*** Sansa – Harrenhal***
Sansa locked blade once again with Vice Captain Galina of the Warrior Maidens. Staggering under the force of the attack, she used all of her strength and forced the girl to disengage as she took a few step back in retreat. The pretty sandy-brown haired girl merely smiled in acknowledgement as she twirled the gladius in her hand and looked barely winded, a far cry from how Sansa herself felt. The Vice-Captain was dressed in light brown leather armor in contrast to the loose fitting tunic and pants that Sansa wore.
"Go Sansa! Avenge House Stark's honor!" Arya cheered earnestly from the crowd. Behind Arya were two other tall Warrior Maidens standing guard protectively. The girl's brown clothes were ripped in places and riddled with dirt smudges. There were even some bruises forming up along her arm.
Twirling the two short scimitars swords that Sansa wielded and had personally forged; she charged at the woman that was four year her senior and shouted her house's battle cry.
"For Winterfell!"
"For House Pendragon!" Galina roared back but there was a beaming smile on her face as the two engaged in once more in combat.
Sansa had always prided herself on being a good fighter, especially for a girl living in Westeros, and with the pointers Archer and Shirou had been giving her as of late she'd gotten even better. Her alternate selves had shown her the refined style they both used when wielding the Noble Phantasms Kanshou and Bakuya, which allowed them to control the flow of a battle by always being able to perfectly counter an opponent's move. After taking hold of the married blades, Sansa found that they and the style that her alternate selves had suggested suited her quite well. However when fighting in the real world, instead of going into battle wielding renowned weapons of legend, Sansa had to make do with what could be made from Harrenhal's forge.
And unfortunately for Sansa, understanding the mechanics of a particular sword style was a long ways of from actually being able to do it, as was the case with any fighting style. Sansa found herself hard pressed to get a single strike in edge wise against Galina, which frustrated her to no end. She had defeated several of the WarriorMaidens already and had even gotten used to Mordred's heavy strikes. So how was it she found herself unable to keep up with Galina's own attacks despite going all out?!
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The furious exchange of steel echoed once more in the Courtyard as men who had been training took a break to watch them fight.
Sansa stepped back quickly to avoid a slash aimed at her face but lunged forward a moment later to hammer down on an opening she saw, only to find the strike blocked by Galina's blade. A moment later, Sansa saw stars as Galina head butted her. Blinded and dazed as she was, Sansa was still able to drop down to the ground and do a quick leg sweep, and she was rewarded for her tenacity when she heard the Vice-Captain of the Warrior Maidens yelp in surprised as she was brought down to earth. Literally.
The moment Sansa's vision cleared, she saw Galina had just finished rolling back up to her feet in a smooth motion and had her two-handed blade in a ready stance. Matching the girl's stance, Sansa was prepared to avenge Arya's defeat when they heard clapping from beyond the duelling area.
Turning around, Sansa and Galina faces blushed red upon seeing the Lord of Harrenhal standing there with the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister. Both men cut dashing figures despite their dirtied garbs but Sansa narrowed her eyes at the blood stains on Arthur's tabard.
"I never knew Lady Sansa was so skilled!" Jaime Lannister was the first to speak up after he finished his clapping. "Good nephew, it appears you have two skilled wives, unless Lady Daenerys is also a fighter of great renown?"
Arthur's eyes shone with pride as he gazed upon Sansa, making her blush, before he turned to look at the Kingslayer. "No, my sister doesn't have any martial ability to speak of, although I must admit, I too am surprise by my lovely wife's skill as well."
Sansa's face stayed red at the compliment but assumed her "Lady of the Hearth" mode. With Mordred gone, that duty now fell to her. Which Sansa found out, to her dismay, involved many intricate things she didn't know the Princess had taken care of on a daily bases. Why, Sansa been so busy she barely had time to put the finishing touches on Arthur's new armor!
How did Mordred make it all look so effortless?
"My lord husband, why did you not send word ahead of time of your return?" Sansa asked as she lowered her blades.
"Because it is wasteful to have the entire castle go to such great lengths to give me a "proper welcome" every time I walk through the gates of my own home." Arthur replied, his distaste made clear, before he looked over to Galina and then to Arya, who blushed under his scrutiny of the tattered state of her clothes.
Sighing, Sansa walked over to Arthur and held out her cheek and was rewarded with a soft peck from her husband. She was getting used to open displays of affection, as had been taught to her by the other wives in Harrnehal.
"Well, you should get cleaned up while I prepare dinner, husband."
Arthur eyes lit up as if it was Christmas in her old world. She knew her food was good but Arthur's reaction to it every time was simply embarrassing.
"As my wife commands!"
Sansa grabbed a hold of his cloak just as Arthur turned to walk away, stopping him short, making him look at her questioningly.
