"The western winds were weak, but the northern winds knifed us, one by one, picking us off until it was just the pair of us left. The flames burnt into our minds, engulfing us wherever we went, however far we fled, they followed, growing larger by the second. And now, even with the smoke gone, I still heard their screams..."

¬

I awoke with a startle by the sound of clanging cups. Immediately looking around, I saw Gwen, Lady Morgana's maid. "Oh, my Lady I am so sorry, I was sent to come and wake you. The King requests your presence immediately" She explained with a sorry look on her face.

I shook my head, "No, no, it's fine, should you not be tending to the Lady Morgana?"

"She dismissed me and the Prince Arthur asked me to come wake you" She smiled gently, heading towards my dresses. "Now, which dress do you want to wear today?" She asked.

I sighed, "The grey one perhaps?"

"Of course, My Lady" She smiled, nodded and then retrieved my dress as I got up and headed behind the dressing screen.

"I've told you Gwen, you can call me Isolde" I smiled as I slowly undressed. Gwen was a lovely girl, and I was, admittedly sad she wasn't my maid as we got on so well. She was different to the other maids, she spoke her mind, she took pride in what she did and she always looked after others.

She smiled and chuckled, "I think My Lady is more appropriate"

As I slipped into the grey, silk dress I looked at my reflection - My deep, brown hair hung over my left shoulder and my eyes sparkled in the mirror. I traced the necklace that hung down onto my chest, it was my mothers that she had given to me when I turned 18. It shocked me to think that that was 5 years ago now just before...I stopped my thoughts almost as quick as they had started. The paleness of my skin made the gold stand out, it looked even more stunning when she wore it.

"I should go, thank you Gwen" I smiled stepping out towards my room. She nodded and said her goodbye's.

I traveled down to the hall where Uther was waiting. As I walked the halls, Sir Leon approached. "My Lady, the King sent me to get you"

"I am more than capable of walking alone, Sir Leon" I smiled as he walked beside me.

He nodded, "Indeed, he just wants to make sure you are safe, as does your brother especially on a day like today"

I stopped in my tracks. "So that's what this is about" I sighed. "I don't need babysitting, least of all today"

He turned to look at me, "No, well, yes, but no. We worry about you, just like we do every year. You may try to hide how it has affected you but we know, we just want to make it a little easier for you"

"Who's we?" I asked with a raised brow.

He paused for a moment, "You know, the Knights"

I nodded slowly, "The Knights...Right"

There was a short silence as we avoided eye contact. It was no secret that there had once been something between Sir Leon and I, but we put that to rest many months ago and now he was just a friend and a good one to my brother. He was a trusted Knight and one of the best.

He cleared his throat and spoke once more, "I should escort you to the hall, the King is waiting" I nodded and we both began walking towards the hall.

As we arrived, the two guards standing next to the doors opened, revealing Uther sat in his seat at the top of the table, with my brother sat beside him. "Ah, there you are! We were beginning to think you got lost. Sir Leon, thank you for bringing her here, you are dismissed" Uther smiled as Sir Leon bowed and exited the hall.

"Please sit, you two must be wondering why I summoned you here" The King gestured to the empty seat. I complied and sat, listening to what he had to say.

"5 years ago, the pair of you arrived on my doorstep, weary and afraid. You gave me the news that my dear friends, your parents, were taken cruelly from us by Cenred. And ever since, I have welcomed you into my home, taken you in as my own. Dain, you have become a valued Knight of Camelot, and like a son to me. Isolde, you are like my daughter, you bring spirit and grace to this court. I will always offer you refuge but every year I make the same promise, when the time is right, we will take back the kingdom of Islingdale" He explained, his voice carrying as he continued.

"These past 5 years I have watched you grow into warriors and I know, that you parents would be proud of who you have grown in to. To, your parents" He smiled, lifting his glass.

The pair of us followed suit, lifting our glasses, clinking them together and then drinking. We made small talk for a while before Dain stood and smiled, "We should be going, we have training" I nodded and stood.

"We? I didn't realise you were joining in on these sessions, Isolde" Uther asked, tilting his head.

I looked down at the ground before nodding. My brother chuckled, "Indeed, she has for some time now, you should Knight her, she's better than Sir Leon" He chuckled causing the King to let out a laugh.

"Is she now? Well perhaps I shall come and watch sometime. I never knew you were so interested in combat" He raised his cup to his lips and took a sip.

Dain snorted slightly, "Oh yes, ever since she saw me and Father dueling when I was a mere 13, she was insistent in learning. But we must hurry, or we shall be late"

The King nodded, allowing us to go and head down to the training ground.

