"Dance with me then," Ser Waymar Royce declared defiantly.
He rushed forward to meet the Other before him, sword raised high above his head. Although his hands trembled, Will thought that in that moment, Ser Waymar was a man of the Watch. The Other halted. Will saw its deep, icy blue eyes, fixed on the longsword. He dared to hope, for but a moment.
Then, more Others emerged from the shadows, silently. Will had to call out, and yet, it would be the death of him if he did. He kept his silence as he clutched to the tree he was perched on for dear life.
The pale sword of the first Other came shivering through the air to meet Ser Waymar's blade. A screeching sound rang out from the swords' clash. The watchers stood patiently. They observed the fight, but did not interfere. Ser Waymar checked every blow of the first Other, but he was driven backwards.
Then, Ser Waymar's parry came a moment too late and the Other's sword pierced his ringmail beneath his arm.
The Other started to say something in a mocking voice, it's tone like that of ice cracking. Then, there was a flash of light, blinding Will. When he regained his sight, two new figures stood in the area, between the Other and Ser Waymar.
One was a small young woman, wielding a sword that shone with golden light such that the blade seemed to be made of the light itself. She wore a white, blue, and gold dress covered in armor. Her hair was short and blonde, done up in a sort of bun. She stood easily, with a ready yet confident posture.
The other was a teenage boy, dressed in a white and blue shirt and blue pants. He had short, reddish hair. His stance was more uneven. Though not fearful, he was clearly uneasy.
"Saber, where are we?" he asked.
"I don't know, Shirou," the woman replied. "If I had to hazard a guess, I would say the Holy Grail sent us somewhere, either as a result of its destruction, or as a measure to prevent it."
"Makes sense, what are those things?"
The Others were backing off, seemingly recoiling from the sword's golden light. They whispered amongst each other in hushed, confused tones.
"I know not, but it seems they were attacking these men. Shall I destroy them, Master?"
The boy nodded. "Yeah, get rid of them, I'll back you up if you need it." A sword, similar to, yet different from, the sword the woman wielded simply appeared in the boy's hand.
The woman rushed forward to meet the Other that had attacked Ser Waymar and bisected it in a single blow, its remains dissolving into icy water. The watchers screeched and launched at the woman, striking at her all at once. With a broad swing, she parried all the strikes, snapping the icy swords in half. Then, she cut down the Others.
The woman scanned the battlefield for more Others, then sheathed her sword. She walked back over to the boy, who was already checking on Ser Waymar.
"I don't know any healing magic," the boy was saying. "Saber, can he carry Avalon while we walk?"
The woman nodded. "I see no reason why not."
"Let's get to safety, then."
"Wait!" Will called out, scrambling down the tree. "Wait for me!"
The four then started walking back towards Gared.
"Where do you come from?" Ser Waymar asked the strangers.
"Fuyuki City, in Japan," the boy answered.
"I have never heard of Japan."
"What about England?" the woman asked. "I am its king."
Ser Waymar shook his head. "But I won't let relations with these far off lands begin with hostilities. I'll see to it you are treated as guests."