A question from edboy4926: Good chapter. As for Cory knowing Arturia, is he actually King Vortigern? I am asking since I did a little checking and saw that David Sterne (Cory's Voice Actor) did a movie role as Vortigern.

Answer: Maybe, Maybe Not. You must wait for the revealing.


Arturia is slow in her pace, walking ever more peacefully now. With Excalibur strapped onto her person, the blonde knight walks through the tranquil area, taking in the morning rays her location had to offer as she continued her fruitful hunt.

While she has no idea where exactly she is, only that she has not yet left the Hinterlands, Arturia smoothly but cautiously goes through this part like any veteran of this area. Thanks to looking over the map of the Hinterlands very thoroughly before ever stepping foot into the region, Arturia was able to pinpoint which places of the open area would best be fit for an early morning hunt. Even if she is in another world far removed from her own, the knight still easily knows the dos and don'ts in the art of the chase for wildlife. Working off of three decades of practice that was first planted by her father, Arturia could rightfully say she was an expert in the field; an undistracted master of the hunt.

Now if only her sword would allow her to STAY undistracted.

Excalibur~

Excalibur~

From The United Kingdom

I'm Looking For Her, I'm Going To California!

Excali-

"Will you stop with the singing?! I'm trying to get my mind right before I go after the next animal!" Arturia snaps, having her hands on her head in an effort trying to shake out that accursed song.

"And why on earth would I do that?" Excalibur questions, not even having the decency to sound the tiniest bit sheepish, "Using harmony through vocalization is the best way to wake yourself up early in the day! And I should know since I am, after all, far more ancient than most could comprehend."

"Really now? But tell me this o-so ancient one: have you even considered your ritual of waking yourself could have attracted any attention? For all you know, people could be coming right towards the source of that noise! Looking for you!"

"You mean like how the others could be looking for you?"

Arturia stops after another step, nothing but the chirping of birds in the early morning reaching her eardrums.

"...I detest how accurate your point is."

"Ha! Victory for Excalibur!"

Arturia feels a vein popping inside her head.

Trying to resist the growing headache she is feeling, the knight took a look around the scenery in found herself standing on.

In another time, she might have thought her knights would find this place to their liking. Not now, not after witnessing this place crawling with bandits and the like. Though she and the Inquisition has had a devastating effect on the madness engulfing the Hinterlands, that didn't stop memories of how ridden with turmoil these lands are. Even in this very area, she couldn't get away from people fleeing chaos, as before her sight is camp of refugees huddled around a small fire, splitting what little they have, the older ones giving up their food to the children.

That particular scene brings a small frown to Arturia's face. This too reminds her of home. At times when the hunting was scarce, and there was not enough to go around, sharing had become a lesson taken to heart. No...that particular brand of chaos isn't right no matter what world. She couldn't say whether or not the Maker and his bride existed, past or present, but she is suppose to be the Herald of Andraste. But who exactly is this Andraste? From what the King has gathered with the reactions of others towards this name, this woman was a lady of true virtue and pure illumination during her lifetime, two things desperately needed in dark times such as these across the lands, and if such things really were the truth of Andraste, then as the bride's herald, she will make it her duty to make sure the mayhem that is raging all over this world is put down as quickly as possible wherever she embarks in this journey.

Green eyes adjusts quickly, flitting high and low for signs of movement. She stalks silently in the grass, taking in all the stimulation the land offered her and processing it.

Slipping into a grove of trees, she sees what she is after. A strong, robust ram, like a sign that it is meant for her to hunt. She glances at her hand for a moment. She raises her hand, focusing her prana into her fingertips and letting it flow through her fist. Rushing out, her empowered fist flew quickly, punching its hide, a startled cry escaping as it falls over. Going over it, Arturia lifts the fresh corpse onto her shoulders, giving an hush grunt under the weight, her steps not at all slowed by her burden, hauling it back towards the makeshift campsite at a considerable pace.

The family glances up as she approaches, noticing the haunting green glow emanating from her palm, lowering their heads thankfully. Setting the dead ram down, she nods once.

"Many thanks and blessings for you, Herald." An elderly woman states.

"It is no trouble. It's dangerous this far out still. Perhaps you might head closer to the Crossroads. It is secure now, the Inquisition will keep it safe." The blonde knight responds quietly.

