Chapter Twenty: Two Lives Interact

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲,"

- 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫

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Alaric POV

I stood there barely registering King Lot's words of congratulations. My heart pounded in my chest and my mind still buzzed with the adrenaline of the fight. Agravaine had been taken away to the medic leaving me as the victor. 

"Well done my boy!" King Lot's voice broke through my haze. He grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously.

"You've earned not only glory in this battle but are now being rewarded with a large sum of money for winning the tournament," Lot continued handing me a heavy sack of coins. The weight of the reward felt foreign in my hand, but I managed to bow graciously.

"Thank you King Lot," I said slinging the bag over my shoulder. My thoughts were already drifting elsewhere—specifically to my King I needed to understand why she seemed disappointed despite my victory.

 I should get out of my armor and see a medic first though. I hurried back to my quarters the heavy armor weighing me down with each step. Once I was inside, I slowly began to remove the pieces setting them carefully aside on a nearby table. The cool air against my skin was a welcome relief as I stood in my gray tunic and brown pants.

I caught sight of myself in the long mirror and was surprised to see that none of the injuries I remembered were visible "how can this be?" I muttered in shock.

"That would be because of me Alaric," a familiar voice suddenly called out making me jump. I quickly reached for my sword, which I had left on the bed before the battle with Agravaine.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" I demanded the voice chuckled and I turned to see the Dark Knight standing before me. I stumbled back startled by his sudden appearance.

The Dark Knight tilted his head in amusement "wow so easy to startle. It's like looking at an old memory," he said his gaze completely fixed on me.

"You? How is this possible?!" I shouted but The Dark Knight wagged his clawed finger.

"Well, that's kind of hard to answer, Alaric. But let's just say time becomes a rather fickle thing for us as we grow in both strength and power," he replied.

"No! There is no us! I won't ever become you! I'll find a different path to save her!" I snarled half-expecting him to lash out. Instead, he laughed—a hollow eerie sound.

"Hahahaha go ahead, keep searching. I once said the same thing that I wouldn't turn into what you see before you. But no matter how far into the possible futures and past I searched, I couldn't find any other alternative. It all ends with us getting sealed away, Camelot destroyed, or everything dying because of some unknown factor," he explained.

"No! I refuse to believe you. The only reason you're telling me this is probably because becoming you is the easiest path," I said.

The Dark Knight ignores me though his arm crossed behind his back as he looked out the window "it's been a while since I've seen Morgan's kingdom… It was so much more peaceful back then less tainted," he said in a tone of somberness, reminiscent, and what seemed like with regret.

He then turned back to face me "in any case, this will not be the not be the last time you see me. The other one told me this exact same thing to me once so I should also tell you now that sooner or later, you'll be getting the rest of my experiences the more times we meet or combat one another," he said golden eyes glowing from within his helmet piercing through my pale green ones.

"It should be more than enough to help you kill Vortigern, with or without the help of Artoria," he said.

I stood up, shaking my head in frustration and slight fear "n-no I don't want your future! Nor do I care for it. I've already told you what I will be doing," I shouted.

The Dark Knight chuckled "I am afraid that you don't really have much of a choice my dear ignorant self. Trust me when I say it'll be for your own good," he said patting me on the shoulder before disappearing leaving me alone.

In fury I smacked away my armor before taking a deep breath to calm myself. I should probably go see Artoria right now instead of waiting later I thought once I was more relaxed. 

Exiting my quarters I headed straight for her chambers. Two guards stood by her door they nodded in recognition as I approached and knocked on the chamber doors.

"My king, are you there?" I called out.

"Enter," her voice came from inside.

Entering the chamber, I found Artoria at her study engrossed in paperwork "My King, I—" I started, but she stood up and moved towards me swiftly. I closed my eyes half-expecting to be struck instead I was engulfed in a warm embrace.

"Artoria?" I questioned, surprised.

"I am glad you made it out okay. I was worried…" she said her voice uncharacteristically hesitant.

Slowly she pulled away and without warning smacked me upside the head. It was a bit comical since she had to jump up in order to reach my taller frame.

"OWW! Why did you do that for?!," I whined.

Artoria frowned "Do not think this to be me disappointed in your achievement of winning the tournament but rather in the way you fought. Unlike your battle with Sir Agravaine the previous few were always respectable and honorable. Yet upon meeting him in the arena you not only insulted each other but fought like savage beasts without thought," she lectured.

I bit my lip feeling unfairly criticized "but…" Artoria's eyes softened again "I cannot blame you for that I suppose it's always been a part of you," she said.

"What do you mean by that my king?" I asked confused.

Artoria chuckled "your style of fighting I noticed since our first sparring session that it was always more animalistic, brutal, and angry. 

I had hoped that in the next few years you could tame those parts of you and control them which you have to an extent but when I saw you lose control against Sir Agravaine, I knew it wasn't permanent and that it would most likely always be apart of you. 

Still, I cannot blame you for your actions, not with Agravaine intentionally provoking you like he did. I will be sure to give him a… proper talk when he recovers," she explained.

I felt a mix of relief and confusion. On one hand I never wanted to disappoint her but on the other she didn't fault me for my nature. Eventually I settled down on giving a relieved smile "I see then I am glad you're not angry at me, your Majesty. If it will make you feel any better, I shall do my best to restrain those tendencies of mine," I replied.

Artoria nods her head and I bowed "if you'll excuse me then," I said getting ready to leave but was stopped by Artoria once more "Alaric," she says causing me to pause wondering what it was that she wanted "good work," she said. 

My heart warmups at her praise slowly I nodded suppressing the smile that threatened to escape.

With that I soon left, returning back to my quarters…

-end of chapter twenty- 

Alright we are completely officially done with the tournament part and will soon move on to the final fight with Vortigern (whom he barely kills but succeeds with help from Artoria and then bathes in his blood giving him the traits of a white dragon) , Morgans Betrayal, Mordred's Intro, Alaric finding out his true parents, Alaric confronting Merlin before rushing to the Lake to see his mother, a mini battle scene with good ol Lucius Tiberius since they will be 'rivals' to each other in this fic, Alaric still searching for other paths before coming to the realization that there really was no other path he could take, Alaric asking Merlin what would happen if he took Mordred's place instead, Alaric swearing Merlin to never reveal the truth of what he's going to do, Alaric going over to see his mother Vivan to teach him forging and a couple of other things in order to create a new set of armor, sword (Excalibur Destruction), and halberd (Voidpiercer), Alaric conquering the Kingdom of Lot and Forcefully taking control of the Britain isles from Morgan causing his eyes to shift into a deep orang-yellow mixed pair of eyes with slits while Morgan ends up free from her corruption and madness, Alaric's final battle against Artoria, The Round Table, Merlin, and reluctant alley Morgan, and then his technical death which he really isn't its more of like he's been sealed away in the darkest part of Avalon by both Merlin and Morgan. Afterwards Camelot would remain destroyed but Artoria and the others he considers friends would at least live to pursue their happy ending. 

Then we can begin getting into the Apocrypha Arc.