How to Smile
Scab Removal, The Imperfect Knight
As the sun starts to rise, a man standing tall in black armor that is broken and worn just like the wearer is inside. His back is straight not out of pride for himself but respect for the warrior who dared to stand against him. As the remains of the warrior's body finish disappearing the knight bends over, preparing a mad monstrous roar that silent nature's calls once more.
"ARRRRRTTTHHHHHHUUUUURRRR!" The yell rattles his armor as he screams the name of one he searches for. He was close, so close! He saw the radiance, the purity! So close, So very close!
Instantly the knight goes in a sprint, uncaring for the burns both he and the armor he wears received earlier from the Caster. The pain he feels is a blessing, it might not compare to the pains of his scarred mind and the sounds of his beloved's crying that resounds in it, but it helps ignite his nerves.
The armor creaks ominously with each hurried step. Everything in his path moves in order to avoid him. The things that cannot be moved or move fast enough….
"Wha-what is that!?"
"HURRY, GET OUT THE WAY!"
"AAAAAAA!" He goes through carriage and a horse, slowed only slightly as he continues to chase after the one who can save him. He cares not for the people he hurts, or the lives he disturbs. Their flesh, their bones, their blood, and their very souls are nothing more than a sacrifice for what he needs, no, what that person needs. It doesn't matter who does it, it needs to be done.
Punishment. For his betrayal, his lust, even for being born and entering that person's service. He will get his justice. For a moment in his mad addled mind, he considers that the one he served so long ago would even try to kill him, to end his wrenched existence that shadows their legend.
It is quite simple. So stupid to even consider such; a foolish thought. He will simply take more and more from that radiant figure until they kill him in cold blood. And if they died and he won….they simply were a fake and should be killed slowly for dare trying to be something they are not.
The King was not human; therefore he should expect no hesitation in their actions once that goal is accomplished.
As the mad knight charges through a building, he fails to notice the small army of monsters not too far away from him. It took time until the large mass of beasts caught up to the knight. They pick up every straggler left alive from the knight's charge.
The ones who make it a good distance and outside the beasts range are picked off with arrows that are skillfully fired. However the beasts that try to kill off the young are also killed, making some of them realize they could only attack the grown or their current master will kill them.
With grace and skill not belonging to any human, a human figure fires several arrows into a wyvern's eyes as it tries to eat a child. The beauty of the figure would make anyone realize they are looking at a woman with a lion's ear and a tail. Their wild hair of green and gold shine brightly in the dawn but her green eyes is dead, no light filters into them, leaving them darkened and cold. No reason remains due to the repeated abuse from the Witch that summoned this once bright figure.
Nearby a shadowed figure walks like a puppet only displaying reason as it walks. It was once a famed executioner but now is nothing more than a toy that moves at the Witch's whims.
The three continue to travel toward their target with the beasts of hell following them every step of the way.
Arturia watches over her Masters as they chase each other on the camp grounds. The others are putting things up and gathering needed supplies in order to travel. Mostly it just bare necessities for the Masters that travel with them. Food is not needed for Servants, nor is shelter. Her mind thinks back to the report by Jeanne and the newly allied Rider. A knight in black armor and the witch had called it Lancelot. The name of one in her knights. The Servant's actions were not like the man she knew. He would never attack a woman nor attack indiscriminately as the armored knight did. If he is a Berserker why did he become so? The fault might be hers, the question is why? For the life of her, she could not think of a reason no matter how hard she tries on the why. Is it due to his betrayal on that day or is it because the tales spun when Lancelot lost his reason several times? The children did not seem to fully understand Jeanne's report, thankfully.
It is then Jeanne arrives and stands near her, watching as the two children roll around with each. Both silently watch for several moments before Jeanne speaks.
"Watching them reminds me of the past. I always was more….boyish then other girls." Jeanne admits as she watches Shiri and Ren play. Honestly she is grateful she explained about the death of heroic sprits with da Vinci giving a simpler lesson to help them understand. Else they might continue to mope. "Just to ask King of Knights, what was your childhood like?"
