Ch7
Waver felt nervous as he flew with Rider to the place where the banquet would take place. He felt a mixture of apprehension and excitement as the ship landed near Saber's location. Rider sent down a sphinx to let Saber know that they were there before moving the ship to a nearby area.
With the help of the sphinxes he helped bring out the tables, chairs, and silverware while Rider supervised. The sphinxes helped him with the heavy stuff since the tables and chairs were pretty heavy. "Rider is everything good?" He asked.
Rider looked at him and nodded as he got down from his ship, "It is, now get ready the guests will arrive soon." Waver nodded and went to get a few jugs of wine and placed them at the table.
As he was getting ready he heard the sounds of footsteps approaching him, "Rider what is the meaning of this meeting exactly?" Saber asked.
Waver turned and saw Saber and her master behind her. Her master waved at him and he waved back as he quickly stood next behind Rider.
"Thanks for coming Saber. This is a banquet for kings to get together and enjoy merriment," Rider said as he sat down on a chair. Saber looked cautiously around and sat down across from him.
"This isn't bad Rider sorry for coming late I was preoccupied with other things," Archer said appearing from a nearby corner.
"Golden one it is nice of you to join us," Rider said as he pointed to an empty seat. Once everyone was seated Rider clapped his hands. "Excellent now that we are all here let us drink. Boy bring the wine," he said.
Waver gulped and nodded as he took a jug of wine from a sphinx and walked towards the table. Just calm down everything will be alright he thought as he felt his legs shake a bit as he approached the table. He felt Archer's eyes on him while Saber looked to the side to make sure that no one would try anything. Rider looked at him with his bright eyes and he couldn't tell what he was thinking. He always puts himself first, he maybe selfish but he does it to help his people. He poured the wine into the glasses and made sure that none spilled. When he was done he bowed slightly before heading back to the sphinxes nearby.
He watched as the three powerful servants drank and broke the ice between them. "They say that the Grail will be claimed in this city and that this war is a ritual to determine that person," Rider said as he drank his wine. "But as a pharaoh I know you will not ignore my challenge to discuss the events of this war Saber."
Saber looked at Rider with a blank expression as she carefully watched Rider and Archer. "Rider why have this meeting here in this depressing courtyard?" Archer asked with a sigh.
"So that others do not disturb us golden one," Rider said with a smile. Archer looked at Rider and just sighed as he drank his wine. "I imagine we all have our reasons for fighting in this war."
"True, I must punish those who would raid my treasures," Archer said as he held his glass in his hand.
"Oh Saber later would you and your master like to join us for a bath in my pyramid?" Rider asked casually.
Waver nearly dropped his jug in shock that Rider asked that. While Saber and her master's face both reddened. "Rider my master and I most certainly will not," Saber said in shock.
"Come on Saber it is relaxing," Archer said as Saber's master looked as if she was going to die of embarrassment.
"Because we have more important things to do than bathe!" Saber said with an angry sigh as she avoided their gaze, her face just as red as her master's face.
"More important than relaxing? How said even I enjoy a bath," Archer said with a sigh.
Rider nodded in agreement as Saber sat back down and took a deep breath as if annoyed at everything. "Pharaoh of Egypt," Saber asked as Rider turned to it. "For what reason do you seek the grail? In life you acquired many riches and brought your nation to its golden age. What is your reason to fight in this war?"
There was a silence that was broken when Rider laughed, "As a pharaoh, all treasures are under my control. What about you Saber why do you fight?"
Saber paused as she took a sip of her wine, "I wish to bring salvation to my homeland. I want to change Britain's fate of destruction."
There was a pause as Rider set down his glass. Waver noticed him look at Saber with his bright eyes. "You claim that you want to change fate and alter history itself?"
Saber nodded, "Yes, if the Grail is as powerful as it claims to be then-"
But Saber was cut off by both Archer and Rider who chuckled at her comments. Saber's brow furrowed. "What is so funny?"
"Why do you question me and laugh?" She demanded as she looked at both of them. "The world I lived in was destroyed and I wish to bring it back."
"Pharaoh can you believe this little girl who claims to be the King of Knights says she wishes to sacrifice herself for her country," Archer said with a laugh.
Saber stood up angrily, "A king should be prepared to make sacrifices to ensure the prosperity of their kingdom."
"You are wrong Saber," Rider said with a sigh as he looked at her surprised face. "A king or Pharaoh offers no sacrifices, a country and its subjects offer themselves to him."
"That is the reign of a tyrant," Saber said indignantly.
