Hail to the King - Part Three (Patreon)

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Hail to the King - Part Three

'Damn it' That single statement was on the crux of Naruto's mind, no other thought was left possible. How had he screwed up this badly? How had things come to this? It was his refusal to realize how things were.

He had always viewed his friendship with Mordred close, probably even closer than how he viewed his relationship with Sir. Galahad and his fellow knight Sasuke. But he never imagined that Mordred had feelings for him and that he— She was actually a woman in disguise. That thought had never once been at the forefront of his mind. But it was true, and as much as he wanted to deny it, Mordred was, in fact, a woman.

He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what he could do.

He would say he loved Mordred, how couldn't he? They were comrades and friends on the battlefield. But would he say that he loved her in the same way she demanded? Did he love her in the way a husband would love his wife? He didn't know, at least, he didn't think he did.

At the same time, he didn't want his relationship with Mordred to end, how they joked, how they fought, it had all been so refreshing to him. He had been content in that, but, it seemed, Mordred had not. And now if he didn't do anything their current relationship would be all but ruined.

She had sent him away, but he had come back, only to find her gone within her residence. He waited for her all night, but she hadn't returned home. All the while, he had been lost in his thoughts; he didn't know what he would do if she had returned. Everything was all so confusing, and truth be told he hadn't intended for things to end up like this, he never did.

And now, he just wanted to fix things.

And so he did the only thing he could, he didn't know anything about the matters of the heart, not to mention the matters that had to do with the fairer sex. So he decided he needed to seek someone out for help, the question was… who?

His first thoughts were his immediate superiors, they were older than him, and certainly more experienced. But he knew this wasn't the sort of subject to bring up with the king, even if he was married to Guinevere, his problems weren't worthy enough for the king's guidance. Gawain and Lancelot were also out, Gawain was too eccentric for him to take him seriously, and as for Lancelot… any advice when it comes to relationships from him would need to be taken with a heavy grain of salt. While he could be useful in how to court, he didn't know how much information he should covet about how to seduce a married woman. And he wasn't close to any of the other knights of the Round Table.

He was left with only one option.

And so, as the sun rose, he couldn't adjust to his feelings. He went to visit his friend Galahad at the gate, who at that time was right about to set off on his own quest, one that he wouldn't see him come back from in such a long time.

He was searching for the legendary holy grail, said to be the very cup that Christ grasped during his last supper among all of his disciples. It was a symbol of purity, of divinity, of miracles, and truth be told if the man were to find it there was no telling what sort of feats could be accomplished.

The mission was very important, not just for him but for all of Galahad, he almost felt guilty for interfering with his departure.

As Naruto walked up, he heard his fellow blonde knight call out to him unsurely. "Hey, Galahad, can I talk to you for a second?" he inquired, as he could see that the white-haired knight had noticed him, but he was currently loading boxes onto a horse-drawn cart, several other knights under his command doing the same.

"Hmmm, oh Naruto, yeah of course, we can talk, just give me a minute," he said, before turning to one of his subordinates. "Hey Cassian, why don't you lead this up on that cart over there," Galahad instructed, as he pointed to a set of boxes and a cart that was nearby.

The knight in question quickly saluted and nodded, "Right away sir!" he obliged, as the two went off to the side of the gate to converse things much more privately.

"Alright, Naruto, what did you want to talk about?" the white-haired knight questioned.

From the moment Galahad laid eyes upon Naruto he could tell something was on his mind, how could he not notice? He had been friends with him for quite some time, it only made sense that he was able to get some sort of glimpse into what was happening within the blonde's head.

And so, he waited for the blonde to respond, which took his friend several minutes for him to formulate the words for him to do so.

Before Naruto finally started.

The blonde opened his mouth and formulated exactly what he wanted to say.

"Galahad… I… How would you… How would you feel if you found out your best friend was in love with you?" Naruto questioned, finally trying to ask what had been plaguing him this entire time.

As the white knights' eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, "I'm sorry… what?" he blinked.

"How would you feel if your best friend was in love with you, and he—she," Naruto mentally corrected himself, Mordred was a female, not a male, he needed to fix that line of thinking. "Just told you, how would you feel?"

"Huh?" Galahad seemed to be cleaning the wax out of his ears, not sure if he was hearing Naruto right. "I'm not sure what you mean?" Was Naruto…

"Exactly! I don't know what to do either," he admitted, things with Mordred were rather tense, and truthfully he wanted to go back to how things used to be. But he didn't know how, or even if things could end up that way. "This is all so new, I didn't even realize… and now I'm not sure how to feel." Did he love Mordred in that way? He wasn't sure, he didn't even know the feelings she had admitted to him. And he wasn't even sure he could love someone in that way.

"Okay?" Galahad wasn't following.

"And to be honest it's kind of frustrating." He didn't like being so powerless now, he felt like he had lost a crucial friend, a piece of his very being, and there was nothing he could do. He couldn't push his way through determination, and he couldn't outright lead his way through someone not even he was familiar with.

It was all so annoying, so much so that he wanted to tear his hair out.

"You're annoyed that… you might be in love with a man?" Galahad asked, he had no idea what was going on. Naruto only had male friends, of that much he knew, so what was with all these hypotheticals?

"What?" Naruto questioned before he shook himself off. "No, I'm worried I might not be in love with M—" he stopped himself, unsure of what he should say. Before he realized Galahad had his own work to do.

"You know what, forget about everything I just said, I'm sorry I bothered you," He waved Galahad off, he shouldn't be bothering his friend after he was right about to depart from his mission.

He should just find out what to do on his own, this was between him and Mordred, and he shouldn't bother anybody else with his problems.

"I have to go find Mordred," he mumbled, more towards himself than anything. Galahad caught it, leaving him even more confused that he had started the conversation.

Wait? Was this Naruto admitting that he was Gay?

XXX

Naruto left Galahad even more confused than he was before, what was worse he still didn't know what to do. He just knew he didn't want to bother one of his friends because of his problems. Mordred was his friend, but he didn't know if he could feel the same as she did, after all…

He realized he needed to find Mordred, the problem being he didn't even know where to look for her. He knew she hadn't returned to her residence ever since the night prior, and it wasn't like Mordred was known to go anywhere in public to unwind. So the question became: where exactly was Camelot's resident Red Knight of the Round Table located? He didn't know, he figured the best way to search for her was to ask around, to see if any of the other knights or anyone else had seen the disguised blonde female that had plagued his mind.

Sadly no matter where he had asked nobody had seen him. The villagers greeted him with smiles as he asked around, being left with no answer that he was left satisfied.

"No, I'm sorry, I haven't seen him anywhere," the most recent villager spoke, as he shook his head, disappointed as he couldn't help the young knight with his endevor.

"No, it's fine, don't worry about it," Naruto told him, a slight frown on his face, as he began once again walking down the street

At the moment, he was beginning to lose all hope that he would find her.

"Big brother Naruto!" a group of kids shouted, one blonde and two brunette. As he walked about on the streets of Camelot, their shout completely breached him outside of his thoughts as they rushed towards him, each sprouting smiles upon their young faces. "Big brother, Naruto, you're finally in town?!" They shouted once again.

As they got close to him, "Do you have time to play knights with us?" They all questioned ecstatically. Happy that their older brother figure was finally within the city.

