Peach Shortcake

A shrill ring could be heard across the rooms, resonating through the silent apartment.

It was rather cold outside, and while not chilly, it was still unpleasant to stand in the wind, so Tristan wondered who'd be crazy enough to show up at such a late time.

Still, it seemed that someone was crazy enough, apparently.

Grumbling, the red haired archer was about to go to the door to open it (he was currently enjoying a documentary about some rare sea life from Australia), but Bedivere cut him off with an eye roll.

"I'm going, I'm going - you stay there and watch your fish."

Tristan blinked — wasn't Bedivere in the kitchen a second ago? — but obliged, catching the drink the other Knight tossed him with ease and opening it with a pop.

"It's probably one of those door-to-door preachers, anyhow. They've been going their rounds once again."

Bedivere snorted. "Your respect for their belief is showing, old friend."

Tristan merely grinned, saluting with the can.

0:0:0:0

Bedivere was already at the door when the bell rang a second time, muttering "I'm here," to no one in particular as he opened the door —

He froze, his breath stopping and his eyes widening as he looked at the person standing in front of the door, noting with some detachment that this was not a preacher.

"…Lucina…"

It was a whisper, but his sister still walked silently up to him and leaned her head against his form, standing silently for all but a second, after which she wrapped her arms around him.

Bedivere was still speechless, such a rare sight it was to see his sister cry. Her look had been stricken and guilty, a cloud of emotions swirling together, but she'd clutched a very specific book to her chest, before she hugged him.

He hugged her back reflexively, softly brushing through her hair to calm her as he waited.

0:0:0:0

Tristan was getting worried. It wasn't like Bedivere to take so long (because that idiot also didn't like the preachers walking from door to door, no matter what he tried to say otherwise), so he muted the television and went to check.

He rounded the corner, a quip already on his lips-

It died the second he saw Bedivere and his sister.
Blinking, the archer glanced between them before smiling softly. Carefully turning around so as not to disturb the scene, he walked into the kitchen, turning his attention from silent hiccups to their empty fridge.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

They were sitting on the couch, Lucina still clutching the book in an iron grip, glancing everywhere but his eyes.

"…so," her brother's voice was hoarse, "…you read the book?"

She nodded, glancing down at it. "I saw it back at the professors' home."

Sighing, she paged open a specific chapter, elaborating at his confused look. "…I was surprised that you wrote one, and they offered to loan it to me, but I bought my own copy."

"I see…"

There was silence.

Lucina handed over the book, open on the penultimate chapter - Bedivere took it softly, eyes widening slightly as he skimmed over the first few paragraphs. Lucina could've probably guessed at which part his breath stilled, at which part he looked up; she'd memorized that chapter in particular — it was the last chapter written from his point of view, the death of King Arthur.

Bedivere closed the book, not speaking.

"I'm sorry," Lucina stated, "I'm sorry for doubting you, and for not believing you."

Her voice grew quiet. "I'm sorry for having hurt you."

Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if it was too late to make up.

"I-" Bedivere struggled with his words, not knowing what to say. Their relationship had been damaged almost beyond repair, and it wasn't as if the years lost could be replaced, or if they could forgive each other, and themselves, so easily. Still, didn't the King herself say, so long ago, that this was their second chance?

In the end, he smiled a wobbly smile. "I as well. I shouldn't have kept this from you."

Her eyes widened, tears threatening to spill for a second time. Then — softly, tentatively, she looked into his own, full of emotions she couldn't even try to comprehend -

They truly were old, all of them; warriors and knights and kings and queens, brothers and sisters in arms. From times past, long gone, living and breathing and trying to forget and forgive -

'There now lay King Arthur, under the hawthorn tree, wounded by the traitor's sword, in his final breath of life. No one stood besides him, for all have either died or fled, enemy and ally alike. I was the only one to witness the King's death, the last remaining of the once proud Table of the Round.

And as I watched over him, for maybe the first time, I wondered. He truly looked young, boyish and small, so how did he bear the weight of the crown every day since the Sword of Selection choose him? How was it that none of us ever noticed the pain in his eyes, never once tried to understand him? How could the people have claimed to loathe the King, when they never truly understood him?

How had I never seen, even though I always searched for it? I had done my utmost best to serve him, to see the person behind the mask But- the mask never wavered, and so the King stood tall and proud, but isolated from his own men.