"Husband… welcome home," Sansa smiled, welcoming him in the customary way of Shirou's native land. Something she only ever used with her family back when she was in Winterfell. Arthur looked confused before he smiled softly at her, gave her a soft kiss on her hand before going off to clean himself.
"I'm so jealous!" Arya commented as she stood next to her. "I can't wait until I get older..."
"Are you still trying to be his fourth wife?" Sansa asked her little sister with a raised eyebrow. Looking back she saw Galina making her way over to them.
"You said you wouldn't oppose it if I wanted to, are you changing your mind?" Arya asked with a worried frown.
Sansa put her hand on her little sister's head and ruffled it, causing the girl to give out an indignant cry. Arya had been so mad at her when Arthur (accidentally) won her hand in marriage from Joffrey, but somehow she had gotten it into her head that if Arthur could have a second wife, and even a third, then she could be the fourth. The only thing she wanted was Sansa's support when the time came. Sansa, in order to make peace with her sister, had reluctantly agreed, but pointed out that she was still too young to even be considered for Arthur to wed, let alone bed.
Arya had been stubborn at first, wanting it to happen as soon as possible. That was until Mordred's wedding. The aftermath had been the talk of the Red Keep with the ladies exaggerating Arthur size and his preference, something that threw Arya for a loop. Then Sansa's own wedding happened and, well, the Northern girls saw exactly what Arthur had equipped. Then there was Alys' gossiping, who had only caught the tail end of Sansa's conversation with Mordred. And after those rumours spread... Arya, while eager, found that her heart was not quite ready to face the "Devouring Dragon" of Essos.
That, and if Arya was ever going to marry Arthur, she would need the approval of her parents; and the girl wasn't ready to tell her mother about her wish just yet. Or ever.
"I'm not, but you are not his wife yet and you need to grow a bit more before he'll consider you," Sansa finished just as Galina arrived.
"Good bout!" Galina clapped both Arya and Sansa on their shoulders and gave a smile so bright that the two Stark girls could not help but return it. "You are remarkable skilled with those blades, my lady. They suit you well."
"I still was not a match for you," Sansa replied in disappointment. Between her side projects which included better plumbing, enforcing sanitation, her Workshop, and the Greenhouse; the time for her to practice her sword skills had been non-existent!
"On the contrary! I had to really concentrate. I must say, I've never encountered that particular fighting style before, how did you come up with it?" Galina asked as the three girls made their way to the Romanesque bathhouse where Sansa had piped in hot water, making an impromptu hot spring.
So far they had a public one for the men, another one for the women, one for the soldiers and finally one for Arthur and his wives (and Arya, when Arthur wasn't there). Arthur usually bathed with the rest of the soldiers to show that he was not any different from them and rarely used the one meant for his own private use. As such, Mordred, Arya, and her used it to their hearts' content. Still, back to the question at hand, how could she say two guys from another reality help streamline her style?
"I picked it up here and there," Sansa replied evasively. The answered appeared to be good enough as all the Vice-Captain of the Warrior Maidens did was nod.
"I see. It's not suited to my style as I do prefer to, as Arya's says, 'stick them with the pointy end'?" Galina looked to Arya who giggled in response.
"It was Jon's advice, not mine," Arya replied with a smiled before both her and Sansa face fell. Thoughts of Jon always made them sad.
"Ah, your half-brother isn't he?" Galina asked curiously and was taken aback by Arya and Sansa's fierce glare.
"He isn't half anything!" Arya corrected vehemently. "He's our brother!"
"Arya, don't be rude! While Jon is indeed our brother it is also true that he has a different mother than us." Sansa chided her little sister but she understood her dislike the term. It was something their mother forever tried to get her and Arya to call Jon by, but failed. Galina, however, did not know, her expression was one of puzzlement. "I apologize on my sister's behalf. It's just... Jon's often treated badly since he's a bastard."
"Ah, I understand," the sandy brown haired beauty's face lit up in understanding. "Well, I shall like to meet him one day, if I ever get the chance."
Galina's comment did a good job of appeasing Arya. Once more Sansa wished Jon was here; he wouldn't have been discriminated against in Harrenhal, not with Arthur as its lord. Why, he could even court Galina, which Sansa thought would've been a good match; she was pretty, kind and nice. Instead he was off freezing up at the Wall, that stubborn fool.
They made their way into the private bath and noticed the spacious area was well lit due to the light streaming in from the window. Sansa had it modeled it after the Japanese style, her homeland in another life. It had another wall separating the bathing area where they could discard their sweaty clothes. Any reservations that Sansa had about being naked with other girls was long gone after being a girl for over a decade. She turned to a maid by the door and asked her to fetch them some simple clothes while putting the ones they had in the laundry basket.
