This was inspired by AmaLee's cover of Brave Shine and written in honor of Healing Over Time's first anniversary (being February 25th, 2019 when it was first published). Not to mention, this is yet again dedicated to the first Saber I ever got to know in Fate.

Originally posted on Tumblr before a specific review from a friend, Aqui, convinced me to post it to the story properly. Thank Aqui. He was the one who gave me the last bit of inspiration needed to write this. So there. :)

I'd like to think this takes place in-between Chapter 5 and the WIP Chapter 6, where Arturia dreams again in the middle of the night.

Interlude: No Longer the End

Sometimes, when Arturia closed her eyes, she found herself back on that last battlefield. Knights collapsed on the soil, bleeding out with no hope of getting up. The number of spears and swords left scattered amongst the bodies creating an insurmountable pile of death.

"Camlann…"

She knew it was a dream, but it did not stop Arturia's desire to scream in anguish. As much as she wished to improve Britain's aspects in the world by becoming King Arthur, she never truly wanted so many to die that day for the sake of change.

The Holy Grail Wars were originally supposed to be a way to fix all this. To fight for a chalice that could change Britain's tragic fate. But the Holy Grail was gone now, far too corrupted to do anything. Arturia knew she did what she could, for everyone sitting on this hill, but it did not stop her from feeling hopelessly empty when looking on from the top of the same hill.

Mordred's blank green eyes staring off into the sky was hard enough to acknowledge as is. Even if he had rebelled, he was still a Knight of the Round Table. To see him like this—

Arturia looked away, tightly clutching the handle of Excalibur. Rhongomyniad had disappeared somewhere after it had pierced Mordred's armor and now, in this flashback, Arturia was not intending to look for it.

This was the time where King Arthur had met his end.

So then, why? Why was Arturia back here again?

Her armor felt heavy as she clutched the handle of her Holy Sword. It felt like Excalibur was her only lifeline. Somewhere, somehow. "Everyone…"

No one answered.

"Eh?"

All of a sudden, there was another presence. With a solemn "Oh," cutting through the deafening silence, Arturia was now aware that she wasn't the only one alive now. A shudder reverberated through her figure as soon as her eyes caught sight of bare feet slowly tiptoeing past all the bodies, past all the bloodied swords to reach the top of the Hill of Camlann.

Arturia didn't raise her head simply from the sheer disbelief.

How— What? She shouldn't be here—

The figure kneeled, revealing the hem of a white dress as an unscarred hand reached over to gently close Mordred's unseeing eyes. "I see," she said, sympathy clear in her voice. "This is where…"

Long black hair brushed the girl's shoulders as she shifted on her feet, exposing two blue hair ribbons as she turned to meet Arturia's eyes.

Arturia flinched. "Tomoko…"

Tomoko smiled sadly, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm sorry," she said in the same quiet voice. "I didn't mean to come here and see something this personal to you." She still inclined her head, looking over Arturia once or twice before standing up again. A few careful steps were all it took for Tomoko to reach Arturia's side and Arturia lowered her head.

"Milady, I…" Nothing left her lips.

How shameful. Even if this was a memory, a dream, for a Knight to let her Lady see this—

There was no warning preceding the arms suddenly throwing themselves around Arturia's neck. Arturia gasped wordlessly, barely letting go of her Holy Sword in time for Tomoko to nestle herself against Arturia's front, hugging tightly. Tomoko's white dress was starting to get stained with flecks of blood that surely must have come from the battles before, but Tomoko was not moving. Rather, it was as if Tomoko could see no one but Arturia.

"You're not alone, Saber," was the whisper into Arturia's ear. "You'll never be alone. I promise."

Arturia slowly raised one gauntlet-covered hand. It would have been easy to return the hug. To place her hand on her Lady's hair, to return the gesture, but—

"Milady, I—"

I have no right to touch you. Even if I did all I could, even if I should not regret my time as King, I still could hurt—

Tomoko shook her head, tightening the hug enough for Arturia to feel something in her dulled nerves. "I don't know how you got here. I don't know what happened that led you here, but that doesn't mean I can't be here for you. And I'll do whatever I can to be here. To stay with you." There was a shuddering breath against Arturia's neck, enough to tickle. "I won't leave."

Arturia shuddered. "Tomoko."

Tomoko slowly pulled away from the hug, a lone tear close to falling if not for a quick hand to catch it, wiping away before Arturia could move. "It's not because I see you as King Arthur. It's not because you're my Servant." A small smile dawned on Tomoko's lips. "It's because you're Art-san. My silent, loyal, and loving friend, Art-san."

I'll do anything for you, was clear in Tomoko's gaze.

Arturia opened her mouth. Nothing left her lips, replies cut off entirely from shock, so all she could do was close them. It left her barely flinching as soon as Tomoko reached over to press a small kiss to Arturia's forehead. "It'll be okay. You're not alone anymore." An unscarred hand was slowly taking one of her gauntleted ones, gripping the metal tight enough to make Arturia's fingers twitch. "Let's go home now, Art-san."

Arturia blinked a tear of her own away. "…As you wish, Milady."

The next time Arturia opened her eyes, she could see a familiar beige ceiling. The sunlight was starting to shine in, illuminating the room with its pale beams, and she put a hand to her eyes.

Morning. When had it become morning?

"…Mugahhh…"

Arturia blinked, swiveling her head to her right side. The scent of rosemary filled her nose and without thinking, Arturia smiled. Of course. "Good morning, Milady," she whispered.

Tomoko barely stirred, simply making another sleepy noise before moving her arm to hug Arturia tighter. The stuffed black cat that was Blake was thrown haphazardly elsewhere. In fact, when Arturia looked to the other side, it became painfully obvious the plush had taken up a position sitting rather awkwardly a meter away from the futon.

Another day. Arturia held back a fond and resigned sigh before returning the embrace, pressing her nose into her Lady's hair. "Five more minutes?"

"Muuuu…"

"Five it is." The Servant occupation was certainly changing throughout the years, but at this point, with peace, Arturia barely found herself caring. Guarding someone who could easily be called family was worthwhile enough. "I will make sure to rouse you when the time is up, Milady."

"Mugu…" was the complaint.

"Heh."

For once, after seeing that hill, Arturia knew she was home.