"Maker watch over you!" A younger man states, likely father to the children.

The little girl of the group reaches out to her, hugging around her legs tightly, grinning a smile filled with spaces.

"Marie, let go child." The older woman scolds.

Carefully, Arturia lowers her palm to pat the girl's head, not expecting such sudden affection. With a bit of regret, the newly-named Marie let go, waving her off enthusiastically as the knight walks away.

"Herald!"

The Knight is surprised to hear the voice of a somewhat exasperate Scout Harding, turning her head and seeing the short woman running towards her, "Thank the Maker I've found you. Everyone back at the camp is in a frenzy looking for you!"

A mix of shame and sheepishness creeps through the blonde knight, but she holds her stern façade, "I see, I shall return at once. My apologies for creating such worries from all of you."

The two woman walk back to the camp, but not before making a quick stop.

Harding gawks at the whole pile of individually killed and tied ram being lifted and tied to Arturia's back along with straps for the shoulders to grab onto if need be; it is large enough in quantity for the dwarf's jaw to drop. It is a hefty carry, but Arturia is a knight of incredible strength, and part of this is mostly due to her father's teachings to always use the legs, never her back when it came to bring home your hunt.

Harding transforms her amazement from the ram to an understandable intrigue towards Arturia alone. There is something very strange about her from the moment the Scout laid eyes on the teen, something which puts her out in the open even if she were in a crowd. She is vague, mysterious, and as the rumors goes, extremely powerful. Her appearance and, at times, actions are both simple and complex; behind her youthful looks stands unbelievable wisdom that surpasses what's expected of her age. The Herald couldn't help but come across as both human and inhuman, as there is no human known that could ever pierce through the magic demons wield so efficiently, all due to her holy sword of course, but also due to her own strengths that she could handle a group of those scourges alone, which Harding very much witnessed herself during her time with the Herald. While it is expected from the Maker's Chosen, it is truly a puzzle for Harding how Arturia, in her eyes, toes the line between being divine and mortal when compared to all before her and currently at her side, having fought and stood as something that seemed so out of reach, but without a proper armor, she is as vulnerable to wounds as any one of them, having to endure and heal from wounds just like any other.

Such a supremely contrasting figure no one can unravel, and yet all the more fascinating for Harding to be brave enough to approach.

Harding recalls all of Arturia's actions here, and it has been an incredible experience to be apart of and continues to be. The blonde girl is so competent at quelling the madness raging through the Hinterlands so quickly and so effectively that it's quite frankly frightening to be witness to the operation firsthand if the scout had to be honest with herself...as if the Herald had done this plenty of times in her past. It is all so extraordinary; how the teenager handles the Rifts with such a determined yet cool mind in the middle of pure lunacy, to be social in directing the other soldiers with the assistance of Cassandra that ends in an otherwise more than accepting outcome, her charisma and self-assurance bringing bravery and confidence to those fighting beside her in a world gone totally insane.

Harding is still recalling one moments of Arturia sealing the Rifts that may be a famed imprint in history.


Flashback...

The battle grew intense. The Rifts hummed outworldly as renegade templars and mages continued to shed blood on both sides. Demons ran amok, their cry and viciousness just begs for death of anyone that comes in their way.

Arturia looked at it all solemnly, not a trace of fear or even confliction somehow as she sees before her a certain path only they could take.

"Do you know what to do, Herald?" Cassandra asked, noticing the methodical gaze that took over Arturia's face as the others await her answer.

"These Rifts are our main concern," Arturia answered, "While we cannot ignore the Mages and Templars, their groups will eventually seize with limited men, while the Rifts will bring an endless horde of demons. I know getting to it will not be simple with all the chaos created by the two enemy groups, and they will strike our backs even if we go in to assist." She turned to face everyone, "I have a plan. If you do not have an ounce of doubt in me, I shall give you my word of promised victory with my life."

"We listen, Herald." A soldier spoke his unhesitating conviction. Truly, they will look to anyone if they appeared to be ahead of them all.

"I need troops to capture the renegade groups' attention, and together-" She included herself, "-we shall lead them away from their battlefield to the Rifts. The renegades and the demons will then be focused on each other, and at their distraction, I will close the Rifts."

Murmurs broke out, but not in question, with them admiring the sense of logic and are in definite belief of their success.