"Your skin is flawless!" Galina eyes light up in admiration as she ran her eyes up and down Sansa's body. Suddenly the girl hand reached out and traced a line down her spine. "And smooth like a baby!"
"Stupid cow, getting bigger again!" Arya grumbled jealously as she stared at Sansa's still growing breasts.
Sansa sighed at her sister's comment. It wasn't her fault, they just kept on growing! Looking at Arya's own build, Sansa could tell that Arya would end up slim rather than curvy. Her special diet was doing nothing for the girl. She looked at Galina and noticed the girl's skin was tanned, toned but decorated with faded scars on it. However she was a cup smaller than Sansa herself, despite her youth. She didn't know why, but she oddly smug at that fact.
"Well, you are not half bad yourself," Sansa returned the compliment and purposefully ignored Arya's comment, besides, she was a little proud of herself for turning out so well. Why, she might even turn out to be as big as Mitsuzuri – no even better – Sakura, by the time she reached her fifteenth name day!
After the three finished undressing, they entered the main bathing area, where a large square bath that could fit well over twenty people was situated at the center of the room. She had created pseudo-sinks to mimic a Japanese bathhouse so they could pre-scrub. That idea went over really well with the women of the Harrnehal, but Sansa suspected that they were wasted on the men.
Thankfully, Arthur had put his foot down, and thus it was now the accepted way to bathe in Harrenhal. Next on Sansa's list were public baths for all! Because quite frankly, the sanitation she seen down in the South scared the living hell out of her. Honestly, when she'd first arrived at King's Landing she'd been able to smell the shit from several miles away.
Just as the girls took small buckets and dumped warm water over their heads, a noise from the central bath made itself known. Sansa hastily looked around for a weapon while Galina was already running to the bath with her bucket in hand, ready to use as a bludgeoning object.
All of that was unnecessary however, as moments later, Arthur rose out of the center of the bath shaking his head and body, looking completely surprised at seeing the three of them in there with him.
Sansa heard Arya gasp from beside her while Galina was frozen in mid step, looking wide eyed at her liege lord. Sansa had to admit, her husband looked like he stepped out one of those gaijin model magazine she used to see the girls in her class carry around. It occurred to her that she was a gaijin now too...
Arthur's hair was wet and matted, but in a way that she had to admit make him look handsome. His sculpted body was glistening wet from the water, with most of it beginning to form into bead and trail down his body in little line and... his manhood, even not in its aroused state, was there for the three of them to gape at wide-eyed.
"M-W- Sansa... I, I didn't know you were going to bathe so soon," Arthur stammered as his face took on a red hue, his eyes only staying on his wife after getting an eyeful of the other two girls, though he took extra care not to stare at Arya.
"I-I thought you would bathe with the men like you usually do, husband." Sansa stammered back in replied and felt Arya moved behind her and bury her heard behind her back. She could feel the embarrassment radiating off her little sister. Galina however, was still looking at her liege lord with wide eyes.
"I- I- I was-," Arthur stammered a bit before his flushed face got under control and he looked directly at Sansa. "I was excited about the prospect of a meal cooked by you so... I went here first so I could clean myself quickly..."
"Ah..." Sansa commented as she understood why her husband was here now, not that he didn't have a right to be, just why he was here. Now.
"I-I'll leave you ladies to it then," Arthur began to excuse himself, but Sansa could still see he was dirty. Well..this was HIS bath too.
"No, stay," Sansa was surprised the words left her mouth. Behind her she swore she heard Arya let out a little squeak that was matched by Galina's 'eep.' "You are still dirty and the bath is large enough to accommodate us all. Beside, I am your wife, it's not like you haven't seen me like this before."
Once more Arya let out another squeak at her reasoning but in all honesty Sansa herself was surprised. Simply put, Arya was too young for Arthur to view in that way and Galina from Essos, where people were much more liberal with these sort of things, though the girl did appear stunned now, so maybe she wasn't that liberal herself.
"No, it's alright, and I can see my presence makes Galina uncom-"
"No!" Galina immediately shouted as she lowered the bucket and took on a demure look. "I do not mind it your ma- lordship. I know you are not a lecherous sort."
Sansa narrowed her eyes at Galina's comment, since when did the girl know her husband that well? And why was she thinking like this?! Argh!
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked, looking at Galina who nodded firmly, he then turned his attention to Sansa as if asking for permission.
"I was the one that suggested it, so come, we're wasting time," Sansa pointed out and knew that somehow, some way, Mordred would find out about this.
+++ Dinner+++
Dinner was a quiet affair with just Sansa, Arthur and Arya. Usually Mordred was here to liven up the table with talk about the day to day things in Harrenhal, but she was gone now, and Sansa did not know what to say after that undeniably awkward bath, which had put so much red on Arya's face that Sansa was worried her sister would have a stroke.
