It was almost Evening as the two Combatants faced each other. One of them clad in white and blue Armor, wielding a Spear, and the other One clad in silver and red, wielding a Sword, pulsating with red Energy.
Across the two of them, standing on the Hill, was a bloody Battlefield. It was lingering with the Corpses of Knights. Loyalist and Rebell, but together in Death.
In the Distance the last Band of Stragglers was picked apart by the surviving Loyalist Forces. Camelot had almost fallen.
But could and would be rebuilt.
The two Combatants raised their Weapons. The Woman clad in the blue and white Armor getting into a defensive Stance. She could pass for a Man if one did not took a closer Look at her, wish was made more difficult by the Enchantment put on her by her trusted Friend and Advisor Merlin.
Thus, Arturia Pendragon was only known as King Arthur Pendragon amongst her Subjects. She looked at her "Son" Mordred, sired by her own Sister Morgan, using Arturias own Genes.
"Why?", she asked.
"WHY!?", snarled Mordred. "Why? Why? Do you not understand other People, to the Extent, that you have to ask? Do you really not know?" Mordred brought Clarent down on her Father, who easily blocked the Attack.
"Those People around you. They where so easily swayed, because THEY for once got an EXPLANATION!"
Mordred swung the stolen Sword again and again. A Strike following each Word. Arturia Pendragon blocked each Strike, while attacking her Son.
Iron meet Iron, without either Side gaining an Advantage.
"Something I always wanted from YOU! An EXPLANTION! Whish I NEVER got!".
Mordred raised Clarent for a final Attack, leaving himself open.
Arturia brought her Spear Rhongomyniad into Position. She wasn´t using it for its intended Purpose any Time soon.
Father and Son attacked each other. The now cursed Sword Clarent, once used for Knighting slashed Arturias Shoulder up to the Waist. A Wound that would not heal without Avalon.
And so would kill her.
King Arthur paid it no mind however and pierced her Sons Lungs.
"Inciting a war for such a Question? You don´t have what it takes."
She pulled the Lance out of her Son. Mordreds Lungs now replaced with a gaping bleeding Wound.
Mordred was to delirious to notice her Fathers Hands gently lowering her to the Ground.
"Do you...", the Words only coming only sowly out of Mordreds Mouth, while spitting Blood. "Really hate... me, the "Son"... of Morgan Le Fay... that much? All... I wanted..."
The Son of the once and future King paused for one last Breath.
"WAS YOUR AKNOWLEDGEMENT!"
And with those Words, the traitorous Knight closed her Eyes.
"Idiot.", Arturia Pendragon staggered to her Feet. "An immortal Ruler cannot exactly have a Successor." The Words where meant more for the Speaker itself, rather that the fallen Combatant.
The King walked slowly towards the Forest, her Lance giving her enough Stability to walk. After a short Walk, wish seemed like an Eternity, thanks to the Blood Loss, she collpased next to a Tree. Putting down Rhomgomyniad next to her, she drew her Sword Excalibur from the Makeshift – Scabbard at her Waist and for once let her emotionless Face show the Hint of a faint Smile.
"You should be returned to the Lady of the Lake."
She could not even see or hear Sir Bedivere arriving with the remaining Knights, as endless Sleep finally overcame her.
FATE EXCALIBURN
Chapter 1 – Master and Servant
Chapel of the Einzbern Castle, Germany - Year 1994
Irisviel von Einzbern entered the Chapel of the Einzbern Manor. The Head of her Family, Jubstacheit von Einzbern had summoned her there. The young Homunculi, who had become a Mother at the Age of One, and who was now nine Years old carefully closed the Door behind her.
She looked up at the old bearded Man, standing at a Table next to the Altar. He had the same white Hair and red Eyes like the Rest of the Family.
Jubstacheit did not even bother to wait for Irisviel to walk past the Benches, in Order to speak up.
"You are late. I summoned you here over half an Hour ago.", the Disappointment evident in his Voice.
"Sorry, for failing your Expectations, but I brought my Daughter to Bed first, it is already late after all.", Irisviel faked a yawn.
"Everytime I think you exceed my Expectations, you fail me again. Bringing your Daughter to Bed is a Servants Job. And you where not created to be one."
"Stella and Leysritt are already in Japan, preparing everything for my Stay there.", replied Irisviel, as she walked over to the Table. "And I dont trust the other Servant Homunculi you created."