Arturia felt like Jeanne was looking for something. A few of her knights did such things when they had their concerns. So Arturia decides to go along with it. It's not like she is doing anything productive currently. "My childhood. Honestly, it was like any other girl's. Save for my lessons on the sword and chivalry. It wasn't till I drew the sword that I truly got to experience the world."
Looking at the early memories makes her nostalgic, Merlin would cause trouble, she would try to fix it, and when it came down to it Kay would fix everything while her foster father laughed at the stories afterwards. Though the memories are foggy, it still makes her happy.
"Really? I see." Jeanne pauses as she stares at the blue sky as if looking for something. "I cannot help but wonder do I really hold that much regrets and hate? Do I really hate my comrades and my country that much I will commit such acts?"
"Do you feel you hold such anger?" The Lancer asks Jeanne, keeping one emerald eye on Jeanne and another on her Masters as they continue to play.
"I'll admit I do not. But perhaps I do." Jeanne sighs before continuing. "But I never regretted anything. My actions helped even if those actions were seen as heinous to some. Perhaps I should have punched my soldiers instead using the flat of a blade? Perhaps I should have waited till the soldiers had an actual foothold instead of recklessly charging in? No I have no regrets on even the smallest actions. People can judge me as I am, even my sins. If that Witch is truly me…I have to know."
"I see…." Both eyes go back to Ren and Shiri. Perhaps it is best to let them judge everything about her, everything that she had both ordered and done and let them hate or agree with each one of them." You already have your answer Jeanne D'Arc. I fail to understand why you talking to me about your convictions when you yourself already have the answer."
"Ah, well. I am used to talking about my actions and beliefs so often they've seem to have a habit." Jeanne laughs a bit. "I am sorry for you have listened to my rambling King of Knights."
"There is no need for formalities. Call me Arturia. We are both allies." The Lancer states with a small smile. "Affirming your beliefs is a good thing. You've helped affirm a decision of my own."
"Really? Good I was worried I was just talking." Jeanne's eyes light up. "Was dinner as good as I heard?"
"….I am not sure. I was focused on guarding the perimeter." Arturia lies through her teeth. While she thought all cooking would taste like Sir Gawain's cooking, she was forced by both the children and Boudica to try the soup.
What she tasted surprised her. Various flavors all put together perfectly so much so it melted in her mouth. To the surprise to everyone, even herself, Arturia ate five bowls of the soup. It was honestly frightening how far cooking has come in the modern age.
"That's a lie Arturia!" The yell from Shiri makes both Jeanne and Arturia pause in their conversation. The girls stopped in their playing, their Chaldea uniforms in disarray with dirt and leaves stuck to the pure white.
"Yep you shouldn't lie. Especially since you enjoyed it!" Ren's pigtails are partially undone and the playing has made her more outgoing as she runs next to her sister's side. "You ate it too. So much so we did not get seconds!"
"Oh is this true? You do know that lying is no good right Arturia?" Jeanne starts to laugh as the King of Knights starts to become as red as a tomato.
"I-I might of have had one… or two." Arturia admits as she turns her back to the laughing trio so they don't see her face.
"You want to know how to get used to spilling blood?" Noah looks confused as he continues to fold his sleeping bag as he stares at Mashu.
Mashu herself stares at Noah with determination in her eyes. She has to get used to it, for her sake, for Ren's and Shiri's sake. Hurting others is a common thing as she has read but it still does not tell a person how to cope with doing so. With this in mind she decided to ask someone who has seen many conflicts, perhaps just as many as the heroic spirits traveling with them. "Yes, I thought if I somehow got used to the feeling perhaps-"
"You never get used to it. Not fully at least. If you do well you becomes something so far beyond feeling anything." Noah interrupts as he finishes folding and presses a small button; the sleeping bag starts to compress itself into a much smaller size of a handkerchief." You will feel guilt, always."
"Then why are you so composed all the time?" Mashu questions with irritation. If Noah is trying to spare her feelings, he better not. As his nieces' Servant she has to better herself.
