2984/Swimming with Au'Ra and Heroic Spirits

Swimming with Au'Ra and Heroic Spirits
Date of Scene:	08 September 2015
Location:	Dun Realtai
Synopsis:	Some of the ladies of Dun Realtai gather for a swim. Saber's greatest weakness is discovered.
Cast of Characters:	346, Inga, 691

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Yari Takane (691) has posed:
After the confrontation with Eve, and the resulting gunshot wound, Yari Takane needs a bit of relaxation. Thus it is that the woman has properly conquered Dun Realtai's baths, relaxing in the steamy water. Every now and then she winces, the wound in her side still fresh, but with some patchwork synthskin plastered on until it regrows properly. Freaky Confederate tech.

Yari's also not alone! Amidst the now pink bubble bath that the Centurion's added, a little figure floats along! A turtle, which Yari lets nibble a piece of celery, in between relaxing.

"Keep your spirits up, Trooper Constantine! We will overcome any obstacle for the glory and safety of Hydaelyn. But this is important too. Low morale leads to desertion and the path of a traitor." She snaps the little turtle a salute. Constantine just makes little turtle sounds and swims happily.

Saber (346) has posed:
     With the summer giving way to autumn, Dun Realtai's weather had become comfortably cool, with the occasional breeze rustling the newly-turning leaves on what trees had been resurrected or imported. Frequent rains likewise cooled the fading summer heat, though today was one of the clear days where the few clouds remained full and white. The late harvests had begun and would soon be completed with an end-of-season festival with even more gratitude than previous ones; the land had been rescued and even revived thanks to the efforts of the strange visitors from the multiverse, to say nothing of the appointed lord and lady of the land. At once alien and familiar to the villagers, those who had called themselves 'Knights of the Round Table' had not merely driven off the corrupted winter beasts and left the village to fend for itself, but had remained and even revitalised the land. They had never known such prosperity even before the disaster which had ended the lives of so many. This season would truly be a cause for celebration.

     At the moment, said lady had been preoccupied with cataloguing and organising crates of freshly-harvested apples -- fruits of her native Britain and personal favourites of hers and Sir Bedivere's -- which spanned an entire wall of a warehouse. Constructed of a blend of traditional and modern materials with modern refrigeration, the warehouse would ensure that little of their crops would be lost. In fact, the village would be able to trade; food was as valuable to the most technologically-advanced multiversal world as it was to the most primitive. Dun Realtai was more than merely self-sufficient now. Their success had surpassed even Arturia's expectations, more than enough cause for a celebration. She would have to plan the festival later, but for now, a more personal reward was in order.

     T The lord's quarters making up the top floor of the keep boasted its own bath, but Saber occasionally liked to use the ones on the lower floors if for no other reason than to meet with Dun Realtai's guests. Hot mineral water was pumped from deep underground thermal springs below the citadel, and the baths themselves could draw visitors who might otherwise prefer more modern accommodations. For those who either preferred to get away from it all or else were natives to a similar time, it provided even more comfort. The Servant herself was a bit of both; she had fond memories of her childhood in early mediaeval Britain, but Egyptian cotton with high thread counts was yet another marvel of the modern era she had taken a liking to.

     Making her way up to her quarters to change into a simple dress and gather a few towels, Arturia descended the stairs to the large bath below. She was mildly surprised to find Yari there -- the Au Ra had been scarce as of late -- but perhaps she shoudn't have been. The ninja had been one of those who would probably come to Dun Realtai for the baths alone. "Greetings, Lady Yari," she hailed in her soft alto voice with a smile. "I hope that I am not interrupting."

     Trooper Constantine earned a bit of a puzzled blink, but if the water wasn't too hot for him, she wasn't terribly bothered. It wasn't as if they had a 'No Pets' policy, particularly with Kepas skulking around, likely hunting lizards out in the bailey.

