Chapter 75 - Artoria vs Party
"Hey, Artoria..." Kay whispered, as the group rode towards Corbenic. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Artoria sulked, staring glumly ahead.
"How odd." Merlin feigned innocence, not missing the way her eyes occasionally glanced towards Jaune's scabbard. "I would have thought you would have been overjoyed, to receive a new holy sword."
"..." Artoria refused to dignify her mentor with a response, thought her hands balled into fists around the reins of her mare, who whinnied in agitation in response.
"Wait, that's not an illusion?" Kay couldn't help but ask in disbelief, peering closely at it. Indeed, while he could not see the blade, the hilt seemed far less gilded and ornamented than Caliburn's had. But she hadn't had a sword last night, though?
"It is not." Merlin confirmed, drawing closer to Kay (and, coincidentally, away from Artoria). "That is Excalibur, the Sword of Promised Victory, given to her by the Lady of the Lake last night."
Kay whistled, impressed with the Magus despite his better judgement. "Wow... I cannot believe I am saying this, wizard, but you really did come through for her..."
"Yes..." Artoria forced out through gritted teeth. "Thank you so much, Merlin."
Damn pansy bastard. He had to have timed it on purpose!
And she hadn't even been able to exact retribution on her godfather because of the presence of Vivian!
Oh, but she would make him pay...
Merlin increased the distance between him and Artoria even more, mentally noting to find a reason to stick with her familiar for the next few days, before explaining to Kay: "While the loss of Caliburn was regrettable, it was a necessary ritual in order for her to obtain this sword."
"What, so you planned on being seduced in that village?" Kay raised an eyebrow skeptically, before spitting in disdain: "Damn womanizer..."
Artoria simply shot a look back at Jaune's sword, before sighing. She couldn't blame Merlin for her carelessness in losing Caliburn, and she could feel the power and radiance of the blade by her hip, even sheathed as it was.
It was, by any metric, a good sword, and seemed to have been designed to be used with her Mana Burst (or was it the other way round?).
But still...
If he'd waited for just a few more hours...
She would have had an excuse to finally try out that sword that was made from the bones of dragons! A sword that could conjure up fire, ice, and lightning at will! A sword that had slain dragons and demons alike!
"in any case..." Merlin continued on, deciding it was time to impart a few words of wisdom to the young King. "Artoria, which do you like better? The sword? Or its sheath?"
Artoria took a moment to look down at her new blade, wondering what Merlin was up to. He'd just told them the sword was supposed to be the ultimate sword, right? And she couldn't feel anything from the sheath...
Her eyes wandered back to Jaune's scabbard before she answered, however, and she remembered how it had somehow transformed from an ordinary-looking metal sheath into a shield that could withstand the blows of the One-Armed Giant.
"..." Merlin found himself torn between approval at the thought his student was putting into her answer, pride at how it was the familiar he had summoned that was allowing her to do so, and irritation at the fact that Jaune had robbed him of his justification to chastise Artoria. "Your travels have taught you well, Artoria. In any case, please make no mistake here. The sword slashes the enemy, but the sheath protects you. As long as you have the sheath on you, you will spill no blood and take no wounds. You should truly value the sheath, not the sword."
"Ah, like the Huntsman's Scabbard." Kay nodded sagely. "Does it also transform into a shield?"
"Tch." Merlin clicked his tongue in frustration. Indeed, it could also shield its user, though saying it functioned as a shield was putting it lightly. It was a True Magic that protected its user by isolating them in Avalon, and couldn't be compared to the metallurgy of man that had created Jaune's shield-scabbard!
"It can..." Merlin finally conceded, after taking a moment to calm down. "But Avalon also provides a potent regeneration that protects one from any wound or injury, save the destruction of the brain. Even the ravages of time will be unable to touch you, which is far more than what Jaune's "Aura" is capable of."