Rider only nodded as a bemused smile spread across his face, "True but if a ruler were to regret their reign or its ending he is a fool and unworthy to be a ruler.
"Pharaoh Ozymandias or should I say Ramses the II. Your reign was marked by slavery and plague as you lost your son and your best friend," Saber said looking at Rider who only looked at his glass at the mention of the troubles of his reign. "Do not tell me that you do not wish for all the problems that arose from Moses and his people to be undone? Would you not use the grail to be friends with him again and undo the damage he did to your kingdom?"
There was a slight pause as Rider took a sip from his wine and to everyone's surprise, he laughed, "Moses was my peerless friend, despite all our troubles he was and still is my best friend. He is a person who is unique and I would never change anything about him or our relationship."
"Really? Not even when he killed your son and brought plagues upon your nation?" Saber asked.
Rider shook his head, "My reign was prosperous before Moses left me and my kingdom prospered even more when he left. I had many more children and many more after he left us. Egypt prospered with and without him all because I ruled as a pharaoh should; by treating all of his subjects equally. A pharaoh does not distinguish between his subjects, his rule is law and all must obey it."
"But what good is a king who ignores the plight of the weak? Your marvels were built on the backs of the poor and the enslaved," Saber said as she glared at Rider. "A king should be just in his rule people like you and Archer who ruled through force and cruelty will never understand."
"You say justice and ideals save your kingdom Saber but what happened after you died?" Archer asked as he sipped his wine. Saber's face looked surprised as she stared at Archer. "Those you saved were never shown how to rule and were left in the dark."
A surprised look spread across Saber's face as Rider took a drink from his cup, "You preferred your own pretty little dreams to reality as you were trapped in your ideals," Rider said as he gave Saber a hard look as Saber's face darkened in shock as if she were remembering a horrible memory. "You are but an idealistic girl who only loved herself, you claim to be serving your kingdom but you eventually became a slave to your selfish ideals. I had Moses and my beloved Nefertari and Archer here had Enkidu but who did you have? Perhaps if you had loved and recognized your son he would not have rebelled. A king should command respect and recognize those who work for him; I had many children in life and out lived many of them; however, I still recognized them as my children and treated them all the same."
Waver watched as a dark look spread across Saber's face and for a second he swore he saw sadness in her eyes. "My kingdom flourished after my reign can you say the same for yours? My people knew how to serve my descendants and helped lead Egypt for many more years," Rider said as he took another drink from his glass. "Do I regret fighting with Moses? No because I learned that experience and gained more from it. Yes Moses is my dearest friend and always will be and that is why I would never use the grail to change him or undo what had happened. As a representative of the Gods I know that there are things that simply cannot be changed and neither would I wish to change them."
Saber opened her mouth as if to respond but no sound came out. She appeared to be deep in thought as if her mind were conflicted with two heavy choices. "Tell us Saber how do the common people of today view your reign?" Gilgamesh asked. Saber did not respond as she stared at the table. "Are you remembered for your works or are you seen as a king who could not understand her people. Look at me and Rider, we are remembered for our deeds and how we ruled our people and nations into a golden age. Even though Rider here is often looked down upon for his spat with Moses his rule left its mark on mankind."
Saber was about to respond but was cut off by the sound of hands clapping, "Well what do we have here?" said a voice that made Waver gulp. He got up and stood behind the sphinxes who formed a protective area around him as he watched his teacher Lord Kayneth and Lancer walk towards them. Saber's master went to her servant's side as the three servants looked at Kayneth and Lancer who had a blank look on his face.
Waver felt Kayneth turn to face him and it took all he had to not shake as he met his eyes which had no friendliness in them despite Kayneth smiling. "Waver good you are here I have been wanting to talk to you for a while," he said and sounding as if he were forcing himself to be nice.
"You may speak to my servant when the banquet is over," Rider said cutting off Kayneth. "Lancer if you wish to join us you may," Rider said as he snapped a finger and a sphinx brought out another chair.
"But Lancer was no king?" Archer said raising an eyebrow.
"True but I can tell he is a great warrior and I have dined with many in my life," Rider said as he drank from his glass. "Lancer come we are having a great discussion."
Lancer looked at his master and was about to step forward when Kayneth stopped him, "I have business with Waver and Lancer has better things to do."
"Well the invitation to sit in this chair is for Lancer," Rider said as he eyed Kayneth. "As we are under a temporary truce to enjoy a drink he may join us."
Waver watched as Lancer looked conflicted. Lancer is a knight at heart whatever Lord Kayneth is planning it I doubt Lancer would want to break his code of chivalry by rejecting a king's offer and to attack an enemy under a banner of truce he thought as he watched Kayneth sigh and signaled for Lancer to go ahead and take a seat.
