-Saber Arturia-
A necklace?
Saber clutched the piece of jewellery in her hand and held it close for inspection. She was sitting in front of a mirror in her room with her thoughts wandering listlessly. At the same time, she inclined her head and wore the necklace to observe her reflection upon the mirror. Young. Hopelessly young and without any weariness derived from war. A face of adolescence.
How many years had it been now? From child to teenager.
In Saber's world within her dreams, the days that had gone by, the weeks, months, and years spent in the company of friends and family, were perhaps the most carefree and joyous in her entire life. She was…happy?
Guilt flooded through her at the notion. A concept that the Shirou of her world would immediately chastise her for. Everyone has the right to happiness. Is it wrong to lead a life of contentment with no regrets?
Yes. For Saber's case it was. From a young age, she'd always had her duties and obligations to fulfill. Self gratification and happiness were not something a righteous King needed to save a falling country. At Saber's mental age, the notion was all but ingrained in her mind. It was even beginning to sprout within Child Arturia.
Saber had constantly seen the reflection of her past actions in the form of Child Arturia's experiences.
Child Arturia was in love, but rather than entertain the emotions of her heart, she chose to push them away in her feelings of embarrassment and her inexperience. Shirou's signs of affection were met with red-faced stutters and denial, but all the Arturia's knew that Child Arturia secretly took great joy in everything Shirou gave her. The only problem was the constant doubt in Child Arturia's mind about the pain she'd feel when she had to forsake everything for her kingship. Regardless, the feelings were only growing stronger and stronger by the day.
It was blatantly apparent, and admittedly, Saber herself wasn't unaffected.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Saber's lips twitched upwards to a ghost of a smile. The index finger of her right hand glided across the necklace's surface, her eyes watching the way the jewel at the center twinkled in the light.
Different from Child Arturia, Saber's Shirou treated her more maturely. It was less like an older brother teaching a younger sister, and more like equals exchanging pointers during lessons. As Saber had adjusted herself to the parameters of her pubescent body, she'd been able to start matching her Shirou blow for blow, though grudgingly, she only beat him when she used her magical energy, but that was cheating.
Saber felt like her current relationship with Shirou was much like the one she'd had with Lancelot when they sparred: a beneficial training relationship, only with Shirou there was a feeling involved that she couldn't quite explain, but Child Arturia could explain in a heartbeat.
Was she also beginning to fall in love?
Shirou's integrity, his character, his decisiveness to remain steadfast in his beliefs and stand up for others, they were all attractive from Saber's perspective. She admired him for it, and in turn, he always shook his head with humility.
"It's nothing compared to you," her Shirou had once told her, not knowing the effect it had on her mind. In his modesty, it was like Shirou knew the sort of life Saber had experienced and was able to relate with her.
That thought right there had caused Saber's heart to beat rapidly in her chest, and make a rapid retreat much to Shirou's confusion.
From the moment Saber was summoned to this strange place, nothing was making sense. The obligations she'd had, the duties she'd shouldered, all of that was cast aside in whatever phenomena she was experiencing. In a way, wasn't this exactly the type of wish she'd wanted granted by the Holy Grail in the first place?
Right now, Saber wasn't King. She'd never drawn forth Caliburn.
She could enjoy herself now, couldn't she? To live the life of normal girl she'd never been able to experience. To grow up, have kids, and be a mother with a loving husband. Shirou's smiling face appeared in Saber's mind and for a moment, she blanked while picturing what her family life would look like.
And then it all came crashing down.
Saber was running away from her destiny. What would become of the country if no one was to draw forth Caliburn? Of course, she had the ability to wield the sword, but she'd already seen that her Kingship led to ruin. How could she possibly try again?
Child Arturia could be optimistic about the future, but her older counterparts couldn't which was sad because Saber herself was harbouring pessimistic thoughts.
Saber felt guilty, but whenever her Shirou brought up the topic of future Kingship, she actively shied away from the subject. She was going to have to understand however, that she could only redirect the subject for so long. Regardless of what she did, the turning point in every Arturia's life would always come.
Saber clutched onto the necklace around her neck.
For better or for worse.
Saber soon awoke from her dream. Unwilling as she was, there seemed to be a mechanism that woke her and the other Arturia's up at the dawn of each consecutive day. She sighed, her gaze wandering to her hands which had balled into fists.
Was she really meant to be King again?
Did she really want to be King any longer?
It was the only thought in Arturia's mind. How could a failed King even think of ruling despite all the encouragement her Shirou gave her?
'If it's you, then there can be no one better.'
Saber huddled in on herself, her doubts and self-blame chipping away at her self-confidence. At times, she found herself jealous of Lily and her child-self still hopelessly optimistic of what their futures may bring.
'My sword is your sword, regardless of what you decide, I will follow you.'
Her Shirou always seemed to know what she was thinking. Was she that easy? No. Neither Sir Ector or Kay had ever asked if she had uncertainties about her future kingship. Only Shirou had done so while steadfastly advising her not to wear an unfeeling mask. A King too is human.
Her Shirou had held her hand and said right to her face.
'You too are human, and I am your Knight. Even if no one else will truly understand your pains and burdens, I will, and I will be there. That is my oath.'
