~Author's Note~

OMGGGGG GUYYYYSSS! I am so so so sorry for never having updated this in like legit over a year now! (It's been 16 months since my last update for this fic I feel horrible) I know you all hate me and probably stopped reading this fic and I am so sorry but here is a new chapter! I hope you all like it!

I love you all and I hope to hear from you, please? o.o

Sincerely,

~Ms. AtomicBomb

Arturia closed her eyes as the crowds began to roar. The finals had finally arrived after a few weeks of Diarmuid not taking her to class. She hoped that this Sunday match would rule the end of him having to leave her so early in the morning.

"Now, now, stay close princess." Merlin tightened his grip on the young girl's hand as the street was getting very busy. People from all over always came to celebrate these tournaments, and after not being held for five years, of course the city was packed with people. Merlin was actually quite relieved to see the city so lively, it was refreshing for him.

White and red flags waved in the air to signal the festival and the loud music was dancing around the crowd to further convince everyone that it was festive time. The sun was high in the sky and there were little to no clouds as the hot summer afternoon was only natural. Bells were ringing and birds were flying about in order to call people's attention to certain attractions.

Since everyone was tall in Arturia's eyes, she was having trouble seeing anything. There were occasional children also holding onto their parent's hands but she could not see a single friend of hers as of yet. She was being dragged deeper into the crowd by Merlin, and she didn't like the stuffiness… so she was able to slip from his grip when he was occupied with having bumped into someone.

The little girl navigated through the crowed and weaved herself about, until she was far away from the condensed area and near some tents. She looked over some of them, some striped, some a plain colour. She saw some people in armour with lances and swords… she guessed they were the contestants. Her curiosity got the best of her when she saw a huge tent and she had the urge of entering it. She split the blue entrance fabric and slithered in silently.

The inside of the tent held a huge surprise to her—a man on a fancy chair with a crown on his head, two knights on either side of him, "Who are you?" One of the stern knights glared at the little girl.

"Charles, let her be, she is simply a little child." The man on the seat gave a bright smile after waving his knight off, "My name is Uther. What brings you here, child?" He had long wavy blond hair to his shoulders. His frame was lightly built and he had a growing beard.

Arturia shook her head, "I do not like big crowds." She answered, big green eyes full of wonder still because of how nice the tent was inside. Whenever she had been in a tent there were only some blankets on the floor; not a carpet, dinner table, mirror, fancy chair and many decorations.

The man's smile grew, "Would you like something to drink?"

She shook her head in response.

"Where is your family?" He asked, a blonde eyebrow raising slightly in concern, "Did you get lost?"

Again she shook her head, "I'm not lost. My big brother is competing to be a knight!" She beamed, a bright smile on her pale lips as she swung from her heels to the balls of her feet, her blue dress following in the movement like a steady pendulum.

"Is that so."

This time around, the little girl nodded her head, "He used to be a knight before!" She excitedly explained, "And he'll be one again!"

The king smiled, "What is your brother's name?"

"Diarmuid!" She replied, "He is the best brother anyone could ever ask for!"

Uther's smile turned into a grin and he gave a prompt nod, "Would you like to watch the tournament with me? It'll be starting soon and we will be having the best seats." The little girl made him feel at ease, as if he had finally found his child that had been missing for years.

He had ordered for a seat to be set up beside him so that the child could be seated next to him so that, for even a few hours, he could feel the empty void in his heart begin to be filled with the eyes of such a sweet child. Her big green irises reminded him of his dear wife, they were so beautiful and glossy—like recently polished jewels.

He seated her on the podium and watched the reactions of his people. The citizens had fallen silent at the sight of the small child in the bleachers of the arena—a small child with the king. The king.

"Welcome, everyone. I introduce you to this fine little lady. Please introduce yourself," Uther had finally realized that he never asked for her name.

Merlin, from across the stadium had nearly gasped because he had been looking for her desperately for the past fifteen minutes and he had been mid-breakdown before he saw her with the king of all people. He covered his mouth and quickly thought of a magic spell that he could use to refrain from introducing herself.

He mumbled a silencing spell under his breath and the girl was cut short from speaking as he strode towards the podium.

"Well, she must be a bit shy," Uther chuckled and the people followed, "Well, this is our special guest on this fine day. The knights will be fighting for her appreciation." He had faith in the little girl's brother, so he was not worried about bias.

Merlin had made it upon the podium right as the king sat down and the audience had returned back to their own chitter-chatter, "My king," he bowed before the little girl could see him, but her eyes had grown wider upon his voice, "Who might this young lady be?" He asked as he crouched in front of her.

