GORGON AND THANATOS (ORIGINAL)

CHAPTER 2:

SUMMONING KING ARTHUR

Harry frowned. He had just received an explanation for the Holy Grail War. How it was some tournament cum battle royale between Magi, who were fighting for the chance to make a wish on the Holy Grail. Not the drinking vessel of Jesus, but rather, a powerful magical artifact that acted as a gateway to Akasha, the Root of All Things. All taking place in the Japanese city of Fuyuki.

In order to power the Grail, familiars known as Servants were summoned. They were the spirits of long-dead heroes, known creatively as Heroic Spirits. Seven would be summoned, each under a certain class, like that in a video game. Sabers, known for their expertise with the sword and close-range combat, often considered the most powerful class. Lancers, masters of spears and polearms, able to fight from outside arm's reach. Archers, experts at ranged combat, whether it be with a bow, a gun, or any other means of attacking from afar. Riders, alacritous and known for mounts and vehicles. Berserkers, those who traded their sanity for raw strength and tenacity. Casters, magic users who were at their strongest on their home turf. And Assassins, stealth users who struck from the shadows. Once six of these Servants had been slain, the Grail would be primed and ready to be used for a wish.

So, it seemed that the von Einzberns wanted Avalon to act as a catalyst to summon King Arthur. And they thought that Arthur would be their trump card.

Harry had to admit, he had ambivalent feelings about Kiritsugu. The man's attitude towards the man he was going to summon was pretty harsh, talking about how Servants were tools, but there was something in the man's attitude that had Harry staying his tongue. There was a deep undercurrent of self-loathing within Kiritsugu. And to be fair, he could understand Kiritsugu's pragmatic attitude. If more people thought like that during his school years, there wouldn't be so many people dead.

He had to admit to liking Irisviel more, and not just because of her looks. She had a genuinely likeable personality. She reminded him a lot of Luna, albeit with less near-lunacy. There was the same strange mixture of childish wonder and sharp intelligence and warm-heartedness.

It was Irisviel who told him why he was here. "Harry…if I may call you that…"

"As long as it's not the Boy Who Lived or Mr Potter," Harry said. "I've heard too much of the first, and I was called the second too much by a teacher with a grudge."

Irisviel smiled, and Kiritsugu actually chuckled at that. "Then you may call me Iri. I must confess, it was I who had asked for your presence here. As the Goblins told us your delivery of Avalon was to be your last work for them, at least for compensating them for…troubles, we asked whether we could offer you work, of a sort."

"If it's to participate in this Grail War…" Harry began, but Iri shook her head vehemently.

"No, no, nothing of the sort!" Iri chuckled. "No, it's a somewhat more mundane form of employment. It took some persuading to have Kiritsugu agree. He finds it hard to trust others, especially those who are famous, or are heroes of one stripe or another. However, he did a background check on you, and he has agreed to this. It's all contingent on your agreement, of course. You have the option to refuse, naturally. If you do, we will send you back to Britain via Portkey. Gringotts have sent a small ring that can act as one in advance."

Harry, after a moment, nodded. "I'll hear you out, that's all I can promise you."

Kiritsugu gestured at Iri to explain, which she did. "I am not actually human, not by normal standards. I am a Homunculus, somewhat akin to a biological robot created by alchemy, a specialty of the von Einzbern family. I was created as a guardian of the Lesser Grail, the vessel which develops into the Holy Grail itself. Kiritsugu was hired partly to be the von Einzbern's representative in the Grail War, but partly as a guardian for myself. I owe Kiritsugu much, for if it weren't for him, my existence would have been a dull, joyless one. He taught me much about the outside world. We married, and we even have a child, a beautiful daughter by the name of Illyasviel."

"When we depart for Fuyuki, we will be leaving Illya here," Kiritsugu said. "While she will not want for company here, there are few children in this castle for her to socialise with, and in truth, few would wish to socialise with her. The von Einzberns are not the most loving of families."

"A harsh assessment, Kiritsugu, but not untrue," Iri said. "Which is why I decided that Illya would benefit from a companion, not of the family, but one who can be family. And no, I am not expecting you to marry her. Illya is but eight years old, biologically and mentally. Few with Homunculi heritage have a childhood. We are born into adulthood. I actually thought of something like a companion and tutor, like a big brother or an uncle. You can regale her with adventures from your life. While we only require you to do so while we are at Fuyuki, which should be a month at the very most, should you accept, we were hoping you would stay longer."

"So, I'm to be a nanny and tutor to your daughter?" Harry asked, not sure how he should feel about that. "Bodyguard too?"

