Second chapter here for your enjoyment. Also, I'll stop with the inserting of the ANs during the story. I was all paranoid that something would be misunderstood that I kept trying to explain myself. Sorry about that!

The Calling

Chapter Two: Of Failed Escapes, Kilts, and Mistaken Identity

Natalie had never run so fast in her life. Well, that is in practice. Her winter clothes were weighing her down and subtracting from her speed, but she still felt as though she were going fast. Her thoughts and reality were two different things. A minute before, she had passed through the clearing she had arrived in, and was not surprised to hear the thundering of hooves behind her. This only made her run faster despite the fact that deep down she knew she could not keep this up forever.

Natalie made a sharp turn and started running towards her pursuers. Conventional wisdom did her no good right now, so she had to rely on things she had seen in movies. Typically, in a high speed chase, making a well-executed U-Turn would not only slow down the people chasing someone, but would also cause a small confusion and possible accidents.

With this knowledge at hand, Natalie ran faster feeling a small triumph at the confusion on the men's faces. This was short lived however as one of them had picked her clean up off the ground and placed her in front of him on the saddle. Natalie only stared forward in shock cursing every film that had deceived her into thinking that such a thing could work. "I would suggest that you be still milady," Her abductor said as she looked up. It was the dark haired man she saw walk towards Galahad earlier. The tawny girl scowled when she saw his smirk and sat there quietly weighing her options.

Being on the short side, barely reaching 5'3, jumping off the horse seemed unlikely. Not to mention that tall, dark, and definitely cocky, had a tight hold on her. She had never ridden a horse before, so pushing him off and riding away seemed highly unlikely as well.

When they arrived back at the place where "Galahad" was being assisted onto a horse by the tall, scarred one, Natalie had a look so livid on her face that the youngest knight could not help but shudder a bit at the site of her. She noticed that he had more color in his face, and though he had dark circles under his eyes he smiled.

"I told them not to hurt you Natalie. I told them you helped me," He explained quickly as she sent her withering gaze his way. "Why could you not just let me go then?" She asked in a low voice that dripped with betrayal. She had helped save his life, and he let her get captured by his roleplaying buddies who seemed hell bent on running her over with their steeds. He had no answer and simply shut his mouth.

"Furthermore, I'm completely defenseless and not only did I help your friend, but you all shove your swords towards me. You're probably the reason why he's hurt anyway. I ought to report you to the authorities," She continued to rant turning towards the other men, and as her voice became colder, he seemed more embarrassed. He seemed confused too, but she was not going to say anything about that.

"Well, lady while I and my brother's understand your anger, please do consider that you were the one jumping out at us. We acted on instinct," The fair headed knight said giving her a small smirk of mirth. She harrumphed at this and glared at him. The action made him hold up his hands in surrender whilst retaining his smile.

Snow began to trickle from the sky and they all looked up simultaneously. "Best get the lass to the wall for questioning before she freezes to death," The tall scarred man said. Natalie huffed. I really need to learn their names. "I beg your pardon sir, but I have you know that my trousers are going above and beyond in keeping me warm," She started and then pointed at Galahad. "He's the genius who's wearing a skirt!"

The young knight's face grew dark. "I'll have you know madam that I am wearing a kilt," He said voice low. During this banter however, his comrades found themselves chuckling. "Kilt, skirt, all that matters is that I am dressed highly more appropriately for this weather than you," She finished and narrowed her eyes when they began outright laughing.

"While your clothes may be keeping you warm, those…trousers as you called them are anything but appropriate madam. In fact, you are fortunate in the fact that we now have an alternate means of entering the wall, else the villagers would mark you a harlot," The blond one said still grinning.

Villagers? How far out into the countryside am I?

"Honestly, I quite appreciate the sight of a woman in trousers. It makes things easier to hold on to," The dark haired one she was riding with said. Natalie looked up at him quickly with her withering gaze. He did not flinch, but instead grinned. "I must be losing my touch when it comes to looking like I want to kill someone. However, I will leave it at a threat. If it weren't for my lack of experience in horseback riding, sir, I would have pushed you off and left you to freeze in the snow," Natalie stated and faced forward. The man tensed behind her, and her mouth curled into a rather malicious smile.

"Might I say Madam, that you are quite an imposing woman," Galahad said giving her a hesitant smile. "I try Sir Galahad. I really do. And would you all please call me Natalie? I just barely reached twenty and you all make me feel like I'm pushing on forty," She said and they glanced at her from the corner of their eyes.

"Are you a Roman?" The blond one said as the others grew silent. "Not bloody likely!" She interjected. "I was born and raised in this country of mine, and I have every intention of dying here." She responded and some of them shook their heads. Galahad gave her a disbelieving look. "Beg my pardon, but I figured that you were a Moor. You even favor our friend Morien a bit," He said and the knights grinned as they thought of their exuberant friend. "It would also explain your odd choice of attire. I heard that the weather where they live is so harsh, that their manner of dress is more liberal."

"Nope, I am a native. Not to seem too forward, but what are your names? I mean your actual names, not made up character names," She asked and received a few quirked brows. "I am Galahad, as I informed you before," Galahad said and she only smirked.

"I milady, am Lancelot. Might I say, I have heard many stories about many beautiful women from the South where the Moors reside, but you surpass any visions that I have dreamed," Lancelot said laying his charm on rather thickly. Natalie deadpanned. "Quite the ladies' man isn't he? It's too bad he did not listen to me say that I've always lived here." She asked Gawain who chuckled. Lancelot seemed a bit miffed, but continued to smile.

"I am Gawain," The blond one said with a smile. "You are quite the comic might I add." Natalie gave him a beaming smile. "As I said before, I try." Natalie responded. These guys seem rather legitimate. God, what if they're actors? No, that can't be right. There would be cameras around and a short, hairy, smelly guy in all black calling the shots. Maybe they're method actors? In any case, I ought to play along. It would make things amusing.

She turned to the last knight, the tallest man she'd seen and gave him a warming smile. "And you kind sir?" She asked with warmth in her voice. He returned her smile and nodded. "I am Dagonet." She knew that he would say no more after that.

Natalie looked ahead again and began to hum a song. They had exited the forest and were approaching the wall making Natalie stop and whistle. She had never visited the wall despite having lived in the country for so long. She had been preoccupied, but did enjoy researching it.

With their home in sight, the knights stopped talking and instead focused on reentering the wall. After the defeat of the Saxons, Arthur had begun to build his kingdom. The castle aspect was far from finished, but the other forms of entry to the wall, and new gates were complete. The group of riders stormed through one of the smaller gates. It opened to a private court yard right next to the stables.

Lancelot helped Natalie down from the horse and looked down at her. "You're shorter than I thought," He said and she scowled, smacking her hand across his arm. This proved unwise as all she did was hit his armor. "I will just have to get you when you least expect it," She ground out as she rubbed her now red knuckles.

"I'd be careful child. The last thing you'd want to do is threaten a knight; especially one such as Lancelot," A deep voice rang out from across the courtyard. Natalie whipped around with wide eyes meeting a pair the same shade as her own. There stood, who she was guessing was, Sir Morien. He was a bit darker in complexion than she and was tall as Dagonet. Sir Morien was broader however, and very imposing. He did not have the same gentle, giant aura as his friend. The broad sword at his side did not help him seem any less imposing. He was a handsome man, but the fear he caused took away from that.

"Father?" She asked in shock. "Adria?" The man echoed back. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

Okay, this is just insane. Obviously there's more going on here than I presumed. I'm lost, surrounded by strangers, and my dad does not even remember my first name. Where on Earth am I?

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