Child of Chivalry
Summary: Humiliated and resigned to work on an orange farm, Jeremiah Gottwald meets a strange, naïve woman who wants him to accompany her on an "Adventure." The disgraced knight will learn the true meaning of chivalry. Artoria Pendragon/Jeremiah Gottwald.
Chapter One
Whatever the truth is, Zero got away. And you Pure Bloods let it happen. You've been demoted three ranks for failure. You have two options to choose from. Starting over as a pilot, or cultivating in orange farm.
Jeremiah Gottwald sighed, wiping the sweat off his brow, another long day at his new "home" an orange farm in a far away settlement called Fuyuki. They'd given him an old Eleven-style mansion, one that none of the rich and wealthy Britannians wanted. He was alone, by himself.
There were some orange trees that had been planted long ago, and did bear some fruit, he picked them and put them into baskets.
He was languishing in his failure to stop Zero, once he had been a Margrave, now he was nobody.
"I ask you, are you the owner of this place?" a woman's voice asked.
Jeremiah Gottwald stared up in surprise, a blond-haired woman stood before him. Her hair the color of gold thread, her eyes a brilliant emerald green. Her facial expression was curious but somehow unemotional. He was stunned and fought for words to come out of his mouth.
"Yes, yes, I am, you are not an Eleven that you need to work here, and I can barely pay you as it is," Jeremiah said, staring at the beautiful stranger.
"I accept my pay as it is, I have recently returned to this country, it is very different from what I remember."
"We'll get 15 Britannian pounds per box, so we'll have to fill as many as possible," Jeremiah sighed. He handed the young woman a box, "might I ask you your name?'
"My name is Artoria," she said to him.
"I am Jeremiah
Gottwald at your service, I used to be a noble and if it were so I would have thrown you a feast for you are clearly someone of noble birth."
"I don't need that sort of thing, I'm sure whatever we shall eat will be fine," Artoria smiled at him.
"Let's get to work, shall we?" Artoria picked up a box and headed to a nearby tree. Jeremiah grabbed a ladder and followed her. Together, they picked the oranges and put them in the wooden boxes.
They did this throughout the day, only stopping to eat some lunch.
"You look lost in thought, Jeremiah," Artoria glanced at him.
"I shouldn't be here, I should be sitting at my desk handling affairs in the city of Tokyo, not slaving away like this. I keep thinking if I hadn't failed I would be able to maintain my loyalty."
"Long ago, when I had my friend to help, he tried to teach me to think. He knew he would have to leave in the end, so he forced me to think for myself. Don't ever let anybody teach you to think, Jeremiah: it is the curse of the world."
"That's a strange thing to say, how can I show my loyalty to Britannia in a place like this?"
"I cannot say, I do not like what I have seen when I returned to this country," Artoria glanced at him, she stared at him intently. "The native Japanese are little more than thralls, the wealthy take everything and oppress them, even the commoners do so. This is a world that has fallen far from the ideals laid down by the King of Knights."
"Nobody truly believes in King Arthur's ideals, he's just a story to tell children. But I follow the path of chivalry, I believe in the King of Knights' ideals."
"Really, so you would sacrifice everything for this country. This Britannia you speak of is your beloved country to which you would dedicate your whole life?" Artoria sipped the water, observing him as they spoke.
"For their country's prosperity, a true king should be willing to make any sacrifice, is this the path you walk, is this your path of chivalry?"
"But that's nonsense, the strong survive because they are strong, because all men, are not created equal. Some are born swifter of foot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty, and others born sick and feeble. Both in birth and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and the unfaltering march of progress!"
"Is this the speech of your ruler, Emperor Charles zi Britannia was it?" Artoria asked.
"Yes, yes, it was the speech he gave this very day, its words are burned into my mind," Jeremiah said passionately.
"Inequality is not wrong, equality is. What of the EU, which made equality a right, rabble politics by a popularity contest? The Chinese Federation, with its equal distribution of wealth, a nation of lazy dullards. But not our beloved Britannia, we fight, we compete, evolution is continuous.
Jeremiah slammed his hand down on the picnic table emphatically.
"Britannia alone moves forward, advancing steadily into the future. Even the death of my son Clovis demonstrates Britannia's unswerving commitment to progress. We will fight on. We shall struggle, compete, plunder, and dominate. And in the end, the future shall be ours. All Hail Britannia!"
Artoria burst out laughing, "Ah, he is just like any other tyrant, I have thrown down many of them. You really believe that might makes right then?"
"Yes, of course, it is survival of the fittest!"
