Gilgamesh was thrilled. His queen had finally opened her eyes and was in the waking world. He did not panic when he saw that she was out of bed. His first thought was to get working on food for her. She's been asleep for nearly six days so that would have definitely taken a toll on her body. Her newly incarnated body. She would feel more acutely now, her senses would be delayed. She no longer had use of all her abilities as a heroic spirit. So until she is fully functioning, she would be very weak.
And with any luck, she would be compliant.
Though as much as his mind demanded her complete subservience to him, his heart did not. Gilgamesh wanted her to be against him, he wanted her fire. Her light always shone the brightest in his presence. The way her passion broke through her seemingly cold exterior. No matter what she thought of him, he still brought out her true nature.
He would do all that was within his power to be sure that she remains with him now. He would acquiesce to her if it meant to please her, enough to not fight him. Yet it will be difficult to allow her many freedoms. To give her slack, would be to let her go.
Gilgamesh would never let her go.
Her eyes followed his movements after directing her to sit. The table was small and clean, there was no signs of him ever eating at it. Either he was enjoying his meals elsewhere or he cleaned the table completely after each use. The kitchen itself was bare, but this was a hotel room that only made sense as it was not for extended stays. There was a pot on the stove though so there must have been some food present to cook with.
It almost shocked her to think of Gilgamesh cooking for himself or others. The thought seemed so trivial for him.
Gilgamesh returned to the table with a bowl of soup. Arturia eyed it carefully before raising her hand to the spoon.
"You act as if I poisoned it. Don't be so foolish as to think I would go through all this trouble to do something counterproductive."
She sneered.
"I wasn't thinking that at all. I was deciding if I'd rather starve to death instead of eating your cooking."
Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes at her before thinking it over. The insolence she had even now, even when she was so weak, amazed him. However, this spark of life was what he desired about her and he would allow this. If she wanted to be cheeky with him then so be it.
He then smiled and sat across from her. His eyes following her every move.
"You'll be happy to hear that I didn't make it, I've only heated it up for you. Now eat, you need your strength"
Arturia blinked up at him.
He wanted her to gain strength but that seemed strange. He wanted to provide for her but she figured he'd want to make sure she was at some disadvantage or another. Somehow, she felt as if she was playing into his hands and doing exactly what he wanted. Fine, if that's how it was to be then for now she'd let it go.
Gilgamesh could almost hear how her mind was ticking. She would plan, plot and move in whatever ways she wished but she could not do anything of substance. No matter how long it takes, no matter what she attempts, he would always be ahead of her. They would be married and tied together, she would never escape him. No matter how much she wanted to.
He noticed that her hand was trembling slightly. She had not yet touched her meal.
"Eat. I will not ask again."
Arturia's hand grasped the spoon tighter. No matter how much she wanted to never follow any order of his, she had to eat. She needed to quench the hunger inside of her to get stronger.
The soup was actually very good. She hummed in appreciation of its taste and texture but she wasn't about to thank him for it. Even while her hand shook slightly from fatigue she still gracefully sipped at her meal. Whoever made this was a fantastic chef. So she knew that it wasn't Gilgamesh. It was doubtful he's ever cooked anything a day in his life. In this one and in the last one.
"Now, on to some of the important matters we need to go over before we leave Japan."
"What do you mean leave?"
Arturia paused her meal. It made some sense to her that they would not be staying here any longer than required. Leaving so soon didn't seem to be in her best interest though. Was he only waiting until she woke up for this?
"I do not wish to remain in this country any longer than necessary. We need change. To experience the rest of the world as it has come to be. Surely you must be interested in what's happened. Perhaps to your Britain?"
He had to be joking. Would he really suggest to go to her country?
"You want to go to Britain? My country of birth? You do realize that once I set foot on that soil, I'll be stronger, correct? I could absorb mana from the land and regain all of my power."
He settled on her with a look of desire. It made her skin crawl.
"Yes, and that it why I think we should go there. I have no doubt that you would grow stronger my dear. In fact, I need you to be strong. A Queen by my side needs to be at her fullest capacity if she wishes to rule with me."
An undignified snort came out of her just then. She was grateful that he didn't say that while she was eating. She would have choked.
"I do not 'wish' to rule with you and I certainly will not be reduced to a secondary role. I would use it to fight against you. Once I have my sword and if we fought on my land, you wouldn't be able to stop me."
Gilgamesh was amused at her. He knew little of how the politics of the world was. However, he did know that at current, the ruler of her precious country was indeed, a Queen. This news was interesting to learn but considering the status of the sexes in this age it wasn't surprising. Women were on even ground now. It was almost refreshing.
