Chapter Three
Written by: DarthPel
Beta' by: Freelancerofthe TriforceKeyblade
Word count: 3,060
Merlin the Flower Magician in London at midnight and pointed his staff at the ground as a marble stone appeared in the middle of the church courtyard, and embedded deep into it, a sword. He gave it one last look, the bishop would call the lord's, and within a week's time everyone would be trying to pull for the sword, and become 'King of Britannia'.
Little did they know. The future king… Queen really, had already chosen for them. The mage walked away disappearing into the night. Sparing but one last look before disappearing completely, leaving no witness to the supposed miracle that would be buzzing the rumor mill come morning.
A married couple sat in the wife's room, one of
the occupants, a golden haired blond teen boy with blue eyes, observed the other occupant, his wife, a paler blond teen girl with captivating green eyes.
Naruto watched as Artoria attempted to turn her hair into a tight bun, which caused him to ask in curiosity, "What are you doing?"
"As you know, being a woman, I'm at a natural disadvantage, Merlin prophesied a King not a Queen." Artoria informs, "So I'm disguising myself."
Naruto scowled and spoke up in protest, "I hate prophets and people like him, Artoria, if you have the guts to work for it and never give up, you can achieve anything you want. You shouldn't disguise yourself as something you're not, just to please other people. Besides, it would be a shame for them not to see your natural beauty,"
The green eyed teen blushed and looked away at hearing her compliment her for the first time, but protested weakly, "But lords won't align with me if i show up as a woman…"
"Bull, they'll be tripping over themselves to support your cause. And if they wish to stand against you, well, I'm a professional assassin after all." the blond man states with a wink.
"You jest Uzumaki," the Pendragon heir scoffed, "But, if you really think so. Then I'll… I'll become Queen of Britain."
"Good, be yourself, don't let anyone tell you who you need."
"Thank you, Naruto."
The city of London was buzzing with activity as peasants, and nobles alike walked the streets, it was a huge week for the metropolis, a marble stone with a sword imbedded in it appeared out of nowhere in the church square, along with the inscription, 'Whoever pulls this sword out of the stone shall be rightfully crowned the King of Britain.'
The Bishop of the church had called everyone present who had witnessed the miracle the morning into the cathedral and held mass, after which he had lined men up and had them try to pull the sword out of the stone.
Word spread and within the week nobles, knights and peasants of all sorts had traveled to the city to try and claim the sword for themselves and the throne of Britain for themselves.
Children and adults alike ran betting pools, and even a few brave women had tried their best to pull the sword from the stone, but none succeeded.
This was the activity that awaited Artoria Pendragon and her family as they walked through the streets, mass would begin at sun's peak and her father suggested they ought to attend it before giving the sword a try.
Not that she was worried, Merlin had told her the Sword was her birth right.
Of course, as she noted with every time they entered a settlement Naruto, her absurd husband, who insisted they should get to know one another first before she called him her husband, decided to disappear.
She knew he was close by watching her from a distance, and the moment she entered peril she also knew he would be there. The mark on the lower back of her neck guaranteed that.
After mass, the people of London dispersed. Some to watch a jousting tournament near the west entrance of the city, others to see who was the brave soul that made an attempt at the new entertainment.
Soon, a pit formed in her stomach, as nervousness began to overtake her. She stood nearby as she watched a group of Knights attempt to claim what was rightfully hers.
"Don't be shy." A familiar cloaked voice whispered in her ear, "You have what it takes to be a good leader, Artoria. Go, claim the sword, show them their queen."
Artoria nodded, she was still nervous. But she knew, if anything, for all his faults, how often he treated her as a child, how he wounded her pride by not treating her how a man treated his wife. He still supported and pledged to help her in her dream.
Slowly, the green eyed blond girl walked towards the sword in the stone, drawing the eyes of many curious bystanders as they bet against each other.
She grasped the hilt, and slowly wiggled it side to side. At first it was solid, but soon she felt it coming loose as she wiggled it and then, the sword came off the stone as she gave it a tug. In front of many witnesses.
Whispers began all around her, some in awe, some in disbelief, many in doubt.
Soon, the Bishop, nobles and Knights were around her, speaking loudly over each other. Once more, her Shinobi came to her rescue as he yelled out, "QUIET!"
And there he was, no longer wearing his expensive looking doublet, but rather a brown gambeson, along with a matching hooded cloak and leather boots, of course as she had come to expect the hood was up to hide his foreign looks.
"What's your name?" And of course he was going to act as if he didn't know her.
"Artoria Pendragon." She answered humoring his little game.
"Pendragon, a daughter of Uther Pendragon? King of Britain before Voltringen?" He asked, she briefly caught glimpses of his eyes and saw him wink at her.
"Yes."
