Archangel Xireon Chaos God: I write to please my readers and your enthusiastic comments made my day.
Guest: No, you're wrong! Merlin is not originally part of the Arthurian legend. In fact, the oldest legend mentioning Merlin takes place thirty years after the end of the Arthurian era and has no original relation to it. The legend of Myrddin Wyllt, the most ancient text who talks about Merlin mentions events that took place in 573. And the Battle of Camlann occurred in 537 according to the Annales Cambriae (or in 542 in the pages of Historia Regum Britanniae). It was not until the Vita Merlini of Geoffrey of Monmouth (wrote in 1149) that Merlin became the Magus of King Arthur.
The primitive Arthurian legend revolves around Arthur and his first companions, Bedivere and Key.
It is to be noted that the court magician of Arthur in the early Arthurian cycle is Math son of Mathonwy. In the fourth branch of the Mabinogi, he is nicknamed the "magician of flowers" because he created the beautiful Blodeuwedd with some flowers and offer her to the god Llew Llaw Gyffes (that is to say the Welsh god that corresponds to the Irish god Lug, the father of Cù Chulainn... yes, what a small world ).
Wait... magician of flowers?
Yes, you're right, I suppose Type-Moon has decided to simplify this (like they simplified Arthur's siblings (1). Two court magicians in Camelot? No... one is enough (2). Fate's "Merlin, the Magus of flowers" is obviously the fusion between Geoffrey of Monmouth's Merlin and Mabinogion's Math son of Mathonwy.
But, in this chapter, Hakuno will invoke another Caster-class Servant who is also a resident of Camelot. Someone who is too often forgotten... forgotten even then that it is closely linked to Caliburn and also to the Cauldron of Inspiration. A druid. A Bard. A poet.
Dan1142000: Justice for the Dark Elves?! You won't get elected in the Old World with a slogan like that! (Laughter)
Joke aside, it's a difficult exercise. It is the people who have the biggest gap between the way they see themselves (the TRUE Elves, legitimate heirs of Aenarion) and the way others see the Druchii.
For example, the people of the Old World consider the Druchii to be traitors, to lie without blinking, and to be absolutely untrue. This offends the Dark Elves with no end because they consider they were always true to their word!
Where does this discrepancy come from?
Well... suppose a Dark Elf lord attacked an imperial coastal city and agreed to "go away" in exchange for slaves. The inhabitants yield... the lord leaves with the slaves... but lets the rest of his army raze the city!
The inhabitants of the old world: "He did not keep his word!"
The Druchii Lord: "But yes! I left the city as I promise... I never spoke of the rest of my army! It's not my fault these humans are such stupid people who do not think about the terms of a treaty before signing it!"
Did I do justice to the Druchii?
ATP: I don't create this Asur's character or personality, Tarmonagh din-Ciobahn, Lord of the Ulliogtha Clan is the canonical Ulthuan's Exarch in Marienburg.
I have no plan to make Hakuno empress of the WH 40K's Imperium. Anyway, I did plan to send Hakuno in WH 40,000 but... only in the epilogue. This FanFic is a crossover with Warhammer Fantasy, not Warhammer 40,000.
Boyzilla: Glad I made you laugh. That was Omake's goal.
Otherwise, I told this part of the story from the High Elf Exarch's point of view, but you're right. If Hakuno does not speak so much, it is because she does not really understand "Mr. Long Ear" gibberish... All she understood was that Ulthuan left them to fend for themselves against Slaanesh. And that's the most important thing. Everything else is claptrap.
Memoriae
(Memories)
I know why the alder is purple, why the Linet is green, why the branches are red, why a woman has no rest, why the night comes...
I know that the paw of the white swan is black, I know that the sharp spear has four sides, I know that the race of the heavens will not be befallen, I know what the four elements are, but their end is not known to me.
I know what the wild boar and deer wander about, I know what the reserve is in the flow of the sea, but nobody knows why the bowels of the sun are red.