Naruto looked towards them, he patted the closest one on the head. "No, sorry, I'm actually kind of busy at the moment," he told them.

As the three kids groaned, "What? Awwww~"

"Now, now kids, you all know Sir. Naruto is a very busy person, he won't always be able to take the time out of his schedule to play with you all," a well-mannered, middle-aged man wearing a tunic told them.

"We know Dad ~!" They all stated.

"Hello mister Taylor," Naruto greeted, recognizing the man.

"And hello to you too, Sir. Naruto" The man politely bowed, smiling at the blonde knight. "Sorry about them, they can be quite the handful sometimes," the father remarked.

Naruto softly smiled, "It's fine, I don't mind playing with your children from time to time," he told the man.

As the man laughed, "Hehe, that's why you're the best!" He said rubbing his jaw. "I couldn't imagine any of the other knights of the round table being nice to children like this, especially because of…" the man paused, with a slight frown beginning to form along his face, as he stopped his sentence.

Truthfully, it was becoming harder and harder for the general populace of the country to trust the government and the King. A great divide had been forming through the cracks of the kingdom, with many of the King's policies having been disagreed upon by the common people, not to mention old wounds constantly being reopened after the founding of the kingdom. During Arthur's initial conquest to retake the country as the rightful heir of Britain many lives were lost, not just soldiers, but common people as well. Farmers, traders, and bankers lost their possessions through the king's pillaging of his troops or in their raids against the Saxons. With many of them not being able to sustain themselves any longer. And now were they just supposed to forget the atrocities that happened? Forgetting was hard, but being blind was even harder.

Even now, there was a viewpoint that was commonly spreading around the people of their whittling faith in their king, something he didn't fully encourage but he could sympathize with. The king, and his fellow knights of the round table, the divide had been cut between them.

They just couldn't understand their King, and they doubted they ever would.

Honestly, Naruto was the only knight of the round that he could imagine in a place like this, playing with lowly peasant children and actively remembering their names. It was why they loved him, the people of Camelot, he was like an open book, and he aided them in whatever he could, even when he didn't need to. Yes, the young knight of the round, Naruto, truly was special.

That's why when he saw the youthful male with such a strange forlorn expression he offered to help, after all, Naruto had helped him and his children countless times as well— including saving his marriage just months prior.

"Hey young lad, something bothering you?" the older male asked, snapping Naruto out of his thoughts in an instant.

As the kids around them looked hopeful, if they could help their big brother Naruto then they would shoot at the chance to do so. "Yeah, do you need something big brother!" they all asked.

Naruto realized he had just lost himself in his thoughts for a second, "What, uh… oh, yeah, it's nothing." as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "It's just… I've been looking for Mordred…" he trailed off.

As the kids then grew still, they had all met Mordred on one of two occasions, and each time he had seemed very irritable and unapproachable to the young children, not like Naruto was at all. "What? Why would you want to look for that guy?" "Yeah, he's scary!" "Yeah!" they voiced, still having shivers at the thought of the red knight yelling at them once again.

Naruto chuckled at that, "Yeah," he agreed, sometimes the things that Mordred did would scare him stiffly, but that was a part of his— her, he corrected— charm. He then began to ruffle two of the kid's hair with a smile, "But don't worry, Mordred's actually pretty kind, I've come to find out, even if it might not seem so," the blonde smiled fondly, but the kids still didn't believe it.

"Sir. Mordred, eh?" The older man rubbed his chin, thinking of the last time he had heard about the red knight's and the blonde male's relationship and had heard they were surprisingly close throughout the grapevine. He didn't think much of it, most of that dribble was just useless speech that the bored housewives or the fangirls talked about to pass the time, and he didn't think much of hearing it. But perhaps those rumors weren't all fabricated? Nonetheless, he shook his head, remorseful that he couldn't help the young boy who had helped him so. "No, unfortunately, I haven't, I apologize," he told him, just like others had before.

But as Naruto was about to respond, opening his mouth, another voice stopped him. "I think I can help with that," someone spoke, as they all turned, seeing a dark-haired male in silver armor now standing before them.

Naruto's eyes widened, "Huh, oh, it's you."

"Hey, dobe," the dark-haired male smirked, as he looked towards his commanding officer.

"Sasuke," Naruto smiled before he remembered what his black-haired friend had just said. "You said you could help me?"

"I did," Sasuke nodded. "Mordred's in a forest about one and a half miles west of the capital. We got reports that he's been tearing up the forest there and defeating any monsters that got in his way. My squad was assigned to stop it, I figured you would be our best shot at calming him down," the squad captain told his superior with a shrug. Finding Naruto seemed like the best option, he knew the two were rather close, all things considered. And besides none of them had quite a death wish big enough to face Mordred themselves, but they knew that if the dangerous knight's rampage continued nobody knew what would happen.

"Really?!" he said in shock, as Naruto's eyes widened at this information, finally knowing where Mordred had run off to. "I'm sorry, but I have to go!" the blonde called out, as he then tried to go off, a strange expression forming across his face.

A hand across his arm stopped him, "Naruto, can I talk to you for a second?" Sasuke stated, looking his blonde-haired officer and friend in his eyes. He saw Naruto's expression, he looked worried, he looked tired, and most of all, deep beneath his gaze of emotions he could see a certain expression he wasn't expecting. One he hadn't seen in a long time on his blonde friend's face.

Fear.

A fearful expression that Naruto then covered. Something had happened, and he didn't know what. But he guessed Mordred had something to do with it, he just wanted to know...

"Sasuke, I have to get going, I can't," Naruto told him.

"Mordred can wait, we both know he'll be tearing up that forest for who knows how long. But I can tell something is bothering you," Sasuke stated. He had a resolved expression across his face, showing he wouldn't budge on the subject.

Such a look caused Naruto to relent, knowing that if he didn't tell Sasuke now who knows how long it would take for him to let go. He waved, deciding he couldn't be stubborn about this subject, "Alright fine, I'll tell you, just… somewhere where there aren't so many people around."

"Alright," Sasuke nodded.

As Naruto then turned towards the man who had helped him, "Sorry, I gotta get going," the blonde said, rubbing the back of his head.

But the man did something surprising, he smiled, "Hoho, don't worry about it lad, the people, we care about you, I hope you get what you need sorted out," he laughed, as he patted Naruto on the shoulder, almost like… almost like that of a father.

Naruto felt unsure about that last thought, but he gave a smile in return, "Thanks!" He also said goodbye to the small children he would often play with. It was only then that he looked towards Sasuke, they both gave a nod, and then they were off.

XXX

And so they went somewhere secluded, Sasuke had led him to a familiar place, that being a bridge overlooking a stream that flowed into the city that they used to frequent as a child. It was on the way, and a place not many would walk over this hour, so they were sure no one would be able to overhear their conversation.

Which is where they were now, with Naruto becoming more and more unsure of what he should do by the passing minute. Sure, he wanted to go to where Mordred was now that he knew, but he wasn't sure after. What would he say? What could he say? He could tell he hurt Mordred, with her even going as far as to say she'd kill him, even if they were friends—They were, weren't they? He didn't know, everything had just been so hazy since last night, and his thoughts had been running rampant through his mind.

And so, he looked on over the edge of the bridge, watching on as several fish swam through the current. It was as if there wasn't a care in the world for them, as if their path had been completely laid out. Perhaps things were easier that way, for the fish, he didn't know.