"She wandered into my tent, she is such a beautiful girl, don't you think?" The king smiled brightly as he looked over at the tiny blonde child, "She reminds me of Igraine."

"What?" Merlin nearly barked. This was not how the king was to meet his child; there was supposed to be a huge spectacle with a sword and the honour of a knight… this was not what he had imagined whatsoever.

"Merlin?" The king furrowed his brows at the rude tone of voice that the young man held, "What seems to be the problem?"

"N-nothing, my liege," Merlin bowed his head and proceeded to stand next to Arturia who seemed quite bewildered by the fact that she couldn't speak.

It wasn't long before three men were led into the middle of the arena, hushing the crowd and filling with curiosity instead. The king pushed himself off the throne and walked closer towards the balcony of the podium, "Welcome!"

This seemed like the best time to talk to Arturia and so Merlin knelt next to her, his voice as hushed as could be, "Listen, princess, you cannot say that your name is Arturia. Choose your favourite name—but not Arturia." The young girl knitted her brows, "One more thing, in front of this man, you do not know me, okay sweetheart? You have to promise me, alright?"

Although she was confused, she nodded and agreed to his proposition and before she knew it, she could finally speak again. She was about to call out to Merlin but she refrained when she remembered the promise.

"…As is custom in Camelot," the King proceeded, "We have finally continued the tradition of the Mid-Summer Wolf Tournament! It is with joy and hope that I reintroduce this as I am sure all of you were hoping to see our kingdom proper with festivities." The crowd cheered after he had finished his sentence.

"After two weeks of tournaments, we have finally reached our top three potentially new knights! I introduce you to these fine young men!" It was as if on cue that three men entered the arena, among them the dark-haired tall man that was Arturia's big brother. The crowd had gone wild and all the ladies immediately sighed at the sight of the man with the beauty mark. Arturia stood, clapping her hands as hard as she could to cheer on her sibling.

After having turned away from the audience and towards the King, all three men bowed deeply before being allowed to stand.

It came as a shock to Diarmuid when he had seen Arturia standing next to the king, his brows lifted and his jaw dropped—assuring Uther that he was the older brother of the girl. The king elicited a grin and looked over the three men, "You will be fighting the best warriors of not our Kingdom, but many around. Three great warriors of Greece and Hibernia. Before you, is laid a weapon table, choose the ones you feel best comfortable with. You will not be using your own weapons as I think that there could be biases. Please, choose what you will and the tournament will soon begin."

The brown eyed man caught up to Diarmuid, "Are you going to get lances?" he asked, ruffling brown hair before placing on the helmet.

"Yes, and are you going to wield a sword, Finnegan?" The Irishman asked. He had helped the young man train hard for this and it seemed that the boy was destined for the greatness of Knighthood because he had made it this far.

Finnegan nodded quickly, "I am much too nervous, I feel I might fail." He sighed, the shaking in his hand was obvious when he lifted the sword from the table, "There are so many people—there weren't this many throughout the week, were there?"

"It is going to be just fine, Finnegan, they're just faces." The other knight jumped into the conversation lifting a bow and arrow quiver as well as two small dagger-like blades. He had dark tanned skin and snow white hair, eyes a plain grey, "Now man up, little boy, this is it," he grumbled as said eyes turned to slits.

"Thank you Emiya," Finnegan felt a little calmer after hearing his friend's encouraging words.

After they had chosen their weapons, the table was taken away by some servants and they were told to spread apart. The rules were simple, whoever was first to knock out the weapons of the other would win, but it was a team effort. The three would work together to defeat the other three warriors. If they won, they would be knighted, as was promised and if they lost… well goodbye, better luck next time.

Since they had no ide what they were up against, the team of aspiring knights were not exactly prepared. Thus, it came as a surprise when a huge bulky man entered the arena, Diarmuid's eyes grew as he recognized him—it was Alexander. Behind him, two other people followed; a woman with long pink hair dragging chains behind herself and another woman with long red hair—Diarmuid knew this one; Scáthach a most delectable lancer.

Once maroon eyes landed on him the woman's lips etched in a bright and delighted smile. It had been years since they had last seen each other, "Diarmuid!" The woman greeted, "It has been years, I do hope you have not lost your touch."

"Scáthach, it is an honour to see you again," Diarmuid nodded at her as she took her place in front of him, Alex with Emiya and the blindfolded woman with Finnegan.

"Don't hold back," She lifted her red spear as she readied her position in order to be ready for attacking when the bell rang, "I know I won't be."