Taliesin
The night extended its dark mantle over Marienburg. It was a dark and rainy night. The drops struck the windows of the ducal palace, producing a slow crackling as if the downpour were tired.
At such a late hour, the New Palace was plunged into sleep. Apart from the guards and some servants in the kitchens, there was no noise or movement.
Sir Gawain was walking in a corridor barely lit by a few candles. Bedivere had just taken him off his guard duty at the doors of the Master's apartments.
In the past two months, since Hakuno Kishinami defeated Hearthbreaker, there have been no attacks. Fortunately, moreover, because Gawain felt that the security of the palace should be strengthened. Perhaps it was time to summon new Servants... more suited to the threats of a city crossed by conspiracies and non-chivalric conduct!
As he thought these last words, his mouth twisted with a scorning grin. Sir Gawain absolutely hated rats who hatched conspiracies in the shadows and the other little snakes, wearing hollow rings filled with poison. We faced our enemies one-on-one or we didn't face them!
Suddenly, the Knight of the Sun stopped, ready to summon Galatine. He had just seen a movement in the shadows and... His altitudes changed from one moment to the next. He bowed with one hand over his heart, having recognized the one who was sitting in an unlit room:
"My king!"
Artoria Pendragon turned to her nephew and replied with a simple nod of the head, with the natural dignity that she always exuded:
"Good night, Sir Gawain."
"Please, excuse me for disturbing you, my King. I didn't know you were here."
"No need to apologize. Did you finish your service with the Master?"
"Yes, My king." He hesitated and then asked a question: "May I ask what you are doing here?"
Artoria made a gesture towards the bottle of wine of Bordeleau and the cup on the table:
"I'm thinking over a drink, Gawain."
"I can see that..."
The Knight of the Sun hesitated again. Ever since he realized that his uncle... no, his aunt... was still alive in a certain way, constituting an exception among the other Heroic Spirits, Gawain frequently struggled against an irrational concern. Wanted to make sure she gets more rest and sleep. In the past, he would probably have tried to protect her in spite of herself, because she was a woman but... he had learned a lot about women lately and some of them didn't need his good advice. And even more so, Arthur... Artoria... remained the perfect king he had served in his life, even if it was still difficult for him to accept that she was a... a woman (!).
"My king, may I ask what important thoughts keep you awake in the middle of the night?"
In the shadows, Saber's face became pensive, she looked towards the ceiling:
"To tell you the truth, I'm worried about our Master. The Moon Cell Automaton has placed a heavy burden on its shoulders, I fear that repelling the hordes of Chaos is an impossible feat for a human, even if it commands Heroes."
Artoria's gaze burst into flame:
"Of course, I am telling you this under the seal of secrecy. I intend not to make things harder for the Master, by appearing to doubt her! I'm just wondering what we can do to help, and what to do to protect her.
In recent weeks, Artoria had understood the extent of the threats to the Old World.
The Vasteland was subjected to the incessant raids of the Orks of Grung Zint. Admittedly, the Greenskins had suffered two more scathing defeats against the legendary KIng Arthur. But fighting them was like the trial of Sisyphus. It had no end. Whatever the losses suffered by these barbarians, they came back ever more numerous.
At the same time, Hakuno Kishinami was to wage a real parliamentary guerrilla war against the survivors of the former government. East of the Reikr and in several small towns near Marienburg, the administration was still in the hands of Princes-Merchants who contested the takeover of the new duchess. Artoria suspected that the Ulthuan Elves and Sigmarites were quietly supporting this opposition.
Only the fear of the return of the Bretonnians prevented the opponents from resorting to armed struggle to retake Marienburg.
The alliance with Bretonnia...
Unfortunately, King Louen Leoncoeur would find it very difficult to help them if something happened now. This proud leader had not spent two days in the same castle since the beginning of the campaign against the Norses. Viking raids constantly hit coastal towns or went up a river at nightfall to plunder villages inland.
Seeing the weakness of their old enemies, the vampires dared to reappear in the open. The dead had come out of the cemeteries and had taken Moussillon from within. Then, under the command of the malevolent bloodsuckers, they had besieged Lyonesse. King Louen had been forced to fight a monstrous army of skeletons, ghouls, giant bats, and zombies.
