So here I was honestly disappointed in how they handled Boudica in game. She's got so much potential and I am so very upset they didn't do her justice. They do explain why she's not hostile towards Nero in the game...but it didn't sit right with me. So I changed it just a bit.

Septem: Wild Camp

"Who are you and why do you have my face!?" both monarchs demanded.

"Excuse you, this was my face first," Nero huffed.

"Pardon?" Artoria growled, "I do not believe I have Roman roots and most certainly am not from your line! Explain yourself! Who are you!?"

"I," Nero preened, "Am the Fifth Emperor of Rome, the Emperor of Roses. Claudius Tiberius Nero! And you...by the looks of you you are very much one of the Britannia barbarians…"

"Barbarian!" Artoria demanded, outraged, "How dare you! I am Artoria Pendragon, King of Knights and Once and Future King of the Britons. If either of us is a barbarian, it would be you. Roman palette swap!"

Nero gave a scandalized gasp, reaching for her blade as Artoria did the same.

"You take that back!"

"Oho? And how are you going to make me?"

"ARTORIA!" Cira yelled, rushing forward and getting between the two, "Nero! Please! Both of you stop!"

"Master, I shall be swift in executing justice, I swear," Artoria growled.

"You can't!" Cira hissed, "She's human. Like me. You hurt her and everything will come crashing down in this era,"

Nero gave an expectant look towards Artoria, but the other King stubbornly held her head high and refused to bow.

"My Master wishes for us not to fight," she finally said, stiff and cold, "As much as it pains me to say, I will not raise hand against you and yours for the sake of humanity."

Cira visibly relaxed, her knees giving out as she fell onto some cushions that Nero had placed in the throne room.

"Thank God!" Cira groaned, "That could have been a total nightmare,"

"Aren't you going to introduce the rest of your...soldiers," Nero asked, her gaze not leaving Artoria's...who still frostily glared back.

"Cu Chulainn is my Lancer," Cira said, sitting back up, "He's from Ireland, er, Hibernia for you, Nero...and Lily is my second Saber. She uh...she's from Britannia like Artoria is."

"I see...so there are two of them then," Nero said, getting Lily to huff as well.

"Master, I am on the same boat as m-Artoria," Lily caught herself, "I am not too much a fan of this Nero,"

"Just...please don't kill each other, I'm begging," Cira pleaded, "Anyways...about that trip to Gaul?"

"Hm?" Nero blinked, "Ah, yes...we leave within the hour. I shall have horses ready for you...you do ride, don't you?"

"...Sure…" Cira said.

"I thought you said you rode," Nero questioned as Cira nearly slipped off the horse for the fourth time in five minutes, only to get gently pulled upright by Artoria.

"W-Well...at a carnival," Cira admitted, "And I was being led,"

"I have the riding skill, as do Artoria and Lily," Mash said as she patted her horse's neck fondly, "Cu Chulainn…"

"Don't worry 'bout me, Missy," Cu Chulainn dismissed from where he walked beside her, "I don't tire easy,"

"Mash!" Lily chirped as she nudged her horse forward, reigning the spirited dapple grey up next to the other girl, "Race?"

"Lily…" Artoria warned as her bay's head snapped up in a bob and made Cira jump, "Do not hurt yourself nor Mash,"

"Oh come on, please?" Lily begged, "First one to that tree in the distance! It's such a long way to Gaul from Rome! Some excitement to break the monotony!"

"...Alright," Mash smiled.

"Ready? Set? GO!" Lily cheered as both girls immediately urged their horses forwards.

Artoria gave a sigh, shaking her head.

"Ah to be young again," Artoria murmured wistfully, "So many memories seeing that…"

"They remind you of you and your brother?"

"...Yes," Artoria sighed after a pause, "Kay and I,"

"You miss him, don't you?"

"It would be nice to see someone from my own time and place again," Artoria admitted, "I adore Lily's company...but as Cu Chulainn had pointed out in the past...she is still just me. And I am merely talking to myself. What I would not give to see one of my knights again and fight alongside them."