"Because I know that I am alright? Knowing that I am right... it makes it easy for me to numb myself to my enemies. To their situation, to their character, and even to their ideals."
"I see. So I have-"
"You don't have to, kid."
"Huh?" Mashu stops at Noah's words in confusion.
"The only reason I have reached this conclusion is due to constantly fighting since the day I was born. I fought one day to another till all the way to now with this clumsy and breaking body of mine." Noah stares at Mashu's eyes. The intensity of his brown ones unnerves her. " You however were never granted the right to live, to experience how to live from what I've learned from the doctor. So going through these singularities may give you an answer. You have to find your own reason Mashu, it cannot be handed over to you. "
"I don't understand what you are talking about Senpai." She honestly didn't. What should she search for. How will she know when she found it? Where is it? How far is it?
Besides was she not asking how to get used to bloodshed…not whatever this is?
"…I was never good at giving such answers. Lucy did say I often confused people at meetings or helping to prep the troops." Noah sighs as the intensity in his eyes fade and is replaced with nothingness. "Well just do your best."
Noah's hand goes to the top of her head and softly pats it as if trying to comfort her. The slight smile on his face is the very one that he gives the children when they do not know better as Mashu has seen. "I don't understand but….okay?"
The sound of something crunching interrupts the moment. Both look back to see a certain Saber munching on some kind of cookie with a large plastic bag in her other hand. Despite the somewhat refined way of eating crumbs still littered around her pale lips and skin show what a glutton she is as another hand retrieves another handful of cookies. Noah and Mashu both pause in their actions as they take in the sight.
"Don't mind me." The Alter says between mouthfuls. "Please continue."
"It's kind of hard to do that Art." Noah says with amazement as he eyes the other plastic bags littered over the area. "Did you eat all the junk food?"
"…Do not call me that. Also it is your fault for not preparing anything for me Master." Art says as the last handful of cookies enters her mouth. The slight flush on her face is missed as Noah stares with continued amazement as the food quickly disappears.
"Why? I thought you are at least tolerant of that name?" Noah asks with confusion. It then Mashu decides to speak up when it seems "Art" refuses to say why.
"Um well… Shiri might have said something this morning during breakfast while you and Archer were taking care of certain things." Mashu says with hesitation as Art's golden eyes leer into her very soul, ready to devour it if she continues.
"What you got offended by my niece and your little feelings got hurt?" Noah snorts as Boudica comes forward, her preparations complete. "I never thought someone like you would get sad by a put down by a child, Ms. Weapon."
"Hm, is Art alright?" Boudica asks as she joins the conversation as well. The much taller female notices the pale Saber's increasingly flushing face. "Oh dear are you feeling sick? Wait, I thought we Servants cannot fall ill?"
"There is nothing wrong with me. Back off." Art backs up a few steps, her heavy black armor letting off a noisy sound. It is then that an unexpected person joins as well to Mashu's surprise.
"It might because she ate far too much." Archer appears from sprit form, returning from scouting the path ahead a faint smirk on his face. "Based off the amount of garbage around the camp. It would not be surprising for Saber's stomach to stage a rebellion."
"And here comes the peanut gallery. It's none of your business now-"
"Hey Ren! Look its Fart!" The sound of a little girl silences everyone as they realize now. Several cover their mouths and turn away from the embarrassed Alter. Mashu herself stays silent as if she never heard the name.
Save one person. Who was currently chuckling, trying their best to stifle the impeding laughter and failing badly.
"I never realized that but-"Laughter comes out from Noah even as a blackened sword comes near his neck. "I'm sorry, really sorry but….it's amusing. Rhymes are the most interesting sometimes in the hands of children."
"It would seem Master." Saber's golden eyes seem ready for the kill. "That you are responsible for this behavior. As their guardian, you will pay for their sins."
"Fart's going to kill Uncle!" The yell stops Saber's blade stops for moment the tension is suddenly scathing as it disappears; making Noah look up no longer laughing. He knows that look on the Alter's face. He might have dug his own grave but apparently Shiri put in the tombstone.
