~Author's Note~
This story is rated teen, right? I hope. There are a bit of hints to some illegal stuff in this chapter and do not try to get them if you don't get them from the get-go. (Hahaha to many 'get's) There will not be anything illegal done, so no worries! Diarmuid is a virtuous man ;) Other than that, we'll be okay! I hope you guys like his new job and omg I found a new band that I am loving so much-you should hear them: Kodaline. Listening to High Hopes by them; they're making me want to make sad stories hahaha. Welp! Enjoy the chapter guys! And thank you for all the reviews!
Sincerely,
~Ms. AtomicBomb
"Well, she really does need to rest for a long time…but she told me that she really must get going so I think that a week and a half should be alright for her recovery." The doctor spoke to Diarmuid as they stood by the door of the room, "I have a few herbs and medicine that would be good for her."
Diarmuid nodded, he was prepared to pay whatever the price was, "A week and a half? Are you certain that it is enough time?"
The doctor sighed, "Well, it is the minimum amount of time she can rest for, that being said—she cannot be doing any hard labour or rough activities for the next month or so… If she does so, it can jeopardize her health."
"Of course, I'll make sure that she does nothing to strain herself."
He gave a nod and waited until Diarmuid gave him the pay and then left. Diarmuid, on the other hand, bit his lower lip as he gave the last of their funds to the doctor. They only had rented the room for another night and he did not know what he was going to do to let her rest in a comfortable room for the rest of the week. He would have to work, but no one would hire him for a simple week.
Diarmuid glanced over at Arturia, who lay silently on the bed, and sighed, "Milady," he began—but did not even know what he was going to say—"Uh, I have to find some money…"
"Was the doctor expensive?" Arturia turned her head towards Diarmuid, and he could see the lack of emotion in her eyes—as if they were still clouded over.
He gave a small nod, "Do you think that you could be alone for a while? Whilst I find a short job?"
"I do not want to be alone," she mumbled under her breath, "You can go ahead, and it's alright."
"I will be back by mid-day to make you some lunch, I promise." He bowed his head and proceeded to the door.
"Diarmuid," her voice stopped him by the door, "Thank you."
"I'll see you in mid-day," He gave her a small smile before ducking out of the room. Diarmuid continued down the stairs of the inn and decided it was best to ask the bar owner, but he personally had no jobs to offer, so he sent him out to places that could give him some sort of work.
The young knight looked down at the list that was given to him, and then he went on his merry way. The first few shops had rejected him because he would only be working for less than two weeks, and they were not willing to give their money to him.
"What skills have you?" The blacksmith looked him over.
Diarmuid bit his lower lip, "Heavy labour is something I could do for you. I do not know much about making weapons, but I can sell them very well. I am a knight, I can convince others that your merchandise is as good as any."
The blacksmith thought about it and then called for his wife. The older woman rushed down the stairs and settled her gaze upon Diarmuid, "John, why did you not tell me we had company?" She rushed as she fixed her hair and dusted off her dress.
"He wants to work for a little over a week, what do you say?" The blacksmith asked her and crossed his arms over his chest.
Diarmuid felt like he was being judged; as if he had a girlfriend and he was meeting her parents.
"I think that he would be such a perfect worker!" The woman clapped her hands together, brown curled locks of hair bouncing about as brown eyes glittered.
Diarmuid's face lit up at the sign of approval, but the blacksmith was not bought so easily, especially at the site of his wife making googly-eyes at the young man before him. Instead, the man gave a loud groan, dismissed Diarmuid and made him leave the shop before he was kicked out.
This scenario seemed to repeat itself a couple of more times and now he was out of hope. He kicked the dirt up as he walked back to the inn, it was not even mid-day yet, what was he going to tell Arturia? That such a strong knight of the Fianna—a renowned band of knights—could not even land a job, "Stupid mole," he hissed under his breath in defeat.
He lifted his head quickly and shook it, "No, no, I refuse to give up now. I'll try one more time." He was determined—even if he had to clean the stables; he would. No matter the job, he would do his best.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a small establishment. Café Morning; the sign read in red letters. He nodded at himself for reassurance and walked towards it, they were bound to be accepting. He licked his lips before entering the shop and took a deep breath.
He strode in and it seemed that there were only uniquely (or lack-of) dressed women inside the shop—he already knew it was not a very good idea because of his beauty mark.
"Hello, sir, how may I help you today?" the blond girl at the counter winked at him.
Diarmuid gave a courtesy smile, "I—well, I am looking for a job offer that only requires me to work for a bit over a week, is there anything that I could do around here?"
The blonde female before him giggled and nodded, leaning on the counter to get closer to him, "Me?" she smirked and winked at him.
Diarmuid furrowed his brows and tilted his head, not understanding her at all. He wasn't asking about her, so why did she relate it with herself?
"Trix, please don't flirt with the customer from the get-go," he heard a husky female voice from behind him, "First you ask him who he wants."
Diarmuid turned around to see another blonde female, her eyes green—much more daring than Arturia's. A red loose dress hugging her and not failing to show bare shoulders and neckline—a little scandalous on Diarmuid's part; but he was not there to judge her choice of clothing. Her blonde hair was a messy up-do that let her frizzy hair make her have a flirty look. Rich red lipstick decorated her lips and for a second he thought of how Arturia would look with that shade on her peach lips instead.
"Hello, sweetheart," the woman smiled, "my name is Clara, I have not seen you in town before…" she skimmed him over.