Jubstacheit ignored her again and merely pointed at the Table. Irisviel recognized several Items that where laid out on the silk Tablecloth. A blue Mantle, perfectly preserved. A black Knife, obliviously used for Combat. Its Hilt was as black as its Blade. Golden Reins, probably used for an Horse. A Shield with the face of a Woman. A Sheath with blue and golden Ornaments, the Sword, that had been rather shoddely showen in there must have at the same Colors. Laid next to it, where a Spear, several hundred Years old at least and a Sword, with white and golden Ornaments, broken into several Pieces.
"You want me to participate in the upcoming War, I take it?", asked Irisviel.
"Do you want to let Illyasviel fight the next One in 70 Years? If not then stop interrupting me.", the Head of the Einzbern Family ordered.
Irisviel only glared at him, but let him continue. He knew after all, very well how Irisviel felt about the Matter.
Whish was probably why he kept exploiting it.
"Those Artifacts, all belong to one legendary King. I had other People excavate the Sheath in Cornwall under utmost Secrecy. I had a few Homunculi attack the Gravekeepers to get the rest. Nobody knows about it yet.", Jubstacheit von Einzbern glared at his Creation, who looked more appaled by the Minute.
"Would you have preferred it if I had send your Husband and his Aide. I hired them both, to minimize the Compition, after all and the 5 Years old Survivor won´t be a Problem."
"You...", Irisviel began, before being cut of by Justacheit.
"This is not, contrary to what many believe a Set of honorable Duels, Irisviel. It is a glorified Massacre, in Order to reach the Root.", the 200 Years old Magus paused. "In Order to regain the third Magic."
Irisviel looked at the Table. She couldn´t face the old Man right now. And she was going to have a Talk with her Husband, when she saw him in Fuyuki.
"Then let´s begin the Summoning Ritual. You, of course, remember the Instructions, I gave you yesterday?", Jubstacheit pointed at a shining Circle on the Ground, behind the Table.
Irisviel grabbed the Sheath in Response and smashed it onto the Ground.
"Good. King Arthur is to be summoned as a Saber Class Servant, so that we can claim Victory. Anything else is unacceptable."
And with those Words, Jubstacheit von Einzbern left the young Master alone in the Chapel.
Irisviel looked at the red Markings on her left Hand, as the Doors where closed behind her.
"Stupid Command Seals..."
After a Minute Irisviel got to Work. She had to win this war
"King Arthur, I am not going to make my Daughter fight in a War. I hope you forgive for interrupting your Slumber."
And with that, the young Master began the Ritual.
Jubstacheit von Einzbern had already walked halfway across the Building, as he heard Irisviel Shriek.
"Of course, there had to be Problems now.", he muttered as he urged several Homunculi to stand by and sent one towards Illyasviels Room, to make sure the Girl was still asleep. He did not really care for the eight Year old Homunculus, but she was one of his better Creations and her Mother had potentially failed, before the 4th Holy Grail War even began.
The old Magus literally smashed the Chapels Door open and...
He did the same as Irisviel. He stared at the probably 15 Year old blonde Woman, wearing a blue Armor, that looked like a Ballgown from the waist down. She did not seem to have any Weapons at Hand.
"You just had to fail, did you?", muttered Jubstacheit. "Irisviel? King Arthur was a Man."
The blonde Woman opened her Eyes. She looked first Irisviel and then at Jubstacheit. The green emotionsless Eyes seemed to pierce through both of them. Jubstacheit was almost sure, that she was regarding him with Disdain already.
After a Moment the Womans Gaze turned to the Command Seals on Irisviels Hand.
"I ask of you...", the Woman broke the Silence.
"Are you my Master?"
"Err...", Irisviel struggled to open her Mouth, still trying to gain coherent Thoughts. "Yes."
"I contact Kiritsugu. Irisviel, make sure your Quest is up to date." Jubstacheit left the Chapel for the second Time, that Day.
"So, you are King Arthur?", Irisviel began. "I think I made a Mistake..."
"No, you did not made a Mistake. I indeed am King Arthur.", replied the now identified King.
"But... you are a Girl!", Irisviel still did not believe her Eyes. One of the most famous Kings, if not the most famous King summonable in the Saber Class was a Woman?
"Amazing, was a single Illusion made by Merlin can do to the Perception of others."
Okay. Now Irisviel had her Answer.
Saber turned her Attention to the Artifacts on the Table.
"I thought most of it had been stolen or lost.", the ancient King touched the Sheath.
"Well, the Man you saw leaving the Chapel had managed to excavate the Sheath and...", Irisviel sighed.
