❝ 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘 𝖔𝖋 𝖆𝖓 𝖊𝖆𝖌𝖑𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖔𝖉𝖞 𝖔𝖋 𝖆 𝖑𝖎𝖔𝖓 ❞
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[ 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈, 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐕 ; 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒕 ]

          𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 the warmth upon the town of Camelot, spring still holds on, the sight of every vibrant and blooming flower proves it, telling that spring was still amongst them. This near-perfect day seem to have brought the people out of their homes to enjoy the warmth and the sun.

          The fiery redhead girl stepped out of her home with a basket full of damped clothes and blankets. She hung them over the string by her home to let them dry. She admired how beautiful it was outside, she heard the birds singing, she always thought when the birds are singing, it meant that it is going to be a good day. Jenny's hair was braided in one, her long braid laid over her shoulder and across her chest, her braided hair also had little white flowers within them, she wore a long, sleeved mossy-colored dress, the skirt was long down to her ankles that she didn't need to worry of tripping or stepping on her own skirt.

          Her dog barking caught her attention as she was finishing hanging the damp clothes, she followed the dog's glance, he was barking at the familiar boy walking toward their way. Wearing the usual red tunic, but no mud-colored jacket or the blue scarf. "Going berry-picking, Merlin?" she asked with a smile when the boy was about to walk by her home.

          Merlin looked down at the basket he was holding, "Oh, yes, well, not berries though, Gaius asked me to pick up some mushrooms, you know, ingredients" Merlin thought this would be easy to ask the girl about a simple favor, but his chest thumped, slightly anxious. "I hope this isn't too much to ask, but you mind if you could show me the best place for berry-picking?"

          Jenny sometimes forget that Merlin has yet to know Camelot much, still hasn't been that long since he arrived town, but she was happy to show him the place, that would mean that she has to go with him instead of giving him complicated directions. "Oh, not at all, wait for a moment here" Jenny went inside her home to let her mother know she's heading out with Merlin and grabbed a basket of her own in case if she wants to pick some berries and mushrooms as well.

          She came out of her home and her mother stood outside by the doorstep as she was talking to Merlin, "Keep her out of trouble for me, will you, boy?" she asked the boy, "She's been involved with a few troubling recently, look out for her"

          "Will do, ma'am" Merlin promised and grinned while letting out a soft chuckle.

          Jenny, slightly annoyed, "And what trouble will catch me out there, mum? I'll be fine. I won't be out for long" she smiled at her mother, Jenny and Merlin walked side-by-side as they made their way out of the gates of Camelot while Myriam waved at them bye even though the two were not looking back at her and Jenny's dog were on their trail.

          The breeze began to pick up when Jenny and Merlin walked into the forest, the leaves coating the trees were dancing and clapping as if the nature itself was in such joy to have the two walking on it's grounds and the birds welcomed the two with their singing. Jenny guided Merlin through the forest from the gates of the town, crossed a mere bridge over a mucky river, strolled through a meadow that is full of colorful and different types of flowers that brought Merlin into amazement before Jenny snapped him out by calling his name and proceeded to follow her.

           "You never told me why the King hates you? I haven't forgotten our conversation the other day," Merlin recalled, though it's been a month or so since that day had passed, Jenny remembered it was the week of a tournament. "We never find the time to talk to each other, have we?"

           Jenny nodded, "It's been quite hectic since then, hasn't it? Not our fault that we never find time to spend some time together and get to know one another" she was glad that they got the time now, truly she barely knows the boy and he barely knows the girl. All the time, they've been quite busy with their own work, Merlin being Prince's servant and Jenny taking care of the people while working her own job.

           "I've heard from Arthur calling you and preferring you as Jenny of Oldstones, I've been wondering why" He once tried asking Gaius about her, but the old man shrugged it off and said that it wasn't his place to tell.

