The Camelot Singularity took place on the advent of the Ninth Crusade for the Holy Land. Wherein the Knights of Camelot overpowered the kingdoms of the Levant to secure the Goddess Rhongomyniad's hold on Jerusalem. But what if the Singularity happened just a…. Few(?) years before the 9th Crusade? In a time where Guy de Lusignan - the last King - had not yet assumed the throne. What if… the Kingdom of Heaven still stood tall and defiant to face the false Goddess?
…
The first thing he remembered as his spirit entered the land of the living was the familiar sand and heat.
As the hot wind brushed upon his skin and the irritating sand clung to his boots, the man we know as Archer realised where he was. He had a fleeting memory about this place. He remembered the people he helped here. Poor, desolate, desperate. He remembered the things he did to keep them safe from war. How he built a medical camp to house and heal the homeless and sick-ridden. How he patrolled the borders day and night to protect them from armed bandits roaming the area. He remembered how the children would smile and wave as he passed by with their food rations at hand. A brief ghost of a smile found his face at the thought. Though, it quickly vanished after he brought himself out of his reverie. Now's not the time to think such thoughts. He has a job to do.
And so began the tale of Archer's servitude in the Holy City of Camelot in the Land of Jerusalem. Year 1184 A.D.
"Ah, Sir Archer. You've returned."
The red bowman looked towards the man who spoke to him with a mildly annoyed expression. He had been walking down the halls of the palace built by the drones of the Lion King at this point. The robotic enforcement knights that guard every corner of the City were the same ones that let him in through the entrance. He was enjoying this time of silence when all of a sudden Gawain interrupted it with what seems to be an attempt at small talk.
"What do you wish of me, Sir Gawain?'' Archer asked amusedly. His calm demeanour oozed with annoyance at the disruption of his peace.
The Sun Knight was off put at the undercurrent of animosity the bowman had for him. He had no idea why Archer would be feeling this way towards him. They both serve the same King and have the same intentions, why would he be acting this way?
"A brief conversation as I lead you towards the throne room." Gawain explained as he moved his hand towards the direction of the throne room. "The King wishes a word."
Archer took a second just staring at the Sun Knight after hearing that. What could she want now? He's made clear about what he thought about serving under her.
"What does our King seek?" Archer asked with a careful tone. Gawain took this with confusion and narrowed his eyes towards the bowman.
"Is something wrong between you and our King? Why must you be like this at the mention of his name?" Gawain asked in suspicion.
"I do not know what you're talking about." Archer said with crossed arms and an unamused face. "If you think there is something between the two of us, then speak of this to the King. I have no intent on telling you whatever you think is going on."
Gawain bit his tongue at that. Why must this man be needlessly insufferable?! Ever since the bowman had been summoned half a year ago, he has always been like this. Aloof, rude, and crass. He has never tried to get along with anyone save Mordred, and by the looks of it he does not wish to be compliant any time soon.
"Be like that then." Gawain huffed as he gave up on his questioning. He then turned around to walk towards the throne room. Fully expecting Archer to follow with.
"Do you have word from the King in the Desert?" Gawain asked as they walked.
"He has a name, and yes." Archer replied as he gave a scroll to the Sun Knight. Who started reading its contents voraciously. He then closed the scroll once he reached the end.
"The king wishes to speak to you privately concerning your journey around the desert." Gawain said as his boots echoed through the stone halls. "Your findings are of value, it seems. Whatever it may be, you are required to divulge everything you have discovered."
"I know how debriefing works, Sir Gawain." Archer said as he chuckled dryly.
"Then you must understand to withhold your sense of humour as you speak to the King. Your way of speaking is a great disrespect to the King, and I shall not allow any of it to be uttered any more in his presence." Gawain said as he glared at the bowman. He was slightly annoyed that the bowman had little to no reaction to his glare other than a side eye glance before walking past the Sun Knight. As the Sun Knight looked forward, he noticed the doors to the throne room being near. He hastened his steps and opened the doors. What they saw were two individuals walking towards the door they came in from.
"Oh! If it isn't masters Archer and Gawain." smiled Touta. One of the servants summoned just like Archer. "We were just leaving the palace until you two came."
"Indeed." Xuanzang Sanzang affirmed with an equally bright smile. "By the grace of the Lion King, we were allowed to leave the city in order to go on our own journey outside the walls."