"I only need a handful of troops, the rest shall abide. There is no time to dawdle, will you join me?"

A cheer broke out.

The plan was initiated with a total of over ten men coming along with Arturia, and indeed, it was executed as expected, with only a few soldiers lost on her side, but she vowed to never let those lost lives be meaningless.

Arturia clashed blades with an rogue templar, which surprised him since her blade was invisible, but she was not dealing with the templar only. A mage had come, and saw both of them enemies, he casted a spell, but Arturia's magic resistance took the casted offensive magic away like harmless smoke. The Knight swiftly struck the templar by the neck, and acted efficiently, in bring the sword to the close mage, piercing a vital spot in the neck as well.

She goes and faces her next enemy, a demon - by far craftier then the templar and mage, but her holy blade burned the demon through, she received small wounds, but she still was able to vanquish the demon.

It was not too soon that Arturia calls for a retreat, and the men who survived long enough with her did her bidding. No enemy could ever chase them, as they were locked on to each other.

All according to plan.

Arturia acted quickly, as her own men went to safety, she hurries to the nearest by Rift.

Of course, she was not alone. Cassandra refused to go back, Varric was at a distance but assisted, and the same for goes Solas. They were her shield on her blind spot, and Arturia did not dismiss them nor mind them.

Her allies assisted her when in the middle of closing a Rift; whenever a demon had come, her group acted for her, never letting her the thought of putting her hand down to defend herself. Soon, all the Rifts were close, now there were the surviving enemies to deal with and put down.

The battle ended, and little to none were lost on Arturia's side, and the men and women chanted her name.

Flashback Ends.


It was such a magnificent show of courage combined with an calculative mind. Arturia had practically saved the majority of the soldier on their side, but what had it struck Harding with confusion at that moment was when she saw a sort of undeserving feel in Arturia's eyes once her name was chanted...

"Scout Harding." Harding jumps when the knight speaks out and breaks the silence hanging in the air, thinking Arturia would have chosen to remain quiet throughout the trip back. "...Is there something wrong?"

"Ah, oh, no. Sorry, go on." Harding gestures with her hand.

"I was thinking that, if there is still time, since the disaster has finally died down, we can see that horse master you mentioned before?"

"Hm, yes, I think we can do just that."

All in all, with little chances Harding has gotten in knowing the Herald, she seems like a nice and mature girl. Shame someone at her age has to go through at a time like this, but it's beyond impressive how well she's dealt with it all so far.

They arrive at camp, Arturia is greeted with great respect and pleasant worded admiration, however, one particular came to her, and this particular Seeker is far from happy to see her.

"There you are!" Cassandra can be seen as practically stomping her way towards Arturia, leaving behind crushing imprints in the ground, "What the hell were you thinking going off on your own without telling me, or anyone else?!"

Harding's eyes widen at such a tone being raised towards the powerful knight and herald. Truly, the Seeker really does have bigger balls than most!

For her part, Arturia merely blinks before bowing her head slightly, "I admit it was a mistake to not leave a mention of my whereabouts."

"Far beyond a mistake, half the camp were tearing everything apart looking for you. A soldier could - no should have accompanied you, there was no telling what could have happened if you were one your own!"

Arturia frowns, "Well, surely I don't need to constantly give word to everything I'm doing. I can handle myself fine, Cassandra."

"I don't doubt that, but there's no safer bet leaving us without notification."

"I have already made it clear that I will not do it again."

"Don't think giving me your word as a 'knight' will let you off the hook easily."

Arturia bristles at this.

"I don't appreciate that tone of yours Pentaghast."

"Well, I can hardly imagine ANYONE appreciating the fact that the Herald and sole Maker-sent hero to walk off, leaving all of us to wonder what could have happened to you!"

Harding helplessly watches as the two women bicker back and forth, the argument growing loud enough for bystanders to hear and stop whatever they're doing to watch this heated back and forth.

Cassandra may be overstepping her boundaries in scolding the Herald, but she was swirling in great worry when Arturia was nowhere to be found. Unreasonable thoughts came to her while she looked for her missing companion: what if Arturia had wandered off and been captured? Killed? It could have been by an enemy or perhaps an accident which they may never know if they do not find the body. It shook her when the worst possible things could have happened to the Knight, and when she spot the returning Herald, a wave of relief came over her, followed by immense fury that Arturia could ever be so thoughtless to create such worries.