           "You've never heard about the Oldstones?" Jenny was quite surprised that he has never heard of the place and the story about it. Merlin answered by shaking his head. "Well, there are plenty of stories about that place. Some say it's the home of a God called The Triple Goddess, reason for that is the three giant stones that stands in the Ruins of Oldstones, the giant stones are the Oldstones, the three stones represents the Goddess; the Maiden Huntress, the Mother Goddess and the Death Crone, as what some theorize. So people call me Jenny of Oldstones because I was found there when I was a baby, my mother found me, all alone and abandoned. People like to make up stories about me like I was born there, maybe I was sent by the Gods, which sounds silly to me."

          "And Uther despises you because . . . " Merlin had a hunch though.

          "He thinks I'm a sorceress, a witch, druid . . . you name it. Because of where I was found, I think he believes some stories about me, despite no evidence of me being a witch. It's why he was so quick to judge that I caused the plague. If I was a sorcerer, I'd be dead long ago, wouldn't I?" Jenny giggled softly.

          Merlin didn't share a laugh with her, he found it rather absurd over the King believing this sweet and innocent girl to be a witch. He has seen how a lot of townsfolk adore her, like her presence brings happiness and joy all around her, her smiles tells the entire world that everything will be okay. If her absence is around Camelot, the world would stop and bring the desolation upon them.

          "Enough about me, what about you? What brought you to the great and the glorious Camelot?" The two were in the woods as they stayed on the trail and Jenny's dog wandered off who was last seen chasing a squirrel several moments ago, the dog's barks can be heard almost faintly like he wasn't that far out.

          "My mother sent me here to see Gaius, they're old friends," Merlin answered but halted his honest answer, he can't spill the truth to the girl, no matter how badly he wanted to tell her the truth because she's his friend and one he could trust with his life. He doesn't really know her true point-of-view towards magic. Maybe it's not the right time to tell. It hadn't really been that long since they met. The tingling in his heart is something he can't stop when he's around the girl, "I wanted to see this place. Originally, I only came to visit Gaius for a bit . . . that was the plan until I ended up saving the Prince's life . . . and was given a job as his servant"

          "So you weren't supposed to be here this long" said Jenny and Merlin replied with nods. "But it's like you're meant to be here . . . Your true destiny to be the Prince's servant" she joked.

          Merlin groaned as he smiled, "Maybe you're right," he tried to laugh, his laugh sounded strange that he unintentionally squealed in his throat. He cleared his throat awkwardly, "Sorry, excuse me, I don't know what that sound was I just made" while Jenny held her laugh in.

          The morning shift to noon when Merlin and Jenny went scavenging for the specific ingredients that Gaius wanted, Jenny was blueberry picking for her mother while Merlin examined and picked up mushrooms he found nearby. Not long before the birds had suddenly stopped singing, it is believed that there's either a storm coming, the sun is setting . . . or something dangerous is near.

          It was danger.

          Their berry or mushroom picking was interrupted by the unsettling, startling and piercing screech, Jenny was standing ahead from Merlin when she saw him beginning to run toward her way and loud thumping hoofs galloped behind the boy, a monstrous and uncanny-looking creature was chasing the boy, the creature had a head of an eagle, large body with a thin tail and large wings. "Run, Jenny!" Merlin urged as he was running, she nearly hesitated as she didn't want him far behind.

          As she was running, she didn't notice Merlin had tripped, falling behind from Jenny. Out of nowhere, a young man pulled the girl around the tree while Merlin scrambled back as the creature charged at Merlin, but the creature drew closer and Merlin prepared for the creature to make it's deadly blow. Jenny hid by a nearby tree and watched an unfamiliar man charging at the creature with his sword readied, finally noticed Merlin on the ground ahead, "Merlin!" she screamed.

          The mysterious young man yelled out, grabbing the creature's attention and he swung his sword at the creature. Jenny rushed forward while the creature's attention was on the man, she grabbed Merlin's arm, pulled him up to his feet as their eyes were on the creature and saw the man's sword broke when it clashed on the creature. The sword made no damage, not a scratch on the monster.

