CHAPTER 13:

BONDING

It took, rather unsurprisingly, a lot to persuade Dan and Emma Granger to come with them. If they were as cruel as Elisa's parents were in her past life, Sal would have left them to their own devices after wiping out memories of their daughter, or perhaps even tortured them and killed them himself. But they were good people, decent people, and well worth the effort of explaining their insane story to.

Thankfully, at least part of the story didn't need to be explained. Dan and Emma, after learning of the existence of wizards, had done their research, and knew of Clock Tower, thankfully. What was more, they had even made enquiries as to whether their daughter could learn there. However, they were understandably sceptical of the fact that their daughter and her best friend were reincarnations of people from wizarding history, and that King Arthur and Mordred were female.

However, they were at least persuaded of the danger of the Death Eaters, and they soon packed their bags and joined them at Gorgoneion Castle. It was Waver and Grey who opted to take them on a tour of the castle with Hermione. Mordred, meanwhile, had latched onto Kairi, wanting to know anecdotes about his work as a mercenary for Clock Tower.

As the pair left, Harry noticed Arturia watching them depart with mixed feelings. "What's wrong? You're worried about her virtue?"

"Of course not. Necromancer or not, I believe him to be of enough decency not to try and bed a teenager at least half his age," Arturia said quietly. "…I guess it is…envy. Envy that she gets along with him so well. She looks up to him like a father, or at least a paternal figure, so soon after meeting him."

"…Don't be jealous, Ria," Harry said, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "She still looks up to you, but she's got all those feelings inside her to work out. So do you. You act stoic, but you control your emotions, you don't stifle them as much as some people think. Anyway, it's not Mordred that troubles you, is it? It's Saber."

Arturia nodded. "Yes, amongst other things, but she is the most disturbing." Unbidden, they walked back to the reading room where they had spent the previous night. As they did so, Arturia admitted, "How could I have fallen so far?"

"…Easily." On her sharp look, he hastily said, "Ria, you were under so much pressure, the burdens of ruling Britain on your shoulders. What would happen if you broke? I'm not saying that Saber…no, let's call her your Alter for now, as she's an alternative version of you…your Alter is not definitely what you would have become had you broken. Rather…she's a possibility."

"But a strong possibility," Arturia said. "Otherwise, from what I understand about Servants and Heroic Spirits, she wouldn't be so strong, your theories about how her Master potentially empowered her aside. It disturbs me…to see how far I could have fallen. I wish to deny it, but the evidence before my eyes…"

"Whoever summoned her, Morgan or not…she summoned your Alter for the sake of psychological warfare, Ria," Harry said. "And in any case…there's darkness in everyone, even you."

They fell into a silence for a time, until Arturia said, "Sal…I can guess what you did to your relatives. Did you have to?"

"Vernon and Petunia Dursley thought nothing of using me like a House Elf, Ria, and Vernon would have murdered me himself if he wasn't afraid of getting caught. I didn't kill them, but I've left them in a state where they would wish for death if they were able to. Dudley, I left alone. He has a chance of redemption, and I hope he takes it, for as much as I despise him, as he seemed to have a sincere desire to change, I will give him that chance. Do I regret doing what I did to them, though? No. I looked into their minds, and they are the worst kind of Muggles without being overt criminals. I've done worse in my original lifetime."

"…I don't like this. I never liked this part of you, Sal. The one who takes justice into his own hands, and so brutally. All those assassinations you undertook for me…the people you tortured and killed, despite their own crimes being brutal in of themselves…I felt myself disquieted by them."

Harry looked at Arturia, as they entered the reading room, sitting down on the couch, side by side. "Ria…you and I had very different notions of how to achieve justice. You were content to be the king, let your authority be all that was needed. But when I grew up…I knew that sometimes, the only justice was that you could make yourself. But…even though I have this darkness in me, I've made sure, once I learned Legilimency, to make sure of their guilt first. I won't apologise for Vernon and Petunia. They subjected a child, Petunia's own flesh and blood, to indentured servitude, to verbal, psychological and physical abuse, and Vernon entertained a serious notion of killing said child, who was me. Turning them into vegetables was justice, just as it was to Elisa's parents, as they are not good people whom the world could do with less of."

"And who are you to judge that, Sal? You're not God, nor are you a king," Arturia said disapprovingly. "I tried to make allowances for your desire for justice. But there are times when I worry for you, that the darkness within you will swallow you whole. I may have to kill, true, in battle and to deliver the justice of a king, but…I try to do so with honour, to a high standard."

"I think part of your problem was that you were too much in love with chivalry. I mean…in the end, chivalry's just prettying up killing with a nice little surcoat of honour."

"It doesn't mean I am wrong. We've spoken of this before," Arturia said. "Argued about it. And every time, I say, if we are to kill in battle, then we need to hold ourselves to standards."

