"Tonight we try to contact Merlin." Mistress Celeste seemed giddy with excitement.
Tommy rolled his eyes at Bella behind the woman's back, and Bella hid a snicker.
Wouldn't do to piss off the natives, she thought watching the extremely purple woman walking in front of her. The woman's entire outfit was some type of purple. "Um, do you mean Merlin, as in Merlin and King Arthur?"
"Yes." The woman turned to face them and her eyes sparkled. "Exactly." Two men were sitting on a blanket looking partially annoyed. "Recent uncovered historical documents lead us to believe that he was an actual man. We believe that if the man existed then so must some of the myth. There is much we could learn from the great Merlin."
"Intriguing." Bella murmured. She'd known that the legendary King Arthur and most of his knights had turned out to be real people, but had written off the rest of the tales as just that…fairytales for children. If there were such people as Lancelot and Guinevere, would they have destroyed a kingdom for sex? Or love? Whichever you believed in. Bella couldn't imagine anything would, or could be that wonderful. Not to betray your best friend or husband. Her parents had been married for thirty years, and happily at that. "So, the ritual you're going to be performing today is trying to call Merlin's spirit?"
"No Dear." Celeste said somewhat patronizingly. "We're calling the man, Merlin, to us. We'll bring him here. Into this realm, where he can behold the glory of the future."
They both blinked at her. "You're talking time travel?" Bella was sure she hadn't heard the woman right.
"Precisely." The woman gave Bella a pleased smile, as if she were a dog who'd done a new trick. "You're perfect for this ritual. You can both assist me!"
"Um…" Bella tried to think quickly on how to get them out of this one. "Really, it's against my religion."
"I insist! It's the only way you'll get a clear picture of who we are, and what our beliefs mean!" The woman spoke in an animated tone; her hands moved quickly and in large motions. "It won't hurt a thing!"
Bella sighed and just nodded. What she was willing to do for a story…
"Not awake yet?" Vanora's chipper voice brought Bella out of her dream instantly.
"Is it late?" she asked the woman as she sat up on the bed. The covers fell to her lap, and her eyes were blurry with sleep.
"Not at all Love." She smiled affectionately at Bella. "I just wanted to make sure you got some breakfast."
Bella gave the woman a warm smile. "That's very kind of you, thank you."
"Well, when you're done with breakfast we'll go and get some cloth from market, and go about getting you some dresses made. A girl can't just have one dress now can she?"
"Oh, no, it isn't a problem. I'm fine with this one." She protested. Vanora just grunted at her and threw her a look. Bella got up and changed into the amber colored dress and quickly followed the other woman down the stairs.
Either the knights had already come and gone, or they were still slumbering away the effects of too much alcohol. After she ate her breakfast which consisted of some type of warm cereal and warm buttered bread, she and Vanora headed out. Bella patted her flat belly and grinned at Vanora. "If I eat like that all the time you won't be able to fit me through the door."
"What did ya eat where yer from?" the older woman asked curiously.
"A cup of coffee and granola bar. When I ate breakfast." Bella laughed. The sun was shining and when they came in sight of the market she almost stopped. It was amazing! It reminded her of a large bazaar, or the Renaissance Festival she'd been to a couple of times with her girlfriends in college. "Look at it?" She looked over and caught Vanora smiling at her. To Vanora, Bella looked like a little girl given a special present. "Look at everything!"
Her mind whirling she wanted to see everything. Vanora took her around to the different vendors who were pleased when she oohed and aahed over their wares. Several of the men gave her cloth, and goods, just because it made her so happy. When they came to a man with puppies she got down on her knees to cuddle and caress them. Vanora was off speaking with someone else. "Look at you." She whispered to the small brown and white dog. He was some type of Shepard, and was beautiful. He kept licking her nose, and causing her to giggle.
