Tale of Two Ages
Chapter Three – Revelation
Archer is sitting on a chair watching her Master pace in their room. None of them can tell why Shirou's Servant wasn't summoned last night. Archer had searched everything within a one-mile radius and she didn't sense any Servants. She has, however, been able to sense faint energy signatures that could belong to a Servant, but the distance is too great for those Servants to be Shirou's.
Rin shakes her head. "This makes no sense. Where is Emiya-kun's Servant?" She mutters as she walks back and forth. Archer has given up on following her Master with her eyes for the past hour. Shirou is in his room, poring over textbooks in order to find a solution. The three of them have slept poorly, but Archer is holding up better than the magi are.
"I give up." Rin groans and sits on her bed, putting her face in her hands.
"It would be better to make a strategy given what we have now instead of finding a cause for something as unprecedented as this." Archer says calmly.
Rin raises her head and blinks blearily. "Alright, I'll bite. What can you do, Archer? How can you sense someone from so far away?"
"I can sense someone's unique Energy Signature and commit it to memory. However, until I have seen the person with my eyes, I cannot specifically tell as to who it belongs to. I can only estimate what they are."
"So you can tell that the Signatures you sense are those from other Servants?" Rin leans forward, now interested. "What about other magi?"
Archer nods. "I can also sense those of magi, but as you well know, any well-trained magi can conceal their energy." She taps her fingers on the seat of the chair. "The closer my proximity to the target, the more accurate my analysis would be."
Rin rubs her chin, deep in thought. "That is an odd way for the Archer ability to manifest. Other Archers can see from very far away and have exceptional aim."
Archer frowns. "Every Archer has exceptional aim, Master. How else are we to ensure that our projectiles hit? As for long range vision, my skill can serve the same purpose. I can tell where the enemy is no matter where they go. Aside from possibly Assassin, none can hide from my arrows." She knows that her Master is a survivor of the previous War and summoned an Archer in that as well, but she does not appreciate being compared. As a result, she may have slightly exaggerated her abilities, but she is confident that, with the right strategy, she can strike down any opponent.
"Er, yes. Of course." Rin quickly placates. "I was only… contemplating since I do not know of any Heroic Spirit that had such abilities in life. Come to think of it, which Heroic Spirit are you, Archer? "
Archer raises her eyebrows. "You mean you don't know?" She frowns and ponders. "Did you not use a catalyst to summon me?"
"I did. But…" Rin stands and walks over to a cabinet. She kneels and rummages through it. "I admit that I don't know which Heroic Spirit this corresponds to." She takes out a shard of gleaming violet and hands it to Archer.
The Servant's eyes widen as she holds the amethyst. Her catalyst.
She holds a much larger piece of the gemstone in her hands. She is smiling at one of the -if not the most, important person in her life, overflowing with happiness and contentment. "It is amusing that you would choose this particular gemstone, my love. In fact,-"
Archer shakes her head, banishing the unwelcome memories away.
"Archer?" Rin looks at her with some concern.
The Servant licks her lips and relaxes her grip on the catalyst. She did not realize she was gripping it so tightly. She smiles reassuringly at her Master, who looks somewhat surprised at her sudden lack of composure.
"I apologize, Master. I was not-"
Archer stops speaking as she senses the presence of a Servant. She stands and summons her bow. "Master, please take Shirou and prepare yourselves. I can sense a Servant outside."
Rin nods and runs off to find the other Master.
Archer summons her armor, clambers out of the window, and climbs to the rooftop. Once there, she does not see anything out of the ordinary. Her eyes narrow. She has sensed—and still does—the presence of a Servant. She is sure of it.
She soon pinpoints the location of a Servant still in spirit form by the fountain. She smiles, like a hunter spotting an innocent doe, and draws her hood to shield her eyes from the sun. She summons her bow and shoots an arrow. Her reward is the materialization of a Servant. The Servant, clad in gleaming plate armor, dodges the arrow, which prompts Archer to fire three more in rapid succession.
The Servant immediately draws a sword and climbs onto the fountain. The enemy uses it to leap straight for her. Archer dodges, draws a dagger sheathed at her lower back and bats the sword away with a resounding clang. She jumps back, notching another arrow but infusing some of her prana into it this time. She fires but the enemy Servant slashes it aside; the arrow explodes and destroys a portion of the rooftop when it lands.