"I know…and I understand. Chivalry, or rather, rules of engagement for war have their place, because while killing is killing, there are times when it is necessary. But you also need someone to do the dirty work to keep your hands clean. I did it to keep you and Camelot safe. Better to be the dagger at your back than to be one buried in it," Harry said. "I loved you then as I do now, Ria, and I didn't want you to come to any harm. You were strong enough to fight battles on the battlefield and at the bargaining table, but I needed to be the one who stopped the daggers in the dark. It's one of the reasons why I befriended Mordred. The main reason was that she needed someone to care about her, and, well, she was like you…but…I had the feeling she was Morgan's puppet."

"And you never told me."

"…Yeah, that was stupid, but given how you reacted when she told you of her heritage…how would you have reacted if I told you in private? Agravain was already beginning to prevent me from having private audiences with you anyway. And Mordred…she begged to be the one to 'surprise' you. She had this little notion that we could be a happy family. And when I was exiled…she told me, I'll make sure we're all happy, you'll see! Maybe that's one of the reasons she revealed herself to you. Maybe she thought we could be together." He then met her eyes. "…Do you think we can be together?"

"…Perhaps, if you mean more than just friends," Arturia said. "But we changed a lot since our carefree days in the village. Do not misunderstand me…I would rather it be you than so many others who sought my hand. But…we hurt each other during that time, and…"

"Ria…I told you…you're the king of my heart. You always will be. And what's more, I know who wears the pants in this relationship. All I want you to be…is to be more like Arturia Pendragon, not the King of the Britons. More human, and less king. Because if there's one thing that you had that I think you shouldn't have…it was hiding yourself as much as you did. You only allowed the parts of yourself that suited the King of the Britons through your mask. Okay, I'll admit, I did play up being the sinister sorcerer bit at times myself, made a useful deterrent for enemies, but I also made it a point to treat my friends and allies the way I would treat people normally."

"…So with insolence and snark?" Arturia asked.

"…That's not very nice. Then again, I will admit, I wasn't a nice person, not to anyone I considered an enemy. That's probably how Godric and my arse of a nephew were able to taint my reputation so easily. I was ruthless, pragmatic, and rather iconoclastic. I even kicked Merlin in the nuts more than once…though admittedly, that was because he was hitting on some of my apprentices. Thankfully, the older ones. Even a cambion can have standards. So…I guess the pertinent question is, do you want to try and work things out?"

"Now that we have this opportunity to do so…yes." She chuckled softly. "We even have a ready-made family already. Mordred…I believe I am beginning to warm to her, and while I am not sure whether I can forgive her yet, I can overlook what she did. As for Grey…I owe it to her to show her the love her parents clearly didn't, if all they wanted was for her to be my replacement. But Sal…while I appreciate you being the dagger in the dark to keep me safe…I don't want you keeping it secret. Keeping secrets is part of what broke us apart in the first place when Agravain and Godric denounced you. And…promise me that you won't do such a thing again unless they are our direct enemy, or are killers and rapists."

"…Ria, I can't make promises I won't keep. But I promise you, I won't kill anyone who doesn't deserve it."

"…I will hold you to that. I want you to be…better. Especially for Mordred and Grey's sakes."

"Bad idea. I'm a bad role model. And yet, I was insane enough to help found a magic school. Goes to show."

Arturia nodded, but she seemed troubled. Harry knew why. She hated the part of him that was violent and dark. She'd been so obsessed with chivalry and fair play, whereas he…well, he grew up knowing that injustice was built into the very fabric of life, that he had to fight, and fight dirty, to get where he was. Then again, he never really put on a mask around her. Around others, yes, but around her, whenever they spoke in private…

The thing was, he wanted her to accept him as he was, warts and all. He had accepted her, or at least what she was behind the mask of kingly perfection she put on when she drew out Caliburn. She was, in many ways, like him, someone who tried to make their corner of the world a better place…they just went in different directions. Not wholly divergent ones.

Suddenly, on an impulse, he said, "If we get out of this mess alive, and I hope we do…let's go on a date, the two of us. My treat, obviously. I mean…we never really went on one in our old lives."

"A date?" Arturia asked, baffled. "You wish to court me, even despite the closeness of our relationship?"

"Ria, we never really got to do those things. The closest we got was going on walks near the village, and it was always with Ector keeping an eye on us. Obviously, it'd be a bad idea while we still have Voldemort and whoever's behind the Servants gunning for us. But…well, maybe we could take a trip somewhere? Where'd you like to go? My magic can take us literally anywhere in the world. We could go on safari in Africa, see some lions, or go to a zoo…Regent's Park has some interesting animals. There's all sorts of theme parks…Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, the Disney theme parks…or maybe you just want a nice meal at a restaurant? There's this cook called Heston Blumenthal I saw on TV, he has these interesting dishes, many of them based on historical ones, and I know how much you like good food. Maybe we could find one of his restaurants or something."

Arturia gave a smile at that. "I'll think about it. Besides…" She held up the hand with a ring on it. "Merlin's already wed us."

