Hi!

I know I've disappeared for a very long time… but I'm back now! While I was gone, I still received so much support from you guys, so I want to give my thanks by presenting this uber long chapter. It was 8 pages long on my document…

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Fate series.

Chapter 9: Uninvited Guest

I rubbed the dirty rag against the wash board with all my strength. I attacked it vigorously, imagining that the rag was the irritating thought that was annoying me.

What was truly annoying me was the scene back at the Big Oak. His friend had stepped in to stop Jorg from attracting attention of the guards. He either didn't want Jorg hauled off by the guards because they're friends, or he needed Jorg badly that he didn't want him to be taken.
Things weren't adding up. I stopped scrubbing for a moment to think and realized my hands ached from working on the rag.

"Uh, Arthuria," Kira said, picking up the cloth that I was washing. "I understand your anger for its filth, but couldn't you be more merciful to it? I think you made a hole in the rag." She did the act of inspected the rag for any holes.

I blinked. "Oh, sorry."

"Why don't you take a break?" Joanne suggested.

"But, I have to finish these…"

"No, you don't," Kira said as she got up and swiped the basket that was beside me. "I'll do the rest. The kids need to burn off their energy somewhere or they become unbearable in the evening. Could you walk them back to the hut? We also need to start working on dinner, too."

I got up and dusted myself off. "Sure, I'll get it started."

Kira smiled. "Thanks. We'll be right over once we're done."

"I'll go with you, too," Helen said, getting up slowly. She rubbed her back, "I think I'm done here."

The women and I were outside doing the laundry at the river. The sun wasn't as strong today, and the wind was a nice breeze. The kids were sitting under the Big Oak, weaving flowers into a crown like I had taught them. I waved to them, and watched their faces blossom into a huge smile. They ran excitedly to me.

"Can you help me and Grandma cook today?" I asked the twins. They nodded vigorously and immediately they each took one of my hands to hold. I walked in between the twins who were hopping with smiles on their faces. Helen walked beside us while talking with me about tonight's dinner.

A butterfly fluttered close to each of their faces in a lazy pattern. Entranced, the kids took off to chase the dancing bug with eager skips. Helen and I watched them from a foot away while an easy smile crept on my face. Just as fast as my smile appeared, it disappeared once we neared the house.

Diarmuid stood by the entrance with a hand on his brown mare and the other on his hip. Today, he was wearing loose clothing similar to the clothing worn by work men, but it was probably made with fine fabric.

"Oh boy," Helen muttered before patting my back. "I'll get started on dinner." She knew that the visits from Diarmuid, the King's most trusted warrior, never last long since it was always about going back to Gilgamesh.

I nodded and gave her a reassuring nod. She gave me a warm smile before going ahead of me.
The children were already there, staring at Diarmuid in awe at his grandeur. He was noticeably tall. If I were to talk to him, I would have to look up just to speak to his face. Helen bravely eyed him with suspicion and gathered Sami and Shana inside.

"Is this another requested visit from His Majesty?" I said in a levelled tone as I approached.

"No."

I couldn't help but be surprised. "Oh? Why are you here then?"

Diarmuid shrugged. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

I was taken aback by that. He never came out on his own without the King's command.
"And that's not an order from the King himself?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to see me? Didn't you post the guards here to watch me?" I pushed further.

Diarmuid tilted his head, and smiled in amusement. "So you've realised it."

I nodded and crossed my arms. I wasn't sharing the same amusement as he did.
"So, you are here on your own accord?" I asked again.

"As I said, yes," Diarmuid replied with his amused smile still intact.

I peered into his gold eyes. They were closed off, glazed with a layer of ice, but I could see the honesty in them. I sighed in defeat. "Would you like to come in?"

"I never thought you would've asked," He responded before entering the hut.
I followed behind him with a plan to ignore him while I work. If he was planning on spying on me by acting charming and nonchalant, he was wrong.
Helen looked up with a surprised look when she saw Diarmuid coming in. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided not to and closed her mouth. I came into her line of view and shook my head in defeat. Helen understood the action, and gave Diarmuid a tight smile.

"Welcome, Sir Diarmuid. I apologize for the way our home looks, we weren't expecting any guest," Helen said without a hint of nervousness.

"I apologize for barging in suddenly," Diarmuid replied. This answer surprised both me and Helen, but she was the quickest to hide it.

"If you would excuse me, I have to get back to cooking before our men get back," Helen informed Diarmuid with a smile.

