The attack came shortly before they reached Dej.

Later, Diarmuid would think the timing was quite deliberate. The bandits had wanted to take them when they were confident of their destination, relaxing in anticipation of finishing their task. And if not for Archer, it might have worked. Diarmuid was as surprised as any of them when Archer's bow twanged and a man fell out of the bushes ahead of them, howling in pain. There was an enraged bellow and suddenly the woods vomited men.

There were over ten of them and the defenders were badly outnumbered. But Archer had ruined the ambush and arrows slashed down on the strangers. Many of them were hurt and killed before they could reach the maiden's guards. Diarmuid noticed in the corner of his eye that the scholar had gotten the women to the wagon and now had a knife out. Good, at least the man wasn't helpless.

For Diarmuid, then, the magic happened. That was how he always thought of it. For him battle was beautiful, uplifting. Those around him seemed to move so slowly and killing them was nearly effortless. At the same time, Diarmuid knew what was happening around him. He would have been far more dangerous with his magical weapons but even with plain steel, Diarmuid was fearsome.

Then something beneath his foot slipped. Diarmuid's eyes widened as he struggled to recover quickly enough but they were too close. He saw a snaggle-toothed grin and one of the bandits going for the kill. Then blood suddenly painted his face and Diarmuid swore, wiping it away with one hand. To his surprise, he saw the two men he'd been facing were dead. One with a knife in the throat, the other with an arrow in the eye. Diarmuid whistled at that. Incredible marksmanship! Looking around, he saw the battle was over. The few remaining bandits had fled.

"You are unhurt?" Speak of the devil. Diarmuid smiled at Archer, who was beside him holding his bow.

"I'm fine thanks to you. An incredible shot," Diarmuid said warmly but Archer grimaced a little.

"A dangerous one. Yet, I had no choice. I'm just glad I didn't hit you," Archer said and Diarmuid just shrugged. It had gone well, that was all that mattered. Glancing over their own men Diarmuid saw that one of them had been killed. The other two men-at-arms were alive, although one was being seen to by the old puss, who seemed to be able with bandages. The scholar was standing guard over them, his knife still in hand. Hmm, that reminded him.

"Whose knife is this?" Diarmuid asked, bending over the dead body and freeing the blade. Archer retrieved his arrow from the other one, dunking it in the snow to remove the blood.

"Um? Oh, that is mine," the scholar said belatedly, to Diarmuid's surprise. He shrugged, a little uncomfortable at the attention. "Throwing knives are the one thing I am good with."

"Well, thank you. You might have saved my life," Diarmuid said and the man pinked a little. Cleaning his blade and then the knife, he gave it back to the scholar before checking on the fallen man. Archer was sorting through the battlefield, retrieving arrows and looting bodies. "How is he?"

"I believe he will live," the old woman said calmly as she employed a needle and thread, closing wounds that were too large to leave open. Diarmuid appreciated her calm competence. The maid and the maiden were both sobbing together and being completely useless. The man in question had fainted, which was likely for the best. "But he will need to go in the wagon. He is unfit to ride."

"Yes, of course," Diarmuid said, noting the fallen man was the one in charge. Glancing around, he saw no one else seemed inclined to take leadership. Well, he could take care of it. "You there, help me arrange things in the wagon." They would need to make space for him.

Soon enough, they were ready to go. The fallen man was tied to Archer's horse like a sack, so they could take him for a proper burial. The bandits were left to rot where they fell. Diarmuid reflected on the battle for a moment. It hadn't been his best, but that was entirely due to his lack of any magical weapons. He'd killed how many? Five? Before things had gotten sticky. That was impressive for any knight. It did make him wonder how well he'd be able to help Archer though. But then, Archer had mentioned shadowy phantasms, corrupted knights. If Diarmuid held them off surely Archer could do what needed doing.

When they got to Dej, they delivered the maiden and her dowry to her fiancée, who paid the second half of their fee without complaint. He also offered them a place to stay at his mansion, which they declined. Diarmuid wished they could accept – the place looked nice and the man seemed pleasant enough for a wizard – but he wanted to get away from the maiden.

So instead of staying there, they found a relatively nice inn. Not quite as good as the last one, perhaps, but still quite acceptable. Supper was a heavy stew of beans and salt pork, seasoned with salt and herbs. Diarmuid tucked in with good appetite, watching Archer a bit as he did. Archer was looking quietly content, his eyes unfocused as he chewed, completely involved in his food.