He also didn't know what he should tell Sasuke when he was brought over here.

"Naruto, something is bothering you, I can tell, and I want to know what," Sasuke stated. But Naruto only continued to look out over the bridge, as if he hadn't heard Sasuke speak entirely. The blonde remained unloving, and if it weren't for his shallow breathing and the constant rising of his chest it would be as if he were a course walking upon his feet.

He didn't speak, and Sasuke waited until he was ready for what he was about to say. That was until Naruto took a deep breath, and…

"Mordred's a woman, ya know," Naruto said casually as if it were the most monotonous thing. Like he was talking about the weather, or the clouds, or whatever one would say that they did on a rainy day.

But to say Sasuke was shocked more than anything was an understatement, as the usually stoic male had his eyes fully wide, so much so that they resembled that of dinner saucers.

"I'm sorry, what?" He voiced, finally regaining his composure. Maybe he heard him wrong? Yeah, that had to be it, there was no way what Naruto said was what he had heard.

"You know what I said, Mordred's a woman," the blonde told him, still looking off towards the river in the distance.

That was it, he had heard Naruto correctly, and the fact he knew that Naruto wouldn't lie to him was the only thing that kept him sane. Seriously? Sir. Mordred, the most aggressive of all the knights of the Round Table— hell, probably the most unruly of all of the knights of the Camelot even— was a woman? That thought would never have crossed his mind. But he could tell that his blonde friend was telling the truth and that something was seriously weighing upon his mind.

It took all of his strength to keep his composure, but even then it was limited, "I see," he tried to say stoically with a strained voice. "That must have been… surprising to find out." Unbelievable, more like it.

"I know," Naruto laughed, finally happy that someone else could share in his confusion, "But you can't tell anyone, I don't know why, but I'm sure Mordred has her reasons for hiding it." He might be betraying Mordred's trust by even telling him, so he had to make sure her secret wouldn't get out, who knows what he would do if that were to happen? He trusted Sasuke enough to keep the secret.

Sasuke nodded, although he just looked at Naruto dumbly. Who could he tell even if he wanted to? If he went around spouting that Mordred was a girl they'd think him crazy, they'd send him to the witch doctors to get his head checked— they might even just outright kill him because he would be thought to be a lost cause.

Naruto smiled, "Alright, thanks!" he stated, as several more fish swam down the stream.

But Sasuke could tell that that wasn't all of it, sure, Naruto's revelation about Sir. Mordred was stunning, but he was sure Naruto would have a strange look on his face if that were it. No, something more had to happen. And so he gave his blonde friend time, time to formulate his words next.

"She said she loves me, too," Naruto said absentmindedly, Sasuke choked, this is, it was… that was what had bothered Naruto so much, it made sense. "She told me last night, and I couldn't make sense of it all… I just don't know what to do," he told him, looking at his friend as he watched him recover.

Coughing, Sasuke took a few minutes to do just that, regaining his composure as he held his usual stoic face, "And do you feel the same?" He finally asked, even as his voice still sounded strained.

"Yes! No… honestly, I don't know," That was the question: did he love Mordred? As a friend, absolutely, but as one would a lover? That was more complicated, and he didn't know. "It's just, I never imagined it, y'know. That kind of life, with a family, with kids, it's all so new to me, I never bothered imagining it… never wanted to…" he admitted, putting his back towards the water as he leaned over the bridge's railing.

Sasuke's black eyes looked at him, "Naruto, is this because of what happened?" he asked, Naruto knew what he was talking about, of course, he knew. As Sasuke's eyes looked at his friend in sympathy, "Naruto, it's been a long time since 'that,' and I can't understand what it felt like, but you have to let go of it sometime, or else it will eat you up." He could tell it already does. Sasuke knew Naruto had been through alot, especially in his early years, and could tell it was paining him. It was why he could never imagine himself with a family, much less a female.

He could tell that this wasn't solely about Mordred, and in some way, he knew Naruto cared about her, but the problem solely relied upon him.

After all… Naruto still hadn't gone inside, had he?

"I know, I know, it's just…" Naruto sighed, getting over it was hard, and it was something he still couldn't bring himself to overcome. Every night he relived that moment, it was why he tried so hard to help people, it was what gave his life any meaning. It was why he became a knight, and it was that reason that he fought so hard to make sure each and every one of his men returned safely to their homes. "I don't know if I can," he could never forget, and he didn't know if he would ever recover.

Things right now were just so uncertain.

"I know you can," Sasuke told him, playfully punching him right across the shoulder. "After all, you're the great 'Sir. Naruto,' one of the youngest knights of the round to reach the table," he said with a small smirk.

Naruto smiled at that, he knew Sasuke only called him Sir. Naruto when they were in the presence of other knights. When they weren't it was just Naruto. That or dobe, a nickname he received for initially being the worst at swordsmanship of their generation during their training period. But he pushed, pushed to work harder, and to lead his troops to victory. And now, his rival and close friend during those days respected him as well.

Before Naruto's smile turned into a frown, "It should be you at the round table," he stated. Sasuke was always the better swordsman of the two. It was like he able to read his actions before he could do them. And sure, they usually tied within their spars, but that was because of his endurance, and ability to last a lot longer in a fight than Sasuke could.

Sasuke only shook his head, it was just such a Naruto thing to say. "No, we all know you are the one who's perfect for the position." Even if he was better at swordsmanship that didn't make up for the fact that he wasn't as good of a leader as Naruto. And that was no fault on his part, Naruto was just that good of a leader, he fought, he bled for his men, and even then he still kept fighting. That was just the kind of man Naruto was.

But Naruto wasn't so sure, even still, he could sense the emotion in Sasuke's words, and it almost made him relent.

"Naruto," he could tell his friend needed someone to say this. "You're stronger than you know, you just have to believe in it yourself," his dark-haired friend told him. If this 'Sir. Mordred,' female as she was would be good for Naruto he was all for it. The Heavens knew Naruto needed more joy in his life, and he could see that Mordred's friendship had a positive impact on his blonde friend. "Just do what you feel is right," Sasuke told him, odd since it was usually Naruto to was the one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, not him.

Perhaps today was just full of surprises.

"Thank you," Naruto told him, sighing, he sure had a lot to think about. But that would have to wait, he knew he should go see Mordred, and clear whatever horrid air that had formed between them. He felt that things would work out that way if he did.

Before Naruto smiled, "Y'know, Sasuke, you should really get yourself a girlfriend," he joked. "I never knew you'd be so good at this mushy crap."

Sasuke snorted, "I never knew you would actually admit you're wrong about something, with that rock-headedness of yours," he retorted.

Naruto smiled, "Alright, I should get going now, I have to find Mordred," the blonde resolved, there was no other way of getting around it.

He wanted to be friends with Mordred, of that he knew.

"Alright then, go, she probably tore up that entire forest by now," Sasuke told him, as Naruto laughed, as he went off, Sasuke watching his retreating form.

Naruto was a good person, much better than them all, he just needed to see that. He knew Naruto had been through a lot, and if he could get over it he knew Naruto would become even better. He didn't know if whatever feelings he had for Mordred would work out. But he hoped that Naruto would come out a better person because of it.

He thought back on Naruto's words. Him? Have a family?

… if only things could be that way.

But alas, he was certain they would not.

