For the record, I am mostly following the Fate Path, though this story is set a year after the end of the Holy Grail war. And Shiro isn't one to just rest on his laurels – this is the guy who used his nerves as magic circuits. he has spent the past year training hard, so that he's not too far below the ability level of UBW,
Chapter 2
Shiro stumbled down to the where the men at arms were rallying around the Arthurian flag. As predicted, Mordred's men were fleeing, but the battle had gone on so long, that Arturia's forces were too tired to pursue.
What the hell am I supposed to do? What CAN I do? Shiro wasn't a big Sci-Fi fan, but he knew that his being in the past was likely to mess with the future, especially if he changed something major Rin's going to tear me a new one when she finds out about this. He still wasn't certain what was going on - his poor english made puzzling out the conversations around him difficult, and he was scared to ask too many questions until he knew who he could talk to without screwing something up. It was a catch-22. And oh, yeah - this was war time - if he asked too many questions, they might think he was a spy and kill him!
Shiro rubbed his hands through his hair. Maybe I should go somewhere away from the important people Shiro looked around at the rabble of men-at-arms - there were maybe a hundred still standing - and started to edge away when the young knight - Bevy Deer or something - came up and pointed Shiro towards a wagon that was collecting the wounded
"Help ... magic?" was the only words he caught out of what he said.
Shiro shook his head. Bevy Deer shrugged and pointed to a wounded man-at-arms, taking him under one arm and looking at Shiro.
Shiro nodded and moved to support the soldier under his other arm, and they helped him to the healer's wagon. Once there, they lowered him down so he was leaning against the wagon wheel while he waited his turn. Bevy Deer said a few words to the wounded man and then took Shiro's shoulder and pointed to another group of wounded men.
Shiro helped with the wounded throughout the night. It was only as the sky began to lighten, and he was staggering on his feet that it occurred to him that he forgotten his worry about messing up the time line. But what can I do? they need my help Shiro sighed. He was sitting against a rock with a water skin that one of the soldiers had given him, taking a break.
"Oh, screw it," he muttered These people are here, and they need my help. If things change, well so be it. I am not the guardian of reality or something. He took a sip of the vinegary water and grimaced this is foul He swallowed.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"What are your orders, my Liege?" Sir Yvain asked. He had been helping rally the men at arms, and now had their pathetically small army back in order.
"We rest today, then we return to Camelot" Arturia replied hollowly, her voice carrying a certainty that she did not feel. I failed them "How many of the Round Table remain?"
"It is only Sir Bedivere and I, your majesty" Sir Yvain replied with pain in his voice. The Knights of the Round Table had been good friends.
Arturia nodded. "Get some sleep". She walked off to a rise in the land and stared off at the land around her as the world came back into view with the sunrise. They would have been better off with a different King. But she kept her anguish well hidden behind a stoic facade. Otherwise it might hurt moral. All we do is fight. One battle after another. Yet nothing changes. People just die for no reason. I can't lead them like this
"Arturia"
She was startled out of here reverie by Bedivere's voice - she had not seen him approach, so lost in though was she.
"Arturia, get some rest. Mordred is gone - you don't have to stand watch."
"I..." Arturia paused not certain how to reply. At the same time, she realized she was beyond exhausted. "Very well"
The two warriors made their way back to the camp
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
The next day, when the army started on its way back to Camelot, Shiro went with them. It was the only place he knew here, and he seemed to be accepted. If only because everybody was too tired to question where he had come from.
Arturia and Bedivere rode with the standard at the front of the small column of men, and Sir Yvain brought up the rear.
"My king, I know this is a painful topic, but we need to replace the knights that we lost."
Arturia nodded, "Who?"
"I don't know. We lost the best of them. Maybe I can test the Archer - Shiramya - and see if he is as good with a sword as he is with a bow."
Arturia scowled, "Is he a knight?"
"I don't know - he is a foreigner - I think he is a Dane"
Arturia shrugged, "As you wish"
Bedivere looked over at his Liege and his friend, troubled. "Your majesty, are you ok? You seem troubled."
"And do I not have reason to be? We lost many good men. And Mordred is still alive."
"I know, Sire, but..." Bedivere felt there was more to it than that, but it was not his place to question his king, at least in public. "As you say, your majesty" he acquiesced.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
The army marched through the countryside. Only the knights and the king rode. All the other soldiers walked, except for those too wounded, who rode in the supply wagons.
