Chapter 1
-Saber-
She wondered if he still remembered her as she remembered him. Saber didn't try to help him nor did she even say anything when his red long lance pierced through his chest. All she could do or even muster up the strength to do was step back in shock. The king of Britain. Stepping back in shock. Oh. It was so ironic. So pitiful when he disappeared, angered beyond imagination. Saber wondered if Lancer...no..Diarmuid Ua Duibhne would hate her just as much as Kayneth. Lancer though was what Saber chose to last call him. He was honorable and loyal. She valued him as someone special. Someone almost like herself. Her heart throbbed in these pits of hell, the stench so foul it made her mind feel like it was spinning. But as long as she clung on to her memories, Saber knew she would live. The pain of knowing the next Holy grail war was approaching made her feel like crumbling to her knees but then again. Lancer would be there and perhaps Saber could share a few words on her thoughts then strike him dead. Surely though, Lancer would be much more deadly then before. One strike would simply not be enough to take down Lancer. If she could land one. Though he wouldn't be able to trick her again so easily. Suddenly, like a tug on her stomach, then the shining of light cascading down on her as she lifted from that despaired pit of death and rot. Was she...being summoned. Although Saber would be able to see Lancer one more time, she couldn't help it. Saber flailed, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She couldn't bear to lose again, to feel the pain of having to be forced to listen to commanding seals. Pain of being betrayed like Lancer was made her undoubtable fear fill her. Until she realized. No. Her strength would surpass such an embarrassing moment. No longer would she lose. She'd win. The first thing she saw was all the servants, glancing around in surprise. Alarmed, Saber stood, catching her sword in hand and using invisible air to hide the name that could reveal her own. Every other servant did the same, glaring at who they should attack first. Saber glanced around, eyes narrowed as secretly, she looked for Lancer.
"Ah...should we fight?" Saber questioned allowed, seeing every persons momentary hesitation. No masters. No war. No specific spot where they were summoned. No ritual, no magic. Nothing. The assassins looked around, stepping away,"We are leaving."
"Wait!" The King of Conquerors, Rider shouted, swiping a hand in the air as happily as he usually did,"This must be our freedom!"
Each servant looked shocked but Saber stepped froward, snarling,"So idiotic Rider, what say you? Freedom? Impossible."
The murmurs spread as Rider shook his head, still smiling when a deep voice piped up,"Ah, as much as I hate it, I agree with Saber. Out freedom is impossible."
Saber spun around, blinking in happiness,"Lancer!"
All the servants blinked and stared at her with surprise. Lancer stepped froward, as if the memories hidden inside him had suddenly unlocked. He looked at her, his face one of shock as he whispered, so small he could barely hear,"Saber. Arturia..."
"It is I..."
"Saber? Is there something wrong?" Questioned Rider, still caught up in his self that he would not notice that she were trying to talk with Lancer. Embarrassed, Saber stepped back, not catching Lancer's swift eyes as he watched her do so. Rider grinned,"If we are not free then why do we not feel the restraints of the commanding seals or the familiar feel of the Holy grail war?"
Their was silence. Silence because Rider was true. Even Beserker had roamed quietly, stalking along himself as he stepped away,"F-Freedom is mine."
He jolted, staggering away before anyone could say a word. Wait. If we were all free...CASTER! Saber looked around in anger, her power steaming off her as she grit her teeth together. Where was that monster? Had he already slinked off. What problems would occur now! How stupid Saber was to not think of the most murderous servant before her self or even Lancer. She leapt forward, seeking Caster as her eyes caught the shine of red. Saber skid to a stop, feet gravelling into the dirt as her sword swiped out, meeting contact with the long red lance as her eyes narrowed, meeting contact with Lancer. Oh? Lancer twisted around, his golden lance sweeping low towards her as she spun, clanging her sword on the red lance and hopping off the golden lance to land a far distance away. The servants watched and some stepped away. The assassins were long gone, Rider was grinning and Gilgamesh was lifting his chin to the air in his snobby way. Saber glared at Lancer,"You dare...?"
"Let's remember Saber. That we must finish our fight." He stepped closer and took up the defensive stance, smirking. Saber shivered in anger and snarled her teeth,"Lancer! Sto-ah!" Saber flinched as Lancer attacked, his lance sending a heart wrapping vibration towards Saber as she deflected with her sword. She jumped backwards,"L-Lancer, Wai-" she cringed as he came at her again, the servants that had been surrounding suddenly wanting to explore their new found freedom instead of watch Lancers and Sabers fight. Saber leapt backwards, holding up her sword and stabbing it froward, clipping Lancers side while dodging his own attack. Saber was surprised. How could he not have dodged! Lancer smirked, "Good attack Saber but I have you."
His other lance came slamming froward as Saber remembered the curse put on her. She flipped backwards, some strands of her hair getting clipped. She glared,"Those will never grow back unless your dead correct?"
"Do you want them back so badly you would kill me?" Lancer whispered, almost chuckling from his excitement. Though he was not nearly excited enough to dry up his sheer strength. Lancer was a strong foe at best. Even if foe wouldn't be the right word. Lancer tilted his head,"Hm. Saber..."
"Wait. I cannot fight you." She let her sword disappear in her hands as she blinked, swiping an arm to change from her armor,"I apologize. I am indeed a knight but I have a duty that I cannot waste with fighting." Bowing her head, Saber looked around, a glare filling her eyes as she tried and failed to sense Caster. Lancer stepped towards her, lance's fading away as anger trembled inside him. His fist barreled into her fast before Saber could react and was thrown back, skidding to a stop and looking at him,"You mongrel."
His eyes were filled with a hidden emotion Saber couldn't comprehend as she watched his eyes fill her own. Her knees throbbed underneath her as she stared at him approaching her. His fist knotted against her collar of her clothes, pulling up so she were face to face with him. Saber wiggled from his grip, biting her lip as he whispered,"I won't let you leave. You must have loyalty and fight me! As a knight, with honor. With loyalty. You must?!" It was almost as if he were asking instead of actually persisting. Saber blinked her green eyes up at his golden brown ones. So much emotion flashed inside them that she remembered the day Kayneth forced him to commit suicide for wife that didn't love him. Saber shook her head and battled away from Lancer before her mind betrayed her,"I...am a king. You will obey me when I say I cannot fight. I have loyalty to protect people and I will do so." She waited for quite a while before dubbing the conversation ended. Saber moved on just as Lancer pushed his back against hers. She could hear his smile as he spoke,"You'll never change Arturia."
"Neither will you Diarmuid." She replied before turning around, knocking a fist on to Lancers chest. He had a healthy build for sure, worthy of the person to fight her so equally. Lancer let a smile fall on his lips almost something that made Saber feel...strange inside. Warm. Regardless. She turned, waved her hand in a goodbye and went on her way. She had...freedom. But Caster was not allowed to have his. So long as she were alive.
