Fate-in time

25

A Wizard, A King, and a Harvest Festival.
E

ver since seeing the events of that night of the first day of the Magi's gathering, Merlin had been constantly pondering to himself about matters regarding Arturia.
She was to become the saviour of the land; the future King that would lead Britain against the invading forces of the Saxon and the Jutes, and even the other nomadic tribes. Yet, all he had been able to see that night were the actions of an enamored young girl too ignorant to understand what it was she was actually feeling.
Taking a seat on a table provided by the inn, Merlin took a moment to eye the breakfast before him. He had gotten up early today before the others, but it would seem that Shirou had been up even earlier to prepare food. A habit perhaps? But nonetheless, he would partake of it as the teacher in their relationship despite not having taught Shirou anything yet.
While making himself comfortable, he pondered silently to himself about what he should do.
Arturia might have had already unknowingly fallen in love. A concept that she would probably not understand having been sheltered and raised as a Knight in a household of just men. Even then, she would have had minimal contact with anyone as her identity as a child of Uther was undercover.
Sighing, Merlin considered the possibilities from another perspective.
Shirou's to be exact.
Basing on what he had seen of Shirou's actions, the boy might have also developed feeling towards the opposite party. Yet unlike Arturia, Shirou would probably have a grasp on what he was feeling and may act upon it as any hot-blooded youth would. Uncharacteristically though, Shirou displayed a tenderness to Arturia not found in brazen adolescent men.
It would be quite charming and admirable really, if he didn't feel so threatened by it.
In any case, perhaps he would just have to dissuade Shirou from pursuing.
The future would be too cruel on Arturia's heart otherwise. Love, or a life of solitude. Sitting on a throne that oversaw the workings of the entire matter of Britain, she would always have that simple 'what if,' in her heart, piercing it like a thorn. Similarly, he knew that if Shirou acted now before Arturia even drew forth the Sword, Fate itself may change; the persuasive power of love unmatched throughout any era, making empires fall and rise like the fall of Troy.
It wasn't that he was opposed to it, as he would not condemn someone to a life of a lonely Kingship, but he believed that Arturia was still too young to see the bigger picture. Knowing her convictions, and the future he had foreseen, it was still best at least to attempt to dissuade Shirou.
Otherwise, as person like himself, he would just watch how events unfold, witnessing a future and a time that he had never before perceived.
The only question now, was how?
Or perhaps he wouldn't have to dissuade Shirou at all; it takes two to love.
Absently, he picked up a fork and knife, and cut away a small piece of the 'spiced' chicken meat Shirou had prepared for the morning. Shirou had used something called herbs to flavour the meat if he could recall correctly. But, nonetheless, it would be the first time he would have the opportunity to have one of Shirou's cooked meals since he had begun Arturia's training. After all, for some bizarre reason, none would ever be left for him by the moment he sat upon the breakfast table.
As the food entered his mouth, and the expression on his face shifted from a dull pondering to an enamored astonishment, he quickly shoveled the rest down. He didn't care about the devastated expression on Sir Ector, Kay, and everyone else's faces as they quickly walked in late. Instead, he scowled at them.
By god, those savages.
Still, as his eyes turned to the last piece of food left untouched on the table, 'French Toast' as Shirou called it, an idea soon flickered into his mind even as he released a wave of magic to fend off the competition.
"I-I can't believe I respected you!" Kay stuttered through gnashed teeth. "You monster!"
He shrugged his shoulders, as if he would care about the respect of a man.
Now then.
With class, the French Toast ended up on his plate, and the sound of him chewing echoed across the room along with the cussing of the others.
Music to his ears.
The Harvest Festival. A celebration held by the Town's people to celebrate and give thanks for the plentiful crops and food yielded.
A similar event was also held in Bristol but celebrated at a different time of the year due to the differences in crops, terrain, and commodities. Yet Bristol was somewhat small when compared to Roan.
He watched as Arturia's eyes brightened looking outside at the festive fervor filling the roads. It would be the first time that he knew that she would partake in a Harvest Festival. In the time he had spent with her in Bristol, she had chosen to remain undercover by obligation, and had not participated in such events aside from watching. Here in Roan though, no one knew her as the son of Sir Ector, and would hardly pay attention to her.