Archer and Gawain perked up at the news. They looked towards each other, asking if they knew anything about this development and found nothing. Gawain took this time to ask his own question.
"Where do you intend to go?" Gawain asked.
"To where our hearts desire!" Xuanzang replied enthusiastically.
"Where my teacher goes, I simply follow." Touta replied humbly.
"How did you get the King to allow such a request?" Archer asked curiously. His mind calculating and deep in thought.
"All I did was ask, and he delivered." Xuanzang replied as if it's the most obvious answer in the world. "It goes to show how he isn't exactly a bad king."
"Indeed. The benevolence of our King knows no bounds." Gawain said as he risked a side glance towards the bowman, who silently scoffed at the sight.
"Well then." Gawain said with confidence. "If that is the King's wish, then I shall not stop you. Go on your merry way, Lady Xuanzang and Sir Touta."
"We will!" the pair said as they started walking out of the throne room. The Sun Knight then shut the doors. He did not need to look at the bowman to tell him to follow. As they went deeper into the throne room, they caught sight of their target: The Lion King. But closer to them was Tristan and Mordred.
"Well look who's back! And here I was betting on whether or not you'd survive." Mordred exclaimed as the Sun Knight and the bowman walked towards them. Tristan simply stayed silent and just watched the conversation happening before him.
"Please, like you have money." Archer bit back. He raised his hand towards the Knight of Treachery and what he got was a very aggressive high five. Mordred was okay to the bowman. Other than being loud and trigger happy, she doesn't have the uppity attitude the rest of the Knights had.
"What did you find? Other than shit and sand." Mordred asked as she crossed her arms whilst looking at Archer expectantly.
"All we found was that the city was guarded by soldiers. No one unable to carry a sword was found in the city." Archer explained briefly before looking towards Gawain expecting the Sun Knight would give a more in depth explanation.
The bowman was peeved and relieved that there were no civilians present in the city. Peeved because it increased the unnatural feeling of this whole scenario and relieved that there aren't people that can be forced to serve under anyone's employ. The 'enemy' - the Knights of Camelot called - would rue the day they would make slaves of people. Fortunately their ruler didn't have a bone of cruelty to him.
"Damascus is only a Holy City in name." Gawain said as he opened his hand to show the missive he's holding. "They have no mages, magecraft, or any Holy Artefacts they can use to fight against us. They are vulnerable."
"All the more to take it for the King, then." Mordred surmised nonchalantly. Casually waving off the potential casualties and needless deaths her idea would bring. A detail Archer silently noticed.
"Yes, but let's not forget they still have power." Archer interjected thereby bringing the attention back to him. "There is one man amongst them who could be a handful if we do not play our cards right. And let us not forget." he pointedly stared at Mordred. "That we are doing this to protect them. If we can solve this peacefully, then we must do so in that manner."
"I agree with you, Sir Archer." Tristan spoke for the first time. Knowingly voicing out his opinion before the Knight of Treachery could complain about Archer's insinuation. "You were not sent out to wage war but make peace. If we could assimilate them into our ranks, then we are making another step into restoring humanity."
Archer paused at that. He looked around to see the two other Knight's nodding their heads in agreement. Mordred even chimed in something that his mind couldn't process right now. Was that what they really believed they were doing here? To save humanity? They were made aware of the incineration when they were summoned by the Lion King, but Archer knew that he was being lied to in some capacity. It's… hard to believe that they were doing this for goodness' sake when they've just wiped out half of the Knights of the Round Table simply because they wanted nothing to do with the Lion King.
Not that he'll ever voice it out anytime soon. For in the corner of his eye, he saw her. Walking in stride like a lioness who knew she was the queen. Her beauty shone through even more with the stained glass window shining under the sunlight. Her emerald eyes sparkled like the forests of yore. Honestly, had it not been for the circumstances he's currently in, Archer would say she was perfect in every way. She was wearing her usual armour, but where her sword used to be was replaced by the second strap to keep Rhongomyniad's holster in place. By her side was Agravain who was whispering some things to her as they walked. It did not take long for the others with him to address his current object of attention. They turned around swiftly yet smoothly, knelt on one knee with their heads lay low and placed their right hand about their heart.
"Your Majesty!" The three of the Knights of the Round Table exclaimed aloud. Their voices echoing through the throne room and bouncing off the robot sentinels standing behind the King. The Lion King was about to let them rise up but her attention shifted slowly to the only one who did not kneel to her. In point of fact, what she received was a look of exasperated annoyance on top of him crossing his arms as if seemingly unimpressed with her.