Arturia has had enough of this, evident to her frustrated sigh, "If you are quite close to seizing your scolding, I have other business to attend to." She adjusts the ram on her back, a thing which Cassandra had just noticed, and begins to walks off.

"And where are you going?"

Arturia halts her steps, a twitch of her eyebrow, then turns her head to answer, "To skin these animals at the building ahead..." She is coming close to adding mother in a sarcastic tone, but that would be quite unknightly. She proceeds without sparing a second glance towards the still fuming Cassandra.


Arturia places her focus on calming herself down as she enters a stable-like house, while heavily damaged from war waged in the Hinterlands, is still quite usable for limited jobs such as this one.

She places one of the tied up ram upon a worn down but still stable table, nearly letting it slam upon it. After rolling up the her sleeves to the appropriate length, she collects a knife built to help her remove the fur of the animal. Just as she begun, she gained a visitor coming from behind.

"Hello Arturia."

The Knight acknowledges the approaching elf mage, nodding to him without needing to turn completely towards him, "Good morning Solas."

"That was quite an entrance. I would say what occurred between you and Cassandra will be the talk among the people for a while." He states from behind, taking in how she handles her hunt from a respectable distance.

Arturia sighs, "I apologize for the ruckus. It was unsightly I'm sure, such a discussion should have been made elsewhere so not to disturb those around us." Even though she truly felt Cassandra to be out of line back there, she admits that even she had acted just as brash if only a bit more controlled.

"Well I am rather satisfied to see you return. Although many have reasons to worry, I believed that you would handle yourself well. Of course, a note would have been acceptable." The elf states, a bit a of relief being found in his voice.

Arturia nods, "I understand. It will not happen again." With a careful grip, she is able to remove one part of the ram's fur before moving onto to the next.

Solas shifts his position closer to the knight's own, a sign he is moving onto a more personal topic at hand, "If you do not mind, perhaps right now would be an appropriate time for me to give you a bit of an understanding on how magic is wielded by mages? There is much to teach you when it comes to knowing about the magic of this world."

Arturia briefly stills, her mind catching how he said "this world", almost as if he...but she could be overthinking this. Then again, it's only a matter of time before she will someday reveal the truth of her existence; the truth of her to actually be foreign from this world. It's only a difficult time to comprehend when exactly she should bring this up. She decides to answer Solas before the elf can read her moment of pause, "Now would be a good. I appreciate you sparing time to elaborate the workings of the Hinterlands."

"It's not trouble, and I do look forward to spare insights for those who are actually interested. In a time of paranoia and disruptions, people would not hesitate to turn away what they perceived as dangerous, rather than take a moment to understand." He states in quite the factual tone, as if he has been there to witness such dismissal of learning many times over. For all the knight knew, that idea could very well be true.

Arturia bobs her head in understanding, going on to the skin of the ram before her.

"Now then, let me start by explaining the concept of how magic is channeled and used to change the world itself, albeit on different scales that varies from individual to individual. One of the basic understandings of this is that the Fade provides us this ability; the strength of a user's connection to the Fade also affects their use of their magic. To be able to warp the very fabric of reality to their own bidding, yet mages are a weak point in the Veil, as they are supported by the Fade itself. Magic is like creating an illusion with physical properties strong enough to exist in the world, and of course, such power attracts creatures from the other side."

Arturia frowns, "Demons."

"Yes." Solas states firmly, before taking on an more hardened tone, the kind one would use when giving a severe warning to another, "Magic is a fascinating thing, and I honestly would recommend further studying if you have an interest in it, but it is undeniably dangerous. Any reckless use of it will bring a cost of a life, possession, or even a loss of mentality which causes those to seek destruction."

It is so much like the world which Arturia had once lived. Magic is nothing to take light of, there are those who are able to use it with control and still stand a moral ground, like her Court Mage, Merlin. Then there are those with warped mind and far than questionable morals who uses magic to disastrous means and taking lives of people including children with such incomprehensible ease, like the Caster, Gilles De Rais.

"I have met more than once of people who have used magic for their own gain and...revolting pleasures," A scowl forms at the thought of the French general turned insane magus, "For anyone to train in magic, they will have to take years perfecting the craft of self-control, and grow beyond there at a steady path."

