The three people standing in front of Gwen all seemed so juxtaposed. Their faces showed differing heritages, and their beauty in clothing and hair changed depending on which face Gwen's blue eyes landed on.

A waltz filled the room, and couples joined each other in the three-step dance. The room shifted around the four royals. Prince Arthur took Queen Theode's hand, but stared at Barbara as he disappeared into the crowd.

"Those two," the black haired servant said with a smile. "Will make a great pair on their thrones."

Gwen nodded. "Queen Theode is very beautiful."

Barbara's bright eyes met Gwen's own. "I couldn't agree more. And her heart is of forged gold."

"You think so?"

Barbara nodded, causing wisps of black hair to fall around her pale face. "Oh, yes. She's suffered great losses. She came under the crown when she was only five. That's when I was accepted as a servant, you see. Her caretaker, James, thought the Queen needed a woman to speak to who was her age."

Gwen laughed. "And so you two became friends?"

"I like to think we're more than just servant and mistress."

Arthur returned from his dance around the room then, Theode striding beside him. He smiled and held his chubby fingered hand out to Barbara. "Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, Barbara?"

Suddenly, Barbara's pale cheeks gained a rosy color. "O-of course," she stuttered. Remembering her manners, she added, "Your highness." With that, her fragile hand met his strong one and he danced away with her.

Gwen and Theode watched them in silence for a few moments. Barbara's feet kept stumbling over Arthur's, causing her face to split into a nervous laugh. When they turned, Arthur was staring down at the servant with a certain degree of love.

"She thinks you two are destined to be together," Gwen said, breaking the silence sitting uncomfortably between the two.

Theode laughed lightly. "I think they're more likely to end up together. I believe Barbara would make a just queen."

Theode turned, then, to look at Gwen and take in her features. Gwen turned to meet her blue gaze. "You will make a just queen, as well. And a beautiful one."

For once, Gwen felt what no man had ever caused her; a blush.

"I want you to know, Princess Gweneveir," Theode said, quieter than before. "That, if we were not in such a formal setting, I would ask to dance with you."

"And I would say yes," Gwen replied with a soft smile.

Theode's cheeks rose and her eyes brightened. "Shall we go out to the terrace?"

Gwen nodded. "I think that's a fantastic idea."

Theode strode then to the magnificent doors opened out to the cool night air. No one was out there, and she closed the doors behind Gwen. The night was dark, only lit by the bright castle behind the two girls.

Theode walked forward, leaning against the rails of the terrace. Gwen followed her, standing beside her. The wind rustled the blond hair on each of their heads. Theode's hand crept forward, to sit atop Gwen's.

There was a soft knock on the glass behind them. Gwen jumped, but Theode calmly turned to see Barbara and Arthur standing with smiling faces. Theode walked back and opened the grand doors for them.

They stepped into the wind, and closed the doors and the sounds behind them. "I'm afraid," Arthur said. "That myself and Barbara have run into a tough spot."

"What is it?" Theode asked.

Barbara smiled brightly at her mistress. "I have fallen in love with Prince Arthur. I never thought it would happen so quickly."

That is when Arthur frowned. His whole, beautiful face fell. His eyes, so clear, turned cloudy. "My parents, the King and Queen, would not approve of my being in love with a servant girl. They would never permit me to marry her, as I wish."

Theode stared for a while, then began to laugh. "Oh, Barbara. It seems we've both fallen into impossible loves."

"Ohh," Barbara's eyes widened as she approached her best friend, the Queen of Esporel. "Who has caught your attention, Miss Theode?"

Gwen stepped forward then, placing a supportive hand on Theode's shoulder. "I do believe I have."

Barbara's eyes went wide for a moment, but she brushed it off as Theode kissed the princess's hand. "Oh, that is rather strange. But I will not tell anyone."

"Nor will I," Arthur agreed. "We are both in troubled spots." He paused. "Perhaps, we could cover all this up by marrying, Queen Theode?"

"What do you mean?" Gwen asked. "How would that clear things up? I would be in love with your wife."

"But I could be with Barbara in secret, and you could visit your dear love regularly," Arthur replied.

Barbara smiled. "Oh, that's brilliant!"

Theode nodded. "I could see how that could work. Though we'd have to be careful."

"But of course," Arthur agreed. "Perhaps cover Barbara visiting me so often with an ailment? And Gweneveir's continuous visits to you with kingdom conflicts?"

"This sounds perfect," Gwen agreed.

And so, the two secret couples arranged their scheme, and it went perfectly. Secretly, Barbara bore the King and homosexual Queen a beautiful baby boy, named James. The original James had died only a month after Queen Theode and King Arthur were married.

The two dysfunctional and untimely couples lived awkwardly-ever-after, with their kingdom conflicts and chronic ailments. Little to no one assumed Theode was homosexual, and absolutely no one dared think that of the boisterously heterosexual Queen Gweneveir.

Everyone thought of Arthur as loyal to Theode, just as planned. Many, at first, seemed skeptical of Barbara, but she was soon labelled a prude. This was okay to her, since she had the King wrapped around her little finger. Her mother was fed. She had a wonderful, secret husband. Her best friend was happy with her secret wife.

And their lives stayed secrets for all that time. No one, until now, knew the truth of Queen Theode. Even now, you only know because I, Queen Theode, am writing all this down in a diary now. It must be several years after my death now. I hope so. If any of my people found this, buried in the courtyard, I would be ruined.

Tell me if homosexuality is accepted yet. I pray it is.

I pray my story is accepted.