"Is it good?" Sansa spoke up to make polite conversation. The dish she made today was chicken penne pasta with garlic buttered bread. It was one of the simplest and easiest things for Sansa to make given the abundance of flour in Westeros. However, she would kill for some rice.
Arthur, dressed in a simple gray tunic with elegantly patterned designs, had been eating with gusto, stopped and nodded. "It is more than 'good' Sansa, this is food that rivals a feast fit for kings, no, even the gods themselves!"
Sansa faced flushed at her husband's compliment before she cleared her throat and looked to Arya who had finished her meal quite some time ago.
"So I noticed that you were still wearing the armor from when you, umm, arrived at King's Landing," Sansa began conversationally. Along with the pasta dish she also made some fruit juice mix to wash it down with, much to Arthur's delight. After gulping said drink, her husband looked at her and waited for her to continued.
"What of it?" Arthur replied after he finished drinking as a serving maid refilled his cup.
"Yes, well, Mordred and I had noticed that you haven't worn anything that makes you stand out from any other sellsword," Sansa sighed at her husband's confused look.
"But… I was a sellsword..."
"You were," Sansa agreed patiently. "But you are not anymore, that is why Mordred and I had a new set of armor crafted for you after you rejected the sword we made..."
Truth be told Sansa was still a bit sore about that point, that was her first perfect creation of Damascus steel that Gendry and her had made after many many failed attempts, but Arthur had declined and said such a blade should go to the King of Westeros first, as a gift.
If she had known that he'd say that, Sansa would have made it less elegant. The swords that she had crafted after were reserved ahead of time, truth be told, giving King Robert one had not even crossed her mind. After all from what she understood, he preferred a warhammer over a blade. Naturally Robb got the second one, but Mordred asked her to name it the third one. So the third that was meant for Tywin Lannister became the second. After that the fourth went to Gendry as a reward for helping her forge them all in the first place. The seventh belonged to Bran for when he was eventually knighted, a gift that would no doubt make him very happy indeed. Jon would have received the fifth blade if not the fact that he already had something much better: an actual Valyrian steel blade. The fifth blade was also a longsword, which was not Arthur's preferred weapon, so Mordred had requested it for her uncle Tyrion Lannister, commonly known as the Imp. She reforged it into a gladius so that the shorter man would actually be able to wield it.
"Do not worry, wife, Irisviel is still reliable," Arthur smiled as he pat the two-hander next to him. Naturally him doing that made her eyes shifted to Kiritsugu that was always by Arthur's side and was now casually placed on the table.
"Why do you always do that?" Arthur asked suddenly making Sansa eye her husband, who was wearing a perplexed expression.
"I'm sorry?" Sansa asked in confusion.
"Every time I mention Irisviel you always give her companion, Kiritsugu, a heavy look," Arthur pointed out much to Sansa's surprise, she didn't think he would notice something so trivial. "Why is that?"
"Y-You noticed?" Sansa asked in a bewildered tone.
"You are my wife, and they are my swords. Of course I noticed," Arthur smiled in that gentle way of his. "While I have been rather busy of late, and I have… more than one wife, I do not intend to be neglectful. If there is anything you ever need from me, you have but to ask."
Sansa was simply stunned at Arthur's declaration, truth be told, she too had been busy, but had not been paying much attention to him. Somehow knowing that he did made her chest feel warm. Still, she didn't want to confront Arthur about her father from her previous life.
"I-It is nothing..."
"Nonsense," Arthur said in a firm tone as he sat up straighter in his chair. "For a long time you have always looked as if you wanted to ask me something, but I did not want to pressed you, but now we are over six months into our marriage. Whatever it is, you can last talk about it with your own husband."
'Whoever called Arthur oblivious was completely wrong!' Sansa thought as she stared at her husband. She looked at his eyes and saw that they were determine to get to the bottom of this matter that he thought was troubling his wife.
"Arya, can I trouble you to leave the room so your sister and I can talk privately?" Arthur asked the girl in a respectful tone, making her blink. Even Sansa was blinking as she looked up to her husband and saw him making subtle signal to dismiss the servants.
Arya only took one look at Arthur's beseeching eyes before she nodded her consent. Rising from her seat she gave Sansa a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before she left the room with the servers. With a hand motion, his personal guards shut the doors tight to prevent eavesdroppers.
"Now that we are alone and have some privacy, do you feel comfortable now?" Arthur asked after a few moments of silence in a gentle encouraging tone.
Sansa was amazed by how Arthur took charged, it was all so effortless. Before she knew it she had been sucked into his pace and could not make an escape even if she wanted to...
"Sansa?"
Again, Sansa was startled as Arthur had gotten from his seat and was now next to her looking at her with a concern expression. A million and one thoughts went through her head, should she ask him? Even the other Shirou and Archer did not know about the man she once admired most in the whole world. More importantly, she liked this life. If she told him, if she asked about Kiritsugu, would he no longer view her as Sansa, but something that had taken over Sansa's body?