"While that is true, you forget yourself. We are no longer heroic spirits bound to the rules of the grail. Your strength from your home will come to you naturally but will not spill forth more. You see, we are as equals, creatures of flesh and bone."
"You think us as equals? That's practically laughable coming from you."
Arturia was right, he would give her that. As a demigod he was always going to be far above her in everything.
"I suppose you're right. I would never be weakened from something as minor as lack of nourishment"
Her eyes locked with his, her glare sharp.
Gilgamesh knew that he struck a nerve with her. Since she was summoned to a novice master her source of mana was extremely limited and she did rely heavily on human food. For her to be lacking in basic nutrients would cause her failure to produce mana. Thus weakening her fighting condition. It was for that reason alone that she wasn't in any way, shape, or form, able to oppose him.
At least not like she once had back 10 years ago. He wished they had crossed swords back then. To fight her at her full capacity in such a way. He almost didn't care that it would have ruined his marriage proposal at the time. No matter, it would have been a glorious fight. She would have made a good challenge.
"Mocking me helps you how? You did this to me so I would think you'd at least take some responsibility."
"Be quiet now and eat. I will return in a moment."
With those words he got up from his seat beside her and left the kitchen. To where she knew not, but her mind immediately thought of heading for the door. With his departure she could surely make it out and get something of a head start before he caught up.
Before she could even put her spoon down he emerged once more and with papers in his hands. He took his seat once more and laid the important looking materials down, spreading them out before her.
"I've procured all your documents that you'll need for travel and for enrollment."
Arturia looked from the table to him at the statement.
"Enrollment? Into what?"
"University."
"What are you talking about Gilgamesh?"
She wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of what a university was but it was surprising that he would even think to enroll her into one. What purpose would that serve if she received lessons? It was true that learning was valuable but she knew enough of the world from the grail. Though it would be nice to be away from him for long periods of time if that's what happened if she attended this university.
"Here, see for yourself"
He was prepared for her ire when she would look at her identification and records. But all he did was take from what information he already had of her. Plus the fact that he needed a base of information for her.
Arturia looked through all the information that was handed to her. A passport, birth certificate, records from a school she never attended, bank account information and a provisional driver's license. The dates began to catch her eye. They looked familiar to her, like she once had some of this information in her background before.
Quickly she opened the passport. Though it looked different on the outside, the contents on the inside were altered but very similar to one she had 10 years ago. Back then hers was an American passport, this one however was emblazoned with the words 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. Well at least she was registered for her homeland.
Name: Watson Arturia. British Citizen, which was new. September 21st is also correct but… 1989?
By that math that would make her…
"Sixteen?! You have made me a minor by law and that is how you intend to keep me by your side? So what are you supposed to be my family? My relative? Or perhaps you've made me your ward!"
There was true fire in her words now.
"Of course I'm your guardian by international law. Don't worry I plan to let you finish your schooling and let you age some before we marry. It will look less dubious that way."
"You can't do this! I will not allow any of this."
The bowl and the spoon clattered against the table as she slammed her fists onto it. There wasn't any more liquid that could be spilled but the force nearly knocked the bowl over.
"It is already done my dear. You're mine"
His gloating smile and taunting eyes only furthered her rage.
"I will NEVER be yours!"
She got up from her seat and stormed off to the room in which she woke in. Arturia's mind was frantic. She would get out of this place one way or another. For now she wanted distance. In anger she locked the door to prevent him from getting to her. There were no sounds of him coming after her, yet, so that gave her time to think.
To think of a way to escape.
Her eyes looked up to the large window in their room. It looked like it could be opened and she quickly went to work with trying. He put them on one of the highest floors it seemed but she knew that she could scale the building. It would be awkward with how she felt and with the clothes she was wearing but it was possible. Besides even if she fell it wouldn't be too bad. She had Avalon within her now and even if she was human now, she would still be the immortal king she once was.
Arturia didn't really want to know if that assumption was wrong or not, but she'd find out eventually.
Once the window popped open she leaned out trying to assess the surface. It was possible to get to the next room over or to drop down to the room below. If she was lucky there could be a resident in either that could help her in. She would have to take the chance that they would even let her in. After all to the normal person she would look very suspicious in such a compromising situation.
Gilgamesh didn't know what to think when he found the door to their room locked. That was truly a weak attempt to place distance between them. She knew that as well. He wouldn't think her so dense. He easily took care of the locked door and walked in. His snarky comment dying on his tongue when he saw what she was doing.
His Queen was leaning out of the massive window.
