Through the Threads of Time
By ashes

A crossdresser who is into the Renaissance finds himself transported into the Renaissance.

Author's note: This is inspired slightly by what I remember of reading an SRU story a long time ago. I haven't read one lately so I really don't know if that's accurate, but for some reason I felt like sharing that with you. Anyway it seemed like the most reasonable plot device to mesh with the challenge this week. I also didn't feel like trying to translate the dialogue into Ye Olde English, so we'll just pretend that his mind is translating for him. ;-P

Here was the premise for this week's challenge
4. A Switch In Time
Idea: Write a story that involves time travel.
Length: Any
Limitations: Explore what it means to be a TG individual from one time facing the prejudices or views of another.
-------------

I walked into the fabric store, intending to buy some gold colored thread. I realized that a nice gold color would make a nice accent around the bust of the Renaissance-style dress I was making. It would contrast with the wine colored material of the majority of the dress, and accent the white center parts. It was the final touch that this dress was missing.

I had been thinking about it all day, when the answer came to me as I was doing other errands. Luckily the strip mall I was at had this nice little store in it. It had a very homey feel to it, as opposed to the open, sterilized feel of the larger chain stores. The aisles were only wide enough to fit one person abreast, and there were only three of them, each about thirty feet long.

I made eye contact with the man behind the counter. He had a wizardly look to him; he could have played Dumbledore in the Harry Potter movies. I gave a little wave and went to find the thread. The assortment of colors and sizes was impressive considering the size of the store. In fact it looked like they even had a better selection than the chain stores. I looked for the thickest thread size that may equipment at home could handle, as I wanted it to show on the material.

I found the spot where the gold color would be, but there wasn't any there. So I went up to the counter to ask the man if there was any in stock. I sure hoped so, since I really didn't want to do much more driving today. I really wanted to go home after this stop so I could finish my project.

"Hi there, I was wondering if you have any size sixty-nine gold colored thread? There isn't any on the shelf so if you could check in back?" I asked hopefully.

He gave me a fatherly smile and said, "Of course, just wait one minute. I'm sure I have some." With that he disappeared through a door that I suppose went to his stocks. I had a moment to myself, and upon reflection I found it odd that gold would be popular enough, in that size, to be sold out in front and have more in back. Not only that, but it seemed to be the only color not stocked in front. I didn't have much time to think about it though, as the man quickly returned with two spools of the thread I wanted.

As he rung me up, I found my excitement growing and a grin on my face. He put the stuff in a small plastic bag which he handed me, along with my change. He smiled back, and said, "Have a nice time."

I found that an odd way of rephrasing the expression, but shrugged it off as a colloquial thing, or possibly generational. Either way it was quickly forgotten as I replied, "You too," and turned to leave. I wasn't sure but as I was turning I thought I might have seen him give me an almost imperceptible wink, but I also shrugged it off as a shadow or some other trick of the light, since there wasn't any reason he would wink at me. At least as far as I knew.

As I drove away a check in the rear view mirror while the strip mall was still in sight left me confused again, as I thought it looked like the little fabric shop was gone. It looked like the two stores adjacent had expanded and crushed it between them. However, I was far enough away by then that I waved it off as one more trick my mind was playing on me in a day that seemed filled with small oddities. Like the others, it too was quickly forgotten.

When I got back home I put my perishables in the fridge, and quickly got to work finishing the dress. In a practical sense, it was already done. It could be worn at any time. I just felt something was missing, finally coming up with this idea for some detail work. This would be the final touch that really made it complete in my eyes.

it took me nearly two hours, and I had to undo a few mistakes along the way, but I was finally done. I was very happy with the results, and now to the victor go the spoils.

First I stripped and took a shower, making sure to shave well everywhere. Next I got out my padded panties, to give me the impression of having hips. I tucked back and pulled them on. After that was the corset, it wasn't period accurate, but I'm not really fanatic about that sort of thing as long as it can't be seen. I had this specially made to lace up in front and have a padded bust.

The overall effect of my undergarments was pretty stunning, not that a real woman with my dimensions would be a model or anything, but still quite attractive. Unfortunately that said nothing about my face, which couldn't really be called feminine by any stretch of the imagination. I always felt a little sad about it when I dressed, but I suppose it made my daily life as a male easier, so I never let it get me too depressed. Besides, I knew I was happy as a guy, I just liked wearing pretty things sometimes.