XXX

Finding Mordred wasn't too difficult, following Sasuke's directions he made his way there. What also helped was the trail of broken trees, as well as forested animals that were now fleeing their homes as they ran. Pretty soon he realized he was at the right place, as the crashing and loud booms grew in sound and magnitude.

Eventually, he reached a rather large clearing, and then he saw her, clad in her red armor as she pummeled her large sword into various trees and shrubbery, the foliage collapsing in but a single blow due to her strength. Each blow she landed was unmatched, unexpected, yet coordinated in such a way it would seem as if she were doing a brutal dance as she took out her rage. Upon her face rested an angered snarl, as she grit her teeth to the point that it was more than likely they would shatter under the pressure.

"Damn it!" She yelled out, slashing her giant greatsword into another tree trunk. "Damnit!" Mordred roared, before stabbing her blade into the ground to the point that the floor shook.

Taking her sword's hilt back into her grip, it still being embedded into the ground, she clenched her palms.

She seemed angry, really angry. He had never seen her like this before, and honestly, he didn't know how she would react when she saw him again.

Suddenly he felt unsure of his approach, as he began forgetting everything he had thought of on the way here. Maybe he should turn back? Take a moment to think on the situation and talk to her when she seemed to be more calmed down?

Snap!

A tree branch broke in the clearing, as Mordred's survival instincts honed from battle and as a knight stepped in, and she immediately reacted. Instantly taking up her sword as she spun, pointing her sword towards the apparent noise as she readies herself for slaughter.

But the moment she saw who was in front of her her eyes widened in surprise. "You!" Right in front of her was the face that had caused her so much anguish and confusion, because right in front of her was Sir. Naruto, the same person she had threatened just the night before.

Naruto looked down, seeing that he had accidentally broken a stick lying on the ground. Before he looked towards his blonde friend, the once-disguised girl was still holding up her sword at him. As his face turned sheepish, rubbing the back of his head, not sure what to say. "Uh… Hi? It's… been a while, hasn't it? Mordred…" It really hadn't, but he didn't know what else to say, with everything that he had learned and thought about it felt like a great time had passed.

As he watched Mordred's expression, the surprise at seeing him. But he soon watched as her features turned into many, once confusion fell it soon became realization, then guilt, and then finally… anger.

"It's you!" Mordred glared at him, still remembering what had happened last night.

"Yes, Mordred, it's me," Naruto said, a look of resolve filling his eyes. "I think we need to talk," he said in a serious tone.

"What's there to talk about, I thought I told you to get the hell out of my way!" she growled, "I told you what I would do to you!"

"You did," Naruto remembered, but he was already too far to go back now, he knew what he needed to do. "But I don't care."

"You don't care? You don't care?!" Mordred glared, her anger starting to reach a boiling point.

"Yes, and I don't care what you have to say, I'll still forgive you," Naruto concluded.

But that seemed like the wrong answer for her, as the rage she felt from their past meeting overflowed, to the point she could control it no longer. And she did the only natural thing, she lashed out, her hair began to shadow her eyes, and she charged.

Angered, she pulled out her blade from the hard earth, hedging straight for Naruto. Naruto didn't have a sword to block her, nor did he have any armor to protect himself. He was left in nothing but his tunic and trousers, what he'd been in since he went out with Lancelot. But even still he wasn't defenseless, as with his soldier training he'd learn at least one skill, and that was… dodge.

"Why aren't you angry?" Mordred asked, sending a high strike into the air, as Naruto just barely was able to make it out without his chest being torn open. "Why aren't you mad?" the red knight questioned once again, with her sword high into the air she sent it downward, capitalizing on the fact Naruto would be slightly off balance as he moved, narrowly missing as she did.

"Why are you here?!" she said softly. As she pivoted, "Why?" spinning on her feet she sent a sideward slash at him, "Why?" which she missed as she sent a jab at his right side, not hitting him again. "...Why?" Mordred finally stated, as all her strength seemed to leave her, her arms became weak, as she lowered her sword, dropping the large piece of metal on the ground, her arms fell at her side.

"Well, that's easy…" a voice was heard, as Mordred felt a pair of arms wrap around her armored frame. "Because you're my friend." he told her, not letting go.

That was all it took, as her armor disappeared, leaving her in the same red revealing outfit he had seen the other night. As the two were left in the emptied clearing, Naruto wrapping her arms around the smaller girl, as Mordred's head was lowered onto his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I hurt you the other night…" he told her into her ear, Mordred's body still unmoving, that was until her whole body seemed to tremble, ever so slightly.

Him? Hurt her?

No, he didn't hurt her at all.

If anything, she had hurt him.

Her only friend she had ever known.

How could she be so stupid? She had threatened to kill Naruto. She didn't know if it had been the heat of the moment, and she didn't know if she'd actually go through with her threat.

She had just been so angry.

When she saw Naruto with that… that hussie, something inside of her just made her very angry. The way she looked, the way she acted, the way she pushed herself onto others, it all just made her go into an uncontrollable rage. She didn't like it one bit, whoever she was… and she knew exactly why.

That girl, she was everything she wasn't.

She was pretty, she was curvy, feminine— hell, she probably didn't get too emotional and lash out at everyone. She was the ideal woman for anyone— the ideal woman for Naruto. He deserved someone like her, someone who would be able to make her happy and to prepare a light meal for him as he arrived after a battle. Not someone who knew 50 different slashes to kill a person. That was what men wanted, right?

Honestly, she didn't know, she didn't know a lot of things, and the thought bothered her.

These emotions—love—it was all so new to her, and something she would have never imagined feeling in a million years a few months ago. It was funny, if she had never beaten the crap out of him all that time ago she didn't know what sort of position she'd be in. Would she be angry? Sad? Lonely? Just as she had always been. Before she met him.

And now she'd screwed up, she realized she did instantly, she knew Naruto would never be the kind of person to try and seduce someone, it was the woman doing it. But seeing her with Naruto, she just snapped, it made her angry.

How did things end up this way? How could he be friends with a person like her?

He was just so… so… so much of an idiot.

How did Naruto make her feel this way?

Surely she was unbearable to be around. She was angry, she was loud, she was stubborn.

She fully expected Naruto to one day go and throw her away like yesterday's garbage. Like her mother… like her father. But no, Naruto never did, even when she hurt him, even when she yelled at him, he remained by her side.

She didn't understand it.

Why didn't he denounce her like her father once had?

Well, the answer was easy… it was because they were friends.

Sir. Naruto was just that type of person, he would never abandon a friend, and he would fight for them even to his last breath. He was a fool, and idiot who would cherish every bond he had, even when they hurt him… no wonder she had fallen for him.

"I'm sorry… for everything," Mordred uncharacteristically told him. She was never the type of person to admit she was wrong, and never the type to apologize.

Look at him… getting her all different.

"Don't worry about it," he told her softly.

"Heh," That caused her to chuckle, "you are an idiot, aren't you." She said as she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. This caused Naruto to smile, Mordred was the person who'd garner such a reaction to him being called an idiot, but he was glad. Happy with the fact that Mordred was seeming like her old self again.

They stood like that for some time, until the sun started to go down. He guessed he had been looking for Mordred for a while now, to the point he had wasted the day away, no, it wasn't a waste. He had spent the day looking for his friend and bringing up past memories.

Speaking of which, as he hugged Mordred his eyes began to glaze over in thought before he thought back on Sasuke's words and what he had said.