To say that she's gotten used to it is both demeaning and shameful to admit. Demeaning because she would not accept any insult from her own knights and shameful because she allowed him to live despite what she perceived as his arrogance and extremely unpleasant behaviour.
"Sir Archer, you did not kneel." The Lion King's soft yet sharp voice pointed out. The kneeling Knight's looked up to see their peers staring back at the King in abject defiance.
"I noticed." Archer quipped snarkily. His tone is not to the liking of the ears of the subjects of the King.
"Why didn't you?" the Lion King asked as she waved her hand to let the Knight's stand. She had walked right through the trio to stand right before the stubborn bowman. She wanted a closer look. To peer into the steel grey eyes clouded with emotions she cannot fathom. She wanted an explanation for his madness, above all.
"Heh. It's a matter of principle, really." Archer chuckled which caused the Knight's to flinch in response before looking towards their King to see nothing but apathy.
"Pray tell, what could this principle be?" The Lion King challenged. Her narrowing eyes enticed the bowman to goad the King even further. "Surely it must be of great import as you would follow it to the point of disrespecting me."
"It's simple, really." Archer said as he waved his hand out as if to bat away the Lion King's attempted intimidation. "As I am neither your subject nor your Knight, I find no reason to bow to you."
"Oh?" the Lion King growled as she closed the distance between them with a piercing glare. "Even though it is I who summoned you here? You have already engendered yourself in my eyes as a man of impropriety. Yet you still stand tall as if faultless before your King."
The Lion King would never have tolerated this kind of insubordination with anyone no matter who they may be. But this man. This bloatheaded, fool of a man continues to do so. She knew that he knew that their power is incomparable to one another, yet he does not care. Her anger is his source of joy. Her annoyance brings a smirk to his face. And above all, every single action she takes to save humanity this man never ceases to counter her. He has grown to be the biggest thorn in her side ever since the days Merlin was in her court. And that's saying something considering he's been gone for millenia about now.
A small flicker of emotion came towards her chest when the Lion King noticed a sudden shift in the clouded eyes of the bowman. His haughty look turned into a frown and his arms suddenly crossed as if in dismay or disappointed. In what… or who… the Lion cannot say. Or will not say… or could not. The bowman then took up the arrogant facade once more to reply.
"I would apologise to you… if you were my King." Archer started slowly so as to let the Lion King listen closely to his words. "But you forget this one thing:"
The Bowman took one step forward as if to challenge the Lion King. Who stood still and unflinching as she looked up to meet the gaze of the taller man. Both of them were glaring at each other as if the scorching heat met the freezing cold.
"You are not my King." Archer whispered so that only the two of them could hear. "And I will only bow to the one who I have given my life for"
He turned around to leave the throne. Thereby leaving her and her Knights in his wake. He did not need to finish what he was trying to say. Because the Lion King heard it echo in the chasms of her soul.
"And you are not her…" the voice in her mind said.
"Do you want me to kill him, sire?" Agravain said in between his gritted teeth. He was the only one who spoke after the speechless Knights just watched the whole thing unfold. Fortunately for the wordless ones, they all had the same question in their mind.
"..." the Lion King looked towards her Knights with an expression they cannot pinpoint. It wasn't aggravation, nor fury, nor any other emotion they expected them to see. She was thrown off by what Archer said to her, that's for sure. But being thrown off isn't an emotion. Matter of fact. She shouldn't be feeling any emotion whatsoever. She already expelled her humanity so she shouldn't be feeling so…
Hollow…
"I shall address him when I deem necessary." Arturia said as she bowed her head slightly. She began walking to her throne and tried to push aside the words that echoed in her mind. There were more pressing matters to look forward to anyways.
"Your Majesty." one of the robot drones chimed in. "Lancelot has entered the gate."
"Good." the Lion King muttered as she sat on her throne. "We will start with him. We need to know more about our enemies… In the Kingdom of Jerusalem."
Jerusalem… Hours ago…
I am Balian of Ibelin. I have lived my life as nothing more than a blacksmith until my true father, Godfrey, sought me as his heir all those years ago. I have had many trials and tribulations. All of them dealing with either the realm, the faith, and… love.