I donned my chemise to finish off my underclothes, and then pulled my latest creation over my head. I tightened up the side laces around my waist to match with what the corset was doing, and went to look at myself in the full-length mirror set up nearby.

I was admiring my body, and how good the dress looked on it, when I suddenly started feeling quite sleepy. I was also starting to get a tingling sensation all over. I really didn't feel like doing anything else just then, other than crash on my bed sleep for ages. In fact I could barely even think enough to make my way to the bedroom instead of just lying on the floor where I stood. That's how muddied my mind was due to this sudden wave of exhaustion.

As I began to get more and more drowsy, I made my way to the bed. My mind was quickly becoming foggy, and my body numb, almost how I imagined it must be for people when they're drugged. The only difference, I thought, was that this just felt like normal sleepiness, except that it was overtaking me so much faster than normal. As I collapsed on my bed, just before I closed my eyes I thought it looked like the gold thread was actually giving off light.

The last thought I had before sleep overtook me was, "But that's impossible..."

*<*^*>*

When I woke, the first thing I noticed was I was most definitely not in my bed. The surface beneath me was hard and rocky. I could hear hooves clopping towards me, but they sounded distant yet. I groaned and pushed myself up, my hands acquiring some nice little dents and a few stray pebbles from the surface of the path I was on. I shook the cobwebs out of my head and noticed I was still wearing my dress. I did not need anyone to see me like this, but it was too late as the riders of the horses responsible for the clopping noise pulled to a stop next to me. I kept my head down hoping they wouldn't notice what I was under these clothes, and let me be on my way.

A gruff, yet prim English accented voice addressed me. "Miss, you shouldn't wander this far from the city grounds by yourself. And why in the name of the Lord were you lying on the road?" The city grounds? I suppose from what little I could see in the distance, there was a lot of open land. So how the hell did I get here? And what the hell was with this dirt path? Not to mention being approached by people on horses. I didn't live in a large city, but you don't see a lot of horses near Seattle. Even if I was in a smaller suburb it isn't exactly rural here. Well, it obviously is here... but not where I thought I was- was when I fell asleep that is. This had to be a dream, but even so I didn't feel comfortable showing my face in this outfit.

Well, so far so good on that particular goal. I attempted to answer him in my best impression of a female voice. This I could do; I had practiced many times at home. It wasn't perfect, but it was light and airy enough that I could probably get away with it. "Sorry, sir. I was just on my way back." I tried to add some sadness to my voice as well, hoping that he would take the hint that I didn't want to be bothered. I turned away from them, figuring it was a fifty-fifty shot as to which way to go, and I was still trying to avoid letting them see my face. As I started walking though, one of the men who was now to my immediate right grabbed my arm causing me to spin towards him. I was suddenly face to face with a very large, very intimidating looking knight in full plate armor. Well, face to knee, but I tlted my head instinctively to look up at him, so close enough.

As this was happening he was saying, "Wait, miss. It's the other... way." His words got quieter as he saw the truth. His face first became one of absolute shock, then quickly changed to anger. As he narrowed his eyes he spat in a low hiss, "You're a man!? Wearing ladies garments!? I get it, you're one of those... homosexuals! Guard, shackle this heathen!"

Before I could even think about what just happened, one of the other knights forced my arms behind me and put the shackles on my wrists. I was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and so he deftly attached some to my legs. I was probably the easiest prisoner he'd ever shackled, since he may as well have been arresting a statue for all the resistance I put up. I was unceremoniously dumped side-saddle onto the horse carrying the man who had given the orders, presumably the leader of this little contingent.

As we rode off, I guess toward this city that was brought up earlier, I just rolled with the punches, or more literally the bumps of the trotting horse. I was still mostly in a daze anyway. What the hell was happening here? How did I even get here? Where is here? Why the hell are these four dudes on horses dressed like knights?

Those were just a few of the questions blazing through my mind as I numbly rode along. We approached a castle surrounded by a small village. Thatched roofs could be seen over the top of a tall stone wall surrounding the village, with plowed farmland spreading out on all sides practically as far as the eye could see. The castle itself was an intimidating monstrosity, but of course that was the point of such buildings.