Inga has posed:
It is still a bit of a hike for Inga to get to the village and the castle, but it considerably less so with one of her residences now in the area. It is a pleasant walk now, though by the time it starts to snow she may really need to invest in a well trained horse. While she has a small tub at her cottage, the baths are Dun Realtai are much nicer, so she comes now and then when she really wants to spoil herself with a long, hot soak in the roman style baths.

The rythmic click-clack of her staff against the floor heralds her presence long before she actually arrives. The wisewoman is dressed like a local, though she makes is look natural. Because it is. One of the reasons she'd decided to settle a place in Dun Realtai was it was the kind of place that was familiar to her. It is a welcome relief to an outside world much changed from the life she had growing up.

Though she too is rather fond of a few modern comforts!

Inga blinks in mild surprise as her lips spread into a warm smile, bowing her head to Saber. "Good day to you my lady," she says, and smiles to Yari as well in greeting. "I see I am not the only person with a yearning for a good soak," she says, moving over to a bench. She leans her staff nearby. "Would you mind if I joined you?" she asks, beginning to unbraid her long white hair.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari and the little turtle are clearly enjoying themselves, with Constantine having floated over to Yari again. He's covered in little pink soap bubbles that Yari's busy gently scrubbing onto him, giving her little friend a bath. Constantine is a chatterbox, making many little content turtle sounds.

"There, now just your head. Close your eyes Trooper, this won't take long." Pause. Blink. The lizard girl turns to Saber. She actually blushes a bit. Caught!

"Miss Saber! Ah...good evening." She lets the turtle go, trying to pretend she totally wasn't being silly with her pet.

"It's been a while. How are you, Ma'am? I noticed the village seemed lively today. Good harvest?" Despite the embarrassment, Yari sounds quite happy to see Saber. The au'ra's voice is warm, if a little quiet when not going into one of her little speeches for the troops!

And then Inga tap-taps her way in! Looking the other woman over, she actually stands up, and throws a sharp salute to the woman. She'd look the picture of a military officer if she wasn't covered in pink bubbles and with a turtle migrating its way up her shoulder and eventually perching atop her head.

"Of course, Ma'am, the baths are for everyone after all. Please, join us. Centurion Yari Takane, XIV Legion of the Empire of Garlea. Glory and honor, Ma'am!"

"Salute, trooper!" She huffs at the 'soldier' now sitting between her horns.

The little turtle raises a turtley paw, and makes a mild turtle sound.

Saber (346) has posed:
     While Yari seemed to be embarrassed over doting on the turtle, Saber paid it no mind. Perhaps Bedivere treated his horses and other charges similarly? Now that would be a sight, one that the tall, pale-haired knight no doubt jealously guarded. "I am well, thank you," she replied, her smile and voice never changing their warmth. "It has indeed been an excellent harvest. I am confident that the coming of winter will no longer be the season of dread that it once was."

     The Servant seemed quite happy about that.

     Saber likewise awarded the wisewoman a small smile. "Not at all. Be welcome, my lady." It wasn't as if the baths were private the way they would have been in earlier times, reserved only for noble guests of the previous lords. In all fairness, that previous condition had likely been for the protection of guests from spies and assassins. Now, such precautions were not as necessary, given the remoteness of the village and the caretakers' positions within the Union, and the keep's baths often served as a public bathhouse until a new one could be constructed in the village. Given her desire to know what was on the minds of their adopted people, it was likely that Arturia would be frequenting the village baths once they were completed.

     Taking her flaxen hair out of its braided bun, it fell past her shoulders to the middle of her back as she slipped off her dress and, folding it carefully, set it aside with her hair ribbon before slipping into the pleasantly warm water. Even Heroic Spirits could enjoy a good mineral water bath.

Inga has posed:
Inga isn't entirely sure how to react to the salute. She's seen it done before obviously, but does she return the gesture? Well, alright. Why not. Inga smiles a little awkwardly and returns the salute. "Inga Freyasdottir, wisewoman of Uppsala--and I suppose many other places now," she introduces. "It is a pleasure to meet you Centurian Yari Takane," she adds. "Centurian, hmm? Is that not what the Romans called their soldiers?" she inquires, glancing toward Saber.