"Well, I am only here for a week and a half, and I sort of need a job. I was wondering if you offer any in this café." Diarmuid looked about and finally noticed that it was darker than normal. The windows were closed with a red vail and it turned the entire café red.
"Well, we are in need of some males…" the woman looked him over again, "and you've got what it needs; how about it?"
Diarmuid blinked and shrugged, "I am not quite sure what I'll be agreeing to, though,"
"What do you mean? You are here for work, correct?" Clara tilted her head.
"Well yes, but—"
"Then, let's head downstairs." She hooked her arm around Diarmuid's and led him towards the stairs.
"But wait, what would you have me do? I can bake, if you need an extra baker," he reasoned.
Clara stopped in her tracks atop the stairs and then turned to him, "Bake? But why would you need to—Oh!" She started to giggle, "You want to work at the café?"
He furrowed his brows and nodded lightly.
Clara burst out into light chuckles, "Wow, what an innocent young man. And here I thought I could get some money out of you… Alright," she sighed, "You see, this is not exactly a café, young man. This is one of those places where lonely men or women come."
"What does that mean?" He knew there was a meaning behind her words but he did not understand them.
Clara laughed again and then leaned close towards him to whisper some words into his ear. Upon hearing them, his eyes grew wide and he shook his head rapidly, "That is not what I am here for, oh my goodness, I am so, so, so sorry."
"I am very sorry for interpreting your innocent request in a different manner, young man," she smiled a little teasingly, "if that is the case, we cannot offer you any work here."
"It's quite alright, thank you," he bowed slightly and made his way out of the building—Okay, so he was not willing to do 'anything'.
Finally feeling defeated, he decided he would walk around a bit before he went back to Arturia to tell her the pitiful news.
He wandered about the small little town and watched as everyone went about their daily lives. The townspeople were pretty average—if he had not gone through utter hell finding a job; he would have thought it was almost like him home town.
"Oliver! Oliver!" He heard someone call, and then an elderly man rushed up to him and took his hands in his. Tears flooded the grey eyes of the man before him and there was immense pain in such a simply look.
"Um," Diarmuid stood dumbfounded just staring at the old man before him.
"H-have you come to visit me? It is so good to see you again, my son." A grey beard hung from the man's chin, and his hands were shaking slowly due to his old age, "I've missed you."
Diarmuid was only able to hug the man back upon feeling his weak embrace around his torso. He wasn't this man's son, but he wished he really was. There was melancholy that lingered around them as the man pulled away.
"How is Martha? The last I saw her, she was ill; is she doing better? Do I have a grandson yet?"
Diarmuid took a deep breath, "S-sir, forgive me, but I am…I am not your Oliver." Those were some hard words to say, especially when he did not want to disappoint the man before him.
The man's eyes slowly widened and he ran his eyes over Diarmuid's face a few times, "I-I deeply apologize, my good sir, you just—you…"
"I understand." Diarmuid nodded solemnly.
"Oh, do forgive me," the old man mumbled as he covered his face, "Good day." He bowed and then hurried off to pull his wagon.
Diarmuid watched him for a short while and a wave of sadness washed over him, "I can help you, sir." He offered to aid him with the wagon so that he would not break his back with it.
"Where do you live?" It had taken quite a while for Diarmuid to convince him that it was alright and that he could help him for free.
"Up there," the man pointed at a house on top of a small hill.
Diarmuid's gazed flickered to the hill and then back at the man before him, he thought about the trip that the man had to make up the hill every now and again and he was surprised that the old man still had it in him to even leave his house.
"My son… He left to go to the big city. He told me that he became a knight in Cornwall, he even got married. He visited with his wife once, Martha, but she was ill and we were not able to enjoy the vacation with her too much…" Tears glazed over his grey eyes, making them look like jewels, "But then…I got a letter from Martha, he had died."
"I-I'm sorry."
"It's alright," the man smiled, "when I saw you, I thought it was a lie. Thank you, by the way, you're a kind man."
"My name is Diarmuid, sir."
"I am Thomas," he mumbled as they reached the front gate of his home, "Well, thank you again, Diarmuid. I apologize once more, and I hope for you all the best."
"Sir, I am staying for a week and a half, and I can help you with anything that you need help in." Diarmuid thought that since he had nothing else to do, he might as well have helped this man.
Thomas slowly shook his head, "It really is not necessary, son. Plus, I have nothing to offer you."
"It would be my pleasure, and I can work for free." The knight gave a kind smile.
"Thank you, Diarmuid, I would really like that."
"I can start in an hour, I have to make some food for my partner first."
"Oh, that's alright… Where are you both staying?" The man had decided to ask.
"The inn, but hopefully I can find another place because there really isn't enough money to pay for it…" Diarmuid laughed nervously and gave the man a nod.
"You can both live in my home, for as long as you stay. You are going to be helping me and it is the only way I could repay you for your kindness. My wife is not around anymore, and the house gets lonely. It would be good to have young people around for a change."
Diarmuid's heart clenched and he gave a pained smile, "Thank you so very much. I would really like that, and I'm sure Arturia would too."
Thomas had a smile on his face and waved Diarmuid off as he jogged down the hill and all the way to the inn to tell Arturia the good news.
~Author's Note~
No more polls for this chapter :( But maybe you could tell me your top three favourite pairings of the Fate/ Franchise :) ?
I hope you guys liked the chapter!
Sincerely,
~Ms. AtomicBomb