There are similarities between the magic used in this world and the magic used in Arturia's world. Being a knight, and later on king, she is not well diverse in such properties as she has dictated that magecraft was not the way of the king, but she has had Merlin explain this to her. From what he had taught in one of his rare moments of straightforwardness, magic is birthed from a source that all ambitious mage wish to form a connection to: the True Magic from the Root.

However, the difference still stands between the magic of the two worlds: while mages in Thedas have to study and make a connection to the Fade, the magus in her world arguably already have these pieces of magic coursing through their bodies, passed down through generations and adopting the Circuits that comes to play in the use of magic. As Arturia recalls, mana is manipulated within the environment and within the person.

She cuts off another piece of skin off the ram, and her movements slowing when her eyes focused on her hand that still glows that haunting green; the hand which carries what could really be very a piece of the Fade itself.

She has the power which shares the same properties of the Fade itself, leading her to become a living connection of this world and to that otherworldly realm. She is also an alien from another dimension where magic is viewed and used differently. Arturia can let out a breath of relief that she isn't in a continuing excruciating pain due to the unfamiliarity the power of the Fade has in Arturia, or perhaps there is something similar to the magic in her world and in this one?

If the Fade has come to accept Arturia, then what else could this power offer with the strength she already possesses?

Her thoughts carry back to the confrontation she had against the Pride Demon, and how at a last moment to make an effort to end things, there was an mix in using her power and the power of the Mark. It was a one-hit great damage that eventually led Arturia out of commission for more than a day. She wonders what else could be distributed in this mix?

Arturia expresses this question to Solas. The elf ponders to himself, thoughtfully silent, and then a suggestion concurrs, "I believe we should make studies and tests for your new-found power, see in what way you can manipulate the piece of the Beyond embedded in you. Who knows? Closing Rifts may not be the only ability you can do."

Arturia considers this. Being able to understand more about the foreign magic in the palm of her hand? She finds this more than acceptable, and smiles towards the apostate, "I look forward to expand my understanding of this Mark, no doubt I would need assistance and your guidance will be the upmost needed."

"It would be my pleasure," Solas recuperates with his own eagerness, "Now, are you in need of another knife for all this game?"


Arriving at the farm belonging to horse master Dennet, Arturia and Solas continue on discussing their plans on how to get together and test the abilities of the Mark. Such plans should be put in a timed schedule, something to write down will be required, and most importantly, a place outside for Arturia to use her ability. There's no telling how powerful and possibly incredibly destructive the Mark will release when Arturia is not closing Rifts, so it must be proceeded with the utmost caution.

Cassandra scowls at the sight of the two walking and talking in front as they went to meet with Dennet, still visibly peeved at her and Arturia's earlier spat. She is able to catch a glimpse of the knight looking at her way - a look of what seems like regret being reflected in those emerald eyes - before the girl's attention is retrieved by Solas. Whatever it is, they seem rather deep in discussion, and that brings on suspicions to the former Right Hand of the Divine towards what could they be talking about.

"Well Seeker, I see that you are in a good mood," Varric jokes, and bringing Cassandra out of her glare, "You know she's a big girl, right? I'm sure when the time is right she'll come to us with whatever trouble she has."

Cassandra scoffs, "I am not trying to treat her like a child, she's far too mature to deserve such an attitude from me...or at least I had thought so."

"The last thing she needs is another stern lecture." Varric chastises, wagging a finger in disapproval like a true parent.

The Seeker sighs, "I know better now. I wish for us to make amends, it's needed for us to continue our trust in each other in the battlefield and out."

"So why not go to her now? I'm sure if you ask a little nicer, just for a moment, Arturia might listen."

Uncertainty crosses Cassandra's features, "I...am unfamiliar with how to go about this. I doubt that she would wish to speak to me after the scene I created."

"It's not like she's going to turn you away once you go over there," Varric sounds with such sureness. Cassandra still isn't convinced, remaining in one place, deeply conflicted, "Trust me, even for a girl who lost her family, she's not one for pushing people away."

Cassandra reacts as if she had tripped while standing, completely thrown off from what is just said before looking to Varric and processing what he had just revealed, "What? Her family...H-How do you know this?!"