"Yeah. I don't mind, it's that he didn't ask your permission that has me pissed at him," Harry said.

"Well, I believe one of our tasks should be to find a way to get him out of his prison. Voluntary exile or not, I would prefer to have Merlin by my side. Especially if my sister is truly still around…and Godric."

"…Okay, but if we manage it, I'm kicking him in the nuts at least a dozen times…"

"So, what's an actual Holy Grail War like anyway?" Mordred asked, kicking her legs as she sat on a bench while Kairi worked on his weapons.

"I dunno, I've never fought in them. You'd be better off asking Lord El-Melloi…I mean, Lord El-Melloi II. He got the title because…"

"Yeah, he told us. He went into a Grail War where his old teacher, who sounded like a complete dick, was also participating," Mordred said.

"Well, you ain't wrong," Kairi said. "Kayneth Archibald was a dick, but he was also a prodigy. He may have been arrogant, but he could back it up. Problem is, he got killed in that Grail War because…well, he overestimated his ability, and he got backstabbed by his wife…who then got killed by Assassin and her crazy nutjob of a Master."

"And you never felt the desire to join one of these?"

"Oh, more than once, really." He looked over at her. "Most Magi want the Grail for the prestige, or access to the Root. Me? Well…I don't think these knock-off Grails can bring back the dead, unless they're Heroic Spirits. If it was the real deal, actually capable of Heaven's Feel when fully primed…I'd use it for that."

"Who d'you wanna bring back?"

"…My adoptive daughter. Well, cousin, but she was my heir to my Magic Crest. But the damn thing was cursed. I've got a pretty short lifespan thanks to it, and…it killed her," Kairi confessed.

"Yeesh. That sucks," Mordred said. An uncomfortable silence descended on them, before she said, "It's funny…all I wanted from my father was to be acknowledged as the rightful heir…and yet, you gave your daughter that, and it killed her. Not that you intended to. What a fucking joke."

"And Salazar Slytherin? He was okay to you?"

"…If there was ever someone I considered family, even though they weren't, it'd be him," Mordred said. "He's the main reason Father and I aren't killing each other again…though to be fair…Father's been more, well, human over these past few days than she ever was during her reign. In a way, I'm glad. And today, when she defended me against Saber…"

"She cares for you," Kairi said, shooting the teenaged Homunculus a look. "That just proved it."

"Yeah. And…well, I want her love, old man," Mordred said. "I just want her to hug me and tell me that she's proud of me. Even if I can't be her heir, I just…want her to say that I am worthy to be her child. I'd be jealous of Grey getting Rhongomyniad, but…she's got her own problems."

Kairi chuckled, as he returned his gaze to his equipment. "…Yeah. You know, the last day or so have been an eye-opener for me. King Arthur and Mordred were girls, and damned strong ones at that, Salazar Slytherin was a decent guy, and, well…look at you. You're not what I have in mind when I think of Mordred."

"Why is that?" Mordred asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Because you have a good heart. Your name these days is reviled as the worst kind of traitor, but you were just a kid starved for approval and attention and affection." Kairi then returned his gaze to her. "Let's put it this way, if you or your father became Servants, while I'd be happy with Arturia, I reckon I'd prefer you. I'd get along with you way better. You're like an adorable tomboy daughter, troublesome, but strong and with a heart of gold."

Mordred blinked, blushing a little at the compliment. "…Am not adorable," she muttered sullenly, albeit out of habit.

"Are so," Kairi said with a smirk.

"Watch it. You're lucky I already like you. Otherwise…well, you'd be singing soprano for the rest of your life."

"Well, one of these days, I think someone should introduce you to Xena: Warrior Princess. Camp as hell, but it shows that just because you're a woman doesn't mean you can't kick a lot of arse," Kairi said. "But for now, we've gotta concentrate on dealing with the Death Eaters, along with whoever's behind the Servants."

"Yeah…" Mordred said, looking down at her hand. "I have a lot of issues with Father, but deliberately summoning her in that form, that mockery…it's a grave insult to the King of Knights. And I'll make them pay for that…"

CHAPTER 13 ANNOTATIONS:

Some nice character moments, with Arturia worried about Harry's inner darkness, and Mordred getting ready to bring the pain to whoever summoned Saber Alter. That being said, this is the last chapter of the initial batch, and I don't know when the next one will be out.

Review-answering time! Sakura Lisel: I mentioned in a previous chapter that Harry-Salazar basically tore their minds apart. It was that which McGonagall sought out Hermione to find out where Harry is. Harry-Salazar left Dudley alone because he found, through Legilimency, that Dudley was not beyond redemption.

WearyCurmudgeon: It's worth pointing out that, while originally I wasn't going to have Harry or anyone in his faction summon Servants, I actually have been seriously considering it for the past few days, if only to act as a power equaliser. That being said, Alter Ego is a less likely class for our protagonists to obtain. It'll most likely be Lancer, Caster and Assassin.

No numbered annotations this time.