"If we simply measured bonds by strength or weakness alone, it would be folly. Our Camelot is made up of everyone's collective dreams. It is forged from the desire of humanity. To create a utopia for all, albeit there have been setbacks that could not be foreseen."
"You wish to follow the path of chivalry, where is your compassion for the people you call "Numbers"? The people in the ghettos and slums because they don't want to become citizens of this country. You show no pity for those who suffer here. But you do wish to follow the path of Chivalry, you are noble if not misguided."
"I have only followed orders, all who died at my hands were garbage unworthy to become Honorary Britannians," Jeremiah scowled.
"You slew the unarmed, unbecoming of a knight," Artoria clenched her fist.
"It doesn't matter, they're nothing more than monkeys."
"You are a cold and cruel man, you should learn compassion."
"Why should I show compassion to a filthy Eleven who spurns the compassion of our glorious Emperor?"
"You are a fool, still, I do see potential in you, still, you do trouble me."
"Potential? For what?"
"Oh, that's my secret for now, I have enjoyed my lunch now we should continue working."
They got up and returned to work.
The last box was filled and stacked in the back of a truck. Tomorrow they would take it and sell it at a supermarket, Jeremiah hoped they would get an excellent price for their hard labor.
After eating a simple dinner, they enjoyed their rest.
"We'll head to the grocery store tomorrow and sell our oranges to them, uh, would you be the one to take them in?"
"Why do you want me to do that?" she asked.
"My face is very well known and I might not get business because of it," Jeremiah admitted, ashamed.
"Ah, so I'll earn my keep then," Artoria nodded, "
"Say Artoria, where are you from?" Jeremiah asked.
"I was born in Cornwall, I lived in London, for a time, I lived here, in this very house."
"You travel far then," Jeremiah said, interested in what she had to say.
"You could say that, I was a knight of some renown long ago, people have forgotten about me."
"Surely not," Jeremiah laughed.
"I prefer the peace and quiet, in my youth, I loved adventure, I got in many fights because of it."
"Ah, but you came out victorious. You should be proud."
"I have my pride as a knight, yet I still live by the code of honor, honesty, loyalty, and valor."
Artoria smiled easily, your pride holds back your potential for great things, you should learn humility."
"I've been humiliated enough already," Jeremiah scowled, staring at the rundown truck, they could have at least given him a decent vehicle.
"Humility and humiliation are two different things, my friend."
"Heh, I'm a Britannian, this is an Eleven's work."
"Humility would make you a better man, it seems that your pride is still intact," Artoria put a hand on his shoulder.
"No, I have only my pride as a Britannian, I cannot prove my loyalty to Lady Marianne now," Jeremiah sighed.
Artoria walked over to a couch and sat down. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, no, I don't want to, I don't want to trouble you with my problems, you're an excellent worker, as expected of a Britannian."
"I'm not a Britannian, my home was in Londinium for a time but I am Welsh, but I have not been to my beloved country for many years."
"The French took the old homeland long ago, I've never been to London, I'm surprised, I thought you were a Britannian."
"It doesn't matter, but I expect that our venture to sell oranges will go well tomorrow," Artoria said, smiling.
"Yes, it's far too late to head out to sell them, I will have to pay you tomorrow."
"Of course," Artoria nodded. "I won't impose on you to give me shelter, I can find a place to sleep tonight."
Artoria turned and left.
Early the next day, Jeremiah got into the car and Artoria followed him. They drove to a nearby grocery store and Saber took out the boxes. Jeremiah did his best to keep a low profile and she negotiated with the store owner, he agreed to 15 Britannian pounds per box and they sold all of them, netting themselves a decent profit.
He paid her for her work and she returned back to the farm with him and began working again.
He joined her as they continued to pick oranges off the trees, it was hard, intensive labor. They continued their work into the evening.
Artoria glanced at her employer. His teal hair stuck to his forehead, his orange eyes stared out at the stars.
"I shouldn't be here," he sighed.
"Might I buy some of your oranges?" she asked. She handed him 15 Britannian pounds.
"Of course," he nodded, happy to make a profit, even if it was from his employee.
"Come, let us go out, you could use a distraction," Artoria suggested.
They headed out to the ghetto.
"Why are we here?" Jeremiah asked.
"To give aid to those in need," Artoria told him.
"Why should we give to those monkeys?" Jeremiah asked.
"This is my path of chivalry that I laid down long ago," Artoria told him.
"Huh?" Jeremiah asked.
Artoria handed out the oranges to the starving residents of the ghetto. They took them, bowing in Japanese fashion, and thanked her in their language. She returned their thanks in their tongue which floored Jeremiah.
"Why should you speak their language and give them things for nothing?" he sneered.