Seeing this caused something to snap in my brain, some misfire of synapses somewhere due to the sheer impossibility of what I was seeing and all the questions I had about it all. I was in a totally catatonic state as the knight rode through a back entrance that sloped downward into the castle. They brought me into a dank, pungent dungeon, and reshackled me on a wall.

"You'll remain here until your execution at noon tomorrow," one of the knights informed me in a pompous monotone, before locking the cell door as well and walking away without a second look back.

My muscles were completely relaxed as I hung from the large metal rings on the wall where my shackles had been attached. Exhaustion and despair, so strong that they managed to penetrate my otherwise emotionless demeanor, caused me to fall asleep despite the uncomfortable arrangements.

The last thing I remembered before drifting off was a shimmering light reflecting off a puddle of some unidentifiable liquid that had pooled in a corner of the cell. My last thoughts were, 'I really don't want to know what that stuff is,' and,' that light looks familiar...'

*<*^*>*

I was rudely awakened by a clanging of wood against the iron door of my cell. I opened my eyes slowly, but my blurry sleepy vision was further obscured by the long blonde hair falling in front of my face. Since my head was hanging I was keenly aware of the fact that my corset was now enhancing the position of my now very real breasts. A second misfire in my brain snapped me out of my catatonia and threw me into hysterics. I struggled against the restraints, screaming and yelling in my newly acquired soprano voice, for several agonizing minutes until finally wearing myself out.

The sounds of someone clearing their throat caught my attention. I snapped my head up to see none other than the man who sold me the gold thread just hours before. Or was it days by now? No telling how long I had been unconscious. He wore what you would expect of a wizard, with long crimson robes, a wide-brimmed pointed hat, and he held a rather ornate staff topped with a silver eagle's head with a red crystalline orb in it's beak. He stood calmly with a wry grin, "If you're quite finished?"

"Where am I?" I sobbed, "What's happened to me?"

"That was magic thread deary. It took you back to the renaissance, and made you a woman, just as you desired for so long." He cocked his head slightly, "Why does this bother you so?"

"I didn't want this for real, " I said dejectedly, "I liked being a man, but it was fun to pretend sometimes. And I only liked the renaissance for the styles they wore. I really wouldn't give up modern life for that."

The wizard frowned at this, "I see. Your intentions were foggy at best. Though you really seemed to desire these things. I guess I've learned a lesson not to alter a life unless it is clear where their hearts lie." He thrust his staff forward, and with a quick flash of intense light the cell door opened and the shackles released her from the chains. I collapsed to the dingy stone floor in a heap of cloth, quietly shivering while curled in the fetal position.

He took two quick strides across the cell to where I lay, and picked me up as if I weighed no more than a small child, which I suppose could have been the case. I really had no idea of my body size anymore, though I vaguely remember the shackles being a bit loose around my wrists just now, where they had been flush against the skin before a fell asleep.

The wizard seemed to sense these thoughts, or he just happened to be giving me a rundown of the situation at the same time I was thinking them.

"Body alterations take more time and magic energy than time displacement, surprisingly. That's why you were still male when you were transported to this time. It has to do with the tenacity of the human spirit, versus time which is non-living. It's complicated magic which you needn't worry about. You now have the body of an eighteen year old girl, and as you are quite a bit smaller than you were last anyone saw you, you should have no trouble blending in."

"Blending in? Why can't you just send me back, and with my old body?" I asked, anger rising with every word.

"Because, with the way magic works, it prevents similar alteration spells from acting on the same person. Basically alterations of any kind use such a great deal of magic that the residue lingers in that person and negates any attempts to use spells of the same type." He actually looked remorseful as he explained this to me, but that didn't stop fresh tears from running down my face.

"You mean I'm stuck like this, and I can never go back to 2012?"

The pity in his eyes was something I did not need right now, and it was all the answer I needed, so I just turned my head away and continued to silently cry. I had never cried much in the past, but this situation was so unprecedented, and I was a woman now so what the hell let the waterworks flow.