He realized what he needed to do.

"Hey Mordred, can you help me with something?" Naruto asked, sounding alot more vulnerable than the blonde had ever heard him before. This caused her to look at him questioningly, not knowing what Naruto was thinking to get him to sound so weak. She resolved to help him in any way she could, and she nodded.

That was all Naruto needed to know, as he then took a deep breath, and let go of her. Mordred saw an unknown look form upon his features.

"Bast—Naruto, where are we going?" she had to ask, not knowing how the other blonde would answer her.

Naruto flashed her a bittersweet smile,

"My home."

XXX

Mordred wasn't sure what Naruto meant by that, as far as she knew, Naruto never had a home. From what she'd heard, Naruto had always stayed within his allotted room within the Camelot castle, never bothering to own any property of his own. Before that, she'd heard he had always stayed within his squadron's training barracks.

But to find out Naruto had a home, she was unsure of what to think of it.

She noticed something that seemed to be weighing heavily on Naruto's mind, but she didn't know exactly what. From the moment Naruto had answered her he had remained silent, without word as he led her through forests outside of Camelot. She followed him, not knowing what to say at the moment, or where they were going.

All she knew was that Naruto needed her, and she was content with helping him.

For Naruto things were different, each step he took the burden only increased on his mind, as memories of the past flowed to the forefront of his mind. And yet he trekked on, moving throughout the forest for what felt like an eternity as he trudged forward. Idly, he noticed Mordred still following him at his back, the presence of which brought him no small amount of comfort.

Moving forward, Mordred noticed the direction they were going, confused, as she noticed they were only moving further away from the city of Camelot, as they traversed along the outskirts. She didn't know where they were headed, but she could tell there was some familiarity within Naruto's steps, he seemed to recognize where they were, as he pointed out particular obstacles within the ground as they walked by. Like a deep hole, he remembered you might step over, or a tree branch that you should look out for, as he told her.

When they suddenly reached their destination, "We're here," he told her, Mordred didn't see anything out of the ordinary, just a bunch of trees and bushes that surrounded them. She didn't get it, what sort of place was Naruto leading her to? She could see Naruto's hands shaking, in the orange light of the sky, as he rose his arms towards the nearby foliage, bushing it away.

What lay past was something she wasn't expecting. Behind the bushes and shrubbery, she noticed a small cabin in the center of a clearing. She realized this had been where they were heading. "I don't get it. What the hell is this place?" Mordred inquired, but she didn't receive an answer. Looking over towards her blonde companion, she could say that she was surprised by his state. His whole body shook slightly, unnoticeable to the naked eye, but she could see right through him, as his whole face seemed to exude sorrow.

He quickly covered up this expression, as he plastered an ever-so-fake smile across his lips, "Right, I haven't told you, this is my childhood home. It's nice, isn't it?" he asked, as Mordred's eyes narrowed.

"Hey! What the heck is up with that dumb look across your face?" She growled, she didn't like the faux grin across his features.

Naruto's eyes widened, a frown marring his lips. "Right, I should have realized you would see right through it. Eh? Mordred." They were friends after all. It was just… this place, he hadn't been here in so long, the memories came flowing in, not just the bad, but the good, and the grey ones too. The visions from the past became overwhelming, as he tried to plaster on his usual expression to mask how he was feeling. "As for where we are, well…" She asked him that question, maybe he should tell her? She did come all this way for him, and maybe… just maybe, unloading things might alleviate the burdens along his chest.

It took him almost a full minute to bring himself to speak, and even then he answered her with another question.

"Mordred," He started after taking a deep breath, gaining the girl's attention. "What was your childhood like?" Naruto questioned, shocking his friend, not expecting such a response.

What had her childhood been like? That was an easy one, it had been for better or worse a hell. Being born to the witch Morgan le Fay, the illegitimate child of Arthur Pendragon, she'd been raised to become his heir. Raised as a boy, she'd been put through the harshest training imaginable as a way to surpass her father. Never getting a moment of peace, or joy, only the ideals of pain and strength that she had been raised with. It wasn't until she was allowed to go to Camelot that she had been freed from her mother's tyranny. As she began to gravitate to the ideals of Camelot's king, unknowing that he had been her father, and was through her mother's machinations that she had found out. Confronting her father, and hoping to become his heir, she had been rejected, as those same dark feelings that she had believed in her youth had returned. And it had been Naruto that had rescued her from such anger, and pain, and she was eternally grateful.

"Well, my childhood was pretty normal, peaceful even," Naruto said, answering his question. "My father, Sir. Minato was a knight under Uther Pendragon and later served his heir Arthur as he began his sieges to reclaim Britain as well. It was there he met my mother," Mordred could see a fond smile form across his lips, as he began to look off in the distance. Mordred was quiet during it all, as she could tell this was something that Naruto needed to get off his chest, as she listened intently. "You know, it's said the way they met was strange, they even made a fairy tale about it, one that mothers will tell to their children," His certainly did. "It's said, my father, Sir. Minato, gallant and brave, had served his king faithfully, obeying every order, a man who would fight for his comrades to his last breath, was a kind man, devoted to his country. But that never translated to his love life, always on the battlefield, he never had time to settle down, or even meet any woman he could have wed. Although there were offers, he was said to be very handsome, almost as handsome as King Arthur himself, but the women he was offered never resonated with him," he explained, listing off the tale that had become partially famous throughout their land. As a fond smile began to form across his lips, "That was, until… he met a woman, with fair skin as soft as silk, her hair the color of crimson. She was truly a beauty. And some say she was even more sought after than Lady Guinevere…" he said.

"Your Mother," she realized, as Naruto nodded in the affirmative, and Mordred could see the affectionate look in his eyes as he spoke of her.

"It's said he found her, drifting along the river as he went to take a drink in it, unmoving. Being the chivalrous man he was, Sir. Minato immediately rushed into the water after her, and he then took her back towards his camp where he was situated, placing her right within his own tent as she stayed there. But it had taken 7 days for her to wake up after her recuperation, although, sadly, the woman had all but lost her name when he found her. After she had woken up each night after battle Sir. Minato would return toward her side and they would chat the night away, each night he was even more invigorated for battle. But it was on the seventh day that they realized their love, as Sir. Minato had fallen in love with Lady Kushina the moment he had seen her drifting in the river, admiring her red hair from the instant he saw it. And although it had taken Kushina seven days for her to realize, she too had fallen in love with the knight that had saved her. It wasn't too long before Minato and his subordinates were called back to the main garrison the land near Camelot would later be built upon. He even built a cabin hidden in the neighboring forest as a testament to their love. And soon, I was born, and they lived happily ever after," Naruto finished how the story ended.

But even so, Mordred could tell that wasn't the end of the story, "And what happened next?" she inquired, as Naruto went silent, unmoving, her blue-green eyes looked at him. "Naruto, what the hell happened next!" Naruto needed to say how the story really ended.

It took a while, but he answered her, "About ten years ago, right after the rise of Camelot, Sir. Minato fell in battle valiantly." He informed solemnly, that it was a surprise attack by a group of Saxons on the city, not something anyone expected. "I guess the pain of losing her loved one was too much for Lady Kushina, my mother, to bear, and she…" he trailed off, Mordred got the message, and he realized he didn't need to say anything else.

The ending was clear, and it was something Naruto knew all too well.

