randomosity | [For Saft] On the Eve of Battle

Was he acting different? He hadn't noticed. Or had he? Things did seem different...

He was more concerned for the safety of his Master, and for himself, than he had been in the past. He didn't want Salt to get hurt, and this was a war in particular where injury was imminent. And he couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt.

But he couldn't say that to her. No. He was the great King of Conquerors! He couldn't admit such weakness, such fear. He put on his best Rider smile and chuckled lowly.

"These tactics of yours are simply unorthodox to my own methods. I am not used to them," Rider replied. "I do not mean to doubt you. Merely expressing concern as a seasoned general."

"To be honest...I still haven't really got a clue what I'm doing." She shrugged as she glanced at him. "But whatever, I mean it's got us this far."

But there's only so far improvisation will take her and she knows that. The question is will she know what to do when it comes to dealing with worse things than this?

"Sometimes you just gotta roll with what comes your way. You know what I mean?"

"This is a new experience for you - and you've shown exceptional talent that we have gotten us this far," Rider praised her. "But of course you're fortunate to have-"

Wait for it.

"ISKANDAR! KING OF CONQUERORS AS YOUR SERVANT!" Yeah...Saft you had to know it was coming. Frankly it was amazing that Rider had kept quiet as long as he had. It just went to show the lengths he'd go for her. His silence was not easily won.

Edited 2016-02-22 03:12 (UTC)

If he hadn't then Saft would have known for certain something was amiss with her servant's wellbeing. Seeing Rider so tense and serious as of late didn't sit well with her.

But as Iskandar yells loudly, she inwardly squirms. This plan of hers wasn't going to work if Rider lets everyone know their position.

...

As she prepares herself to suddenly be attacked she glances around confused. Nothing. She would have thought at least something would have come about from Rider's loud voice. Even an explosion or two from one of the other servants charging through the forest having to make it past her array of fire-seals.

"...Rider, Are you sensing anything?"

Rider waited patiently, expecting an attack as well - but nothing. At least not yet. He waited longer, looking out into the forest, into the dark. His eyes narrowed, he did indeed sense something.

"We're not alone. Something's here," he warned.

He nearly reached up, he nearly grabbed her to tuck her behind him. But he resisted. At least for the moment. "Out in the trees. Something knows we're out here."

Rider reached for the hilt of his sword and gripped it tight, ready to draw it at any given second.

Saft frowned, following Rider's gaze out into the forest. Preparing herself for a possible fight in which case if it was just another servant Saft would have to keep out the way and give support from the sidelines, however if this servant's master had come along to spectate too then it would possibly mean she would have to fight too.

"B-But that's impossible! They shouldn't have been able to avoid those seals unless--"

It hadn't occurred to her that she might have been followed by another servant in spirit form, or that the servant could have materialised from wherever they wanted to.

Stupid move, Saft. stupid.

Rider didn't hesitate this time. He reached up into the trees and grabbed Saft protectively. He tucked her in close to his front and pulled his blade free, holding it in front of her. His amber eyes swept the terrain, reaching out with his senses to try and identify the location of their adversary.

"It'll be all right-" he'd no sooner said it than he felt a sharp pain shoot down his back. He whipped his head around and saw the faintest flash of a black cloak in the darkness.

Assassin.

"Of all the curs to have been pitted against us..." Rider hated Assassin. There was no honor nor art in his attacks. Assassin was a coward, in Rider's opinion. "Stay close. He will try and separate us."

Before she even got to protest about being treated like some damsel in distress, Saft felt the side of her face pressed up against Rider's armour. She hadn't seen who was responsible for the sudden shudder from her servant's form.

She cursed herself, this trap of hers should have worked great against the servant she had initially come out with Rider to put a stop to but since she hadn't accounted for anyone else to get involved it had put them both at risk.

"Yeah? What else is new?" It wasn't like she wasn't fully aware of Assassin's abilities. Still, it made him a hard opponent to come up with a strategy for, Rider might be the brawn but she still needs to come up with the brains in such drastic times such as these.

Iskandar tightened his grip around her and stiffened in concern as he reached out with his senses to try and pinpoint Assassin. But of course, this would be impossible given Assassin's abilities.

But Rider suddenly sensed an attack and moved his head - just in time to barely miss having a flying knife whizz through the air and hit his face, though it did graze his cheek.

"We can't stay here, we can't move in these trees," Rider looked down to the ground. "Which section has the least amount of these land mines of yours? We have to move and get Assassin out in the open."

