As Arthur had said Natalia's things were quickly brought to her room. She thanked her servants and told them to rest themselves before the feast. Natalia hung her things and started to hum to herself until she heard someone knock at the door. "Come in," she kept organizing her things. "Excuse me," a female voice said, "but you are Lady Natalia?" "That I am, and what do you go by?" Natalia turned to the woman, subtly admired her curly hair and optimistically bright eyes. "I'm Guinevere, Arthur sent me to show you around the castle before the banquet. Is now a bad time?" She asked noticing the almost empty trunk. "Oh no, but can you help me choose which dress to wear." Natalia waves Guinevere over the wardrobe, "I'm thinking either this blue one or that green one." She pulls out the two dresses and both women look at them. "What about this one?" Guinevere grabs a brilliant red gown with long sleeves and quite a low neckline. "I do like it, but I'm worried it might them think of me as more of a pretty face with no brains than they already do." Guinevere nods understanding Natalia's dilemma. "Well then, the green one it's sensible, but is still feminine enough for them not to be offended or distracted." Natalia looks at the woman in shock, "I think that's spot on." She puts the other dress away, "I'm not taking you away from anything too pressing am I?" Natalia asks as they leave the room. "No my Lady, this is much more enjoyable than listening to someone complain about everything little thing." Natalia snickers, "Is your mistress that awful?" Guinevere shakes her head, "No, Lady Morgana is a dear friend of mine, but Lady Vivian-" she stops, "I'm sorry that was out of place for me to say such things." Natalia waves her hands in apologetic defense, "No, it's alright Guinevere, I took no offense." "You can call me Gwen if you'd like." "Then you can call me Natalia if you'd like." They smile at each other as if they were good friends and Gwen shows Natalia all the parts of the castle that she needed to know. "And that's all of the places you'll need to know, other than the physician, his office is downstairs at the end of the east wing," Gwen explains. They head back to Natalia's guest room, "Will you be at the banquet tonight Gwen?" "I'll be there, why?" Natalia smiles, but keeps looking forward, "It'll be nice to have a friend there in case I need rescuing or someone to talk to." Gwen smiled to herself and said nothing. Soon, they stood outside the room, "Do you need anything else, my Lady?" "Yes," Natalia said as she walked into the room, "could you just sit there for a moment while I get dressed?" Without waiting for an answer, Natalia rushes behind the curtain with the green dress they had agreed upon earlier. "Why do you want me to sit here?" Gwen asks as she sits down at the table. "So, you don't have to spend as much time with Lady Vivian," Natalia says as if that were obvious. Gwen sighs, "Thank you, I almost forgot about her." Both women laugh and soon enough Natalia emerges in the green dress, it's off the shoulder and fits her like a glove, but isn't too tight or distracting. "Hair Up," Natalia pulls her hair up with her hand, "or hair down?" It falls down onto her shoulders in slightly messy waves. "Down, but-" Gwen grabs a comb and stands up, "here sit." Natalia obeys and Gwen softly brushes her hair; smoothing out the natural waves in Natalia's hair. She closes her eyes, enjoying the soothing feeling of someone brushing her hair. "All done," Gwen whispers as she sets down the comb, "I should get back to Lady Vivian before the banquet, do you think you can find your way to the dining hall?" "I had a great guide," Natalia looks at Gwen with a calm smile, "I'll be just fine." Gwen nods and leaves Natalia with her thoughts. She thinks about how if she doesn't prove herself to her, she will never be taken seriously as a ruler. She sits with these thoughts until she hears Alined yelling at his servant, "Hurry boy, or we'll be late!" Immediately Natalia walks out the door, head held high; ready to face all those who doubt her abilities.
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