Then, the battle won, as the north of Bretonnia was still facing the incursions of the Norses, the king had been forced to abandon his offensive against the vampires.
Once again Sir Gawain bowed his hand to his heart:
"I understood it that way, my KIng. But your concern is unfounded." He smiled, remembering the Moon Grail War, and shook his head: "Lady Kishinami is no ordinary human. I know her better than you, my King. And my judgment on her is first and foremost that of one of her former adversaries. The young king I served in Seraph was an individual born and educated to know only victory. However, Leo was the first to understand that his only real rival was Hakuno Kishinami... the weakest Master to have survived the playoffs. While all were laughing at her, Leonardo B. Harwey became interested in Hakuno. And, although I consider that he did not have to stoop to speaking to a common person, he was the first to understand her talent. Hakuno KIshinami has an infinite attitude to improve. Our Master is like an almost blank book. And every new experience becomes part of it so that it is not forgotten. And every new fight is an opportunity to excel. Leo said she was the paragon of innate talent. She just needs to look to understand. She just needs to try to succeed. Hakuno Kishinami was the most capable of the 128 Masters of the Moon Cell Grail War."
Sir Gawain bowed:
"Good night, my King, I'm going to go to bed. I invite you to do the same."
Artoria watched him walk away, frowning.
Gawain...
Gawain blames himself for her death, viewing his distrust in Lancelot as a mistake that led to his King's demise. As a Servant, Gawain sought to become perfectly obedient towards Hakuno as a way of atoning for his past mistakes and become the perfect knight.
But the perfect knight was not the most obedient.
Artoria understood this during the Fuyuki Grail War. She had not lacked obedient knights believing that she was "the perfect king" during her life. She lacked knights who warned her when she made mistakes.
Hakuno Kishinami slept in the large bed of the Duke of Vasteland.
Sleeping was a part of the experience that helped to forge a Master. With closed eyelids, the dream abolished the boundary between the Servants' soul and that of their summoner.
It was a journey into the Servants' past, a discovery of their history, their sorrows... and even secrets they would have preferred to hide.
Hakuno felt like she was floating. She could not feel her body and could not intervene in the events that were taking place before her eyes. It was a strange feeling.
She was seeing...
The blood, the corpses, the horses whining, the arrows flying.
She could hear...
The cries of war and pain, the striking of iron against iron.
Hakuno was witnessing a battle, more precisely an ambush.
She heard a strange voice singing:
They fell by the hundred / before Bedivere of the Perfect-Sinew.
On the shores of Tryfrwyd / fighting with Garwlwyd / furious was his nature / with sword and shield
The Sovereign of the Moon Cell floated above knights in plate armors gathered around green banners adorned with a red dragon.
They had just launched a charge that had repelled the attackers in a great crash. While the knights... from the kingdom of Britain... were reshaping their rows, Hakuno detailed their enemies.
These savage warriors wore conical helmets with cheek and nasal protection. They had large circular shields richly painted and decorated with zoomorphic sconces. Most were shirtless or dressed in fur. Only the clans' leaders and their bodyguards had chainmail.
While their archers and slingers, hidden in the forest on both sides of the road, shot arrows and stones at the British infantry, the barbarians - the Saxons, understood the teen girl- attacked furiously. They threw javelins then rushed forward brandishing axes and seax brutally, intoxicated by war frenzy.
As the British infantry struggled to contain them, the knights had to charge again. Their swords mowed down dozens of enemies and the attackers falling back in disorder. Unfortunately, the Saxon archers retaliated. Most knights had their kite shield bristling with arrows, the horses had other arrows planted in their flanks.
The knight, with whom Hakuno was floating, saw his steed crumbling with a hideous whinny. The man fell to the ground. His hand dropped a silver spear decorated with runes, and his helmet rolled in the mud... The Sovereign of the Moon recognized Bedivere by his green eyes and silver hair carefully assembled into two braids hanging around his neck. But he was much younger than the Servant Lancer she knew, his face was that of a younger teenager than her. A leg wedged under his mount, he raised an imploring hand to a tall and large man bearing a helmet adorned with a golden crown:
"Father, help me!"
