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Chapter 5 – To Repent Our Sins
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A/N :
So, to prevent the confusion from my readers (who gently told me about it), I've decided it, let's just use their real name with the remainders of their names on NNT universe (at least until they changed their name).
Arthuria = Alexandria (means the 'defender of men')
Mordred = Bellatrix (means 'warrior')
Tristan = Tristram (means 'noise', 'to clatter' or 'bold')
Bedivere = Oliver (means 'the Olive tree', 'Elf Army', 'Olive [symbol of peace]', 'affectionate' and 'peaceful')
Gawain = Leonhard (means 'strong, brave and bold as a lion') Eleodore (means 'gift from the sun')
Lancelot = Douglas (means 'dark water') Marlow (means 'drained lake')
Under the rain as he looked down to her unconscious form, she looked so tiny on his arms. It reminded him with the time when she was dying on his arms. Not again. He wouldn't lose her again. This time, he would do anything to protect her and save her.
Bedivere reached out his hand "Gods forbid, you are not allowed to die here and now, my King. Just like this is time for me to fulfill my oath and to repent my Sins, this is also the time for you to earn back your Sheath".
Avalon, the Sheath of holy sword Excalibur appeared in front of Bedivere's hand silver right arm above her body. He had found it, or to be more precise it was given by Thanatos before the Death God sent him to this universe and he would give it back to his King (although she had said that she was no longer a King). After Avalon was planted in her body, her wounds started healing, her face wasn't that pale and her breathing become steadier. Bedivere felt relieved after she looked better. Carrying her on his arms, he intended to get out of the destructed Danafor but he reached out his hand to the side.
Face to face against a bunch of monsters that leaked out of the Demon realm, Bedivere lifted shining sword in his arm while his other arm tightened his grip on his unconscious King "looks like we can't get out of this place easily".
Well, it didn't matter at all. Even if he had to fight against an army, even if the entire world turned to him as his enemy, he would raise his sword and fight alongside his King, for his King.
"I still wonder how could you sleep this soundly", Mordred grumbled, carrying Tristan on her hands. Despite her harsh words, she never let him go, not when Merlin, Gawain or Lancelot offered to take the baby over from her hands. She simply didn't want to let him go. In fact, carrying him like this instead bringing calmness to her. She had been waiting in the hallway outside Merlin's laboratory (where the Sorceress had been busy on treating her twin and Bedivere after she brought them all here to her house) and sending fitful of worried stares in front of the locked door. As long as she sat on the floor carrying the sleeping baby, Gawain and Lancelot had crouched and sat on each side of her and Tristan. Looking up to the door, Mordred sighed heavily "and why it took so long for her to just treat their wounds? I swear I'm gonna barge into that room or kick the door if I have to wait for 15 minutes further...".
As if she could hear her mind, Merlin opened the door and rolled her eyes when she looking down to Mordred "...I have a hunch feeling that you're gonna barge into this room or kick the door if you have to wait for 15 minutes further".
If not because of the tensed situation, Gawain and Lancelot would laugh it off.
Mordred wasn't amused, she only stood up with a scowl, steadying Tristan on her arms "glad to know that you at least understand it. How is my sister's doing?".
Merlin touched her chin thoughtfully "after I have observed them for a half hour, I conclude nothing I can do with them".
Gawain, Lancelot and Mordred turned pale and it was Mordred who yelled first "you mean you wasted a half hour inside only to tell us that you can't save them?!".
Looks like it was enough to startle Tristan because next second, Tristan cried. Rocking him on her arms, Mordred shushed him to no avail, the little baby was still crying. Merlin crouched and asked her to hand over him to her. This time, Mordred unwillingly gave him to her.
Cradling the baby on her arms, Merlin clarified "sorry, looks like I picked the wrong words. I mean, I needn't do anything to treat their wounds because their wounds have healed themselves. Just take a look on them inside".
Mordred knitted her eyebrows. Lancelot and Gawain exchanged glances before the three of them barged into the room. Indeed. Both Bedivere and Arthuria's wounds healed slowly as bluish green warm light surrounding their body. How could this be?
Merlin came into her laboratory, carrying the calmed-down baby on her arms "I assume that they have the regeneration ability. Not too surprising, considering their heritage... but still interesting".