Shiro found himself walking next to a large, hairy, _loud_ man-at-arms by the name of Eadwig. The other soldiers made a space for the man who towered over them (or maybe it had more to do with his loud, non-stop exposition). But given how short most of the men were, Eadwig was only an inch or two taller than Shiro. Shiro didn't say much, but Eadwig could easily carry both sides of a conversation (carrying things came easily to him. so did smacking people as he gesticulated wildly). And Shiro got the chance to brush up on his english.
It wasn't until half way through the day that Shiro worked up the courage to approach Arturia I hope I don't screw this up. Shiro wasn't certain if he meant the talking to Saber or the Time-line. Nor was he certain which was more important.
The army had stopped for a quick lunch, though most of the soldiers hadn't bothered to unpack their belongings, just digging out a chunk of bread.
"Hello, your Majesty" Shiro bowed, "Thank you for permitting me to join your army" Shiro tried to act professional, and not stare at Arturia like a fool.
Arturia frowned in puzzlement what an odd man?
"And I should thank you, good sir Archer, for saving my life in the battle of Camlann. I have been remiss in not seeking you out to thank you properly", she said with a small smile and nod.
Shiro bowed again. "It is nothing, your Majesty. I just wished to be of help" Shiro stumbled over the english he tried to speak in a more ornate fashion, like Arturia. He really wanted to make a good first impression, the second time around.
"You are welcome to travel with my men, and if you wish to swear fealty, I would gladly take a warrior of your skill into my service."
"You are too kind." Shiro almost went down on his knee to give his loyalty there and then, but a small, more cautious part of his brain forced him to wait until he knew all the consequences. "thank you"
"If I may ask, are you a knight?"
"Erh, no your majesty."
Arturia nodded politely and turned back to her conversation with Bedivere, signaling that the audience was over.
Shiro was oddly disappointed. He knew that Saber had not met him yet, and that she wouldn't recognize him, but something had seemed... off about Arturia.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
When the army restarted, the whole procession was very subdued (save for a small, almost empty area surrounding Eadwig). It was only once the spires of Camelot were in view that the soldier's spirits lifted, and so did their voices. Many friends had dies, but _they_ were still alive.
As they entered into the walls surrounding the city, they were greeted with cheers.
"The king returns!"
"We are victorious"
"The Usurper is no more"
Not all the cheers were correct, but the soldiers just basked in the accolades. It was good to be home. And to have a beer.
The men at arms melted off into the city, to find their homes, while the knights and the wagons continued on to the castle proper.
Shiro stopped and scratched his head. He was just off the market square inside the gate to Camelot, and he wasn't certain where to go.
"Hey, Shiramya!" A gruff voice called out as a ham like hand slapped into his back. A pair of men-at-arms had come up next to him. Eadwig was one, still looking like a bear that had been forced to wear clothes, the other was a more normal size - meaning he was shorter than Shiro - and had his arm bound up in a sling.
"Come... place sleep... Good food. Cheap... women" Shiro caught enough of the words to get the gist of what they were saying. Or so he hoped. (though he wasn't interested in the cheap women)
The three men made their way to an inn with with a sign board that boasted a pig sitting on a barrel. Inside it was dark and quiet. Or it was, until Eadwig roared "Beer! We have returned from the war and we need beer, for fighting is thirsty work!"
Shiro and the quiet soldier - who had introduced himself as Brian - slumped onto a bench at one of the tables as a young woman dressed in a low cut blouse came out with a tray of tankards
As she placed them in front of the warriors, Brian tried to reach under her skirt with his good hand, which got him slapped.
"But.. injured... have pity" he said said hopefully.
the waitress smiled and shook her head no.
Shiro got up and went to the bar. Speaking softly, he said, "I would like to stay here, but I have no money. I can trade you these, though" He Projected a pair of simple knives and lifted them up onto the bar.
The Bar keep wasn't bothered by the idea of barter. He picked up the two knives and examined them before nodding. "Ok, two months room and board."
"Hey, look at that - We just got here and Foxy has already paid his bill!" guffawed Eadwig
"You could learn something from him" snipped the waitress as she carved off slabs of bread.
Shiro took a look around. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen any other red headed people around. He had thought Europeans came in all sorts of hair colors, but pretty much everybody he had seen was either blond or light brown. I guess even here my red hair is going to stand out.
Shiro rejoined his companions and and glanced down curiously at his trencher: The food was a thick stew served on a 'trencher' - a piece of bread so thick and solid it acted as a plate. He glanced up at his dining companions: They seemed to be perfectly happy to scoop the food up with their fingers and jam into their mouths. The sight was made more disturbing by Eadwig's never actually *closing* his mouth.