Lancer walked to the seat and bowed before the other servants, "Thank you Rider it is an honor to sit here with you all," he said before sitting down next to Saber.
Rider smiled at Lancer, "A true warrior such as yourself is always honored at my table." Lancer nodded as Rider motioned for Waver to bring some more wine.
Waver gulped as he went to get another jar of wine and carefully walked to the servants. He felt nervous as he felt Kayneth's eyes on him but he also felt Rider watching him, his golden eyes were reassuring. Rider will never let any harm come to me he thought as he took a deep breath and bored more wine for everyone.
Lancer thanked him when he poured his glass and Waver smiled at him; however, in Lancer's eyes he could detect some sort of inner conflict as if he were about to do something that went against all that he stood for. As he looked at Lancer he could tell that he wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment and when their eyes met they were anything but happy.
Its almost as if he is telling me to run he thought as he walked back to the sphinxes.
"Waver I want to speak to you," Kayneth said firmly.
"Um I am kind of buys now," he said not knowing how to respond.
"Yes we are busy now wait until the night is done if you wish to address my subject," Rider said as he sipped some wine.
A flash of irritation spread across Kayneth's face as he stepped forward but sphinx jumped in between them and growled. "Do not approach this table!" Rider said as he glared at Kayneth. "Only kings and those deemed worthy of a king's respect are allowed."
Kayneth was taken by surprise by Rider's words, "B-But Waver went to you and Saber's master is with her? Should I not be with my servant?"
"My servant is the wine pourer a job he is doing well and has earned my respects for being a loyal subject. Saber's master is welcome because I invited both of them to this banquet. I see no need for you to come to this table unless it needs to be cleaned. Lancer is a warrior who deserves the utmost praise and that is why he is allowed," Rider said as he drank from his cup.
Waver watched as he saw his teacher's face contort with frustration and for a second he feared he would say something he would regret. However, to his surprise Kayneth forced another smile on his face and turned to face him. "Waver my student, let us talk I think we have much to discuss. I think we can gain a lot from a little talk."
Waver gulped as he watched his teacher extend out a hand. "I-," but he was cut off by Rider.
"We do not wish to work with you. My subject has all the means to help me achieve victory," Rider said as he looked at Kayneth with an amused look. "You have nothing to offer us."
Kayneth looked at both of them as if he wanted shout something but only glared at them. Rider then turned to Lancer, "Lancer now what do you think about kingship?" He asked completely ignoring Kayneth.
Waver watched as Lancer drank from his glass, "Thank you Rider. As a knight I don't have much insight on kingship since I never really ruled. However, I think a king treat his subjects with care, respect, and never willingly harm them."
Rider sipped his wine as he pondered Lancer's words. "True I know vaguely of your story, you were betrayed by your Lord after he refused to help you when you needed it."
A dark look spread across Lancer's face as he nodded, "Yes that is true."
"But Lancer you were always a great warrior and fought with respect to chivalry," Saber said.
Lancer smiled at her, "Thank you Saber. There are many things I wish to do in this war and I hope to be able to accomplish them."
Archer laughed, "You are just as much an idealistic fool as Saber."
Lancer looked shocked as he looked at Archer. "Is it wrong for a knight to fight against another knight?"
"No it is not," Rider said as he sipped his wine. "Don't forget Archer Lancer here isn't a king as us, it is natural that he wishes to enjoy a great battle."
"I suppose you are right," Archer said as he looked at Lancer. "I hope you will be able to satisfy your desire of battle Lancer."
"Thank you Archer," Lancer said as he drank from his cup. "I hope we can all achieve our goals in this war."
"Yes our goals," Kayneth said butting into the conversation. Waver turned to see his teacher as Rider, Archer, and Saber looked at him. "Waver I hate to interrupt your servant's dinner but I really insist on having a word with you," Kayneth said as he turned to face him with a smile that looked as if it came from a crocodile.
AN: Hope you all like this story. I hope I did this scene right it really is an iconic scene and themes are not my strongest point in writing yet.
Yeah I thought about having a bath scene with Saber and her master but I don't see Saber or Kiritsugu allowing it especially since it would be in Rider's place.
To KingofPower: Thank you for your review yeah Rider loosened up Archer and has started to influence Kirei already and Kirei is already plotting his plans. Well lets just say we will see what happens with Assassin in the next chapter, lets just say Kirei is expecting some help from Assassin and Archer.