In this case, even Sir Ector gave his consent knowing just how much Arturia had had to put up with in her childhood days. To this regard, Sir Ector had pulled him aside to express thanks long ago.
He had responded back candidly, admitting that he would rather spend his time with a friend than in a town where he barely knew anyone at the time.
Regardless, in the Harvest Festivals in Bristol, it had always been him to come knocking on her door; bringing with him the various items he would need to create their own little Harvest Festival in that modest house of three.
This time, he resolved himself to show her a good time at an actual Harvest Festival.
Getting dressed and then making sure that the lion cub was in still sleeping in the inn, he took Arturia's hand in his and pulled her outside into the bustling streets under the exasperated gazes of Sir Ector and Kay. Oddly, Merlin had the same expression on his face.
Emily was nowhere to be found as of late, as she seemed to have found a relative of sorts that she would visit from time to time to discuss some matters.
Palamid and the Son of Wolfred were also out enjoying the Festival already. How could they not when the Son of Wolfred who had been pampered for most of his childhood got lost in nostalgia, dragging Palamid along.
He was different from the Son of Wolfred though. He did not pull Arturia along to satisfy his own sense of nostalgia, but to allow her to experience what it was like to be normal.
Not a King.
Not a Knight.
But a young adolescent of her age.
Stalls were set up alongside the streets of the town. So, cramped together were they that not even a carriage or a horse could fit their way through.
It was all so new in Arturia's eyes, and for a moment she just stood there, taking it all in as if she couldn't be part of such a thing.
Yet he was the variable who pulled her along; showing her that even though she may become a King in the future, there were some things that must be experienced by oneself. Only then will one understand what it was that they are protecting.
For him, it was just seeing the joy flashing across her eyes, like a child that had just arrived at an amusement park. To her, it was the experience in and out of itself.
The grip he had on her hand felt warm as they moved on from stand to stand. Everything Arturia had seen was new, drawing a light in her eyes he had only ever seen once in Sabers: when he had asked her out for a date.
He hoped to make sure she could experience such feelings time and time again.
An open field had been prepared in preparation for the Harvest Festival. In it, people were dancing, shouting, and laughing as they set ablaze a bonfire under the setting sun.
Arturia was transfixed, her mouth frozen in an o-shape as she stared.
"C'mon," he said, pulling her along to an area just out of sight, but near enough to still hear the sounds of music and chatter.
He smiled at her as she looked at him questioningly.
"Place your hand here," he said, guiding her. "And I'll place mine here."
The expression on Arturia's face soon grew flustered as she realized just how close he was to her.
His hands were placed just atop her waist, and hers were on his shoulders.
"Care for a dance?" He asked. He had noticed the way she had looked enviously at the others enjoying themselves but she had every right to do the same. He was only helping her.
Arturia slowly nodded her head, a dizziness taking over her as a palpable feeling of elation took root from within her. To be honest, she had never participated in such activities common in a festival. Her movements were dull, slow, and unattractive to look at, yet Shirou didn't mind. Always with that reassuring expression on his face.
At this moment, she didn't feel all the responsibilities that weighed down on her shoulders.
Just, just the feeling of the moment.
A youth she didn't think she would ever have.
Nothing seemed to matter.
This was exactly what Merlin had been apprehensive of. She didn't know it at the moment, but if Shirou were to ask her to leave with him, she wouldn't know what she would do. Things had already developed to that point.
The beat of the music traveling from the bonfire echoed out through the air, the clumsy and carefree dancing of two young adolescents undisturbed in the warmth of the moment.
By the time she grew hungry, and the excitement had somewhat worn off, it was then that Shirou found himself staring at a food stand with her.
She looked down at the coins she had on hand, and realized that she had already spent most of what Sir Ector had given her.
Shirou couldn't help her either as he himself had already given his portion of coins to allow her the freedom to do what she wanted during the Harvest Festival.
When her stomach growled again, and she refused to acknowledge it, it was then that Shirou decided to act.
Walking up to the food stand under Arturia's curious gaze, Shirou called out to the vendor. "Would you be interested in a deal?" He asked.
The food vendor was intrigued. Having noticed the clothes Arturia and Shirou wore, the vendor had been quick to assume that they were of Noble Birth.
