After the Fall
I hope you enjoy my new series! I just couldn't help myself and ship those two together /
Edited: Jan 2015
Edited 2: May 2016
Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/ Zero
Chapter 1: The Awakening
The sky was a pink-orange glow, the sign of dawn. I glanced around the quiet remains of the battle. Bodies were littered on the ground. Some had a weapon piercing them in place, others seemed at peace but most stared at the red glow of the rising sun. Unsteadily, I leaned on Excalibur's golden hilt as I stood with wobbly legs. Red was all over its once golden and royal blue blade, tainting its shiny surface. Realization gutted me with a pain more excruciating than any wound.
Everything was gone. Everything. Everyone.
I gripped the hilt tighter.
What have I done? Black dots scattered in my vision.
Tilting my head back, I welcomed the darkness and hoped that it swallowed me whole.
LINE BREAK
"Hey, get up!" A sharp pain hit my stomach. I groaned, bending into a fetal position.
"Are you already dead? I said GET UP!" The man said again, kicking me harder.
I coughed in pain as I wearily opened my eyes. Where am I? The man pulled me up by the hair and half dragged me to the open door.
That's when I remembered. The battle, the blood, the darkness and then suddenly there was a burst of light. The last thing I had heard was my name being called out before I had woken up with sand all around me. After that, I was caught-off guard by some men, and then I had fallen back into the darkness once again. The next thing I knew was being handled into a cart and shoved into a damp cellar with a bunch of other women.
After some persistence, I had managed to find out the name of the city from one of the guards before being ignored once again. Babylon. I knew I was fully alive (the men did not hit lightly and her blood flowed red and bright) which meant that I was not in Heaven. But I had thought of it as Hell.
What I thought was just a regular wakeup call was actually a gathering of some sort. The man hulled me up and pushed me roughly into the blinding light. My hands and legs were shackled, making me stumble with every step. It felt like months since I've last seen the sun. How long exactly? I didn't know. Remembering the dream about the bloody sun had me shutting off all emotions. Instantly, I felt better.
My eyes squinted as they started to adjust to the sudden brightness. In front of me was a gathered crowd of men of able ages for a noble name. They were holding onto tiny sacks that clinked every time they swung it. The area was full of people selling exotic items that were no doubt questionable in uses.
The man shoved me forward impatiently, causing me to stumble further. I turned to him with a glare, but he simply nudged me. "Go." That's when I finally took a good look of where I was. I had been describing what it looked like as if I was a spectator or a traveler, but I was none of them. I was part of the entertainment. No, dread sunk into my stomach, I was center-stage.
My feet felt heavy from the shackles and the lack of using them. The pain at my side was making me want to limp, but I couldn't afford my pride to do so. The wooden stage creaked underneath me as I made my way to where a wall of women stood. At my side, the row of women, as young as ten to sixteen, all looked tired, scared, or worried. We were all wearing the same rough material that hung from one shoulder and only came down to my upper thigh although the younger women had it to their knees. A throb of pity pinched at my heart. In the light I could see that some also bore bruises as I do.
Right next to me was a woman with brown hair that cascaded down to her waist. Her murky brown eyes glistened with mischief. She was definitely a beauty, but something seemed odd about her.
"Gentlemen," a man said bringing me back to the crowd, "I thank your presences especially, Your Mightiness, King Gilgamesh."
My heart stopped for a second. King. A title I remembered I used to have, but now that remained a mystery. Did we lose the battle? What had happened? All this time lost, and never found.
My eyes floated to lock onto the cold blood-red eyes. He was seated on a golden chair and was guarded from all four angles. Gilgamesh had exceptional golden hair that fell short in layers near his eyes. His posture was slack, in a sultry way that looked effortless. His head leaned on his hand which was propped on the thick gold armrest. His red eyes traveled downwards, taking in my thin and short figure.
I clenched my teeth and flexed my hands. The King continued to look over me, as if judging a piece of art. It made me feel… dirty. My only thoughts were to knock him down with every ounce of strength, even if it would cost me a few holes through my stomach. I heard the crowd roar when the dark haired woman next to me was sold. There was still that glint in her eyes that shone a bit of yellow.
"Alright," the announcer pulled me frontwards, my thoughts scattered. "Lastly, we have this lovely golden beauty from overseas. Her eyes are the colour of emeralds, her hair like woven gold! Do not be fooled by the bruises and dirt, gentlemen. She has skin as pale as white marble!" Many men awed as they stepped closer to view my eyes, my hair and my body. I held by ground; if I back down now, I'll lose my dignity. Not that I've got anything else to lose. I shoved that thought and voided my face of emotions.
The men started to bid, they were so heated battle of money that they were red in the face. In particular, a man with a bulging belly was raising it further, and was about to win, when a surprising bidder raised his arm.
"I'd like to take her instead."
Everyone turned to the speaker. It was no other than King Gilgamesh. I wasn't the only one shocked. The crowd of bidders were surprised at the King's sudden decision.
"It's King Gilgamesh!"I heard the merchant gasp quietly beside me. King Gilgamesh yawned at the gaping crowd, unaffected by the attention. I straightened up tensely, watching Gilgamesh and waiting for his next move.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked the crowd. With his free hand, he pointed at me lazily. "I'd like to have her in my palace as my own."
I locked eyes with him again. What is he planning? I narrowed my eyes as he smirked at me, clearly amused. That devil...
"C-certainly, would you like to discuss the details...?" The merchant was stopped by a hand from Gilgamesh.