There was a collective of gasps and furious whispers as the revelation of who she was broke out.
Naruto did the one thing she never expected him to, and he removed the Saber he treasured so much and kneeled as he held it out for her, "My family suffers under the reign of the pretender. The stone says whoever pulls the sword out shall lead Britain. I give you my blade and my loyalty, if you are to free the people… long live the Queen."
Had he really come up with this? This was so unlike him she paused for a moment, as she watched others look at her expectantly. But she gripped the sword in her hands tighter as she vowed, "I will fight off my Uncle, an usurper to the British people and tyrant. Along the saxons, and create a better Britain for all of us."
Merlin appeared out of nowhere, as he spoke, "It appears, Britain has a Queen at last. Artoria Pendragon, daughter of King Uther."
The plaza was silent for long minutes. Before her brother, and father who had been watching ready to interfere at any given moment kneeled and repeated Naruto's words.
"Long live the Queen."
Others soon joined. Many wished longevity to the new leaders, until the first of the detractors spoke, "Not to ruin the moment, why should we make you our queen? You are a stranger, unproven and unwise. A child, who has no life experience. While people suffer day by day and nobles neglect us poor commoners leaving us from the smaller villages undefended to the Saxon hordes."
"Excuse me?" Artoria asked, "What's your name?"
"Thomas, from old Lindsey, a settlement near the barrows." The man answered.
"I see... an area that would be where the Saxons are currently making their home forts, no?" The green eyed teen asked.
She received a nod, causing her to clear her throat, "Those that would lend your support, we will begin our campaign in three week's time. Please send your men, or if you wish to volunteer, I make my abode with Sir Ector in his estate. There, we shall plan to tackle the saxon threat first. Ist true I currently lack experience. But I promise. But I shall endeavour with fervor to create a Kingdom where no man, woman, or child should spill tears, or fears raids from invaders or suffer through the tyranny of men like Voltringen."
After departing the city of London and arriving back at the estate the now Young Queen slumped her shoulders as she asked her fellow blond, "Naruto… why did you do that?"
"Well, people weren't clearly being convinced. So, a little push in the right direction was needed." The jinchuuriki answered, before he turned serious, "Artoria… I've avoided broaching the topic till now. But you are now Queen, soon you will be leading men to war, against the saxons, against your uncle…"
"I know, but it must be done." She answered tiredly.
"Don't hold onto the chivalric code you hold so dear." Naruto stated without pausing, narrowing his eyes, "It will only get you killed."
"EXCUSE ME?!" The girl exploded, "Abandon my chivalric code? Are you out of your mind you misbegotten buffoon? Explain yourself at once!"
"I've already said it once, it will get your and your men killed." The Uzumaki answered as he rested his head on his hand.
"I rather die than abandon the code of honor, without Chivalry what separates a knight to a common brute?" Artoria asked, not knowing why she was getting heated.
"Artoria, you can't be a child forever, you are now a leader…" Naruto started only for her to stand up, and yell at him, "Well stop treating me like a child then. You insult me by suggesting I should abandon that in which I was raised to believe. If you can toss aside something like that so easily, no wonder you failed everyone."
As soon as she said those words her eyes widened, her hands went to her mouth as she saw him give her the coldest eyes she had ever seen. And in the blink of an eye he was gone.
Knowing she messed up, she immediately ran away from the room they had just occupied, grabbed her sword and armor, and left for the forest. Intending to find him and apologize for the transgression.
She didn't find him at any of his usual spots, and decided to check further into the forest. The further she went the more insecure she was, but she swallowed her insecurities and forced herself to carry on the search.
She looked for hours on end, high and low but she bever came across him. Stepping on a branch which gave a loud crunch under her foot, she called out, "Naruto? Please, return."
The sound of leaves crunching under the weight of moving beings alerted her something was wrong as twelve, fur clad individuals carrying various weapons made their presence known as they began to surround her, speaking on an unknown tongue to hers, but she knew clearly what they were.
Saxons.
She could also tell they were talking about her in a rather debauched manner by the way they pointed and laughed.
Suddenly, who she assumed to be the leader spoke in broken english, "Girl, give up. Become whore. We give you pleasure."
She made a face of disgust as she raised her sword into a neutral guard, slowly spinning on her feet to keep all her opponents within a visible range.
The man ordered an attack and they all came at her at once. She ducked and jumped away from the attack as the man spread to try and surround her once again.
One of the saxons raised his mace high and rushed at her, but she threw her sword out in front of her in hopes of stabbing in through the stomach, but through pure instinct was forced to roll away as two other saxons tried to flank her.
It was immediately clear to her that she could neither run away, as she didn't know which direction was safe. Nor that she could take on all the opponents on her own, even as she powered herself up through her mana burst.