"That... is certainly impressive." Artoria allowed with a nod, staring at her sheath. She didn't feel any desire to test it out, of course, but it was nice to know she had some additional protection.
"... wait, so Artoria here is never going to grow up?" Kay pointed out in alarm.
"Indeed." Merlin confirmed. "Though, to be fair, drawing Caliburn already froze her body in time."
"What?!" Kay exclaimed in shocked outrage.
Artoria felt her brow twitch, but placed a hand on Kay's arm anyway, calming him down.
"It's fine, Kay." Artoria reassured her step-brother, before he could do something rash. "It's Merlin, after all. And besides... I knew that drawing the sword would mean I would stop being human. I just didn't expect it to be so literal..."
Kay looked down at his sister, unable to miss the strained smile on her face, and felt a sympathetic pang in his heart.
He struggled to fight it down, though. He'd known that the Kingship would be a burden, and he knew Artoria knew that as well. He wouldn't insult the sacrifices she was willing to make by second-guessing her. All he could do, as her brother and her knight, was help her in any way she needed.
"Who's worried about that?" Kay snapped with forced levity, unable to meet his sister's gleaming green eyes. "I'm just worried that you're going to be stuck as a midget forever, brat. I doubt the Saxons will be intimidated, when your army of Knights are being led by a King half their size."
"Like I have not ever heard that one before." Artoria rolled her eyes, showing more maturity than he'd expected. "Maybe I should do the opposite of what Jaune suggested last night, and set a height limit for membership into the Knights of the Round!"
Merlin chuckled in amusement, but Kay latched on to what she'd inadvertently revealed: "Oh? "Last night", you say?"
Artoria gulped, realizing she'd made a mistake, as Kay's serious face closed in on hers.
"Please, Artoria." Kay growled out protectively, as Merlin's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Do tell me more about your private conversation with your familiar last night."
"He was just cheering me up after I lost Caliburn, Kay." Artoria explained, wondering why Kay was interrogating her with such intensity.
"And nothing happened?" Kay asked urgently.
"Like what?" Artoria countered, still lost.
"You know..." Kay began, wondering how best to explain the birds and the bees to his baby sister, while Merlin restrained his laughter behind them.
Fortunately for him, he soon realized something, and pointed towards the looming structure they were approaching as he firmly changed the subject: "Look! I do believe we are approaching the Castle of Corbenic!"
Merlin and Artoria followed Kay's finger, and found themselves staring at gleaming marbled walls towering over a lake.
Artoria, never having seen many castles, found herself impressed.
Merlin, however, dismissed it with a simple snort: "It's only a model."
""What?""
"That's not the actual Corbenic." Merlin explained, as the two turned to stare at him. "The actual Grail Castle has a connection to the Reverse Side of the World, and at the whims of the Keeper of the Grail can choose to not be found. This castle, while impressive, is mundane."
"Quite so, Magus of Flowers." King Pellinore nodded, as he and Jaune rejoined the rest of the party. "You are indeed well-learned. The feast will take place at Corbin, rather than the actual Corbenic."
"Is there a reason for the deception?" Merlin asked curiously.
"Corbenic is a castle of mystery and adventures." Pellinore clarified, not wanting to offend his guests. "The contents of the rooms may change with each viewing, and few rooms are safe to stay in for an extended period of time, on top of what the Wizard Merlin has mentioned. I felt like I would be considered a poor host, if I were to hold a feast in a castle that half my guests could not even find, and where half again of the rest could not even stay the night!"
"Is it really okay to be telling us this?" Artoria inquired.
"I see no harm in telling the truth to the High King and the Knights who slew the Questing Beast and healed my wounds!" Pellinore laughed, as he began leading them in, secure in the knowledge that, even if he were to be proven a poor judge of character later on, even if intruders were to somehow locate Corbenic and navigate the labyrinthian corridors that eternally shifted and changed, there was still the Temple Knights of Munsalvasche as the final line of defense. Then he clapped the Boy-King on the back lightly, and grinned: "Come now, my king! A grand feast awaits!"
