Footsteps echoed down the dimly lit corridor as the summoner made his way even further down into the depths of the dungeon. He passed heavily locked doors on his left and right, humming with the magical presence of powerful wards placed upon them. Even so, the door he was headed towards was flanked by two silent guardians, wearing full metal armor and ever vigilant. The summoner opened the door with a few soft words to negate the wards. The inside was lit with a single glowing gem placed high upon the wall above the door. Across the room sat one individual. Chains and manacles were attached to all of his limbs, keeping him restrained against the back wall. Hundreds of scars showed through the rags the man was given as clothes. Some scars seemed ages old, while others were more recent. The prisoner's head was bowed into his chest, his unkempt black hair hiding his features. However, as the summoner shut the door behind him, the chained figure stirred and looked up. Eyes the color of a vengeful storm stared up at the summoner expectantly. The prisoner did not seem surprised to see a visitor. "I presume you know why I'm here?" The summoner began.
"To question me." The prisoner replied simply.
"Yes. To question you." The summoner confirmed. The prisoner shifted his position slightly, making the chains rattle and the summoner instinctively flinch. When he settled in a more comfortable position, the summoner relaxed.
"Why are you questioning me?" The prisoner asked.
"We want to know your story. How you got here, who you are, and what you did." The summoner replied. The prisoner looked incredulous, letting out a humorless chuckle.
"If all you wanted to know was my story, then why am I chained? It seems you've already passed judgement on me." The prisoner stated.
"If I were to remove those chains, could you honestly tell me that you wouldn't kill me, or at the very least incapacitate me and try to escape?" The summoner countered. The prisoner remained silent, so the summoner took it as his answer. "As I thought. Now, let's cut to the chase." The summoner clasped his hands together, and began to pace. "We first found evidence of your appearance quite a few months or so ago, when you disrupted one of our matches."
"Matches? Is that what you call battles now?" The prisoner inquired.
"Yes, sort of. But I want to know exactly what happened out there. Can you tell me?" The summoner returned. Silence filled the small room as the prisoner stared. Finally, a heavy sigh left the chained man's lips, and he nodded.
"Very well. I'll tell you what happened."
XXXXX
A rumble reaches my ears. The first sound I have heard in… how long? I force my eyes open, disturbing a frost that had settled over my eyelids in my long meditation. The chamber is still the same as it had been; a cavern of solid ice. An eerie glow lights the chamber, but where it comes from still remains a mystery to me. Perhaps it's from the ice itself. A rumble racks through it again, causing small pieces of ice to fall from above. Cracks I haven't noticed before run through the ceiling. My body is stiff, but I move slightly and break even more frost that had encased my whole being. Chains rattle, and I find myself still restrained to the floor. My prison had been made well. However, I spot a crack that's heading towards one of the chain's attachments in the wall. Another quake makes the crack spread even closer towards it. With stiff limbs frozen by cold and slumber, I begin to tug at the chains with whatever strength I still have. The ice groans under the strain, which proves that part of it has been loosened. My movements are small, miniscule even because of my stiffness, but another rumble shakes the chamber. The crack spreads to the attachment, and the ice shifts visibly from my actions. I continue to strain against the chains with new desperation, and eventually the chain falls from the wall with a block of ice attached to it. One of my arms is free. I begin to work on the other arm, tugging clumsily at the chain with my newly freed hand. Time seems to have worked in my favor, for the chain snaps off it's holding and falls to the floor. With nothing supporting me, I collapse to the ice. My body is numb, so I do not feel the pain. Besides, that is not my main concern.
I'm finally free.
I have to struggle to regain my feet, pushing myself up from the floor. Once I gain a knee, I observe my chambers once more. They are empty, but cracked, and those quakes keep coming. I stand unsteadily, and stumble my way towards one of the walls for support. My legs quiver beneath me, but I stay standing. So many questions go through my head. How long was I in my prison? What happened to the outside world? What are those rumblings? I put them aside though. My first concern is getting out of here. I look down to see if my scythes are there, only to find them missing as expected. "D-" I try to curse, but my throat is closed and cold. It comes out in a choke, and I cough violently. Once I recover, I continue onwards towards the exit of the chamber. I expected him to take my scythes. They were my favorite weapons, always resilient and reliant.