But the British king only glanced at him. He brandishes a magnificent sword with a handle covered with blue lacquer, with a crescent-shaped guard inlaid with gold. Hakuno saw clearly that the blade bore an inscription in unknown writing.
"We must charge the archers," says the king, "if we do not want to be slaughtered on the spot!"
Leading by example, he spurred his steed, and the other knights followed him, ringing their horns.
Bedivere stood there with tears in his eyes.
The Knights broke the encirclement, leaving the infantry on the spot... facing the Saxons. While the troops were fighting around him, Bedivere was still stuck under his dead steed, unable to move or defend himself.
A Saxon approached him with a bad smile.
If Kishinami could have looked away...
Her future Servant screamed in pain as the enemy axe cut off his arm.
The Inheritor of the Moon opened her eyelids to fix the canopy of her bed.
Tears rolled down her cheeks... but it wasn't really her crying. He was a teenager who saw his own father abandon him as if he had just been dead weight.
Two hundred Bretonnian mercenaries defending the island of Rijker had survived the Hearthbreaker attack. They had been reinforced by five hundred other Bretonnians left by King Louen when he went to face the Norses.
These 700 soldiers were Marienburg's only army... apart from the poorly trained militia crossbowmen and the Van Klupf's Buccaneers (also known as "The Murderers of Marienburg" and "The Scourge of the Reikr"). These infamous sellswords have carved a brutal name for themselves both in land and river. But they served "money" not "Marienburg" and they were absolutely unreliable.
Standing next to Bedivere, Hakuno Kishinami stood on the ramparts of Rijker Island and looked at the southern courtyard between the fortress's armory, the food stores, the forge, and a workshop where prisoners of trust made wicker baskets sold in Marienburg. The chapel on the right was dedicated both to Myrmidia, the favorite goddess of the garrison, mainly made up of Tilean mercenaries, and to Verena, the patron deity of this instrument of justice that was Rijker.
However, the court had been transformed into a "Mars field", that is to say, a training place for military maneuvering. You could see men learning to move forward under Sir Key, a novelty that had outraged the young recruits.
But the seneschal of Camelot had countered them that they had to learn to fight as one man, under penalty of being massacred individually. Since a single man could not win against a group, they had no chance against a phalanx of pikers if they attacked individually. To charge together as a group, you first had to learn to walk at the same pace.
While some of the troops were learning the bases of the military maneuver around the Mars field, the middle of it was hosting different exercises. First, sword and shield training. Armed with heavy clays of wicker and equally heavy sticks, the recruits struck a pole to strengthen their arms. Then they trained in mock battles where they were taught the basics of fencing.
All this had obviously not been invented in a day by Bedivere and Key. Lancer had surprised his Master by asking if she could provide him with some earth's books on the art of war. Of course, they were in the virtual library of the Moon Cell, like everything else. Invoking them had not been difficult.
Key applied the teachings of the De Re Militari of the Roman Vegecius, leading to a relentless discipline. The best students received double rations and in turn became teachers, training the other recruits. While the quality of food declined for the worst fighters.
Hakuno now understood where Artoria's eagerness to eat came from! Training like this left its mark! Like she says: " Hunger is the enemy!"
And if Sir Key trained the Bretonnians in the use of the sword, so that they could defend themselves in close combat, their main weapon remained the lance. Unlike the Roman legionaries who used javelins, especially useful against infantry, Key wanted an army capable of breaking heavy cavalry charges. For this, Bretonnians had to kneel down and hide behind their large almond-shaped shields to hope to survive the attack; but above all to take advantage of the length of their spear to strike at the first blow. When the maneuver went well, the first rank of the riders impaled on the spears and caused the fall of those who followed.
The Bretonnians practiced using spears heavier than the ones they would use in combat, to gain muscle and self-confidence. They trained to know how to strike with the greatest vigor wooden poles that represented horsemen.
