DISCLAIMER: There is an aspect of this plot that was borrowed with permission from Shai Nevermore. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, read her story Skylark. It was the inspiration for this fanfiction. Also, I do not own King Arthur, the characters, or the film plot. I only own Natalie.
The Calling
Chapter Three: In Which Everyone is Confused
"I think it's best if we go to the table," Lancelot said interrupting the intense stare down going on between Natalie and Morien. "I agree," Morien said and held his hand out to the young woman. "Adria, come with me. We have much to discuss."
Natalie backed away from him, and ignored the look of hurt on the man's face. "My name isn't Adria, it's Natalie," She responded coldly. "You cannot be daddy. He knows who I am. This has to be some sort of sick joke." "You are wrong my dear," Another voice stated coming from the doorway across the court yard. "Sir Morien is just as much your father as Anthony Smith is. You, Natalie, are as much his daughter as Adria is," An older man with strange, blue markings said.
As he spoke, all the knights bowed their heads in respect. Natalie, feeling as though she were being disrespectful, curtsied where she stood. It was a little odd with the lack of a skirt, but she still made due. The group began to follow him back through the doors, and down a hall that led to another set of large double doors. The old man opened them to reveal a round table.
Taking Natalie's elbow, Galahad led her to a seat beside his, which she noted was across from Morien. She gave the youngest knight a grateful look and turned back to the old man. "Merlin, you speak in riddles. Please explain," Morien said, his eyes cutting across to his daughter. It had been so long since he had last seen her, but there was no doubt that this was his Adria.
They sat there in confused silence until the doors opened once more. Three men and a woman walked in and sat down at the table. After they all stood and bowed, a confused Natalie included, the newcomers joined the table. One with braids and an apple sat down a few seats from Natalie. He pulled out a knife and began to snack. Natalie's mouth watered as she realized how hungry she was. She remembered the granola bar in her pocket and decided to wait.
"My King, Queen, and knights, this young lady is Natalie. Natalie these are the Knights of the Round Table, and King Arthur and Queen Guinevere," Merlin said and Natalie jaw dropped completely open. She resisted the urge to smack her palm to her forehead as she put two and two together. "Now, I know a few of you noticed the fact that Natalie is garbed so differently, and her actions may seem odd. Actually, that is an understatement," Natalie gave him a dirty look. "Her behavior, though seeming completely unbecoming to us, is normal for where she is from." There was a small chatter amongst the knights, but a look silenced them. "Natalie," He continued looking at her. She met his gaze without wavering. "You never considered time travel when you stumbled over Galahad did you?"
She gaped at him and shook her head. "I…I thought they were…you mean this is real?" Her voice ascended a few pitches as she said this. "Please calm down child, I will explain. I called you here from your time," Merlin said and everyone just looked at him in confusion.
"Called me? How so? I doubt you have a magical time traveling telephone. If so, Doc Brown needs to take a lesson from you," Natalie grumbled and the knights looked even more confused. Merlin merely blinked before continuing. "The universe is built upon a balance Natalie. History is key in this balance. The system on which our lives work is called counterparts. An exclusive group of people receive a counterpart within one thousand years of their death. Depending upon the greatness compiled with goodness of that being, they may have multiple. A certain religion calls this system reincarnation. But, it's not. Counterparts not only look exactly alike, but they tend to have similar lifestyles. It is rare for counterparts to occur via genetic, as everyone in this world would simply be reborn. Thus, the cycle could easily be corrupted. Cases such as yours, when both a parent and a child are chosen to have counterparts are rare." Merlin paused to let them digest this.
He continued, "That is why not everyone is granted this chance. The system of our existence adds new good and new evil every new cycle. New evil is never reborn the same, but those who are new draw from history has inspiration for their evil doing. New heroes rise occasionally, but in actuality, most heroes of the world are merely counterparts of the past now privy to new skills and technology."
After another small pause, Merlin continued to speak making Natalie sigh. "Counterparts always have the same life spans because if the cycle is to continue, one must be in the process of recreation as soon as the other is dead. As for you, Natalie, if anything happens to you or Adria, while you are both here, your cycle in the system will be completely terminated."
Natalie found herself in a complete and utter state of shock. Beside herself with frustration at her predicament, she looked at Morien. He was in a similar state. "So you're telling me, that Morien is my father, just in a different time?" She asked and Merlin nodded. "But if Adria is still alive why am I here?" Natalie continued and leaned back in her seat.
"Ah, that brings me to the second part of why I called you here. There have been various cases of counterparts trading places at a young age. It is when the barriers time are at their weakest regarding that person and the system can have the occasional anomaly. I had some contact with Adria before she disappeared, and noticed certain peculiarities about her. It seems that you and Morien's daughter were switched not long after being born. We must find her and then allow the two of you to decide who will live in what time."
Natalie frowned. "Well I'll obviously want to go home. That's where my life is," She said looking at him confidently. "No my dear, that is where your life began. You must decide where it ends," Merlin responded cryptically and left the room in a flourish.
She watched him leave with a deadpanned expression. "How does that man drop such a bomb and then just walk away?" She muttered and looked around. Fortunately for her, Arthur, the knights, and Guinevere were just as befuddled as she was.
Natalie sighed. "As Merlin told you all, my name is Natalie. What he did not tell you is that I haven't a damn clue what time I am in, and I am really about to panic," She said in a small voice. "All of this is a foreign to me as it is to you. All I wanted to do was take a walk."