"Does the Lady wish to have the dog?" the breeder smiled looking down at the beautiful woman. The other puppies were spoken for, and he was the last of the litter. The man had heard all of the rumors of the woman, and had seen her in the tavern serving the night before. He knew she'd been abused at the hands of the Roman noble, that she'd come into the Keep with Arthur and his knights, and she was well favored by them.
"Oh no, I couldn't." she said standing up.
"Of course you can." Lancelot spoke from behind her. She looked up to catch him gazing down at her from next to the merchant.
"No really…" she knew he wasn't paying attention. He was already handing the other man money. The other man was handing it right back.
"No, no, you keep your coin. Just seeing the pretty lady smile is payment enough for me."
She watched stunned as the man began packing away his crates. Lancelot grinned. "It seems you've made many conquests today."
"People just keep giving me things." She said with a slight frown.
He leaned closer to her. "It's because they charge the Romans more."
"What have we here?" Vanora joined them and was staring at the pup in Bella's arms.
"He's just a little guy." Bella murmured burying her face in the scruff of the puppy's neck. "Is it okay if I have him?"
Vanora looked startled. "Well of course it is! Why wouldn't it be?"
Lancelot was laughing. "That pup will not stay little for long. Look at the size of his feet."
He did have rather big feet, Bella mused studying her new puppy. Lancelot had taken possession of the belongings she had been carrying, and Vanora's arms were full as well. She'd not only been given fabrics and items to make outfits, but also bath oils, soaps, and glossy apples, among other fruits and vegetables. One merchant had raved at her beauty and kindness and had given her salt. From the look on Vanora's face Bella guessed that salt was quite a precious thing. For the first time since she'd arrived in their time Arabella was truly smiling.
"Ah, it is the lovely young woman saved by Artorius." The voice behind her caused a shudder, but she turned to face it. The puppy began to growl low in its throat.
Bella found the Bishop staring at her with undisguised interest. "Sir."
"I have been informed that Marius had punished you?"
"Yes sir."
"But you are a follower of the Church?"
"All my life sir. Me entire family are highly involved in the Church."
"Excellent. Well, I must apologize for his error in judgment. Tell me though, why did he find you in the forest with those who would defy God?" There was something in the man's eyes that caused fear to build.
"I was running from them." she lied. "They were chasing me." She hated having to lie about Tommy, but this man was not as pious as he pretended to be.
"Yet, Marius's men say you screamed when you saw they'd been killed?"
"Of course she would Bishop Germanius." Arthur spoke as he joined the group. "Lady Arabella had never seen bodies treated in such a way. She is indeed a gentle woman." he spoke harshly. "Her treatment at Marius's hands was unjust and an attack against God himself."
The Bishop seemed to back down some now that Arthur was there. He nodded once and left, his robes sweeping behind him. Bella stared after the man. "He doesn't believe anything we've told him." she directed to Arthur.
"Stay away from Germanius Arabella." Arthur spoke softly. "He is not as good a man as he likes people to believe."
"Very few are Arthur. Very few are." Bella held her puppy close and walked back to her chambers more subdued.
Dinner was a large affair. A final feast since the knights would be leaving in two days time to return to their homelands. Vanora had made her dress in a deep red dress. It reminded her of a dress that a greek goddess would wear in pictures she'd seen in books. The silver cord crossed over her chest and wrapped around her waist several times. The sleeves wereslit at the topto fall off of her arms. Pooh Bear, her puppy, was a favorite with Bors and Vanora's children, and they wore the pup out with their antics. She sat at the supper table and watched with a smile on her face. She didn't know what she'd do when they left. Somehow she had to find a way home, but didn't know if that was possible. Bella laughed at herself, darn it she should have watched all of those King Arthur movies!
Vanora had stood and sung a song about going home. It was beautiful. Bella didn't think they'd appreciate much of the music she enjoyed listening to. Some of the people were up and playing instruments. Vanora had pulled Bors out to dance leaving their baby with Guinevere. Bella almost laughed at the look on the tough man's face. He was trying to hard.
