Sometimes the best solutions to a problem, especially during these times, was to hit it straight up hit it on its head or to smash every possibility of it becoming a problem in the first place.
Right now however Irisviel thought that the saying "between a rock and a hard place" was more apt considering that not only was she time misplaced but even sat on the bed of the one person she never thought she'd see again.
Although now a different horror slowly gripped her heart.
She was a stranger in medieval times. In Arthurian medieval times. It was a miracle that nobody came to any conclusions considering that especially during this time threats from all sides were ever present and nobody could really trust anybody.
However now sat that she sat on the King's and even heard from the Queen Guinevere that the King had defended her honor and life, it flattered her to know that even a fragment of her knight's affection might have followed her into this time.
"Lady Irisviel, if you'd be so kind could you tell us why you arrived at our kingdom? Surely a woman clothed as you were had no reason to appear in a war zone." the queen inquired of her and she felt a faint heat rising up her cheeks since the richly clothed woman saw to hold her hand in a delicate manner. An action that was very reminiscent to how her knight held it.
"I-I'm not really sure as to why I arrived in this place either…truthfully speaking I was sure that I had di…Uhm, I suddenly woke up in this place not only far away from where I thought I had been before, but here in the mystical Kingdom of Camelot. I am more confused than anything really. I apologize my Queen." she knew how to address royalty, she knew how to address those who had a higher standing than herself and who were truly human.
Confusion had no place in front of the Royal Crown. That much she knew at least.
… True Love chapter 3 …
Paths are taken
…
Friendships are made
…
No matter where I went I saw your face
and remembered that I had a place in you waiting for me.
…
If it wasn't for her wife the king would have stepped into the room. Not that I would have changed the order of questioning but it was something she wanted to do for impeccable reasons. Maybe she was getting fatigued from all the Warfare or maybe–
"I see that you haven't joined them yet Arthur." an old voice said beside her. One of the voices she felt comfort in. the King turned her head greeting the Old Wizard Merlin as he slowly used his staff as a crutch to walk towards her. "Have your thoughts collected yet Milord? I do not remember you thinking of yourself as 'Arturia', neither 'Artoria'."
Merlin's voice rang true. For a while know she called herself those names thinking of herself as a person whom she couldn't remember. "It matters not Merlin. Even if the name I call myself changes, the person I am won't. The King of Briton is I."
The Old man regarded her with a glance, his eyes the color of the sky for once before scoffing "Stiff." Her brow twitched but she didn't let his yest get to her. "If you remain so stiff your thinking won't be flexible when it is needed. When was the last time you let yourself rest?" his tone was apathetic despite the kindness she felt from his questioning.
How many years had it been since she rested for an entire night? She closed her eyes. The Court Mage Merlin had been by her side for as long as she could remember, his words filled with wisdom and his actions those of a kind sage. How rare it became over the years to be with the Mage without keeping up her facade. For the past ten years she did nothing short of waging war and defending her nation…
"It has been a while." she half-lied. Arthur hasn't slept for over a week now and she knew that he knew the moment his staff jabbed against her side.
Grimacing she massaged her side eyeing the bottom of the staff in apprehension. Now this was something that had been years. "Ow, Merlin was that necessary?" she inquired recoiling a little when he lifted his staff into her direction again.
"Do not test my patience Arthur. Rest. Greet our guest, sleep with you wife. Find joy in your life and know what brings joy to your subjects." the Court Mage said without changing his tone, playfully jabbing at the King who quickly evaded each thrust with a soft motion. Ah, the same old mantra. She thought grabbing the staff and watching how the illusion broke and the mage disappear in a flock of butterflies.
A smile formed on her face. The memory of hr training days slowly flashing in front of her eyes. It had truly been years since he spoke with her like this. Over the past ten years she couldn't remember
the times when the Court Mage acted with her like this, usually he was either too reserved or apathetic to the world at large. Maybe it was due to the times they lived in and the amount of responsibilities. Either way she was still too lost in her thoughts to hear the footsteps from around the corner.