Diarmuid shrugged, "It's not a problem. I would just like to talk to Arthuria, but if you need her…"

"I-," I uttered.

"She's not busy. I can handle dinner without her, plus I have Shana and Sami are here," Helen pointed out with a smile that was slightly tense. Upon hearing their names, the twins' heads whipped towards Helen and were excited to be useful.

"Perfect," Diarmuid swung his arm towards the exit and bowed at a small angle in a mock of chivalry. "Please, you go first." The way he did so painfully reminded me of Lancelot. I muttered my thanks as I passed him and exited the hut.

"So, do you know any places where we can talk?" Diarmuid asked once out of the hut.

"We can walk to the big oak tree by the river. It's not too far," I suggested. He shrugged,

"Alright, let's go then."

For a moment, we walked in total silence. Nothing was adding up ever since I got here. No matter who I talked to, they had no idea where England was, and now the King's guard is being a very suspicious character. Although, if we are only going to be 'talking', this might be the chance to get some answers.

"I am guessing you are doing well," Diarmuid said with his hands folded behind his back as he walked.

"Yes, I am. The family has been very kind to me," I responded coldly. "How is His Majesty doing?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Diarmuid flinch, and then he pursed his lips. "Not as well." I perked up in surprise.

"Why? I thought he would've been happier without me there."

Diarmuid snorted. "He was like an agitated lion. Everything seems to upset him now." Diarmuid looked like he wanted to add to that comment, but he said nothing.

I observed him a little longer before asking him, "Do you and the King share a bond of some sort?"

Diarmuid looked surprised. "No. He' s the King. If you're asking if I know a lot about His Majesty, then yes."

We got to the oak tree and sat down underneath the shaded area of the big tree. "How long have you known the King?"

Diarmuid paused, his face consorted with thought. "It's been my whole life. My family has been protecting the royal family for generations."

"Oh," I answered on reflex. The response surprised me. King Gilgamesh didn't seem to be the type of person to have childhood friends.

"Surprised?"

I hesitated. "I never thought you two were acquainted for so long."

Diarmuid bobbed his head up and down. "He has always been distant as a child. Even to this day it's hard to... figure him out."

"Why is that? Wouldn't you know more about him?" I asked.

"True, but His Majesty is very distrusting. It took me years to gain his trust," Diarmuid said. His tone of voice hid the deeper meaning to what he said, implying that his loyalty lies with the King.

I could sense that he didn't want to discuss further upon the subject, so I gazed at our surroundings. There were bare patches of grass, but they grew thicker closer to the river side. I rubbed the dirt, it was surprisingly dry. I looked up at the large tree. Its trunk was thick, representing its old age.

I heard Diarmuid chuckle at my discovery. "Have you heard of the legend of this tree?"

I gave him a puzzled look and shook my head.

Diarmuid placed his arms behind him with his palms on the ground. "There's actually more than one. Men would say that the tree was a gift of the gods as a symbol of strength and perseverance." Diarmuid plucked a tiny wild flower from the ground and sat forward with this arms hanging loosely on top of his knees.

"Women believed that if a couple were to exchange vows underneath this tree, they are given eternal love." He twirled the flower in between his forefinger and his thumb. It spun in a whirl of white and yellow. Diarmuid stopped spinning it, and brought the flower closer to his face as if observing every detail.

"Some elders believe that the tree is a spirit bound by the gods to protect the village," Diarmuid added as he began to pluck the petals of the flower.

"What do you believe?" I inquired.

"What do I believe?" Diarmuid plucked the last of the petals and threw the stem on the ground. He got up and dusted himself off. "Come, I'll show you."

I stood up and followed him. We walked all the way to the river, right behind the tree. It wasn't too far from the tree, but there was still a distance. At the edge were all sorts of life growing, mostly were long grasses. To my surprise, Diarmuid dipped into the river side. I stopped short and stared at him, and then back at the ground.

"Well? Don't you want to know what I believe in?"

I looked up from his sincere voice. His eyes were not the usual cold ones, but held a glint of amusement. It was an odd transition, from a distant warrior, to a friend. He had a hand out, waiting for me to place my own into his.

Tentatively, I reached out. He grabbed my hand and tugged me subtly into his arms. I exhaled sharply when I landed on his chest. My hands flew to his shoulders to I brace myself. Diarmuid was chuckling, but it faded when I opened my eyes. He was looking up at me, an arm around my knees and an arm on my back, while I looked down on him. The position we were in gave me a closer look of his face. His eyes were slightly wide as was his mouth.

