Earth & Magic

Ø23. New Trust

    Natalia's night had been restless. She gave up trying to sleep many hours ago and started to read. The sun had begun to rise and only a few people were rushing about. She decided to leave to explore the library and see what she could find. Only servants were up, making sure that their master's lives were made comfortable. Although Natalia was not entirely fond of someone serving her every wish, she did like her cushy life sometimes.
    "Princess!" Natalia was startled by the loud voice. Gwaine ran to her side, "Are you going for an early morning training session Princess?"
    "Don't you think it's a bit early to be yelling, Gwaine?" Natalia smiled and continued walking.
    "Ah, hungover, then?" Gwaine walked backward in front of her, smiling. Natalia stopped in her tracks.
    "Are you?" The two quickly laughed as Gwaine fell in step next to her again, "Where are you going then?"
    "Camelot's library. I expect not much will happen today, and there's some reading I'd like to do."
    "So, not only are you the best fighter I've ever met. You are also beautiful and educated." Gwaine clicked his tongue, "You must know your worth is a hundred times your weight in gold." Natalia was not entirely displeased with his compliments. Her thoughts drifted to Eli.
    "Why so sad, Princess?"
    "What?" She looked at Gwaine, who looked genuinely concerned about her.
    "Who are you thinking about?" Natalia covered her sadness in a laugh.
    "No one," she pushed him gently, "who are you thinking about?" he looked into the courtyard ignoring her question,
    "I am curious what that letter said?" They had reached the outside of the library,
    "I haven't read it yet." She spoke more to herself than to Gwaine. She had used it as a bookmark for the manifesto she had. Slowly Natalia removed the envelope and looked at it with slight fear. Gwaine placed a hand on her shoulder,
    "You alright?" Natalia didn't look at him,
    "Ask me after I read this." She haphazardly opened the envelope and read the lines below,

    Natalia,
I want to apologize for my behavior. Charles misses you. I am revoking your direct claim to the throne that was given to you by your father.
Queen Marie.

    Natalia wanted to burn the letter and pretend she hadn't seen it.
    "So, what did it say?" Gwaine poked her gently.
    "She took away my claim to the throne!" She covered her mouth realizing how loudly she had spoken. Gwaine laughed,
    "Worse things could happen. You could have found out your father had died or been exiled."
    "My father is dead, and I have no claim to the one thing he trusted me with." Natalia stormed towards Gaius' chambers. She heard Gwaine following,
    "Where are you going?"
    "To Merlin," she quickened her pace.
    "Are you going to murder him?" Gwain tried weakly to slow her down, "You look like you're going to murder him."
    "He makes me feel slightly less murderess actually, so it's best if you stay out of my way." Gwaine paused for a moment and smiled to himself,
    "What a woman," he whispered. Natalia paid no mind to him as she knocked on the door,
     "Come in," Merlin yelled. Natalia opened the door wildly and threw the letter on the table. Gwaine moved to the corner of the room and observed the two friends.
    "Hello to you, too," Merlin mumbled.
    "She took away my claim to the throne," she sat on the bench across from him as he looked at the delicate handwriting with disgust; then to Natalia with pity.
    "Natalia, I-"
     "She took away everything I've worked for in my life. All the time you've known me," she stood back up and started to pace, "what has been my goal?" Merlin walked over to her to try and calm her down.
    "Natalia-"
    "I've wanted to make Prauth a better place and a place my people would want to call home, somewhere they are safe." She sat back down and groaned in anger, "Briefly I wanted to be a farmer, but realized that I would be no good at it." She put her head in her hands, "That woman will do anything to make my life a living hell." Natalia felt Merlin's arm around her,
    "I'm sure you can change her mind. You got the peace treaty signed and have been wise counsel to her since your father passed." Natalia looked at him,
    "Shouldn't have that been enough in the first place to keep her from changing her mind?" The air seemed stale, and Gwaine felt that he was intruding,
    "I should go." He went towards the door, but before he could open it, Arthur barged in.
    "Merlin, what are you doing?" Natalia quickly changed her behavior and spoke up,
    "I'm sorry, I believe I distracted him from his duties." Merlin tried to say something, but Natalia shook her head, "I'll go, someone has to polish Arthur's armor, we all know he doesn't know how." Arthur rolled his eyes,
    "At least I can... I can..." Natalia walked towards him and patted him on the shoulder,
    "Performance issues?" Arthur followed her, saying that he didn't have any issues. Natalia kept teasing him until he challenged her to a duel.
    As their voices faded, Gwaine turned to Merlin, who had resumed polishing the armor.
    "Merlin," Gwaine sat next to Merlin, "what just happened?" Merlin smiled,
    "It can be a bit shocking at first, how quickly her mood seems to change. Many people would think she was unbalanced, but she's still upset; she's just saving face." He picked up Arthur's helmet while Gwaine was still confused.
    "How can you tell?"
    "I've known her since we were children, you learn these things." Merlin paused and looked solemn, "She's also lost three of the people she loves most." Gwaine looked at Merlin hoping he would offer up that information. Merlin kept working.
    "Her father and who else?" Gwaine watched Merlin contemplate for a moment.
    "They fell deeply in love, her and Eli. He was a dear friend of mine as well."
    "I'm sorry for your loss," Gwaine leaned his elbows on the table. Merlin nodded in acknowledgment,
    "Several months ago, her mother, Marie, was believed to have been kidnapped. Natalia got information on where her mother might be after searching for so long, ruling Prauth on her own and making sure her brother didn't lose hope as she had. Natalia sent five knights to rescue her mother. When they returned, her mother was only alive because of Eli." Merlin tried to distract himself with the polishing,
    "Natalia found out that her mother had run away. Since then, Marie has become more hostile towards her daughter, claiming that she is trying to get her brother to hate Marie and taking away her right to the throne." Merlin sighed, "it's her defense, changing her perceived mood so quickly. She wouldn't have any respect from any of the people that she needs if she showed any true emotion. They'd label her as hysterical, so she vents while she can and moves on. She doesn't have a choice."
Gwaine had never thought about how difficult it must be to be born into true nobility and have no choice. She was the first noble that he knew was noble at heart. He truly realized how strong she was and that she was a different type of being.
    "You know," Merlin said, setting down the last piece of armor, "she normally doesn't let people see this side of her so quickly." Gwaine shook his head,
    "It might have been that I was here, and she couldn't contain her anger."
    "No," Merlin collected Arthur's armor, "she trusts you, do not let that be for not." He smiled and left Gwaine deep in thought.