Lancelot as the oldest, asked her "what's that supposed to mean?".
"this kid is Druid. Druid Clan is known as the worshiper of Goddess Clan. They possess healing ability to cure and heal, most of them. The proof is his silver hair though it's rare for Druid to have regeneration ability. That's why I said it's interesting", Merlin pointed to Bedivere. Before she looked straight to the little girl beside Bedivere. Knowing her mother and considering the magic power that Merlin felt from her, obviously it was because of her mother. However, contemplating the twin's young age, Merlin knew that Meliodas must have not told them about the curses on their family, not yet. Merlin also didn't know if she was allowed to tell them or not because she thought it was Meliodas and Elizabeth as their parent who had the right and responsibility to tell them, mostly the former because the latter was most likely not in the position to able to say anything about the curses. Very well, Merlin thought she just could blurt out half of truth, then. Looking down to Mordred, Merlin smiled "well, for your twin, I don't know if your parents ever tell you about this or not, but from your mother, you're still the descendants of Goddess Clan. That's why, the miasma that leaked from Demon realm didn't really affect you and your siblings, right?".
Mordred blinked her eyes. That's new. Wait, something was off. Looking up to her little brother, she pointed out "but... Triss isn't our siblings, he was adopted by our parents. How could he not affected by the miasma as well?".
Merlin shrugged "I just could say that he got influenced by your ability, perhaps".
The realization came to their head. It must be the Divine Protection they had gotten before they were reborn in this world.
Merlin offered them to join her in the dinner despite their lack of food and drinks, reassuring them that those two would be alright and they should just let them sleep. Feeding the baby on her arms, Merlin opened the conversation "so... I assume all of you lost your family and home on Danafor Kingdom, considering how you ran out of the destructed Danafor Kingdom. Can you tell me your name and your background? I mean, yes, I know about Tristram, Alexandria and Bellatrix because your parents are my friends. However, I have no idea about the others".
"we lived on the Danafor. Like you said, we lost our family and home thanks to the catastrophe", putting down the spoon on his hand, purple-haired teenager, Lancelot glanced to his best friend from his previous life "my name is Douglas Marlow and you can call me Marlo. He is my little brother, twin brother".
Gawain cheerfully introduced himself "my name is Leonhard Eleodore. Just call me Leon!".
Lancelot continued "and before you ask us, yes, we are the non-identical twin brothers. I take after our father and he takes after our mother. Unlike the identical twin sisters there, that's why we—".
Mordred cut him off mercilessly before she sipped her drink "so that's why you two don't look alike? Not to mention your face looks so vicious while your twin looks so feminine".
Merlin laughed hardly at Mordred's comment, even Tristan joined her with innocence giggles as if he could understand the conversation. Gawain twitched his eyebrow up and down in irk but still reminding that his opponent was still a child while Lancelot moped, knowing Mordred had the right to hate him although Mordred also the part of it (the destruction of Britain that led to the death of King Arthur and destroy their Kingdom in one generation).
Bedivere knocked the door to the dinner room "excuse me, someone can explain to us where are we?".
They snapped their head (or simply lifted her head for Merlin's case) to see Bedivere carried Arthuria and stood in front of the door. Bedivere only wore his sleeveless undershirt so yes, his silver right arm could be seen by them. If they remembered, Bedivere lost one arm in the battle so he only had one arm. Here, they saw the right arm that was supposed to be not there, it was indeed there.
Mordred jumped to approach her "sister! You're awake!".
Knowing Mordred would want to hug her, Bedivere wanted to put her down but Arthuria refused to let him go, instead cuddling against him and tightened her arms around his shoulders, burying her face on the crook of his neck. Bedivere blushed slightly but still looking to her in concern. Mordred lowered her hands to the side and dropped her head further with downcast expression. Gawain and Lancelot shared the impressed and concerned glances.
Merlin offered him to join them in the dinner before asking him to explain his identity "who are you?".
Bedivere introduced himself with his new identity, the one he got once he arrived on this universe. After he put Arthuria on the chair in between him and Mordred, he bowed his head to Merlin and crossed one arm in front of his chest "my name is Oliver. I'm only a child from the Druid who traveled all around Britannia and coincidentally passed by the Danafor. Thank you very much for helping and accepting us in your house, Lady".
