A New Beginning Part 1

-Amethyn-

The ground started to shake heavily and it made her almost loose her footing. She was surrounded by more of the Tuatha, but she had already cut down half of them. Still, over a dozen of them now looked at her with pure hatred in their eyes, and they flashed their swords at her. She knew that she would be able to take care of them without much effort, yet the fighting had worn her down more that she would admit. She felt the sweat dripping in her brow, and her knifes almost felt slippery.

"Alright then you bastards. Who's next?"

"For the Mountain God!" some of them shouted at her.

Three of them suddenly leapt forward and they lunged their spears at her, but she aptly dodged them. With her knife she severed one of their hands, while she cut another's throat. Their slick blood poured from the wounds and it gushed over her hands. They screamed as she inflicted more wounds on them, and not two seconds later, all three of them fell to the ground.

She felt a massive bash in her back and she flew forward, dropping one of her knifes from the impact of the shield alone. One of the Tuatha had taken his change and had rammed his shield against her back. She felt how three of the spikes had pierced her skin and now she bled out of her back. On these moments she really considered wearing more armour.

A massive rumble and roar almost made her deaf, and the Tuatha dropped to their knees and all started wailing and chanting.

Qualla fella Tirnoch!

Qualla sera Tirnoch!

She did not wait for them to finish their chanting, but swiftly slit their throats and looked up at the entrance from which she just came.

"Come on…. You can do this. You were reborn for this. If you can't… no one can."

She knew she couldn't go back. This was not her fight… this was his fight. She couldn't interfere. Fate forbade her….

Then, as if Fate itself gave her an answer, she suddenly heard her own voice, and heard something she said not too long ago.

"Live your life the way you want to live it. Fate is a lie, but even if it isn't, there is no use fighting it."

She felt an almost uncontrollable urge to run back, through the whole of Amethyn, back to him, but it was as if something stopped her. Like she did not know what for.

"It sounds like you like me more than you're willing to admit…"

His blasted voice now sounded in her head, and she half felt the desire to rip his tongue out, so that he would never say things like that again. But a much stronger urge now echoed through her head.

'Go back. Go back dammit, and help where you can. Live your life the way you want to….'

Then without holding back, she grabbed her dagger that still lay on the ground, and ran past the dead Tuatha, back into the Amethyn fortress.

Every last inch of the caverns was shaking and trembling, and large rocks and pieces of Prismere fell down from the ceilings. The massive stone bridge that they had used before already started to crack, but she had stopped caring for what was around her. She only had one goal, to reach beyond that door where she left him, and help where she could.

Her armour did not slow her down while she ran. How could it? She wore her trusted high, leather boots, a simple yet sturdy set of leather panties and a small leather cuirass that only covered the vital parts of her chest. A couple of leather straps to help keep everything together were wrapped around her legs and waist, and her leather gloves covered her wrists. It was an outfit she liked, even though it meant that every time she met a man, he would first look down several times. But she had stopped caring a long time ago. She had stopped caring for almost everything… but now there was something, or rather 'someone', that she started to care about, though she would kill anyone that would mention it, before admitting to it.

The grounds shook more heavily and thundering roars now made the caverns shake tremendously, and a large piece of Prismere fell right in front of her. She jumped to the side, and ran past it. Past all the statues, past Gadflow's little temple, where they fought him, although he later on turned out to be an illusion. She had no doubt that he was safely at the source of the Prismere, near Tirnoch, but she doubted that he would have lived to see Her return. Either way, he would be killed by him, or by Her.

Another roar sounded through the cavern, and this one was so loud that she was knocked to her back. She knew now that Tirnoch was no longer trying to break through the Seal. She had already gotten past it, and the world's only defence now was only an Alfar. She had seen the power that he had wielded thus far, and yet she also had a feeling that she had not seen everything yet. He wielded magic like no other mage anywhere in Amalur, and she knew that in one on one combat, she would likely not stand a chance against him. But he was not her enemy. He was an ally. But as she was sworn to do, she would have to silence anyone that would reveal of Tirnoch's existence… no matter who they were. She now only hoped that he would keep his damn mouth shut, as he seemed to love to talk.

