章 74: Chapter 74

Gawain, Knight of the Round and the star that shines brightest at the dawn of the day. His strength was unquestionable, his reputation unparalleled amongst the populace. He alone was said to be Lancelot's equal in battle and fortitude. He was also the elder brother of Gareth who was squired under Lancelot which irritated Gawain to no end. In his mind, Gareth would have been fine with him as her guiding Knight. Honestly, he couldn't see what his little sister saw in Lancelot to follow and believe in him so devoutly as to reject his offer of apprenticeship. Perhaps he never would, but that didn't stop him from friendly sizing up Lancelot every time that they met. Now if only Gareth could get the hint that he was only doing it to make sure that Lancelot was strong enough to protect her rather than the fact that Lancelot's face inwardly irked him.

Regardless, what mattered was that Gawain cared deeply for his family. He didn't know what he'd do if someone ever murdered his kin. In fact, he felt that he'd even cast aside his rationality just from the sheer grudge that he would harbour. This was all the more reason why he had to make sure that those fighting alongside him and his family were strong and qualified enough to protect them from harm.

Arthur, no; it was Arturia now was a special case. She was his family, but at the same time, the King- no Queen, that he'd pledged his loyalty to. Nothing changed even if she was no longer going to be King. All that he wanted was what was best for her. He'd lost a brother in arms, but in exchange, he'd gained another sister that he was adamant on protecting.

Gawain drew forth his sword and pointed it in challenge towards Shirou who was in front of him.

Gawain was the embodiment of the Sun, blessed by the virtues of the God of music, Apollo. No matter where a person was, so long as his light could reach them, he would protect them as sworn by his oaths.

Arturia was special, and Gawain felt that it was his personal mistake that he'd never realized what Arturia must have had been going through in his ignorance. She deserved to be happy. She deserved to be able to cast aside her emotionless façade and smile at the morning of every day with the realization that life was beautiful; that war, bloodshed, and violence wasn't all that life had to offer her even in the times of Saxon invasion.

She'd never had the experience to grow up as a woman, and Gawain knew that not all men had the best of intentions. He'd seen lesser men swindle women into a life of destitution and lies only to be left behind after a single night of intimacy.

Dear Arturia was innocent. She didn't know better. How could she determine the truth of a man's devotion simply by way of whispered and promised nothings? He'd heard accounts of women being led astray by their hearts to make stupid decisions, and he'd be damned if he ever let Arturia into such a situation. He'd already seen the expression on Gareth's face and knew that he'd lost her to Lancelot, but as irritating as Lancelot could be, Lancelot already had Gawain's silent acknowledgment.

As for Arturia, even if Gawain could see that he was earning her ire, he would not back down on his challenge, both out of respect for his personal feelings and for another matter that he'd yet to disclose.

"Draw your sword," Gawain beckoned.

Across from Gawain, Shirou stood with Mordred and Arturia who were looking moments away from berating Gawain for his behaviour and disrespect. However, Shirou didn't see Gawain's actions as a form of disrespect to him. Instead, all that he could see was the will of a man who valued his family above all else.

In another timeline, Shirou could recall that Gawain had grown mad in his fury against Lancelot, not only for Lancelot's betrayal, but because Lancelot had slaughtered Gawain's siblings. Bottomless was the depth of Gawain's fury that he refused Lancelot's aid even during the rebellion of Camelot. It was a sequence of events that Shirou would not allow to happen.

Before Mordred or Arturia could personally step up and challenge Gawain themselves, Shirou walked forward.

He would meet Gawain's challenge with his highest form of respect. From one man who loved their family to another. The irony that he was agreeing to duel his future in-law, and by extension, family, was not lost on him.

"I agree to your terms," Shirou said resolutely.

Shirou and Gawain shared a look as if coming to some form of silent understanding and comprehension that was lost to Arturia and Mordred. Strong as a woman could be, men had their pride to be able to care and protect those that they held dear such that women would not have to prove that they could fight. A woman's skill to protect their family could be just as good as a man's, but it was a man's honour to see that a woman wouldn't have to reach that point.

"Your courage is admirable," the tightness in Gawain's expression lightened. "In terms of character, you're already ahead of Lancelot. That man had dueled with me but didn't seem to understand the purpose of our duel at all. He was an ignorant fool."

