No person, no matter how great, can know his or her destiny. They cannot glimpse their part in the great story that is about to unfold. Like everyone they must live and learn. But everyone has a destiny. And sometimes those destinies cross centuries and millennia. Sometimes those destinies are so strong that they can make the impossible become reality. And sometimes those destinies are intertwined….

"Excuse me! Sorry!"

I pushed past people on the streets, calling out apologies as I made my way through the crowd. Kait was going to kill me. I had promised that I wouldn't be late this time. Or more like again. I skidded down the block, shoving open the doors of the Starbucks and stumbling inside. I got a few curious looks from people standing in line but I ignored them, instead looking around wildly.

When I finally caught sight of the person I was looking for I sighed. Luckily her dark red hair stood out amongst the people scattered in booths around the store.

I dropped into the seat next to my sister and she sighed.

"Isabel. I told you nine so you would be here by nine thirty and still you're late."

"I'm not too late. I mean it's only-" I looked down at my watch. "Nine thirty eight…." I sighed, then smiled sheepishly. "Well at least it's still in the nine thirty range right?"

Kait sighed too. "I really hope you don't show up to class like this."

I practically groaned. It was only my second month in the city and already my older sister was babying me. And it wasn't as if there was even that large of an age gap between us. I was only four years younger and those years did not give her the right to act like my elder.

"I don't." I said shortly, then quickly changed the subject. "How is Jeremy?"

Kait smiled, a very different picture from the stern face she had been giving me just a moment before. "He's good. He got an A on his math test last week."

"That's great." I smiled. I missed our younger brother. I hadn't been able to hug him for nearly three months and it felt like a lifetime. I hated being separated from my family for too long. But then again, it was my own fault that I had been away for so long.

"So do you have that King Arthur thing tonight?"

"Huh?" Kait's words snapped me out of my daydream but when they sunk in I rolled my eyes. "It's not a 'King Arthur thing,' it's Medieval Times."

"How did an English major get to be an equestrian trainer at a medieval carnival?"

"It's not a carnival." I explained forcing myself to be patient. "And I told you I like my job. I get paid to work with horses, what's better than that?"

"Making real money?"

Damn Kait was in a great mood today. I bit back a sharp comment. It wasn't entirely her fault she was so judgmental. I had made a lot of decisions in my life that she thought were foolish and this was just another one to add to the list.

"I'm twenty two." I said. "I just finished college. I will take what job I can get."

Kait opened her mouth to say something else but I cut her off.

"Speaking of which-" I clicked the screen of my phone to check the time, then pushed back from the table. "I have to go."

"What?" Kait stared at me in confusion. "You just got here."

"I know. But I work in exactly forty-five minutes and I do not want to be late. Got to run."

I leaned forward and hugged her ignoring her indignant cries as I pushed open the door and exited the store.

OoooooooO

"Isabel, there you are!"

I glanced up from my brushing to see Abigail leaning over the door of Destiny's stall. Abigail was another worker at Medieval Times and although she worked in wardrobe- while I worked with the horses- she and I had become fast friends.

"Hey, Abby." I smiled and went back to my work, still speaking as I kept my eyes focused on the brush in my hand. "What's up?"

"Are you excited for the show tonight?"

"Excited? I don't know what you mean."

"Oh don't give me that." Abby rolled her eyes and smiled. "You know exactly what I mean, it's Destiny's big day! Isn't it, girl?"

She spoke the last words to Destiny, stroking the white patch on her nose. I smiled. Of all the horses, Destiny was by far my favorite. She was a bit skittish but that was to be expected. The woman that had sold her to us found her in a field. There was no one around and no one knew how she had gotten there. I had worked with her for the past two months and slowly she had gotten to know me. No one else could get her to listen and certainly no one could calm her down like me. So our supervisor, Jayne, had assigned me to look after Destiny. Tonight was her first night performing in the show and it was my job to get her ready.

I gave the horse a final brush before patting her side.

"She looks good. Just have to get her tacked up before they take her out."

"Are you going to watch?"