"What's the rush to pay? I know your a foreigner, but in Camelot, even foreigners don't have to pay in advance."
Shiro shrugged, "I didn't know if he would accept the knives as payment. It made me uncomfortable not knowing if I could pay." though the fact that the knives will vanish if I die is not so good either...
Shiro turned back to his food I think that's one custom I'll pass on Shiro projected a pair of chop sticks and set to.
Eadwig's mouth snapped shut.
Brian looked on in fascination. "How do you do that?"
"What? I carry the chop sticks with me" Shiro replied nervously. He didn't know how his companions would react to his magic, so he had done all his projection under the table, out of sight (or so he had thought).
"No, I mean how do you move those?" Brian mimed a pincer motion with his fingers.
"Oh, that - it's not too hard. Get a pair of twigs and I will show you." Shiro relaxed.
Brian glanced at the door, and then at his food before digging in again, "Maybe next time."
"Bah, who needs twigs? God gave us hands. One for eating with, and the other for wiping your ass." Eadwig stuck one hand under the table and held the other up in the air. "And if you wash them, you can switch them back and forth!" he did just that, before chortling at his own humor and cramming the trencher into his mouth.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"Where is my sister?" Arturia asked as she collapsed onto her throne. Perhaps not as gracefully as she had wished, but it had been a long day. It had been a long MONTH.
"Uhm..." Owen, The elderly knight who was the seneschal of the castle (who managed all the mundane aspects of what was essentially one giant household) hemmed uncomfortably, "When you left to fight Mordred's army, Guinivere went to get help."
"yes?" Arturia asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"from Lancelot. If he comes back with her, they should arrive within a week" This came out all in a quick rush, and the seneschal braced himself as for an attack.
"I see" Hissed Arturia. The memories still hurt, like a knife in her gut, but she no longer wanted to kill the damn, arrogant manipulative bastard. "You may leave. We will discuss castle business later. I am going to retire to my rooms to change for court"
The Seneschal bowed and turned to leave, almost smacking into Bedivere who was rushing into the throne room.
Bedivere had to run to catch up to Arturia, "So you heard."
Arturia nodded. This was getting better and better. First the disaster of a battle, the kingdom was still in a shambles, and now that bastard was coming to her home. with her sister, so she couldn't even refuse him entry.
"Arturia, say something. You have been very quiet since the battle. It's not good for you to withdraw from your friends like this."
"What friends? They're all dead! I lead them to their deaths." Arturia snapped. as she slammed into her apartment
"I am still here, your majesty." Sir Bedivere followed her in.
"I... I know, I'm sorry" Arturia sighed and sat down by a window. She turned to look up at Bedivere and smiled weakly, "You know that I only speak freely with you because you are my oldest friend."
Bedivere sat down next to the king. "Arturia, I know it is inappropriate for me to say this, but I am your ONLY friend. You are too withdrawn - even your subjects have noticed. It... It makes them discontent. You need to reach out to people more."
"And how should I do that? I am the king, I lead the men to war and to peace. but I am a woman, so I can not be one of them. and I can not be with the women, for I am the king."
Bedivere sighed. "but those that know you will not care. If you just do not push people away, they will respect you as both a king and a woman."
"Oh, and you are one to talk!" Arturia stormed over to her bedroom, "I need to change for court. please send in my maids."
Sir Bedivere sighed again at the dismissal and went to find the servants.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
Shiro lay in bed, It was the first quiet moment he had had since coming to Arturia's world (as he thought of it).
Why am I here? How am I here? Shiro wasn't very strong on magical theory, but he hadn't thought that time travel was possible Rin would know He missed her. He missed all of his friends. Thankfully, Fuji-nee would take care of Ilya. And Sakura was spending a lot of time with the Tohsaka, so she should be ok. But he missed them none the less. especially Rin. .
so what do I do now that I am here? Shiro wondered if he had been brought back for some task, like a Servant except in reverse. yeah, like Saber is going to need my help. She is the most scarily competent woman I know. as opposed to Rin, who is just plain scary
It helped that he had made some friends here. Though that Eadwig character was an utter slob. He was the stereotypical American..
well, tomorrow is another day Shiro rolled over to go to sleep
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
Early the next day, Shiro stumbled down stairs to the common room of the inn, awoken by the sound of the townsfolk coming in for their breakfast. His two companions from the previous day were notable absent maybe they already went out
"Hello, miss.. I do not know your name" he said to the waitress as she came over to where Shiro had sat down, at the end of a half full table. He worked to enunciate his words clearly. His english had improved dramatically from the forced use, but he still had trouble, especially speaking it.