"Um Shiri it is not nice to call people that."Ren stares at both her sister and uncle as if they are clearly not of sound mind. Mashu agrees and based off Arturia's equally embarrassed expression with Jeanne's raised brow, they are seemingly in agreement with Ren. Boudica nearby looks on with worry but did not move an inch to save the poor man from his impending doom. Archer stands close by, his expression betraying none of his thoughts.
"Master I have decided something….I'm going to beat you to death." A dark aura surrounds Saber's armored fist while the other yanks Noah down to her level.
"Woah,woah,woah! Hang on a second!" Noah yells. However, as a man who has experience with females he knows running away would not help. Instead it would only make it worse, even if he could escape the tight grip of a knight class servant. He also knows any no words of mercy will not affect the supposedly heartless tyrant holding his collar. So the best thing he can do is merely take it as the fist came down.
"Okay Noah let me see…well considering you reinforced yourself just in time the damage is not as bad." Mr. Ro says as he looks at her uncle's black eye. "Also we detect no broken bones or internal blood loss. You really got lucky."
"Oh I really feel lucky Doc." Noah sighs loudly. "She calls herself a heartless person and nothing but a weapon but obviously a childish insult can set her off."
Suddenly her uncle's back straightens, just like the animals she saw on TV when a lion or a wolf came by. However since the Altered Arturia was facing the other way she did not understand why he did so.
"So that is why Shiri you should not name people after bodily functions. People, especially women, can take offense to that." Noah quickly states with a solid black eye and holding his stomach, where he received a savage stomp. It was only thanks to Mashu and Jeanne with Boudica assisting to settle everything down that Noah did not get another harsh punishment save for a long winded lecture from a certain person to the children's fright. Shiri could only nod as she knew her uncle took the brunt of the punishment for her. Taking this lesson to heart, Shiri swore in front of her uncle's servant to never call her Fart never, ever again. Who knows what the fake Arturia would do to her uncle if she called her burp!
"Yeah good thing you apologized for being mean." Ren says as she stares at the Saber, whose back was facing toward them.
"But the Faker was being mean too! So we are even!" Shiri folds her arms with an "hmph" sound making Ren sigh.
"As your Servant I do hope you two carry this lesson to heart." Arturia states as she looks around wearingly, deep inside though she cannot help but be conflicted as well as ashamed. Even if they are not truly the same person, they are similar possibilities. Therefore the Lancer could not help but feel happy her Saber counterpart's actions while ashamed that she felt happy about them since she could not do it herself. Many other emotions swelled in her mind but those two emotions were on the forefront."To insult another should be saved for our enemies. Not our allies."
"Okay we won't!" The two eagerly agree. Arturia can only hope they do not turn into their uncle with…his direct insults. However that is something she cannot hope to interfere with.
"Good. Now Noah I have to ask." Arturia turns toward Noah who looks at her. " We are heading straight to Orleans?"
"Yeah since we have more than enough firepower as well as several Servants who know how to lead army." Noah points his head to Siegfried who is at the very front of the protective circle of servants with Jeanne leading the way. " Leondias is covering our back. When we get near Orleans we will use a leyline to bring in that monster of a Berserker. Leondias did say he could keep him under control but I rather make sure nothing happens on the way there. Perhaps we should leave him in Chaldea you two?"
Arturia looks like she wants to argue about something but the girls interrupt them.
"That Berserker is really scary…" Ren says. "But Doctor Ro did say he has been really quite while in timeout. So maybe he is really nice?"
"Maybe we woke him up and he was grumpy?" Shiri adds. Grumpy is not what one thinks we they think of a Berserker but the girls lack the true understanding what makes a Berserker, a Berserker.
"Masters. Are you sure you want us to bring Berserker here?" Arturia asks finally. Both look at their hero with a confused look. "Berserkers use a lot of magical energy, more than even me. Are you sure this is what you two want?"
"Yep. Uncle and Doctor Ro said we are doing well despite everything!" Shiri nods with a determined look on her face. "We got lots and lots of Od compared to the average person. Or so Doctor Ro said."