The most advanced stage of the training was the simulated combat which saw the combatants advance in two lines, arranged face to face, fighting with spears without a head, before throwing themselves in close combat with fake weapons. The purpose of the exercise was to teach them how to use the Roman interval (3). Each attacker who advanced between two defenders had to be attacked by the fighters who framed him as by those who were behind them, in the second line. The Bretonnians were also learning to swap positions, the exhausted soldiers retreating to the rear of their unit, replaced by those on the next line.
Calm and detached, Bedivere had explained the training of the Bretonnians without using a single useless word. He then stayed close to his Master, waiting for her to ask questions or comment... but it was Hakuno. She nodded once and that was it. And since it was Sir Bedivere, he did not ask if the Inheritor of the Moon had any questions or comments.
In fact, Hakuno was uncomfortable after the "dream" of the night. She would have gladly asked questions about her Servant's past, but... she did not dare.
As for Bedivere, he had noted that his Master stared at him strangely and turned away as soon as he looked at her. He knew something was bothering her. But Lancer wasn't the type to ask questions.
Given their respective characters, the rest of the demonstration took place in silence.
After this perfect example of communication difficulties between two individuals, Gawain picks up Hakuno and brings her back to the New Palace for the afternoon meeting.
The council room was a large room decorated with white marble statues. In its center was a large oval table that had long welcomed the Directors of Marienburg. Now Hakuno Kishinami and her servants, together with the Lady de Roelef and the Patriarch Fooger, formed the supreme council of the city.
There was a discussion about how to deal with the growing unrest in Marienburg. This morning, stones were sent over the wall of the New Palace. They were surrounded by papers containing pamphlets and insults directed against Hakuno.
Moreover, incidents were multiplying. In the taverns, drunks had started fighting about the current government. Demagogues had harangued the population to denounce the usurpation of power by the duchess' contender... who was still not crowned.
It was obvious that the proliferation of such incidents was not the result of coincidence. Someone was paying these demagogues and agitators.
Sir Key was waving in his chair. Finally, he clapped his fist on the table:
"By my friend's arm!" he swore, "stop asking what to do! It's obvious, isn't it?"
As everyone turned to him, more or less surprised, the seneschal sighed:
"When a prince comes to power through the blessings of powerful figures- like Little Mouse with the aid of Louen Leoncoeur- he typically has an easy time gaining power but a hard time keeping it thereafter, because his power is dependent on his benefactors' goodwill. He does not command the loyalty of the armies and officials that maintain his authority and these can be withdrawn from him at a whim. Having risen the easy way, it is not even certain such a prince has the skill and strength to stand on his own feet. Hakuno's enemies, therefore, multiplied incidents and provocations hoping to push the population against her. They also try to insult her in the hope that she will react with violence. This will make their work even easier!"
Artoria thought for a moment, and then nodded:
"And how can we combat the influence of these deceitful politicians?"
Sir Key shrugged his shoulders:
"The Marienburgers are ordinary people. They want to live in safety, raise their children, and make sure the bread is not too expensive. If the population benefits from the new government, the social order will be restored. The problem is precisely that we are unable to offer peace and prosperity to the people -because we are still weak. AND because we are weak our foes can destabilize our authority. And then it's spiraled from there."
Artoria nodded one more time:
"I see, so we have to break this vicious circle. Does anyone have an idea?"
There were first some comments by Patriarch Fogger on the financial difficulties of Marienburg. As Ulthuan was attacked by the Dark Elves, the importation of art objects, fabrics, and elven tools had almost ceased. In addition, the number of ships lost at sea had increased... probably that most had been captured by the Druchii. Of course, the benefits paid by insurance were heavy, which increased premiums. This greatly affected the dock's workers' population.
The old dwarf suggested launching a naval campaign to hunt down the Druchii pirates... but Hakuno shook her head:
"Norses."