How exactly, was she supposed to explain the Rest?
Saber picked up the Mantle and put it around her Shoulders, catching the Crown, that fell out of the blue Cloth in Mid Air. The medieval King touched the shattered Blade. It seemed to automatically repair itself upon her Touch. She grabbed it with one Hand and began to swing it around a few Times.
Irisviel took a few Steps and watched her new Servant silently.
"Caliburn is still as good as I remember.", Saber turned her Attention back to the Table, while the Sword in her Hand disappeared. The King stood still for a few Moments., before turning to Irisviel.
"It seems like I cannot disappear myself, Master. My Presence will probably be more dangerous and taxing for you."
The Einzbern Master looked at her Servant. She planned on explaining the Artifacts and now she had a few Questions as well.
"Maybe I really botched the Summoning?", she asked. Her Servant shook her Head.
"No, Master. It not your Fault. I am perhaps just a strange case. My limited Information tells me, that the Grail had occasionally summoned Servants differing from the Norm. Do you perhaps have Information we could use?"
Irisviel nodded and showed her new Companion the Way to the Library
The Einzbern Library was almost as old as the Einzbern Castle itself. Over a thousend Years it had acquired an untold Scrolls and Books concerning Magecraft and other relevant Topics. Story Books or Tales of Myths or legendary Heroes. Whish where equally as important, thanks to the Feats of Skill and Magecraft therein.
Irisviel von Einzbern had led her Servant there, in Order to prepare themselves a little more for the upcoming War. And so the two of them had sat down at a Table and began to read the untold Number of Books around them. The young Master had even brought several Paintings with her.
Her Servant somehow failed to recognize the blonde King with an impressive Beard as King Arthur.
Saber went over the greek Mythology for the third Time in the Hour they had been in the Library.
"That Jason should be beheaded.", muttered Saber as she shoved the Book aside with Disdain. She grabbed a Copy of an ancient Text and began to read.
"The Epic of Gilgamesh... Enkidu...", the Servant looked up at her Master. "Is this some Sort of tragic Lovestory?"
Irisviel laughed, as she refilled her Tea and handed Saber a Cup. She pointed at the Books Saber had previously read through.
"No. That is more the Stuff of other Myths. Allthough quite a Lot of Myths have it as a Theme."
Saber nodded and grabbed a Bible. She looked at the Book and sighed.
"This is the Guy that managed to replace Rome and the others?"
"Saber, thats quite a derisive Topic.", Irisviel grabbed another Set of Books from the Shelves. "Say, how about your Legend? How much it is true?"
"Well..." Saber looked at one of Irisviels Books, before grabbing it and beginning to read. She stopped only after she had finished it. Irisviel silently watched her Servants Reaction. Sabers Expression didn´t change until she had put the Book down.
"That Sir Thomas Malory got a Number of facts wrong.", groaned Saber. For Irisviel however, it sounded like King Arthur was whining.
"But, even then.", Irisviel stiffled a Giggle. "Your Legend is incredibly famous."
"And that´s one Thing I cannot understand. I never did anything of Note."
Irisviel looked at Saber. Just what had happened to her Servant for to have such a Defeatist Attitude? Before she could pry on the Matter, Justacheit von Einzbern opened the Library Doors and threw several Sheets of Paper on the table where the two of them sat. Irisviel recognized several Faces on the Sheeth as quite well known Magi, while Saber looked at two smaller Sheets, whish the Homunculi recognized as Plane Tickets.
"What are these?", came Sabers Question immedialy.
"Information from Kiritsugu Emiya.", grunted the Family Head, before he walked out of the Library. "You better not waste it."
"Can I behead him?", Saber was already preparing to materialize one of Noble Phantasms, One of the Weapons, she had wielded in Life.
"Please, don´t.", the Master groaned. "Let´s just ready ourselves for the Journey."
The medieval King nodded and looked at the new Information provided for them. It was after all, essential to know ones Enemys in a War.
To be continued in Chapter 2...
Author´s Notes – Happy new Years, Everyone,
You Guys, who had begun to follow this Story back where probably dissappointed back then and perhaps still are.
First off, let me apologize for the long Wait. I had left this Story, whose rough Drafts where the only Ones to survive to rot for about two Years.
Until I started and to write again around a Week ago.
The Story has changed quite a Bit, Zelretch is no longer in the Equation and my Writing probably hasn´t gotten any better.
Even then, I have already begun to write the new second Chapter.
So, see you around. Have fun!