Yup. That sounded like Lancelot. The man probably wasn't even aware that Gareth had some form of feelings for him and that Gawain was standing up for Gareth's behalf. Lancelot probably just assumed that Gawain was just testing his skills which probably annoyed Gawain further when Lancelot matched him in combat without any purpose behind his swings.

"Should I take that as an insult?" Arturia's voice interjected into the conversation. "I don't understand the point of this duel either."

"This is bullshit," Mordred grunted, a hand over the hilt of her sword's pommel.

Gawain wisely chose to ignore Mordred and Arturia and focused his attention on Shirou. It wasn't like Mordred and Arturia would surprise attack him anyway. Their chivalry as Knights would prevent them from taking such cowardly actions.

"Shall we take this duel somewhere else?" Shirou asked while scanning the crowded area of Camelot's front gate. "It wouldn't be right to damage the walls."

Gawain agreed and soon led Shirou to an open field surrounded by rolling hills outside of Camelot's walls. Arturia and Mordred followed after disembarking from the carriage which they asked a few guards to roll into Camelot. With Gawain no longer around to pressure them, the guards willingly did as Arturia asked.

Gawain stood ready at the center of the plain where the duel would take place. Shirou stood across from him, and Arturia and Mordred were acting as the duel's witnesses.

The heat of the mid-day sun bore down from overhead and illuminated the land to extinguish the dark.

"Gawain, Knight of the Round stands ready and will adhere to the etiquettes of a proper duel." Gawain lowered his stance, and positioned himself with one hand out in front of him, and the other holding his sword crossed at his side. "Prepare yourself."

Shirou didn't waste any time. From his side, he raised his hands out in front of him and formed a simple sword. At first, he considered Tracing Kanshou and Bakuya, but felt that he needed something more impactful to gain Gawain's acknowledgment. No amount of skill or power would be as memorable as what he was intending to do.

In his hands was a flat blade, simple in make and without needless decoration. As a sword, it would do its job and aid him in battle; however, the sword was a familiar one; the stance that he used with it in his grip even more so.

Gawain's eyes widened in recognition when he observed Shirou's posture. Meanwhile, Arturia perked up in pride. "I'll have you know, Gawain, but as kids, Shirou was my better and was the one who taught me the way of the sword along with Sir Ector and Kay."

The admission was met by a heavy silence on Gawain's part, and awkwardness on Shirou's. He was emulating Arturia's swordsmanship, posture, positioning, and all. Her title as the King of Knights had not been mere fabrication; however, Arturia's explanation was backwards. It was her that had once taught him. Even the sword that he was using was in fact Arturia's before she had pulled Caliburn from the stone.

Shirou sucked in a breath and cleared his mind, ignoring all else but the opponent in front of him. He exuded the aura of a veteran Knight, noble in belief, selfless in action. He inclined his head in a sign of a fair dual.

Inwardly stunned, Gawain reciprocated the gesture while mulling over the fact that Arturia had just admitted that someone had been better than her in sword skill.

Wind began to pick up in the area, the reeds amidst the tall grass swaying and providing the signal for battle.

Gawain struck first, his feet digging into the ground as he went in for a charge. His was a swordsmanship that focused not in finesse or technique like Arturia and Lancelot, but on sheer power and heaviness. He hit like a gorilla; the impact strong enough to dent castle walls.

Shirou, with the standard steel sword in hand did not dare meet any of Gawain's strikes head on. He would do as Saber had once done before.

He eased his body and imagined the form of the woman in blue who'd saved his life several distant years ago. His body moved through memory, chasing the ghost of a figure that had been the object of his devotion even when he could no longer meet her.

His feet pivoted beneath him, his actions light-footed and filled with purpose. He parried, but not forcefully, his blade merely tapping against the side of Gawain's own.

The intricacies of sword play relied not on just who took the initiative, but a swordsman's ability to react and respond with minimal energy expenditure. The clanking of steel that occurred between Shirou's sword and Gawain's was accompanied by the crashing noise of heavy metal cratering the ground.

Deflection. There was no need to stop an enemy's momentum if it could just be redirected. More often than not, a missed attack would become an opportunity. Shirou's eyes narrowed as Gawain's body tilted forward.