Since my ascension as the Baron of Ibelin, my services, my counsel, and my sword were rendered indispensable by my King, Baldwin IV. His right hand, Tiberias, welcomes me with open arms as a result of my actions benefiting the Kingdom. It was he who recommended to the King to make me one of his closest advisors. Though not officially. As the King's enemies linger about seeking any reason to take my life.
But that might come sooner than later. Though, not by their hand.
It started with a shift in the air. Few were able to notice it, yet I was made aware of this by the Hospitaller who served my Father. He came to warn me of a power. A power far greater and menacing than whatever devilry I could possibly imagine. Even more so than the threat of Saladdin and his Saracens. He was not alone in this, for as soon as I was warned, Tiberias and his men entered my room to call both I and the Hospitaller to the King's private quarters. The King had felt the same shift the Hospitaller had.
They came from the North. But not the north that I was familiar with. The Hospitaller spoke with words that are foreign to me, but the King explained to me that there are 'two spheres' of the world. One of them is called the 'Moonlit'. It is here that spirits both arcane and archaic dwelled outside the bounds of time and reality. I do not understand what they are saying, and neither did Tiberias or any of the King's closest. Though Sibylla, the King's sister and my… What matters is that a group from the Moonlit side of the world made their presence known just days away from Damascus. Their intention clouded from our vision.
Next came the messengers. Two from different camps. One from Saladdin's court and the other from the camp of the King's current worries. The other messenger came first, for the King found this man to be the most important to address. And he was right. The messenger is a tall, stout man. Dashing black hair that shone with his spotless armour. His face was firm yet relaxed. It was obvious that he is one formidable man be it in physical prowess and intellect. His words hold sway amongst the people in the King's court as if he had been a King himself. But from his introduction, it seems that he was not.
"I am Lancelot du Lac." the messenger said as he brought forth his hand to offer what seems to be a letter encapsulated inside a scroll. "And I come as the voice of my King, Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, with words that may hopefully persuade you to listen."
The royal court muttered like bees in their hive. They looked sceptical at the man who claims to be the Knight from Legend. I agree with them, though I have been gifted with keener eyes than most. And I can tell that not an ounce of a lie was found in the man before my King.
"He is who he says he is." Muttered darkly by the Hospitaller beside me. As I was standing behind the seat of the King, I can be assured that King Baldwin heard him too. For his imperceptible nod said so. Was there something they knew that I did not?
"And I am King Baldwin, fourth of my name and ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Like my forefathers before me." the King introduced himself with a bow. If he had any more doubts with the claim of the man's identity, he did not show it.
The man who claimed to be Lancelot narrowed his eyes not out of suspicion, rather it was more in a quality between curiosity and perplexedness. Though it is hardly seen by many when he spoke once more.
"I confess," 'Lancelot' started with an amused expression towards the King. "I did not expect you to be so trusting as to believe my claim."
"Customarily, other men might." the King said as he tilted his head to where the Hospitaller and I were standing. "Yet I have been given the gift of insight by God Above to discern truth from lie."
"So it seems." Lancelot conceded half heartedly. It would appear that he is quite an unbelieving fellow. A sceptic, perhaps? No, that is not quite right. He is better than that. He can see things few can see. Is that why I felt his gaze shift towards where I am?
"Keep your guard up, son." the Hospitaller grimaced beside me. "He is measuring himself against the King." Not once did he end his glare at the messenger.
"What is his intention?" I turned around towards him.
"It will reveal itself soon. Be prepared when it comes." the Hospitaller cryptically explained.
"You are a leper." Lancelot callously observed. It caught my attention so quickly that I whipped my head towards him. I can feel myself glaring with a burning hatred for the man. And it appears that I am not alone. Tiberias and the King's Men unconsciously held their weapons tightly whilst the guard and the people surrounding the court stiffened at the accusation. The King meanwhile, looked at him amusedly for reasons I cannot fathom.
"That I am, yes." Baldwin agreed. You could hear the smile as he said that. It's as if he noticed something and found it pleasing.
Lancelot, probably reacting to the undertone of the King's reply, dismissed the current topic and took something from his side pouch. It was a scroll. As he took out the contents, he spoke once more.
"I shall now read the words of my King." Lancelot then unfurled the scroll in its entirety and heaved a deep breath before he bellowed with a mighty voice.