As they ate, Diarmuid thought about the past few days. They'd needed to stay very quiet at night and that had been a strange turn-on when they made love. The sight of Archer biting his hand to stay silent as he came… it had been beautiful. Diarmuid was starting to feel a touch guilty though. He could allow Archer to take him and Diarmuid was sure they would both enjoy it. Admittedly, Diarmuid was a little afraid of it. He'd had a finger there, several times, but nothing larger than that. Still, they had the oil and he was certain Archer wouldn't hurt him.

When he brought it up, though, Archer's response surprised him.

"That would be unwise," Archer said calmly as he cleaned off his spoon with flicks of his tongue. Diarmuid stared, confused. Archer's lips quirked in that tiny, adorable smile of his. "It's been a long time since I was alive, but I still remember the first time I had sex with a man. We had a better lubricant but the next day, I could hardly sit. I shudder to think what riding would be like."

"…Oh." Diarmuid felt a blush rising and cleared his throat. "I see. That makes sense." Not for the first time, he was glad they were speaking Gaelic. No one in the inn could possibly understand them. "I… do wish I could give that to you," Diarmuid murmured, looking down in embarrassment. Archer's dry little chuckle made him blush more.

"Don't worry about it. I love anything you give me," he said lightly and that suddenly gave Diarmuid an idea. He could certainly do that and the thought didn't bother him at all.

So later that night, in their room, Diarmuid put his idea into effect. As soon as Archer was disrobed he pushed the other man against the wall, smiling at his upraised eyebrow. Then Diarmuid knelt in front of him, considering how to start.

"Diarmuid, you don't have to… uh…" Archer's surprised voice turned into a groan as Diarmuid began to gently kiss his thighs. The warm skin felt silky soft under his lips and he gave it plenty of attention before moving to Archer's balls. Slow, firm strokes of his tongue made Archer gasp and then Diarmuid paused to gently suck. It tasted interesting, slightly salty. "Diarmuid… ah…" Archer was beginning to sound undone. Diarmuid paused before pulling back a bit and blowing on the overheated skin. "Ah! Don't… do that…" Archer panted and Diarmuid grinned before sliding a hand over wet flesh. As he cupped Archer's balls he went down on his cock. It was a new experience for him, having a cock in his mouth, but Diarmuid found it was rather pleasant. What made it good was Archer's reactions, the pleasure he was giving to his lover.

That thought in mind, Diarmuid settled in to give Archer as much joy as he could. Archer's gasps and moans were music to his ears, as Diarmuid learned what pleased him the most. He found that Archer liked it best when he hollowed his cheeks, creating more suction.

Finally, though, Archer moaned a warning and tugged on his hair. Diarmuid pulled back, the salty taste of pre-cum on his lips. He rested a hand on Archer's thigh, looking up at the gasping and trembling man.

"How was that, Shirou?" Diarmuid asked, rolling Archer's true name in his mouth. Honey brown eyes looked down at him with intense heat.

"Wonderful and I'm dying to feel you inside me," Archer said and that sent heat to his cock. Diarmuid pulled himself up and pressed Archer against the wall, kissing him deeply. "Take me right here, like this." Oh my god the thought of it!

Diarmuid hitched up Archer's legs, barely remembering the oil. He almost fumbled it but managed to coat his fingers before gently preparing his lover. The look on his face, the heat in Archer's eyes made it hard to concentrate. Archer breathed an encouragement in his ear and Diarmuid couldn't wait, grasping his thighs and sheathing himself in that wet heat. Archer's groan hit him hard and Diarmuid kissed the other man's throat before beginning to move.

"Shirou," Diarmuid breathed in his ear. Archer shuddered, those long, lean legs wrapping firmly around his waist. Diarmuid reached between them, stroking Archer's cock with firm yet gentle strokes. Their lips met and Shirou was so sweet on his tongue, like sunlight on a summer day. Diarmuid couldn't imagine being without this man.

The position made things quicker. Diarmuid couldn't help but go faster, take Archer harder. Thankfully the other man didn't mind, breathing encouragements in his ear. Shirou gripped his hair and pulled him into another kiss and Diarmuid felt him moan into his mouth. Those warm insides flexed around him, grasping beautifully on his cock. God, it was so good!