          "Run! Run!" The man urged the two. Jenny had to pull Merlin to run, not letting go of his hand to make sure he doesn't fall behind or trip again. Three of them were running while being chased by the creature, keeping on the trail until they ran onto a fallen tree, they jumped over it, ducked down and hid. The creature had jumped over the tree, lost the interest of the three that it flew away towards the sky.

          Merlin and Jenny gazed up where the creature had flown to, there was no sight of it, just it's screeching sounds fading as if it was further and further.

          "It's gone . . . I hope" Jenny sighed in relief. She looked over Merlin, glanced at the man, he was breathing heavily, she never seen him before, he had olive skin, long black thick hair, tall and built, he was young, almost a man, could be near Cedric's age, but slightly older.

          "You saved our lives," Merlin was grateful, "I'm Merlin and this is Jenny" he raised a hand for a shake.

          "Lancelot" the man replied as he shook Merlin's hand. He was still panting tiredly and was weak.

          "Are you all right?" Jenny asked.

          He didn't answer, instead he fell unconscious. There was a wound on his waist, slowly bleeding through his tunic, he got hurt by the creature while he was fighting. Jenny and Merlin quickly checked on him, looked at the wound.

          "He's bleeding out--" Jenny thought quickly before ripping off a part of her fabric from her long skirt, just the lower part and pressed the fabric against the wound. "We should get him to Gaius"

          "Yes, uhm-- can you make it back with a cart or anything that'll carry him?" Merlin said.

          Jenny nodded, "You hold this, keep pressure on it as long until I come back" Merlin did so, she was on her feet, "Okay, I'll be back as quick as I can" She started running and hoped that the creature doesn't come back.

          After an exhausting journey back to Camelot, Jenny and Merlin managed to make it to Gaius's chambers with an unconscious man who calls himself Lancelot. It was evening when they arrived the castle. The wound was already stopped when Jenny arrived back to the forest with a cart and Lancelot got feverish. Gaius stitched the wound and rubbed some sort of a medicine around the wound to make sure it doesn't infect more.

          Jenny was sitting by the bedside and Gaius had finished treating Lancelot, "The wound itself is superficial. The fever will pass. He should be fine by the morning" the physician assured.

          "That's good" Jenny was slightly relieved, she was grateful for Lancelot, she can't imagine what would happened if he didn't show up, "Merlin and I would've been so unfortunate if he never showed. I've never seen him around, I doubt he's from here"

          "Nor have I," said Gaius, "Perhaps a wanderer"

          Jenny stood up, she knew Lancelot was in good hands and he was okay. She's been out of home since morning and knew her mother must be worried. "I should get home before my mother goes mad, I'm sure Lancelot is in good hands"

          "Certainly," Merlin nodded and smiled. Jenny was about to leave the chambers until Merlin called her as he approached her, "Jenny . . . I'm sorry about today, if I had known that we were going to get attacked--"

          "Oh no, don't apologize, none of us knew. We're alive and well, that's what matters"

          "I suppose if it wasn't for Lancelot," He and Jenny glanced across the room, looking over at Lancelot.

          "Yeah," Jenny nodded, "Give him my thanks when he wakes up, will you?"

          "Oh absolutely" Merlin said.

          She smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow" she left the chambers.

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          Jenny shared the news of what happened yesterday when she and Merlin went berry-picking to Cedric only while she avoided telling her mother, Jenny worried that her mother might not allow her to leave outside of Camelot's gates again, at least for a long time.

          "Don't tell my mother about it, I don't want her to worry" Jenny told Cedric. She was finishing up organizing the dresses, hanging them outside of the stand and the marketplace continues to be a busy place since morning, filled with citizens and outsiders.

          "So this . . . creature was half-eagle and half-horse? What was it?" Cedric was confused.

          "Face and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse . . . or a lion, " Jenny was unsure, "I don't know, never seen nor heard of a creature like that. Not from what I've learn from Gaius before . . . I think" she furrowed her brows while thinking and digging deep into her childhood memories of the times she goes to the physician's chambers to learn from his teachings and his hundreds of books. Before she was a seamstress and a part servant for Morgana, she wanted to be a physician and learn at young age, Gaius being her teacher, sometimes when he wasn't around, she'd sneak to read a book that she shouldn't be reading.