Archer fires an arrow at the enemy while he skirts away from the fallen rooftop. The Servant grunts and breaks away the body of the arrow protruding from his shoulder. He slowly backs away. Archer notches two more arrows and infuses them with energy, making them smoke purple. The enemy tenses and readies his sword.
"Archer!" Rin's voice calls out from the ground. Archer glances at her Master, who, to her relief, is unharmed. The knight immediately turns and jumps into the hole made by her arrow while Archer is distracted. Archer scowls and waves at her Master to stay put. She sends glowing arrows flying at the knight as he runs away, slashing through the walls.
Archer grimaces, her defense of their new home is not going well. She wonders what this knight in shining armor is after for him to abandon their fight.
Wait, where is Shirou?
She glances back at Rin, who is racing back into the house. Her eyes widen as she confirms that her Master is alone.
Archer starts running on the rooftop and concentrates. She senses Shirou in the courtyard… with the knight heading straight for him! She increases her speed, hoping to reach Shirou before the enemy. She does not know what the Servant wants with her Master's lover, but she is not going to let him harm Shirou.
She arrives to find that the knight is holding a squirming Shirou behind his back as hostage. Rin stands resolutely before them, her gem bag in one hand. The remnants of a powerful spell in the air. Archer kneels at a perch behind her Master and fires three glowing arrows at the knight.
The knight shoves Shirou into the dirt, deflects one arrow and avoids the other. Archer notches more arrows as the third hits the enemy, knocking him off his feet. The knight grunts as he rises, snarls and suddenly runs toward Rin, his sword flashing.
"Rin!" Shirou yells and runs towards her. Archer grits her teeth and fires ordinary arrows at the knight, hoping to stop his charge. They never reach him however, since he suddenly stops. Shirou barrels into his outstretched arm.
What-? Why did he stop?
Archer jumps down beside her Master and aims an arrow infused with her energy at the knight. He grips his sword tightly and seems to be glaring at them. He places himself in front of Shirou and seems to be protecting him.
Rin seems to have the same thought as she tells Archer to stay. She takes a couple of steps towards the knight.
"What are you going to do?" Archer asks, not taking her eyes off the knight.
"I-I think we've made a mistake. Just wait here, Archer. Although back me up if this goes wrong."
"Of course, Master."
Rin slowly walks forward. The knight remains as still as a statue. "Wait! Maybe this isn't necessary," Rin says with her right arm raised as if calming a rabid animal. "Servant." She points at the knight. "I ask of you, is Emiya Shirou your Master?"
Archer narrows her eyes. Could it be that-?
The knight looks over the squirming man. "He is," he says.
Shirou stops struggling and gapes at his Servant. "What?" He intelligently asks.
"I see." Rin exhales in relief. "Well then, it seems that this entire exercise has been nothing but a waste of time. Meaning no disrespect to you, of course." She nods at the knight. "My name is Rin Tohsaka. Shirou and I are allies, Servant Saber. There is no need to fight."
Archer sighs and shakes her head. "Master. You should not speak so quickly. We have no proof that this Servant really is Master Emiya's. You also shouldn't assume that this Servant is Saber only because he looks like a knight and uses a sword." Her arrow remains aimed at the knight. She cannot afford to take chances. Knights are after all, by their very nature, creatures of war. The code of chivalry was very prevalent during social events and at times of peace, but not many knights kept their honor in times of battle. Which the Holy Grail War certainly qualifies as.
Archer keeps this in mind even as the knight lowers his sword. If the enemy truly is Saber, she cannot afford to let her guard down.
"No. I can tell." Shirou says while examining his left hand, the hand with the Command Seal. "I wasn't able to focus before, but yes. He is my Servant."
Archer lowers her bow and dematerializes the notched arrow upon Shirou's confirmation.
"Sorry about that by the way. I could have stopped this before it started," Shirou says.
"No need to apologize, Master." The knight shakes his head. "All of us made assumptions. I had thought you were held captive by Ms. Rin since I was attacked by her Servant, who in turn, might have made the assumption that I was an enemy."
Well…
"You did come out of nowhere." Archer shrugs in her defense. "But who are you, Servant? Are you really Saber?"
