kitoky:

One moment, Gwen’s clearing the day’s laundry and the next, the castle’s alarms are ringing to warn of an intruder. Instinctively, she runs for Morgana’s chambers - only to collide into two very strange… strangers. Before she can even think it to shout or scream or turn and run the other way, the man - wild hair, pointed nose, rather expressive teeth - starts gesturing for her silence.

“No, no, no, no, no. We’re friends! We’re friends! Trust me,” he presses while looking wildly around for an escape. And then Gwen notices the woman beside him, and she looks quite as surprised to see her.

“Doctor, aren’t — you said we’d be in Camelot!” Martha Jones exclaims, eyes wide.

“Well, of course I did. And we are! Camelot! Though the TARDIS could’ve picked a better place to park than the heart of the castle!” 

“But Doctor, she’s — ” and here is where Gwen knows she’s being referred to. “She’s like me! Look!”

“Oh, no, I shan’t think so. See, you have much higher cheekbones and she’s got curls—”

“No, Doctor. Her skin!”

“Honestly, Martha, you really must stop relying on history.” Then the scuffling of guards could be heard from around the corner and Martha looks straight at Gwen.

“Can you help us? We’re not dangerous, I swear! My name’s Martha and he’s the Doctor!” There was something different in her eyes, dark - darker than hers - that made Gwen swallow hard and nod, and leading them away and down corridors she’s known since she was seven and out the back door into the city.

- 

It turns out the maid was Gwen - and even better, to Martha’s delight - the Guinevere! The Doctor was right, she really had to stop relying on history. From all their adventures and from all she’s seen, you’d think she’d have dropped everything she knew about anything. But it was always a habit, falling back on knowledge. It’s what kept her going through the chaos, and helped them stay alive a couple of times. Guinevere, a maidservant though. It was just so weird. Yes, it was pleasing Martha to no end and she plans to tell Tish every bit of this but dear god, was it weird. 

She had a small little cottage, thankfully with two beds. From the sounds of it, Gwen had just lost her father in a rather bad way. She didn’t really share the details and they hadn’t really pried. Instead, the Doctor licked his finger and held it in the air, excusing himself on some business. Martha didn’t mind staying with Guinevere - er, Gwen - and looking around the place. How did Queen Guinevere live in the early years? Bet no historian figured that one. Martha spots a pile of iron bars, which looks like something that might be used at a blacksmith’s. She’s peeking through a cupboard when Gwen announces that she’ll start making some food, if Martha was hungry.

“Don’t you ever think you’d be something else one day?” Martha asks, shutting the cupboard. “I mean, something more?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Gwen answers.

“Well, like, a queen? Do you ever think you’d be Queen of Camelot? Look at you, you’re beautiful!” A flush runs up Gwen’s neck and Martha can’t resist the smile creeping on her face. Surely this wouldn’t be breaking any rules.

“Of course not, that’s for Lady Morgana,” balks Gwen, shaking her head at the notion and turning to grab the water pail.

God did she need to find a publisher when she gets back.