"My King?!" she turned to her side looking at Gawain … dressed like a Maid. The boy looked as embarrassed as she felt confused. The red head was carrying a tray filled with food and drinks though that was not even relevant considering the clothes he wore.
Quirking an eyebrow the King regarded the boy. "Is there–"
"No reason whatsoever!" the boy almost yelled carrying the tray into the room under heavy assault of laughter from Queen Guinevere. The King could only mutter her condolences before stepping away from the scene- A rather unpleasant pain shot through her skull as she held the back of her head.
"Was there truly a reason to hit me Court Mage?" She seethed when she looked back and saw the Mage sucking on a stick. It appeared to burn at the end but it must have been a play of the light since the flickering disappeared just as quickly as it came.
"Get inside. Don't waste time or your feelings by ignoring it." The mage said before disappeared in a huff of smoke. Truly the man had his ways when it came to understanding her feelings. Grimacing Arthur placed a hand on her chest before stepping in front of the entrance.
There was laughter on the other side – more than likely Guinevere though she felt a hint of irritation when she heard a second laugh from inside. One that she recognized yet could not remember.
A knock on the door and she entered – immediately locking eyes with the guest. For a moment she felt her heart stir as though it beat quicker but she ignored it and pressed on. There was much to discussed with the newcomer after all.
. Moments .
When Irisviel looked into the eyes of the King her heart beat quicker. How couldn't it? After all the one whom she parted with so painfully stood before her with a cold facade and a hard look in her eyes. Gawain looked at the King with an embarrassed look on his face before he stepped aside and moved towards the back, crossing his arms behind his back.
"Greetings My Queen, Greetings to our guest as well." the King spoke with a soft voice, yet it held its authority over everyone in the room. Irisviel felt a pang of jealousy when she heard Arturia address Guinevere – she could see the fondness in those eyes.
"Arthur, what a surprise. I did not expect you to show yourself so late, what with how frantic you were the day before." Guinevere's smile was playful as she jabbed at Arturia. The King nodded only at those words before taking a chair and sitting down next to the bed.
"I had business to attend." the King said with a lowered voice, she then turned to Irisviel with a faint smile that made the albino's heart beat just a tad faster. "My name is Arthur Pendragon, I am the current regent of the Isle of Briton, may I know thy name as well?"
Irisviel closed her eyes, Evern if she is not the same person…she thought before bowing slightly "Irisviel von Einzbern." she said as courtly as possible.
"Have you rested well Irisviel?" the King asked making her look up and seeing the faintest of smiles on those lips. From the corner of her eye she saw Guinevere at them with raised eyebrows.
"I have my liege." she needed to play her role, she was after all in another time or space for all she knew. "I thank you for your hospitality and forgive me for being a burden on you. I appeared before you so suddenly yet I do not know how I arrived here." she knew that she needed to be truthful, that she should tell them as much as possible without revealing when she came from.
"I see. Worry not, you are welcome to stay in Camelot. Guinevere you may assign a servant to tent to her until she regains her strength." Artoria began, turning to her Queen who quirked an eyebrow at those words – something the King saw adding "And please don't torment Gawain any longer. I fear for his image at the court should anyone besides us Knight's of the Round Table or you my Queen see him."
Guinevere smiled at those words, nodding. "Very well My liege. Lady Irisviel, it was a pleasure to talk with you and I pray that your stay in Camelot is a pleasant one." the queen said with a kind smile, she excused herself and encouraged Gawain to follow her out of the room.
Once they left all that remained between the two was a comfortable silence. Arturia looked up, looked at Irisviel and began to talk. "Do I…no never mind…" she began which prompted Irisviel to speak up.
"Is there anything I can do to thank you for your generosity?" she asked looking into the King's eyes. "I can help out with cleaning or in the kitchens."
"You don't need to. As much as I appreciate the sentiment I can not possibly ask a guest to help out around the castle. And while I know that you feel inclined to help there is still much we don't know about you and most of us are still unsure about you." Arturia spoke with a clear voice, soft and warm in the way it made Irisviel calm.