"That way I guess, But don't worry a majority won't go off unless I detonate them myself or at least I hope so." Saft pointed off towards the other clearing of the forrest. If she and Rider were going to do this they needed to act upon the threat of Assassin and fast.

Rider kept his grip solid upon her before jumping from their tree, into another and down to the ground, trying to feel out with his senses where the mines were. Hoping beyond hope that they didn't go off accidentally.

He couldn't summon his chariot. Not here, there wasn't enough space. So Rider thrust the sword of Kupriotes into the air and let lightning crash around them. Probably not the smartest idea, given their proximity to explosives. But he needed his horse at least.

Bucephalus was summoned. The great black horse stood obediently as Rider jumped into the saddle and held Saft carefully in the saddle before him. Then he kicked the horse in the sides and rushed forward towards the other clearing.

Saft braced her back up against Rider's stomach and took hold of the horse's mane, Out of Rider's two main transport choices, Bucephalus was definitely one she favoured over the chariot. He was just as much as an ally as Iskandar was.

"...I hope this works!"

Bucephalus' hooves thundered against the ground as they rushed through the trees. Rider could hear Assassin behind them and he urged his horse on faster. No one was faster than Rider. No one. As they finally reached the clearing, Rider tugged back on the reins and held the Sword of Kupriotes out, turning Bucephalus in the direction of Assassin.

He was quiet; focused. It was a rare portrait of Iskandar, King of Conquerors, in his element and taking things seriously.

Saft didn't say a word, she was just as tense as her servant and seeing him so focused for once actually has her impressed and slightly worried. She's seen him like this before when facing Caster or even when she was mentioned.

She furrows her brows bracing herself for Assassin's arrival once he turned up she would set off her trap for him.

Rider was silent as he listened for any changing sounds or change in the wind. For a long moment, there was nothing, but he could sense eyes upon them. Suddenly he sensed danger, and on instinct his arm covered Saft's exposed body..

...just in time to block her from being hit with Assassin's thrown knives.

"Blast," he hissed. Not out of pain, necessarily, but frustration. "COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS, COWARD! FACE ME LIKE A MAN!!"

Rider hated Caster with a passion. But out of all the other servants, it was Assassin he hated most.

"Rider-!" Oh god...Oh god, those were meant for her but he took the hit for her instead. This wasn't supposed to happen. Her eyes widen and quiver as she starts to tear up but knows she can't cry on the battle field so she wipes at her face and narrows her eyes.

...the bastard had to pay. She'd make him pay. Assassin wasn't going to get away with harming Rider like that. She lifts an arm and scowls, almost snarling with how much rage she felt inside.

"JUST BURN IN HELL, ALREADY!"

And with that she snapped her finger detonating an explosion off in the woods, triggering more and more off as they went.

Of course he took the hit for her. Forget that she was his Master and he her Servant; he wasn't about to let anything happen to her. He was going to protect her at the cost of his life - which is something only two people in all of history could likely boast. Despite the pain and the anxiety at the overwhelming likelihood that he'd been poisoned, Rider smiled when he saw Saft wipe away her tears.

Her strength was growing. And he couldn't have been prouder.

The explosion startled Bucephalus, and the horse reared up into the air, neighing loudly. He wanted to bolt, but Rider wouldn't allow it. He held tight to the reins as the heat from the explosion hit his face. For a moment he was silent, just reaching out with his senses, trying to see if Assassin had been caught in the blaze.

Suddenly his senses went off and Rider hurled his sword with all his might to the left - just in time to spear Assassin to a nearby tree.

Once Assassin is speared, Saft takes it upon herself to scout out the area, sliding off Bucephalus' back. Where Assassin was his master couldn't be far behind unless he had been sent out here to attack on his own. Saft kept forgetting she was one of the few masters that actually never left her servant out of her sight. Mainly because she just felt safer in his presence even if he was rather loud at times.

She turned back to Rider who was dealing with the other servant and watched from a safe distance, she'd only approach Assassin if she deemed it worthwhile. Still he spoke out. Just as Rider had the determination to keep her safe, she also felt the need to look out for his wellfare, even though he seemed to be pretty good at that himself.

"Rider, Your arm..."

Rider's not to keen on letting her go, but she stays within sight, thank Zeus. He watches her carefully even as he approaches Assassin. Slowly Rider drops from the saddle. He grabs the other Servant by the neck and pins Assassin against the tree. Only then does Iskandar pull his sword from the other Servant's chest and quickly brings it up to decapitate him. Assassin returns to the ether in a burst of golden light. Rider stands with zero regret upon his face.