A chance to strike, and Shirou did not waste it. Leg stomping down over Gawain's sword to prevent him from lifting it back up, Shirou struck out a blow to Gawain's chest before suddenly aborting the action.

Heat. A blazing inferno. He could feel it building from under his foot which pinned Gawain's sword in the ground. Hastily, he pulled his foot away to see a tongue of flame momentarily flicker across the steel of Gawain's sword.

Shirou would have called it cheating if not for the fact that he knew what sort of Sword Gawain wielded. Excalibur Galatine, the Sword of Revolving Victory which harnessed the power of the sun. Its metal could burn through even the toughest of material. Even without Gawain channeling magical energy into it, the heat it naturally exuded was not something to take lightly. Even with his body's durability, he knew that the sword would surely burn him.

It was his fault for stepping on the sword and Gawain did not waste the chance to counter.

Gawain lashed out, sword cutting horizontally to prevent Shirou from deflecting the blow, but grew stunned at Shirou's next action. It was like Gawain was fighting Arturia all over again.

Shirou jumped on his feet and clashed his sword against Gawain's own in order to use the force to propel him away and gain distance.

Gawain's eyes narrowed. He knew that he was going to have to take things more seriously. Arturia had not been bluffing when she had said that she'd learned swordsmanship from Shirou. Every move that Shirou was pulling off was a textbook example of what Arturia would have done. Clearly, he could see where Arturia got her inspirations from.

So be it. He would meet his opponent's skill with his strongest self.

All that he wanted was the best for Arturia. Using Arturia's words as a basis, then it was evident that Shirou already had enough skill to defend Arturia from harm, but what about power?

"From this point on, I won't be holding back," Gawain declared, his stance loosening as he took a deep breath. "I recommend surrender. Look above."

Gawain pointed at the sun present in the sky. "It's noon," he said with finality, prompting Arturia to suck in a breath while Shirou nodded in understanding.

Mordred was the only one who looked clueless, but Gawain was in fact offering a friendly warning. In the noon hour he was rumoured to be able to overpower Arturia in combat, and the creasing of Arturia's brows said it all.

Gawain was the Knight of the Sun blessed with a skill known as the Numeral of the Saint. Within the bounds of daylight and during the hours of nine in the morning until the evening, his strength would increase by a factor of three. Physical abilities, magical reserves, durability, all of his parameters heightened greatly.

Ashes danced upon Excalibur Galatine's shaft before the entire blade ignited into open flames which Gawain now wielded with impunity. "This sword is the manifestation of the Sun itself.

Gawain's body leaned forward, the crackling of embers echoing as the air began to shimmer from a sharp increase in temperature. "All Evil will be cleansed and a path of the righteous shall be illuminated in iridescent light."

He was the noon sun shining bright amidst the stars of the sky. Magical energy swelled around him in the form of a fiery golden coloured inferno; bright and warm as Gawain's straightforward personality. "I suggest that you use a better sword. I can't guarantee that your current one won't melt upon contact."

At Gawain's words, Arturia and Mordred looked at Gawain as if he'd just given himself a death sentence after they remembered just how many swords that they'd seen Shirou able to make.

Shirou on the other hand nodded to Gawain's words and began to consider a plan of action. He dismissed his current sword and held his hands out to Trace another weapon. Gawain watched on in curiosity, noting the fact that Arturia's soon to be husband was also a Wizard of sorts. His impression once again rose up. The stronger that Shirou was, the more comfortable he would be to leave Arturia in his care.

Under Gawain's gaze, Shirou thought carefully on how to proceed.

Conviction, chivalry, fervor, determination, Gawain embodied the concepts to the letter. He was a Knight of admirable loyalty and devotion. The things that could move him to reconsider an opinion were far and in-between. Fortunately, Shirou knew that he already fulfilled all the requirements that Gawain was looking for just by analyzing the history of Gawain's sword.

In the end, he could understand Gawain's sentiments and protectiveness for Arturia. Gawain's power was a light that shone down on all in order to protect those that could not protect themselves. Gawain wanted his family to be safe, and in turn, he would accept no one else but someone like him who could keep them happy and protected.