"Who is he?" The summoner asked.
"He was my King, but I will tell you about that another time. You wanted to hear how I got where I was, didn't you?" The prisoner asked. The summoner silenced and nodded after a moment, and the prisoner continued.
I continue down the chamber until I reach the door. Time has taken its toll on it as well, for the door has signs of rust and cracks. However, it is still firm against my attempts to open it, and I soon stop to catch my breath. I stare at the door, trying to think of some way to open it, when another rumble comes. This one is even harder than the others, and the whole cavern trembles beneath it. Loud cracking noise fills the chamber as fissures spread across the walls and ceiling. A loud groan and snap sounds, and I barely manage to move out of the way as the mighty door falls to the ground. I stare in slight shock at my fortune, but soon regain my feet once more. I will not let this mercy go to waste. As I step over the fallen door, a wave of cool, fresh air hits me. Even though it is small, the effects are dizzying from breathing in so much stagnate air for so long. I breath in deeply until the world around me spins. After, I continue on with more determination down the icy tunnel. The quakes continue, and they only get louder as I go on. My muscles stretch and groan as I walk, but the freedom of movement feels good. Finally I see a light far ahead, and the air gets fresher and colder.
I hurry as fast as my feet can steadily take me, my chains rattling behind me. I reach the entrance and have to shield my eyes to let them adjust before I can take a look. Before me stretches an endless chasm filled with howling winds. The winds buffet me like a flag, and I have to grasp the ice to keep my footing. I look around and see a path carved into the ice leading upwards to a bridge. Above me also comes the sounds of clashing, and I recognize the familiar noise of battle. Who was fighting? Was it the Queen's forces? Was there a new enemy attacking Freljord? Holding onto the wall, I shimmy my way across the small walkway provided and head ever upwards. The path breaks into uneven stairs, and here my chains prove useful. They are not unlike the ones attached to my scythes, if a bit heavier. I heft one in one hand and throw it as hard as I can towards a sharp piece of ice growing upwards. I calculated the distance well, for the chain snatches on the ice, and it holds when I tug. I repeat this over and over until I get close to the top of the stairs. By then, my muscles are screaming in protest, but the grogginess that filled me in the chamber is quickly fading. I remove my chain from the piece of ice that held me and climb the rest of the way up with my hands. The sounds of battle are loud now, though it does not sound like a large skirmish. I peer over the top of my path to see what I would have to deal with. Just as I do, something goes flying past me.
The figure scraps and rolls along the icy road until it hits against a wall of ice. It's a huge purplish creature with large horns and a ring pierced through it's nostrils. I resembles a bull, only with a human like form. Chains are also manacled to its wrists, although they are much shorter than my own. Scars and bleeding cuts cover it's body, and it fails as it tries to get up. A rattling breath escapes it before it goes still. I take a quick survey to make sure no one else is near before I clamber up and make my way towards the beast.
As I expect, it's dead. The wounds it suffered ranges from long gashes to small holes. From my experience, it was a heavy axe and sword that did this, for the creature is thickly built but the wounds are deep. Noise calls my attention elsewhere though and I turn swiftly. I see two figures fighting, with a third running towards this direction. One of the two battling is desperately trying to retreat, while the other is pushing violently on the offensive. I spot a giant axe swinging in the air, and figure that's where the horned beast got some of his wounds from. The man wielding the axe is bulky, with heavy grey armor bearing no crest or symbol I can identify or recognize. The other, however, sends a chord of familiarity through me. Though the outfit is different, I see long white hair and a bow made of solid ice.
My Queen is in danger.