"Berserker looks really, really strong too! He can beat up all the bad people!" Ren nods with equal determination.
"I think what Arturia means little ones." Noah looks at both of them with slight worry. "Is that having Berserker here will make you very tired? Are you sure you too want to do this?"
"Yeah!" Both say at the same time. No Servant has yet to use their Noble Phantasm, whatever that is, they can feel the worry from everyone as they think about it. Dr. Ro did say they might have to stop and recover if anyone used one of those things unless they go back to Chaldea like Cu did. They won't disappear or anything like their auntie did but they can feel that everyone was not telling them something.
"Alright….if we need to we'll bring in Berserker." Noah sighs as Arturia glares at him for some reason. "Sorry but they are the ones who have to solve this. I don't have the power to do so. If they feel like they can support a Berserker along with the rest of you then I will allow them to do so. We do have those apples to help restore their Od after all."
"They are experimental as I was told." Arturia says as she stares at the children." Do promise me th-"
"Hm? Everyone ahead seems to have stopped for some reason?" Ren says as their uncle goes ahead of them in order to see ahead.
They try to follow but Noah waves them off before speaking his finger pointed to the ground as he looks at the King of Knights. "Ren, Shiri stay here with Arturia. I will be back."
The two watch as their hero nods slowly as if understanding something. With that short exchange the group leaves the three behind.
Even if it was faint to their ears, the children can hear the sounds of battle. It sounded fierce even more then the skirmishes they bore witness to since they have arrived in this place. The two are used to the sound of battle as well as their horrors. They witnessed it countless times before coming to Chaldea by those bad people that have been chasing after them. They witnessed several other people like their uncle fighting those bad people as well. But they promised to never ever talk about them.
Arturia would not do what those bad people that chased after them. The bad people sent after by that mean King that's trying to take over the world. So they know there are good people too like their uncle and the other Servants. The Spartan King has yet to make an appearance but the girl's can still feel that Leonidas is behind them likely waiting for an ambush.
"But still…people really do like to fight and hurt each other don't they?" This thought comes to their mind each time they see conflict no matter what the scale of it is.
So they try to walk their own way toward Noah and the other Servants that follow him trying to make sure they are not noticed. However metal hands grab them gently before pulling them back similar to a cat grabbing a kitten and put on a familiar white horse. Fully expecting to charge into battle, they wait a few moments before noting the horse has yet to move.
"Eh why aren't we moving?" Shiri asks ash she hits her small legs a kick copying Artuira whenever she wanted the horse to do something. However the horse only looks back with a glint of annoyance in its eyes.
"Because we are to stay put." Arturia comments as she looks around for unseen dangers. "Leaving our position here would make it hard for everyone else."
"Then can we get down?" Ren asks quietly. Her small hands keep tight on Arturia's waist like Dun Stallion would buck them off at any given moment. Her pleading blue eyes stare at Arturia's green ones.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you off. I know you two, you will stray too far." While Arturia did say that to the both of them, it felt like it was said more for Shiri's sake. Considering the fact that several times the young girl has strayed too close to the battle field several times it's entirely possible it was.
Unable to argue against the king the two have no choice but to quietly sit there. The thought of using their command spells to make Arturia put them down from her steed is a thought for them. But the thought of making their hero do something she did not want to do tug at their small guts in guilt, so the thought was quickly abandoned.
The two stare at the sky and see countless wyverns join the sounds of battle as numerous steel balls hit them with various confirms on hits as many fall to the ground. While staring at the sky they notice something else in the numerous mass of flying beasts. A black speck? It also seemed to be getting bigger too.
The speed was great; similar to that of a falling star, and it was not a moment longer before their wary hero noticed it too. "Hold on tightly you two!"
Ren and Shiri hold tight to Arturia as they move faster than any normal horse. If Ren and Shiri had not tightened their grips they would have flown far away. The sound of the earth breaking and the scattering of dust is the evidence of something would have landed on them if they did not move. Out of the dust a black mist charges straight at their side and if not for Arturia quick and skillful block with Rhongomyniad for the quick and numerous strikes, they may have been killed. The black mist jumps back, and shows what attacked them.