If Gawain was a burning star that fended all enemies away through his sheer presence and light alone, then what he was looking for in Arturia's lover was a star that burned just as intensely.

That was the crux of everything. Shirou would prove that he could shine just as bright, just as warm, and just as strong. What better way to do so than to match his opponent skill for skill?

Upon the verdant green hills, a new sun would shine.

'Trace. On.'

A new dawn rises, filling the world with a blistering heat.

Circuit-like magical patterns flashed and ebbed over his skin before his hands began to grip upon an imaginary hilt quickly taking form. Legends stated that the sword carried a fragment of the sun within its blade. A sun with the power to incinerate all.

A weapon of the Fae, sister sword of Excalibur. Forged in flame, and cooled in the waters of the Lady of the Lake, there was only ever one of its kind. Yet, that reality was all but broken.

Gawain faltered, his expression breaking from its suave confidence into one of disbelief. "That's not possible. The Lady of the Lake said that there was only one."

Indeed. In all the world, there was only one Excalibur Galatine in existence, yet that didn't mean that another one could not be Traced.

Two illusory suns manifested in the air, clashing their identical energies together in a bid for dominance.

Shirou ignored Gawain's reaction to the Traced Excalibur Galatine in his hands. Instead, he lowered his body and perfectly assumed Gawain's fighting stance much to everyone's shock. From their perspectives, it appeared as if he'd only taken a few looks at Gawain's sword play and was now confident enough to emulate it.

It was a bluff. He was bluffing.

Gawain could not comprehend what he was seeing, and he could think of no other explanation. Excalibur Galatine was one thing, but to execute the skills and techniques that he'd painstakingly trained to master was something else entirely. It was preposterous.

Gawain narrowed his eyes and instantly charged forward, the heat of two suns scorching the land and withering the grass as two identical blades lashed together.

Gawain's initial notion of a bluff was short lived.

Blade parried blade, feints were directly seen through. Every move, every action was countered in the same identical method. It was like he was fighting a perfect mirror of himself. It was with that realization that Gawain finally relented in his mind. This wasn't a duel to the death anyway.

Shirou was a monster. A talented freak who could learn the skill of another Knight from just a glance and could somehow pull out legendary swords on a whim. It was no longer a concern of whether or not Shirou was qualified to protect Arturia, and more a question of how much Gawain needed to train in the future in order to not be bested in a serious duel. Besides, his true objective was complete.

From where Gawain was standing, he glanced back at Camelot's walls where a group of Nobles were spectating and soon wandered away.

"Let's end things here," Gawain sighed before withdrawing his magical energy and the flames of his sword. "It seems that pansy of a Wizard wasn't lying," he said grudgingly, all but confirming that Merlin had something to do with the situation.

At that tidbit, Arturia's ears perked up as her expression darkened. It would seem that it was due time to have a little 'chat' with her mentor. She would have words, and failing that, she had a few other things in mind. Her arms crossed beneath her chest before she huffed and maintained her composure.

Mordred didn't know Merlin enough to understand why Gawain called the Great Wizard a pansy so she missed the point of Gawain's statement and just blinked innocently. Realizing what she was doing though, she quickly mimicked Arturia's body position to not be singled out. "Yeah, fuck Merlin," she muttered. It brought no small amount of glee to her heart when for once Arturia looked at her with an expression of comradery.

It was the small things in life that brought the most happiness.

"What's going on, Gawain?" Arturia stepped forward while both Gawain and Shirou eased their postures. "Did something happen in Camelot?"

Gawain let out a breath and used a hand to scratch his back. "How should I put this," he paused for a moment to think. "You're not going to like what you're going to hear, so first promise me that none of you will kill anyone?" Gawain sheathed his sword and soon replaced much of his calm disposition with an air of apprehension.

Shirou and the others blinked. That was a rather morbid comment, yet one that was all too understandable. Camelot housed and protected a large majority of influential political partners, Archdukes and lords who owned and commanded various plots of land and soldiers. If Britain wished to protect itself from Saxon invasion, then it was paramount that the country's people rally together and stand firm.

Briton only had a limited supply of able-bodied Knights and mercenaries while the Saxons continued to arrive in an unending number. Fractures between political groups that would breed instability would be a death sentence.