"My name is Caitlin. Your up early. I though men-at-arms slept until noon except when there was fighting to be done." She glanced back up the stairs meaningfully as she handed Shiro a slab of cheese and a lighter bread than the day before.
Shiro smiled and shrugged, "I am not really a man-at arms. I just helped a little with the fighting."
"So what do you do?"
"A little of this, a little of that. I fix things. I used to work at an inn for a bit"
Caitlin eyed him up and down, taking in the muscular build and the humble personality. "would you be willing to help with something after the morning rush? the stairs to the root seller need a couple of steps replaced."
"Sure, not a problem"
As she went to serve another patron, Shiro tucked in.
"Were you with the king's men at Camlann?" Shiro looked up at his neighbor at the table - he was dressed like most of the others, in rough homespun, and had the build of a laborer.
"Yeah."
He nodded "I had heard that some of the soldiers were staying here. That was some good work you lads did."
"Thank you, but like I told Caitlin, I only came at the end."
"Hmm, but with so many soldiers killed, the king will need more men-at arms. There will be a lot of opportunities for those that know how to use a sword.
"Hmmph!" Another man at the other end of the table snorted, "that's too true, especially the way this king does things"
"What do you mean by that?" Shiro frowned.
"I mean that our king is really good at war, but that's all that she's really good at. She doesn't know what men want - she just sits there in her castle up the hill and eats our taxes."
"The throne is no place for a woman. Men should be kings" another grumbled.
Shiro wanted to defend Arturia, but he didn't know what to say, "I think she's trying really hard. If she could, she would she would protect everybody."
"It isn't protection I am talking about. But a lot of tradesmen have left. I remember when I was a boy there used to be far more shops than there are now.
"Hey, that's not fair, interrupted another man, "Many left when the Usurper was here."
"And maybe.." started the grumbler before glancing at Shiro thoughtfully, "I have to go to work."
The inn emptied pretty fast after that
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"Hello? is Shiramya here?" called out a familiar voice
"I am here" Shiro stood up from where he was fixing the hinge on the door to the bar.
Sir Bedivere boggled, "You are working as a common laborer?"
"No, no - it was his idea!" Harold, the barkeep, came out from the back room, panicky about having a full knight in his establishment.
"It's ok" Shiro smiles, "I enjoy helping out any way I can."
Sir Belvedere looked oddly at the young man, but continued with a shrug, "I would like you to come up to the keep, so we can see how well you fight - it is no secret we lost many men-at-arms, and we are looking to hire able men." and it would help if we didn't have to train them from the ground up this last Sir Bedivere kept to himself.
Shiro wiped off his hands on a rag and replied, "Sure, I guess. I don't have anything else to do here."
The lukewarm response was in part because Shiro's mind was whirling between the possibility of REALLY screwing up the timeline as a soldier, versus the chance to spend time around Saber. And he might really make a difference to Camelot, in keeping people safe. especially if their whole army was something like a hundred soldiers.
"Are you coming?" Sir Bedivere had paused in the doorway when he realized that Shiro wasn't following him
"Sorry, I spaced out," Shiro quickly followed the knight. "I am surprised that you have time for training," Shiro added, thinking that Sir Bevy-Deer was obviously a high ranking knight, and this was a fairly menial task.
"There is much work to be done, and few hands to do it." Sir Bedivere glanced at his companion, "And honestly, the work keeps my mind off of all those that not here anymore."
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
Arturia walked the perimeter of the training yard, watching several men at arms practice. It was good for their morale to see their king. And it let her avoid the court. She loved her kingdom dearly, but she couldn't cope with all the simple minded details that kept cropping up lately. It was too much. And with so many knights gone, the work load was even worse as the outlying baronies that they had ruled were now pestering her as well.
She stopped to watch as Sir Bedivere faced off against a fighter in ill-fitting armor Ah - that must be Shiramya - I see she found some spare armor for him. The two squared off, with the foreigner taking an awkward stance, with his sword held upright in a two handed grip.
Sir Bedivere charged in, his armor not slowing him at all, Shirao was hard pressed to to defend himself, the bulky armor slowing him down, and preventing his usual range of motion. After a quick exchange, Shiro was on his back. Moments later, he was back up, ready for the next pass.
The third time around, Arturia found that she had made her way to a closer section of the yard, so she could hear what must be cursing in Shiramya native tongue as he got back up well, he is a good archer. He must have been a hunter. She was about to turn away when she saw the foreigner start to strip off his armor. She paused, part out of curiosity, partly out of... something.