          "What about the young man who saved you both?"

          "Oh, Lancelot? We took him to Gaius after he was wounded, he should be okay by now," Jenny wondered about Lancelot, she thought of paying a visit after she finishes working for the day and thank him in person. "you should've seen him, the way he fought with a sword. A strange man coming out of nowhere and risked his life . . . He was . . . brave and . . . gallant and . . . chivalrous"

          "Oh no, you're not falling in love again, are you?" Cedric cooed, "And I think brave and gallant are the same thing"

          "Shut up," she scowled, "isn't it knight training today? I hear Prince Arthur is looking for knights. Perhaps it's your time to be a knight"

          "It is, but not today for me"

          Jenny sighed, "When will that time be? You've become a man for two months now"

          "Most knights didn't decide to become knights right away when they were of age, Jenny. I'm taking my time, leave me alone"

          "I'll leave you alone until I see that Pendragon crest on you," she playfully tossed a small rock at him and his reflexes caused to fall off the counter.

          It was late noon when Merlin showed up at the marketplace for Jenny, unexpectedly, to her surprise, the boy came with Lancelot. They both approached the girl's booth.

          "Hi, Jenny, good day?" Merlin smiled.

          "Yes, definitely" she got on her feet.

          "You remember Lancelot" Merlin gestured at the man.

          "Why yes, of course, how could I forget?" Jenny softly chuckled, she looked at Lancelot, he looked better than yesterday "You feeling better? You took a nasty wound from that thing"

          "I feel much better, thanks to you both for taking me to help"

          Jenny smiled before Cedric, sitting in the corner of the counter, cleared his throat loudly as he was playing with one of the silks, playfully wrapping it around his head. "Oh, uhm . . . this is my friend, Cedric . . . Ced, Lancelot" They both merely nodded and exchanged greeting smiles to each other. "So, what brings you both here? Surely you're not here to buy one of my dresses, I'm sure I can find each one for you both to fit"

          Both Merlin and Lancelot chuckled. Merlin spoke, "Actually, we were wondering if you could do us a favor, well, for Lancelot, actually"

          "Depends what it is, I suppose"

          "Jenny," Cedric sighed disappointedly, "this man saved your life. I think you owe him anything"

          Dumbfounded, "Oh right, of course, what is it?" she questioned.

          "Well, since you're the best seamstress in Camelot--" Merlin reached into his coat and pulled out a rolled parchment, he unrolled it and showed it to Jenny, "we were wondering if you could make a knight tunic, that would match this crest"

          He hand the parchment to Jenny, revealing a crest, two crimson swords clashed together over a midnight blue wall castle. She was already thinking of various colors of what kind would go with this crest as she scrutinized it. "Uhm . . . sure, I can do that, may I ask who's this for?"

          Lancelot didn't speak, he looked at Merlin and the boy responded, "It's for Lancelot, he wants to become a knight. Arthur wants to see him tomorrow morning though, will you able to finish it by then?"

          Jenny was surprised by the news that Lancelot will be training to be a knight, she didn't think that he was a nobleman. "Yes, I can finish it before the morning" she affirmed, "Although, I'd have to take your measurements right now but my mother had taken them, I don't know where she had gone to. I think, maybe . . . " she quickly thought of a solution before she thought of one, "oh maybe Gwen can take the measurements for me, then she'll bring them to me later. Why won't you two head to her place?"

          "Okay, thanks Jenny. Come on--" Merlin nudged Lancelot to follow.

          "Thank you, my lady" Lancelot bowed his head, slightly awkwardly then followed Merlin.

          Jenny chortled as she watched them both leaving the marketplace before Cedric uttered, "Did he just bowed to you? And he said 'my lady'. Strange man, indeed . . . I don't take him as a nobleman. Is he really?"

          She shrugged as she raised her brows, "I didn't think either," she looked at the crest again, then examined the finished tunic that were hanging on the side of the stand, comparing the crest next to each various colors of tunics.