As strong as Shirou, Arturia, Mordred, and the Knights of the Round were, they couldn't be everywhere at once to defend against the Saxons.

Unity was needed on the side of the defenders.

Shirou and Arturia looked across at each other before agreeing to Gawain's terms. Mordred subtly kept her lips shut because Gawain wasn't paying much attention to her.

Arturia leveled a stern gaze.

"Now, can you explain what's going on?"

Camelot was in a state of unrest: Political disputes, weariness, lies, and deceit born from apprehension. Arturia knew that proclaiming her true gender would have an effect over her allies, but she was still despondent when Gawain informed her that a little more than half of her collaborators had pulled out on her. Some had abandoned her for feeling betrayed that she'd kept something so important from them, but the majority of the High Nobles were simply too ingrained in tradition. They could not bring themselves to trust in the ability of a woman despite all of her accomplishments as King. They believed that no matter how much she achieved, she would inevitably by led astray at the most crucial moment and fail. It didn't help the current issue when all the stories floating around about Heroes dying at the machinations of cruel women were classics that the nobility had read since childhood.

Women were depicted to be vain, manipulative, and gullible, some like Medea even treacherous enough to murder her own family. It was a crippling stereotype that had been the crux of why Arturia had decided to hide her gender in the first place. Even if she knew that she or any other determined woman could lead just as well as a man, it didn't matter when it went against the opinions of the masses.

In time, the stigma would eventually disappear as she proved her worth, but in the present instance, she no longer had any credibility to lead and manage in the eyes of the population.

Still, it wasn't like it mattered too much. She knew her capabilities and was confident that she could win the trust of her people through her efforts and charisma. She retained her positivity, there was even a subconscious bounce in her steps. She glanced furtively at Shirou's direction when he wasn't looking and felt heat rushing up to her face; she'd already placed her trust in the man that she loved.

So, what if she wasn't King anymore? So, what if several stubborn old fools scorned her ability to rule because of her gender? Shirou could lead in her place while she steadily re-earned her people's trust.

The situation shouldn't be as bad as Gawain insisted it was.

The nobles that had pulled out on her due to her gender had fortunately not left Camelot due to the safety of its impregnable walls. Contrary to her assumption that Merlin had been messing with her, he'd in fact devised a scheme.

As it would turn out, Gawain's challenge to Shirou was in part, an act to reveal the capability of the new King to the spectating nobility. With the skill and techniques that Shirou displayed in order to stand up against the Knight of the Sun, there was no way that they wouldn't be swayed by Shirou's competency. In the case that they were still too stubborn, then she really had no choice.

She'd ask the stern-faced Agravain to help settle the issue.

"I'll escort you to your quarters," Gawain said somewhat awkwardly after leading everyone back through Camelot's walls.

Gawain had not sugar-coated his explanation, but at the same time, Arturia felt that there was something important that Gawain wasn't telling her. Why else would he get her to promise not to kill anyone? Still, she gave Gawain the benefit of the doubt.

With Gawain taking the lead, she followed behind with Shirou and Mordred beside her.

"A Noble by the name of Owel Rivers has recently taken refuge with an entourage of other nobles owning key strategic locations in the defence against the Saxons," Gawain said absently. "Their introduction has been vital to the commencement of a large-scale war plan against the Saxons."

Gawain was leading everyone through Camelot's streets on the way to the main castle, a citadel overlooking the bustling crowds of people living in wooden and cobblestone homes. Different from other settlements, the citizens here had no signs of fear and were in fact enjoying life with their loved ones. The market place was bustling with sellers hawking their wares while pretty women in bonnets advertised new products. In the distance, the commoners lived in a small segregated district not out of discrimination, but because they preferred not coming into contact with Nobles who periodically arrive seeking asylum.

"The others will fill you all in regarding the details after you've settled yourselves down and rested," Gawain continued while everyone else looked around. From the state of the kingdom, it was evident that Camelot's current issues regarded the upper hierarchy of the castle's management personnel.

Arturia's complexion became ruddier and filled with satisfaction upon seeing her land's subjects filled with warmth and vigour. It stood in stark contrast to how low morale had used to be when Camelot had first been built.

Much of her irritation for Gawain and Merlin's plans eased away from her as she instead imagined the castle reception hall decorated with roses and soft silks that would denote her wedding day. Everyone within Camelot would bare witness and the dream that she'd wished for almost all of her life would come to fruition.