"Maybe one day," Cira nodded, "Who knows, it might be sooner than you think,"

She looked up just to see Mash and Lily reach their destination, watching as Mash put up her hands in victory as she got to the tree first. Cira smiled as Mash turned back to her with an even bigger grin on her face.

And then Cira felt Artoria's arms close tighter around her.

"Master, there are enemies about," she hissed, "Stay here, keep your head close to the horse's. If he spooks in the battle, pull one side of the reins to pull the horse's head around. Do not yank or snatch at the reins, but pull one side firmly and steadily until he starts to turn."

Cira swallowed but did as Artoria asked while the Saber dismounted. Mash and Lily saw the commotion and immediately returned, dismounting and arming themselves.

"Artoria's right," Romani said, "Enemies about. Likely bandits?"

"If that is the case then let us quickly finish this," Nero said, also dismounting and unsheathing her sword, "To me!"

Cira's Servants all looked up at her expectantly.

"Defend us," she said simply, "If that means following Nero's orders, do that."

Artoria closed an eye but said nothing, holding her hands before her as the blued, wispy wind magic around Excalibur reformed. The first bandit charged out of the brush and was met by Mash's shield slamming into him full fronted. He retreated back a few steps and prepared to charge again only to get met by a flash of white and silver as Lily leaped over Mash's head and came down into the fray, Caliburn's golden blade flashing in the light. Cu Chulainn came around one side of Mash as Artoria dashed around the other, both Irishman and Englishwoman carving through the group of bandits with ease. Nero scoffed and also ran forwards, hefting her jagged blade as sparks flared from the crimson edges.

Within minutes, the battle was over. Cira still clung to the horse, shaking as Artoria came back and remounted. Mash immediately went to Cira and gently tapped her on the leg.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah...just...not a fan of riding in combat," Cira admitted.

"You handled those veterans as if they were nobodies," Nero pointed out, "Was it the battle prowess of your soldiers or your leadership? They seemed to positively flourish under your hand. Cira! I would like for you to become one of my generals permanently after this business in the United Empire is finished."

"Not bloody likely," Artoria growled softly.

"Artoria!" Cira hissed, "Be nice!"

"I can give you Gaul...even Britannia after this is over," Nero said, "Perhaps you could teach the savages there some manners,"

"Master, permit me to smite her, I shall be swift," Artoria stated.

"I said, no!" Cira snapped, "Nero, I'm flattered, but I don't think that's going to be a wise idea. The same being with you aggravating Artoria. It's not going to end well and there's going to be a point in which I won't be able to stop her from hurting you."

Nero grinned and Artoria glared, there were visible sparks between the monarchs only for Artoria to kick the horse forwards, making Cira yelp as they surged forwards to Gaul.

The camp was not very large and the soldiers there looked weary. Artoria and Lily immediately went the opposite direction from Nero, opting to patrol the area and make sure things were safe while Nero stood before her soldiers and made a speech. Cu Chulainn and Mash both stood beside Cira and watched the proceedings.

"Soldiers of the Gaul expedition!" Nero started, "I thank you for your efforts for me, my subjects, and my Rome! I have come to this expeditions aid, you now have a mighty general with you! So there is no reason to lose this battle, victory belongs to me and to the beloved Rome we all love!"

The crowd cheered and raised their weapons, thoroughly engaged and pumped up.

"So that is how charismatic she was in life," Mash hummed, "At least before her decline,"

"Kings and Emperors tend to be, yeah," Cu Chulainn stretched, "We just don't get to see much of Artoria or Lily do that. Outside of Artoria reassuring Master everything's gonna be ok, anyways. To be honest, we haven't really had a point where we could see her rally an army."

"Master,"

Cira jolted as Artoria's voice came through.

"What is it?" she asked, turning towards where she could sense both Pendragons.

"Master?" Mash started, following Cira as the other girl began to walk towards where she'd heard Artoria.

"Artoria's found something," Cira replied as Cu Chulainn followed the two girls and left Nero to her speech.

"Two Servants," Artoria explained, "Lily and I halted them before they could get into the camp."

"Are they hostile?"

"To Lily and I, no. However, to Nero...I'm quite sure they would be."