Fogger and de Roelef, who were still not accustomed to the quasi-silence of the new duchess, looked at her without understanding... unlike Artoria who had learned to understand her half-word:
"The Master is right. The only reason the Norses are not attacking us is the presence of the mercenaries of the Van Klupf's Buccaneers Company in the Reikr estuary. If we deploy this fleet to hunt down Dark Elves pirates, we invite the Norses to attack us."
Everyone shook their heads. They had so little recourse and so many simultaneous problems.
"I think I have an idea!"
Everyone turned to Gawain, the Knight of the Sun rarely speaking at the council. Although most were surprised, Key was the first to react:
"You? An idea? Since when do gorillas think?"
Gorilla was a nickname that Gawain hated. He owed it to the "unpretty boy-like muscle distribution" of his muscular upper body.
As often, Artoria did not react to the insult her half-brother had directed at her nephew. Certain of his impunity, Sir Key would no doubt have continued to denigrate the Knight of the Sun, but Hakuno turned to the seneschal of Camelot:
"I want to hear him."
Gawain's attitude changed instantly, smiling the Knight of the Round bowed slightly towards the Sovereign of the Moon:
"Thank you, Master." He coughed in his fist." The most immediate problem is that we do not know how to combat the manipulations of our secret enemies. They are cowards hiding in the shadows who dare not attack us head-on. They merely use underhanded methods, Lady Hakuno, and take shelter among the Marienburgers, hoping that you would strike the innocents, trying to reach them. Which is their goal because they think you will turn the population against you for good."
Hakuno made a head tilt and de Roelef and Fogger forgot to breathe. More accustomed, Key recovered more quickly and sniffed with contempt:
"Thank you for summarizing what I explained. What are you getting at?"
Sir Gawain made a visible effort to remain calm:
"We must find those who pay the agitators..."
Sir Key began seeing red:
"Bravo! You've figured that out all by yourself! Continue, if you work well, one day you'll even understand that 1 +1 = 2!"
The blond knight, however, continued to speak:
"... thanks to a person you know well, my king."
Artoria seemed surprised:
"Someone I know well, Sir Gawain?"
He nodded, turning to the Master:
"Lady Hakuno, you must summon a new Servant. My brother, Sir Agravain, is the man of the hour."
Hakuno made a new head tilt:
"Agravain?"
Artoria nodded understanding Gawain's plan:
"He's another of my nephew, he is known as ' Agravain Who Knew no Wounds'... he is the most intellectual of the Knight of the Round, the aptest to wage a war 'off the books'. He's a master spy!"
Bedivere spoke for the first time:
"When this man is around... the King will be safe."
For the most loyal of the Knights of the Round Table, and remarkably few words, it was the greatest of compliments.
"Invocation of Servant in progress."
"Please wait a minute."
"Search for a Servant adapted to the situation."
On the holographic screen that floats above the Regalia, various organizational charts and tables showed the complex work done by the Moon Cell Automaton to prepare the invocation.
"Two match found."
Hakuno frowned. Two Servants? This time, she had asked for a very special Servant rather than letting the Moon Cell find a Servant suited to the situation. So why two Servants? One of them was Agravain? And if so, who was the other? Suddenly, a duo of magic circles appeared on the ground, lighting up immediately with orange light.
Blue Prana butterflies appeared above the pentacles, quickly taking the form of human silhouettes. The first one was almost entirely clad in black armor, along with a dark blue fur-lined cloak draped over his left side. He has slicked-back black hair and pale skin.
His expression was frozen in a scowl.
His eyes covered the assembly of the Servants. He recognized the Knights of the Round but offered them only an indifferent look. He saw Hakuno, and felt that 'this thing' was his Master... and his expression became even bitterer...
And then...
He jumped forward and fell on his knees before Artoria:
"My King! Have I received a new chance to fulfill my wish, a chance to redeem myself from my previous failure? All I have ever wished was to build a perfect kingdom for you, My King. It wasn't that I served the king for the kingdom, but the kingdom for his king. The only person I don't want to be hated by is you."
Artoria let him grasp her hands:
"It's good to see you again, Sir Agravain. We're going to need your talents very soon."
