arrow whizzed through air landing into the center of the target with a satisfying THUNK! Gwyneth lowered her bow; a small smile crossed her pale rose lips.

"Bulls eye again my lady, that puts you at" A young squire peered at the chart in his hands, his hat sliding down over his eyes and his blue plum tickling his nose, he struggled with the wardrobe malfunction and Gwyneth couldn't help but laugh.

"Thirty two Carter, and I think that will be enough for today." She said pushing his feather back from his forehead and giving him a warm smile, visibly melted at the sight of her beauty.

"Yes My Lady, of course." Carter said quickly taking the bow from her as she passed him. Gwyneth walked across the large court yard, the green grass soft, emanating the life of summer. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath letting the sun warm her face. The sun threaded its self into her hair, like black onyx it glowed with a life of its own. She tossed her hair off her shoulders and the sun danced off a curious silver streak within the darkness, like a comets tail as it blazes across a star riddled midnight sky. She sighed deeply no matter how bright a beautiful the day was Gwyn could never shake the constant nagging at the back of her mind, the constant wondering if there were something more out in the world, out beyond the walls that confined her body and her heart.

"Is there something wrong Highness?" Carter asked quietly taking a few tentative steps forward to her side. Gwyn was quite for a long moment as she looked out across the city before her and to the sea.

"Do you ever wonder Carter if there is something more out there for us?" she asked aloud finally still watching the sea longingly.

"Milady?" he asked confusion evident in his voice. "I don't quite follow."

"No I don't suppose I do either Carter," she sighed discontentedly "I just can't help but wonder if there is something more, if there is something of more importance that I was meant to do, someone I was meant to be. I want to make a change not just watch the world change before me."

"But my lady you are a princess! How can you think you are not important?" Carter objected and Gwyn sighed knowing that no one would understand that the feelings rushing through her heart, the longing to have something to live for. She couldn't help but long for someone to understand the emptiness that resided in her heart. Instead she smiled, wearing the courtier's mask as she always did, as she always had done; she did as she had been taught all her life and though she wore a smile she felt no happiness touch her eyes.

Without warning a shrill scream pierced the air, changing the serene mood to one of fear in a drastic moment. Gwyn jumped her veins filled with adrenaline as her hand went instinctively to the sword that was sheathed at her hip. In a moment she was racing to the wall of the courtyard that separated the castle from the city bellow. In a single bound she landed herself on the lowest tree limb of a large gnarled oak tree that stood towering over the castle wall. With cat like agility she climbed the tree and landed on the top of the wall. Her eyes scanned the crowd bellow her and there she saw the commotion.

In the market place the usually daily crowd of buyers and sellers were present except now they were rushing to and fro in confusion, trying to escape as two large and hairy beast advanced upon them. Their clothes were shredded and they were walking on their hind legs as tall as two men their teeth shown from behind their snarls and foam dripped from their trembling lips.

Lucians Gwyn's mind reeled in confusion. 'Why are they attacking now, is this a sign of war?' just the one of the creatures lurched forward striking out at a woman as she tried to escape and suddenly Gwyn was racing down the wall and towards the crowd sword drawn, her teeth barred in defiance. With a clash of steel and teeth Gwyn blocked the Lucian with her blade.