Diarmuid shuddered as his climax came closer. He speeded his strokes, feeling Archer tremble. Suddenly he threw back his head and Diarmuid felt the walls around his cock tighten, sharply, caressing his cock and making him gasp. The member in his hand pulsed before suddenly erupting, semen coating his hand and splashing Archer's abdomen and chest.

"Shirou!" Diarmuid breathed the other man's name before climaxing inside him. The pleasure was nearly overwhelming and Diarmuid was left gasping and shaking, barely managing to hold Archer up. Archer clung to his shoulders and their foreheads rested together for a moment before he dropped his legs, taking his own weight. Diarmuid didn't pull away, though. Instead he smiled into Archer's face and gathered up a bit of the white fluid from the other man's chest. Then he sucked it off his fingers, as slow and sensual as he could. The look on Archer's face, blank shock combined with lust, was perfect.

"Do you want more?" Archer asked, sounding breathless. Diarmuid kissed him, deeply and passionately.

"If you do," he breathed in Shirou's ear and the other man shuddered. Diarmuid pulled away and out of Archer's body, meeting his eyes. Archer looked dazed, his honey-brown eyes hazed with lust. "Have I told you your eyes are beautiful?" Diarmuid suddenly said, gently cupping Archer's cheek. "They are like warm honey." And it entranced him. Archer smiled before pulling him into a deep and passionate kiss.

"Yours are beautiful too, like polished wood," Archer said and Diarmuid breathed his scent for a moment before kissing him again. God, was he getting erect again? Yes, there was some activity going on down there.

Archer didn't wait for him to act, though. Warm hands grasped his arms and pushed him to the bed, pressing him down onto the blankets. Diarmuid went with the motion, fairly sure he knew what Archer intended. Archer was on top of him then, kissing him passionately and Diarmuid returned it passion for passion. Then Archer pulled back and smiled at him before – what?

"Ah – Shirou…" Diarmuid gasped, surprised as the other man sucked on his nipple. It felt shockingly good but also incredibly strange. A man's nipples were sensitive? He'd honestly never known that. Archer sucked for a while before pausing to lick and Diarmuid gasped again at the sensation. Then he jumped a little as Archer pinched his other nipple. "H-Hey!" Archer looked up, concerned.

"Was that a bit too rough? Some people have more sensitive nipples than others," he said and Diarmuid blinked, wetting his lips.

"Yes, it was painful," he said honestly and Archer nodded before going to his abused nipple, gently kissing it to sooth the hurt. Diarmuid could feel his penis coming back to life. Running a hand through Archer's hair, he gently tugged. His lover took the hint and they engaged in another deep, passionate kiss.

Diarmuid could feel Archer's erection, rubbing warmly against his belly. Grasping the other man's cock in his hand, Diarmuid guided them together, feeling the pleasant, oil slicked friction. The contact soon firmed and Archer's soft groan sent more blood to his straining shaft. For a moment Diarmuid wondered if he should go into Archer's body… but this was good, this was very good. Deciding it was more than enough, Diarmuid continued stroking them both. Archer's face was so close, his eyes half-closed and Diarmuid noticed his white eyelashes again, shading his beautiful eyes. How did Archer manage to be so gorgeous?

Archer's hands were resting on his chest and his lover's eyes opened, meeting his. Then lips quirked in an impish smile and Diarmuid gasped as Archer deliberately tweaked his nipples. Oh god!

"You… bastard…" Diarmuid managed and Shirou chuckled, the warm sound curling in his ears. He almost lost track of what he was doing but Archer's shallow thrust into his hand reminded him and Diarmuid picked up the strokes again, hearing Archer's soft groan at the pleasure. They kissed then, exploring each other's mouths as they gave joy to each other.

The heat between them built slowly but became very intense. Diarmuid felt Archer's body bucking against him, the broken rhythm of his own breathing as he came close to climax. Archer's desperate kiss was harsh and sloppy, all tongue and teeth and Diarmuid loved every moment of it. He arched off the bed as he came, his cry stifled by Archer's mouth. Archer's cock throbbed hard in his grip before erupting as well, their semen mingling.