"only a Druid and traveler, huh?", Merlin narrowed her eyes to Bedivere's arm and smirked cunningly "but from your good manners and sword ability, I'd like to say that you are a Knight instead of simply 'Druid and traveler', Oliver".
Just to make sure the safety of Meliodas and Elizabeth's children, Merlin observed it including when Bedivere fought against those monsters to get out of Danafor only with a sword in one arm when his other arm carrying Arthuria.
Bedivere smiled bitterly "and that's only what I will be, once I find someone worthy that I can serve as a Knight for his King".
For the first time after she had been silent, Arthuria remarked with thin smile "then I believe you will be the most loyal Knight, ever".
As he looking down to her, Bedivere smiled, this time not bitter but fulfilled with joy and relief "it's an honor to hear it from you, Lady".
Mordred, Gawain and Lancelot couldn't deny that fact. Because in fact, even after Lancelot kidnapped Guinevere and left, even after Gawain demanded their King to kill Lancelot that lit up the civil war with Mordred who led the rebellion, Bedivere was the only one, the most loyal of her Knights.
"fix, I don't like him, that Oliver...", Mordred puffed her cheeks in cute manners "older sister has been clinging to him for days!".
Yes, her twin had closed her heart and clung to Bedivere instead. Mordred felt disheartened by this. It felt like the old time when she only could see her father's back from far distance.
Gawain leaned his chin on his palm, patting Mordred's head "now, now, Bella, it can't be helped if she feels attached to her savior, right?".
After helping Merlin to clean up and put the clothes on Tristan, Lancelot sat beside them "you think so? I don't think so".
"me neither", and even if it was the case, Mordred wouldn't approve it. She nibbled her finger, dangling her legs "I feel like sister hides something from me, like she tried to figure out about how to tell me but about what?".
"how it feels like to be the twin sisters, Bella?", came to think of it, Gawain was a brother with her in their previous life so no need a long time to get along well for them, although there was still a distance in between them considering what happened on their previous life, not to mention they also didn't know if each other remembered about their past-lives or not "because I and my brother usually will tell each other about whatever make us irritated and just finish it with our punches".
Lancelot narrowed his eyes "no, I am not. Mostly, it's you who always tried to pick up the fight and I ended up getting scolded by our parent. You are the one who always dragged me into trouble, Leon".
Gawain cracked his knuckles "you want to fight, bro?".
After Mordred took over Tristan on her hands, the twin brothers (Lancelot and Gawain) fought. Looking down to the wrestling boys on her side, Mordred sighed heavily and thought about how this was her life now. The fight between them had been the routine and she wondered how could they always get along well again after their fight?
Mordred glanced to where she saw Oliver carrying Arthuria as they wandered on Merlin's garden last time, only to get her eyes widened when she realized that they were no longer there "AH! Goddamn it! Where have they gone?".
The wrestling had stopped and Lancelot sighed "um, for the sake of your little brother and you as well, wouldn't it be more proper for you to soften your speech?".
"humph, I don't want to hear anything from you, jerk Doggy", Mordred spat before asking Gawain to take care of her little brother "I have to find my sister, bye!".
Gawain successfully got closer to Mordred, to the point he had gotten her trust with her little brother (compared to the first time they met when she had sternly refused to hand over her little brother other than Merlin) and it made him glad. Though, he felt sympathy for his best friend who reborn as his older twin brother "yo, Lancelot, are you okay there?".
"she hates me. I understand why and how", Lancelot moped for not the first time before he tried to get himself together "but that if she remembered. Do you think she remembered us, Gawain? Mordred, the King and Sir Bedivere, I mean".
"honestly, I don't have any idea. Aunt wasn't the type of someone who could be open-hearted to every people, unless they are the people who close to her like Sir Bedivere. We know how skeptical Mordred can be, not all people can earn her trust", Gawain referred to Arthuria, his aunt and he wasn't sure as well "about Sir Bedivere... I have a hunch feeling that he indeed remembered but he just tried to protect the King from us. I guess he's still contemplating about whether he can believe us or not. No wonder, I even don't know if the King and Bedivere can believe us, I mean you, Mordred and me, after getting betrayed by us".