Evidently, the worried on her face was visible as Arthur grabbed her hand and held it reassuringly. "Sansa, you need not fear anything-"
Was the expression on her face truly one of fear?
"Whatever it is that you have to ask of me, know that you may do so without reservations. You have my word that absolutely nothing will change between us." Arthur swore solemnly. An oath made by the King of Knights was as good as a legally binding contract in Sansa's opinion. Still... it was about time she learned more about Kiritsugu before he rescued the boy known as Shirou from the fire, something only Arthur could know about. She had delayed long enough.
"... I hope you still feel that way after you hear what I have to say," Sansa exhaled deeply and met Arthur's violet eyes with her blue one. He didn't say anything else but just simply motion for her to continue. Taking a few deep breath she steeled herself for his reaction.
"You are Arthur Pendragon," Arthur merely nodded a bit. "Who was Arturia Pendragon, High King of Britannia, on the planet Earth."
To her amazement Arthur merely sighed but nodded for her to continue.
"You were also summoned to fight in the Fourth Holy Grail War under Emiya Kiritsugu…"
Now that got a reaction out of Arthur as he stared at her in shock and now to go in for the finisher.
"…My father."
Arthur looked at her in wide eye amazement as he trailed his thumb on her cheek and really took in her face. "Illyasviel?"
Sansa blinked. Now that was not expected. "Who?"
"You are not Kiritsugu's daughter, Illyasviel?" Arthur eyes searched Sansa face once more. "He had another child?"
"I had a sister?" Sansa whispered and suddenly some of Kiritsugu's old sadness made sense. Then another thought occurred to her. …Those assholes in her Reality Marble never told her about her having a sister!
"Yes, she seemed to be four or five years old when I saw her last at the Einzbern castle, when I had first been summoned by Kiritsugu." Arthur closed his eyes sadly as he dropped his hand and leaned away from her. "Judging by your reaction, you are not aware of her, correct?"
"I had a sister..." Sansa was trying to wrap her head around that concept. Her father's sadness, his long trips. Then something else occurred to her. "You are taking this quite well... I mean, I did just tell you I came from our home world and know who you are. You don't think that's strange?"
Sansa expected many things but a chuckle was not one of them. "Had you told me when I was in King's Landing, the first time we met, I would have been shocked beyond belief."
"Well... in that case, you should know that I was Emiya Kiritsugu's son," Sansa emphasized the "son" part and waited for Arthur's reaction, only to see him chuckling once more with an amused look.
"Again, I am not surprised," Arthur shook his head lightly. "These past few months have been enlightening to say the least."
Now Sansa was curious. "How can you be so calm about all of this? I was a boy you know! You married a boy!"
Suddenly Arthur smiled teasingly at her as he cupped her face. "I think I have irrevocable proof that you were a girl from what I saw on our wedding night."
"W-Wha..." Sansa felt her face heated up at reminder of what happened that night. That's right. He bedded her. Oh gods! He bedded her... well, yes he would know then wouldn't he. Thankfully, he relented on her and stopped his teasing as his face took on a serious tone.
"As for what changed, many things, but you are not the first reincarnated person from my previous life," Arthur informed Sansa and it was her turned to be shocked.
"M-Mordred?" Sansa ventured and was afraid if that was the case then her sister-wife had killed her husband in their previous lives. This time, instead of chuckling, Arthur outright laughed.
"Yes, well, with you knowing who I was in my previous life, that would be the obvious conclusion, wouldn't it?" Arthur placed his arm on the table before he rested his head on his palm looking distant.
"S-she's not?" Sansa asked and felt immensely relieved.
"No, she is not," Arthur replied with a soft smile. "Though she shares the traitor's name, she is not him. Their personalities are as different as night and day, and I am sure my Mordred would have tried to strike me down the instant he realized who I am. His hatred for me ran unreasonably deep."
Sansa had to blinked at that and realized that if there was one person that would know who Mordred -the traitorous one- was, then it would be undoubtedly be the one who was killed by him and killed him in return. However, if not Mordred, then who? Her husband must have noticed as he looked at her with a smile.
"Lady Gywr was Sir Gawain, Galina her daughter was Galahad, Lord Gwynn of House Lake, whom you might recall from our time in Riverrun, was my former wife and queen, Guinevere. His sister was one Lancelot, who now goes by the name Lorelei."
…
…
…
"That's ridiculous!" Sansa stood up and looked at her husband in disbelief at who he had listed! No wonder she had a hard time besting Galina!
'Congratulation stupid-Sansa! You just fought a legendary Round Table KNIGHT!'
Thank something else occurred to her as the new information finally sank in.
'Holy crap! I fought a Legendary Round Table Knight!'