Ebony armor stands opposing them, numerous scratches and scars bathe it as it creaks with the movement obviously showing the owner's lack of care for the joints as it creaks with the owner straightening themselves. The black mist and the armor cover the owner completely not exposing their identity. The only sign that there was a living owner was the menacing red light that shined through a slit in the helmet the being wore. In the knight's hand was a sword, unlike ones they have seen though it was black and numerous red cracks similar to veins pulse like a heartbeat. While the children were afraid of this strange knight Arturia stares at the being with melancholy.
"I see…I did not want to believe it but here you are my friend. Those skillful strikes can only be done by you…" Arturia murmurs but the children hear it.
"Arturia do you know that person? Who are they?" Shiri asks before Ren. Both are curious how Arturia would know such a terrifying person.
"I do…" The King trails off, her eyes not leaving the black knight in front of them. A creaking of armor causes the Lancer to yell out. "Masters I need you to-!"
"ARRRRRTTTTHHHUUURRR!" The black knight roars as the mist thickens around its body. The very air screams of anger and hatred at them causing Arturia to be on guard as the knight charges with abandon. The children only have a moment to tighten their grips before Arturia is forced to fight against the black knight.
Ren's vision is all over the place and the air seems to empty her lungs forcing her to hold her breath as Arturia is forced to defend them from the strikes from the knight. Ren does notice that Arturia however has yet to make a single strike and is focused on defense as the knight attacks becoming more fierce and quicker. She cannot help but wonder why the king has yet to strike back-
No she knows why. Shiri does too. Because they are stuck in the middle of it Arturia cannot fight with both her and Shiri holding onto her. If Arturia cannot fight then she will be killed too!
"Shiri!" Ren calls out to her sister and their eyes meet. Both hold slight fear in their eyes but both have gone through something like this since the day they were born. Though this time they won't have their uncle to shield them from the impact like always but at least there is grass. They just need to time it and thankfully Shiri is the best at timings!
Both nod, knowing this is the only way they can help their hero. The fall seems far due to their heights but they jumped off much higher things, but they were not a living being. It is the thought that counts though. They have to wait till there is a pause in the fighting in order to jump off safely.
Finally after several moments that felt like an eternity the knight jumps back to get his bearings. In that second they jump off Dun Stallion their small body landing on the ruined grass before quickly scrambling away in opposite directions. Now that her Masters were now free from her mount Arturia could now truly fight.
"Ah?" The Black Knight could only make a surprised noise as Dun Stallion charges forward much faster than could be anticipated as Arturia's lance nicks the side of the tainted armor causing several shards with bits of blood fall away. Despite this, the Berserker tries to fight back and attack the mount with each pass however with only a sword, a length unable to reach such a fast horse, it was useless. The knight could only block and defend against each pass.
The armor creaks with irritation at this as it breaks breaks and is chirped away despite the body's best efforts before a strike near the skull misses by a millimeter scratching the surfaces of it. A loud roar of rage erupts in the area as the knight disregards all forms of defense and throws the sword with deadly precision!
"What?!" Is the only word Arturia can get out before Dun Stallion takes the strike causing both the Lancer and mount to tumble towards the black knight. A knight's weapon should always stay in their hands till their dying breath! Knowing who this person underneath the mist and armor is, Artuira never imagined that this kind of action!
It was her mistake, and thus she has to correct it. Arturia rights herself with one hand avoiding the fate of Dun Stallon who lands on its side; a weak whinny comes through despite its spiritual core being destroyed. Arturia can only give a look of pity before another sword materializes in the Black Knight's claw like hands as the black mist fades. A sword that she is familiar with and gives her the confirmation she dreads.
"Lancelot…." She can only sigh out. Her friend now her enemy charges forth with a maddened roar, Arondight, blackened and distorted in hand.
Arturia raises Rhongomyaniad to block the overhead strike, however now without a mount and Lancelot directly in her space, it was hard to find and accurate way to strike back effectively. Lancelot would not give her a chance to strike back as scratches and oozing blood soon line her body from the close confirms from her knight's strikes.