          Jenny spent the entire evening until very late at night embroidering the crest identical to the crest that Merlin gave her. She even had to make the tunic after she realized she didn't have the right tunic color for the crest and even Lancelot's size when she received the measurements from Gwen, so she started from scratch, she didn't rest until she finished.

          She barely got up that morning, she was almost afraid that she was late that she hurried to the training grounds. There was Gwen, Merlin and Lancelot waiting while young men who were beginners training with Arthur instructing them.

          "I know, a little late, sorry" she said quietly.

          "No, you're just in time" said Gwen. She and Merlin helped Lancelot with the coating then put on the tunic. Jenny wondered if the armor and the sword were from Gwen since his father is a blacksmith.

          "Well . . . you certainly look for the part" Merlin complimented as he finished helping Lancelot.

          "Doesn't he just?" Gwen said.

          "I don't feel it" Lancelot was nervous.

          "Okay, that'll do for the day. Well done" Arthur announced the trainers that the training was finished. Arthur went over the sword racks while everyone else was leaving.

          "Here's your chance," Merlin encouraged, "Go for it" he nudged Lancelot.

          Lancelot walked ahead and approached Arthur. "Yes?" the Prince asked.

          "Lancelot," the young man introduced, he was visibly nervous, even Jenny was nervous for him, "fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria"

          "Lance-a-lot?" Arthur repeated slowly, "My servant mentioned you. Got your seal?"

          Lancelot bowed while he presented the seal to the Prince, "Sire"

          Unexpectedly, Arthur swung his hand, smacking Lancelot that he fell down as the Prince got the seal. Gwen was the only flinching while Jenny winced sharply. "Sluggish reactions," Arthur said, "on the battlefield, you'd be dead by now. Come back when you're ready" The Prince was walking away.

          Lancelot went on his feet and put his hand on the sword, "I'm ready now, Sire" he insisted.

          Arthur halted, turned around and looked at the man. "You are, are you?" he said and Lancelot nodded in response. Arthur then said, "Fine, you can start by cleaning out the stables"

          The knights around the training grounds laughed. Lancelot glanced over at Gwen, Merlin and Jenny. The girls gave an encouraging yet unconfident smiles while Merlin held up two thumbs with a big grin.

          "Well, it's only a start," Jenny said when Lancelot approached the trio, "give it a day or two, Arthur will grow on you. You can't become a knight within a day"

          "She's right," Gwen nodded, "becoming a knight takes a couple more trainings"

          "Oh yes, definitely," Merlin said, "shall I show you the stables?"

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          The day had been blessed with clear skies, barely a cloud in the sky and the sun constantly shined on the lands of Camelot. It is thought that a flawless day like this, would be a great day. It confident Jenny that it would be a good day and maybe fantastic news will bring to her. Whatever that might be. But it all wasn't.

          Jenny was working as usual at the marketplace when the bell rang. The only time the bell rings is giving people warning or bringing devastating news. So much for good news and a perfect day.

          She abandoned her stand when everyone hurried to the main gates of Camelot, at the main gates was flooded with the people of town and while half of them were outsiders, these outsiders were wounded like they had came from a battle. Elderly, men, women and children, seemingly another townsfolk from another place. Jenny's mother was already helping the wounded and Jenny helped along, she helped a woman struggling while pulling a wagon with full of children. She helped them to the Castle's Courtyard and hoped Gaius will treat them.

          The injured woman explained what happened, a winged creature attacked their village, Willowdale. Jenny knew it must've been the same creature that chased her and Merlin a couple of days ago.

          Jenny spent the rest of the day tending the wounded with her mother, offering them food they could find from the marketplace that were donated, and near the end of the day, they helped along accommodating the villagers in any place in Camelot they could find.

          Even in the next day, she spent her day with her mother, both helping and feeding the villagers. It wasn't certain that the villagers had completely lost their homes or if they could ever go back.

