Profound Bond

Chapter 2

The next day, Bella woke early in the morning, feeling good to be back in her old bedroom. The previous night, Merlin had offered up the room for Bella to sleep in, even though it now belonged to him. She had gratefully accepted the offer but promised him that she'd not be a permanent resident.

After sitting up and rubbing her eyes, Bella decided to take a walk around the castle. Although she knew almost every detail about the it, being absent from the place for two whole years had made her curious to explore.

When she went outside, she spotted Arthur out with his knights on the training field. He had just finished beating one of them in a sword fright. The knight had a sword to his chest. Arthur had most certainly won that fight.

To Bella, the fight seemed a little unfair. After all, Arthur was the prince. It wasn't as if any of his knights would dare to hurt him. Before she could say anything about it, Sir Leon stepped forward.

"I'll fight you next, sire," he said quite loudly as he unsheathed his sword. Sir Leon was an very good friend of Bella's and Arthur would surely win. She couldn't stand and watch Leon being beaten, so she decided to walk away.

Just as she was leaving to explore some more, she heard Arthur call her name. He soon came jogging up behind her, and she stopped for  him.

"Bella, my father would like to speak to you. He will see you in the Throne Room," Arthur informed her, looking straight into her eyes. Bella nodded to him and smiled as a sign of thanks.

As she approached the grand wooden doors of the Throne Room, she could hear Uther speaking with Gaius.

"Is she ok?" asked Uther with a sense of worry in his voice, "She's not hurt?"

"She's perfectly fine, sire," said  Gaius. Bella pushed the doors open and entered the room, thinking that now was the best time to enter.

Uther sat upon his throne, his eyebrows furrowed nervously. Gaius stood with his back to Bella, just in front of the king. When Uther spotted her, his expressions brightened with joy and relief.

"Hello your majesty, how are you?" asked Bella, bowing to the king.

"You're back," he said quietly, happiness evident in his voice.

Gaius saw this as an opportunity to excuse himself from the room, and with one final bow to the king, he left. As soon as he was gone, Uther's face turned from happy to angry.

"Why did you leave?" he questioned imposingly, although he looked at her through watery eyes. "I made a promise to your father to keep you safe. A promise I have tried to keep for many years. Why did you leave?!"

"I had to find who my mother was," Bella blurted out, looking Uther straight in the eye. It was important to look Uther in the eye when she talked about her mother. He had a soft spot for Bella and she knew it. She trembled her lower lip and let a single tear run down her face.

"Oh, Bella," Uther said sympathetically. He had given in to her, just like he always did when she cried. "I know you want to find out who your mother is... but maybe it isn't the wisest thing do do. You might not like what you find."

He stood from his throne and hugged the crying girl.

"As you godfather, I have to make sure you are safe at all times," he said as he had so many times before.

"I know, I know," said Bella with a smile gracing her lips. "There are people out there who would just love to get their hands on me."

Her smile seemed to cheer Uther up and he returned a happy grin.

"Now, Arthur said you had a job for me?" asked Bella, breaking the moment between them.

"Indeed I do," said Uther, looking and feeling much more cheerful. "You can have your old job back. But unfortunately the position is already occupied by Guinevere. I have spoken to her and she is happy to share."

He knew for certain that Bella would be happy about this. Just as he expected, Bella's face lit up.

"Oh, thank you!" she said excitedly with a bow.  She was so happy to have her old job back. As it was to be the maidservant to the beautiful Lady Morgana. A woman to whom she had been a servant and loyal friend of for a long time.