"To the Kingdom of Jerusalem! I come before you with grave news of the ending of the world. The Kingdom of Camelot has come to save you all from the damnation of the Human King. All shall be given a chance to pledge fealty…"
"...Or die by his hand." Lancelot finished with suspense. The royal court was in chaos after the message touched their hearts. Lancelot looked towards the King and allowed his stare to wander towards my direction once more. But it seems that his gaze on me was merely coincidental, for he kept his eyes on the Hospitaller the longest compared to the two of us. As I thought deeper into it, the messenger has done this more than I had realised beforehand. What does he want from the Hospitaller?
"You have two days to answer." Lancelot said as he placed the paper back into the scroll. He did not even wait to be dismissed by the King before turning around and leaving through the front door. Everyone was stunned by the news that none of the guards paused to stop him.
The King just sat there, indifferent to what he had just heard. He simply raised his hand and waited for Tiberias to silence the court. As Tiberias' roar came to an end, so did the noise of the crowd. And it is here that the… other side of the King's court revealed itself.
"What is the meaning of this madness?!" Exclaimed Guy de Lusignan. Sibylla's husband and the sponsored of the Knight's Templar behind him. He stepped forward towards the King and spoke once more. "Is this court a farce? A jest that allows clowns like him in our presence."
"He is neither a jest nor a farce, Guy." Baldwin softly reprimanded. He rose from his seat and walked past the man to stand where Lancelot once stood - at the centre of the court. "That man truly is Lancelot du Lac. The man from the tales of yore." he paused to let the muttering quite down.
"But that's impossible!" Guy voiced out. I have to give him credit for this. Had it not been for his brashness, no one will have the chance to receive the answers to this issue. Not even I would be able to garner this much from the King.
"Nothing is impossible with the power of God." Baldwin offered before hardening his voice with grave seriousness. "And it goes the same way with his greatest enemies. Arthur Pendragon seeks to control the lands of the Faithful to vanquish a group known as the Beasts."
"And you believe him? That man has given you no proof. Nothing! He might be lying to you and you just accepted it." Guy countered. Completely ignoring the King's words. He raised his voice so that even the Knights Templar at the back could hear this. They all started yelling and jeering and spewing vulgar words that I shall not utter. It took Tiberias and his men to restore the peace once more. The King meanwhile, spent this entire time staring at Guy. Boring his gaze into the man so as to get the point across.
"Were you aware of the storms near Damascus, Guy?" Baldwin challenged as he walked back to his throne.
"I have." Guy gruffly answered as he stepped away from the King to let him pass. "The thunder reached as far as Nazareth. The horses of the cavalry ran off when they heard it."
"It was not a storm." Baldwin explained. He waited for the gasps to quiet down and said, "That was the power that King Arthur wields. He has the power of not only sorcery, summoning the souls of the dead to do his bidding, but he bears Rhongomyniad." the King looked around and noticed how blank the faces of the court became at the name. Suddenly, I felt the King's gaze upon me for the first time.
"Balian, come here." the King waved towards me. I can feel the attention of a thousand eyes fall onto my shoulders then and there. I did not hesitate to nudge the Hospitaller so that I could walk towards the centre of the court to stand beside Guy. He looked as if he loathed every second I stood near him.
"You were raised in France, yes?" The King softly asked as he leaned his head on his throne.
"Aye, I was, My King." I answered briefly with a short bow.
"Then have you been told of the legend of King Arthur?" the King asked once more.
"I have, your Grace." I replied. "The King of Knights would bear the Sword in Stone until it is shattered and replaced with Excalibur, the Sword of Promised victory."
"But that is not what he used at the Final battle of Camlann." The King boomed towards the court. "To defeat his bastard son, Mordred, the King used a mighty spear to wreak havoc against the rebellion. Mordred was the last to be killed… on top of a hill made from the dead." The King then stared at Guy with disappointment before speaking once more.
"King Arthur is real. And he is a threat that we will approach with great care. He will not stop until he gets what he wants." Baldwin then turned to Tiberias.
"I shall assemble the army and meet this King face to face in two days. Guy shall lead the rear guard while Tiberias leads the front. Now leave. This court is adjourned." The King then stood up to wave his hand towards the crowd. He went to clasp my shoulder to beckon me to follow him. Guy was going with us before the King raised his hand to stop him. Knowing his place, Guy harrumphed and left through the front door to sneer with his friends at the Knights Templar.
"As pleasant a meeting as ever, your Majesty." the Hospitaller chuckled as he made his presence known to us. The King laughed lightly before replying.