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          Guinevere informed Jenny that Lancelot will face Arthur that morning as a final challenge at the training grounds. Jenny was curious to see what would happen, so she went to the training grounds with Gwen to watch. The knights surrounded the grounds, some of them in-training, have all come to watch the challenge. Merlin had already dressed Lancelot in armor when Gwen and Jenny arrived.

          Both Lancelot and Arthur all in armor and ready. "Well, here we are. Your final challenge. Succeed and you join the elite. Fail and your journey ends here. Lancelot, fifth son of Lord Eldred of Northumbria" Arthur nodded at the time keeper, the keeper turned over the hourglass and time began ticking, "Your time starts now"

          Both men put their helmets on, they cautiously approached one another in fighting stance, building up the anticipation before they started swinging their swords at each other. Both swords clashed each other, one time where Lancelot managed to swing his sword at Arthur's helmet, nearly knocking him back, bringing excitement to Jenny, Gwen and Merlin. Swords continued to swing, clashing together and the two men went around in circles. There was second where Lancelot missed his swing where Arthur had an opportunity that Gwen held onto Merlin's shirt in anxiety meanwhile Jenny was gripping on the sword rack in jitter. The fight went on, both of them seemingly to struggle to get an upper hand, missed each other at times, more swords clashing before Arthur swung his fist at Lancelot, knocking him down and his helmet fell off.

          Thinking that Lancelot had been defeated and failed. Disappointed read on Jenny's face, so were Gwen and Merlin. Arthur set his sword down, took his helmet off and approached Lancelot, "Shame" The Prince commented, almost disappointed as he looked down at an unconscious Lancelot. Arthur reached down to get the flag from Lancelot. With a surprise, Lancelot grabbed Arthur, pulled and knocked him to the ground. Lancelot had the Prince at sword point.

          "Do you submit, Sire?" Lancelot said. Jenny smiled as she couldn't help to give a few claps with Merlin and Gwen sharing the excitement.

          The guards responded restraining Lancelot, Arthur was seemingly angry when he got up and grabbed his sword. "On your knees!" The guards forced Lancelot to his knees, there was an instant of anxiety flooding over Jenny, Gwen and Merlin as they hopelessly watched when Arthur has his sword on Lancelot's chest.

          That evening, Cedric came to Jenny and asked her to come with him to the celebration at the Hall of Ceremonies, celebrating for Lancelot becoming a new knight. Jenny hesitated to accept his invitation after spending the rest of the day helping the surviving villagers, it was an exhausting day for her, until Cedric said, "Come on, you can't let me go alone, and you look like you need a few drinks after a long day" that's when Jenny gave up because he was sort of right. Also, she felt she should congratulate Lancelot for his victory in person.

          The celebration had already begun when Jenny and Cedric arrived, noblemen, maids, servants, knights, guests and the royal house interacted one another while fasting and having wine. "You know, you could've always asked Gwen or Morgana to keep you in company tonight" Jenny muttered, the duo stood by one of the windows, she had a cup of wine in her hand and even Cedric's cup on the other while he was eating supper. She was glancing across the hall, spotting both Morgana and Gwen together.

          "Why? We always attend the occasions like this one, consider it as our . . . tradition" Cedric was chewing his supper as he talked, "Besides, I want Uther off my back tonight because I assumed he's going to have these 'when will your time as a knight come?' talk with me, since he despises you, he wouldn't dare go near me as long I'm around you"

          "Well, that's one thing me and the King have in common, I'm not the only trying to pressure you to join the knights" Jenny chuckled.

          "And the hatred you both have towards each other" Cedric added, he grabbed his cup from Jenny's hand and chugged once to swallow his food down.

          Jenny chortled, "Anyway, be honest, if you could choose as your bride, Morgana or Gwen?"

          "I'll tell you if you tell me your future husband first; Arthur or Lancelot . . . or Merlin"

          Flustered from the question, or from the wine, she scoffed, "Please . . . but Arthur is a Prince, the future King, surely he'd have to find himself a more suitable and appropriate wife than someone who is merely a seamstress and a part maid"

          "So that goes down to Lancelot or Merlin" Cedric teased.