"I'm not sure." I reached for Destiny's bridle and nudged her head gently to the side so that I could slip the bit into her mouth.

"You should!" Abby reached for something in her pocket and pulled out a sliver of carrot, offering it on her open palm. Destiny let out a pleased snort and immediately devoured the treat.

"Look! She's starting to like me more."

I laughed. "Only cause you feed her carrots ever time you see her. You know that will slow her down in the show if she gets too fat."

"She won't get fat from carrots. You're being dramatic."

"I am not!" I tugged, making the last few adjustments on Destiny's saddle before turning to my friend. "I just want everything to go well tonight."

"It will!" Abby smiled reassuringly. "Trust me, tonight is going to be a night to remember!"

OoooooooO

My lords and ladies, welcome to Medieval Times!

The crowd went wild as the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers. Beside me Destiny shifted uneasily and I gently touched her nose.

"Shh, girl. It's alright."

The actor on her back glanced down at me. "Is she alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah, she'll be fine. No worries."

I turned back to Destiny, speaking softly to her until Jayne arrived, announcing that it was time to go.

"Alright, people! Show time!"

My stomach felt tight but I knew that it was just nerves. I just wanted Destiny to do well and she would. I took a step back, making room for the horses to go past. They filed forward slowly, with Destiny in the lead. Tonight she would start the show. The events began with a battle scene and I had spent endless hours working to make sure that she was ready. Everything was going to be fine.

As the lights in the arena went down I edged forward, watching as the first few men ran out, surrounding the horse. They shouted and wielded swords but to my relief Destiny did not panic any more than she was supposed to.

"There you go, see?" A voice came from behind me and I turned to see Abby, smiling as she watched the show. "Everything is going great."

I smiled too, but just as I was about to turn back to watch the battle there was a crash of thunder. I gasped, the beginning of the show was supposed to be dramatic but that sounded like real thunder. And more than that, the sound had come from inside the arena.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Abby asked.

"That sound." My eyes swept the arena before finally landing on Destiny. Her eyes, which moments ago had been calm, were now wide with fear. She reared back and the men around her cried out, jumping back to avoid being hit by her hooves. The man on her back was taken by surprise and hit the dirt with a hard thud.

Abby gasped. "What's going on?"

I hardly heard her. I was already moving forward.

"Isabel! What are you doing?" Abby went to reach for my arm but I brushed her aside.

Something was wrong.

More thunder rumbled through the building, shaking the ground. A few of the audience members screamed but I ignored them as I rushed into the arena. I stumbled on the dirt, falling to my hands and knees but I pushed myself up rushing forward again.

"Destiny!" I called, trying to get the horses attention.

She was rearing and pawing at the air as men ran to avoid her. I pushed past one of the knights and jumped up to grab her reins. I pulled to get her feet back on the ground but she was too frightened to notice me. She lashed out again and one of her hooves struck my shoulder. I gasped in pain, concentrating hard to keep my hold on her. I pulled again and finally managed to get her feet on the ground. I pulled her head so that she was facing me and stroked her nose.

"Easy, girl." I said, repeating the words over and over again. "Easy, girl. Easy, Destiny. Calm down."

There was another crack of thunder followed by the sound of splintering wood. I gasped and looked up as a beam from the ceiling collapsed, crashing to the ground just feet from where we stood. Destiny whinnied in fear and I held tight to keep her from rearing again.

Suddenly a bright light filled the arena, momentarily blinding me.

"What on Ear-?" I gasped but I didn't even get a chance to get the words out before everything went black.

Well there you go! Hope you guys liked it. I have always loved King Arthur and after I had a dream a few weeks ago (about a certain gorgeous blonde haired prince) I got hooked on the idea of writing a Camelot story. The beginning is a bit fast but I wanted to get to Arthur and Merlin. Let me know what you think!

Also please forgive any mistakes I may have made about the way things are run at Medieval Times. I went there once as a kid and was so enchanted by it but I have not been back in about nine years so I did my best to find videos online and add in parts that go well with the story.