"Such was my own reaction at first, but they have more than proven their identities to me." Arthur shook his head ruefully, suddenly his face paled, making Sansa looked at him questioningly.
"What is it?" Sansa prompted and saw Arthur looking nervous for a few moments before he exhaled deeply.
"I had wanted to wait until the right time to explain myself but... Gwynn came to me a few weeks ago asking for my assistance to help Lorelei escape an unwanted marriage…"
Sansa blinked but nodded. It made sense that Arthur would try to help his former knights and seeing as Lancelot was a girl and from a notable House, an unwanted marriage was very likely.
"Well I am glad that you-"
"By making her my Mistress." Arthur finished and immediately looked at Sansa for her reaction.
"...What." Sansa asked in a flat tone of voice before she glared at Arthur, realizing the implications. After all her mother drilled political lessons in her all her life. "Do you realize the shame you will bring upon Mordred by doing this?! Or me?!"
"... I do," Arthur replied in a guilty tone but looked at Sansa hopefully. "I-I did ask for Mordred's permission first... she gave her consent. It seems she shares Gwynn's dislike for Lorelei's suitor."
Sansa blinked once more before a wave of affection for the younger girl(in her mind) made itself known. Still, her sense of Justice had been activated and it would stand in judgement of Arthur now, the King of Knights be damned! "Do you realize what she is doing for you?"
"I know," Arthur shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "I... I owe her much. If she ever wants anything, even if it is the sun and stars... I will do everything in my power to get it for her."
It was only then that Sansa realized what she was doing. Her arms was folded across her chest in a very familiar manner and looking down on the freaking KING OF KNIGHTS! She was like Tohsaka, that bastard Archer will have a good laugh at her expense when he finds out about this. And Sansa sadly knew that he would find out about this. He may be a bastard, but he was an observant bastard.
"Ahem..." Sansa cleared her throat before sitting back down and looked at the contrite looking King of Knights. "So long as you understand the sacrifice she made for you and not take her for granted, I also give my consent for you to take Lady Lorelei as your mistress."
"Thank you." Arthur replied immediately with a fierce protective look in his eyes. "And know that I will never take you or Mordred for granted."
The two fell into silence after that, as Sansa digested the fact that Lancelot -or rather- Lorelei, would be joining Arthur's little harem now.
'Oh gods, Archer will have a field day with this...'
"So... while you did give your consent, do you have any concerns regarding Gwynn's arrangement with me and Lorelei?" Arthur bravely ventured into the Wolf's Den again.
"No. My only concern is for Mordred, if she has given you her full support then I will do the same. More accurately, I must do the same." Sansa hung her head. Archer was right; karma was a bitch. Sansa also made a note to kick Shirou in the fucking crotch the next time she saw him for screwing three girls at once. At last count, he also had Sakura in his little harem.
"You are wrong my lady, you have every right to oppose this arrangement. You are also my wife, regardless of what your gender was in any other life," Arthur spoke firmly, making Sansa eyes widen. He didn't view her as a freak? He must have seen her uncertainty. Before she knew it, he had cupped her face and leaned in for a deep kiss.
Sansa mind immediately went numb at the sensation before Arthur broke the kiss.
"I decided a long time ago, only the life we have right now matters. Yes, we had lives before and they make us who we are, but they are NOT all we are, unless you feel your experience in Westeros is lesser than that of yours on Earth?"
Sansa immediately shook her heard, both her old life and her old family were important to her, but her Shirou aspect was in the past. She had a new family who was alive, who loved her, who cared for her. Arthur was right, because she was still alive, her past experience was part of who she was, but it was not all she was or would become.
"I-I see. Thank you." Sansa mumbled before she saw Arthur shifted a bit and before she realized it he held out the Valyrian steel dirk to her. "What are you-?"
"Take it," Arthur told his wife, motioning for her to take it off his hands.
"I- I can't, it's too valuable..." Sansa politely tried to decline but Arthur simply shook his head and rejected her refusal.
"Take it, please. I named it after your father, so it is only fitting that it reside with one of his children," Arthur insisted as he took Sansa's right hand and placed the sheathed dirk in her palm.
Sansa saw Arthur's unwavering gaze and once more was struck by how Arthur could switch from being a pushover to an unwavering knight worthy of the title of King. Nodding, she closed her hand over Kiritsugu.
'Father...'
"Thank you..." she whispered. Even though it was not anything real from the father figure in her previous life, it still felt like a true memento of him. Perhaps it was because Arthur had fought and bled by his side.
Arthur merely waved away her thanks but smiled softly at her. "It truly is the least I could do for you."
"D-Do you think you can tell me about him- and the Fourth Grail War?" Sansa asked in a small voice not wanting to meet Arthur's eyes. She knew he hated her former father; the Shirou in her Reality Marble confirmed that with his Arturia, who apparently still refused to even talk about him to this day.