          Jenny scoffed again then said nothing. Arthur called out for everyone's attention, knocked on the table to get their attention and the entire hall turned silent for the Prince. "Ladies and gentlemen! Please join me in a toast to our new recruit," Arthur helped Lancelot up to his feet, "our new knight of Camelot, Sir Lancelot!"

          The attendees broke into cheers and claps as the music began to swell up in a joyous and dancing tune, and the celebration continued into late night.

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          Jenny woke up to a mild headache, she felt slightly nauseous and hungry. The night of celebration lasted longer than she expected, her feet ached from all the dancing, she does remember what happened and after. She went home alone but with her Rottweiler dog was by her side.

          "You must've had a fun night," her mother said when the girl sat down on the table, prepared food and drink for her, "Drink up, it should boost you"

          She drank the strange greenish substance, it tasted of grass and wood, and other unfamiliar taste, yet horrible. "Nasty" she groaned.

          "I take it you're not working today"

          "Obviously"

          Moments later, the door opened without them knocking and it's only Cedric coming in, "G'morning" he sang as he took a sit on the table beside Jenny's mother. "You look rather sickly, Jenny. Had too much?"

          "You dragged me into going there last night" She mumbled.

          "Aye, yes I did and I said have a few, not more than a few" he snickered.

          Her mother lightly smacked Cedric's shoulder, "And you've failed to look after her"

          Cedric furrowed his brows and then shrugged in a playful manner. "So anyway, thought you should know, Jenny . . . that Sir Lancelot has been arrested"

          Jenny stopped eating and looked at Cedric with a concerned look, "What? Why?"

          Cedric shrugged, "I don't know, I just heard from whispers, I didn't quite feel like finding out myself"

          The girl sighed, she knew Lancelot was staying in Gaius's chambers with Merlin, so Merlin and Gaius have to know why Lancelot has been arrested. So, she got up and decided to get answers himself. "I'll be right back, I'm gonna go see Gaius and Merlin"

          "Don't be too long, or your food will get cold" her mother said and Jenny was already out of the door.

          Jenny never realized that it was already noon, almost surprised that she was in bed that long which happens rarely. The day was no different from yesterday, cloudy but warm. She wasn't in a hurry to see Gaius and Merlin, she took her time on her way to castle and her dog was at her tracks.

          She knocked on the door before coming into Gaius's chambers, she found both Gaius and Merlin sitting at the table, Merlin looking rather miserable and Gaius was reading. "I've heard that Lancelot has been arrested, what happened?"

          Gaius and Merlin didn't answer right away. The boy looked as if he was carrying guilt, "It was my fault, I made Lancelot go with it . . . Uther found out that Lancelot is not a nobleman"

          "Wait, he isn't?" Jenny was confused, she looked at Gaius, who showed as if he was not part of it. She looked at Merlin again.

          "I . . . made a fake seal of nobility for him, forged it, so he'd become a knight, since only noblemen can be knights," Merlin explained, "Lancelot always wanted to be a knight since he was a child, I thought helping him to be one would repay him for saving me . . . when he saved us"

          Jenny can't blame Merlin for trying to help Lancelot, maybe she would've done the same. Some men are lucky to become knights, like Cedric who is a nobleman and the son of a knight who was loyal to the king. The First Code of Camelot states that only those of noble blood can serve as a knight. Uther created the knights to protect this kingdom from those who wished to destroy it. He knew he would have to trust each of his knights with his life. So he chose them from the families that had sworn allegiance to him. She does find it unfair most of the times because people like Lancelot does deserve to be one.

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          The auburn haired girl was making her way to the castle to deliver gowns to Morgana, the day was the same as yesterday, but sun shined on and off on the town of Camelot throughout the day. Jenny was walking in the middle of the Courtyard when the dog began growling then barked non-stop. Barked and growled at the sky.

          "Dog, shush! You'll scare the others" she ordered but the dog kept barking and didn't listen to Jenny which was odd.