Lancelot narrowed his eyes "only me and Mordred who betrayed her, not you".
Gawain scowled at that "and in case you forgot, I was the one who forced her to keep pursuing and fight you to death which led to Mordred's rebellion who took advantage of it to take the throne. I was the one who caused the civil war lit up, which ended up bringing the death to our King. If it's not the betrayal, then what else?".
Lancelot sighed heavily. They had had this kind of argue before, many times in fact, ever since the day they discovered that each other of them still possessed their past-lives memories. They had fought with their fists or simply argue like this time about the very same one problems. Lancelot stood and pinched the bridge of his nose "look, I don't think we can figure out the solution to fix the problem here unless we face it straight. We have to ask Oliver and the Ladies, about whether they remembered their previous life as Sir Bedivere, Mordred and King Arthur. Remember what Thanatos told us before when we were given the second chance to live our life here? We would be reborn here in this very same universe in order to repent our Sins. So yes, I believe they remember".
"very fair. How about we start it with Oliver, then?", Gawain suggested "I think something within him changed. I don't know how, what or why but I guess... it's the death of our King, that has changed him. Like our King said, he is the most loyal of her Knights and to witness her death in front of his eyes, I know it must have changed him a lot".
They had agreed to meet and confront the three of them and when they were about to entrust Tristan to Merlin, they were shocked to see the twirling typhoon from far distance.
Gawain protectively secured Tristan on his arms "what's that?".
Lancelot looked up in wonder and awe, one hand ready on the hilt of his sword on his hip "such powerful magic...".
Merlin could sense from who and where this magic came from "I feel it coming from Bellatrix. This is bad. Oliver and Alexandria are there too".
Gawain and Lancelot exchanged shocked glances. Shit.
Mordred found Bedivere and Arthuria on the riverbank where her twin stood face to face with Bedivere who dropped one knee in front of her. Huh, seemed like they were having serious conversation. Mordred halted the urge to get out of her hiding place just to kick and send Bedivere to the river nearby when he grabbed her twin's hands "that jerk, I swear I'm really gonna beaten him black and blue later in case he does something weird to my twin...".
"if you're that worried, my Lady, I'm gonna help you to talk with her. She has the right to know".
At his remark, Mordred frowned "know about what?".
"I know. You saved me back then and took me out of that place. I know I always can believe you. It's not that I don't believe my twin sister, but I'm afraid... you saw it, right? When she cried and hugged me as she told me about Sir Loire's death, how emotional she can be", Arthuria frowned as she squeezed his hand, she hated how she was still doubt of Mordred because she knew little about her "I want to tell them but I'm afraid of how she would react... when she knew that I saw our mother was killed in front of our father's eyes...".
When Mordred walked out of the bushes, Bedivere and Arthuria snapped their head to her and turned slightly paler.
Arthuria gasped "Bella, you... you heard it...".
"I heard it very clearly. You said mother was killed and father saw it happened in front of his eyes? It's a lie, right? You knew and you didn't tell me?", unintentionally, Mordred activated her magic power as the strong wind along with fire and electric waves surrounding her body "who... who is the bastard that dare to kill mother?!".
Arthuria tried to get closer to her but knocked away as strong wind sent her back, rolling on the ground. Bedivere successfully caught her and they looked up to the mini storm with Mordred as the center of the typhoon. In her anger, Mordred let out her outburst of rage and frustration, accusing her for 'never cared about her' from the first place. When Merlin, Gawain and Lancelot arrived there, they saw Arthuria had this determination and iron-cladded resolve (the ones Merlin had seen on her mother, Elizabeth, several times) on her eyes before she started walking forward to the typhoon.
Bedivere reached out his hand "Lady, don't come closer?!".
Arthuria shouted on top of her lungs and kept walking forward "just stay on your place, Oliver! It's an order! All of you, as well!".
Merlin was impressed, thinking that she, with that tiny body, looked like imperious Queen. Bedivere dropped to his knees and gritted his teeth but he did obey her. Lancelot and Gawain shared knowing but concerned looks.
Still not want to cancel her magic, Mordred yelled in rage "you are not gonna get closer to me at all!".