"Any time you wish." Arthur replied without hesitation. "I will warn you though that some of the things I have to say about him are less than flattering. Are you sure you want to get started on it this late?"
Sansa realized that the Fourth Grail War was probably a long and complicated tale. She'll learn about it later. "Perhaps… if you have time tomorrow?"
"I will have time tomorrow, and every day after as well." Arthur answered, and Sansa knew that he had just cleared his schedule for her. Another wave of warmth emanated from her chest at his gesture. He truly was doing everything he could to please her.
"Oh!" Sansa suddenly remember what she originally wanted to tell Arthur before everything got... complicated. She looked around the room and spotted the box that was discreetly placed there before Arthur's arrival for dinner.
"Arthur, would you be so kind as to check that box over there?"
Arthur looked at her curiously but did as she bid and dragged the box effortlessly to the table. With an encouraging gesture from her he opened the box and gasped. The first thing he took out was a blue dress-like padding that Mordred and Arya had sewn together.
"I hope it fits, Mordred was sure she got your measurements right," Sansa asked and reddened as Arthur took to unbuttoning his blue tunic and discard his shirt easily. He then slid the padding over himself.
"It's exquisite," Arthur marvelled at the stitching pattern all along this arms length down to the cuff. "She did this all by herself?"
"Arya helped. If you look on the left, you see a wolf stitched by your left wrist."
Arthur turned his wrist to look at the baldy sewn wolf that look more like a cat if he were to be honest, and chuckled, knowing whose work it was. "I will have to thank Lady Arya."
"I believe that bath with you was all the thanks she needed..." Sansa muttered to herself.
"What was that?" Arthur asked as he admired the elegant pattern.
"Nothing. Now remove the rest of its contents." Sansa said quickly, diverting his attention as he shifted through the straws and gasped once more.
"Th-This is..." Arthur stopped as he held the shining silver like breastplate in front of him. He quickly donned it on his chest and fastened the straps as if he had done it all his life. Next he put on the greaves, follow by the gauntlet, and finally the lower body guard.
It was then Arthur looked at the final piece in the long box. With great reverence, he pulled out a long elegant lance with a moon symbol tipped that Sansa crafted. Attached to it was the newly created banner of House Pendragon. It was royal blue with white stitching of the twin dragons, wreathe, sword, and shield on it.
Sansa felt her breath taken away as Arthur turned to face her with his lance banner in his hands. He truly looked like a legendary hero come to life and the living picture of the King of Knights. She swore right there on the spot, she would make a sword worthy of him to carry into battle. Upon retrospect, the plain looking Damascus Blade she forged for him initially would have looked out of place. Sansa would not allow HER blade to be the thing that marred Arthur's image.
"It is exquisite. Did Mordred make the banner too?" Arthur asked even as he splayed the banner across his hand and looked at the symbols stitched to it, a gentle warmth making itself known in his heart.
"For the banner, Mordred felt that it should be done by the womenfolk of Harrenhal, both noble and smallfolk alike." Sansa smiled as she saw Arthur's eyes widen comically as he stared at the banner.
"So I carry the people of Harrenhal with me into battle, is that it?" Arthur chuckled but there was a soft private smile. "My clever little wife."
"Well, she is thoughtful," Sansa agreed before she saw him scrutinize her.
"But she is not the only one, is she my lady?" Arthur asked as he rapped his knuckles his breastplate. "You made this."
"Yes, but not alone," Sansa corrected, she would give credit where credit was due. "I couldn't have made it without Gendry's help."
"Send Master Gendry my thanks then, would you?" Arthur told his wife as he hung the banner so that it would be draped against the wall as he walked toward her.
"He was already honored to have helped, but of course I shall tell him," Sansa said in a pleased voice, after all, Gendry was her apprentice after a fashion. "It is too bad Mordred was not here to see you don it."
Arthur blinked. "She wanted to?"
"Yes," Sansa sighed sadly. But Mordred had merely told her she had to leave now to do damage control about something. After hearing about Lorelei, she understood what that was now. Stupid Mordred. She should really learn to share her burdens; they were practically sisters now!
"Then why didn't you wait to give it to me?" Arthur asked as he looked down at his armor, his face had a resign expression it showing that he too would have wanted to see Mordred desire fulfilled.
"She made me promise to give it to you as soon as I was done with it. She'd rather have you in good armor to protect yourself rather then risk you getting wounded because she wanted to see you wear the armor first," Sansa explained somewhat sadly, yet understanding Mordred's reasoning.
If the armor was ready, it was ready. She would make several more sets for Arthur while Mordred had already enacted plans to get the rest of the smiths to start hammering out armors of the same design, if not material. Sansa also planned to teach blacksmithing to bastards using a classroom format, and Gendry had volunteered to be her teaching assistant. Having everyone fighting under House Pendragon's uniformed would only be proper, thought it might take a year or two before they would start to see the change on a large scale.