          Then the tower bells began to ring, warning the town. It was followed by a familiar monstrous hissing screech screaming from above. It was the creature that's been terrorizing the villagers and the people the past couple of days. The creature flew above and in circles before flying within the walls of the castle. People in the courtyard screamed, panicked that they ran for cover and so did Jenny as she barely dragging her dog to cover. She hid behind a pillar with a dog by her side when Arthur and the knights hurried to the courtyard.

          The Prince had the knight in a defense pattern while surrounding the Prince. The winged creature was hovering over the knights as they crouched down with their shields and spears up. The creature then flew and charged towards the knights, flew by them that Arthur and the knights were knocked to the ground. The creature flew up again while the knights hurried back on their feet. Then the creature landed on the grounds of the courtyard, Arthur lead the knights in defense position, they slowly charged forward to get close before Arthur shouted to charge at the monster.

          Arthur thrusted his spear at the winged creature, it dodged back and then hissed at the knights, the knights were cautious as they kept their guard up. Arthur charged again, looking at the right second to land his blow, when he did, he lunged his spear at the creature, only for the spear to break. Arthur fell backwards, before the creature could stomp on the Prince, more guards showed and tossed a torch at Arthur. He reached the torch, sprung to his feet and swung the torch left and right at the monster. The winged monster flew up, flying away form the castle and disappeared somewhere in the sky.

          The creature was gone.

          When evening fell, word spread through the town of Camelot quickly, Arthur and the knights are to set to hunt the creature down and kill it once for all. Everyone remained hopeful and wait to hear what happens that night, whether it'll be a defeat or a victory.

───｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

          When morning come and the news arrived, it appeared that the creature have been defeated by one and only, Lancelot, himself. Much to Jenny's delight. The day felt peaceful which has been missing in the last couple of days, now that the winged creature is finally gone. What Jenny had hoped for Lancelot is that to have his place in the knights awarded as he should.

          While she was working, she had a surprise visitor, and it was Lancelot. He was in his armor, but not in Pendragon colors. He approached to her stand, he bowed in a greet, "My lady"

          "Oh you really don't have to do that, not to me at least" Jenny laughed softly.

          "Sorry . . . I've happened to pass by as I'm making my way out of Camelot" he said.

          "You're leaving? After what you did" she was confused and at the time, slightly saddened.

          "A lot had happened since I've arrived here, I've come to realize that it's maybe not my time or had yet proven myself to be a knight" Lancelot said. "Maybe one day, another time . . . So, I've come to say farewell to you, thought I should after you helped me the day we met"

          Not my time, he said. Just like what Cedric, what also struck her was when Lancelot said that he has yet proven himself to be a knight, maybe that is what held her best friend from becoming a knight. Now she felt bad for pressuring Cedric. "Perhaps this might not be a farewell," she insisted, "it doesn't feel like it. But I hope to see you again someday"

          "Well . . . I hope so too" Lancelot smiled.

          Before he left, Jenny forgot that she made something for him, something that'll complete his armor, that'll make him look and feel like a knight as he travels out there. "Oh yes, I forgot, I made something for you," Jenny looked around within her stand, grabbed a folded light colored cape from under the counter. She walked around the stand and approached Lancelot as she revealed the cape to him. "Something to complete your outfit"

          "Oh you really shouldn't have" he said with an appreciated smile and she helped him put on the cape. She stepped back to take a full view at him, "How do I look?"

          Jenny gave a warm and delight smile, "Like a true knight"

          "Thank you, Jenny" he said, " . . . I'll see you again someday" finally, he left.

          The redhead watched the knight walking away, on his way out of the Camelot, who knows where he's heading but she hoped he'll be okay out there. Maybe he will, he is a knight after all who can take care of himself. "'til next time, Sir Lancelot" she said it softly and with hope.

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yoyoyo! seven months since the last update and i had this chapter collecting dust for that long lmao! idk i found this chapter a little boring which was why i was so hesitant to keep writing it or publish it, maybe i should've skipped this episode lol... idk i just felt like Jenny should meet and have a few interactions with Lancelot ig.. i'll probably skip some episodes where she doesn't need to be in throughout the story, most likely..