"I can honestly not believe that he fell for that," Natasha stated, shaking her head.

"Yes, he can be quite oblivious," Merlin agreed, opening the door to Natasha's new room.

"This is where you'll be staying," he informed, lifting his hand towards the room.

"Cool."

"Cool?"

"I just mean it's nice," Natasha explained. Merlin thought back to his own room - the one that could never, in a million years, compare to this one and found it strange Natasha was not impressed.

"Hey, Merlin?" she interrupted his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna be able to get home, right? I'm not, like... Stuck here, am I?" she asked unsurely.

"I... I'm not sure," he admitted, quickly continuing when he noticed her teary eyes; "But, I mean, I got you here, didn't I? So you can obviously go back and forth, we just need to figure out what spell to use. Gaius is already working on it."

Natasha smiled sadly before looking at him.

"Wait, magic is an actual thing here?" she asked, only just realising what had brought her there.

"It - it is not there?" Merlin asked surprised, making Natasha shake her head.

"I mean, there are books with stories about people who can do magic, in fact, those are my favourite books, but, no one can actually do it, it's just... Fantasy," she explained.

"Oh, wow. I can't imagine a world without magic," Merlin admitted, almost smiling by there mere thought of the magic he had. The magic he was.

"So everybody here can do stuff? Like, turn people into frogs and fly?" Natasha asked curiously.

"Oh, no, not at all. I've actually never heard of anyone do those things," he told; "Actually... Magic is illegal here."

"What? Why?"

"The king believes it to be evil," Merlin informed quietly; "He has anyone accused of using it executed."

"That sounds a lot more evil than magic does," Natasha mentioned, looking out the window.

"If you tell the king I have magic, he will execute me," Merlin told boldly. Natasha looked at him.

"Aren't you friends with his son?"

"That will not make a difference," Merlin assured her. Natasha slowly nodded.

"I won't tell. Who knows?"

"Thank you. And not many. Gaius and Gwaine, who you have met. Another knight."

"You've only ever told three people?" she asked curiously.

"More have known," Merlin admitted, a hint of sadness reaching his voice; "Actually, that is how I got you here. I... It was foolish, but I meant to bring a loved one here."

"Most of what we do for love is foolish," Natasha commented, making Merlin look up. He'd been worried about her reaction.

"So, you were trying to bring her back from the dead? Like, necromancy?"

"You - you know of necromancy?" Merlin questioned surprised.

"I've read a lot of books about magic," Natasha grinned.

A knock sounded at the door, and Merlin quickly went over and opened - but after sending Natasha a worried glance.

"Gwen!" he stated, smiling at the brown-haired maid in the door.

"Merlin, hi. Arthur sent me," she explained, smiling shyly.

"Yes, he said. Gwen, this is Natasha, Natasha, Guinevere," Merlin introduced, closing the door behind his friend.

"M'lady," Gwen greeted, curtsying politely.

"Uh, that's... Nice to meet you," Natasha stated, reaching a hand out. Gwen looked surprised at her and Merlin shook his head behind her. Natasha noticed and quickly pulled it back.

"Sorry."

"Natasha is not from around here," Merlin told; "I was hoping you could help tell her how to act here, how to dress. She's going to be meeting the king shortly."

"It would be my honour," Gwen agreed, smiling; "I brought you some dresses."

Natasha noticed the fabric in Gwens arms and practically squeeled.

"This is so fun, it's like playing dress-up, only so much more real, because, well, it is!" she stated, taking the dresses from a baffled Gwen.

"Ohh, this is pretty!" Natasha commented, holding up a red velvet dress, a pattern of gems following the neckline.

"I will help you put it on," Gwen offered, taking it from her.

"I will... Leave you two to it," Merlin decided, awkwardly stepping back. He did not feel comfortable leaving Natasha on her own, not when she was acting so suspiciously, but he trusted Gwen. If anyone should risk finding out, it should be her, and he did need her help. He had duties of his own to return to, and he fully well knew someone needed to help Natasha figure their world out.

"Merlin?" Natasha interrupted him on his way out. He looked back to see her shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"We'll talk later?" she asked, sounding almost unsure of it.

"Definitely," he promised, sending her a big smile before leaving.

"So, how do you know Merlin?" Natasha asked, puffing out air every time Gwen tightened the corset.

"Oh, Merlin and I have been friends since he arrived in Camelot, m'lady," Gwen replied.

"You know you don't need to do that, right? The whole 'my lady' thing? You can just relax around me," Natasha told, sending the girl behind her a smile through the mirror in front of them.

"Holy shit, does this have to be so tight?" she complained instead, feeling just a tiny bit suffocated.

"You do not tighten them this much where you are from?" Gwen asked curiously.

"We do not tighten them at all," Natasha muttered before noticing Gwen's confusion; "We don't wear corsets where I'm from. That outfit I was wearing when you came on? That's how we dress."

"I cannot imagine wearing a dress that short," Gwen admitted, almost blushing.

"It was actually pants," Natasha informed, making Gwen look up, mortified.

"What?"

"You wear pants?"

"Of course. Wait, you don't?" Natasha realised.

"No!" Gwens voice sounded, horrified by the mere idea; "Pants is for the men."

"I hate people like that," Natasha commented, rolling her eyes.

"Not like that!" she added, realising how it must have sounded; "You just... Do things differently here. Where I'm from, both women and men wear pants. Women sometimes wear dresses. Actually, some men do, too."

Gwen giggled.

"I cannot imagine a man wearing a dress."

"Nah, a lot of people find it weird, to be honest," Natasha told; "A lot of people are against it, but... I don't see the problem. It's not hurting anyone, and if it makes them happy. Let people do their thing, you know?"

"I think I do. It sounds quite logical when you say it like that. Anyway, you are done," Gwen stated, stepping back.

"Oh, neat. I didn't need to breathe anyway," Natasha teased, running her hands over the fabric.

"It looks beautiful, if I may say so," Gwen complimented from behind.

"I never thought I'd see myself wearing something like this," Natasha admitted, smiling slightly.