Only then does he hear Saft. Only then does he turn and look to her with the pure seriousness of the conqueror on his face.

"It's fine. A scratch," with a flourish of his fur-trimmed cloak he turns and is beside her again, looking down and evaluating her. "You're not hurt? The cur didn't hit you somehow, did he?"

"No, You managed to keep me safe the whole time...I'm just-" She frowns some. She's angry at herself for ever allowing Rider to pay the price for her mess up. If she had put more thought into her place and thought everything through he wouldn't have been hurt like this.

"I'm sorry, It's my fault Assassin even managed to do that to you... I should have put more things in place to make sure that didn't happen." Saft tucks some hair behind her ear, She's not even going to ask for his arm. She's taking it for herself not even caring whether or not he'd give her permission to inspect it further.

"...You're lucky it was just your arm. I'm not much of a healer but I'm sure I can clean it up just a little."

"It's merely a scratch, woman," Rider roughly pulls his arm away. "You fear too much. It is not the Master's job to protect the Servant!"

The remark is cold and angry. He doesn't mean it to be. But he should have been faster. She shouldn't have been at risk in the first place. Rider hates this feeling; as if he's failed her. As if he could have done better.

"Assassin is dead, one less Servant to be concerned with," He grumbles, looking over the wound and evaluating it for poison. So far, so good.

She falls silent, sullen even. It was one thing to be angry with herself but when Rider gives her the cold treatment, things tend to hurt a little more than usual, But then she frowns some. Honestly, who does he think he is?!

"Excuse you! This woman is allowed to fear all she wants! Infact I think I fear the right amount!" You can never fear enough. "And another thing! I don't know what emotional constipation you're going through right now, Moron but get over it! I'm fed up of seeing you like this Rider! I haven't known you long but this-!

...This isn't you. It's okay to be afraid. But usually you're not...I mean that's not to say no one can't ever be afraid but you're not the kind of guy who is."

That's right Rider, your master is scolding you.

"If it means having to use a command seal to bring you back I will... I just...we....we can't win the grail like this if we aren't honest with each other."

Her reply almost startles him, which he shouldn't. He should really know her better by now. Rider tenses when she yells at him, but his expression turns stern when she speaks of fear.

He doesn't appreciate the scolding.

"Listen to me now. The path of fear is not the way of the conqueror. Fear has no place in my heart, nor should it be in yours. There is no enemy I cannot conquer, you know this!" It's as much a promise to himself as to her. "Use your command seals if you must. I cannot stop you. But you said it yourself - without honesty, we will not win the Grail. I've always been honest; your utilization of the command seals is not something you're willing to do, is it?"

He knows that much well enough.

"No." She replies softly as she brings her hand up to look upon her seals. "I could never force you to do something against your will...As much as I want to win and knowing that the only way to do that is to use whatever force necessary the seals...they're not something I agree with."

She lowers her hand and sighs.

"You keep telling me I shouldn't be afraid but I am... not just for what's ahead of us but for you. I'm scared that when the time comes I'll wind up losing just about the greatest friend I've ever had and it'll be all my fault because I wasn't up to this.

I'm not cut out to be anyone's master, Rider let alone yours...If you want to part ways now before I'm in far too much over my head then I'll gladly give up my seals for you. Just so you can reach your goal...At least you have a dream."

He listens, very carefully he listens to her as she expresses everything he believes she truly feels in her heart. And after a long moment he turns towards her and stands right in front of her, looking down with a grave expression for a long moment. Until finally he moves...

Finally he reaches down, grabbing her chin in one palm and gripping just enough to hold her in place. To keep her from moving as he leans down, way down, and presses his lips tight against hers.

Rider holds the kiss for a long moment, then he pulls away slowly, his expression still stern.

"No," that's all he says, shaking his head before continuing. "You are my Master, I would have it no other way. You have a dream, if you would but let yourself give in to freedom and feel free to pursue it."

That's all he says before moving on, stepping away to retrieve his sword and leave the battlefield.

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I'm still here, sorry had some really shitty RL stuff to deal with :(

Awww I'm sorry!! (And Sorry for my slow too - had some health issues)

It's fine hun, Hope you're okay though ;;

Yeah, I'm good now, everything SHOULD be resolved :)

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[Puts on Fate/Zero OST whilst she writes this tag orz...Because EMOTIONS]

YUUUP - "The Legend" is absolutely playing in my brain over this...