¬

Once I was in the correct attire I made my way down to the training area. I never dressed in my full armour for the training sessions, I wore my 'outdoor wear'. A half dress, half trouser approach which a metal corset style to protect me. The dress part was almost like a coat, except attached. It was made of the finest leather, Dain bought it for me as a gift after I began joining him on patrols and venturing further out.

"You decided to join after all, Lady Isolde" Arthur smiled as he put his right glove on and picked up his sword. "Care to go first?" He said with a half smirk.

As I looked around, many Knights were gathered, watching and chuckling to themselves. I nodded and accepted Arthur's little challenge. "As you wish, My Lord" I drew my sword and nodded.

We stood facing each other. Our battle stance prominent as the audience watched. Among the crowd was Sir Leon, Dain and Merlin - Arthur's servant.

We circled for a few moments before I took a step forward, raising my sword to his side. He immediately raised his own to meet mine and the sharp sound of our blades colliding rung out. Pulling my blade away quickly, Arthur took the opportunity to strike higher, towards my chest. With a grunt and a slight struggle, I managed to match his speed and stop his attack, though he pushed me back and I lost my balance in a split second.

I didn't have a moment to consider my next move, I spun, my arm outstretched and my blade heading straight for Arthurs gut. I had an advantage to the men, I was smaller, quicker and agile. I fought with wit and speed, they fought with strength and power. Much to my annoyance, Arthur managed to block my incoming attack in the nick of time. Spinning on my heel again, I hoped to catch him out but he was too skilled and yet again blocked, striking harder.

The Knights began clapping, apludding their precious Prince, distracting him long enough for me to sweep his legs out from under him. His eyes immediately went wide and his jaw dropped and I placed the tip of my blade at his throat.

"It appears I won" I smirked as the Knights laughed, clapped and whistled behind me at Arthur's expense.

Gritting his teeth together with a stern look, he nodded as I withdrew my blade allowed him to stand. "You are improving, well done" The Prince muttered quietly.

"Am I ready to be a Knight of Camelot yet?" I asked with a hopeful smile.

He shook his head and laughed, "My father would never allow such a thing"

As I watched Arthur, I spotted his Father walking up behind him, clapping. "Ask him yourself" I smiled.

"Well done, well done" Uther laughed as he gripped his sons shoulder and peered over at me.

Dain joined me by my side and chuckled. "I told you Sire, she is skilled, I'm sure she'd be a great warrior"

The King nodded and chuckled. "Indeed, I'm sure she could run you all through given half the chance but sadly she is not a warrior, she is a princess"

I sighed, "My Lord, I wish to be a Knight, to serve you"

He shook his head and continued to chuckle, "There has never been a female Knight of Camelot and I don't intend for it to be you, your place is on the Throne of Islington, governing your people"

His words only angered me, "I cannot sit upon my throne because my home was taken from me along with my parents. They burnt in that castle because of Cenred! Until the day comes where we can take back our home, I wish to serve, alongside my brother and your son!" I said, my voice raised and my anger beginning to take over.

The King looked shocked as Arthur spoke up." Father, she is more than capable of handling a blade, she has proven that time and time again, you even saw it for yourself, perhaps consider it?" Arthur said, in a strong tone.

"Enough!" The King bellowed. "I have said no, your place is not handling a sword, your place is in my court. Now I will hear no more of this from any of you!" And with that, he took his leave.

I was left feeling a strange combination of emptyness and anger. I had watched my father and my brother go into battle time and time again and all I wanted to do was be a Knight.

"I'm sorry, Isolde, I tried" Arthur apologised with a solemn voice before he followed after his father.

I turned and looked at my brother. "Hey, I know how much you want this, but you can still come on patrols with us, at least you still have that, and I'm sure Arthur will let you join his hunts if you asked" Dain said, his words trying desperately to comfort me though they failed and so he tried another method - Engulfing me in a great hug, he muttered in my ear.

"You're so much like Mother. She would be so proud at how strong you've become, as would Father, you have his temper and stubbornness and you're true to your heart and your beliefs, like Mother. There's not a day that goes by where I don't think of them, or what happened and what you've had to sacrifice. C'mon, let's go for a ride, eh?"

I nodded slowly as he led me up towards the castle as the sun reached its peak. He kept his arm around me and held me close. Dain was the eldest but had little interest in the Throne. He had made it his sole duty to protect me after Cenreds attack and never had he failed, and never would he fail...