Before Artoria could reply, he winked and added in a stage-whisper: "I have even heard that many of the lords and nobles in attendance will be bringing their unwed daughters! Maybe one will finally catch your eye, eh?"
"..." Artoria could only stare blankly at King Pellinore, who genuinely looked like he was trying to do her a favor, before gulping as she finally realized what he'd said.
Merlin and Kay burst out in laughter.
-TWO HOURS BEFORE THE FEAST-
Jaune casually wondered throughout the halls of the castle, idly comparing it to the castles he'd seen.
His verdict? More cozy than Castle Volkihar (not hard considering that had been infested by vampires and they'd been besieging it), but it felt lacking compared to Dragonsreach.
What about Beacon? Did that technically count as a castle?
A draught blew through the corridor, and he relished the cool breeze, which intensified the fresh feeling he was enjoying after finally having had the chance to take a hot bath.
It wasn't very practical in this world, though. A hot bath required people to draw the water and start a fire, based on what he'd seen.
Should he try to introduce plumbing and central heating to this world?
He remembered Merlin having mentioned something about aqueducts; maybe he should discuss it with the Magus and Arthur after they finally settled down...
A crash and the sound of high-pitched swearing caught his attention, and he immediately began moving, bursting into the room he'd heard the commotion occur.
A bashful-looking Arthur stared up at him from the floor, and he belatedly relaxed his shoulders, realizing the boy had just tripped.
"Need a hand?" Jaune asked, making sure to keep any laughter out of his voice, not wanting to embarrass the poor kid any further.
"... thanks, Jaune." Artoria said sheepishly, taking his offer, unable to meet her familiar's eyes.
"..."
"..."
"So..." Jaune began, as it became clear that Arthur wasn't going to elaborate any further. "What happened this time? Did you see a cockroach or something?"
Artoria found herself tempted to take the out Jaune had given her, but as she opened her mouth, the truth instead slipped out: "I was... practicing."
"Practicing?" Jaune's eyebrow shot up. "Practicing... how to fall down?"
"... I can't dance." Artoria muttered under her breath.
"You... what?" Jaune blinked, having missed it.
"I said, I can't dance." Artoria admitted, scowling furiously, ashamed that, of all the obstacles she had to face as a ruler, this was the one he had to see.
"Do you need to dance?" Jaune's confusion only grew.
"Ah, right..." Artoria pinched the bridge of her nose, remembering that Jaune probably had no idea how things worked in this era. "Jaune... you know that we're the guests of honor at this feast, yes?"
"Uh huh."
"And the unwed daughters of the lords and nobles of Listenoise will be there, right?"
"I think Pellinore mentioned that, yes..."
"So..." Artoria finished, speaking slowly like she was talking to a child. "It will probably be expected, that we at least grace the dance floor with a partner or two, if only to be polite."
Jaune's face froze, and he stuttered: "You mean... I'll be expected to dance with someone I don't know?"
"Probably." Artoria chirped, cheered by his horrified expression. Truly, misery loved company.
"Oum... any chance I can just hide by the drinks?" Jaune asked desperately, blanching as he remembered the Beacon dance. At least he wasn't going to be in a dress this time, thank Oum for small mercies.
"Only if you hide me behind you..." Artoria snorted, before inquiring: "You can't dance either, Jaune?"
"Oh, no, I can dance." Jaune shook his head. "I grew up with seven older sisters. It's asking someone to dance that scares me."
"..." Artoria just glared at her familiar. Of course he could dance as well. Why was she even surprised? He could cook, clean, and slay demons and dragons without breaking a sweat. Why wouldn't he be able to dance as well?
Then she picked up on what he'd just said, and echoed incredulously: "Seven older sisters?"
"Yep." Jaune drawled, still wondering how to get out of dancing.