Coming down from that incredibly intense moment, they just looked at each other for a moment. Feeling a little dazed, Diarmuid marveled at the way the candlelight gilded Archer's hair and caused the sweat on his tanned skin to glisten. So exotic and deadly, just like the bow that was his title. Then Archer's hand gently touched his face and Diarmuid saw such tenderness there before the other man kissed him. It was gentle now, gentle and loving, slow and soft.

"I think I love you," Diarmuid said when they parted. Archer's eyes widened for a moment before they suddenly filled with something so raw, so painful that it was hard to look at. But Diarmuid refused to look away and Archer drew a shaking breath.

"I think I love you too, and it hurts," Archer's voice was unsteady and Diarmuid wrapped his arms around his shoulders, holding his lover close. Shirou dropped his head to Diarmuid's shoulder and he could feel him shaking.

I don't want you to be alone anymore, Diarmuid wasn't sure how he knew, but he could feel Archer's loneliness. It was an ache between them, painful and unforgiving. He couldn't truly ease it because they were fated to part. But did it have to be that way? Diarmuid said nothing but to himself, he made an oath. If he saw any way to end Shirou's loneliness, he would take it.

He could do nothing less for the man he'd come to love.

"My god, this place is a fortress," Diarmuid breathed as he beheld the castle of the Einzberns. Archer frowned as he gazed over it. "It would be a nightmare to lay siege to." The castle was part of a cliff and to his eyes, nearly impenetrable. Well, unless one settled in to starve them out but could the wizards magic in food? That would make it truly invulnerable. Archer shook his head.

"In the future, this will no longer exists." Say what?! Diarmuid looked at him and Archer's eyes were distant as he gazed over the castle. "I don't know what happens to it but I know this cliff will be nothing but shattered stone and the Einzberns will be elsewhere."

"I – I see." Diarmuid considered that for a moment before deciding magic would likely be what sundered these walls. From the few descriptions he'd had, the Einzberns likely had plenty of enemies. "Well, shall we go say hello?" Archer's soft chuckle lightened the mood and Diarmuid smiled as they went to the gates.

The guards there weren't impressed, but no one had expected them to be.

"What business have you here?" One of them shouted as the others pointed arrows at them. Diarmuid wasn't interested in being a pincushion so he responded as politely as he could.

"My noble lord is a powerful magus and has matters he would discuss with your master. May we be allowed entry?" Archer gazed up at them, wearing his red coat and fine clothing, every inch the lord and magus. Diarmuid could almost feel the guards considering killing them just to remove a nuisance. It was a very tense moment but then it was decided in their favor and the man shouted for someone to open the gates. Exhaling in relief, Diarmuid rode inside, Archer by his side.

Servants took their horses and Diarmuid truly hoped things went well, as he evaluated their chances of escaping the fortress. Basically zero. Even if he'd had Gae Bolg and Bae Buidhe… slightly better than zero but not good at all.

When he met the wizards, Diarmuid decided that even with his spears and swords it would be hopeless.

"What do you want from the Einzberns?" The man demanding answers seemed fraught with mystical significance, to Diarmuid's eyes. He was tall, blonde haired and blue eyes, wearing fine garments that were very tastefully embroidered with silver. The amulet around his neck was some kind of rune? And Diarmuid thought it had real power.

"I wish to speak to the head of your family, the holder of your Mage Crest." Archer said and Diarmuid translated. The man looked him over before raising a hand and speaking rapidly, rhyming couplets that made no sense. Archer didn't react, though, so he assumed it wasn't an attack.

"There. Now you may speak directly," the man said and Archer nodded. Diarmuid blinked. A translation spell? "Why do you think you are worthy of meeting our patriarch?" A bit of a sneer there. Archer responded calmly.

"I have need of his aide to remove this," Archer touched the collar, moving it with one finger. "And I have something of great value to offer him, something that will speed his research into how to build a truly effective homunculus." Archer smiled and it was dry as dust. "I know of your experiments with alchemy and the lengths you will go to, to realize your dreams. My help will make many of those steps unnecessary." There was a brief silence and Diarmuid had the distinct feeling the Einzberns had been keeping their work a secret. Archer had just revealed knowledge of things he shouldn't know. Finally, the man gestured for a servant.

"Take them to the old study. I will speak to my father," he said and Diarmuid breathed a bit easier. The servant bowed slightly before taking them away.