The turtle is greeted with a chuckle. It is one of the cutest things she's ever seen. She'd cant well see her enjoying a similarly relaxing time with the cat.

Inga pulls off her boots them and begins to disrobe. Despite all her shyness with trying on clothing and refusal to wear short skirts or pants, she is not hesitant to disrobe now. Inga lays her overdress and under tunic over the bench, folded neatly, removes her stockings, and moves to enter the bath. The woman moves with a noticable limp, and getting into the bath is a slightly awkward experience Inga handles with about as much grace as possible.

She lets out a sigh of pleasure as the hot water envelopes her. She swims forward with a soft smile. "Yes, that was worth the walk."

"May I congratulate you Lady Arturia on an excellent harvest? It seems we will be well prepared for winter this year. Really, I've rarely seen such bounty. In my home...we had a few years of poor harvests," she explains. "What news is there, besides the harvest? I'm afraid I've been a bit...out of touch."

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Yari can't help but shiver a bit despite the warmth of the water. The thought of the people here suffering freezing and starvation irritates her more than it should. Really, the people of Dun Realtai, and many of its lords, tend to grow on a person. The woman can't help but wonder when she started to care so much about these people outside of Hydaelyn.

The multiverse certainly changes a person.

"Good. There's no gain for anyone through senseless and needless death. You...and /him/...have done well." A compliment for a foreign ruler, and even for a man that angers her like no other. It's high praise, coming from Yari, and from her stiffening limbs, it took a lot to say.

The returned salute actually has Yari smiling for a moment before she forces it down. Introductions are important, and they'll do it by Garlean code! Even now, she's still unable to completely relax, as much as Sanary's helped in that regard.

The limp from Inga is noted, but there's no offer of help. Typical of Garleans, really: one is expected to survive or die on their own merits. She does blink as she looks over Inga's hair though.

So long and pretty!

"Uppsala? I'm not familiar. Wise-woman? Are you some kind of priest?" Suspicion flicks into her eyes for a moment, before she visibly forces herself to relax. Surely Saber wouldn't tolerate some dangerous cultist!

Pause. "Would you like help with your hair, Miss Freyasdottir?" There's a little jealousy in her tone, and an almost girlish one mixed in. Yari's notably young, and her small size doesn't help. So much as the military has shaped her, she's still a young woman.

She nods along though. "Yes, unfortunately I've been far too absent. The rebuilding in Garlea was...extensive." Another shiver, the lizard-girl blanking out for a moment before she forces herself to concentrate.

"...Actually, Miss Saber, I might have a word with you regarding that particular matter." Her tone cools a bit, not unfriendly, but she's clearly moved onto 'business'.

Saber (346) has posed:
     The petite knight nodded slightly. "It is, though it would seem that there are other lands in the multiverse with similar military ranks," she observed. "The...Garlean Empire, I believe?"

     For all that the said empire was a Confederate ally had made the once-king of Britain somewhat wary -- with Bedivere being outright suspicious, most likely the unhappiness towards him that Yari now displayed -- but she had long-since discovered that things were not quite so simple. It was not terribly surprising that not everyone would necessarily get along, but at least some form of respect was more than she could have hoped for.

     And in Dun Realtai, everyone was generally free from the cares beyond the half-ruined village walls. The Law of Hospitality ensured everyone behaved themselves, a boon even to those weary travellers from the opposite camp. Now, Saber herself could do much of the same. Her emotional mask was no longer necessary without the need to conceal her sex and maintain rigid impartiality with no scheming political enemies to mollify. Few would have ever guessed at what her demeanour had been on Camelot's throne -- the aloof, inhuman king -- from the seemingly gentle yet regal lady she had become. The exception was in battle, where all vestiges of gentleness disappeared, leaving a warrior in their wake. But that strength was unnecessary now, where Arturia could relax and even enjoy what they now had. Their hard work restoring the keep had certainly paid off.