As fast and as tough as she was. Whenever she tried to block they were just stronger than her, which forced her to evade.
Unfortunately, for her. She couldn't pay attention to where she was and soon she fell. She tried to protect herself with her sword, arm flailing around.
But exhaustion from travel, searching for her estranged husband and the current melee made her sluggish, and the sword was knocked out of her hand.
She closed her eyes as images flashed right through her mind, fear creeped into her heart of what they would do to her.
The song of a thousand birds filled the air and the yelling of multiple voices forced her to open her eyes.
She gawked, here was the one man she had been looking for, hand through the chest of the leader of the group of bandits, crackling with lightning.
The bandit fell back, and Naruto looked at the savages with a hardened face, before turning back to her and graced her with a smile, "I'm sorry to be late, got lost on the road of life."
Naruto threw one of his Kunai at one of the bandits who dodged, but he disappeared from his spot, appearing next to the man and with a chakra saber in hand opened up his jugular.
Artoria watched the sickening sight as her husband, there was a feeling in her heart as she thought these words, brutally slaughtered the men who wanted to bring harm to her.
Standing up, not wanting to feel useless, she picked up her sword, and quickly ran to his side blocking the bandit who had tried to come at him from his back and slashed his face before she stabbed him through the neck, not thinking through her actions.
Naruto turned to look at what she had just done and looked at her with a concerned face, "Arto…"
He decided to finish right then and that, as he quickly shushined over to where his new marked Kunai laid down and threw it at the feet of one of the few remaining men, and quickly used momentum to kill them. Teleporting in front of his victim and stabbing the bandit through the heart, picking up his Kunai, coating it with wind chakra, tossing it at one who tried to run away, teleporting once more to the Kunai and lounging at the last remaining Saxon, slashing him through the neck.
When he returned to the side of the girl he had been forced to marry he dropped his weapons on the floor and hugged her.
First kill shock began to settle into her, and she broke down crying at the fact she had just taken first life. Even if it was someone who wanted to rob her of her innocence.
Naruto comforted the fourteen, soon fifteen year old, "It's okay, it's gonna be alright. He was scum anyways, not deserving to live."
He held her for hours until her sobbing subsided, she had become an undone mess when compared to the prim and proper girl she always held herself.
"I'm sorry." She muttered through hiccups, holding tightly to his cloak, the closeness she felt was dizzying. As her hero comforted her.
There was a shift undergoing her, in the way she viewed the man that had saved her life, she apologized once more, and then again and again. Even though each time he answered her it would be alright, she felt small. And needed the comfort.
Once she had calmed down, she asked why he had come, and he smiled at her, "You were missing for a while, it is still my duty and my promise to protect you. I just used the mark I left on you to flash over… luckily I was in time to save you."
She thanked him once again, and to her surprise she squeaked as he picked her up, carrying her like a damsel in distress as he hopped high into the foliage, looking for the tallest pine.
From her place in his arms she could see the full moon, and the stretch of forest into the distance. Artoria Pendragon felt the shift deepen, as her heart began to race when she shifted her eyes to him.
He carried her all the way back to the castle, and once she was in the safety of the hallway to their rooms, she noted it was well past bedtime.
Naruto set her down next to her door and wished her good night.
But in a burst of bravery she pulled on his sleeve, letting her hormones guide her as she looped her hands around his neck.
"What are you doing?" The blue eyed blond asked at her actions.
She closed the distance between them, standing on the tip of her toes, and whispered, "Thanking my hero properly," and kissed him.
Once she pulled back, she saw the bewilderment in his eyes, and claimed another one, to which he was more responsive to, using his thumb and index to grasp at her chin softly, breaking the kiss and laying one more on her nose, "Sleep, we'll talk about this in the morning."
She gave him a nod, and with a last chaste kiss pulled back, going into her room. She closed the door behind her, and after removing her armor, Artoria crashed into the bed.
As the high of all emotions wore off, she realized what she had done. Giddiness and equal parts apprehension took over her mind, she hugged her pillow tightly. Thinking over the day's events.
It had been trying, tiresome. Perhaps the reason she had snapped at something so childish, she knew he meant well. Despite insulting him most agroniously he had been there to save her life.
Tracing her lips with her finger, she noted how he hadn't recoiled, as she thought he would. A huge smile graced her lips, to think something so silly made her feel like a little girl.
That night she dreamt a future of liberation, standing over the top of her own castle with a certain someone at her side.
Yes, Artoria wanted nothing more than to remain dreaming.
Author's note:
Short chapter for ya today, but i felt this to be so much more satisfying way to end it. The budding feelings of Artoria, as well as some BAMF Naruto!
Anyways, I bid you all good nights or good mornings and farewells!
Discord code is in my profile bio! (finally got around to that!