"I am sorry, Natalie, if I awoke any fear within you in the courtyard. However, with this news I begin to falter. If Adria and you were switched as Merlin says, then my heart grows sick. In a way, you are both daughters, and one of you must go. No matter whom it is that leaves, I am going to suffer a loss," Morien's deep voice carried from the other side of the table. Natalie's gaze snapped over to him, and she could not help but frown. He looked so much like her father that it was painful. Well, they were basically the same person.
"Might I make a suggestion?" A strong, but feminine voice rang out. All eyes moved immediately to the queen. "Despite my father's departure, we still have much to discuss. Yet, I understand that Galahad should have his wound tended to and a meal. The rest of the knights need food too. Natalie, you not only need a meal but a dress to walk around in, lest a guard try to arrest you…or harm you for your appearance," Guinevere said with a kind smile on her face. "We will meet here within an hour for food." Natalie had the urge to hug the woman.
"I could always protect her. A body like that should be preserved," Lancelot said earning glares from half the table especially Morien and Galahad. "No, you couldn't. I'd harm you before you could do so," Natalie said and leaned back in her chair. This earned a loud hoot from Bors. "I like the lass. She reminds me of my Vanora. I'm Bors," He introduced himself with a wink.
"Tristan," another voice said low, but clear. Natalie jumped, forgetting that the man was two seats away from her. Natalie then found herself addressed by the king. "If you are the daughter of one of my most loyal knights, even indirectly, please address me as Arthur," He said with a kind smile. She grinned in return.
Before she knew it, Guinevere was pulling her up and out of the room by the hand. Natalie looked behind her to see Morien knock Lancelot upside the head and scold him. Serves him right.
The passage ways of the fort soon became blurs of gray as walls blended together. She had no clue where the Queen was dragging her, and was at a loss on how she would return back to the room with the table. Finally, they reached a room with Guinevere closing the door behind them. Natalie leaned against the wall as the Queen dug through a chest before pulling out a flowing dress. It was off-white, with a yellow hue, in color. The belled sleeves added grace to the dress and Natalie could not help but gasp.
"Your majesty, that dress is far too pretty," Natalie said and the queen smiled. "I know. That's why I'm letting you wear it. Plus, it's too short for me, as the tailor who gave it to me as a gift, thought I was several inches shorter than what I am. Now, there's a wash bowl and a rag to freshen up, and I'd like you to wear this please," Guinevere said her smile kind. Now that she had a woman other than Vanora to socialize with, and she was not going to pass the opportunity up.
Natalie could only follow her directions. She walked behind the wooden room divider, and followed the queen's directions. She marveled that despite the lack of fabric softener, the dress managed to be completely comfortable, and surprisingly light. She folded her clothes, and put her boots on back under the dress, taking away from some of the glamor. She removed her hat, and ran her fingers through her hair in hope of taming the curly mass. "I always wanted a dress like Arwen's," She muttered and laughed a little. One thing she was already missing was her movie collection.
She walked back out to see that the queen had changed as well. Guinevere's dress was a dark blue with gray accents. Her sleeves were straight, but the skirt was full with a train that grazed the ground. A brown belt tied at her waist. "Well, you look absolutely smashing," Natalie said eyeing the queen's dress with admiration and a hint of jealousy. "I beg your pardon?" Guinevere responded looking confused. "It means that you look beautiful," Natalie quickly recovered remembering that slang was lost on these people. The queen smiled broadly, "You look….smashing as well. Let's go…"
Once again, the halls of the castle became a blur, and Natalie felt as though she were experiencing vertigo just walking through them. Dear God when does it end, She thought just as they reached their destination.
The view of sunset from a window in the hall revealed just how late it was. As they walked into the torch-lit room with the Round Table a few things hit Natalie. One, she was stuck in another time until she found herself, literally. Secondly, she had sat at the Round Table and met one of the greatest kings known to man. Thirdly, she really missed her home.
Choking back emotion, the young woman forced a smile on her face as she saw the knights. They were no long in their armor, but still looked nothing short of threatening. All were present with the exception of Bors.
"Well, Lady Natalie you do look radiant this evening," Lancelot called out from his seat as the men stood. Natalie smiled despite herself. "Thank you," She responded and found her way over to Galahad. She did not see Morien's crestfallen expression as she passed the seat next to him. He should have known that hoping she would sit next to him would be a stretch. He looked over at Natalie and nodded at her with a small smile that she returned.
This was nothing compared to the beaming grin she gave Galahad much to his chagrin. "You look much better now," She commented and the youngest knight got a little red in the face. "You…you do too?" He offered lamely in a form of a compliment. Actually, you look absolutely stunning, but I'm too much of a daft idiot to form those words verbally, he thought and looked away miserably.
Gawain, who noticed this exchange, chuckled to himself. It seemed like the youngest of their group was actually developing a bit of a crush. If not that, then the man just did not know how to handle himself around girls. Gawain could understand to an extent. Natalie's foreign upbringing made her bolder and generally odder than the women they were used to being around. With the exception of the Queen and Vanora, the women of the fort including the barmaids were nowhere near as forthcoming or outspoken. "So, Natalie, I have one pressing question," Gawain began and she gave him a look to continue. "What is Sarmatia like in your time? Actually, let me make it two questions. What year did you live in?"
Annnd I'm ending it here. Why? Because I did not want this chapter to be this long anyway. Please review, and I'm sorry if this chapter was boring. The amount of explanation going on was totally necessary, and if I didn't do it now the story would have been extremely confusing.