The room they were shown into was extremely pleasant. Windows, carefully designed to let in as much light as possible while not compromising the defenses, gave it some openness. Bookcases were all along the walls, utterly filled and Diarmuid looked at them covetously. He could read, all of the Fianna could read, but it was so hard to find books! They cost a fortune. This room was full of riches, albeit ones no thief would bother with.

"Do you think they would mind if I…?" Diarmuid asked and Archer glanced over the books for a moment before shaking his head.

"There's no grimoires here, just common books for pleasure reading. I doubt they would mind," he said and Diarmuid took that for permission. Looking through the books he wondered if he could find any in Gaelic. Likely not, but he'd adequately mastered several languages. If he could just find something good… opening books at random, he skimmed for something interesting.

Diarmuid settled on a book of poetry just as the door opened. An older man, bearded with blonde hair going grey, entered the room. Diarmuid turned as he walked up towards Archer, stopping an arm's length away from him before carefully examining him. It was an intense scrutiny.

"An enfleshed spirit. I know of no mortal magic that can do such a thing," he said before his gaze rested on the collar. "And a potent curse." He frowned as he examined the collar before grunting. "I know that magic. What did you do to anger the Witch of Srranstich?"

"I tried to kill her. And I will again, if you remove this from me," Archer said calmly and Diarmuid wondered if that was wise. They might be friends. But the wizard laughed, relieving his mind.

"A point in your favor. But what are you offering for my help? That thing is no doubt trapped," he said and Archer nodded before responding.

"If you remove this from me I will allow you, for one day and night, to fully examine me with any magic at your disposal." A tiny, wintery smile quirked his lips. "I think you will find examining one of Gaia's servants will give you valuable information on how to create efficient mana cores." Diarmuid was lost but he saw a bit of covetousness in the wizard's face. The man frowned, rubbing his bearded chin for a moment. Then he stepped close to Archer, all his attention on the collar. Archer just stood still as a statue, as the wizard gently touched the iron band.

"Hm, dangerous, very dangerous," the Einzbern magus muttered before going silent. Diarmuid could see him internally weighing the odds. Suddenly he came to a conclusion. "Very well, I will do it. What oath will you give me?"

"I swear on Gaia's name that if you remove this collar from me, you will be free to examine me both physically and magically for one day and one night. The only limit I place is that you must not damage me," Archer said firmly and Diarmuid blinked. That needed to be said? "I will also demonstrate my skills to you in any way you wish."

"On my mage crest, I agree," the wizard returned and Archer seemed satisfied. Diarmuid felt like they were speaking a foreign language.

For the rest of it, though, Diarmuid was firmly excluded.

"It would be boring for you and a distraction for them. And with a trapped curse, the Einzberns can't afford the least distraction," Archer said firmly and Diarmuid bit his lip before speaking in a low tone.

"You trust them?" He didn't. Archer's eyes flickered before he responded in an equally low tone.

"I trust an oath made on their mage crest. Without a seal it's not binding but breaking those kind of oaths can cause a dangerous imbalance. No wizard would do it frivolously and he could have just refused." …That was true. Diarmuid sighed and nodded, gripping Archer's arm and giving him a gentle squeeze.

"Good luck." It could go badly, the attitudes of the wizards told him that. The father was going to do the removal with his son assisting.

For a few hours, Diarmuid occupied himself with the books. Eventually, though, he could read no more and he went to find a place to practice. Soon he had sparring partners, in the form of the Einzbern's men-at-arms. Diarmuid was able to easily defeat them all but it provided good exercise and entertainment. Eventually the servants showed him to a room and Diarmuid took supper privately, worrying quietly about Archer. Surely they'd removed the collar? Just as he was finishing the meal, though, the servant brought a note to him. Diarmuid was a touch surprised but unfurled it to see very neat writing in Gaelic.

Diarmuid,

The collar has been removed. It was dangerously trapped, in several iterations, but the Einzberns managed to defuse them all. They're examining me now and I likely won't see you until tomorrow. Please don't worry, it has gone very well.

Shirou

Diarmuid breathed easier after he read that, particularly appreciating the name at the end. The Einzberns wouldn't have Archer's true name. Comforted by that, he settled into bed and soon dropped off into a deep and dreamless sleep.