     Her eyebrows raised slightly. "Oh? I imagine that the villagers alone would keep you busy with the need for healers, much more so with the needs of the multiverse beyond it. I myself have been led away from Dun Realtai on several missions."

     She was even less wary around Inga, despite their differences. Part of that was simply due to shared affiliation, but on a more personal level, the wisewoman had more than proven herself several times over in service to Dun Realtai. "Yes, the harvest has been most excellent, due to the efforts of the villagers and those who have answered our requests. It would never have been possible without the help of you, Lady Yunomi, Toph, and others."

     Her attention turned to Yari. "I hope that the rebuilding has gone well." A strange thing to hope for, given the Empire's status, but such things seemed to affect innocent citizens the most, and it was they Arturia was the most sympathetic towards.

     She didn't miss the change in tone. This was likely as good a time as any to discuss business. "Of course."

Inga has posed:
Inga manages awkwardly but she manages all the same. If she needed help she would ask for it, which is honestly preferable to people fussing and likely making things more difficult! The wisewoman raises a brow slightly at Yari's words to Saber about a /him/. She must mean Bedivere. Do the two not get along well? An interesting obersvation to tuck away.

Inga sumerges for a moment to wet the rest of her hair, the smiles to Yari. "Not many are it seems. It was--is, a place in midgard--earth, that is. The region is now called Sweden," she explains. As for the wisewoman part, that is a bit more lengthy of a conversation. At the word priest however, she wrinkles her nose. The word holds connotations to her that are obviously unpleasant. "I am a servant of the gods, yes. I am spa-kona and volva. A, ah...a magic worker and a Seeress," she explains. "It is complicated. Many simply call me a witch," she offers with a shrug. If Bedivere were here, he'd likely be cringing. Well, and blushing.

At the offer to help her with her hair, Inga's smile grows and her turns, nodding to Yari. "Yes, thank you. That would be delightful," she responds, comfortable enough with the suggestion. She's accustomed to having someone to do these things, obviously.

Inga looks back to Saber, nodding. "I am glad I can be of assistance. Much of what I do for the people here is the familiar routines of my life before I knew of the multiverse. It...helps me remember who I am," she answers. "It can be easy for me to lose touch however. Visions can be...very overwhelming," she sighs. Especially as they're so often in regard to world-ending scenarious and awkward glimpses of other's pasts...it is no wonder she likes to spend so much of her time holed up in her cottage. "And how is Sir Bedivere doing? I have not been called on to tend his injuries in a while, which I take to be a good sign?" Inga says with a small smile, watching Saber carefully. Of course she has heard /things/ around the village regarding the love birds.

Seems business needs addressing though, so Inga will fall quiet, content to soak and perhaps have her hair fussed with.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
Inga gets the initial brunt of Yari's attention. "Mmm! I've never visited this 'Sweden'. Perhaps I should make a trip. My morale officer has been saying I should use my leave time."

The ninja does grow a bit wary as Inga explains about her gods and being a /Seer/. She glances back to Saber, as if asking if Inga is truly 'safe'. The Garlean's troubles with the Espers of their world are well documented.

"I...trust these spirits are less prone to vile acts than I'm used to?" She asks, rather bluntly. Her wariness does drop off slightly.

"You don't strike me as someone with ill intentions, or forced into service of an Eikon." She then adds quickly. Her wariness eases.

Then she's right into those flowing white locks! It might feel slightly odd, as the one armed Au'Ra uses tail and hand alike to wash. Thankfully those scales are smoother than they appear, though it might be ticklish. She adds in some scented wash, and gets to work, dextrous fingers and tail thorough and neat. She's not exactly lacking in hair herself.

"Amazing! What do you use? Soft..." /Definitely/ some girlish jealousy going on here.

"...Visions?" She sounds genuinely curious, if definitely uncomfortable.



Yari gives a quick nod. "Correct. Our ranks and terms are actually very similar, however, Rome did not possess our unique history, our dedication to our world's safety and security, or our superior technology and discipline." Comes the lizard girl, visibly puffing up with national pride. The Garleans definitely do propogando very well, for this one has doused herself in their kool-aide.