Arthuria smirked, challenging "and I'd like to see you try. Try to send me away this time".
Ignoring the startled or horrified yelps from the others, stinging burns from the fire and electric waves, the scratches and cuts that started bleeding all around on her body or her torn dress as the impact of the typhoon, she kept walking forward. After Mordred stopped her magic power and stared to her in horrified, Arthuria sighed in relief and wobbly collapsed forward though she successfully wrapped her arms around her twin's shoulders "my my, I know you have such temper, but can you at least listen to me first? I tried to figure out about how to tell you about mother without hurting you in the process here... not to mention how father's gonna react when he knew...".
"it's not a lie...", Mordred caught her as her twin dropped to her knees on the ground "but why... how could you keep going, to walk forward and smile, to not cry... even after witnessing mother's... why did you so recklessly go into...".
Arthuria smiled fondly and cupped her wet cheek at that "because I still have you and our little brother. I also... can't manage my heart and feelings really well... regarding about what happened to mother and Sir Loire, but because I still have someone who needs me and wait for me like you and our little brother, I can strengthen myself...".
Mordred burst out into cry. How could she accuse her for never cared about her? When in fact, she was too afraid to hurt her in the process when she, as her twin, had to tell her the truth about their mother's demise. Hugging her twin but still be careful to not hurt her further, Mordred cried out "sister, I'm so sorry! Forgive me! I'm so...".
"shush, don't cry. I'm fine", Arthuria patted her back before she felt the bloodloss (which she cursed herself inwardly, since when did she become this weak, but perhaps it was because of her still too young and fragile, delicate child body) causing the headache and she sleepily mumbled "but if you don't mind at all... I'll sleep for a while...".
When Mordred yelped in fright as she tightened her grip on her twin, Bedivere crouched beside them "excuse me, Lady. Allow me to heal her".
Gawain whistled when Bedivere reached out his silver right arm that shining as he healed her wounds "such a handy ability you have, Ollie~ I'm jealous".
Bedivere explained that this was not the first time for him to heal her because on these several days, she had gotten the headache lately, perhaps because she hurt her head rather bad when they ran away from Danafor.
Mordred lifted her accusing finger to Bedivere "you should have told me sooner so I wouldn't have to misunderstand like this!"
Wrapping his white cape around sleeping Arthuria on his arms, unimpressed Bedivere bowed his head "we apologize, for trying to hide this from you, but the Lady insisted to hide it because she didn't want you, her beloved twin sister, to worried sick about her".
Great, now it only made the guilt on Mordred's heart become bigger than before.
"why... why, what I can do only to hurt people around me...", kneeling on the ground, Mordred cried harder "what's the point of having this power... if it only hurt people around me...".
"you just can't control it yet", Merlin crouched beside her, patting her head "you have to learn how to control your own power and if you can... try to control your temper as well, so what happened this time, it will not happen again in the future. Learn to control your power, your temper and how to fight, this time not to kill or hurt people, but to protect, so there'll be more people whom you save than the people whom you hurt".
Looking up to Merlin, Mordred reminded of Merlin on her previous life. That Merlin was a pervert and she had little respect on him, but this Merlin was a wise woman, caring, kind and lovely like a mother.
Realizing the stares from Mordred, Bedivere, Lancelot and Gawain, Merlin was confused "um, is there something on my face?".
Gawain exclaimed cheerfully "nope! Just thinking that you're really a beautiful woman, Lady Merlin!".
Lancelot smacked his twin's head "sweet-talking to a beautiful woman as usual".
In exchange, Gawain lunged into him "just say it if you want to pick a fight, Marlo!".
And again, the twin brothers had a fight, wrestling on the ground. Mordred laughed as she wiped her tears "sorry, I was just thinking... you reminded me of my mother who just passed away... you're wise and kind, Lady Merlin. I like you".
Merlin blinked before she smiled, patting her head. She beckoned them all to prepare themselves for tomorrow event "we will meet with Meliodas tomorrow".
A/N :
yep, Merlin believed that Arthuria's got guts like Elizabeth (though she's been like that ever since before she was reborn in fact). We will have the reunion between Meliodas with the twin next chapter!