"Just dress her in more...appropriate clothing. I wouldn't want to bring her in the palace looking like … that," Gilgamesh answered in a bored tone. He returned to stare at me with intent written on his face.
"I shall see you soon."
And with that, he snapped his fingers and the men lifted Gilgamesh's carriage over their shoulders.
I watched him as he left the area before being dragged away from the stage to a separate cart.
In front of me was a woman with a short stature for her age. Her hair was a shoulder length blonde that was now glossy and brushed down with her longer side bangs up in a side-crown. She wore a silky white dress that floated to her gladiator shoes.
It was hard to believe that it was my own reflection.
The last time I had worn a dress was before I had committed myself to reign as a King. I tilted my head to the side as I peered into the golden-bordered full length mirror in the hall. My hand found the ornament that kept the side-crowns together at the back of my head. I traced the flower's outlines. It was a "gift" from the King himself. The attendants haven't shown me what it was, but I was sure it was white... Lost in my thoughts, a voice startled me.
"I didn't think you would be standing here."
I jumped a foot in the air. Instinctively, I twisted around and stood my ground defensively. Standing in front of me, was a tall man with jet black hair that was short and had a curly side that must've slipped out of its slick back place. He wore a uniform that was white and red but also had some armor on his chest and his right shoulder. My eyes shifted to his two lances strapped to his back. One was golden and the other red.
The man stood there, as if waiting for something to happen. I continued to stare at him, waiting for him just the same. It was a battle to see who would do something first.
"Might I ask if you are the lady that His Majesty called for?" The man finally said.
His eyes were the first thing that caught my eyes. They were a cold ember that didn't match his smile. I nodded curtly, unwilling to speak to him. He jerked his head towards the huge double doors.
"Follow me."
Through those double doors, we were in a huge chamber with colourful cushions littered on the marble floor. There were columns supporting the structure that were the same marble material as the flooring. The only part where there were no pillars was in the middle, where we headed into. King Gilgamesh sat amongst a pile of huge cushions with maidens fawning over him.
Although, he wasn't the only one there, men in exquisite silk and finery were sitting on their own spot, women on each side.
As we approached Gilgamesh, they all stopped talking and stared. Knowing that eyes followed, I honed in my instincts, just in case anyone happened to make a move. Gilgamesh pushed the pouting women out of his way. With them out of the way, I could see the top half of this body was unclothed, showing his rather muscled physique. I had seen many situations of male nudity but that was when I was considered a man, and a King. At that moment, I felt mortified on the inside. I made sure a wall protected my emotions from showing on the outside.
"Finally, the entertainment has arrived at last!" Gilgamesh announced as he pulled me into his arms. I tried to escape, but it was useless against his strength. Gilgamesh dragged me to the cushions with a hearty laugh.
"Now, let the party continue!" He commanded as he forced me to sit down next to him.
"Drink," Gilgamesh ordered as he handed me a gold wine goblet. I looked away.
"I see. You don't understand what I am saying." He took my hand from my lap and put the goblet next to it.
"Take," he emphasizes, "it." There was a slight hint of annoyance in his voice.
Despite my thoughts of breaking his out-stretched hand, I grabbed the goblet and turned away from him. I swear I could feel him smiling in victory.
I looked around the hall full of men and their women in attempt to ignore his presence. There, I saw the woman from before in the slave trade. She wore a very see-through dress that showed her chest, but her lower body was covered. Her long hair was oiled, making her jet black hair glisten from the torches that lit the chamber. She sat next to the big man that had bought her. The woman's sharp eyes were staring at me intensely. I lifted my chin at the challenge.
Suddenly, she quickly looked at my right side. Following her glaze, I found the King watching me while twirling his drink in his hand and leaning on the other. It took me a second to realize how close he actually was. I jumped back, nearly spilling the expensive wine on my even more expensive-looking dress.
A swore slipped from my tongue.
Gilgamesh eyes went wide, "Oh, so you do speak." He pointed a finger at me with a bemused smile, "Although it was a strange word, you spoke without trouble!" His face broke into a lazy smile.
I felt like hitting myself for bringing attention to myself, and for thinking he had a nice smile. With his arm, he grabbed my waist and pulled me towards him. All done while I was scolding myself.
"What are you-?!" I was trying to say before he caught my lips in his. The sudden contact made me freeze on the spot. He continued to glide his mouth roughly across my own before pulling back slowly. The bitter sweet taste of alcohol lingered and yet his piercing red eyes showed clarity. They were cold and invasive, even more than his kiss. And that was what brought on my rising anger.
SLAP.
The sound of skin against skin resounded in the grand hall. Everyone stopped chattering in the background. Someone had gasped, but it could have been me.
King Gilgamesh sat astonished with a red swollen cheek, the same mouth that had kissed me was agape. Amidst my furious thoughts, I stood up from the cushions and the lavish silk, cradling my throbbing palm. In one slap, it had chased his drunken stupor away. Without a word and without a glance back at the shock-stilled people, I stormed to the exit way while everyone including the guards were frozen in shock. Once I was out of sight, I dashed out, hoping no one would follow me.
HI (SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT NOTE)
This is a revised chapter, but it will not be the last. As the story progresses, I will be making changes/edits as I go. One of my biggest ones will be the working days parts. I will be condensing those into one smaller chapter because one, it's hella boring to read I bet, and two, having two parts for it seems unnecessary. Also, you might find "oh, but that never happened before" which would only mean I changed something in it... which is probably my fault. I'm sorry for the inconvenience! (Lol, my Canadian is showing) I hope you'll continue to read it though! Thanks