"That is merely the beginning, Hospitaller." the King said with a knowing tone. Now that I think about it, when have they been acquainted? I know that a King knows his men, but to be this close with the Hospitaller to jest with him…
"Come, Balian. There is much to be done." The King said as we walked down the halls to his chambers. "The enemy will not rest and so shall we."
"What is the meaning of that man's message?" I asked the King. He did not face me as we walked. Was it that terrible of a message?
"Have you read the Book of Revelation, young Balian?" the Hospitaller asked randomly. I turned to him in confusion.
"What does that have to do with this?" I questioned him.
"Much more than you can imagine." the King replied to the old man. He then opened the door to his own chambers and waved us inside. And after hearing everything they had to say…
I wish I had not asked.
The Holy City of Camelot… night…
CRACK! Thud…
"U-ugh…." sighed Lancelot as he struggled to find the strength to get up. He used his arm to lift himself up but collapsed on the floor when a foot kicked his arm off the ground.
"You disappoint me, Sir Lancelot." the Lion King callously said towards the injured servant. He had just been thrown towards the wall and left a crater in his wake. Why he had been dealt this fate, he cannot be certain. For it came out of the blue with no warning.
"You shall be rendered unworthy to join my council until I deem fit." the Lion King growled fiercely. "Now clean yourself up. You shall not be allowed anywhere near these halls as soon as you leave."
And without much explanation, the Lion King walked out of her throne room. Leaving her fellow Knights in fear of their liege. They did not even bother to assist the Knight of the Lake for they wished not to test the patience of the enraged woman.
….
"Utterly Incompetent." Growled the Lion King as she stomped her way around the walkways of the city walls. She had ended her meeting with the Knight of the Lake and found herself disgusted by what she had heard.
To think that Lancelot became this dull after countless millennia. His task was to cow them into submission. That Her Way was the Only way to save them from the hell to come. Yet Lancelot did not understand that. Because if he did, then he would not have given himself out like what he had done so earlier. In his discussion with the King of Jerusalem, Lancelot pointed out the undoubtful nature of King Baldwin. How he assured the Knight of the Lake that he was fully aware of who the Knight was. The Knight also talked about the man's leprosy. Lancelot even shared about the man's reaction to his comment. Yet he still did not realise what he had done.
Lancelot - at the moment of it occurring - did not realise that he shared the fact that Camelot did not know Baldwin him whilst the King of Jerusalem knew of them. The Leper King is but one of many the Lion King has known in name but not fully. But to Baldwin, she and her entire Kingdom - their strengths, weaknesses and numbers - are laid bare thanks to the very Legend that made her immortal in the minds of men. A King knows a King, so she knows how he thinks. That little detail was enough for Jerusalem to start scheming against her by sending her a letter that they must meet in person. With the worst part being that she can't attack them outright because she doesn't know what secrets they may have that can destroy her and her City.
'Oh, but that doesn't matter', others (Mordred) would think. 'No matter what they may have, nothing can overcome the power of the Goddess Rhongomyniad.' The Lion King thanked whatever deity out there for the stupidity of mankind. For they did not realise that she is more vulnerable now than ever before for her power is spent by summoning her servants and building the Holy City. She cannot yet access her full potential in this state. It is why Lancelot only left a crater in the wall of the throne room and not a gaping hole. The point is, she is vulnerable and any slip ups, no matter what they may be, cannot be tolerated.
"You must have had quite the day to personally seek me out."
She stopped in her tracks. Right there, leaning on the wall was the reason she came this far out of her own City. Scowling at the sight of her. She could agree with him at that. She doesn't want to see him either.
"I have shown Sir Lancelot the error of his ways." the Lion King muttered darkly as the moonlit sky shone upon them. "He has disgraced me with his incompetence."
"So you say." Archer nonchalantly said as he put up a thinking pose. "Though that doesn't concern me, now it does. Why have you come here?"
She bristled under the condescending gaze of the man, yet she did not show it. Why does she keep him around still? He's nothing but a thorn or her. Better yet, why does she tolerate his insolence? None of her knights are allowed to be like this to her, yet here is this man. Bravely, or foolishly, back-talking her like they're… equals!
"Do be careful with how you speak to me, Sir Archer." the Lion King growled. Her eyes bored into him with the heat of a thousand suns. "I will not tolerate your tone, not now nor anytime soon."
"Heh. It's funny." Archer huffed as he smirked at her. "I should be saying the same thing to you."