Once out of the armor, Shiro again took a fighting stance. Sir Bedivere looked skeptical, "Shiramya, I do not wish to hurt you."
"I trust that you have good enough control to keep from killing me. And if I get injured, well, then I shall take responsibility for that." Shiro grinned and held his sword in the japanese manner. They were fighting with blunted swords, but they were still heavy enough to break bones from a solid hit.
Sir Belvedere looked up at Arturia, who gave a small nod.
The knight charged, intending to knock Shiro down. The red head ducked sideways, making a slash that caught the knight under his sword arm. Sir Bedivere stopped and re-assessed his opponent: in real combat that blow would have crippled him.
Sir Belvedere approached again, more cautiously. This time, Shiro darted in, swinging a flurry of blows that the more heavily armored knight was hard pressed to deflect.
Arturia watched in fascination as the young man dodged and deflected Sir Bedivere's blows - it was the most haphazard, disorganized attack she had seen in a long time. It seemed like a miracle each time Sir Bedivere missed.
Apparently, Sir Bedivere felt the same - surely the last miss was just an accident, and with just a little more effort, the next swing will end in a solid blow.
Yet it never did. instead, Shiro landed a few good hits on the knight whenever he over extended to take advantage of Shiro's clumsiness.
"You are very fast, Shiramya, but what happens as you tire? Men at arms must fight even when tired, or the footing is bad. that is why they must learn to fight in armor." Sir Bedivere finally called the spar to an end. he was panting, out of breath in his armor.
Shiro shrugged, " I am sorry, but that is the only way I know how to fight." He replied with polite defiance.
"Then we will have to teach you how to fight in armor"
"Let me think about that", Shiro set his jaw in stubbornness, and turned to go.
"Shiramya" Arturia found herself calling out, "well made armor is far less constricting than that stuff you just tried out" she pointed to the discarded loaner armor, "Let me have my armorer make you a set of armor that is a good fit, and see what you think."
Shiro turned to face the king, "Thank you your majesty, but I do not want to impose on you - I know how expensive good armor is." He still looked mulish.
"It is no imposition. You saved my life," Arturia replied, "Besides, you can show me how you fight without armor in exchange for lessons in armored combat."
Shiro's face lit up with a smile, "in that case, that is a honest exchange. I will be honored." He bowed.
Arturia smiled at his odd manners.
Sir Bedivere quirked an eyebrow as she sent for an armorer to come take Shiro's measurements.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"So what do you think about our Archer?" Later that day, Sir Bedivere had found the king on the battlements of the east tower, staring out into space.
"He's definitely a Dane - he fights like a berzerker" Arturia smiled.
"Mmm. You were correct that in the proper armor, he would be a force to be reckoned with. He is extremely fast, and his sword almost seems like an extension of his arm. Unfortunately, he is not a knight."
"we can fix that" Arturia replied.
Sir Bedivere nodded. "I am glad you are taking rebuilding our military so seriously, Sire," Then, visibly steeling himself, he continued, "but mayhap you should spend some more time on the civil affairs?"
Arturia replied "the kingdom is in good hands."
"Yes, but they are not _your hands_, your majesty." Sir Bedivere almost whispered.
Arturia turned to glare coldly at her close friend. "I oversee all that the seneschal and the staff do in my name" she ground out angrily.
Sir Bedivere bowed," I have overstepped my bounds, your majesty. I apologize."
"Then we won't discuss this any further." Arturia turned and walked off, her good mood ruined.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
The rest of the day passed without incident, though Harold had become somewhat nervous around Shiro, and did not ask him for any more help with the chores. But Caitlin did not have any such compunctions, and Shiro soon found himself chopping turnips.
That evening, as the three men at arms gathered for dinner, Brian again reached out for Caitlin's dress.
**smack**
"Don't even think about it, boy-yo." Caitlin scowled at him, "maybe if you were a hard worker like Shiramya here..." She threw her hair over her shoulder and stalked off. Half way back to the bar, she glanced back over her shoulder with a smile, to show that there were no hard feelings.
"She doesn't want word to get around that she's easy. But bar maids love soldiers. I bet I'll have her in the the stables tonight" Apparently, Brian was a slow learner.
"So that's what you were doing up so early - our Brian could take lessons from you in wooing women" Eadwig chortled.
Shiro smiled sheepishly, "I really wasn't - I just like helping out. And I can't sleep late."
Eadwig laughed "What, lad, you think I was sleeping? Well, I may have been in abed, but who says I was alone?" He waggled his shaggy eyebrows.