"No. I am Servant Lancer," He says, bowing slightly with his hand over his midsection. It is an archaic motion.
"Wait. It would be best to continue this discussion inside." Archer's Master interrupts. The others nod in agreement and they all walk through a hole in a wall, a hole that must have been caused by the knight's hurried rampage.
"This is going to take a while to fix." Rin frowns as she inspects the hole. "Shirou!" She suddenly turns to the startled Shirou. "Your Servant just bashed through several walls to save you, so you better help me fix this."
The Masters walk away, leaving the two Servants alone in a room that is relatively intact. The knight observes Rin casting restoration spells. Archer is unsure of the thoughts going through the Servant's mind. Does he feel remorse for the destruction he caused to get to his Master?
The knight turns back to her, his face hidden by a jousting helm. Archer feels his gaze upon her, scrutinizing and analyzing. She crosses her arms and feels some solace in the fact that the knight cannot see her face, which is hidden by the shadow of her hood.
He is clad in gleaming plate, with dark leather straps crisscrossed over the breastplate. Blue accents run over his shoulders and arms, cloth of the same midnight shade covers the back of his legs starting from the hips. His right arm forearm is not covered in armor, but is covered instead by the blue cloth. A noble looking collar of blue and gold covers his neck. But the part that unnerves Archer the most is his expressionless helmet. She can usually tell much about a person when she sees their face so it unnerves her that she cannot inspect this potential enemy. Seeing someone's face and facial reactions usually gives her much insight about the person, so is disappointed not to be able to inspect this Servant.
The knight cocks his head to one side. "Have we met before, Archer?"
She thinks it a stupid question. "I wouldn't know Lancer," she says drily. "I don't know who you are."
The knight nods. If Archer could see his face, she would imagine that he blinked at her statement. He must have felt foolish for asking such a question.
Archer looks away. She feels slightly guilty for snapping at the knight.
42 hours. It has been 42 hours since Archer was summoned. It has also been 42 hours that she has stayed awake. Fortunately for her, she no longer has a human body to feel the effects of sleep deprivation, despite her Master's claims to the contrary. But she is not going to sleep when there is another Servant of dubious origins resting under the same roof. There is something about Lancer that puts Archer on edge.
Sunlight pouring through the window warms her gauntleted hands. The ground outside still possesses marks from their battle yesterday. Brown patches of wet earth lie beside upended mounds of grass and scorched circles ruin the otherwise peaceful yard.
The sounds of rustling clothing alert her that her Master has emerged from the bathroom. Despite being fully clothed, Rin rummages through her closet. Archer spares a second longer to indulge her curiosity before turning back to the view outside.
"Do not ignore me, Archer." Rin holds a bundle of clothes in her hand and walks towards Archer, the towel on her head threatening to fall with every step. "Here."
Archer takes the clothes being handed to her and blinks. "What am I to do with these, Master?"
Rin gives her a withering look. She still looks somewhat half-asleep. Mornings must not agree with her. "What else do you do with clothes, Archer? Eat them?"
The Servant shrugs. "When one has not eaten for days…"
Rin's lips twitch. "Wear them. I'm going somewhere today and I need you to accompany me." She walks over to the mirror and unravels her hair from the towel.
Archer stands and inspects a piece of clothing resembling a doublet albeit much simpler and less fitting. "I see. But modern clothes are not necessary-"
"You can't go out dressed like that."
Archer's eyes narrow. She does not appreciate her Master's implication that there is something wrong with her apparel. However, Archer notes, given modern standards, perhaps there is. "I can accompany you in spirit form, Master." She says instead.
"You can't fight in spirit form." Rin says while vigorously rubbing her hair with the towel. "Too much time could be wasted in shifting. No, I need you corporeal and prepared."
Archer nods. Her Master has a point.
"I have chosen well." Rin smiles with a glint in her eye. "The jacket suits you, it brings out the blue in your eyes."
Jacket? So this is what it's called? Archer nods and smiles back. Her Master does not have to know that her clothes are somewhat ill-fitting in… certain areas. She hopes that Rin would not mind if she were to accidentally rip her clothes in the midst of battle while summoning her armor.
"Now, let's go." Rin says as they go down the stairs. "We can leave Shirou and Lancer here to guard the house and fix the mess from yesterday."