"Well enough." She starts, pausing, and uses it as a nice lead-in.

"For all of my nation's advantages, it is not perfect. The Lord Legatus sees that. I don't recall word of you meeting our Legion in combat, Miss Saber, but you'll find that the Fourteenth is more racially diverse than others."

"Not so in Garlemald, or the rest of the Empire. It's predominantly human led, and its tendencies...well. Any with ability are recognized in the Empire. But prejudices remain."

She's doing a lot of beating around the bush, odd for the woman. She's usually fairly direct despite her abilities in combat. To someone like Saber, it might be telling: Yari's masking something that she's upset with and perhaps seems to slight her honor.

"Au'ra such as myself are widely believed to be of dragon's blood. Foolish, of course. I'll spare you the superstitious creation myth of my people." Frown. Garlean to the core, this woman.

"But it's still a problem. And with the Dravanian hordes attacking our very heart, tensions against my kind are...high right now. I'm an officer and I've already had to deal with death threats." A shake of her head. Her tail lashes in the water. Slighted honor slowly turns to anger.

"The few Au'ra in the city have it worse. There's a small group of Au'Ra families that survived the attack, about fifteen people in all. There have been threats, and even an attempted murder. Until things become more orderly, I...need to make them dissappear for a while to somewhere safe, and neutral." She turns fully to Saber now, looking her in the eyes.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber was visibly relieved to be able to address that particular habit of Bedivere's, immensely grateful that there was a decided /lack/ of injuries. "It has been most fortunate that matters of Dun Realtai have kept him confined here. He has healed quite well, and the most strenuous work has been the tilling."

     Even that had not been nearly as backbreaking as it could have been thanks to their badgermole residents, who had taken to their new home enthusiastically. That the once-marshal had not received any new injuries as a result of avoiding violent conflicts was in itself cause for much celebration. "Harvesting apples and barley has proved to be considering less dangerous than battling other Servants."

     At least now Inga understood that Bedivere's apprehension regarding magic was a combination of his dislike and distrust of Merlin and the rumours he had endured in Camelot regarding his own slightly exotic heritage. But mostly the former, and her tutor's obnoxiousness and addiction to excitement had done all the explaining for her.

     Really, must he /always/ embarrass himself like that?

     Saber's demeanour suggested that she was comfortable with the presence of Au Ra Centurion and the Uppsala wisewoman alike. Magic was a peculiar thing in her own world, seen suspiciously by some due to the actions of certain dangerous and unstable magi, though others were almost blase about it. Later magi decided that it would be best to conceal its presence from the world, and thus it was widely believed not to exist at all. But though Inga followed the Aesir -- some of their descendants had become Servants, who were a decent enough lot -- the Heroic Spirit had no reason not to trust her. "Each world has different sorts of spirits and deities," she explained. "In my world, some may be harmful, but others are benevolent. Most, simply, have little reason to act with those existing on the material plane and are merely aloof. I myself am a manner of spirit, after a fashion. However, it is I who was summoned to serve my Master, rather than the other way around."

     She was, however, somewhat sceptical of the Garlean Empire itself. It was a situation she had seen too many times before /not/ to be sceptical. In that way, it was not unlike the Roman Empire of her own time, with its engineering marvels and inhuman brutality. Yet, nothing would be gained by pointing out that the nation was not /quite/ as enlightened as its leaders pretended to be. Perhaps there was some truth to the way they saw things, but it was likely not quite so black-and-white as they believed. "I have never met them in combat, no. My experience has been limited to temporarily putting down one of the 'Elder Primals' from a world similar to your own...'Odin', I believed he was named. He had made a sacrifice to end a threat to his world and became what he was, if I understand the situation correctly. The power he was infused with drove him to madness."

     Though the Centurion was stalling, Saber remained patient, waiting calmly. She was, however, slightly surprised that their loyal soldier was not so blind that she refused to believe the existence of what problems there were. Not that she could completely turn away, given that these were her own people involved.