"I actually have an older sister, too..." Artoria spoke up. "Though we don't really get along... how's your relationship with your siblings?"
"Eh... like you and Kay, I guess." Jaune shrugged, as he contemplated feigning illness just before the feast. "Except, you know... I've got seven of them..."
"Truly?" Artoria shuddered at the thought. "It sounds like a nightmare..."
"Oh, you have no idea." Jaune waggled his fingers for dramatic effect, before sighing and throwing in the towel. "So, how bad will it be if I just refuse to dance?"
"Hmmm..." Artoria thought about it for a moment. "Well, for us, who have no betrothed and are not courting anyone... I guess we'd be saying goodbye to any future support from their families and allies, if we simply spurn them with no justification or excuse? The word of a King and his retainers can have far-reaching consequences, Jaune..."
"Ghk." Jaune choked, before shaking his head and groaning: "Ugh... that's a lot of pressure all of a sudden, you know..."
"Tell me about it." Artoria grumbled as well, rolling her eyes.
Jaune winced and mentally berated himself.
At least he wasn't a fifteen-year-old boy thrown into this position.
At least he knew how to dance.
At least this wasn't his first formal dance.
And at least he wasn't the main guest of honor for the night.
Sighing, knowing he'd hate himself more if he didn't, he offered: "Do you want me to teach you how to dance?"
"You will?!" Artoria jumped up, staring at Jaune with undisguised desperation. Honestly, after how he'd been griping about dancing, Artoria had felt confident that Jaune would have attempted to escape from the feast.
"I am here to help you become a king." Jaune reminded her with a smirk of pained bravado. "Apparently, that now includes dance lessons."
"Oh, thank you!" Artoria's eyes were gleaming with such admiration that Jaune had to look away. "So, where do we begin?"
"First..." Jaune quickly tried to recall how he learned dancing, before shuddering and discarding that idea. Those memories had been suppressed a long time ago.
What about the Beacon Dance?
...
Okay, bad idea there too.
Team JNPR had really just been that spontaneous and synchronized.
"Just give me a beat, and see how I flow." Jaune finally answered.
"A beat?" Artoria cocked her head, puzzled by his words.
"A tune?" Jaune tried. "Music?"
"I can't play an instrument either..." Artoria pointed out.
"Never mind..." Jaune shook his head. "Just watch me, I guess."
How had the song gone again?
"But baby..." Jaune hummed, as he cocked his hips, placing a hand on one and the other on his neck.
"It's time to make up your mind~"
Kick-step, kick-step, body roll.
"I think that tonight is when our stars align~"
Shuffle, spin, robot-arms, twirl, spread arms, hold, spin, spin.
"Honey..." Jaune continued, reaching for Pyrrha, reading to spin her around, when he blinked, and remembered just where he was, and just who the vivid green eyes staring at him belonged to.
He could never forget his team, his partner, or his life in Beacon, but dancing like he had with her, with them, at the Beacon Dance just reminded him, more clearly than ever, of what he'd lost.
Fortunately, Artoria was too occupied by the sight of watching her familiar dance to notice the momentary lapse, and Jaune regained his composure as he fought down the stabbing pain in his heart.
Glossing over it with a cough, Jaune quickly continued: "Anyway... get the idea now?"
"Uh..." Artoria quickly returned to her senses, as she realized the dance was over. "... I... guess I see? But I don't think you should do that at the feast later."
"Why not?" Jaune inquired curiously.
Because all the daughters in attendance would be fighting to be the next one to dance with him...
... and Merlin and Kay would plot vengeance upon him for taking all of their attention.
Mostly the latter and not the former.
"Because you'd probably give most of the stuffy nobles and lords a heart attack." Artoria answered seriously. "They are big on traditions, especially at a feast."
"Oh, right..." Jaune conceded sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. No breakdancing either, then.
Hmmm... tradition, eh?"