In the wake of Sir. Minato, Lady Kushina had committed suicide, leaving her young child alone in Camelot, and the world itself.

He remembers fondly at the time admiring his father, but he still did. Sir. Minato, a brave and valiant knight under the house Pendragon was a man of honor and principal, and although he never made it to the rank of Knight of the Round Table, he had garnered enough renown that he was upholded along the same level. His father was the reason he wanted to become a knight in the first place, and those feelings only increased after the wake of his father's death. His father had given his very being for their king, for the introduction of Camelot, he desired a land without constant bloodshed and hope for their people, and in many ways he had lived to see it happen.

It was just unfortunate that he didn't live to see it through.

Information of Minato's death had hit him hard, but he knew his mother had been devastated, he could still hear the hollow scream of horror that left her lips as she had been given the news. From then on his mother had changed, she had become different and…

The rest was history, he could still remember finding her floating corpse hanging along the ceiling, on that unexpected day all that long ago, and the constant nightmares that followed.

"Naruto…" he heard a voice from his side, as he then felt a hand interlock with his own, surprisingly he didn't shy away. As in that moment he took the small amount of comfort Mordred offered, leaning into her touch.

"I'm fine," he told her, although Mordred knew he was lying. "I think it's about time I went inside," Naruto stated, although he didn't let go of her touch. As they began to near the log cabin that Naruot's father had built so long ago, its old and aged exterior still held strong even after all this time. Mordred led him silently, a contrast to the woman's usual loud appearance because she knew it was not her place to. Naruto walked slowly until he reached the door, taking hold of its oaky structure along his fingertips, tracing its age as the remnants of its rings still lay out. He then looked towards the handle, grasping upon its exterior shakily, as he turned, it wasn't locked, but it was still hard to turn given its lack of use.

He was left with a scene he hadn't seen in a long time, as on the inside was a large room, and it had been where he had found her…

Images of his mother hanging on the ceiling still haunted him.

He didn't know it, but the moment he looked inside, his breath tightened significantly, constricting his throat as he was speechless. But it was then that he felt a small tug along his fingers, as his friend had squeezed his hand gently to the point of comforting him.

It was then he was brought back to reality, and he saw the room for what it was. Inside was a small place, it wouldn't even hold a candle to some of the rooms within Camelot's castle, but when he was a kid it seemed gigantic. It was homely, if a bit confined, having the barest of necessities for a growing family, with a small dining table, a kitchen with a small oven that ran down a chimney that peaked out the top of the home. Even a fairly sized bed that both he and his parents used to sleep in when he was smaller, its sheets still neatly tucked into the bed and ready to be slept in.

There was little to no dust around the area, even if nobody had livened within the cabin in some time. The reason being that he had commissioned a local villager within the nearby capital to do so, even if he didn't want to return to his childhood home he never wanted it to grow uninhabitable. No, that would just make things harder for him.

He was reminded of alot of happy memories as well, like when his father would bring a chair along the table and sit in it as he regaled him of gallant tales, as he rested within his mother's arms as he drifted off to sleep. The thought brought a small smile to his face, as he let go of Mordred's hold, she let him, as he leaned down and traced the bed's wooden frame as he remembered the experience.

Mordred sucked along her cheek, the experience of being in a place like this being foreign to her. So this was where Naruto had grown up huh? It was homely and comforting, she imagined it would be the perfect place to raise a family. She wondered what it would be like to live in such a small cabin, with a loving mother, and a father, would she want to inhabit a place like this? She didn't know.

"She died here you know, hanging," Naruto mentioned, the tone of which he used was so nonchalant it almost shocked her. "And… I often wonder, why she did it?" he spoke, looking up at the sky lost in thought. "I mean… was it because she didn't have the strength to go on any longer? Did she just give up in life? Is it like that? When you're in love with someone, you just can't bear to see them hurt. Do you just feel a bitter sense of agony the moment they're gone, is that what it means to love someone?" the blonde asked aloud. "Tell me?"

Mordred watched as she looked at him with such confusion, seeing his blue eyes dilating with such a passion that he couldn't understand as he did so. She couldn't imagine what he had been through, losing someone at a young age, a loved one that is. Truthfully she had never lost anyone before, she didn't ever have anyone to lose. But she tried to put herself in Kushina's shoes, waking up alone in a river without even knowing who she was or where she had come from must have been a traumatizing experience. But in that confusion, that loneliness, she had found love, a love that would last her entire lifetime. That same love only to be snuffed out unexpectedly and without warning, the news must have broken her. She couldn't imagine what that must have been like.

Would she feel the same if she were to ever lose Naruto?

Her anger rose at the thought, if someone were ever to hurt Naruto in such a way, well… she would never stop fighting them, not to her last dying breath. She knew she wouldn't be able to bear the burden of living without him, and she'd destroy everyone in her wake if they tried to take him from her.

"Tell me, is this what love gets you?" he asked— pleaded with her for an answer.

She tightened her fist, with resolve, "Naruto, I don't know how your mom felt, but I can tell you this if anyone were to take you from me… I'd burn them to the ground." Mordred told him, there would be nothing left of them when she was done with them.

"Is that so?" Naruto said bemused, with just a slight hint of amusement in his smile. Before he covered it, a flash of doubt entered his mind as he still stared at the ceiling. Before he stood up, and looked at her, before looking down, staring straight into his palm, unsure of what to say. "Mordred," he said, gaining her attention, unable to meet her eye. "I'm sorry, but after giving yesterday some thought… I can't return your feelings."

"I-I… I see," Mordred stated, her head low, as her hands started to shake at her side.

She didn't know this would hurt this badly, Naruto didn't know it either, as he felt an unbearable hole in his stomach as he heard her response. And he knew, if at any moment if he ever looked her in the eyes at that moment he wasn't sure he would be able to move forward.

But even still he took a deep breath, he needed to tell her this. "I don't think I ever can, it's just… when I think back to what love is, I think of my parents, the love they had for each other. The way they laughed together, the way they made each other smile, I just don't know if I will ever be able to feel the way they did," he admitted. It was often he wondered about his mother's actions. Specifically how she felt in the wake of his father: did she feel sad? Heartbroken? Was she grieving? Or was it purely the shock of it all when she had done what she did? And did she love his father to the point that she didn't even consider him when she decided she didn't want to live anymore?

He didn't know if he could love anyone like that, and had never considered himself to ever have that life. A family, children, a wife, it was all a foreign dream he knew he could never have… that sort of life, he knew he never would be able to live.

He just never could understand loving someone romantically. Not after how he knew his parents lived turned out.

It was all so foreign to him.

"...You bastard" Naruto heard in a subtle tone, but the venom in her tone was enough to make his skin crawl, so much so that his eyes widened.

"Look, Mordred, I'm sorry, I do care about you. It's just—-"

"You think I don't know how you feel!" Mordred snapped, looking straight towards him and in his shock, he did the same to her. Their eyes met and Naruto could see the anger in her eyes with every hint of passion. "I'd think I know you well enough by now to know how you feel!" She spat, as she then marched towards him.

Naruto didn't know what to say as she encroached, all he could do was a futile attempt at speaking as he took a step back a little. "Mordred I—-

"You think I can't tell that you're hurting!" She stated as Naruto's eyes widened even more. "You think I can't tell you're in pain. That is even though you want to help people, that you want to live the same life your parents live you're afraid how things will turn out. I know how you're feeling!" She knew Naruto's burden was heavy, so much so that it overwhelmed him. From losing his father to his mother, to all the other people relying on him, it was something Naruto had carried for some time.