His arms were around her waist in a heartbeat, pulling her violently inwards. She wanted to squirm and get away but the pressure on her stomach made her sick. Briefly she felt the world still and his heart and hers beat together in time. Both fluttering with fear and anxiousness.
"Wha-!"
Then she fell through the air, tossed away from the open window. Her body bounced on the bed with force and her stomach turned. She sat up slightly only to bend forward and lose some of the food she just ate. Her eyes stung with hot tears. All she could do was cough violently for a few seconds before the dizziness settled in. Her body swayed as all the jostling took its toll.
She couldn't control her tears as they fell. She looked weakly up to see Gilgamesh staring at her. The look in his eyes was wild. His features looked on edge with worry.
If she could keep her vision straight she would almost be fooled into thinking he was actually concerned for her. That he was afraid.
"Don't you ever try something like that again, Arturia. I will not tolerate any attempts to take your own life or to exact bodily harm on yourself. If you even think of trying this again, I will make you regret it."
Gilgamesh took in a shaky breath as he watched her slowly readjust herself to lying down. There was a line that she needed to know about, and the consequences for crossing it. So, he chose his next words with cold ruthlessness.
"The people of this world hold no meaning to me, you alone stand between them and destruction. I was to use the grail to let the weak parish and only allow the strong to survive. I do not need such things from it though, I can raze the world on my own. Would you abandon them to that fate?"
With that threat hanging in the air he left. There was no more words spoken to her as he walked out of the room. She was dazed still and tried her best to stay conscious. No matter what pain he inflicted on her, she would not break. Even though she did not dare correct him in his assumption. If he wanted to pressure her into not taking her own life, fine. It wasn't something she would have done willingly anyway.
Arturia took in a deep breath before whispering a vow to the world.
"I will not allow that to ever happen, Gilgamesh. I will live solely to see to your demise. Mark my words on that."
After a few moments of peace and quiet, Arturia pulled herself up. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell. The bed was a mess, she was equally a mess with bits of regurgitated soup sticking to her hair and face. She felt sticky and desperately needed a bath. Thankfully she already knew where it was.
Arturia got up from the bed and moved as gently as possible to the bathroom. Her body felt weak once more thanks to the loss of her food.
She moved herself into the shower after taking off the soiled clothes. The rush of warm water soothed her as she stood still under it. All the aches she felt were washing away along with all the grime. She went for the shampoo so she would wash her hair. It was back to its normal golden blonde again. The ghostly paleness of her skin receded. It would seem that all she needed was some food in her system to clear up the oddities. If she had to guess, her eyes were back to their emerald hue as well.
The voice of her alter remained in the back of her mind.
It was right. She didn't want to be in this world. However, she had to be here. She had to protect the world from him, she had to see to his death. If there was only one goal to her existence it was this one task.
The people of Britain would soon see to her return. Even if they would not know it was her. A king she no longer was, a heroic spirit she no longer was, but a Hero, she will remain.
How dare she try to put all his efforts to waste!
Everything he's done so far was for her, her new life with him.
Gilgamesh had felt fear rush through him and his heart raced. He couldn't lose her, he couldn't lose someone he cared for. Not again. The memories of Enkidu's death haunted him while he slept and he dared not dream because of the nightmares it caused.
Nightmares or pleasant moments with Enkidu in that dream space. He could handle neither.
He paced the living room silent in his rage. He knew that threating her with the destruction of humanity would give her reason to live. She was a hero, she would rescue them from his evil plans. Or so she thought.
There was a sort of clarity he had when he was with her. It was as if the lives of the humans mattered somewhat to him. He was their rightful king and he will rule over them. So it would only make sense that he felt some compassion for the people. Though, hard work and endurance was lacking. In this age people were attached to such trifling material possessions.
Gilgamesh gave out a long sigh.
His queen made a mistake and she paid for it with pain. The vision she made lying on the bed covered with vomit, tears and drool. It was disgusting. She hopefully learned her lesson but it was difficult to say. Her stubborn behavior was problematic but it was at least somewhat enjoyable.
He picked up the phone and called for room service.
Arturia would need new sheets, more food and clothes. For now the food and bedding would have to do.
Alright my friends I've actually got a good excuse lol. So I moved from NC to GA (North Carolina To Georgia) around January 2018, I however, did NOT have my PC or any of my writing materials for this story so, I couldn't really do anything since this chapter was 90% complete. At best I kinda outlined where I wanted to take this story but that did no good for the present. Obviously, I'm settled enough to the point where I could review this and pop it out. I have a new full time job heading into the holidays (yuck retail lol) so I'm probably gonna be giving this another good long break for a bit. Sorry about all this! I'm not bored of this though! Believe me I still love these two idiots. :)