Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Four

Artura was sprawled across her bed enjoying her time in her cloud. Her chambers were her sanctuary. Artura didn't have to hide who she was here, this was her real home. And no not the palace itself, just her bed room. No one was allowed in without her permission this was her safe ground.

She knew she needed to get up and train, but the thought of playing make believe didn't sound appealing to her. So instead she sneaked over to her closet searching for the servant clothes had ah...borrowed.

Slipping them on and doing her hair she snuck out her secret passageway. Uther wanted a son so she made a deal she would do her part but he would give her a secret way out of the castle where she could leave being herself. He had agreed not realizing this would mean she would skip practice for it. The only reason he hadn't sealed it up -or at least what Artura thought were his reason- was because she was the best fighter and could miss one practice every couple of weeks.

And so down the stairs to play her favorite person herself. Artura had many different outfits for the many different characters she played. She had her: Arthur attire, rich girl clothes, and peasant serving girl clothes along with a few other random ones. She believed she was close to a serving girl so those were the clothes she wore when she wanted to be herself.

"Now to Gwen's," Artura muttered heading towards Gwen's house. Gwen didn't know she was Arthur, few did, but she had ran into her once and helped her with Morgana's chores. They have become great friends and Artura happily distracted Gwen to slow Morgana down.

As she strolled the street where no one gave her a second glance, well okay a few but not because she was royal or important but for other creepier reasons.

"Gwen so happy to see you once again!" Artura said walking up to the young women buying fruit.

"Alice, your back in town," Gwen said happily. Artura nodded, she felt bad for lying about her name but Artura was too close to Arthur she didn't feel like risking it, but kept up with the 'A' names. Her rich girl name was Arianna.

"Why yes I am, and I am here for a purpose," Artura said grinning at her.

"Oh no I know that grin. Alice I have work to be done I can't play another one of your silly games," Gwen reminded her. Artura jutted out her lip pouting.

Sighing she let her grin fall but took her basket away smirking instead. "Lets see what the dear old Lady Morgana needs today." Artura looked through the basket taking an apple and plopping in her mouth placing a couple cents in the basket paying for the apple plus a bit extra. Gwen snatched the basket giving her a playful glare.

"That is not yours to take Alice," Gwen scolded before glancing down at the basket gasping a small smile graced her face. "Thank you Alice. I don't know where you get this money, but I appreciate it."

"Don't thank me thank whoever the poor man was that I stole from." Artura replied taking another bite of her apple now remembering she hadn't had a proper breakfast. Gwen looked shocked and a bit disgusted as she pushed the basket towards her. Artura rolled her eyes pushing the basket back. "Gwen all money is stolen. In fact the biggest thief of them all is the King." Gwen slapped her arm her mouth wide open. Artura laughed again continuing, "He takes money from the people more money than he needs the only reason they aren't any higher are because of the Noble Morgana and the Pratish Prince Arthur."

"I don't know if those were insults or not," Gwen said cautiously holding back her own laugh.

Artura placed a hand on her chest dramatically gasping. "I would never insult Morgana. Prat Arthur on the other hand well I would like to see him take me down."

"You are slippery," Gwen said as she watched Artura eat the second apple she had taken from Gwen leaving her the same amount of money as she did for the first apple. "Now quit distracting me I'm suppose to be helping Morgana with her outfit tonight."