They find the other pair in the living room. Shirou is reading a magazine while Lancer stands by a wall, looking for all the world like a statue of plate armor. Shirou stands to greet them.
The hair on Archer's neck suddenly rise. She slowly looks over her shoulder and finds Lancer's eerie helmet gazing at her. She feels unnaturally vulnerable and exposed under his scrutiny. He does not appear to notice her discomfort. In fact, he seems just as frozen as she is.
Archer itches to summon her bow and armor. Anything to give her some degree of security back. Why does he look at her so? Has he recognized her?
Her eyes narrow. Is that why he asked me if we knew each other yesterday?
"Lancer. What is your identity? Who are you?" She asks, fighting back the anxiety growing on her chest.
And as if her question breaks him out of his stupor, Lancer relaxes. The shift is so imperceptible as such that Archer isn't sure that he was ever not relaxed. "Why ask me this? Did we not reach an agreement yesterday?"
She licks her lips. "That was yesterday." Her mouth is dry. "You recognized me today."
The joints on Lancer's jousting helmet creak slightly as he cocks his head to one side. "What makes you say that?"
"You froze when you saw me."
"Ah. Most people would assume that I…" Lancer coughs, crosses his arms and leans against a wall. "Found you beautiful."
Archer's eyes narrow dangerously. Lancer's voice is oddly familiar, but I get the feeling that something is wrong here. "Most people do not find themselves in a war where assumptions are dangerous."
"Yet that is what you're doing." Lancer states bluntly.
"And what you're doing is called beating around the bush!" Archer's temper flares as she realizes that she is caught in a dangerous disadvantage where another Servant might know her identity but she has no clue of theirs. "A true knight would give their name when asked. As the code of chivalry demands." She says, hoping to gain some insight into Lancer's character, if not gain his name outright.
"You would know?" Lancer says sarcastically, shaking his head. Archer bristles slightly at this statement. Her class, Archer, is not one of the knight classes for nothing. "A true knight who gives their identity when asked, endangering not only themselves but also their Master, would be a fool who doesn't deserve the title." He continues.
Lancer's words sound condescending, but echo oddly. As if there is no conviction in what he says. Or it means that he has specific views of what a knight should be. It seems like he views idealistic knights with the cynicism of a veteran. "Do you then, not believe in the knight's code?"
Lancer sighs. "Giving my identity in such a manner is obviously detrimental. You have not given me yours as I recall, Archer. There is no reason for me to give mine."
"You recognized me. I saw you falter momentarily when you saw me." Archer glares at Lancer. "Your shoulders rose by a fraction, Lancer. You were wondering what to do. A man does not freeze in such a manner upon seeing an attractive woman."
Lancer's fingers curve slightly inward, the only indication of frustration. Archer notes that being keenly aware of the body's actions is a very useful skill, especially in deciphering lies and motives. Lancer, however, gives very little away. A characteristic not usually found in knights, who, as a rule, do not even consider the option of deceit.
But who are you Lancer? You recognized me on sight. You're a veteran knight famous and formidable enough to be called as a Servant. Archer's stomach drops as she considers who Lancer could possibly be. You have to be one of the Round. But which one?
"Are you still trying to figure out my identity? You should stop wasting your time, Archer." Lancer says as he watches her observe him. "You can spend the entire day, our entire alliance even, trying to figure out my identity. It would bring you no benefit."
"I am not wasting my time, Lancer." Archer says, gritting her teeth. "Not finding out your identity while you are aware of mine is nothing short of foolish."
"Is that true, Lancer?" Rin finally interrupts the discussion she had been watching with Shirou. "Are you aware of my Servant's identity?" The two Masters have left their seats on the couch and are now watching their Servants carefully.
"Don't bother, Master." Archer exhales. "He won't answer you because he's nothing but a-"
A coward…
A coward, veteran knight of the Round, who can recognize me on sight, and is loathe to give their identity… Archer's eyes widen as she comes to a conclusion. There is only one person I know of who fits that description.
Lancer cocks his head to one side at Archer's sudden pause. Archer doesn't miss a beat and summons her weapons and armor, surprising the others. She takes out her dagger and charges Lancer. Using a bow in such close quarters would be very difficult.