"It's a wondrous little thing Seeker: all I did was ASK and she was straightforward! Granted, she didn't give me the details other than it happened long before the Conclave's destruction, but I figured it be best not to press over the loss of her loved ones."

Completely taken aback, Cassandra holds for a moment to let this fact sink in. At this moment Varric continues, "Look Seeker, Pancakes may not be the most sociable girl -"

"What did you just call her?"

Varric smirks, "Like the name? Had to go through a list before sticking by this one for our dearest Herald. She doesn't know yet, and I want to keep this as a surprise for her. Anyway, as I was saying, while she's not personal, she's very much approachable, and from what I can tell so far, she wants to be a personal person. Work getting to know all of us and to fully understand just what's going on with the people she's on this little journey with. But from what I've observed of our girl is that she's a fresh face to this kind of thing, in fact, I might've have seen a couple of...interesting times where she seems to be standing around and unintentionally scaring a nervous wreck of an soldier just because she's there. Her ways of making, let's say, 'small talks'." He recounts while making quotation marks in the air.

Varric nearly chuckles at the few random topics Arturia had came up with in order to successfully do said talks: the weather-which was really a poor choice considering the giant hole in the sky and whatnot, then a lengthy time about armor and swords, like, very lengthy, where she went into details, and, by far his favorite, how much of a nuisance unforeseen droppings of horses can be, followed by something about an ocean and not liking it at all...despite the waters to be miles and miles away. All the poor guy in front of her could do was stand there, and respond in hopes that he's answering correctly, as if he's solving a puzzle that dictates if his life goes on or not.

Varric swears he's witnessing something akin to gold for this main character, although, he's still deciding if he should put it in his story and hope to never expect a holy sword to his neck. He has come to know the temper that girl has beneath that cool as ice exterior.

"I guess you can say that she has the same dilemma as you have right now, Seeker." The rogue author shifts, saving the thoughts of before for another time, "I better go around and see if there's much I can do around this farm while the other two secure those horses. Be seeing you around, Seeker." The dwarf goes away, leaving the brunette woman to her thoughts.

Cassandra is shocked - completely flabbergasted at the news she has just received. Arturia's family: dead. This...this must be why not even Lady Nightgale herself could unravel anything on Arturia's family or past. Had they been gone for so long? Had Arturia been by herself ever since she was young - younger than she is even now? How sensible this suddenly came to be, how Arturia is so undisturbed with the hardships all around her. The woman now suddenly understands Arturia, even if just a little.

With resolve, Cassandra begins planning what kind of conversation she will have with Arturia before this day ends.


Dinnertime.

To think that the Herald of Andraste, their savior and knight in shining armor and gilded sword, couldn't get any more admirable. Now, they truly have a taste of her many, wondrous skills: by actually tasting one of her creations!

It is a surprise that the Knight volunteered to cook. The cooks that come and go aren't top-class which is to be expected, as no top-class chefs could ever think to risk their lives and live among the battlefield, so the people that are here have no particular thought of making a fine diner for the hard-working soldiers who've risked their lives everyday. In fact, the cooks can be of the soldiers themselves, and it is evident how little they knew in working around the kitchen.

And as a result, the soldiers who have to consume these makings don't experience true delicacy, until Arturia came in and took up the cooking utensils. Like these soldiers, Arturia had also experienced poor tastes of the food in her time; it was simply to roast the meat or potatoes, all her knights had suffered the bland and greasiness that could be afforded. There was no spice or true flavor, and Arturia had the capacity to do something about it, but to dismiss her chefs and do all it herself, it was unsightly for one who bore the title 'King of Knights', rude in any other meaning. She knew her chefs did their best, and she could not take their works on a low account.

Especially Gawain, the poor man who tried his damnest yet was more responsible than any other for Arturia's distaste for her era's cuisine.

But her restraint during that time was also due to her role of being King, as an King does not cook for himself, something that he has subjects for, to act in another way would be deemed as unorthodox. But then again, if Arturia had a better understanding in cooking, could she not have taken the time with her chefs, offer gentle suggestions? They would of most certainly follow, but again, as King that would have appeared to be rather too unorthodox, yet that was not the reason why she did nothing.

It just never came to mind, and that might be her greatest shame. Arturia had more than one chance to look deeper into the hearts of her subject, and yet, not only did she not pursue, it was never even a consideration.