"Enough with this whimsical game." The Lion King stepped forward. "Why must you act so… petulant and cocky? Never once did I do anything for you to act like this, however you persist to be a nuisance. An arrogant prick." she ended with a hint of surprise. That kind of language was foreign to her. When had she spoken so crass?
"Really? After all this time, you question why I'm ma- no, disappointed in you." Archer shook his head as he chuckled under his breath. "Truly, the years have not been kind to you."
"What do you mean?" the Lion King asked as she looked up towards the bowman. Despite her aged body, she did not gain that much in height. It is frustrating to have to crane your neck just so that she can intimidate her underlings.
The bowman's eyes had the same cloudy texture from before. But they were washed with something else. Something she could not identify as quickly as she thought. She has always been great when it comes to analysing people. But with this man… it's as if she had become blank. A slate with nothing on it.
"When you summoned them that day, why did you order your Knights to choose a side? Why did you make us kill the others?" Archer asked with a muted voice. His posture guarded for any slight hint of hostility.
"I gave them a choice." the Lion King replied to the accusing bowing with a defensive glare. "A luxury compared to all who would die and suffer the Enemy's damnation. They would either stand and fight or be banished back from whence I took them."
"Don't you think that they may have had a reason?" Archer asked again as he forced himself to meet her gaze. "That maybe, just maybe, they saw through your schemes and found it wanting?"
"There is no other way to save humanity." the Lion King fought back. "Only by letting them survive inside Rhongomyniad would their lives be kept."
"You are forcing a select few into a prison." Archer accused as he unconsciously inched his head towards the King. "A 'blessed few' into a place they cannot, dream, eat, sleep, or feel. You claim it to be a 'safeguard' but it is no different from what the Beast wants to achieve."
"Do not compare me to that thing." Arturia hissed. Her body tightening up as she restrained herself from the flush of red that came upon her. "I am doing this to save humanity! I will give them life! Eternity without suffering, malcontent, or any desire they may wish to have."
"...But is that living?"
Archer looked at her with shame. His point seemingly lost behind the inhumanity before him. His steely eyes wavering for only this one moment. And it is here that Arturia saw what she could not see before.
Grief.
"Where is the Valiant King Arthur? The young King who was selfless in all his ways? Where was the King who signified Chivalry, Compassion, Diligence? Where is the King who sought with conviction the betterment of all men through leading worthwhile and fulfilling lives? Where is he, who seeks life through happiness now?" Archer asked in a tone that was borderline desperate yet restrained. His body rigid and slightly shaking from the barely hindered emotion he was feeling right now.
Or was Arturia who was rigid and shaking? Frankly, she could not tell.
"You speak as if you know me…" She whispered under the cloudless night sky. "All this time, you jeer, mock, and berate, yet it is in a place of knowing. How can you act so brazenly?"
Archer perked up at that. It was at this point he noticed how close the two of them had become. It was so close that he could feel her breath on his face. He retreated a step from the woman yet maintained his gaze so as to get his point across.
"You forget, your Grace." Archer said with a cryptic tone. "That I am neither your Knight nor your subject. I am afforded a chance to look at you in a perspective that you cannot begin to understand."
Arturia looked at him curiously. Again with the riddles. Why can't he speak directly? It was annoying, confusing, frustrating and… she forced herself away from that thought. This is what the bowman wants. To confound her through his wiley self! How dare he be such a dastardly man.
"I shall not forget your stance." the Lion King regained her bearings. "Nor shall I condone them. You are fortunate to still be alive as it is. Considering how rebellious you are against my mission."
"I can agree to disagree." sighed the bowman yet still unrelenting. "You cannot change what I think. Though I can work with the fact that you are bearable to speak with."
"Then we can set aside our differences." For now rang in her mind. "At this moment, I shall grant you Sir Lancelot's place. You are to fill his duties and station until he can prove himself once more."
"You would be alienating your closest ally." Archer narrowed his eyes. "To engender him into rebellion for a slight that all could have done."
"That is not yours to decide." Arturia smirked triumphantly. "I will do whatever I wish so as to keep us in our mission."
"Then it is mine to decline." Archer waved off as he walked away. Causing Arturia to miss a beat and widen her eyes in alarm. "I cannot allow myself to be a target of his anger."
"That is absurd!" Arturia exclaimed as she stomped off to chase the quickly distancing bowman.
And it was here that Archer's day came to a close. It would be the first of many here in the Holy Land. Hopefully he can survive the wrath of the Lion King until the end.