Once they were in the throne room/ courtroom, Clark could hardly take it all in, it was so beautiful. Lords and ladies of the court stood at the side of the large room, with pillars lining and supporting the gracefully sloped ceiling. The floor itself was painted in enchanting patterns that caught Clark's attention until the king's booming voice did.

"Who is this, Arthur?" the king, Uther, if Clark was getting his mythology right, inquired of his son. Both Pendragons had the same air, the same presence Clark had felt earlier, though the king used this aura to his advantage. In fact, Clark would almost say Uther left an imprint similar to Lionel Luthor, in that he craved power and just might do anything to get it. But that was just first impressions.

Arthur stepped forward, ahead of Merlin and Clark, to speak, "He's introduced himself as-" But the introduction was short-lived, as it was interrupted by an unknown voice from someone in the crowd among the assorted knights, ladies, and lords.

"Soren?" Disbelief was in the woman's voice as she stepped in front of the others towards Clark, who took a step back cautiously. "Soren, where've you been?!" she cried, clearly excited to see him though he'd never seen her before in his life.

"Who...who are you?"

The woman sobbed, then turned to the king, falling on her knees as she did so. "Your Highness, my son Soren has been missing for nearly a year. It is a miracle that I've found him, truly a miracle!"

Yeah, Clark still didn't know who this lady was. "I'm sorry, but you're not my mother." A few gasps sounded around the room, though he was telling the truth. Sighing exasperatedly, Clark threw his hands in the air. "Will someone please explain to me what's going on? I went to sleep one minute, and the next I'm in this crazy alternate universe or whatever, I don't even know. Does anyone know how to get to Kansas?"

The room was dead silent, and the only movement came from the woman claiming to be his mother (he didn't need this happening again), who rose from the floor and reached her hand out to touch his face. Weirded out, Clark drew back and gave her a 'please get away' look. She received the message and, with a pleading expression, looked at the king. "Please help him, sire. He may need medical treatment," she begged. Great. Now everyone thought he was crazy.

But now was his chance to prove this was all a dream, or to solve this trial; whatever he needed to do to get the hell out of here. So he gathered up the courage, then took off running towards the door, which he saw was closed. Two guards crossed their spears over the door in classic fashion, and all around people were gasping and whispering about the strange boy who was making such a commotion. Letting out an annoyed breath, Clark decided to take advantage of this dream and use his powers he'd been itching to use ever since he'd arrived. So he grabbed hold of the spears and pulled them away from the guards...only they pulled swords on him.

Not to worry. He was invincible. But suddenly the king shouted for him to be restrained and, defying everything he'd come to know about himself, a guard behind him whirled him around and punched him clean in the face. The woman who'd called him Soren yelled at the guard to stop, which he did, but had to hoist Clark off of the ground from where he'd fallen. Now two guards were on him, and despite his best struggles, he found he could do nothing supernaturally to keep them away. What was it? Kryptonite? Blue? He didn't feel green.

Dragged in front of the king, who was now glaring at him and scrutinizing him relentlessly, his face hurt even more as the woman's sobs of joy could be heard from practically any point in the room. "Why do you run, young Godwood? Your mother is glad to see you."

"She's not my mother," Clark insisted, putting all his despair and urgency in his voice. But the king didn't buy it. No one did. Hell, not even Clark did.

"Come, now, why must you talk about her that way? She gave birth to you, gave you a place to rest your head at night. You should be grateful. Camelot is not the place for petty childish rebellion; go home to your mother."

This was ridiculous. Struggling and tugging at the guards' tight grip, Clark was starting to pant, as if he was close to tears. "Let me go!" he begged, but they did not comply. In fact, no one seemed to care. Except for Merlin. When Clark glanced over, there was a kind of concern and a hesitance to do something in his eyes. To his rising hope, he also noticed Merlin whispering something to Arthur, who subsequently went up to the throne.

"Perhaps, Father, there is good reason for this boy not to want to go home." Though Arthur did get a shake of the head from the woman, Uther seemed to consider this, if only for a moment.

"Why do you wish to keep away from your kin, my boy?" the king finally asked.

Clark was relieved he was able to be heard in the matter as he explained, "I know I might sound crazy, but I'm from a small town-well, a long ways away from here. That's...why my accent is so weird. And my name is Clark Kent. Uh, son of Jonathan and Martha Kent." Sure, there were muttering of skepticism around the court, but Clark felt good that he'd gotten his two cents in.

Uther was deep in thought until a man's deep and fear-inspiring voice came from the crowd, as well, dismissing, "Of course he would say this. He's been running from us for years. He would do or say anything to keep from coming home and fulfilling his responsibilities."

"Is this true?" Uther questioned with a deep frown. Clark gulped. There was another person against him in this?

The man who'd just spoken up came over to the woman with tears in her eyes and kindly offered her a handkerchief before turning to the king. "Soren has caused me and my wife a great deal of trouble, Your Highness. We should like to bring him home before he causes you any more."

"You are certain this is your son?" the king asked, his firmness wavering.

"Of course," sobbed the woman, and faced Clark, taking his face in her hands. "I would know my boy anywhere." Clark was hoping and praying with all his might that he could be let free and could continue on his journey home somehow...but luck just didn't work that way.

"Then Soren Godwood is yours," Uther confirmed, and waved his hand in a way that looked like he was passing a law. He probably was. If he was, that meant that according to all of these people around him...Clark was lawfully this couple's son.

His eyes were wide and helpless as he was dragged out to the hall, where the guards left him there and the couple joined him. The only people in the hallway were him and the two, but he didn't care who was watching as he slid down the wall with his back against it, face emotionless. He was numb for the moment. What was going on? Were all these people crazy? Not only were his powers gone, but Clark had no idea where he was and no clue how to get back home. To make matters worse, the woman was now stroking his hair, cooing about her 'baby'.

Coming to, Clark swatted her hand away and snapped, "I'm not your baby, okay? I don't even know who you people are."

Suddenly he felt a stinging slap across his face, and he blinked multiple times as the man who claimed to be his father growled, "Don't talk to your mother that way."

"SHE'S NOT MY MOTHER!" Clark screamed, standing up with all his might and preparing to run.

But he wasn't that fast without his powers, and he definitely wasn't invulnerable anymore. The man's hand was now around Clark's throat in a vise-like grip, barely allowing him to breathe. The man's harsh but soft voice was in Clark's ear now, and Clark had no choice but to hear him out. "Soren Godwood, I am your father and Branwyn is your mother. You have caused her much pain, so you will stay with us now. For good. Do you understand?" Clark nodded as much as he could, starting to feel light-headed from lack of oxygen. The man (whose name was still unknown) could still see it, though, and finally let him go, leaving him gasping for air and coughing violently.

His eyes were now watery, but Clark could still see the worried look on Merlin's face as he left the courtroom with Arthur and passed by. Clark would have craned his neck to see him more, but his fake father grabbed the back of his neck and steered him the opposite direction, with his fake mother trailing not far behind.