"Eadwig, my friend, " chimed in Brian, "the only time you don't sleep alone is when you are on campaign, and are sleeping with the rest of the army."
Eadwig turned and raised his mug to pour it over his friend head. But as he looked at his mug, he thought better of it, instead tilting his head back and swigging down the last gulp of beer as he mashed the smaller mans face into his trencher.
"You want to fight? Brian staggered up to his feet.
Eadwig also lurched up,
"Guys, no fighting!" Shiro stood up and put out his arms between the two as Harold came screaming over with a rolling pin "take it outside!"
Brian glared at Eadwig before wiping the gravy off of his cheek. "Next time you're drunk, I'll whup your ass." He sat back down.
"Fine with me. I'd say you'll get you chance in about an hour's time."
"I'll be tupping the barmaid then."
"Well, call it an hour and ten minutes then"
"Deal" Brian glared at his jovial friend.
Shiro rolled his eyes at his new friends. I wish Rin could see these two He was just leaning back to watch their antics when a sudden though made him jolt upright Wait a minute - isn't there supposed to be a super wizard who works for King Arthur... Merlin or something? He could help me figure out what happened.
Shiro turned to his companions, "I heard that there is a wizard here in Camelot."
"Oh, you mean Merlin." Brian replied around a mouth full of food.
"Now there's a womanizer for you" interrupted Eadwig, "he ran off about half a year ago with this pretty little witch that was young enough to be his daughter."
Brian nodded approvingly.
"Oh," Shiro replied, "Are there any other wizards around?"
"Not that I have heard of."
"Well, not like Merlin." Brian added, "If you want a hedge wizard to make you cow go to stud, or put a curse on your neighbor, there are those"
"Yeah, so no wizard, and with most of the knights of the round table dead, there's nobody to keep the roads safe." Muttered another man at the next table.
"Can't the men at arms do that?" Shiro asked, "there can't be _that_ many brigands."
"It's not brigands I am talking about. There are things out there that no regular man wants to face, like the troll that has moved under Bragamoor bridge."
"Hmm, trolls are bad business." Brian nodded sagely.
"Yeah. this one has a taste for human flesh. It eats anybody who tries to cross the bridge. And if nobody does, it roams the countryside at night, looking for a meal. Folks have taken to staying inside after sunset. At least that way all the thing kills are the sheep.
"Usually" snorted another traveler, "I hear that the troll breaks into peoples homes if it gets a craving for people."
"Well, you'll see - The king will call up the army to deal with it" Piped up a teenager. The tavern was getting filled up with the dinner crowd.
Eadwig gave the kid an evil eye, "We just got home, boy. I, for one, am not going anywhere until I get some rest."
"How far away is this bridge?" asked Shiro.
"It's about two days ride north. It's going to be a real pain to go around it."
"Yeah, and half the merchants didn't come to Camelot this fall because of the Usurper, so prices are already bad" added Harold from behind the bar with a scowl.
"Maybe I can go do something about this troll" Shiro couldn't believe what he had just said. Rin always said that I need to stop trying to fix the worlds problems. And especially this is the wrong place for me to go charging off to be a hero. This could go SOOO wrong
"You serious, lad? Brian asked.
"Somebody has to do something." Shiro looked up at Brian, "Unless you want to?" He asked
Brian just snorted. "Your funeral"
"I"ll go with ya, lad. If only to collect what's left of your carcass after the troll mauls you." Eadwig interrupted.
"I was joking - I don't want you to put yourself at risk for me."
"Pffft. I ain't fighting that thing, you got that right. But every knight has a squire. I figure you could use an extra pair of hands"
"Yeah, I am a city boy - I probably would get lost on my own," Shiro admitted sheepishly. "So I, ah, was thinking of setting out tomorrow morning."
"That's good with me," Eadwig pushed away his mug of beer, "Sorry, lad, I ain't going to be getting drunk today" This last was directed to Brian, "You'll have to wait a while longer to take a run at me."
Brian didn't do any 'tupping', either (though not for lack of trying).
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"I think I see a light" Shiro said as he peered into the gathering gloom. He and Eadwig had made good time up the north road, but now night was falling, and the pair were hoping to spend the night indoors.
"Let's see if it's the traveler's inn."
The two picked up their pace. Soon, they arrived at a small village - it was several houses clustered around a large inn.
"Hello! What's there in the pot?" Eadwig bellowed good naturedely as the two travelers pushed into the common room.
An older man looked up in surprise from polishing the bar, "Welcome, strangers. We have stew. Usually we would have other foods, but we have had few travelers this summer." He ended with an apologetic shrug. And indeed, the room was almost empty, save for a few men that had the look of locals sitting at one table drinking quietly.