Now, in this new world and in this new life, she can do what she has failed to do in the past. Work close along side the people she is fighting with, and relay her advice in how deal with the food they have. Throughout the process, she mainly handled what was currently available for tonight's meal, the tactical use of which pan to use as well as which spoon, taste-test everything, which she had the pleasure in doing this for every batch, always having her eye to signal her if the fire is too much and risk the food getting burnt too much or to little and risk the food getting raw, always cleaning the knife after chopping the potatoes so that any lingering flavor would not affect the next food item like tomatoes - each food should be its own particular taste...

Perhaps to another eyes, it may appear that she is doing everything, but logically, she needs extra helpings for any of this work. If not, then her attempt to know the soldiers would be pointless by doing everything herself...it's just very difficult to keep firm to the goal when it comes to food.

Let it be known that Arturia Pendragon is a knight who has an affinity for food, aside from honor, dragons, and lions.

In conclusion to Arturia's assistance, the people are in absolute awe over the food they are served. It is beyond acceptable, it is beyond edible, it is beyond good or delicious. It is breathtakingly marvelous. Every person is enjoying their meal to such a high degree, it brought a boost in morale.

Now if only the same can be said for Arturia herself. Due to her affinity for food, she has this small, very tiny, miniscule of a quirk...

She DETESTS sharing her food. Too much of it, and Arturia swears she would be wreaking havoc within her own stomach, and such a thing can affect her mood as well. It leads her to think such unkindly thoughts in what she will do to those who would dare try to take her own special portions away from her!

She wonders absently if there could be a death-penalty for-

"My King, would you like to have a talk about this?" Her Excalibur questions, very cautious, yet sounding proud all the same which blends with his bravery and closeness he held with the Knight and wielder.

The Knight blinks, taking a moment to regain herself, "Forgive me, I...I don't know what came over me." She continues eating with a lift of her fork that carries a chunk of meat.

"Well I certainly do! For the safety of all, and of course because you are my rightful King, there shall be a hefty portion for you and you alone!"

Arturia rolls her eyes, she states in lecture, "We cannot be greedy, there are soldiers who are in need of this if we wish to enter battle with as much energy as we can obtain beforehand."

"...Then why do I still hear the many ways in which one can be tortured in your head?"

"Arturia?"

The Knight turns her head, seeing the warrior woman Cassandra. The sight of the woman reminds her of their earlier spat, Arturia still held some bit of resentment towards her attitude from before. However, sooner or later, Arturia knows that they had to put aside their confrontation in hopes to work together in a respectable manner again. In all fairness, Arturia acknowledges that the argument got unnecessarily escalated - to say that she was also in the wrong, and she will quickly admit her thoughtless action and assure herself to never do it again.

In truth, it is a different experience to be spoken to in such a way as Cassandra had done. Arturia has become used to being treated as someone to be taken in high regard, even Mordred, though the knight rebelled, still honored Arturia to be a worthy opponent. Perhaps in a way, Arturia should be thanking Cassandra for speaking to her as an equal, an equal that can be approached normally and scolded if she is to make a misstep.

That's really how close acquaintances are, aren't they? There would be compliance and there would be fights. In the end, it's a reliable source beyond oneself.

Cassandra clears her throat, any lingering immaturity Arturia holds in regards to Cassandra vanishes when it appears that something is troubling the warrior.

"Might I have a word with you, in private?"

Arturia looks among the many people who are eating to their heart's content. Though they are distracted, Arturia sets the plate down - as heart-wrenching it is to do so - and follows Cassandra who leads her to an area with anyone out of ear shots.

"If this is about our earlier discussion..." Arturia begins, inhaling before continuing, "I would like to say first that I am sorry for responding to you in such a way. I had left without anyone's know, and at my departure chaos would have risen. I admit that I may deserved your anger, I knew not the trouble I must have caused."

Cassandra looks at her expressionless for a moment before giving her answer, "I should also admit that I may have reacted too...hot-headedly. I knew better than to express my troubles in such a way. I...apologize."

Arturia accepts her apology with a nod.

"But that was not why I wish to speak with you."

Arturia blinks, "Then what else? Is everything alright?"

Cassandra stops, the two women making it outside of where others could hear them, she looks up to the stars that sparkles in the night; how uplifting and fortunate it is that such small dots of lights is not smothered by the sight of the Breach.