"Would you care to dance Bella?" Gawain asked her. She nodded and stood up. It wasn't difficult to pick up the steps and she laughed as he twirled her on the floor. Within moments Galahad had cut in and he was spinning her. Lancelot took a turn as well.
She'd been dancing for what seemed like hours when she took a break to get a drink. Bella looked back to find Gawain with a wench on his lap, and Lancelot whispering in another girl's ear. Galahad was frowning into his mug. Such a handsome man to be so unhappy. She approached him with a smile. "Dance with me Galahad?" she asked.
He stood and joined her on the make shift dance floor. It was a slower song, and she'd been watching the past few nights. He obviously knew the dance, and he was smiling down at her by the end of it. "Might I show you something Bella?" he asked. She nodded still smiling from the happy night.
Taking her hand, he led her from the tavern and up onto the top of the battlements. Bella looked at the night sky filled with stars. "Oh my gosh." she breathed out. "It's beautiful." The stars seemed so close that she felt as if she could reach up and take one from the sky above. "If I truly lived here I would spend every evening up here looking at that sky." she whispered. She looked over to see a slight frown marring his face again. "What's wrong Galahad? Why aren't you happy like the others?"
"It was only days ago that I wanted only to go home. I was so angry that we had to do one final mission for Rome to get our freedom."
"It was wrong of them. They should have kept their promise to you all." She laid her hand on his whiskered cheek her dark eyes full of understanding.
Galahad lifted his callused hand and brushed her smooth, soft cheek with the back of his knuckles. She found herself becoming lost in his blue eyes. Galahad inched closer so very slowly, and Arabella felt herself being drawn into him. When his lips brushed across hers a tingling sensation flooded her body, and her eyes shut of their own accord. She leaned into the kiss; her hand moving from his cheek to linger in his dark curls. He kept the one hand at her cheek, and the other nestled in her hair. Her mouth opened under his, and she reached her tongue out tentatively to meet his. When he finally pulled away his eyes were dark and unreadable, and she found that she felt weak in her knees. Never before had a kiss affected her so much.
Galahad stepped back and looked at the woman in front of him. "Forgive me Bella. I should not have done that." He turned and strode away from her and descended the steps leaving her very confused.
Bella didn't understand. What had she done wrong? Should she not have kissed him back? Then she realized he must have feelings for someone else, and now felt that he'd betrayed his love by kissing her. The kiss had been spectacular, there was no doubt about it, but that didn't mean anything, did it? Hadn't her mother told her that sometimes people were attracted to each other without the benefit of love. Bella sighed. This was why she'd focused on her career instead of on her love life. Men were too confusing.
Bella woke the next morning and decided to go for a walk along the woods. She knew that on this side of the gate the edges of the wood should be safe. She took Pooh Bear and let him run and frolic. Already he followed her and was trying to listen. She was sure he was trying. The knights would be leaving the next morning. Arthur had offered to let her come with him to Rome. She was pretty sure that's where she was going. His knights were going home, which if she remembered correctly was somewhere near where Russia was now…or in the future….whatever. No, Rome was as close to home as she was going to get. She frowned sitting down on the soft grassy ground.
Pooh began to yap happily and she looked to see who was joining her. A strange bedraggled man had stepped out of the trees. He was painted in blue, held a big wooden stick, and looked dirty. Bella stood quickly and backed up, but Pooh didn't seem frightened by the man at all.
"I mean you no harm." the man said in accented English. "You are the strange traveler from the future my daughter has told me of?"
So, this was Merlin. Guinevere's father. She nodded once and continued to stand very still.
"You have changed many things by coming here." he told her with what appeared to be a gentle smile.
"How?" she finally asked.
"The man, Dagonet was meant to die. He did not. Lancelot and Tristan were meant to die tomorrow, and now I do not believe they will." The man crouched down and rubbed Pooh's belly. "You're coming here has saved these men."
"Good. That's good. They're good men."