"Aye, well, that is what brings us out here. We will slay the troll!" bellowed Eadwig.
Everybody stopped and looked at the unlikely pair of would-be heros.
"Well, it's mostly going to be me doing the slaying" Shiro added self consciously.
"It's your funeral" muttered one of the locals.
"Go home boy." Added a second.
"Not that we aren't grateful for the help," explained the innkeeper, "but the troll is more than a match for anyone. It will take a company of knights to kill it. When it first arrived, a couple of the local boys who had done time as men-at-arms tried to drive it off." The inn keeper shook his head sadly, "It didn't end well"
"Well, we will do what we can." Shiro replied as the innkeeper gave him a bowl of the stew.
"What you can do is go tell the lazy ass king to send his knights!" roared one of the men as he stormed out the door.
Shiro and Eadwig finished their meal in uncomfortable silence.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"Where the hell is that idiot?" Rin stormed around the Emya residence, peering into closets and under beds in the desperate hope that Shiro was hiding somewhere. Or at least that there would be a clue. But the house was as it usually was - neat, with all of the half-magi's things put where they should be.
"If I knew, I wouldn't have called you, now would I?" sniped Fujimura. While not usually the most calm of people, she was noticeably more upset than usual - it wasn't like Shiro to disappear without telling anybody anything. "I called Sakura, but she's not answering her phone."
Rin didn't mention that her sister was attending a purification ritual in Okinawa somewhere. "Did you try Issei? He's a dweeb, but Shiro is friends with him"
"Yes," the Taiga gave an exasperated sigh, "He's the one who contacted ME when Shiro missed their chess game yesterday."
Rin scowled. This wasn't like Shiro - he was usually very responsible. "I have a few things I can try to find him."
"Should we call the police?"
"Yeah. maybe they can do something." As long as he didn't run afoul of something magical That was Rin's greatest fear. That somebody involved with the Grail war had come to settle a grudge.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
"Are you certain you don't need more equipment?" Eadwig asked for the umpteenth time. He and Shiro had been walking the north road for two days, and dusk was not far off. Neither was the bridge.
"I'm fine with what I have" Shiro replied. The pair had purchased enough food to last them several days at the last village. Eadwig was wearing his armor, and had a fearsome battle axe strapped to his back, and a dagger long enough to qualify as a sword at his side. Shiro, on the other had, was dressed in his usual clothes.
"Do you think we will reach the bridge today?". The woods were turning dark and menacing as dusk approached. And the almost constant drizzle made visibility even worse
"We should - I haven't been up this way in a couple of years, but the locals at the village all insisted on it"
The last village had consisted of about half dozen huts clustered at around a run down inn. The villagers were all desperate, as they relied on travelers for their living. But even they had been skeptical when Shiro said he meant to take on the troll.
The pair rounded a bend in the road and quite unexpectedly found themselves at their destination.
The road had been winding its way through the forest, when it abruptly came to a slow, deep stream. The water in the river looked black. The bridge was old, and made of stone. It must have been built by the Romans, for it was much more massive than anything the locals could make.
"Well, here goes." Sighed Shiro, "You wait for me here" He dropped his pack under an evergreen, in the forlorn hope that it wouldn't get any more soaked. Eadwig started as Kanshou and Byakuya appeared in Shiro's hands.
The redhead walked up onto the bridge and stopped at the peak, holding himself alert.
There came a snuffing sound from underneath.
"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of an english kind!" came a gravelly voice from below. "Pay my toll in gold, and I will let you live to be old"
The hell? Is it trying to rhyme? "I am not giving you anything. I want you to leave this place and trouble it no more."
A giant hairy paw reached up from underneath to grasp the edge of bridge, and a giant humanoid creature vaulted up, towards Shiro.
Shiro leaped back and took a defensive stance.
"Ha. You are a little morsel." Scowled the hideous thing as it landed in a crouch on the bridge. "There is no meat on your bones. If you offer me a fat sheep, I may actually let you live."
"You already said that" Shiro retorted, as he took a fighting stance.
"Ya, but last time I was lying." The troll charged at Shiro without any warning, swiping at him with a hand that was tipped with dagger-like claws.
I't's fast for its size Shiro darted aside and slashed deep into the monsters side.
As he turned to face the creature again, he was almost knocked off the bridge by a clumsy swipe from its paw.
Shiro ducked and blocked, forced onto the defensive by the ferocity of the attack.
the young swordsman's eyes grew wide when he noticed that the cut in the monster's side was already almost healed. And every other cut he dealt it healed almost instantly.