Disregarding my still aching muscles, I put myself into action and race forward. The chains that once bound me in that chamber would be a good enough replacement for now. I sling my arm back as I run and then quickly swing it forward as I leap to my Queen's defense. The warrior is surprised, but he swiftly holds up his axe to block my chain. The chain, however, wraps around the axe's shaft, and with my momentum from the jump and body weight, I manage to swing the warrior off of his feet. Together we tumble to the ground, and together we stumble to our feet. I see shock and anger in the man's face, but I'm focused on his axe. My chain managed to rip it from his hands and send it skittering away. I run towards it, and he realizes my intentions a bit too late. I manage to grasp the heavy axe in my hand and heft it, swinging it in a hard arc to prevent the man from reaching me. It connects with his armor with a heavy clang, and he goes flying off as my arm tingles from the impact. Nonetheless, I advance on him, keeping my chains out of the way as much as I can. I swing the axe in a wide, high cut, aiming for his head. The man smartly dodges, but I keep the swing going and spin with it. This time I aim lower, and manage to hit the side of his hip. The axe punctures through his armor and he howls in pain, and again when my chains slam into him from the spin. I pull the axe loose and shove him away with my foot before moving my hands to the bottom of the shaft. I swing the axe above my head, like a woodcutter splitting wood, and bring it down with as much force as I can muster. The man tries to dodge, but the axe head comes down right where the neck and the shoulder meet. The warrior crumples, and I let go of the axe.
My breathing is hard from the exertion so soon after awaking, but I turn around. There had been another figure racing towards my Queen, and I see the figure now. It's a girl with long red hair, clad in leather. She's approaching me swiftly, twin blades raised to attack. I steady my stance, preparing for her attack, when she vanishes in a puff of red smoke. She's an assassin! I roll away from my spot, and see her blades slice the air I had just been in. She looks faintly surprised, but leaps at me again. I am thankful then for my manacles, for they were forged strong enough to deflect her blades. However, she is pushing me backwards, and soon my back presses against something. Glancing behind me would be a mistake, so I continue to watch her movements. As a small opening emerges, I push back off the wall and lunge, landing a firm blow on her collarbone. Her blades miss my neck and instead slice my cheek. She stumbles backwards a bit, and I use that to duck low and swing my chain in a circle. They wrap around her feet with a muffled snap and a loud clank, and sweep her off the ground. Though my body roars with aching, I stand and grab my chains. Then, using all my strength, I manage to lift the girl with the chains and slam her into the ground again. She screams in pain as she hits the hard brick, and I plant my boot down hard on her wrist. It breaks beneath me, and she releases one of her blades with another howl. I grab it and instantly use it to counter her other blade. Now I have the advantage, and attack her relentlessly as she's stuck on the ground. My men would've laughed at the sight of me dueling a fallen warrior, but eventually I manage to deflect her blade away long enough to plunge mine into her neck. Her eyes widen in agony and bafflement, but I rip it out and back away quickly. I also yank my chains, unraveling them from her legs and flipping her. My breath comes ragged in my lungs, the cold air like a knife. Painful as it is, I regain my breath and take the other blade the girl had. Then I look towards where my Queen had fallen.
She is up once more and further down the bridge, shooting arrows at small things dressed in purple. A large man wielding an enormous sword is ahead of her, cutting down enemies as she shoots them. Alongside him, to my shock, is the horned creature I saw before, only this time alive. How had he revived? I push the question aside and keep looking. Next to my Queen is a woman with long blue hair, and she seems to be floating. A strange instrument floats in front of her, and each time she strums it a blast of sound comes out to hit the small robed figures. On the other side of my Queen stands a small furry creature, with goggles on it's head and a big grin. It throws something at the robed figures, and an explosion blasts them apart. I frown at the strange company my Queen has, but I do not argue. I run forward and join in the fray, cutting down the little ones alongside the warrior and the horned beast. Both look at me curiously, but follow me nonetheless as I charge forward. Alongside them I fight, slicing down more of those robed figures, statues, and other strange warriors. It soon became apparent that the fallen somehow come back from the dead, for I fight the axe-wielder and the assassin again and again. I also fought some strange woman made of plants, a girl that shot small objects like arrows from a long metal contraption with a large hat, and an enormous, hungry creature with multiple arms and a large mouth. The battle goes on relatively quickly, until we reach a giant floating gem. The others, once we reach it, attack it immediately. Though I see no point in this, I attack it as well, fighting off the resurrecting warriors too when they reappear. Eventually the gem shatters and all the warriors halt their fighting. I am exhausted, but the thrill of battle has fully rejuvenated me from my stupor-state. I turn towards my Queen, but then realize my mistake.