"Aye?" The food vendor spoke, scratching a spot at the back of his head.
Arturia approached just as Shirou was pointing out at the supplies the food vendor was making bread from.
They were flour, butter, and eggs. Strawberries and blueberries were also out in display in large bowls.
"If you let me use your ingredients, I'll show you how to make something never before seen?" Shirou bartered.
It was just unexpected though that the food vendor would so easily give way. Unbeknownst to Shirou, it was because of the status a Noble represented. The vendor didn't even have the right to say no, yet neither he or Arturia had considered such a thing.
Giving his thanks to the vendor, Shirou took over the simple small fire the vendor was tending to.
The types of ingredients he had to work with were small, but it was expected with how far back in time he was. Therefore, he would just have to make something simple, and quick to avoid troubling the food vendor any further.
He settled on a crepe. It was fairly simple to make, and he had the ingredients necessary.
The flour.
The butter and the eggs.
Some salt he had obtained from Bristol.
And a few other things he had on hand.
First, he crushed the blueberries and strawberries into a jam like consistency that was smooth if a but rough due to the presence of seeds. In any case, he then placed the jam to the side and began work on the actual crepe, a variant of the pancake created as a mistake in the future by a boy named Henri.
Under his experienced hands
The first crepe in history was born and stuffed with blueberry filling. One he gave to the vendor, and the other to Arturia.
She had never seen anything like it before. She had eaten pancakes, but this was different. As she took her first bite, the taste of blueberries and sweetness entering her mouth, she didn't know what to think. Only that one wasn't nearly enough.
The vendor out of everyone present was the most stupefied. Having never before tasted Shirou's cooking, and only then realizing that Shirou had shown him how to make it, he was filled with a sense of gratitude.
As Shirou made a few more crepes and then left the stand, the vendor waved fervently at his exit.
Meanwhile, Arturia was so absorbed in eating that she didn't realize that crepes were far messier to eat than just regular pancakes if one wasn't careful. Soon, blueberry stains were present on her cheeks and her finger tips, and seeing this, Shirou wiped them off.
Arturia's body grew rigid, a red hue forming on her face as she blushed. Such a scene of Shirou cleaning up after her had only ever happened when she was a child as she would often make a mess of herself while eating. Now that she was older, the fact she had done so again in front of Shirou was mortifying.
Yet just like in their childhood, Shirou was always accepting of her. It was to the point where she believed that even if she strayed from the proper path, Shirou would still follow her.
This assurance, this understanding, this ever-present feeling, was it called love?
Arturia suddenly swallowed. She didn't know what love was, so how could it possibly be? It must have been something else. Feeling born from shared memories.
Something she would always hold dear.
Her gaze became tranquil, enjoying the moment.
A Harvest Festival. It was her first, and a memory she would remember for an eternity.
At that moment, a white cloaked man appeared.
Merlin?
"A pleasant surprise to see you two here," Merlin spoke off handedly, casually taking a seat across from them who sat atop the grass.
It was then that Merlin's eyes trailed to the crepes Arturia was still eating from a small plate. Merlin then realized just who had made them.
Shirou stared at Merlin oddly as the man eyed him bringing out the rest of the crepes to eat, yet Merlin composed himself moments later after snatching them. What occurred next was completely unexpected to Merlin as the plate of crepes was then snatched from out of his hands.
Merlin's brow twitched as he realized just whohad snatched the food from his hands.
Arturia stared back at Merlin with a calm gaze, a small splotch of blueberry evident on her cheek as she had quickly taken a massive bite out of the fresh crepes.
Merlin cleared his throat irritably before taking out some refreshments and placing a cup down on the table.
Shirou stared at the cup as it just appeared to hold water. He was grateful then when Merlin slide it for him to drink from. Having worked over a fire, he had developed a sheen of sweat and had grown thirsty. Drinking from it, he didn't notice the flash that travelled across Merlin's eyes. What he did notice though was the ghastly expression that soon befell Merlin's face when Arturia took the cup and downed the rest of the contents after finishing the last bite of her crepe.
"Y-You," Merlin didn't even finish speaking before taking Arturia by the hand and leading her away.