Cira pushed through the underbrush and spotted Artoria and Lily. The two Pendragons were quietly talking to two new Servants, a man and a woman. The man's skin was an odd shade of grey...lighter than Heracles' darker tone, and his hair was a shock of blond. Muscles rippled down his arms and legs and Cira felt like he could have easily picked her up and snapped her in half. The woman was dressed in white, a cloak of equally bright white draped down her shoulders, offsetting waves of brilliant scarlet hair that flowed from her head.

"So this is the Master you were speaking of?" the woman asked, her cool green eyes scanning up and down Cira.

Her voice was calm, measured, and Cira noted with shock that it held the same speech pattern and accent that Artoria's and Lily's did.

"You're from Britain," Cira pointed out.

"Master," Artoria started, a warm smile painting her face, "This is Queen Boudica...she was a queen of the Britons far before my time and, if I may be so bold...one of my heroes."

Cira gave an incredulous laugh while Boudica bowed her head, a faint blush painting over her features as she smiled.

"To think one of my land's descendants and a fellow monarch looked up to me despite all the trouble I caused, it humbles me, Arthur," she said, "But why, pray tell, do you tell us not to attack this Roman Barbarian?"

"As much as it pains me not to, she is still human," Artoria huffed, "While it is not unheard of, Servants are not to attack humans. As such, killing her would also destabilize this pillar of humanity. She is not to pass before her time."

"You still have not given me a reason, King Arthur," Boudica pointed out, putting a hand on the hilt of her sword, "You of all people should know the Roman tyrant's yoke."

"May I speak?" Lily piped up, making Boudica's blue-green eyes soften as she nodded, "I know that the Romans have tortured all three of our lives. It's a bit more fresh with me than with Artoria due to the fact I am closer to the times in which they raided Britannia. I'm not saying that my older self doesn't have the hatred for them...I don't like them either. However…"

She looked at Cira and gave a smile.

"I know that the timeline and humanity's survival is a fragile thing. If Nero does perish here...then Rome will fall far sooner than expected and our story will never come to pass as well as many others' stories," Lily continued, coming up to Boudica, "There will be no one to tell of the stories of your daughters, of your own story, of my and Artoria's stories. The world will not be able to come back from the ashes and rebuild if she dies here. So please…"

She actually knelt in front of Boudica, digging Caliburn's blade into the ground and causing Artoria to start slightly.

"Please help us," Lily pleaded, looking down at the ground, "I know you hate her...for what she did to you, to your daughters and husband...but without that story, my Britannia wouldn't have rose up, it wouldn't have fought back, I wouldn't be here. Please…"

"We really don't want to fight you," Cira added, "It's hard enough having Artoria not kill Nero...but once this is over things should be ok. We need to work together and I know that it would make Artoria and Lily both happy if you would join us,"

Boudica looked from Artoria to Lily to Cira and then back behind them at the camp. She gave a sigh and took her hand off her sword.

"I will not lie," Boudica said "Every part of me wishes to just charge in there and strike Nero down. My husband's will, once he died, was ignored by her and my daughters and I were tortured, humiliated…"

She unfastened her cloak and turned around, revealing scars that criss crossed across her back...angry red.

"I was flogged and was forced to watch my daughters die," she said, refastening her cloak and facing Cira, "I have no love for Nero. I never will have love for Nero. However…"

She looked at Lily, offering her hand to the Princess Knight.

"If my story, my legacy gives birth to the inspiration of one of the greatest of Briton's Kings...then I will stifle that want," she continued, "You remind me of my daughters, so strong of heart and courageous. May I ask to be at your side, even if it is fleeting?"

"That's up to my Master," Lily replied, "But I have no problem with it at all!"

Cira gave a nod of agreement.

"I can offer you and your friend here a contract if you want," Cira offered, "That way you're not just functioning on your own and weaker for it,"

Boudica looked at her companion and the giant of a man grinned.

"The oppressors are committing atrocities as they approach," the man said, nearly crushing Cira's hand in shaking it, "Let us battle side by side, you who dare defy this unparalleled tyranny!"

"Uh...what?" Mash blinked.