The hair and bow is hers, but the face is different.
It's an impostor.
All eyes are on me now, including that of the impostor. One of the warriors says something to me, but in my befuddlement, I do not hear them. I look for the one who spoke, and see it is that warrior with the large sword. Another imposter fills my vision. He looks just like my King! Instinctively, I tense and grip my weapons tightly. A tension fills the air as I realize I am surrounded by strangers. I glance around me, looking for an opening, and see a space in the bridge. A large cliff face made of ice looms off to the side of this structure. It's a stretch, but I have been in worse situations. All I need is an opening.
As if signaled, a light began to glow on the platform behind the structure that held the purple gem. All eyes shift towards it, and I do not miss the opportunity. I sprint to the edge of the bridge, past some of the strange warriors, and angle my leap towards the wall of ice. Too late to stop me, I hear shouts behind me as I clear the stone. I hang in the air for a moment, the howling winds screaming in my ears and buffeting me in my flight. I hold the swords outwards towards the wall, hoping they can handle the pressure. As I hit the wall, I feel the swords go into the ice. I bounce off the cliff face roughly and grunt, but grip the weapons' handles tightly. I wait a second, seeing if my weight holds, before looking up.
The swords stay firm in the ice, and I am safe for now. I glance over at the bridge, and see the warriors staring at me with different expressions. I certainly stunned them, but that might not last. I waste no more time, and instead begin my climb upwards by using the swords as picks. The travel is long, and very difficult, but after what seems like an eternity, I manage to make it to the top of the cliff. With my last reservoir of strength, I pull myself over the edge and onto the ground. Before me is a tundra of shining white, and the wind still pushes at me like an unseen hand. I glance back at the bridge behind me now before I grip the swords in my hands and begin my trek onwards. My priority now is to get away from the bridge before they can find me. Then I have to find out just what happened while I was asleep, and how long I was gone.
XXXX
Silence reigned in the small room as the prisoner finished. The summoner stared at him wordlessly through the shadows of his robe. "You jumped? You leapt into the Abyss?!" He inquired finally. The prisoner only looked at him, and the summoner shook his head. "And then you walked out into Freljord without any supplies? That's insane!" He accused.
"What options did I have? Stay on a bridge surrounded by people and creatures I didn't know?" The prisoner pointed out. "I did as anyone would've in that situation. I acted." The summoner scoffed.
"Yes, like a mad man trying to escape the gallows! Only a crazy person would do something so stupid!" The summoner insisted. "By all facts, you should be dead!"
"But I'm not," The prisoner interrupted, and the summoner went silent. With another heavy sigh, the prisoner's head fell to his scarred chest again. "I told you what happened. Isn't that what you wanted?" An uncomfortable silence filled the room, and finally the summoner broke.
"Fine. That's enough for now. But make no mistake, I'll be back tomorrow." He said. A snort came from the prisoner.
"I'll be here." He replied. All he got in answer was the sound of a door slamming shut.
Hello there everyone! I just wanted to say that this is, indeed, my very first fanfic, so I would love some criticism on my work! Since the Freljord lore is so mysterious and twisted from Lissandra's nefarious scheming (In her bio), I decided to run with it! I do hope you all like it!
~Cheers,
Dr. Falter Walter