DISCLAIMER: NO CLUE IF I DID THIS ALREADY BUT I OWN NOTHING BUT NATALIE.
Warning: This chapter begins with a really long history lesson and I purposely put Natalie in a time before the movie came out. I don't want her to be all knowing about the knights' antics. Even though history lessons gave her a brief idea, I want her to learn about the past battles with the Saxons and stuff like that on her own.
Natalie gave Gawain a small, yet sad smile. "From what I recall from lessons, Sarmatia was at the borders of many countries. It was a much sought after area for trade, and therefore all the countries surrounding it wanted to control it. Sarmatia is now considered to be an area under the names of a few countries. In my time, the area is recognized as a part of Southern Russia and the Ukraine- known to you all as a part of the Bosporan Kingdom, and part of the eastern Balkans. However, that's just the land portion. Your people have descendants all over the world now; some of the more prominent suspected of being in Poland, the area where the Slavs lived. Your people had conquered them in the past. There was this movement called Sarmatism where people would practice principles thought to be important in Sarmatia," She finished off with a sigh. The knights all seems to think about what she had told them. Fortunately, none of them looked too torn up over the fate of their country. This was probably due to the exclusion of the amount of times the land had been conquered and spread out. That was the story of most of the world though.
"As for your second question," Natalie continued after they had time to recover. "I am from the year 2003. Before you start carrying on about what new things time has brought, I'm just going to give you a brief idea. My time is a lot more advanced than yours. People live a lot longer and tend to be healthier. However, people in my time do not have the same sense of honor that you all do. Also, women like me are educated. Some women work and take care of a family while others simply stay home and care for a family," She paused and noticed how scandalized the knights looked.
"One thing that has never ended is warfare. It continues with times of peace every now and then. The world is actually reentering into war now after some catastrophic events…That's about all I'm willing to share right now," She said growing solemn.
"Guess Arthur's ideas of everlasting peace did not quite carry on through the future," Lancelot muttered cynically making Natalie frown. "Of course it has. There is just the fact that some people are too blinded by selfishness and hate to be able to consider the greatest good. That's what heroes are for Sir Lancelot," Natalie interjected with a shrug.
The room grew rather quiet as the knights considered all that she had said. Natalie felt at a loss for what else she could share when a thought struck her. "You know tales of your heroics have lasted throughout the ages. In fact, a current representation will come about in about two years," She said wording herself properly as to avoid having to explain what a movie was. "They got some of the stories right. Lancelot is known for a being a…loose man. Yet, a really popular account makes him seem as though he is quite hideous to look at. Before, I figured it was just a fairy tale, but after ending up over a millennia in the past, and seeing his face…I'll give it some credit."
Bors was beside himself chuckling and the others looked amused. "Arthur, they keep true to. He is seen as one of the greatest kings the world has known," Natalie said and the others shrugged. They had figured as much. "Gawain, you're known as a great knight. However, you kind of have to control your temper according to some." Gawain laughed good-naturedly and shrugged.
"What do they say about me?" Galahad asked quietly. Natalie turned a little in her seat to face him and smiled. "Well, I'm not very aware of your private life. You are considered pure and noble in the future. You are also considered to be one of the most worthy of the knights. In the future, you are shown to embark on a journey that no other could undertake. However, you're quite…virginal as well."
Gawain had hid his head in his hands and Galahad was quite red. Hardly masked chuckles erupted from all around the table. Forgetting all laws of propriety, Galahad sputtered endlessly about his experience.
His assertion was not directed at his brothers, but rather towards Natalie. Morien, who had been watching this exchange, raised his brow but said nothing. Natalie continued to speak of the knights, now talking to Tristan and Dagonet, but Morien was lost in thought.
Adria had always been different. She seemed to be struck with a state of lethargy that was unheard of. She would spend a lot of her time in the home he had built for her and her mother, just thinking. She would ask him why the sky was blue and why the stars were so bright. She wanted to learn to read and write. She wanted to travel to Rome and to the land of the Gauls to learn about them.
He often felt at a loss for not being able to provide that type of life for her. But, she was a girl and finding a place where they would be willing to teach her those things was impossible.
Yet, there she was…or well another version of her. Natalie was everything Adria wanted to be. Educated, empowered. Though he loved his daughter, Morien could not help but wish she and Natalie had not been switched. Then, she could have lived the life she wanted.
"And finally, we have Bors. According to legend, you're the son of a king and proclaimed as celibate," Natalie said poorly masking her mirth. Surprisingly, Arthur's laughter was the most raucous of the knights, even Guinevere, who had managed nothing more than a few grins at the stories, found herself giggling.
Bors looked bemused at the assessment of his life but shrugged. "I guess the only way to change that is to actually give the bastards names. Maybe then they can keep the story of their pa true," He said with a wink and Natalie smiled. There were certain aspects of future accounts that she would keep secret…such as the legends of Lancelot and Guinevere's infidelity and the possibilities of Gawain being abusive.
"Why don't we go to the tavern for dinner tonight?" Bors suggested. "'Nora would love to meet the lass and she needs to see why our time is so great." Despite his passionate assertion, the knights and Guinevere knew that the root was his desires to get drunk.
"Oh a tavern?" Natalie said perking up considerably. "Sounds lovely, let's go." Galahad smiled, countenance full of mirth. "Lovely is how you'd describe a tavern Lady?" He asked and she gave him a light shove. "Smart arse," She muttered and the knight offered her his arm. Not noticing the looks of Gawain and Morien, one teasing, the other scrutinizing, the two walked towards the tavern joking and laughing the whole time.
~The Calling~
Mordred stared out the window of his tower with a small, secretive smile playing on his lips. "It's wonderful is it not? This system of counterparts… I get destroy the same lives over and over again without an end," He said clasping his hands behind his back.
It was a little odd really. The sun was shining, birds were chirping. Despite the snow, the island looked quite wondrous. Beautiful even. But, as every up has its down, every night has its day, and every story has its villain.
"That is unless Natalie finds us," A woman said and walked up next to him. She had piercing blue eyes and black hair that swung jauntily to her waist. "I can't wait until I see Merlin again. If I'm correct, he's leading them. I don't think I got to really say goodbye the last time."
"Nimue, you are as beautiful as you are wicked," Mordred said with a wheeze meant to pass for a laugh. "Yes, well. I have a role to play don't I," She said and her body shifted. She was now much shorter and much darker. In fact, she looked exactly like Natalie. Mordred leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. "Go love, so we can end them all together. Then, we may rule for eternity," He whispered in her ear. The woman simply smiled before walking out.
She was completely oblivious to the scowl on Mordred's face that followed her. "Filthy demon," he grumbled and wiped his mouth.
~The Calling~
Yeah I know its short…but what do you think? Think the story is headed in a good direction? I'm really excited about updating now.