"That is extremely rare," Boudica chuckled, "Spartacus hardly ever takes a liking to someone at first sight...without then pouncing on them,"

"I-I see," Cira stammered as her seals flared brilliant scarlet and her heart dropped slightly, "Oh...you're a Berserker...oh please tell me you're not going to stalk me like another Berserker I know that's perfectly capable of speech…"

"I highly doubt that, Master," Cu Chulainn chuckled.

Spartacus let go of Cira's hand only for Boudica to take it, cupping her other one over it as Cira realized she now contracted a Rider class Servant.

"Oh!" she blinked, "Well, you're my second Rider now! Georgios will have company I guess,"

"I should not have put that past you," the red-haired queen smiled, "You do not strike me as someone who does not care for their Servants' wants and needs,"

"I mean Artoria probably thinks differently because I refuse to let her take Nero out," Cira quipped.

"Master," Artoria scolded, "Have more faith in me than that,"

"Considering I literally have to be between the two of you, no," Cira retorted, "Anyways, we should go back to Nero, let her know what's going on."

The three Britons frowned, but after a few moments, did nod and follow their Master towards the encampment. Nero had finished her speech to her soldiers and was pleasantly surprised at the two reinforcements. Especially since she heard that Boudica herself had raised an army that was waiting just a little ways away. However, that moment was when the poisoning done to Nero caught up with her and she decided to lay down to alleviate the migraine.

"This...feels very wrong to me," Boudica said, rapping the blade of her sword against the dirt, "I do not like being in this camp. I do not like being near her. But the people are being butchered by this United Empire. This is almost karmic retribution I feel...for all the harm Rome had brought down upon Britannia...and I cannot help but feel sad that innocent men, women and children are getting harmed."

"Can you do it for their sake then?" Cira asked.

"I will have to," Boudica stated, "My Master wishes for me to work alongside the Romans...so I must,"

"I'm not going to force you to do things you don't want to," Cira corrected, "I can ask. But I won't force. You're just as human as me or Mash or Doctor Roman. You have your wants and dreams and hopes."

She held up her right hand, the triad of crimson seals shining in the dying daylight.

"I don't use these unless I have to. I've only used them to call my Servants to me if things get real bad. And even then, I've never used more than two," she said, "I'm not asking you to protect Nero. I'm not asking you to fight for her. But...will you fight and protect me?"

Boudica stared at Cira for a long time, her blue green eyes seeming to pierce right through the Master and search all the way down to her soul, trying to find some lie or ill intent. Seeming to find none, she gave a soft smile and nodded.

"I will fight and protect you," Boudica agreed, "I can do that. I will not defend Nero."

"I wouldn't ask you, Artoria or Lily to do that," Cira said, "Cu and Mash can help me there. I just want you three to help protect me."

She looked at Spartacus...who had gotten into the wine stores with Cu Chulainn and the two were currently trying to see who could drink the other into a stupor first.

"Spartacus I feel I'm not going to be able to get him to do much," she admitted, "Least ordering him to do things. The best thing I feel for him is to let him run rampant against the enemy,"

"You would be right," Boudica nodded as she put a few more logs on the fire and picked up what looked to be an iron cauldron, "Even when he was with me, he did not do as I asked."

"What are you doing?" Cira asked, watching as Boudica attached the cauldron to a cooking tripod.

"You looked hungry, I am making food," Boudica said simply, "I would do this often for my soldiers...why should I not do it for my Master?"

Cira looked around at the others, seeing Artoria joining Cu Chulainn and Spartacus while Lily and Mash watched in a mixture of horror and amusement. She turned to Boudica and gave a shy smile.

"Can...I help?" she asked, "I haven't gotten to cook in a long time and it's calming to me,"

Boudica's face lit up and she offered her hand to help Cira up.

"I would love that, my Master,"

Master: Cira Albion

Servants Mentioned:

Servant: Shielder- Mash Kyrielight

Servant: Saber-Artoria Pendragon

Servant: Lancer/Caster-Cu Chulainn

Servant: Saber- Saber Lily

Servant: Berserker- Spartacus

Servant: Rider- Boudica