"Well, I guess I've got a more appropriate style, then..." Jaune admitted, after some thought. "But I'm going to need a partner for this. Hold out your right hand, and grip my shoulder with your left hand."
"Wait!" Artoria squeaked, face burning, as Jaune began manipulating her hands. Watching him dance had been one thing, but dancing with her familiar?!
"What's wrong?" Jaune cocked his head in confusion.
"W-well..." Artoria stammered, before her voice trailed off.
"Oh, I see..." Jaune nodded, as if he understood. "Look, I'm sure you'd much rather be dancing with a girl, rather than me, but this is really the only way I can think of before the feast begins."
"..."
It couldn't be helped, right?
There was absolutely nothing inappropriate or sinful about this, right?!
"We're both guys, so there's nothing weird about this, alright?" Jaune reassured her, before adding: "If it helps, just think of me as Kay."
And there went any flights of fancy that she may have been having.
Wordlessly, stiffly, she acquiesced, before freezing up as he followed suit.
And then he began.
To Jaune, it was a simple waltz, perfect for beginners, and one that he'd been forced to memorize when Joan had wanted to learn ballroom dancing, which was why he'd picked it.
But to Artoria, it didn't matter at all.
In that moment, she simply relaxed in his arms.
"One, two, three." Jaune called out, almost hypnotically, as he led the dance, guiding her through the movements.
In that moment, to her, there was no upcoming feast, no thoughts of the burden of kingship.
"One, two, three."
All there was, was him, and her.
"One, two, three."
...
"One, two, three."
...
"One, and, turn."
...
...
...
"And we're done!" Jaune called out suddenly, beaming down at her. "That was pretty good!"
What?
Artoria blinked, breathing heavily, looking up at him, as she realized that her hands were crossed and held up by his, and that her back was comfortably resting against his chest.
It was over already?!
"So..." Jaune looked at her expectantly, as she remained motionless. "Think you've gotten the hang of it?"
"..."
"Uh, Arthur?"
"... could... could we go aga-"
A knock on the open door made Artoria jump in Jaune's hands, as they turned around to find Kay standing there, staring at them with an inscrutable expression.
"The feast starts in ten minutes." Kay informed them, with barely a hint of emotion in his voice. "You should probably get changed and make your ways down."
"Oh, right..." Jaune murmured sheepishly. Well, too late to feign illness now. As he released Arthur and left the room, he called out: "I hope that helped, Arthur! And thanks, Kay!"
And then the two foster siblings were left all alone.
Artoria gulped, remembering how Kay had fiercely questioned her when he'd found out she'd spent a night with Jaune, and hoarsely asked: "How... how much did you see?"
"Enough." Kay replied monotonously.
"..." Artoria took a step back, waiting for Kay to make the next move.
"..."
"..."
Then, to her surprise, he simply tossed her something, which she easily caught.
Studying it, she found it was a wooden carving, of a bird catching a fish.
"What's this?" Artoria couldn't help her confusion.
"A good luck charm." Kay answered, as he turned and left the room, mind racing all the while.
He knew he couldn't insult Artoria's convictions by second-guessing her.
But even so... as her brother and the knight in charge of her squireship... how could he sit back and idly do nothing, as she bore the burden of a nation, and slowly became less and less of a human?!
He could not do much, it was true, save perhaps for constantly teasing her to break the emotionless facade that claimed her face...
But the Huntsman was different.
Kay's hands balled into fists.
He still had his reservations about Jaune, it was true (and was only natural, since Jaune was of a different world from them).
But...
Seeing the blissful expression of Artoria's face, as she'd danced with him, the carefree smile, the half-lidded eyes and upturned gaze as she'd followed his lead with an easy familiarity...
If a simple dance with him could elicit such expressions from her...
If his simple presence could make her forget about her responsibilities, even for a moment...
If being with Jaune made her happy...
What else could he do, but try to ensure that the two ended up with each other?
But still, as her older brother...