Time for a new strategy.
Shiro reinforced his legs and leaped backwards twenty feet.
As the troll recovered from the surprise, Shiro drew back and threw his swords at it with all his might, and charged.
The troll grinned and and charged the red head as well.
As the swords spiraled towards it, the troll ducked under them and and reached for Shiro, only to find two chunks of steel sticking out of its body. The troll looked dumbfounded at the swords that the young man had buried in its chest. Before the troll could recover the two thrown swords circled back and plunged into it's back.
Shiro let go of his swords, leaving them buried in the creature, and conjured another pair. As the troll reached to grab his head, Shiro plunged the new swords into its arm, and left those there as well.
The troll bellowed in pain and reached to pull loose one of the blades in its arm.
Shiro held out his hands, and two more swords appeared. He lunged and impaled the monster yet again. The troll had never fought against an opponent that fought like this, that could inflict so many wounds. It staggered back in confusion, to try to pull out some of the weapons that, but Shiro followed it, swinging another sword into its side.
Soon the monster had swords dangling from every body part. Its flesh couldn't heal with the steel embedded in it, and Shiro was stabbing it faster than it could remove swords. Soon, it looked like its body was made of blades.
The troll collapsed to it's knees, its legs so full of metal that they wouldn't support it any more. Shiro closed and brought down his newest sword with all his might across it's neck, lopping off the head.
-*FSN*-*FSN-*-FSN-
Eadwig watched as the troll vaulted itself at his companion. before he could cry out a warning, Shiro was moving. The English man-at-arms watched in stunned silence as Shiro blurred under the Trolls attacks, stabbing the monster with swords that appeared as if by magic in his hands.
Eadwig had watched some of the Knights of the round table spar. They were amazingly good. Shiro was on a whole other level. He moved faster than humanly possible.
And the swords. Where were they coming from?
Finally, the troll collapsed. It was so full of sharp pointy things, that it's muscles were all severed.
As the body lay there, twitching, Shiro called out to Eadwig "I think we need to burn the body - I don't want the thing getting better"
Eadwig cautiously made his way up onto the bridge, where Shiro stood over the carcass, "I don't think we will be able to find any wood that's not too wet - it'll take hours to get a good fire going." He eyed the body of the troll, which continued to twitch, long past when it should have stopped.
Before Eadwig could ask any questions about what he had seen, Shiro sighed, "Well, there's something I can try". Shiro racked his brain for the ritual that Rin had taught him. While he was a piss poor magus, he could do some basic magic, as long as he took his time.
He picked up the troll's head and tossed it onto the body. He then stuck the tip of Kansho into the ground and scratched a circle into the stone of the bridge. I hope this works - it would be better to do this on the ground, but I don't want to chance moving that thing. He stepped back to inspect his handiwork - the circle was faint, but visible.
With a satisfied nod, Shiro started to walk the perimeter, reciting the Aria that Rin had taught him. Now came the hard part - he pushed and twisted his prana into the circle. Step by step, it built up.
"I call forth the fire, by the Fire that birthed me, I call you forth, like to like!" He recited over and over again in the german that Rin preferred for her spell casting.
Eadwig watched his friend paced around the not-dead corpse as he recited something about fire. It started to get warmer.
As Shiro started his second time around the circle, small flames started to dance on the corpse. By the third time around, the fire was large enough that the troll had started to smoke.
The fire built with each circuit as Shiro paced methodically.
by the seventh and final lap, the troll's body was engulfed in a towering flame, like the fire in Fuyuki City which Shiro had lived through.
As Shiro collapsed to the ground exhausted, Eadwig approached cautiously. "You never told me you were a wizard."
"I'm not, really. My teacher tried her best, but I just can't get the hang of most magic. The only magic I can do well involves swords. I can do a couple of other spells, but you saw how long it took me to cast the fire spell - a real mage could have done it with a wave of her hand. And Fire magic is easier than most for me."
Eadwig raised an eyebrow. "It's still magic. You should be careful - there are some as follow the new religion that will call it devil's work"
"Yeah, I figured, but what else could I do? I couldn't just leave the body there."
Eadwig shrugged. "You were pretty impressive with those swords, boy. Where did you learned to fight?"
Shiro smiled, "I learned from the best"
Eadwig wasn't one to pry, so when Shiro did not add anything further, he grunted, holding out his hand to Shiro. As he pulled the red head up, he pronounced "let's go back - I'm hungry, and I can't eat with the stench of burning troll in my nostrils"