Shirou who was left behind stared bewildered, not understanding what exactly had happened to incite Merlin to such action. However, it was only ten minutes later that he began to notice something was off.
Generally, when he was walking down the road, he was used to garnering attention from the townsfolk as the clothes he wore distinguished him as a Noble. Most of these gazes were from women and ambitious individuals however. Yet this time, there was something wrong with all the men.
When before the men had stared at him, it was always in challenge, a way to prove their masculinity through a duel of sorts. Now, now it was beginning to unnerve him.
His long and lush red hair waved in the wind, releasing a fragrance similar to a hearth's fire. His complexion was fair in the glowing dimness of the setting sun, his eyes, like amber jewels, demanding attention.
It was up to this point, that he froze. He didn't remember having long hair, nor did he recall his hands being so soft and small, the calluses gained from continues practice, gone.
A sinking feeling began to take root in his stomach, and immediately he made way towards the nearest source of water to see his reflection. What stared back at him was a beauty straight from a fairy tale.
He was wearing the leathers he had been wearing before, giving him an exotic sort of look. A woman dressed in the hunting garbs of a man.
"My fair lady, it was chance that guided us together at this moment,"
A voice echoed just behind his ears, his back stiffening as he recognized that voice.
Oh god.
He slowly turned around.
The Son of Wolfred was staring at him with widened eyes along with Palamid who was not too far off.
"H-Hello," he spoke with a grimace, immediately turning to move away.
"Wait a moment," the Son of Wolfred called in a heated voice before quieting down as the target of his gaze fell upon Palamid. Realizing that he was being a bit too eager in front of Palamid, the Son of Wolfred composed himself. "At least tell us your name," he asked.
Shirou's mouth twitched, and he immediately began moving away faster.
It was only when he heard a thumping sound that he paused and turned around to stare at Palamid.
Palamid had knocked out the Son of Wolfred, before staring hard at him.
"You're the same, aren't you?" Palamid probed, having an inkling of an idea after staring hard at Shirou's features. The red hair was too much of a reminder for someone as observant as Palamid.
Shirou didn't understand what it was that Palamid meant, but Palamid still seemed to come up to some conclusion.
"It was that deplorable Wizard," Palamid hissed, clenching his fists. "E-Even now I-I, god dammnit! We have to find him! If he used it on you then he must have the cure on him!
With that said, Palamid rushed off into the crowded stands of the Harvest Festival, Shirou following not too far behind.
The attention Shirou inadvertently garnered with his tempting appearance nearly made him want to trace out a sword and begin hacking away at all the Noblemen who came to block his path with their continued advances. Eventually, the rumour of the Beautiful 'Lady in Leathers,' would spread throughout Roan. A woman with a fiery temper as red as her hair and a gaze that spoke of violence towards any suitor, yet still pursued nonetheless.
Moving along, Shirou was soon separated from Palamid as the most unexpected of situations occurred. He had stumbled across Kay, drinking a beer along with Gerrard, and Bors while Sir Ector was shaking his head from the side.
His appearance caused Gerrard to drop the beer in his hands.
A lady who didn't appear so sheltered and fragile. It was the first Kay, Gerrard, and Sir Ector had ever seen one. It was only Bor's and too an extent, Kay and Sir Ector that were able to get over it quite quickly. Bors because of Palamid, and Sir Ector and Kay because of Arturia.
Shirou's appearance now, was that of a woman in her twenties due to his height. When he suddenly became a girl, only his physical attributes changed, not his stature. This made him appear quite a lot older for his age.
By this point, Shirou knew the look that flashed across the faces of Gerrard, Kay, and Bors. Gerrard had already somehow made his way to wrap an arm around Shirou's waist.
Gerrard was close enough that even the smell of his breath prickled Shirou's nose.
Disgusting.
"Fuck off!" He screamed in panic, revulsed. He had faced a number of things in his life, but never something like this.
Pushing Gerrard away, the anger in Shirou's face only continued to grow as he sought out that dead beat of a Wizard.
It wasn't supposed to be this way.
Merlin let out a depressed sigh. He had only planned to show Arturia how feminine Shirou was to dissuade her from pursuing such a man, yet it had all gone wrong in a single moment.