"I concur."
Irisviel nearly jumped off the bed when she heard an old voice coming from the window of the room. Arturia meanwhile looked over her shoulder at an elderly man who wore a white robe that covered his entire body and a staff with flowers at the tip.
The man entered the room through the window, slowly moving towards them with his staff clacking on the ground. "My King, there is a matter you should attend to. We were informed a group of picts raided the Eastern Settlements."
Arturia immediately stood up. "Please excuse me Lady Irisviel." she said before storming out of the room, leaving her with the elderly man who now leaned against the table.
"Too brazen. A good habit when young but a liability when you get older." he muttered noting something down on what appeared to be a notepad. Irisviel wasn't sure why but she felt herself slightly on edge.
The Queen spoke to her earlier, knowing that she was a homunculus. There was no way for a normal person to know that, meaning that the fabled Court Mage must have figured it out. She tightened her hands on the sheets.
"I take it you are still wondering how you ended up in this time and space?"
That question sucked her out of her thoughts. She looked up, really looked at the old man now kneeling beside her bed and only seeing what he wanted her to see as the cloth atop his body moved with each movement he took.
"How–?" she couldn't finish her thoughts. Too stumped to even form a coherent thought. The grip on the sheets tightened.
"Your clothing, your speech, the way you just reacted. All of which have shown me that you are from an other place, the later confirming you are from another time." the mage said getting up and sitting down on the bed instead. "It is simple to assume why, what or how you are here. The easiest explanation I can give you right now is:
You were made to arrive here."
Irisviel's vision almost blurred. She recoiled away from the mage, away from the words he just spoke.
"Arthur, in your Grail War made a wish. That Grail War was indeed an impossible challenge, nay, a nightmare come true yet neither you or her broke. Both of you strove forward in your desires thus you were made to arrive her."
"How do you–"
"I saw it, with my own eyes. Unfolding before me an act of selfishness I rarely saw someone as stoic and noble like Arthur do." The Mage said now looking at her and she saw crystal blue eyes staring into her crimson ones. "Two to three years. Maybe even longer depending on the coming conflict. Worry not about the course of history, the circle has already been broken. Prepare yourself and try to win the King of Knights' heart within that time."
The cloth turned to mist, engulfed the mage and he disappeared in a puff of smoke carried away by the wind that blew from the opening door.
Entering the room was a dark haired, tanned man with a helmet on his head. His face was solemn and his body huge and sturdy looking. He looked around the room as if searching for somebody before he walked towards her.
"I apologize for my rudeness but have you seen Merlin?" the knight asked looking at her – he saw her distressed expression but didn't press – "He was asked to arrive at the Round Table."
Irisviel tried to regain her bearing, breathing in and out once before looking at the knight. "He was just here but he – turned into smoke." it sounded as strange to her ears as it was to see and she felt slightly embarrassed for saying it out loud. The knight however just nodded.
"Typical, it is like he can read minds." the knight muttered. Then his eyes widened a little, looking at her with something in his eyes. "Forgive me." he said bowing slightly, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Palamedis of the Round Table. I haven't been one of the King's knights for long thus I still lack some of the mannerisms required of one." he explained while lifting his head. He turned to leave, then stopped back and looked at Irisviel.
"Am I right to assume you are from the lands of the Saxons?" he asked in a strained voice – Irisviel wasn't sure what he meant thus she tilted her head in confusion – "No, maybe you are from the Alps?" he continued to mutter then looked at her again. When she heard alps all she could think about was the castle within the snowy storm and the little girl she left behind.
A horrible feeling gripped her heart as though a knife was plunged deep into her heart. And it showed for the knight before her walked up to her and shook her shoulder roughly. "I–I apologiz–"
"There is no need to apologize. I overstepped my boundaries. Rest. One of the servants will be with you to help you change later." Palamedis said leaving Irisviel inside her own thoughts.
