Burnished
By SMYGO4EVA

It was only after the storm, the calm arrived for everyone now, especially in the Emiya household.

Saber was aware of this, and Sakura felt it in her bones. The Holy Grail War sounded so wrong now, in a way that it never did before.

Sakura felt her chest tighten and tears shimmered to her eyes. She knew of the Holy Grail because of what the Matou family had in store for her, what they did to her. She always felt that sense of foreboding dread, and it only got stronger. There was the cloaking darkness that took hold, turning her salvation into despair, and she would be set free. She walked through the hallway, wiping away her tears, and she put one foot in front of the other.

Saber steadied herself on the doorway, the weight upon her shoulders almost too great. She was a Servant, summoned to win the war and to fulfill her purpose, to grant her one wish. This was not about what she wanted, no, not in the long run. She wielded her sword, she fought tooth and nail to win each and every fight; it was about how the ends justified the means.

It was quiet, the calm that always presided.

Saber looked out to the horizon from the open doors, as if waiting for another attack to follow. She felt Sakura's presence behind her; she was not startled, nor was she discouraged.

She didn't need to look, not even when Sakura wrapped her arms around Saber, pulling the King of Knights into an embrace. She rested her head on the Servant's shoulder, and she let her tears run free.

"You'll come back to me, right, Saber?"

Saber nodded.

"I will, Sakura."