Saber (346) has posed:
     She was not, however, surprised that Yari was requesting asylum for the families caught in the middle of it. Bedivere would be wary, but at the same time, he would not turn them away any more than she would. Theirs was a precarious position of the need for vigilance and yet exemplifying the Eight Virtues of Chivalry. Neither the Virtues nor the older Brehon Laws would permit them to turn away those in need even if they were not already inclined to do so.

     "We will need a few days to prepare accommodations." This wasn't the first time they had housed refugees from off-world. "I shall need to speak with Sir Bedivere as well to organise their reception." Not speak to him to ask permission or order him to obey? As suspicious as he could be, the knight was anything but heartless.

Inga has posed:
Inga sighs softly, sadly. "I have not been to see my homeland again. It...exists, but it is not how I knew it. When I was brought into the multiverse...it seems I was also brought through time," Inga explains. "So the land is there, but the great temple of Uppsala is gone. I hear the mounds remains, I would see those someday...when I am ready," she continues.

"I was...chosen. I would not say forced for I serve the gods willingly...but it was not I who did the choosing. Ill intentions? No. It is my duty to protect the world--to purge it of a great evil from Outside. That seems to be why I was chosen. It's...rather commplicated and perhaps too long of a story for now," Inga says with a small smile. She doesn't want to get into her life story or anything!

The woman closes her eyes, obviously relaxing. If she were feline, she'd be purring at the minstrations of Yari. Inga loves having her hair done. "Mmm...I see the wyrd. The weave of fate. Often, visions will come upon me unexpectedly. I can see into the future and the past," she further explains. "It is...rarely a boon. Seeing the future is also quite complicated, as it is generally never one path. I see multiple strands that could be woven into the tapestry, some stronger than others. That is usually how it is."

Inga grunts slightly. "The romans seemed advance to us, from what I have heard and seen of what they left behind. It was always so strange to me...how could we forget to build as they could? Their buildings lasted hundreds of years, ours only a few. And their roads! Well, anyway. It seemed very advance in my time," she sighs.

Yari then goes into more political talks with Saber, so Inga falls quiet once more. She is listening, but really has nothing to offer to the conversation besides. "Garlean...that sounds familiar...yes. I have been to this world I think," she says, nodding. "Not your empire, however."

Inga nods, looking between Yari and Saber. "I will help if I can. Let me know if I can be of service. My cottage has sleeping space for a few people if needed," she offers.

Yari Takane (691) has posed:
On the discussion of spirits, and especially Saber being one, Yari makes a noncommittal grunt. She concentrates on working on Inga's hair! Maybe a little too much, as she visibly struggles with her own prejudices. After all, she trusts Saber about as much as she can any member of the Union, and her own Legatus said similar words.

The mere mention of one of the Eikons has Yari tensing up. Eyes close, and she shakes her head.

"They're all will-stealing abominations. You did well in banishing the thing. It's always temporary, but no good comes of creatures like that, and especially not with giving them sympathy. They'll use it to turn you into their slaves." Her voice drips venom.

She accepted, almost too easily. Yari's mouth opens, as if ready for some argument, only to close. She'd expected Saber to have to beat down Bedivere's figurative walls. But it's almost as if she knows he'd welcome such a thing.

Yari is speechless, and that businesslike mask slips. She looks away, hiding a trace of tears. She can at least do that much, for her displaced countrymen and her nation. When she looks back, her face is softer, and even seems to glow a bit.

"This won't go unforgotten, or unpaid." She says simply, straightens herself into military bearing, and concentrates on Inga. She's definitely not smiling in relief and joy. Definitely.

Yari isn't without sympathy. "...I see. Focus on moving foward." She says quietly to Inga.

'Chosen'. There's another flinch of distrust, before the lizard woman makes herself calm down. There's no way Saber would tolerate slavery. And Inga doesn't seem like the lieing sort.

"Another time then. I'd be interested in hearing more about these threats. People should find their own fates, not be treated as prey to things like that." Huff.