"Whatever you want, My King."
A light laugh sounded.
The Servants and the Master turned to the second summoning circle. The bluish light had dissipated, and a man dressed in black and holding a harp had appeared. Drawing some notes from his instrument, he graciously bowed to Hakuno, before taking her hand, to lay a kiss on her fingers.
Little used to this treatment, the Inheritor blushes. With his long black hair, his mocking smile, and his green eyes, the second Hero looked like a seducer:
"Allow me to introduce myself..."
He drew a musical note from his Celtic harp:
"I wore a multitude of aspects before acquiring my final form, he reminds me of it very clearly. I was a narrow and golden spear, I believe in what is clear, I was a raindrop in the air, I was the deepest of the stars, I was a word among the letters, I was a book in the origin, I was light of the lamp. For a year and a half, I was a huge bridge over three scores of estuaries. I have been a road, I have been an eagle, I have been fisherman's boat on the sea, I have been victual of the feast, I have been a shield, I have been a sword in battle, and I have been harp-rope for nine years. My horse is called Melygan: it is soft like a seabird that never leaves the quiet shore. I was the hero of the bloody prairies among a hundred warchiefs. Red is the stone of my belt and my shield is lined with gold... long and white are my fingers. I wandered for a long time, I walked, I searched, I slept on a hundred islands, and I stirred up in a hundred cities. I am the Servant Caster, Taliesin is my name, the shepherd of trees, son of the witch-goddess Keridwen. I'm my own father because I fathered myself."
And he designated the knight in black armor:
"And this is the Servant Lancer, Iron Agravain. He did not speak to you, because he is deeply misogynistic..."
"Artoria" replied Hakuno with a head tilt.
"Too cute..." Caster coughed in his fist. "Ah yes, but... it's King Arthur."
Agravain straightened himself up:
"The King is not the incarnation of the dragon; his heart is a single dragon. His magical power is of a level beyond ours. The King gender is irrelevant"
Taliesin laughs:
"Like Agravain says."
Caster leaned towards Hakuno and murmured:
"It's amazing how intelligent men can explain everything... especially since the person they love the most in all the world is a woman when they vowed to hate all women."
(1) So, in the Fateverse, it's simple. Artoria has only one half-sister, Morgan. All the nephews of King Arthur are, therefore, the children of Morgan le fey.
In the classical Arthurian legend, Arthur had three half-sisters, Morgause, Morganth and Morgan (the three witches of Avalon), and a half-brother (whose name I always forget) who are the children of Duke Dumero and Igraine (Arthur's mother). Morgause is the mother of Gawain, Gatheris, Gareth, and Agravain. Morgan is the mother of Mordred, but also the wife of the King of Gorre Babemagu and therefore the mother of Meleagant and of "the lady with the mule".
Besides, Arthur has another half-brother, Uther's eldest son, who is none other than... oh, but I'm not going to say it right now. Just says he's one of the Knights of the Round Table invoked by Hakuno. If you think about it, it's absolutely obvious that he is the elder brother of Artoria.
(2) In fact, there are FOUR court magicians in Camelot, but the last two are not very important.
(3) When I saw Ridley Scott's "Gladiator", I once again pestered against the inconsistencies of Hollywood cinema. Remember the battle, at the beginning of the film, we see the legionaries pressed shoulder to shoulder... Have you tried throwing a javelin in such conditions? It's impossible! "(..) each soldier distant from each other at equal and regular intervals," said Vegetius. The purpose of this loosening is twofold. On the one hand, give each legionnaire enough space to throw his pilum or swing his gladius without harming his neighbor and, on the other, be less vulnerable to adverse arrows. "It is strictly necessary in war to accustom the soldiers, by continual exercises, to keep in line the order of the ranks, so that they do not curl up, nor extend in reverse of the need. When they are tightened up, they do not have the space to fight and embarrass each other; while scattered and sparse, they open the way to the attempts of the enemy" says the same, Vegetius. All the quotations come from his "Military Art" (De Re Militari).