"Only if it comes to that," Kiritsugu said. "In truth, while I sneer at the word 'impregnable', this castle is one of the safest places in the world, with wards, what we call Bounded Fields, at a level approaching that of Hogwarts. There is a small army of Homunculi on the grounds, too. Only something on the level of a thermobaric or nuclear bomb could destroy it. It's extremely unlikely that Illya will be allowed to leave this castle, as there are many rival Magus families who would vivisect her to obtain secrets of von Einzbern alchemy."

"The von Einzberns were also collaborators with Nicholas Flamel, and your preventing the theft of the Philosopher's Stone by Voldemort helped gain favour in our eyes," Iri said.

"Okay, I get the picture. Mostly be the big brother to your daughter. I get that. But I am curious. You probably know this, but even with what the Goblins took out in fines, I could live off my fortune for the rest of my natural, so you can't entice me with money. I won't say no to getting paid, I'm just curious about any other incentives."

"Acht…I mean, Jubstacheit, has considered a Homunculus spouse as payment, but I thought you would be offended," Iri said. "However, we can certainly help deflect many of the marriage contracts that will come your way. Our family has considerable favour with Gringotts, which is one of the reasons we were able to obtain Avalon in the first place. If there is a career you wish to take up, or further study you wish to undertake, we can use our connections to help where merit alone cannot. We also have a number of tomes of interest, including those about various magecraft abilities that wizards and witches can use."

Harry considered the offer. "…Okay. I'm interested in the whole getting those marriage contracts away from me. And don't get me wrong, I will do it. I just wanted to know exactly how you were going to entice me into it. And you were right, Jubstacheit would have offended me with the Homunculus. Don't get me wrong, you're very beautiful and kind, Iri, and I'm sure I would love to be with a woman like you. But getting a wife as part of a payment seems a bit medieval. I left Magical Britain to get away from that shit."

Iri smiled. "Thank you for your compliment, Harry. So, you will look after Illya?"

"Yes. I said that."

"I am grateful," Iri said. "You will see her around dinner. Then, after that, we will be summoning King Arthur in the chapel. I am sure you'd want to watch. It is a rare thing to witness the summoning of a Heroic Spirit, even within the Magus community…"

Dinner was an interesting affair. Harry got to meet the child who was to be his charge. Like Iri, Illya had white hair, red eyes, and a cheerful demeanour. She seemed curious to meet Harry, having apparently heard a little about him. He was reminded a little of Ginny, at least before the worse traits of Molly Weasley began to emerge, as well as the fangirlish tendencies making a comeback. Harry found her immensely likeable. She seemed rather small for her age, which Iri had told him was due to her unusual biology, a mixture of both human and Homunculus.

"Is it true you faced a dragon during the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" Illya asked. She seemed more curious than fangirly.

"Yes. A Hungarian Horntail. I had to summon my broom to try and lure it away from its nest." Harry sighed. "I dunno what that idiot Bagman was thinking when he thought sending even seventeen year old students against nesting dragons was a good idea. Then again, I don't think he can think. He got hit by Bludgers enough times, there's not enough brain to damage anymore."

Kiritsugu scoffed. "Quidditch makes most normal sports look sane. You're in mid-air, with enchanted cannonballs trying to hit you, and players use dirtier tricks than most games. I saw that for myself when I was in England at the time of the Quidditch World Cup in 1994."

"I was there too, actually. Are you talking about the Veela, or the Wronski Feint?"

"Both, though using the Veela against the referee was a dirtier trick. I left after the game via Portkey. I was meeting a wizarding contact of mine who had intelligence about a rogue Magus with a number of Sealing Designations. A shame I didn't stay. I would have incapacitated the rioters if I had."

Probably would have kneecapped them, Harry thought. Kiritsugu was a self-professed ruthless man, after all. Out loud, he said, "Actually, the dragon wasn't the most dangerous creature I've faced. When I was 12, I had to kill a Basilisk. Nearly died myself in the process. It was only thanks to Fawkes that I succeeded."

"Fawkes?" Illya asked.

"Professor Dumbledore's Phoenix," Harry explained. "If he hadn't brought me the Sorting Hat, or pecked out the Basilisk's eyes, or used his tears to heal me of the Basilisk's venom…I wouldn't be here. And I've come up against Dementors, too."

Iri gasped in horror, and Kirtsugu scowled. "What's a Dementor?" Illya asked.

"Be thankful you've never met one, Illya," Kiritsugu said quietly. "Hope that you never will. A Dementor is a foul creature, like a sort of solid wraith that feeds on happiness from living creatures, like a living embodiment of depression. Worse, it can consume the soul in what is known as the Dementor's Kiss. Magical Britain used to use them as guards and executioners at the prison known as Azkaban. No soul consumed by a Dementor can return to Akasha."

