Chapter 2: The King Loses Her Subject

"And we have reached Camelot, my King," Bedivere said.

"Now that is a neat-looking castle. The craftsmen must have spent years in building it…" Shiro thought, while looking at Saber all the time, who was conversing with Bedivere.

Unknown to him, Bedivere was watching him while conversing, and she smiled at him.

"My… Arturia must have had a sweet dream…" she thought.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

The three of them walked towards the drawbridge and Bedivere shouted, "The King has returned!"

A few guards who were nearly falling asleep were immediately awakened, and they quickly released the bridge. They knew that they would be severely punished by the King if they were found to be slacking.

"Welcome back, milord," they shouted in unison as the threesome walked into the castle.

The rest of the guards greeted them politely, carefully eyeing Shiro.

Even now, a few palace maids were busy cleaning the throne room, keeping the throne room in good condition for the King. They immediately saw the threesome and bowed, "Good morning, milord."

Saber smiled at the maids.

At the throne room, were the personal advisors of the King. They were busy pacing up and down the steps and when they saw the King, their faces lit up and walked towards the King.

"Milord, I am glad that you are safe, I personally assume that you have ridded us of the rebels?"

Saber nodded. She was saddened by those few words, for she believed that Mordred was influenced by the rebels. "Right then, summon the advisors here. I have an important announcement to make," she commanded.

"Yes, sire," they replied in a bow before quickly rushing to various parts of the castle.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

Three noblemen were seating around a small table, drinking wine and consuming bread.

The youngest one spoke, "Let us celebrate for Darius to be the new King of England."

Then, Darius replied, "Thank you, but I have only Cyrus here to thank. Without him to come up with such a great plan, my ascension would not have been a success."

Cyrus hiccupped and said, "Thank you, milord, but do remember that Xavier managed to convince Mordred le Fay to be the leader of the rebel army… there is no chance that the King would survive after this… (hic)…"

Then, there was a knocking on the door.

"Come in (hic)," Cyrus said.

The royal advisor rushed in and said, "Sorry to disturb you, noblemen, but the King has requested all his advisors to be present at the throne room."

The three noblemen's eyes widened in shock and looked at each other. They immediately went to change into royal clothes, and rushed to the room.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

The King announced, "Before I begin, my royal advisors, let me introduce you to a cleric, whom I met when I was returning to Camelot. May I introduce to you, gentlemen, Shiro Emiya."

Shiro Emiya immediately walked towards the throne without haste and bowed before the King.

"It is because of his loyal services that I survived near fatal injuries dealt to me by the traitor, Mordred, and be able to come back to Camelot. Bring me Caliburn, Bedivere.

"Yes, milord," she replied as she handed the sword gently.

"Now I shall call you, sire Shiro Emiya, the Benevolent Cleric," she said softly.

Many of the advisors clapped, but someone had to spoil his knighting ceremony.

"Thank you…" Shiro was about to complete his sentence before a noblemen came out from the crowd.

"That… that person… he does not deserve to be a knight, milord, it is unwise!" he shouted.

"Yes, lord Xavier, do you have anything else wrong with that?" the King asked.

His eyes showed his fury as he glared at the King.

Another royal advisor immediately shouted, "How dare you speak with such treachery to the King?"

Angered, he immediately blurted out, "If that Shiro Emiya had not saved you, you would be killed now due to my plan…" and quickly covered his hand to prevent more information from leaking out when he knew he had exposed the plan.

The King's emerald eyes started to burn in rage. "Guards, bring this treacherous man to the dungeon! He shall be executed first thing in the morning of Thursday (the day after tomorrow)!"

The advisors dispersed when the traitor was apprehended and thrown into the dungeon.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

It was noon, and the sun was high in the air, spreading its heat to the English. It was no wonder that the King complained about the sun to her trusted knight.

"Sir Shiro, isn't it hot today?"

"Yes, milord, and I am starting to feel that way too," he replied.

"By the way, Sir Shiro, would you like to join me in my lunch? I have ordered the royal maids to prepare one extra set of food."

"If you wish so, milord."

"And may I request one more thing, Sir Shiro?"

"Yes, milord?"

"I would like you to continue healing me tonight," she said, with a playful twinkle in her eye.

"Ugh… what is she thinking? Doing that in such a dangerous place…"

But he could not disagree with the King and thus replied, "I will, milord."

She whispered to his ear, "Great, this time we can talk more, Shiro."

He smiled. Then, as if he had heard the King's stomach grumbling, he shouted, "Royal Kitchen! Is the food ready? His Majesty must be famished!"

"We have just finished the food, sire, and will bring it here immediately," a maid replied.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

It was already in the evening, and two men were around the table, in royal clothes.

"Darn, Cyrus, that King and his subject spoiled my plans for ascension," the older one said.

"Yes, Darius, and I suddenly had a perfect plan, and this time, we can rid both of them once and for all," Cyrus replied.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

Sir Shiro was walking along the corridors to the King's room.

"Sigh… luckily she was actually thinking about having a conversation, otherwise, I would be in dead meat if discovered…"

He crossed the corner.

"Let me wonder what to talk about… how she felt during those twelve days? No… what about against the servant me? No… wait… did I see something stirring in the grass?"

He eyed the area carefully. However, a moment later, he felt a quick and painful jab to his neck and he blacked out almost immediately.

A black shadow appeared from his back and dragged his body into the forest. And he threw a note to the ground.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

The King was waiting for the Cleric patiently. Then impatiently, then worriedly.

"Darn it, why is he still not here? Could he have forgotten?" She asked herself finally.

She made her way to his room at the other end of the palace. When she went across the corner, she saw a note.

Foolish King,

You have exactly three hours after 9 o'clock to get to the forest if you want your Cleric alive. You will have to either usurp the throne or defeat my bodyguard (which is unlikely since he is stronger than you). Come alone into the cave in the forest.

She sweatdropped when she noted the informality of the note but quickly returned to her room to get her battle armour and blade and headed to the forest.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

And as always, there was a certain someone who always followed the King. She immediately got out of her bush costume and read the note before running into the forest after King.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

A/N: Alright, explanation here: Archer got jabbed in at a point which makes him faint instantly. However, Saber's armour provides protection for there, so you would not see Saber fainting in one blow. Also, you should know who was the 'busy body who followed the King all around'.