The other Servant reacts quickly and steps away from the wall. "What are you doing?" He hisses through his helmet slits as he grapples with Archer for the control of the dagger. Their Masters yell at them to stop.
"You bastard!" Archer yells and kicks Lancer harshly in the ribs, the steel parts of their armor clanging as she does. "No wonder you wouldn't tell me who you are!"
Lancer is forced back by the force of the kick and trips over a table. Archer jumps over him and stabs downward. "What on earth are you talking about?" Lancer catches her wrist and uses his legs to turn her over.
Archer rolls and changes her grip on the dagger to thrust it into the gaps in Lancer's armor. Lancer shifts at the right moment, making the dagger hit protected plate instead. He rolls away from Archer and stands. Archer does the same.
"What are you doing? Stop fighting!" Shirou exclaims. In their struggle, neither of them has realized that their Masters have come closer. Rin stays a safe distance behind Archer, while Shirou is inching towards his Servant.
"Stay away from Lancer, Shirou!" Archer steps back and sheathes her dagger. "He is untrustworthy." She says as she summons her bow.
"Untrustworthy?" Lancer draws the cavalry sword from his hip. "That is a low blow, Archer. I am not the one attacking without provocation." He readies the sword in a defensive stance.
"Can you ple-" Shirou tries to stop the two Servants.
"You deserve far worse than that, Mordred." Archer says with conviction through gritted teeth as she aims an arrow at the other Servant. "Far worse."
"What?" Lancer exclaims, his sword dipping slightly. "I am not Mordred!"
Using a bow in such close quarters is difficult, but if I can fire before Lancer closes in-
Shirou looks back and forth desperately at the two Servants about to kill each other. "Lancer. Stop it! Show us your identity!"
"Are you mad?" Lancer's helmet inches slightly towards his Master. "I will not give in to such-"
"I will use a command seal if I have to!" Shirou yells, probably preparing to jump between the two Servants to stop them. "Show us your identity! Prove to Archer that you aren't who she says you are."
Lancer growls frustratedly and tightens his grip on the sword. Archer inhales and holds her breath, seconds away from launching an arrow.
The joints of Lancer's gauntlets creak from the force of his grip. Then he sighs. His helmet wavers and then it fades. His hold on the sword slackens.
Lancer observes Archer warily, his stance more relaxed from before, but still ready to react at any given moment. Archer observes him in return. She cannot determine the emotion flashing through his face. Anger? Frustration at being forced to reveal his identity? Is there also shame?
Emerald green eyes, short blond hair, a determined set of the jaw… Why does he-? It infuriates me that the Knight of Treachery looks so much like his 'father'. Gawain bore 'him' a striking resemblance, but Mordred looks almost exactly like...
"Archer." Rin puts a hand on her Servant's shoulder. "Put down your bow."
"But Mordred-" Her hands clutch her bow tighter.
"I. Am. Not. Mordred." Lancer snarls. Then he closes his eyes and sighs. "Does this look like Clarent to you, Archer?" He says in a more subdued manner, waving the sword around.
Something inside Archer recoils at the way he says her class.
You have to be Mordred. There's no one else you can be. You have to be Mordred. Archer's chest grows heavy, her throat feels dry. Or maybe one of the Orkney brothers! Gawain had blonde hair, and Agravaine was certainly a coward…
"This is not Clarent." Lancer steps forward. "And you… know who I am." He says softly, resignedly even. Archer instinctively steps back, bumping into Rin.
No. No, I do not. Surely, the fates are not so cruel as to- Her hands waver. One of the Orkney clan definitely.
"Do you not, Guinevere?" Lancer stops a few feet away from Archer and Rin.
Guinevere… I- You-
Archer looks away and dematerializes her bow. Her shoulders sag. Gone is the woman who was so insistent just a moment ago. In her place is a woman who has found what the saying 'be careful what you wish for' means.
"I…" She mutely shakes her head. She cannot bring herself to look at the other Servant. She has to face the fact that Lancer is her husband, King Arthur, the one person she had failed the most. Meeting even Sir Lancelot in this situation would have been less awkward and hurtful.