Saber clutched a hand over her heart. The words Shirou had spoken may not have been much to Child Arturia's ears, but for her, they meant far more than anything. The one truth about her rule, was that the King had always stood alone, but perhaps it didn't have to be so anymore?
Pulling herself into a seated position, Saber eyed the rest of her counterparts spread out across Bristol's forest. Many of them seemed disgruntled about waking up so soon likely because they'd each grown fond of the world within their dreams.
Saber did not interact much with her counterparts, but in a way, they were still her. Therefore, she could read into the conflicting thoughts and emotions seen not on their faces, but in the expressiveness of their eyes.
Saber Alter for example looked listless, while Lily was red-faced. Something had obviously happened in their respective worlds, but curious as Saber may be, she did not pry.
"Something you have to say?" Saber Alter's voice cut through the air.
Saber looked up to see Saber Alter and Lancer Alter staring across at each other. If there was anyone who could understand the perspective of an Alter, it was another Alter. Moreover, Lancer Alter was clearly the more mature of the two.
Towards Saber Alter, Lancer Alter only had a single sentence to say.
"He didn't betray us," Lancer Alter said, instantly causing Saber Alter to jolt, her lips thinning. "He chose me over everything else, so what does that say about your Shirou?"
Saber Alter opened and closed her mouth, but no words escaped her. Instead, she began to tremble, her lips quivering as she bit down on them to forcibly swallow the lump forming in her throat. She was shaken.
Lancer Alter didn't wait for a response. She just up and left like the mature older woman she was. Saber Alter was stunned, her pupils dilating as her eyes began to water. She snorted and coldly glared at the curious expressions on Lancer, and Lily's faces. "None of your concern!" She glowered.
No amount of prying would get the Alters to reveal what they'd done in their respective worlds.
Saber felt she didn't want to know anyway. She got along with her Alter counterparts like fire and water. They were incompatible.
Lancer Arturia and Lily were still curious however. They tried to garner information in a roundabout way, but failed when both Alters clamped their mouths shut. The ferocity in their eyes promised violence if they were pushed any further.
Lacer Arturia and Lily gave up while Saber shifted her attention to watch the life of her younger-self trying to sneak into a battlefield.
How irresponsible. Saber had heard stories of Knights seeking glory wandering into war and dying because of their aspirations, but her younger self was taking things too far. Sir Ector would not have left her at home without a reason.
Unlike Child Arturia, Shirou, Sir Ector, and Kay deemed Saber capable enough to travel with them to war.
To make matters worse, Child-Arturia had even agreed to take an untrained Emily along.
Saber pursed her lips in both admonishment and worry, but could do nothing but watch. Fortunately, everything turned out well, and even Merlin somehow got involved. From there, the party moved to Roan with Merlin and Sir Ector acting as the guide towards the Sword in the Stone.
Saber stilled. There was no going back at this point. The fact that Child-Arturia's memories reached Roan meant that she herself would be heading there soon in her dream world.
A decision had to be made. To pull, or not to pull Caliburn?
Child Arturia must have been thinking the same thing because in the middle of the night in a tavern at Roan, she couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning because a part of her didn't want to let go of her budding relationship with Shirou. The only other motivation she had from being King was creating a peaceful Kingdom for her and Shirou to live in.
The other Arturia's watched and felt Child Arturia's internal struggles.
In the middle of the night was when it happened. At the edge of Child Arturia's view, she saw Shirou quietly stand up and make his way out of the tavern everyone was sleeping within. Tired, but curious, Child Arturia made to follow after her Shirou.
The interests of Saber and her counterparts were immediately piqued when they took note of the path Shirou was taking let alone Child Arturia.
Through the quiet streets and closed shops, and past the residential areas, a dirt path was followed leading to a stone pedestal surrounded by forest. Child Arturia took the opportunity to conceal herself within the shrubs while curiosity swelled from within her.
She knew this place. The meaning of this location, and the sword stabbed deep at the center of the stone pedestal.
He who draws forth this sword from the stone is the True King of Britain.
What was Shirou doing there in the middle of the night? The answer eluded Child Arturia for the time being, but the same could not be said for her watching counterparts.
A flicker of magical energy suffused Caliburn's form at Shirou's approach, light dancing around him like the stars above.
No way. It couldn't be possible.
Moonlight shone down from the skies, basking the pedestal with an ethereal glow and Shirou who stood solemnly in front of it.
The Arturias were mute. Caliburn, the King Chooser was reacting. It was reacting.
A Sword of Man, it alone could decide the fate of a country.
A sword of the righteous and benevolent, he who will bring about salvation is chosen by its hands.
Shirou reached out and gripped Caliburn's hilt. Magical power erupted, a symphony of acceptance and worthiness much like it had been for each of the Arturias.
And with words that could hardly register in the Arturia's mind, Shirou said, "I am not the one to wield you."
Even still, the sword parted from the stone.
Suddenly, the Shirou that the Arturias thought that they had known was no longer as simple as it had used to be. Much like themselves, there was a title that Shirou now carried over his shoulders.
A True King of Britain.
Saber was breathless.
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