"Agreed." he stood and put his hands on his staff. "Beware the man of God child, he means you ill."
"Figured that one out."
"Yes, you are a smart girl. Brave too."
"You seem to know a lot. Can you tell me how to get home?" she asked.
"Alas, I cannot. I do not have the power to return you to the place you were before. The stars have shown me this is where you belong now. Your coming here has changed the events of the future. It is no longer the future you left."
"So, my parents are okay?" her lips trembled holding back tears.
"Yes child, they are. You are a new Arabella now. Their new Arabella. The Arabella that came here was never lost to them."
Bella thought she understood.
"You must go back to the Keep now." he told her. "Go quickly!"
Bella took off running with Pooh close behind her. The knights were on the battlements looking down at the army of Saxons. Good God! How could she have forgotten the Saxons! Arthur and Lancelot were arguing as Bella ran to the top of the battlements where just the night before she'd been kissed by Galahad. "Oh God in Heaven." Bella made the sign of the cross as she'd been doing since she could walk and went to church. She looked over and found Germanius staring at her with narrowed eyes.
Arthur looked to her as she came down the stairs. "Bella you will leave with the group tomorrow. You will head to Rome and I will meet you there if I live."
"You send her to Rome with Germanius?" Lancelot said angrily.
"I will make sure she is watched over. I send Ganis and Jols to care for her." Arthur roared. "And until your paths split I know she is safe with you and our brothers."
Lancelot and Gawain both looked to argue. "I will do as you ask Arthur. I will leave. I trust your men." Bella turned and went to her chambers to pack her belongings. Arthur had become King of Britain. She knew he would not let her down. If he did not return to Rome, he would bring her back here.
The next morning they left and she watched Arthur alone on the hilltop. He looked so valiant. If ever she could have had a brother, or hero, this man would be him. They weren't far down the road when the knights horses began to fidget and they looked at each other. She knew in that moment they would not leave their friend. She watched them suit up, and watched them ride back. Before riding off Galahad turned and their eyes met. He nodded once and was gone.
Bella rode with Vanora and the children. Jols and Ganis rode along side them. They'd been traveling for maybe an hour, or two when the caravan came to a halt. Germanius and his men rode back to the wagon where Bella sat.
"Lady Arabella, if that be your name, you have been found guilty of witchcraft, and of heresy against God!" he barked out. Vanora started shouting, and Jols and Ganis made to move, but were stopped by five Roman soldiers. "Your punishment for these crimes will be death. You will be burned at the stake." A gleam entered his eyes. "Take her."
Vanora made to move in front of her and Bella stopped her. "No, Vanora, I will not let you be hurt because of me. There's already been too many deaths because of me." Her mind strayed to Tommy, and even Mistress Celeste. Bella stood, every inch the lady she was and stepped off of the wagon. She leaned in so only Germanius could hear her. "God will welcome me into his arms Bishop. I have been a good Catholic all of my life. Can you say the same?"
The Bishop backhanded her and she dropped to the ground from the force. "Don't try your evil hexes on me woman. I am protected by God!"
As he screamed Vanora turned to Gilly. "Gilly my child. You must run back to your father. You must be fast and you must be brave." The boy looked at his mother and nodded. Without another word he was gone and into the hedges. The boy was stealthy and quick, and no one noticed his departure.
The battle was over, and they were victorious. None of his brothers had died, and Arthur felt relief invade his soul. He knew now that he needed to call back his people. The Romans would leave and a new era would begin.
The knights were laughing when Merlin approached. "Now is not the time for celebration Arthur. You must go quickly or the girl you swore to protect dies!"
"Bella!" Galahad bellowed. The men ran for their steeds and were riding quickly. Within minutes they'd come across Gilly, exhausted but following his mother's important orders.
"Father!" the boy cried as Bors swung him into his saddle. "The Bishop is going to burn Lady Bella!"
With grim looks on their faces they rode hard, and could only pray they reached them in time.