I noticed the black dot on his cheek. I wondered, how did I miss that?

Diarmuid cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Are you alright?"

I mentally shook myself from my trance. "I-I'm fine!"

As he lowered me, his hands trailed over my sides, making me reddened deeper. His hands stopped at my waist. He stayed for a second longer, before removing his hands.

I took a step back to distance myself from him. "So, what was it that you wanted to show me?"

Diarmuid exhaled. "Yes. It's right here." He parted the long grass and pointed at the side of the river. I moved closer to where he was pointing at.

"I don't see it," I said.

He chuckles lightly. "Something's there, it's just that no one can see it. Try walking forwards, slowly."

I did as he said, sloshing through the river at a snail-pace. When I got to the area he was pointing at, I stepped on what felt like a large lump. I put all my weight on it to see if it was just the ground, formed by the river, but it was a solid lump.

I looked at Diarmuid for guidance. He had been standing there, watching me as if I was an entertainer.

"What's so amusing?" I asked bluntly.

He shook his head. "Nothing you would've found amusing." Diarmuid stepped beside me and crouched down. He gestured me with two fingers to mimic him, and I did.

"Touch it," he said. I blinked at him, stunned at how carefree he was with that sentence.

Diarmuid smiled. "Go on. It won't hurt you."

Tentatively, I reached into the water in front of me and mentally prepared myself for whatever he wanted me to touch. My fingers grazed a rough surface. I continued to trace the ridges and bumps in a pattern I've felt before.

"It's a root," I said in awe.

Diarmuid nodded in satisfaction.

The root had other tiny roots sprouting from its body, but it was the largest of them.

"This is Big Oak's?" I asked in fascination.

Diarmuid nodded again.

"That's how it survived in the dry land. It wasn't the gods who helped it grow, nor was it the hopes and dreams of the people. It found its own way to survive," Diarmuid stood up, the water shuddered from his graceful movements,

"'Big Oak' is strong because it made itself that way. Using its own strength in a strange desert. Some plants depend on its strength and root themselves to its root since it is the closest source of water."

He offered me his hand. I took it and stood up.

"Why are you telling me this?" I inquired bluntly.

Diarmuid smiled. "This is what I believe in. Strength is something that everyone earns and strives for. It's something I respect in a person."

I wasn't satisfied by his answer, although I didn't want to push him into telling me. I looked down to avoid his eyes, but Diarmuid tilted my chin so that I looked back to his face. He stared at me with intense eyes.

"Is something wrong?" I narrowed my eyes. He let go of my chin with a weird expression.

"No, nothing. We should go back before they believe I took you."

For a second, I thought he was serious.

Going back was a quiet trip. Diarmuid had barely talked to me and had kept his thoughts to himself.

He was back to being the King's Guard.

When we had gotten back, Helen had asked if he wanted to stay for dinner. Diarmuid declined, and had immediately gone to his horse. I had followed him to depart him properly as his hostess.

He was petted his horse when I got there. His fingers were gently raking the horse's mane.

"Thank you," Diarmuid spoke to the horse before turning to me, "I had ... an interesting time with you."

"As did I," I answered honestly. The moment we had back at the river made me see another side of Diarmuid.

Diarmuid leapt onto his horse and picked up the reins.

"One more thing," Diarmuid said as he pulled the horse to attention, "I actually came here with a message."

"From the King?"

He shook his head. "No, I wanted to warn you about what's going to happen soon. The people on both sides are getting restless. If there is as much of a spark, and a fight breaks out, I suggest you don't get involved like last time."

It took me a minute until it clicked. He was talking about when I had stopped Jorg.

I narrowed my eyes with caution to cover my shock.

"How did you know?"

"That doesn't matter. Just don't get into any trouble. His Majesty is already angry at you, so don't give him something to make him into giving you a worst punishment."

I nodded in a curt manner. "Thank you for the warning."

Diarmuid gave me the same nod, and directed his horse to the dirt path. Without turning around, he silently waved a hand.

I couldn't help but smile a little.

A/N

Thanks for waiting so patiently! I had a writer's block, but after weeks of pondering, I found the missing piece to this story! I'm currently writing the 10th chapter with a renewed sense of energy, so stay tuned ;)

Taintedangel