The Servant in front of her is King Arthur. No amount of reasoning, pleading, or selective obliviousness will change that. Her 'husband' may be a man now, but Archer has seen him in this state often enough to recognize this form, thanks to Merlin. He looks older, as a man in his twenties rather than a boy of fifteen. He stands a full head taller than her now, a fact she ironically notes, being the taller of the two when they were alive.
"Guinevere?" Shirou asks softly, standing behind his Servant. "The Queen Guinevere?"
"I am not a Queen." Archer is unable to stop the words that flow bitterly from her mouth. She fidgets once she has realized what she said. She feels her King's heavy gaze upon her, condemning and judging. Or maybe that is just what she wishes it was. She grits her teeth.
I should have seen it. I should have recognized him from the start. This knight, the Once and Future King. The knight that gave very little away… you were always so stoic, Arthur. I should have known it was you.
"Lancer…" Rin looks at the Servants, interrupting the growing tension between the two. "You were asked to give your identity as I recall."
"Ah." Lancer hesitates, his eyes still on Archer. "I am known as Arthur Pendragon. Sometimes, also Arturia." Lancer pauses and looks at the Masters. "Although the two of you might know me better as Saber."
"Saber!" The two Masters exclaim in unison.
"Yes. Although, I am Lancer now." Lancer says almost absently.
Archer feels Lancer's gaze upon her again. She wonders why the two Masters would know him as Saber, but the myriad emotions she is feeling overwhelms her too much for her to think properly. "Master," She says, desperation in her voice. "If you no longer have need of me, I will be in spirit form."
Then she fades without waiting for her Master's reply.
End of Chapter 3
Wiseup!
Class: Archer
Master: Tohsaka Rin
True Name: Guinevere Pendragon
Sex: Female
Height/Weight: 165 cm (5' 5") / 56 kg
Alignment: Lawful Good
Strength: C+ (D)
Endurance: C+ (D)
Agility: B+ (C)
Magical Energy: C (E)
Luck: A++ (A)
Noble Phantasm: ?
Class Abilities
Magic Resistance: C - Cancel spells with a chant below two verses. Cannot defend against Magecraft on the level of High-Thaumaturgy and Greater Rituals.
Independent Action: B+ – There are very few who can tell Archer what she can or cannot do. A lifetime of being followed without question has given Guinevere a great degree of initiative. It is possible for this Servant to stay in the world for two days without a Master.
Skills
Grace of God: B+ – Guinevere is widely regarded as the most beautiful woman of her time, something that has also caused her great trouble. She was abducted several times due to her beauty and had to be rescued, to the frustration and worry of King Arthur. The skill denotes the "beauty of royalty", and being blessed with God's grace of the greatest body and good looks.
Incitement: C- (B) – Incitement is a skill that functions as the acquisition of the words and gestures to lead the citizens and the masses. She was very loved by the people of Britain and was regarded as the 'warm sun to the King's cold moon'. Its former rank of B is greatly reduced due to her 'betrayal' of King Arthur and their people.
Eye of the Mind (True): E – A heightened capacity for observation, refined through experience. This ability at this rank can be used to gauge an opponent's next move or motive and is very useful in diplomacy. In battle conditions, this ability is only useful for fighting a few opponents.
Cultural Sphere - The Land: The British Isles (or the United Kingdom and Ireland) - Being summoned in her homeland has increased Archer's stats by approximately one step and a modifier (+/-). Venturing to France or North America will increase her stats by one modifier only due to her legend's influence upon the lands' culture.
Author's Note:Fate verse wise, Guinevere is all but nonexistent aside from comments by Lancelot and Saber. I wanted to make her exist somehow and Archer seemed to be the most appropriate. I was also considering Rider and Caster, but I have the impression that Rider is most known by their famous mounts and Guinevere has none that I know of. Caster is more malleable I suppose but in Arthurian legend, Morgana Le Fay and Merlin overshadow any other magic users that I know of. So, why Archer? Guinevere had to learn how to defend herself somehow since those days were NOT safe. Again by process of elimination, she cannot use a sword practically since using a sword means that you fight on the front lines, same with a spear/lance. As King Leodegrance's daughter, and eventually King Arthur's queen, she cannot fight on the front lines no matter how good she might possibly be. On the other hand, using a bow and arrow, with a dagger for close combat is much more 'safe'.
Credits to betas: Cori Shadowfang, darkladywolf, Caliburn0, and Universe Creator