"I always find I am an inadequate husband to Her Grace," Arthur sighed in resignation as he began to take off the armor's pieces. Sansa had specifically designed it so that a single knight could wear and remove the armor without assistance, since Arthur didn't like having a squire.
"Inadequate or not, she's very happy to be married to you," Sansa made sure there was no misconception about where Arthur stood with Mordred. The girl was completely smitten with Arthur, something that Sansa herself had yet to be. Of course she knew that she could maybe eventually truly love him, but at the moment he merely had her hand, not her love.
"I honestly don't see how," Arthur replied in a soft tone. "She's always so skittish around me, like a doe really. Fitting for a Baratheon, don't you think?"
"More like a shy kitten," Sansa joked and shared a laughed with her husband before he looked at her again.
"So, what made you think earlier that you had no right to complain about me having multiple wives?" Arthur asked gently, perhaps to get Sansa to feel comfortable about the subject she realized. He really didn't forget, though he assured her, he still wanted to know why. Well, might as well tell him.
"Are you sure you want to know?" Sansa warned.
"Of course."
"From time to time, I meet with other versions of myself in something call a Reality Marble," Sansa looked to Arthur and saw him nodded along.
"Ah, that, yes. Merlin explained the concept to me once, but I believe only a person with a broken view of the world could acquire one?" Arthur guessed and saw Sansa frown.
"Not broken, more like distorted..." Sansa half defended herself but gave up on it. Her father, Lord Eddard Stark already rebuked her about her misplaced sensed of justice, saying that even though she had the right idea, that did not mean it was the correct way to go about it. She wondered if her father was distorted in some way too, being able to understand her so deeply.
"However, one version is a Counter Guardian who works for the will of the world-"
"Alaya." Arthur voiced and Sansa nodded.
"The other is a version of me that survived the Fifth Holy Grail War-"
"Fifth?!" Arthur half yelled in shocked.
"-Where he summoned Arturia Pendragon as his Servant," Sansa saw Arthur's eyes shone with confusion for a second before he blinked in understanding. "And after going through a lot of obstacles, they ended up winning the war. However during the course of the war he, that is my other self, formed a relationship with Arturia-"
Arthur eyes widen comically before shook his head as if amused. Now it was time for her to tell the rest to him.
"And two other women- that I know in my old life-. The four of them are currently living together as lovers... sometimes they share the same bed all at once."
Arthur jaw had dropped after she finished her explanation.
"So you see now why now I have no rights to complain?" Sansa shook her head and saw that Arthur's mouth was still open from the revelation of Sansa's – and his own – alternate self living what he suspected was a life of debauchery. "If I haven't ended up here, chances are that I would be living the same life you have here... so in this matter, you will never hear my complaints about it."
"..."
Sansa sighed as she looked at her husband. "You should probably close your mouth now before something flies in there, husband..."
TBC!
AN: Dem WHEELS! It's okay, I got into a pit stop and they changed my tires! Ready to get back on the track and make them laps!
First off thanks to Paragon and Deus for whooping this lazy ass fic into shape! Seriously! Without them , this fic would not be this good. Also thanks you all for not only getting me into the 600+ Club. Wow! You guys rocks!
So this was it, the reveal! Bet it didn't go down like how ya imagine and that is good. So Now Arthur know who Sansa was, and same with Sansa, while Mordred still in the Dark about Sansa Orgin but is well aware of Arthur's. But yes, that will happen too.
Somehow, along the way, of making this amusing fic, amusing to me, I made a genuine story out of this, so yes, I dunno how it happened so it is not all random slapstick. I guess the funny that I am going for now is still Irony plus scene that just make you crack a smile or grinned form ear to ear.
Now, someone mention that Damascus should not be name Damacus, and they are right! The steel is actually called Mordium by Sansa at Mordred joking offer. Mordium are considered the closest thing to real Valyrian blades you can get. It's not as good as Valyrian steel of course but it quite serviceable. The irony is all over the place. I know!
Okay, was just joking. Those blades are known as Harren Blade's. Name because they were created in Harrenhal. The steel itself won't be an issue as any smith can melt down a Harren blade but reforging it is another thing. Valryian steel are actual magic steel made to be shape into blade and you can melt it down and put it in any shape you'd like. It'll STILL be Valyrian steel. Harren Blade loses it's value the moment you melt it down.
Thank you all for leaving awesome reviews, especially those that left long thoughtful ones that make me grinned from ear to ear. They got some crazy theories out there but a few hit the marks. Very few :)
Up Next!: Lorelei arrival and Mordred's return.
As always C+C Welcome, reviews appreciated!