She wanted to alleviate the weight upon his shoulders.

As she neared him, she pulled her hand up to grasp upon his collar. Naruto tried to create more distance but even he found there wasn't enough as the back of his get began to hit the nearby bed frame, locking him in place.

"Well, I'll tell you right now. I'm not going to let you push me away, no matter how much you want to," Mordred pulled him down to the point their eyes stared just inches apart. He could tell she was serious, the fire within her blue and green eyes was overwhelming. "You saw you don't know if you can feel love well let me show it to you…"

Naruto didn't know what she meant, "Mordred, what are you—Mppff!"

As he suddenly felt the blonde knight pull on his collar, her lips being forced upon his own as he felt her touch. Naruto felt an immense amount of warmth flood into his body, he took a moment just to realize what was happening.

Mordred, she was… she was kissing him.

[Lemon Start]

In his surprise, his eyes widened, which only gave Mordred more time to lean into the kiss. At that moment he felt a great fire, so much so that it nearly engulfed his entire being as the blonde-haired girl pushed forward. It was then that Naruto began to realize just how soft her mouth was. The feeling was smooth, and something completely unexpected. He could feel the passion Mordred was flowing into the kiss and could feel the absolute love she felt for him.

It was… strange, something he wasn't quite used to.

However, that came with the sudden realization that he found that the feeling wasn't unpleasant. He felt Mordred's hand snake up to his cheek, as she leaned even further. However, sadly, she realized something, and that was the fact that even after all she had done Naruto still wasn't responding.

She pulled back, looking at the other blonde in concern. Wondering if she tore their friendship even more than she had before.

"Naruto, are you—Mppfff!" She tried to say before she was cut off. She once again found Naruto's lips on hers, this time initiated by her fellow knight instead, as she let out a moan.

It only took a moment for her to realize what was happening, as she leaned in even further, dispersing his very being. So much so, that she even ended up pushing him onto the bed at Naruto's back. Undeterred, Naruto ended up kissing her even harder, as he began snaking his tongue right into her mouth, trying to explore her every inch. Mordred, not being one to lose a battle, decided to fight back, as she managed to push into him even harder. And this began a deadly game for dominance, to see who would remain victorious.

Naruto didn't know what was happening, his mind had gone blank as soon as Mordred had kissed him. Everything else had been him on autopilot, the most unexpected thing however, was the realization that he was, in fact, enjoying the feel of kissing Mordred. More than enjoying it, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction in his chest as he watched each time she squirmed, each moan she let out. Every time she decided to push even further into his lips he found it all to be pleasurable.

He could feel his body desire her, and she desired him.

It was then he felt himself losing the battle, as managed to force her tongue into him. Naruto, knowing this, did the only thing he could think of as Mordred forced him down. Smirking, he managed to grab onto her arms fast enough that she couldn't react.

Mordred squeaked as she found herself being flipped over in surprise, Naruto being the one to turn the tables with a smirk as he forced himself on top of her. He then forced his lips back onto hers, it only took Mordred a few seconds to realize what had happened as Naruto still had her arms in hold. However, it was she who had the superior strength of the two, as she forced herself out of his grip. With a smirk, she grasped onto Naruto's arms, as she once again flipped him over to where his back rested on the bed.

Forcing herself back into his mouth as neither one of them hungered for air. However, Mordred did end up relenting, as she allowed Naruto to push forward to the point that they were now sitting on the bed each of them facing across from the other.

It was the that Mordred, amid the kiss, grew bold, as she forced her hands down, reaching towards the hem of his tunic. As she pulled up, removing his tunic over his head, he allowed her, as he did nothing to stop it as he continued their make-out session. Mordred rubbing up and down his extremely chiseled chest, a testament to his hard work and dedication when training. She then felt herself lean into him, pushing both of their bodies against one another.

Naruto felt compelled to allow his hand to trace her back, reaching upward, as he then felt the only piece of clothing along her chest covering her. Finding the black strap, as he unhooked the buttons, Mordred allowed him. The girl, pulling her arm onto her bosom caught her makeshift chest bind as it fell, promptly throwing it away and towards the floor and away from the world. During the kiss, she did the same with her boots, taking one off after the other as she tossed them away, Naruto doing the same for his shoes as well. As Mordred then reached her hands down towards her skirt, unbuttoning it as it fell away. Before she forced herself even more upright as she took off her leggings, still in the midst of the kiss, Naruto doing the same for his set of trousers. And finally, as she took off her final piece of clothing, a black pair of undergarments, she felt her body being pushed towards the top of the bed, as she rested on the pillow to keep her upright.

This had been the first lapse in their make-out session, and Naruto began to take in the situation. He realized what they were about to do, and paused.

Mordred, seeing this grew an angry scowl on her face, as she realized what he was thinking. "Naruto, if you back out now, I swear I will—"

"No, that's not it, it's just…" Naruto shook his head, as he stared at Mordred as she presented herself. In front of him was his closest friend, someone he would have given his very life fighting side by side to protect. But just days ago he had thought Mordred to be a male. However, looking at that same person now, he could see how wrong he was. Mordred's face had always been rather feminine, but seeing as how her body had always been hidden within her bulky armor he had never been able to get a good look at her truly—- sans the time just last night when she had revealed herself to be a woman in her revealing outfit. Her body was small, almost petite even, with what would later be known as B-cup breasts, and pink nipples. Moving his gaze down, his eyes rested upon her navel, as he came to realize her body was toned, with very little fat upon her body. And, if you paid attention, you could see the small outline of abs across her chest, courtesy of her harsh trading regime, not that he minded. Moving further, his gaze found himself looking at her womanhood. A tiny slit that rested in between her legs, she didn't seem to have any public hair of any kind, as her whole body was smooth. And if he continued his gaze, he would have seen her very toned, and muscled thighs, perfect for birthing any child, down her flawlessly rounded and shaped ass.

How could he have thought someone with such a body had been a man? Because now the thought was utterly inconceivable.

A new recollection having now entered her mind, as he uttered but a single word.

"Beautiful." And to him, she was, as he gazed upon her body in the purest state it was all he could say, as to him, without a doubt, she was beautiful.

It seemed Naruto's unconscious words had an effect on the woman, as a faint dusting across her cheeks became present.

Mordred scoffed, although he could tell there was no real anger behind it. "I-Idiot, are just going to keep staring like that," she said, as she tried in a futile attempt to hide her body. Using one of her arms to cover both of her breasts as she used the other to cover her exposed womanhood. But she didn't try hard enough, as Naruto could still see parts of them both peeking out from her open fingers.

"Mordred, are you really sure about this?" Naruto asked unsurely, his final moment of doubt seeping into his mind for the last time.

However this time, Mordred didn't grow angry, as she knew Naruto's feelings were genuine. Not just for him, but for her, and he wanted to know if she really wanted to go through with this.

Determined, she looked at him, "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Mordred told him.

"Alright," Naruto nodded, as his last bit of restraint had gone off.

Leaning forward, he once again captured Mordred's lips, this time only briefly. As he then moved his head down, inching at her neck as he kissed it before finally, he reached down to her right breast. He began to suck on it, as he reached his hand up to her left one as he began rubbing his fingers around her hardened nipple. Being careful as he could be as he squeezed both of her hands into her chest.