By this point we were in what was presumably his living quarters in one of the castle towers. I took no notice of my surroundings as he laid me on a bed. I knew it was soft and I knew I didn't care much for his hospitality. I hated what he had done to me, and I didn't care for his pity. I just kept turned away from him and continued feeling sorry for myself. I was hardly aware of the fact that he had left until I hard the heavy wooden door closing behind him.

The bed was at least comfy. I hadn't had any restful sleep in at least an entire day- maybe more, so I closed my eyes and let myself stop thinking about the crap I was in. At least I didn't have to fear for my life anymore, and that bit of solace is what let me fall asleep.

*<*^*>*

I woke to food smells, I hoped. The guy was a wizard so who knew what kinds of bubbly grossness he could be cooking up in the next room. Though it smelled far too good to be some nasty potion. I got up and padded out of the room in my now quite dirty dress and bare feet.

It did in fact seem to be some sort of stew. At least it looked like carrots and potatoes in the thick pale yellow broth boiling in the little pot over the fire. Smelling it up close reminded me that I hadn't eaten in days now either, as my stomach made noises and actually hurt with hunger.

The wizard rounded the last few steps of the tower's spiral staircase, and seeing me looking at the food waved a hand and smiled broadly. "Please eat. You must be starving. I could hear your stomach growl from halfway down the stairs!" He chuckled softly while I turned back to the pot to ladle some stew into a bowl that was sitting on the nearby counter top.

He served some for himself and sat across from me at the small wooden table where I also sat to eat. Besides a stool in front of a counter full of nasty smelling plant remnants it was the only place to sit to eat. I sure wasn't planning on putting anything I was going to ingest anywhere near that counter.

We ate in somber silence, until finally the wizard spoke up. "I know you're unhappy..." he started.

"Boy, you're observant," I groused back.

"I can help," he started again, but I cut him off.

"Haven't you done enough?" I yelled.

"I can still alter your mind. I can make it so you believe you grew up as a girl from this period in time. And since I ruined your life, I'm willing to open the magic portions of your mind and take you as my apprentice. It's not the perfect solution, since you will essentially be killing your spirit to be replaced with one matching this body, but-"

"Do it," I said softly

I guess something about my response was convincing enough that he didn't have to ask twice. He nodded and quickly stood, gathering up this and that from corners of his workspace. He opened a thick leather-bound tome and started mumbling some incantations while mixing some things together. A fine red vapor rose from the bowl and floated into the gold thread on the dress I was still wearing. As the tail end of the vapor trail disappeared into the thread my hair was blown back by a strong gust of wind from some invisible source, and as quickly as it had started it was all over. The sudden silence left my ears ringing.

Once again I was inexplicably tired. This time though, I was moved to the bed under someone else's power, as the wizard picked me up and brought me back to the bedroom. A familiar light emanated from the thread again just before I dozed off.

*<*^*>*

I awoke to a strange bedroom, but I quickly remembered- I was to start my apprenticeship today! I could hardly believe when I was told I had a predisposition towards magic. The wizard from the city offered to take me under his wing to harness my abilities.

I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. I couldn't remember how I had gotten so filthy. First thing I would need to do is find out about a bath and clean clothes. I walked out into the workshop to find my mentor humming away while cutting some herbs. When I saw him though, I felt a quick stab of resentment, which was gone just as fast. That didn't make any sense, so I forgot it and asked about getting cleaned up.

"For today, I'll do a quick fix for you." He produced a wand from his belt and waved it at me. All the dirt fell to the floor in a heap. Then he flicked his wrist to the side and it all went flying into the fireplace.

"I want to get you started right away. Oh, well need a name for you. How about... Morgana?"

I smiled and nodded and set about doing some basic tasks. I didn't question why I didn't already have a name, nor did I notice a small voice in the back of my mind. It was so small it may as well have not been there, but there was an angry, resentful male in a dark corner of my mind, chipping away at my sanity.

He resolved to break it, no matter how long it took...

Another note: This is what I had in mind for what this dress looks like. Either number II or V. http://stores.renstore.com/-strse-280/Italian-Renaissance-Pa.... Also, if you don't get the reference to Morgana... it's a King Arthur thing, implying of course that this particular wizard is Merlin. Yeah that's the big reveal.