"AAAAARRRRTTTTHHHHUUUUUR!" The Knight yelled, no longer Arturia could tell if it was hatred, despair, or something in-between as the front of her armor starts to break from a clean hit more blood be released from her skin. The strike gives her a chance as Arondight was swung with Lancelot's full strength digging itself in the ground.
As much as it pained her to fight in such a way, if it stopped her knight from killing her Masters, she will still do it. Her armored fist found its way to Lancelot's black helm, the crack of metal meeting metal on bone and flesh resounding. The Berserker steps backwards stunned by the punch before Arturia launches herself forward using Mana Burst, her lance pointed at her foe.
The cracking of armor, similar to that of breaking of a shell is heard for a moment before the sound of bone being broken and flesh being pushed out of place as blood spills from Lancelot's chest, Rhongomyaniad firmly lodged into it.
The sounds of battle in the distance were starting to quite down signaling that the battle was nearing its end. The results however did not matter to the King of Knights as she watches her dying knight feebly trying to reach out to her.
"Lancelot," Arturia states with no emotion at all despite the pain she holds inside at her actions. "I believe you told you this once. It would seem I will need to repeat myself."
The knight pauses in his actions and speaks, this time with clarity despite the lance in his chest, "My King is that…you? I-"
"Silence." She commands forcing the dying knight to listen. "Your lands are mine, your knighthood is stripped, and your sword will be returned to the Lady of the Lake. Guinevere…"
She pauses as she said these same words in life before. Repeating the words is tough regardless they need to be said.
"Guinevere will be casted with only the clothes on her back. King Leodrance's lands will be taken by force and razed to the ground if she retreats there. Every ounce of effort you committed in my name is now twisted, however due to your past actions; you are allowed to leave with your life."
"Those words were not enough for us. I never intended to betray you but I-I have paid…finally after all this time." Lancelot speaks as his body starts to disappear.
"No. You expected me to kill you, both of you. Do you even know how hard it was to even order Guinevere's execution?" Arturia admits, her expression stone cold. "I wished you two to find happiness, a happiness I could never have. Far away from Camelot and myself. I thought you understood my intent."
The King wanted her knight to live. To live a life and give happiness that she herself could not. It was an order, an order to live.
"I see… it would seem… I failed you … at the…" With those last words the Knight of the Round disappears into golden dust, Arturia withdrawing her lance as she releases a tired sad sigh as she realizes something. That knight was Lancelot but not the Lancelot she knew, another possibility like the Saber that Noah had summoned. Taking several moments to herself, the Lancer looks around at the torn grounds that served as her battle grounds with Lancelot before looking for her Masters.
She finds them staring at her not from far away. Their eyes look at her as if she is a different person or as if she grew another head. She takes several steps toward the two but the girls back away quickly trying their best to avoid her.
" I see…" Arturia thinks. The spell over her, the one that lets Shiri and Ren see her as perfect hero had just been broken. No doubt due to the words she spoke to Lancelot just moments ago.
No doubt now…that they hated and feared her.
It pulled her heartstrings harshly but it would be something she will have to clear up now with her own words. "Ren, Shiri, you-"
However the two children cover their ears and close their eyes, doing their best to ignore Arturia at this moment. Knowing that she is not wanted the King of Knights walks toward the now quiet battlefield covered in dirt, blood ; both her own and her knight's, and the terrified gazes of the two children that covered their ears as they trailed behind her.
Next Chapter: Carrying The Weight
A/N: This took awhile, mostly because I myself never fought from a horse in all honesty. So it took awhile as well but thanks to Sliverbug28….I think it turned out alright. Went over the entire thing myself several times myself so hopefully wording and everything is good since all my usual editors where busy with college exams and I realized it was best not to bother them at this time. I can't wait to get back to the fluff though it's honestly a bit easier to write then this scene. Thankfully, we are not too far away from it. Two more chapters possibly three if I feel like I did not cover the ending right. Also I think...I graduated to from Neutral Evil to True Evil considering the ending lol.