I assured him of the continuation of this dream of his, knowing that the words sounded shallow to my own ears as well. A lie meant for comfort.

Still it brought a smile to the King's face - truly, not only the first, but the most sincere smile I had ever had the grace to witness - so I believed my own lie as well, for his sake.

The Lady of the Lake had openly mourned his inevitable end, when I had brought to her the Sword of Promised Victory, and now I found myself doing the same, as I watched over him in his last moments, dawn rising behind that bloodied hill.

King Arthur was truly the best King Britain deserved, and with his death, the country will fall to ruin—

As the King breathed his last breath, I found myself openly crying until there were no more tears to be shed; dawn turning into midday, the only person to witness his passing.'

Lucina shuddered at the passage - the memory, forcing another smile to keep her distracted.
"A-anyhow, do you know how hard it was to find a copy?"

Bedivere blinked at the sudden change, but complied nonetheless, glad that they had a safer topic to talk about. "I imagine it would be, what with it being literally unknown."

She nodded. "I went to every bookstore that had a name to it, until I finally found a lead in the Clock Tower, courtesy of one of the employees."

Who was strange, but that was beside the point.

"So, after that Christine and me managed to track down the local Gorgoneion, and got some of the last copies at a discount, because-"

Bedivere interrupted her, looking so perplexed that she actually had to bite back a laugh.

"Christine? Who?"

Lucina grinned, positively enjoying his bafflement. "Christine Fyre, the operetta singer! You know, Donna Azura? Wait, I got a picture-"

Rummaging through her bag, the previous tense mood all but dissolved (much to their relief), she didn't notice as Tristan edged into the living room from his safe-haven, curious as well (he liked her music- she combined her singing voice expertly with a harp).

"Aha!" Shooting a smug glance into her brother's direction, she unlocked her phone and showed him her new wallpaper.

Bedivere blinked.

"Pretty neat, huh?" Lucina edged to the side as she finally noticed Tristan, and the archer leaned over as well. "I even got a free ticket for her next live performance four weeks from now and— wait. Why are both of you looking at the picture like that?"

Bedivere glanced at her, then at Tristan.
He looked at the picture again, brows furrowing.

"I swear she looks familiar - what do you say, Tristan?"

The redhead nodded. "Yes; though I'm having a hard time matching the face with anyone we know; even though I know we saw her before. Maybe the King or Merlin can help."

Lucina blinked - then sighed. "Let me guess, she's also belonging to, well, this?"

The strained smile Bedivere sent her looked almost apologetic.

I think it took more time to choose the tree than the Desserts representing the chapter, which is a first :'D
And Lucina and Bedivere finally made up! It's been what, 24 chapters? But they finally managed to put their past behind them (and Lucina starts to notice that she may have bitten off more than she can chew).

And onto the Reviews:

chiufan95: You're welcome ;)
And, well, the Events did happen for our dear Shielder, but for the others... you'll have to wait and see (hint: From what Gwen said, Lancelot didn't recognize her)

017Bluefield: Well, it's the 'official' translation of Mashu's name, so I kind of went with that.
(It also creates a nice parallel to Galahad. He's Gabriel, which can also be a female name, and she's Matthew, which is more of a male name.)
Jep, lil' Jack is the feared Jack the Ripper :D
Hm, I dunno xD

Guest: I don't know

Isame Kuroda: Well, everyone with the notable exception of Saber has a new name, so guessing who's who before I reveal it is half the fun xD
The OVA was really nice (especially Fou, he was incredibly cute :3) and they're so adorable together 3
A double date would be rather hard, considering he's in America, and they are in London xD

Hakuno will make a cameo some day, but I don't know which one yet.
Yeah, everyone knows Agravain has a soft spot for abandoned assassins that stalk the night and their split-personality-brother xD

...lastly, I don't know if I'll be able to update next week (or the next month, for that matter), because I have finals/Abitur in two weeks, and I need to learn.
(You know, things like math and art and german and english, and ohmygodI'mgoingtoDIE)
It was a surprise that I even had time to upload this one, because I feel that my whole day consists of waking up, learning and going to sleep near midnight with barely any time inbetween :/ )

So, that's it for now. And as always,

Happy Baking Everyone