.Moments:
Palamedis stepped out of the room before closing the door. The Court Mage wasn't here meaning he already left and took his place beside the King. He breathed out silently. The look in the woman's eyes was one he saw many times. Those were the eyes of someone dreading the place they came from, eyes of someone who left something of immense worth behind. What it was he wasn't sure. He had been a knight only for little more than two years – still Arthur welcomed him among the Round Table without a question, therefore he was not going to question the King's decision in regards to the woman.
He turned slightly meeting eyes with his fellow knight who just arrived. "Something the matter Palamedis?" his comrade wore a helmet over his head which was a strange sight nowdays.
The tanned knight looked to his side slightly, eyeing the door. He moved away from the room past the knight. Though a hand to his elbow held him in place. "What did you find out?" the knight asked into his ear, silently.
"Nothing of importance, just that she might have lost family." he whispered back. "Sir Kay." moving past his fellow Knight of the Round Table Palamedis tried not to rush. He heard the signature "Bullocks." from his comrade much to his displeasure. Things are going to become annoying. He concluded just as he walked past the window.
He stopped shortly looking outside. O how he yearned to let the wind ruffle his hair on horseback. Such a nice breeze it was, yet it also meant that a storm was coming from the seas. Whether this was a good sign or an ill fated omen has yet to be seen.
"Sir Palamedis!"
He turned around to greet another fellow knight only to halt his thoughts as well as tongue upon looking at young Gawain.
The boy – for a lack of a better term – was dressed in servants garb. Female servants garb. Though if he looked at the boy for a moment he saw no discomfort in the attire meaning he had to have worn it for hours now.
"The Queen?" he asked making the boy look at him nothing short of gratitude.
"The Queen." Gawain answered back.
"What bet did you lose that had to dress like a maid?" Palamedis asked while they continued walking towards the conference room. "And how long must you wear it? Fear for your descendants shall they hear of the this tale."
Gawain only smiled at the yest, both nodding in understanding as well as keeping his head high. "Remember the Fair Maiden Battle?" the boy asked which earned him Palamedis' shocked reaction.
"That was over two years ago. Bors and Percival are still licking their wounds from that battle." it couldn't be. That was something that happened before the King's marriage, a bet that nobody would take serious after the Queen was chosen and brought before. "And if I remember that bet correctly all of us–" he paled.
"The Queen has decided that it will only happen every day for one Knight each." the boy said while his eyes became lifeless husks. "Not to mention Merlin's part…"
Both men lost all color on their faces.
"Gawain," Palamedis started not looking at the boy, "Aren't your siblings going to join us soon?"
The boy began to quiver slightly, nodding with tears in his eyes. Neither said a word while they walked around the corner stopping immediately when they saw somebody sitting against the window sill.
He was dressed like a knight – in fact it was the same silver armor as Lancelot's yet something was missing … specifically atop his head. Palamedis's fought with the urge to run from this kingdom and disappear into the wilds when his eyes laid onto the emotionless doll like face of Lancelot Du Lac – with not a strand of hair on his head.
"Ah, there you are Sir Palamedis, Sir Gawain." Lancelot said without changing tone nor facial expressions. He slowly got up and strolled over to them where they stood rooted to the floor.
Gawain already broke down crying.
"Merlin?" he asked, quivering where he stood and thinking back to Sir Kay and the Helmet he wore.
The knight walked towards them, a shadow slowly forming under his eyes. "Come join us." was all Lancelot said while tears welled up at the edge of his eyes and a very unsettling smile graced his face.
At that moment Sir Palamedis knew it was a mistake to join the Knights of the Round Table.
:Moments:
"Now then," Merlin began holding up his staff and removing everbody's head attire, "The Round of the Bald Table have assembled before the King to discuss the matter of the recent Pict raid on our Settlements. Let us commence the gathering."