"Because it is my prerogative to do so," Artoria told him. "Kindness is a virtue, if you are only kind to your friends what good are you?"
Jeremiah sighed. "Your generosity is wasted on monkeys."
"It's not, they are people, not animals."
"Why should we Britannians waste our resources on them, they are simple-minded and weak."
"You may live your life as you wish, and I will walk my own path," Artoria glanced at him.
"Let us return home, I suppose I'll find a hotel."
"Please, stay at my house, I will give you sacred hospitality and you will be my guest."
"Ah, so you are learning," Artoria turned to him and smiled.
"Learning? Learning what?"
"Generosity."
They arrived at the house and Jeremiah prepared a simple meal for them. He served it to her and sat down at the table.
Artoria accepted the meal and they ate saying very little.
Finishing their dinner, Artoria headed to the living room, sitting on the couch.
On a table next to the couch is a chess set. Artoria stared at the chess set.
"Do you play?" she asked.
"A little, he admitted, "but the late Prince Lelouch, he loved chess, so perhaps I keep it to remember him."
"I see, play a game with me," Artoria smiled.
"Very well," Jeremiah Gottwald sat and they began to play.
Jeremiah liked her playstyle. It was aggressive and confident. She always took the offensive, keeping him on edge, but she also had excellent defense.
The game went on and he lost handily to her.
"You are excellent," he said, smiling.
"I have enjoyed our game, so tell me, do you intend to wallow in self-pity?" Artoria Pendragon asked.
Jeremiah looked at her, "Is that so obvious?"
"Yes," Artoria put a hand on his shoulder. "I ask you, do you walk the path of chivalry?"
"Of course I do!" Jeremiah Gottwald exclaimed, staring at her intensely.
"You walk it, but you do not understand it, but I ask you to walk the path of chivalry with me."
"You must be a knight of some renown," Jeremiah stared at her.
"I am, but everyone has forgotten about me and my ideals now."
"You are splendid and superior, you should lord it over everyone else."
"If we simply measured bonds by strength or weakness alone, it would be folly. Our Camelot is made up of everyone's collective dreams. It is forged from the desire of humanity. To create a utopia for all, albeit there have been setbacks that could not be foreseen."
"You have said that before, but Camelot is an unattainable dream, and only a mighty nation like Britannia can create it."
"I wouldn't say that. Are you willing to learn to look out beyond your small world, are you willing to see the life of those you have despised?"
"I'm powerless, what can I possibly do?" Jeremiah asked, rubbing his head.
"Power is of the individual mind, but the mind's power is not enough. Power of the body decides everything in the end, and only Might is Right."
Artoria looked at him.
"Is this not the philosophy of our glorious emperor?"
"No, it is not, Why can't you harness Might so that it works for Right?… The Might is there, in the bad half of people, and you can't neglect it."
"Britannia alone is strong. I followed my orders, I did as I was told, and I still failed."
″I had such a conversation with my mentor, he said, 'Tell you!' he exclaimed. 'And what is going to happen when there is nobody to tell you? Are you never going to think for yourself?'"
"I should have stayed a soldier, I could have regained my honor, I could have attained glory and greatness."
"Only fools want to be great," Artoria told him.
"I don't understand," the former Margrave raised his hands in frustration.
"You will one day, Jerry, you will," Artoria stood up, she paid him some money and took a box of oranges.
"What are you trying to teach me now?" he sighed.
"Kindness, it's something you lack if they are not a Britannian, and perhaps if we are lucky we shall have an adventure of some sort."
"What adventure could there be in a backwater town like this?"
"I've had plenty of adventures in Fuyuki."
"This sounds stupid, all of it."
"If there is one thing I can't stand, it is stupidity. I always say that stupidity is the Sin against the Holy Ghost."
"I don't rely on God, be it the ones of the old Britannia, Christianity, or the gods of the Elevens."
"Really," Artoria's brow furrowed. "Well, you may not believe in him, but I do believe in divine judgment, and that this country will be judged, whether by the Almighty or others, this Holy Britannian Empire shall be brought low. The seeds are ripe for rebellion, but your people refuse to see it, they cannot see beyond their small world."
"Do you wish to take it? Your first step into a larger world?"
Jeremiah contemplated what she offered him. She was a noble, if he could win over a member of the nobility, he'd be golden. What were a few "adventures" to satisfy a naive little girl who had clearly never left this backwater town?
"Yes, yes, I'll join you on this adventure."
"Very well, we're heading to a castle, or rather, the remains of a castle. We have to meet up with some dear friends of mine and then we must discuss the future."
"Let us be off, then," Jeremiah got up and followed her out the door of the old Eleven mansion.