She does seem to lighten up as Inga relaxes. The explainatin of the wyrd and fate has her tilting her head. "I can imagine. It sounds unreliable at best." Yari definitely doesn't approve. Though admittedly seeing the future would be a good tactical advantage.

Inga words about the Romans have her thinking about the ruins of their own world. Though they were advancing, the Ala Mhingans were still far above the Garleans themselves.

"Time erases things. Records don't get kept, infrastructure dies, old techniques get lost. Nevermind what war does. Any big empire has its enemies, and destroying their knowledge is a viable method of warfare. Still. Even then if you search hard enough old things can be recovered, improved upon, made anew. It's how we became who were are. Perhaps your people didn't have the interest or capabilities in recovering what was lost."

Yari smiles. "I've done some looking into that matter. A Garlean is a Garlean, regardless of the time period." She puffs out her chest proudly again.

Yari goes silent, and her hand and tail stop working. Arms slip under the water, aaaand...

Ninja stealth hug go! Squeeeze!

"Thank you Miss Freyasdottir. Some are in poor health, or injured during the attack." Then she lets go, trying to look dignified. Mostly by trying to dunk Inga's head in the water to get out the soap.

During it all, Trooper Constantine looks on, and has floated over to Saber. He's currently trying to clambor atop her back and onto a shoulder.

Yari's not far behind.

"Your turn, Miss Saber!" Yari menaces with shampoo.

Saber (346) has posed:
     Saber seemed to regard Inga, but her eyes hooded slightly as her sight turned inward. She had been to what were now England and Wales since her summoning, though she had never travelled to where the ruins of Camelot would be. There was little reason to, less so after Bedivere had stumbled into the multiverse. Fond memories of it were, in truth, few; while she had cherished her knights and the friends she had in Lancelot and the queen, all her energy had been poured into her quest for utopia. She would have been much more likely to visit Sir Ector's estate, though she doubted she could find it again in such a radically-changed landscape, even if it was now the home or farmland of another.

     Yari's clear disdain -- or rather, hatred -- drew Arturia out of her thoughts, and a deep frown of disapproval marred her brow. But it was not for the Au Ra herself; her opinion on a spirit which would rob a person of his will was quite clear. Biased or not, such a thing ran counter to her deeply-held commitment to chivalry. "Possession is not unheard of in my world, though it is not common, and they are unable to possess those with some strength of will. Of more danger are rogue magi, though few in the modern era have the ability to control another's mind. They seem to prefer familiars and puppets for tasks they are incapable of performing themselves."

     Arturia herself was sceptical of her own 'choosing'; she had been the deliberate creation of Merlin's insane schemes. While she didn't doubt that he saw himself acting in good will -- what he thought was his gift to the people of an ideal leader and king -- that hardly meant she approved of his methods. Was the creation of a bastard princess of an unchivalrous and wanton king infused with the blood of a dragon truly necessary? "And to be fair, I am certain your gods gave you that choice, and trusted that you would not refuse a call to help the people," she murmured. Of course, Merlin had depended on that same need to help the people in her, but it felt much more manipulative. Yes, she certainly agreed with the Centurion that people should be free to find their own fates...perhaps because she felt she had been given no choice in hers, even fighting it at the very end.

     As for prophecy, she shook her head. "I do not always understand the awen, myself. Those who are able to see with great clarity seem unable to discern /where/ in time they are. My tutor seems able, but..." She frowned slightly. "I would prefer not to consider how he manages to remain anchored in the present."

     Saber smiled slightly at Yari's surprised reaction. "We would not be proper knights were we to turn away those in need. As cautious as he is for my sake, Sir Bedivere could no more turn away those in need than I, more-so when such service is one of our mandatory Virtues."

     The sudden turtle on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts on the cruel yet inevitable march of time, which more than fate itself had doomed her kingdom. She didn't have much time to become morose, however, once she was caught in Yari's sights. "P-pardon?" It was perhaps the first time the Centurion had glimpsed fear in the Servant's eyes.