She almost felt like crying in her excitement, her heart rapidly beating within her chest. She couldn't help the way that her lips fondly curved upward and her eyes drooped demurely.

Oddly enough, when Gawain noticed her expression, his movements instantly became stiff and rigid, almost awkward. No one noticed in their distraction: Shirou preoccupied with the realization that it was going to be up to him to protect the safety of thousands of people, Arturia in lala land, and Mordred shying away from the attention their group was garnering. Gawain was famous amongst the people, and Arturia in a blue dress rather than armour was even more so.

Heads kept turning and loud whispers continually traveled through the air.

For once in her life, Mordred was glad that she was wearing her helmet. She was not used to all the attention.

Soon enough, the four of them reached the main citadel at the heart of Camelot where Gawain led them in the direction of Camelot's bedrooms. Suddenly, Gawain paused in his steps and turned around to address everyone.

"I'm afraid that we'll have to part ways here," Gawain said to Arturia and Mordred while keeping his tone level. He then looked towards Shirou and inclined his head. "However, I'll have to ask that you accompany me for a bit longer."

Shirou raised a brow and Gawain took the cue to elaborate.

"Many Nobles don't believe that you were able to wield Caliburn. The fact that the sword has been reformed provides evidence of the events that Merlin had described, but there are skeptics claiming that it was Merlin's work. Regardless, all will be made clear once you hold Caliburn, the sword of choosing, in your hands."

It was a fair point, Shirou conceded. He'd given Caliburn for Merlin to hold onto, but it was now time to verify his right as a King to succeed Arturia.

"I can't refuse then can I," Shirou stated with a wry smile before turning to nod at Arturia and Mordred. "Get some rest, I'll be back shortly." Much to their surprise, he wrapped his arms around the both of them and gave them a quick hug. "Try to get along."

Gawain's jaw slightly opened after seeing the interaction and stared between Mordred and Arturia. "Did you use magic- no sorry, how rude of me," Gawain corrected his earlier outburst. It was just that he was well aware that Arturia had never really gotten along with Mordred. He was shocked even when Arturia just nodded docilly.

Who was this person? Where was the cold-faced 'brother' he was used to sparring against? Was she actually blushing?

Oh no. This was going to be bad wasn't it? She was smitten. Gawain inwardly swallowed. "J-Just a reminder, but no killing. Everyone in Camelot is an ally that is only looking out for the well being of the country."

Arturia raised a brow. Did the proud and ever confident Gawain just stutter? No. It must have been an illusion caused in her fluster.

She pushed Shirou away in embarrassment when she realized that Gawain had been staring. She was mortified, but was thinking more on the lines of how easy she was being. Her resistance was basically in the negative zone. Worse, she was stunned to realize that Mordred was mirroring her actions in a show of just how similar they could be. Well, she was family, Arturia grudgingly conceded.

Shoved away by both Mordred and Arturia simultaneously, Shirou nearly staggered onto his butt, yet he was grinning all the same. "Take care," he said in all seriousness, earning a punch from Mordred who was warning him to stop ruining her image.

Meanwhile, Gawain just felt like every notion of normalcy regarding Arturia and Mordred had just flipped over his head. Don't question it. Just don't. Regardless, Gawain's gaze drifted back to Shirou as he led Shirou away. Truly a monster. How did he do it? Unfathomable.

Left on their own, Arturia and Mordred stood awkwardly beside each other.

"Uhm, ugh, should I go?" Mordred asked carefully. She'd been to Camelot before and already had a room to stay at. She was expecting an immediate agreement, but the constipated look making its way onto Arturia's face was not something that she expected.

"No. Uhm, stay, I guess," Arturia couldn't make up her mind, but her words caused Mordred no end of surprise. In fact, now that it had actually happened, Mordred had no idea what to do.

"Yeah, sure." Mordred felt her voice catching in her throat, almost sounding strangled.

Arturia sucked in a breath and looked at Mordred who was staring at the ground. This was hard, and a part of her was screaming that she couldn't do this. However, staring at Mordred, she couldn't help but finally see her as Shirou had described her, a lonely child once seeking the attention of her idol.