"Ahhhh~!" This elicited a moan from the red knight, as she felt Naruto suck onto her right tit end harder.

She began grinding herself on his body, and this lasted for several seconds. Mordred however realized that Naruto was still clothed, if only a little as he still had one final piece of his undergarments. Something she hoped to rectify, as she then had Naruto relinquish them, leaving the male as naked as she was.

What she found underneath was Naruto's member completely hardened and ready for action. Woah. She mentally thought to herself. So this was what a male appendage looked like? She had never seen one before. Being a large rod, with a small tip along the end, she realized that whatever lies her mother had once told her as being a male, she would never have something like this.

That was supposed to go into her? She had never realized, and for a moment the thought was almost scary for her, before she realized she wanted it even more.

"Naruto, I can't take any longer, just stick it in me!" She wanted him, and couldn't take the foreplay as she had grown tired of it.

"Okay," Naruto said, as he then aligned his hard member in front of her entrance, right in the middle of her womanhood, as he then told her. "I'm going in."

Mordred then braced herself for what was about to happen, as she then felt Naruto push himself into her, their bodies interlocking and becoming one. The girl felt a sudden jolt run through her body, her hymen breaking as a slight amount of pain could be felt through her body.

Naruto sensed this, as he looked at her in concern, "Mordred, are you alright?"

Mordred hissed slightly, but it wasn't something she wasn't used to, she she pushed through it. "I'm fine, just get to moving already— slowly," she said, before adding the final last bit as the pain began to subside.

It was then that Naruto began to comply, moving himself forward and back ever so slightly so as to not to cause the girl too much trouble. Once the pain began fading away, it swept a new sensation, as Mordred then felt an increased amount of pleasure, the two moaning as it did so.

Slowly but surely Naruto began to increase his tempo, as Mordred began rocking her hips as well to match his rhythm. Each felt an exorbitant amount of pleasure as their bodies interlocked together.

Naruto began to once again take her lips in, even as he began pounding himself into her womanhood. In between each movement, Mordred's pants became even louder as she pressed even deeper to get herself into him. As Naruto made out with her, he reached his hand up to grasp at one of her nipples as he pinched it. This elicited a light squeal out of the girl amidst the frequent amount of pants and moans that had left her body at that moment. Naruto's other hand reached at the small of her back to steady her and to help him push himself even deeper into her crotch.

"Naruto, faster! Harder!" Mordred pleaded, as she finally felt herself nearing her breaking point.

Naruto did as he was told, and Mordred felt herself being lifted on top of him on their sitting position. The blonde placed each of his hands along her very plump and round-ass checks to hold her down. This new position allowed him to use his strength and gravity to go even deeper than he had been before. Increasing the tempo even further as he did so, Naruto too felt himself about to climax.

"Mordred, I'm close," he told her.

"I am too!" She moaned as both of their breaths were becoming even more ragged. It was then their tempo began reaching its fastest, and the moment happened as both of them. Then we're about to…

"Cumming!" Naruto said as he pushed his member deep inside of her body. Mordred felt this too, as she immediately felt her whole body shudder as she did the same.

Her womanhood clenched around him, not letting Naruto's body go as he pumped several threads of his seed into her body. Her pussy and womb took every inch as he did so, greedily feeding upon it as Mordred's body convulsed. The blonde woman used her arms as she gripped onto his back for support as she rode her high.

It took several minutes for their respective climaxes to die out, and even then both of them were still left panting. Their bodies both collapsed into the bed side by side in the wake of their exhaustion, not just from their earlier activities, but the fact that neither one of them had rested since the night before their confrontation with the other.

"That was…" Naruto started, unable to finish his sentence as he gasped for breath.

"Amazing!" Mordred finished; her body taking in much-needed oxygen.

"Yeah," Naruto smiled, as he still found himself recovering, but he was able to get a slight hold of himself. "Sorry about… y'know, doing it inside of you… Y'know," he apologized.

Mordred still felt the white-hot liquid leak out of her body, not an unpleasant feeling, seeing as how it still reminded her of their moment of passion.

"What? Cumming inside of me?" She said with a slight smirk, as she brought her hands up to her head, resting upon them. Spreading her still exposed womanhood to the world as her knees were hanging high. "Don't worry about it, I mean, the worst thing that can happen is a couple of blonde brats runnin' around."

"…Yeah," Naruto said, as the thought brought a slight smile to his face, him and Mordred raising a family. For some reason now that he thought about it that didn't seem too bad.

[Lemon End]

As Mordred sighed, bringing her body up close to his, he brought his arm down for her to use as a makeshift pillow. Naruto's resting on the only cushion under the sheets, as both of their naked bodies were exposed to the world.

The tiredness of it all began overtaking the two.

But before that, Naruto had one last thing to say, something he had been thinking about in the past day, and especially at that very moment:

"Hey Mordred," he called her attention.

The blonde-haired girl peeked a single eye open, revealing her blue-ish green orbs to the world. "Huh, what is it?" She inquired, as tiredness was about to take her.

"I think I love you," he finally told her, being ready to admit it not just to her, but to himself as well.

This brought an uncanny response from Mordred and something that he had not seen in quite a while. What he expected to be a smirk, or a scoff of some kind was not it. Instead of doing either of those her face lit itself into a very uncharacteristic smile, one so bright that it nearly encapsulated his very own.

Mordred's cheeks became a slight shade of pink, but that did not deter her from the expression she gave him, nor the slight proud comment she gave him.

"Was there ever any doubt?" She smirked, as she leaned into him.

Naruto felt himself smile at that comment, happy at how things have not changed. Both of them rested against one another, as Naruto thought only one single thing:

'God, I love this girl!'

XXX

Elsewhere

(In a dark room)

For too long had King Arthur, the heir of Uther Pendragon reigned upon the throne. From the moment he pulled Caliburn from its stone his fate had been decided.

But his rule would be for too long.

The fractured lands of Britain that had been sweaty up by the red dragon's fangs had become too quiet.

Their hatred had been dwindling.

And only she knew how to rekindle that hatred.

Alone in a dark corner of the world she sat alone, the shadows hid her features, and a black veil hid her face. Her unearthly pale skin as well as the gray color of her hair was the only thing that showed in the moonlight.

Her brother, King Arthur, had spent far too long in the limelight, and she knew it was a delayed opportunity for her yet.

She was the true heir to Uther's legacy, and only she was fit to reign over its great land.

Land that has been taken from her.

However, now, she was subject to scheming, and plotting, and oh she did.

Just now she had laid a carefully set plan in motion, one she was sure would bring that dastardly lion king to his knees.

The best part? She didn't even have to lift a finger. Not for a majority of it.

She wondered how her dear daughter was doing. Or was it son? She'd told her creation to foster an admiration for her father, only for what she knew would happen when it was crushed.

She wondered if dear little Mordred had fostered enough hatred yet. Perhaps she should go check on her, see if she was following mommy's little plan, and see if… oh?

Now… this was interesting.

It seemed her pristine daughter had found a mate and a rather… handsome~ one at that.

This wouldn't do, she hadn't planned for this outcome.

Unless?

Maybe she could use this turn of events to her advantage.

Maybe, just maybe…

"That will do."

The End.