Arthur stared through the rounds, laying eyes on each of her knights – one in a Maid dress – with all of them wearing an expression befitting a funeral. "Merlin, I do not remember my Knights being called the Bald Table. Is there a reason?" she was contemplating if Merlin punished her knights for something again. The last time something this extreme happened Lancelot was caught with the Lady Ingraine which was something she would rather not think about too deeply.
"I apologize my King, I still lack the finesse of naming comedic situations." He said staying apathetic throughout while one of the knights started to cry and weep on the table. "Sir Tristan, if you rather want to leave the meeting you are welcome to." The crying Knight sat up straight again yet avoided eye contact with anyone.
"Right." Arthur rose an eyebrow, she didn't ask him for his input on his naming scheme but she couldn't bring herself to question his – frankness.
"As you all should know Sir Gawain's siblings, Sir Gaheris as well as Sir Gareth are joining us soon. Both of them will arrive from the Highlands within the next few weeks. Before that we have to send an envoy to the Southern Settlements. The Picts have been behaving strangely for a while now thus we need to smash their strong hold on the Southern regions soon." she looked at her fellow knights – only two of them were staring at her while the others looked down onto the table.
"Sir Percival, Sir Bors, may I ask you to lead a campaign into the Southern lands?" Both knights nodded their bald heads reflecting the light from the window onto the ceiling.
"May I take only a smaller portion of our armies? I fear that a larger group with raise too much distress among the common folk and we don't want the populace to think we are going to war again." Sir Bors said while Sir Percival growled and nodded.
Arthus frowned a little when she heard the knight's feral responses. "I see that Sir Percival still has ways to go before he can hold a more civilized conversation." she said earning herself an embarrassed nod from Sir Percival. "It matters not, though I ask that both of you make haste. Who knows what the Picts have planned where our eyes can't reach."
With that the meeting was adjourned.
Needlessly to say the Knights of the Bald Table – with the exception of the two who left and the King who left the room with the Court Mage – remained where they sat, a silent whimper leaving their throats before all of them started to cry and massage their now hairless scalps.
"Merlin, what did they do? This is starting to concern me." Athur asked while she and the Court Mage walked through the halls of Camelot. She could hear their wailing still, though the situation had a touch of humor.
"They are reenacting the tales of the Twelve Paladins and their misadventures." Merlin answered, his tone still as cold and apathetic though the sway of his staff was more noticeable.
"Uhm, the who?" Sure she never heard of such a group of knights, nor could she imagine what tales could be associated with them that her Knights would want to reenact such … interesting situations.
"A tale that will be told three hundred years from now on the mainland of France. If Camelot survives long enough, us and them will be allied." Merlin answered.
Arthur nodded at those words. He sometimes did that – seeing the future or holding séances with spirits to predict the weather on the isle. "Let us make sure then that our kingdom will be prosperous and withstand the sands of time."
Merlin didn't say anything after that, his face still hidden under his hood while a beard appeared from underneath that he stroked. The beard then disappeared in a puff of smoke after a few moments.
"Is something the matter Court Mage?"
"I am contemplating whether a beard is an investment or a waste."
"Why?"
"To make the knights remember the loss of their hair and that they shouldn't waste their breaths while drunk on ale and brewery."
"Does this have to do with their shaved heads?"
"It's not just their heads."
::: To be continued :::
A/N: Well, well, well who do we have here is what you are probably thinking if you're smug, though you are more likely thinking "WOW! It's been that long since the last update?!" and yes, at least I uploaded before the next decade come and went so at least here's to some small victory to me, AYE?
Anyway I'm glad to finally update this story and, well, to all the newcomers, welcome!
Here's some info for all interested: No I will not change the appearance of Merlin nor his character. I've planned this story out back then and I am finally going to finish it the way I intended to! Yes some characters will be changed or will appear that have been hinted at by FGO including Gareth who will appear in the next chapter.
I hope my attempts at Comedy didn't fall on short ears or due to shortsightedness and that you are ready for the wild ride that's about to happen!
Read and Review, leave me some feedback or just follow this story, I'll see you all next chapter!
Yours dear,
Sha Yurigami