"I had a brother," Cassandra begins, a start that is odd and out of nowhere for Arturia, yet she listens. "His name is Anthony, he was older than I. A dragon hunter who showed what a Pentaghast could truly be. I idolized him, and wanted to hunt dragons as he did. Even though our uncle forbade it. Anthony promised he would train me in secret. We would hunt together one day, brother and sister vanquishing the beasts of the old."

The Knight has a feeling where this story would go but keeps quite.

"Then he died on me. It was the end of everything for me."

Arturia bows her head sympathetically, "I am sorry to hear that," Truly, she is, and yet the question still persists why Cassandra is bringing this up?

Cassandra then begins to explain how her brother's fate came to be, "A group of apostates wanted dragon blood, and wanted Anthony to get it for them."

So it seems that the brother had died by the beast. A tragedy, but Arturia can come to an understanding that such risks exist.

At least, that is what she thought.

"He refused," Cassandra continues, adopting an expression of painful heartbreak mixed with rage at the past, "And they killed him for it. In front of me."

Arturia's eyes widen at the unexpected twist.

"I begged the Chantry to let me become a templar. Instead, they sent me to the Seekers of the Truth. It took me many years to let go my desire for vengeance. At times I could not breathe. The rage nearly choked me. I sometimes wonder how different my life would be if Anthony was still alive. Would I be a dragon hunter? Marry to some noble fool? A mother of three? I cannot say. I take solace in believing the Maker has a plan for me...but he is not always kind."

"I...Cassandra, I am at a lost for word in how to express my sorrow for you. You have survived through trials of loss and hardship," Arturia states somberly.

"Thank you," The taller woman the eyes back at the blonde knight, "And I believe you might be wondering why I am bringing up this sad tale?" She faces the knight fully, "Varric has told me that you have also experienced loss. Your family."

The Knight reacts stoically, but deep within she is on an attentive alert.

"I just want you to know, I can understand what you may have gone through in losing someone you love. I will not force you to tell me in details of your past, but I will offer you myself, that I may listen whenever you feel inclined to tell it."

So this is how it is, Cassandra hearing Arturia's vague passing of her family and as a response, she offers her own understanding. Yes, Arturia indeed has lost all she had come closed to in life; her foster father on his dying bed, Guinevere when she only acted out of her own heart, and all her Knights of the Round Table. The Knight doesn't believe Cassandra can understand such a length of a loss, in fact, she rather have it that the warrior never experiences it, but nevertheless, this approach is very appreciable.

"...Thank you, Cassandra."

Cassandra nods, "Of course, Arturia. I should get back to the dining, seeing exactly how good your skills in cooking is. Will you join me?" She offers a small smile, looking rather forced, but she is trying, and Arturia gifts the attempt with her own smile.

"I accept the invitation, Cassandra."

With that, the two women returns to the dining area. However, in the mind of the King of Knights, she has come to a realization with the reminder of what Mother Giselle had said to her: how in this world that's facing disaster, the frightened people who's value of friends and family slips from their grasp, looks to Arturia as a figure of hope, and yet no one knows that she was once a King who had also lost something valuable, if not everything.

'A broken messiah for a broken world then, huh?' The Knight thinks to herself.

How fitting. Perhaps there was reason her existence was tossed here after all.


Yeah...our King of Knights here isn't very good at being personal is she?

This is an interpretation that can easily be understood if one remembers that, in her Fate backstory, she choose to be lone in her path as King Arthur meaning she choose to get close to NO ONE in her army, Round Table, and etc. So, while she most definitely not socially inept(I mean, she's KING FREAKIN ARTHUR for godsake! One of the most charismatic figures in all of history that we know), but on a personal level...

...Yeah she's got a lot of work now, doesn't she? But she IS putting an effort to correct this, so you gotta give her points for that at the very least. We will be seeing her get better at this kind of thing as time goes on and as she gets closer and closer to her Inner Circle and others.

Also, yes, you did not read that wrong: Gunivere and Arturia DID love each other deeply like any ideal husband and wife back in those days. But how did that whole Lancelot situation still happen? Well, tragic circumstances, DUH! Plus, this'll make some interesting stuff to go with if(a BIG if) romance comes down Arturia's way in the story.

And you know how those go...