"That damn Huntsman had better not take advantage of my baby sister..." Kay growled under his breath, his expression murderous as he stalked towards the dining hall.
-THIRTY MINUTES LATER-
"Are you okay, Arthur?" Merlin asked, concern barely visible to those who knew him, as he looked down at his pupil.
"I'm fine." Artoria sulked, tearing into the pheasant reluctantly.
"Are you quite sure?" Merlin pressed. "You're barely even through your second helping."
"Leave him be, Magus." Kay counselled from where he sat, across from Artoria. "He's just upset that it's not his familiar's cooking. His tongue has been spoiled of late."
"Kay." Artoria growled, not in the mood for his teasing. Besides, it wasn't like the food here was that bad...
"I see... perhaps we should ask him to sneak down to the kitchens for a moment, before a disaster occurs." Merlin suggested.
"Good luck with that." Kay snorted, jerking his thumb towards Jaune's location. "The lad seems rather occupied at the moment."
The Magus followed his finger, and blinked, as he saw the Huntsman in his crimson breastplate, conversing with a half-dozen girls.
"... how...?" The half-incubus could only gawk, as one even attempted to step forward, like a lioness cornering its prey.
"..." Artoria refused to look, but her scowl deepened further, hidden in the meat as it was.
"Maybe you should be asking him for some tips." Kay suggested, keeping an eye on Artoria. He knew the Huntsman had little interest in womanizing the way he or Merlin had, having attempted to invite him to join in once or twice during their adventures. But, if jealousy helped Artoria figure out just what she felt for her familiar...
Merlin felt the surge of emotions between the two, and looked back and forth between them, confusion welling up within.
He'd just been outdone by a human with zero magic, and now Artoria was emanating anger and jealousy, while Kay seemed to be radiating amusement and determination.
Before he could ponder it any further, however, their host came up to them, boisterously greeting them: "Hail, guests of honor! How do you find this feast!"
"It is certainly entertaining, King Pellinore!" Kay answered with good cheer, before his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper: "Don't mind Arthur here, though. We mean no disrespect to your cook, but Jaune's cooking is simply unmatched."
"Ah, in that regard, I agree." Pellinore shook his head sadly. "No worries! As long as all have a good time, my honor and duties as a host are fulfilled!"
Kay had to nudge Artoria in the ribs with his elbow, to get her to sit up straight and respond: "Oh! Of course! We thank you for your hospitality!"
"Before I go off to entertain my other guests, my liege..." Pellinore snapped his fingers, and a servant approached, bearing a basket.
As the blanket covering the basket was pulled back, and the Knights of the Round Table laid eyes on a lion cub, Pellinore elaborated: "The two lions guarding the seaward gate of Corbenic have just had a litter. May this future King of Beasts serve the King of the Britons well!"
Merlin, feeling the traces of magical energy from the distant descendant of the Nemean Lion, only had one thought.
Truly, it may not have been Corbenic, but Corbin was a silly place.
Author's Note: Too much sweet sugary tooth-rotting diabetes-inducing fluff... help...
This wasn't even my original intention when I decided to do FATE, damn it!
And there's the other obligatory Monty Python reference. Also the lore surrounding Corbenic and the Holy Grail is... weird. Seriously weird.
Also yes, I am aware that ballroom and waltzes might be a bit anachronistic for the 5th and 6th century AD... but so is the armor that they use. And the fact that Caliburn's inscription was "King of all England" rather than "King of all Brtiain". Fate's a bit of a different timeline from ours, by the looks of things.
And no, I don't know the first thing about dancing. How could you have possibly known?
Honestly, the previous chapter could have gone pretty differently. If Merlin hadn't helped Artoria get Excalibur before the feast, I'd have probably had him tell Jaune to start flexing his Aura while Artoria drew her sword, making people think the was the spirit of Caliburn. But eh, it was just a random idea that randomly popped into my head while I was writing the previous chapter.