Illya shuddered at the thought. Harry did too. He hated the damned things with a passion.

"I don't think that is suitable dinner conversation," Iri said mildly. And Harry had to agree. So he changed the subject to Hogwarts in general, which Illya listened to raptly…

After dinner, and Illya was sent to bed, Harry accompanied Kiritsugu and Iri to the chapel again, where Avalon was placed on the altar, while Kiritsugu bustled about, making preparations. He began drawing a ritual circle on the floor with a silvery substance. Mercury? Harry didn't know. At least it wasn't blood. He doubted even Kiritsugu would use Unicorn blood.

"For the origin, silver and steel. For the cornerstone, gem and the Archduke of Contracts. For the ancestor, my great master Schweinorg," Kiritsugu murmured. "The alighted wind becomes a wall. Close the gates in the four directions. From the crown, come forth. Trace the three-forked road leading to the kingdom. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat fivefold, and when each is filled, destroy it(1)."

"Is the ceremony supposed to be so simple?" Iri asked, frowning.

"Doesn't look simple to me," Harry remarked as Kiritsugu finished the circle.

"It is by most ritual standards," Kiritsugu replied. "And in truth, the Grail is what does most of the work. Masters need only supply the mana during the ritual."

"Didn't you say Schweinorg as part of the ritual?" Harry asked. "Isn't that part of Zelretch's full name?"

"He was one of those involved in setting up the Grail War," Iri said. "The three families who founded the Grail War also contributed. We von Einzberns contributed the vessel for the Grail. The Tohsakas of Japan contributed the land they owned, the land where Fuyuki now stands. And the Makiris of Russia, now the Matous of Japan, contributed the means of summoning Servants, as well as the Command Seals."

"Command Seals?" Harry asked.

Kiritsugu indicated the tattoo on his hand. "A stigmata that denotes a chosen Master, either by the Grail, or by performing the summoning. Some summon a Servant, and are granted the Command Seals after the fact, while some are granted Command Seals long before they summon a Servant. The Command Seals allow me to issue an order to my Servant that they cannot countermand, unless they are particularly resistant. However, I can only use three. Should I use them up, then the Servant may turn on me if they wish. The contract between Servant and Master would be broken, regardless."

"Hermione had better not get word of this," Harry muttered. "She had a conniption when she first heard about House Elves. I'm not sure I like it."

Kiritsugu chuckled sardonically, before indicating for them to stand back. He then thrust his palm out at the circle, which began to glow, and began to speak. "Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call, and obey my will and reason, then answer my summoning! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world, that I shall defeat all evil in the world! Seventh Heaven clad, and the great words of power, come forth from the circle of bindings, Guardian of the Scales!"

The circle dissolved in a flare of actinic light, and a blast of wind battered at Harry. Then, as he blinked the afterimage from his eyes, he found himself staring at the circle. Someone was indeed standing inside it. But if this was King Arthur…well, the legends got something very wrong.

True, the figure had a regal bearing, armour adorning their clothing. Stern, green eyes so much like Harry's own peered out from a face framed by blonde hair. But the figure was very feminine. Androgynous to a degree, yes, but if this was King Arthur, then King Arthur had been a woman, wearing an armoured dress. No, not even that. She could only have been in her late teens at the oldest, at least in appearance, though the set of her expression was far older. She then looked at Kiritsugu.

"I have answered your summons. I ask you, are you the one who summoned me?"

Kiritsugu did something very odd. Harry could understand the look of surprise on his face, but he couldn't understand the scowl that came across his features, before he strode away. "Kiritsugu!" Iri protested, but to no avail. Kiritsugu just stormed out.

"He was the one who summoned you, FYI," Harry said. "Sorry, but…are you actually King Arthur?"

"Aye, though your confusion is understandable," the young woman said, looking a bit put-out. "I was born Arturia Pendragon, but to history, I would doubtless be known as a King."

"Huh. King Arthur was a woman. Who knew…" Harry mused. "Anyway, I'm Harry Potter, this is Irisviel von Einzbern, and that was Kiritsugu Emiya. Unfortunately, he's your Master."

"I see. Well met, anyway," Arturia said. But she seemed a trifle uncertain, and Harry had to admit, he shared that uncertainty. He had to wonder why Kiritsugu reacted so badly…

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, there you have it. Harry's met Illya and Arturia.

1. I used a mixture of the ritual from the manga, as well as Third Fang's From Fake Dreams. The final incantation is from the English dub of Fate/Zero.