Arturia had taken a drink from the same potion he had gotten Shirou to drink, and now, this was where the problems began. Originally, he had intended to have Arturia turned off from Shirou as he had become a woman, but now, she herself had become a man.
And o boy was it pissing him off.
"Would you care for a drink my lady," Merlin spoke, holding a young woman's hand.
The woman blushed, before slowly nodding her head. It was then that she soon asked the question that nearly caused Merlin to explode in frustration. "W-Will it be with the young Nobleman beside you?"
Merlin's expression froze, as he leveled a glare on 'Arthur.'
This was precisely what had been frustrating him all day. At first he had taken Arturia away for two reasons: To prevent Shirou from seeing would befall him, and to decide what to do with Arturia, and at this point, he knew exactly what he was going to do.
Arturia was acting as if nothing had happened. Then again, she was already raised to act like a boy, so there was basically no difference in behaviour. All that changed with the consumption of the potion was a sharp increase in male features.
Arturia appeared like a young prince charming to any lady who laid eyes on the spectacle.
With a strained smile, Merlin then declined the young lady from a drink, and smoothly pulled Arturia away.
Before, he had deliberated just having Arturia remain as a male, eliminating future problems, but now, now he could hardly care less.
He pulled out a small vile of liquid from his white cloak, presenting it before Arturia.
"Drink this," he said. "It's for your own good."
Arturia looked at the vile Merlin had placed into her hands before taking a small sip under Merlin's insistent prompting. It was only after verifying that Arturia had taken a sip that Merlin gave a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, the vile in Arturia's hands was snatched away by a beauty wearing leathers. For a moment, Merlin had lost himself staring before he swallowed, unable to recognize the woman for who she was.
"My dear, would you care to give that back to me? Afterwards, if you would allow me to treat you to some food or a drink, it would be my honour," Merlin finished with a huskiness in his voice and a flourish of his hands, a red rose appearing. "A tribute to your vibrant red hair."
"Enough," Arturia glowered, getting an odd protective feeling towards the woman. Something about Merlin flirting with her just ticked Artura off to a whole other level.
Merlin raised a brow, but what would a child know about the art of adults?
Merlin pushed Arturia to the side, drawing an angered grunt from Arturia who immediately began pushing back.
It was only when Merlin used his magic that Arturia had no choice but to watch, restrained by an invisibly force.
Merlin cleared his throat. "Now, where was I?" Merlin muttered, turning around towards the woman in leathers.
The woman in leathers was glaring at him, a bloodlust rising in her eyes, that Merlin had only seen once when he had pushed a woman too far, but her next actions puzzled Merlin. The woman had stomped off with the vile in hand.
Moments later, Shirou appeared in the distance with sword drawn.
It was then that Merlin realized as Shirou approached just who that woman in leathers was.
Awkwardly, he made an excuse to Arturia and quickly left, not caring that Shirou still had possession of the vile. He knew Shirou's capabilities to create a Noble Phantasm, and he didn't want to risk confronting such a thing. Some of the strongest Noble Phantasms could be quite vague until released after all.
Merlin quickly disappeared under Shirou's gaze.
As Shirou vowed vengeance in his heart, he couldn't help but ponder about what had set off Palamid earlier? Well, he didn't really think much about it after Arturia began to pull him along back in the direction of the festivities; she then asking about if he had seen a 'pretty' woman in the direction he had appeared from. Shirou's expression grew somber before be immediately changed the subject.
Elsewhere, the Madam didn't know what to think after what she had just seen today. Initially, it was all part of her plan to monitor the movements of her enemies down to the slightest detail, but little did she expect for Merlin to do such a thing. What a fool, but perhaps she could use this knowledge of events as a means for something? Yet she could already see the futility of it.
Her mouth twitched. Another day wasted.
Not too far from the Madam was Merlin who sighed in the distance as he turned around to observe the scene. It would seem that his interference proved unfruitful. Perhaps only time will tell whether this change in Fate was beneficial or not.
He lost a potion in his righteous endeavor, but he supposed that no one but himself would have a use for that thing anyway, and besides, he had learned a deep lesson today.
Flowers bloom across the land.
And the birds and the bees flock.
Competition is good.
But winning is better.