7 Mordred IV

Artoria -"Is there anything else needed to be taken care of before we leave?"

Mordred -"Leave? So the ritual need a specific place?"

Artoria -"Well, we have to give Avalon a quick visit whenever you are ready."

Mordred -"Wait-a-minute, the ever distant Utopia in fairy's fairy tales is real."

Artoria -"Yup and quite a beautiful place if I say so. It is a world inside our world. Opposite to throne of heroes which is outside what we perceive as the world and outside the regular flow of time, Avalon is completely opposite, with it being inside the core of earth and inside the regular flow of time. The concentration of magical energy is so dense that even mystical creatures would find it difficult to breathe there."

Mordred -"It's nice and all, but isn't it unreachable like in its name the 'ever distant utopia'."

Artoria -"Not if you are with me, or you are a fairy of paradise. So, we are good to go."

Mordred -"Let us wait for Alisa, disappearing without saying is bad, that I learned courtesy to you."

Artoria -"How long do we have to wait! Do you have Ale or something?"

Mordred -"For the first question, I don't know and for the second one, if I had, I would have I would already be drinking."

Artoria -*Sigh* "Let's talk till then. Oh! I know it is pretty late but how was your relationship with your step-brothers and sisters, and with King Lot."

Mordred -"Mother hid me from them, so they didn't know of my existence. I formally met them when I entered the Knights of the Round Table and by the time my parentage was revealed to them, the rebellion was at hand."

Artoria -*Sigh* "OK, then how do you look at Agravain, Gawain, Gaheris and Gareth as knights?"

Mordred -"If anything they were loyal to you that almost seem fanatical. Specifically, Agravain had this 'dark' aura around him, but he was kind, Gawain was that 'happy-go-lucky' guy who was an ideal knight, Gaheris admired Gawain and wanted to be like him, and Gareth of all things she admired that Lancelot. I don't hate her or anything, but she is too happy and idealistic for my taste. Though Agravain and Gawain hate even mentioning the name of our mother."

Artoria -"I don't know about the others but Agravain definitely know of your relationship with Morgan. He is a clumsy guy, but he shows his appreciation in his own way. I find Gareth very cute, if she gets close to someone, she is fiercely loyal and would protect them with her life. In some case, she is like a puppy. There were days she would follow me everywhere and would be sad if I went without her."

Mordred -*Humf* 'What is so cute about that?' Thinking that she took a small sip of beer that she somehow manifested.

Artoria -"There are many things to note like Percival was so kind he would heap a mountain of food on your plate each time. He was everyone's kind older brother. He used to take care of Bors, Gareth and Galahad. Oh! Then there was Palamedes, my drinking buddy. Both he and Percival fought for Iseult's love. Our depressed knight Tristan was a great cause of depression for Palamedes as both of them shared this love-hate relationship.

Palamedes faced quite setbacks, and he used to complain how these quests were not for him."

Saying that Artoria had a heartfelt laughter. She then continues.

Artoria -"You know, Merlin in need of quick cash published a cultured book on a fictional relationship between Kay and Pellinore, it was quite popular with the ladies. Gareth had even bought a copy. I liked it when Key and Pellinore couldn't ignore the star gazed eyes of Gareth. Then there was Ywain, who used to help me take care of 'Lala' a lion cub I found, he would go into this 'mother mode' and you have no way but to agree with him.

Then there was you, with every completed task you would have this 'praise me' look, that was so wholesome."

Mordred -"Well.. hehe~*Sips*"

Artoria -"Wait-a-f**king minute, you had Ale?"

Mordred -"No, I had beer. Before you ask, well you never asked."

Artoria -"Pass on please."

Mordred -"Here!" Mordred passed another mug to her which again she manifested somehow. Artoria wasn't questioning it and was busy chugging the beer.

Artoria -"I have talked about other, how can I forget my man Pelleas, he was a different breed. At that time I had just got crowned and was still gathering supporters. At the same time, I came to know about Pelleas.

He felt in love with a lady and to woo her he joined a tournament to win a golden circlet. My guy won and even successfully gifted the circlet but was rejected by the said lady even though she accepted his gift. He was even bullied by knights sent by the said lady every day when he just wanted his circlet back. Just because he was son of poor vavasour(vessel of a baron) and she was a high-born lady.

The story gets even crazier with the entry of Gawain. He was passing by, when he heard of Pelleas and had gone to demand justice for our Pelleas, but instead fell in love with the said lady.

When some days later, when Pelleas went to find Gawain, he found both, Gawain and the lady intertwined in bed. At this point you are thinking that sad, but no, he had done the crazy. He learned of me conducting a knight competition and the winner would be chosen as a Knight of the Round table.

As you know he won and became one of my knights. It was all and good until he demanded me to send a decree for the parents of the said lady. You know a decree of King should be heard by both vessel noble and his subjects. He had me write the decree which first part included casual greeting and my sincere appreciation for them. Here where it becomes one of the funniest stories. He wanted me to add, and I quote "Your daughter is kind of jewel that is adorned by you and your people. I respect her very much and from the depth of my heart I say, she belongs in the streets" at the last part. That earned me hatred from an entire household of nobility, but that shit was hilarious. That was one of the many stories of Pellaes."

Hearing Artoria, Mordred also lose herself in a sincere laughter.

Mordred -"I never knew of it before. Do you have other similar stories."

Artoria -"I have many."

Right at that time Alisa returned.

Alisa -"A'm back, did ah lassy something?" (I am back, did I miss something?)

Mordred -"No, nothing*hehehe*. I was waiting for you to say that I would leave with father for some time. I would be back soon."

Alisa -"A'body hud awready accepted ye as oor king. Mak' sure tae return soon." (Everybody had already accepted you as our king. Make sure to return soon.)

Mordred -"I will definitely. Oh! before anything the ritual, will it be painful?"

Artoria -"I don't know, this will be the first of its kind. To make it simple, I will take out your soul and cast a perfect vessel based on it. Once your soul is out of the body, you should not feel or rather would not be able to feel the physical world."

Mordred -"Oh! That definitely sound painful. Either the process is painful or you make it sound painful. Now which is it?"

Artoria -"Believe in your doctor. I will make sure nothing happens to you."

Mordred -"That doesn't answer my question."

Artoria -"It would be normally be very dangerous, but~"

Mordred -"I knew it."

Artoria -"I am a qualified mage and Avalon is the centre of mysteries, the chance of the ritual failing is zero. You will definitely be fine, and I will make sure of it."

Alisa -"Och! ah forgot. Some fowk hud come tae catch up wi` ye Mor-ly." (Oh! I forgot. Some people had come to meet you Mor-ly.)

Mordred -"Someone came to meet me? Who?"

Morgan -"Forgot your mother so soon, my child."

Merlin -"Hey Art!"

Artoria -"Here we go again."