Chapter Seven: Apprenticeship, Knightship, and Reassurance

(A/N: MC is still a kid right now and I wanted to show a scene that would lead to Artoria showing more of her emotions if not to her kingdom, then to the child that she will eventually consider her own son at some point so just a heads up is all)

"𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐈'𝐦 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬,"- 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜

Alaric POV: 

The surviving knights and I stood from afar watching the battle between our King and Vortigern the ground shook underneath their might blasts of both golden and emerald light could be seen in the air. 

My fists clenched involuntarily that kind of strength and power what would I have to do to reach that level the sounds of tapping reach my ears "she's quite something isn't she?" came a smooth sounding voice. I turned meeting the gaze of a man with long pink hair tied up into a ponytail, he wore a long pink cloak that went down to his feet, and in his hand was a long wooden staff. 

Something felt awfully familiar about the man standing in front of me "have we met before?" I ask the man coughed clearing his throat "no I do believe this is the first time that we meet Alaric, Artoria has told me many things about you," he replied before twirling his staff "and if you still haven't figured out who I am then allow me to introduce myself my name is Merlin the Mage of Flowers," he exclaimed in a dramatic tone. 

My eyes widen disregarding the casual reveal of Arthur's true name which she hadn't told me of either "your Merlin!" I nearly shout before I stopped myself, I took a look around me noticing the fact that no one had even looked over at us upon hearing my shout. 

"Relax they can't hear us I casted a spell around us so that no one can overhear us," Merlin explained "why is it that your here Merlin should you not be assisting her majesty?" I questioned he shook his head though "nah Artoria can handle Vortigern just fine no I came here for you," he said. 

"F-for me?" I ask in shock the mage nodded his head "that's right I've heard a lot about you from Artoria more particularly your ability to manipulate and shape your mana without any problems. Which I do have to say is quite something special I mean with just a simple mana construct you were able to easily annihilate a group of Saxons so needless to say I see quite a lot of potential in you, and I can help you if you want," he offered. 

I looked down in thought rumors had told of how Merlin was a mage of great power and had trained Arthur or well Artoria now I guess in the use of a sword looking back up I ask, "if I accept then...will you be able to make me as strong no stronger then both Vortigern and Artoria combined?" Merlin hummed in contemplation before shrugging his shoulder "eh sure why not," he said it just like that. 

Merlin then looks out into the distance "ahh looks like Vortigern is retreating now," he pointed out I look back only to see Vortigern in his white dragon from he roared before flying away "wait is her majesty alright?!" I quickly ask with panic Merlin nonchalantly waved his hand "mah mah relax would you Alaric look she's perfectly fine just a few scratches and minor wounds," he said projecting a view of where she was. 

I sighed in relief seeing that she was still alive and not dead still the sight of her covered in blood shook me unknowingly my eyes began to glow my vision changes and I see Artoria covered in blood standing atop of a bloody hill while crying out at the sky. 

I let out a small gasp the moment the vision ended "you had a vision of the future just now didn't you incredible it's not often a mage is born with a clairvoyant ability," Merlin said with a tone of interest "clairvoyance?" I ask and Merlin replied, "the ability to either see the past or future," 

"Now I could tell you more about it...well that is if you accept to be my student," he said and at that moment I didn't need to think about it for I had long since made up my mind "I accept then take me on as your apprentice teach me all you know," I said in a serious voice. 

Merlin chuckles "very well then our first lesson shall begin when you return back to Camelot I shall await for your arrival," he said before disappearing away in a mirage of pink flowers, so it was an illusion I thought until my attention was finally taken by the shouts of Sir Gawaine "his majesty is back!" prompting cheers from the other knights. 

I push through the crowd to see her only to find her surrounded by the knights of the round Lancelot notices my gaze and nods his head telling me to come over with them. 

Tents were set up with many of the injured knights being taken care of. What should of have been absolute devastation to our numbers was reduced due to me saving as many of the injured as I could.

I stood in the main tent where a bandaged Artoria and the knights of the round were they talked amongst themselves while I stood waiting until finally my name is called by Artoria "squire Alaric after much talk with Sir Lancelot and the other knights of the round we have decided to dub you knight after the display of prowess and skill you've demonstrated this will make you one of the most youngest to have ever been dubbed a knight aside from myself," she revealed surprising me greatly. 

I take a look at Sir Lancelot and Gawaine who both give a reassuring smile the others merely nodded their heads at me having never personally interacted with me but had seen what I had done in today's battle. 

I kneeled down before her "it would be an honor to be personally dubbed a knight by you my king," I said.

 Artoria then stoically reached forth for her blade pointing just barely at my chin "then squire Alaric soon to be Sir Alaric I ask you do you hereby swear to be loyal to Camelot, do you swear to be loyal to I your King, and lastly do you swear to be the protector of the people to never turn your back against them when in the time of need?" she stated in a stoic voice betraying no hint of emotion (tragic foreshadowing here). 

"I do" I reply as Artoria gently tapped both my right and left shoulder "then I hereby dub you Sir Alaric official Knight of Camelot of course this means you no longer will be required to attend any more training from Lancelot or I, but should you still want to then you may," she said. 

"Of course, I shall still continue to attend training with Sir Lancelot and you your majesty after all I am still too young to consider myself a proficient swordsman much less one of your or Sir Lancelot's level," I said rising up from my kneeling position Artoria nods. 

Seeing that their presence was no longer required the knights of the round exited the tent Lancelot quickly pats my back "I'll shall see you later tomorrow for celebration when we arrive back at Camelot...Sir Alaric," he said with a small pause at the end. 

I nod in response as he left now it was just Artoria and I "...I-" whatever Artoria was going to say was cut off when I suddenly tackled her into a hug.

 "I-I was so glad when I saw you back alive, I have never felt so much fear at the thought of losing another person that I've come to care for," I croaked out with tears escaping my eyes just this once the emotions that I kept locked all the way in the back of my head had been allowed freedom. 

I never noticed the rapid cycle of Artoria's expression at first it looked like she wanted to push me away but slowly she wrapped her arms around my smaller like frame no one was around to see us, so I guess she figured it was alright to be herself for once instead of 'King Arthur'

She patted my back her cold stoic eyes were now much more gentle "there there child it's alright all is well I am fine now you need not worry I understand that...today's events have been frightening but you are a knight now and knights do not cry for they are chivalrous and brave both of which you have been today Alaric don't think I didn't see you saving those that were injured," she reassured yet lectured at the same time. 

We separated from the hug shortly Artoria pulls out a small cloth wiping away the tears that had been streaming down my cheek I look away feeling ashamed "I-I am sorry I shouldn't have done that," I stutter out hoping that she would not be mad a hand reaches out to me ruffling my pale-colored hair "it's fine just as long as no one else is around," she said. 

I blush red at her ruffling my hair "I should probably go now," I said quickly stepping away from her hand and exiting the tent. 

Artoria had never noticed it but when I had left, she had unconsciously smiled for the first time in a long while the last time she had ever done so was the day before she pulled out Caliburn from the stone. 

-end of chapter seven- 

Alright there you have it the beginning of Momtoria and of course I haven't forgotten about Gwenevere though she will appear in chapter eight when Alaric goes for his first lesson with Merlin then after that we will go to a minor timeskip to where Alaric is now a teenager. 

As of now I have officially completed posting at least one new chapter each to one of my Fate fanfics those being: Fate/Ghost, Fate/Survivor, Last Stardust, and The Knight Standing Between FATE so now I will be taking a small break from Fate and just to get a small breather for myself because I am starting to feel that writers exhaustion coming in due to writing for the same series for so long.