Chapter 71 - Sibling Chivalry
"So, Arthur..." Sir Kay started with barely-restrained impatience, cautiously giving the strange crimson-armored knight the same look he'd always received from James, whenever he'd been in the same ten mile radius as Ruby Ironwood. "Who did you say this guy was? And why is he coming with us to... where even is that damned wizard bringing us to this time?"
"Sir Kay..." Artoria sighed, not missing her foster brother's belligerence. "This is Sir Jaune. He's..."
"I already told you, Arthur, it's just Jaune." Jaune rolled his eyes, even as he carefully tested the mobility of his new armor, having taken his sword to it until he'd only been left with a breastplate, gauntlets, and boots. Without the technologically-advanced inner workings beyond his comprehension it didn't enhance his strength or speed at all, but he had Aura for that, and even though it was pretty heavy it was still probably leagues ahead of any metal the people of this era could produce. At least he had some protection other than his Aura, and at least he didn't have to worry about being stuck in an unpowered suit again. "I'm only three years older than you, and I'm a Huntsman, not a Knight."
"Very well, then." Artoria nodded at her familiar. "Jaune was summoned by Merlin to serve as my familiar and advisor, before I drew Caliburn."
"... of course that wizard is behind all this..." Kay groaned in exasperation. Then he eyed his younger "brother", and demanded: "And I've been meaning to ask you about that too, brat. Why'd you draw the Sword in the Stone?!"
"..." Artoria looked away. This was a discussion she'd been dreading, and she counted herself fortunate that Sir Ector had decided to return back to Sutton first, after a short discussion with Merlin.
But it was one that was necessary; they'd been raised as brothers, and if she tried to avoid him now he'd have almost certainly hunted her down and forced an answer out of her. At least now she had someone to hide behind, should he bring his sharp wit to bear against her.
"Kay... you are aware that we do not share the same blood, yes?" Artoria finally began.
"Yes, Arthur, I know." Kay rolled his eyes. "It doesn't change the fact that you're still a pint-sized brat of a si-brother."
Artoria's eye twitched, but her familiar's look of long-suffering empathy helped her regain her composure as she continued: "Well, according to Merlin, my true parents were Uther Pendragon and the Lady Igraine."
"Wait, so the prophecies were true?!" Kay's eyes widened in disbelief. "The old king really did sire an heir before his death?!"
"They were." Artoria confirmed.
"And you kept the truth from me the whole time?" Kay sounded outraged, but Artoria could sense the hurt in his tone.
"I... I didn't want to change our relationship, Kay-"
"Idiot." Kay flicked her forehead lightly, though his tone became a bit more gentle. "Like I told you... even if you're Uther's Heir, you're still my brother..."
"Sir Kay..."
"An idiot who always tries to get out of cleaning the pigsties." Kay finished, grinning wide enough to swallow the droppings of a herd of cattle. "If anything, I pity the Kingdom."
"Kayyy!" Artoria whined, as even Jaune couldn't help but snicker at the siblings' interaction. Oum, at least the two were just brothers: Sir Kay's words had nothing on what he'd grown up with, having had seven older sisters.
"Anyway, I guess I really shouldn't be surprised." Kay admitted, as he fought down the pang of envy. It really seemed that Artoria had everything since she was born, from her swordsmanship to her looks, and even having the Magus of Flowers as a teacher and godfather (though admittedly, that last one wasn't such a positive point). Learning that she was now to be King, and had a familiar too? Well, all he could say was one thing. "It's you, after all."
Artoria just pouted at him indignantly, before he laughed and wrapped his arms around his baby sister. Even if she always outshone him, even if they weren't related by blood, they would always be siblings.
Come what may, she would always be the brat that he'd practiced woodcarving for, and given a hand-crafted wooden lion to when she'd been sick (even if she'd mistaken it for an odd dog-cat creature, that lousy ingrate).
Rubbing his knuckles into her finely-textured golden hair, he teased: "So, King Squire, what is your first order for this Knight? Would you like me to raid the pantries of the Saxons? Or shall we declare war on all the pigs in the land?"
"KAYYY!" Artoria wailed in mortification, dignity as a king forgotten, as the unique lock of hair on her head twitched and tried to smack Kay's hand away. Oh, he was doing this on purpose, wasn't he?! Had he found out that she and Merlin had partaken in Jaune's cooking in secret?! Was this his revenge for not sharing?!
Jaune couldn't help it.
He burst out into tears of laughter.
Unfortunately, all that served to do was to remind Kay that there was a strange unknown man near his baby sister.
Leaning down, he whispered: "That man's your familiar, right? Does he know...?"
"... no, I never told him." Artoria quickly caught on to what her foster brother was asking. "The land needs a King, after all."
Kay took a moment to look down at his sister, sorrow welling up within him as he realized just what she was prepared to sacrifice, in order to heal the land.
Then he shook it off, trusting that Artoria knew what she was doing and not wanting to insult her convictions by second-guessing her.
Instead, he gave Jaune a careful once-over, before finally declaring: "So, you're the guy that Merlin summoned to take care of Arthur? ... don't look like much to me."