"For what it's worth," Arturia raised her voice and made sure that Mordred was listening to her. The urge to retch and reconsider her actions was growing from within her, but she couldn't allow the hate that Morgan had bred from within her to dictate her actions anymore. "I'm sorry. You've worked hard all these years and I've failed to understand you for who you were. I apologize," she said.

Mordred looked up in shock, but in her fluster, Arturia immediately ran away. You could tell her to go fight in a war or participate in a brawl, but to talk heart to heart with someone that she'd spent years despising? She tapped out in order to make a quick escape, yet only after she'd conveyed what she'd wanted to stay.

Stunned, the idea of chasing after Arturia never crossed Mordred's mind. In all honesty, no one but Mordred herself knew what she was thinking, a shudder travelling down her body and voice utterly lost to her.

Further down the hall, a muddle-headed Arturia had run in the direction of Camelot's throne room, or more accurately, its audience hall. From where she'd paused to catch her breath by the large gates of the room, she could hear a cacophony of voices echoing from inside. Honestly, she would have had left since she'd never liked politics; she was never eloquent enough in her words to out speak her opposition, but this case was different.

She'd heard Merlin's voice.

Recalling the one task she'd truly asked of Merlin to uphold; she couldn't help but grow curious. The one thing that she'd requested of Merlin was to begin preparations for her wedding. Merlin could be a sleazebag and a douche on the worst of days, but he could also be reliable especially on a subject so important to her. He was her mentor and by extension a caretaker that had helped raise her in her youth. He was akin to the goofy uncle who'd always make a mess of things, but always understood when to stop.

She couldn't wait to hear what sort of preparations Merlin had been making in her absence. If she was lucky, maybe she'd even catch the exact date that Merlin planned to hold the wedding? Her hands placed themselves over her heart to calm her nerves, but her body was already positioning itself to eavesdrop. Her ear pressed against the oaken doors of the throne room and she shallowed her breaths to hear better.

What she didn't expect was that the first sentence that she would hear would cause her mood to instantly plummet in apprehension.

"Putting aside the wedding date, have you not thought over the proposed proposition?" A voice, gruff and commanding echoed out. It was a voice that Arturia was not familiar with. Probably a new Noble that had sought sanctuary in Camelot's walls.

"Ah yes, but the notion is ludicrous," a soft spoken yet simultaneously smug voice responded. That was Merlin alright. She could tell right away due to the voice's playful undertones despite the perceived seriousness of the discussion.

"Ludicrous in what way?" The gruff voice grunted in disapproval. "The Saxons outnumber us many times over and the more connections that Camelot can make with Briton's remaining noble houses the better. It will directly increase the odds of victory by bolstering the number of available personnel."

A chorus of agreement followed soon after, but Merlin sounded unperturbed.

"But at what cost? Numbers don't mean everything and you've been arguing about this point for several days now."

Arturia pictured Merlin languidly slouching over an advisory seat while staring at the Nobles in front of him with a patience that was more befitting of his reputation as a court wizard. Merlin was no fool. He could act with prudence when he wanted to.

"Obviously we'd be arguing." Another voice chastised. "It's a valid point. If what you've said about the heir of Duke Ashton being alive was true, then already those loyal to House Ashton will rally together. Is it not better to increase our forces and make them larger? Connections are everything. Love has no place if it's for the benefit of the country."

"Hmm, I fail to see why you'd be bringing House Ashton into this topic. As far as I recall, it's not the business of other nobles to dictate the spouse of other nobles or that of the next King."

What? What did she just hear? Arturia felt something inside her snap and suddenly she was recalling how nervous Gawain looked moments prior. That bastard. He knew. Her hands balled into fists and she could feel her blood rushing up to her head. She wasn't stupid and could infer what the conversation in the throne room was truly about just from drawing the dots together.

Hers was a collected sort of anger, the type that would explode upon reaching a certain tolerance point and that point was coming. She froze, her mind utterly blanking as the righteous fury of a woman scorned was suddenly ignited from within her.

Go ahead. Say it. You bastards Say it again.

"In the case of both of Uther's children being women, would it not be wiser to wed the older and fair Lady Morgan to the new King?"

The throne room's door suddenly shattered open.

So, they've chosen death.