"Well, I guess I'm not." Jaune shrugged easily, figuring that he probably wouldn't be very impressive to a fully-fledged Knight in a world with magical talking swords that shot laser beams.
"What are you a Huntsman of, turkeys and lambs?" Kay ribbed, missing Artoria's alarmed expression.
"Beowolves and Ursai, mostly." Jaune answered innocently, deciding to list the two most common Grimm species he'd encountered. "They're... a sort of wolf and bear, I guess..."
"Tell you what." Sir Kay didn't miss the opportunity. A chance to both discern the stranger's strength and show off to Artoria just how strong of a knight he was? No way was he missing that. "Let's have a practice spar, and I'll show you a few tricks with the blade you might find useful. Arthur, bring us a pair of wooden swords!"
"Uh... Sir Kay?" Artoria began, trying to warn her foster brother about her familiar.
"Just watch and learn as well, Arthur." Kay fondly ruffled his sister's hair. "You might finally beat a farm animal some day."
Artoria's face burned, and she decided that to simply obey, an evil smirk hidden on her face as she turned to fetch the requested items.
As the two men faced each other in the practice ring, and Jaune got into the beginner's stance that Pyrrha had drilled into him in Beacon, he found himself feeling excited over the prospect of a simple practice spar (against another person, at least). After all, he could safely say he'd learned a lot from losing to everybody in Beacon, and while Yang and the Slayer had taught him unarmed combat, and Ruby Ironwood and the Courier had taught him how to use guns, he hadn't had a chance to really refresh his bladework in a long time.
To get some tips from a Knight of all people?
Well, at the very least, it ought to have been illuminating, even if he lost badly.
Sir Kay, for his part, noticed the man's basic stance, and for a moment wondered if he was being too harsh. But then he hardened his heart, remembering that, as King, Artoria was going to have a lot of strong and powerful enemies soon.
She needed her familiar to be strong and powerful too.
Better they learn it from him, than from the Saxons.
Artoria, meanwhile, having heard Jaune's tale (and having them be confirmed by Merlin's magic), and having seen his fight with the One-Armed Giant, was torn between excitement at watching the Huntsman fight once more, and idle curiosity, at whether the duel's duration would be in minutes or seconds.
As Kay began explaining the rules of the bout to the eager Jaune, Merlin arrived, having finally decided on the optimal course of action.
Previously, his Clairvoyance had insisted that it would have taken Artoria a decade of work and adventuring, to spread her name far and wide, and finally attain enough strength and followers to challenge her uncle, King Vortigen.
But with a Counter Guardian on their side that possesed an Anti-Dragon Noble Phantasm?
His Clairvoyance couldn't see the future of the man from beyond time and space, but his instincts and intelligence told him that, if Artoria could reclaim the ruins of Londinium ahead of schedule, her legitimacy and renown would only be improved.
Perhaps, it might even have been enough to overturn the future that he'd seen...?
He doubted it, though. All miracles had a price, and Artoria was fated to lose that which was most important to her, in exchange for the miracles already granted to her.
At the very least, though, with a longer reign, her people would be happier and more prosperous.
He hoped that would be enough for his student, in the end.
Any thoughts of the future flew out of his head, however, as soon as he spotted the two swordsmen facing each other.
Alarmed, he turned to Artoria, a questioning look in his eye.
"What's going on?" Merlin pressed.
"Oh, Kay just challenged Jaune to a duel, offering to teach him some tricks with the sword." Artoria explained innocently, a mischievious glint in her eyes. "He also said Jaune looked weak."
"I see..." Merlin murmured, before inquiring further: "And did you warn your fostsr brother that Jaune may be a Counter Guardian who has definitely slain dragons and demons?"
Artoria whistled innocently.
Merlin looked at her, before looking at the pair.
Finally, he chuckled and shook his head, before giving his opinion: "I doubt he'll last ten seconds."
"I was thinking five." Artoria retorted.
It didn't even last for three.
Author's Note: And here we go, with one last short chapter for the week, dealing with the fallout of the drawing of the sword, and the subsequent travels of the Knight-King, Merlin, and the first of the Knights of the Round. The next few chapters are going to take a while, because now I need to actually start researching the deep Arthurian lore, and delving into any poems I can.
Basically, between that and my full-time job, do not expect frequent updates. I haven't even released a chapter longer than 3000 words so far, which is a pain in the ass because shorter frequent chapters means more chapter titles to think of.
Please help measure me out for a straight-jacket.
And there was no way I was going to forget about Sir Kay. Honestly, it feels like Artoria's fate, to just be surrounded by people destined to troll her. And I couldn't really find out much about Sir Kay, so I instead went with what you can see here; a man who genuinely cares for the sister that overshadows him, even as he often makes jabs at her expense. Enough to stand up to a familiar summoned by Merlin himself, in order to make sure no one's taking advantage of Artoria.
And sorry to anyone who wanted the reactions of Artoria and Merlin to Jaune's retelling of this story. But eh, how many times do you want shock and disbelief?