And yet this was something that she did like about him, and she remembered it now as she ran through the caverns, dodging falling rocks along the way. There had been more than one time where he actually made her laugh, and although it had been spiteful laughs, they were laughs all the same. He did not seemed to be troubled one bit by the fact that he died, came back to life, had not Fate, no future, and that his entire memory of his 'previous life' had been erased. She had no problems with that last part, because she did remember it. He had been an arrogant bastard, always having the last word in almost every conversations or discussion, whether it was about the location to stay the night, or about a world changing event. She had never made a secret of the fact that she severely disliked him because of it, but he did not care, as was his won't. And yet, the fearlessness that he had, was something that she did admire about him. He always had a powerful sense of justice and an unrivalled need to do what was right. No one in the Order had that, and when everyone knew that Tirnoch had to be stopped, he was the first, and only one, to volunteer.

She felt a slight smile appear on her face, as she ran around a corner. She remembered that moment like it was yesterday, although it had been over two years ago. When the entire Order was gathered to hear about what they were up against, and about the fact that fighting Tirnoch would be suicide. And about the moment when he stood up without hesitation, and plainly said that he would go. And even after the fact that three separate Fateweavers had told him that his death was Fated, he waved all three of them away.

"I don't care about what Fate has to say!" he had shouted. "I will do everything I can to stop Tirnoch from unleashing the World's End, and if no-one will help me, say so now! Then I know where I stand and I can leave now, without waiting for more people professing my death!"

The entire order had sat there quiet, and she was still not sure if it was in awe of bravery, or in awe of stupidity. And now that she remembered it, she wasn't sure what she had felt at that moment. Did she look upon a man that was stupidly brave, or just stupid? Or maybe a bit of both?

After another long run she finally reached a large throne room in the middle of a cavern. A large throne, made from stone and Prismere was made in the middle of the room, but she saw that the Prismere had already begun to crack and break. Whether this was a good thing or not, she did not know, but she drew hope from it. This either meant that Tirnoch's power was waining, since Prismere was a physical manifestation of Her power. Or it meant that she was so occupied with fighting him, she had to draw upon all her powers to face him, not being able to create Prismere anymore. Either way, she knew it had to be a good thing.

She now walked past the throne and stared at the door, and even though she knew that her Fate did not lie beyond that door, she knew that she had come back for one thing, and one thing alone. To pass that door, and enter whatever was behind it.

Then, out of nowhere she heard a voice cry out. She was not sure if it was an answer to her thoughts, but the voice send chill down her spine and she saw her skin turn paler than it had been thus far.

"Impossible! IMPOSSIBLE!"

The few, black tattoos that she had now almost seemed like they were not even part of her skin, but only painted on her. She felt the her skin crawl as she heard the echoes of that voice fade away and then she heard a sound that made her ears bleed.

A roar, so loud that it shattered the stone throne behind her and made the Prismere turn to dust, now came from the door. She fell to her knees and covered her pointy ears, and screamed in pain. She felt the blood flowing from inside her ears, and yet the roar did not stop, and she only screamed louder in pain. It was as if the world itself cried out and screamed in pain, and the ground shook and fissures opened from which black and purple flames spewed so high, they scorched the already blackened ceiling. Amidst it all, she lay on the ground, still covering her ears, screaming in pain as she felt the heat of the flames on her naked skin and she felt her own skin scorch as well, and yet she did not think about turning around. She only thought of who was behind this door, and she hoped, with everything that she was, that he was still alive.

The caverns stopped shaking and the roar faded. The flames around her disappeared and it was as if the dust started to settle. The door was no longer glowing with Prismere, but the crystals now seemed dead and made from nothing but glass and normal crystal. Slowly she rose to her feet and she made a careful step toward the door, afraid that something would come out. She felt strange, like something no longer blocked her thoughts of walking through that door, of trying to pass something unpassable, of doing the impossible…. Of tempting Fate. After a deep breath, and another good look at the door, she stepped through.

She saw destruction around her. Rocks were shattered, crystals lay in heaps of ashes on the ground and a thick fog of dust blocked her sight. In less than no time her long black hair was covered with brown dust, and her armour was no longer black, but brown. She shouted his name a few times, but she heard no answer. As she walked forward she saw massive cracks in the ground, as if a huge beast scratched the ground there, and she knew it had to be Tirnoch, and for a few moments she felt despair. Judging by the size of the claw marks, she concluded that Tirnoch was much larger than she originally thought. She started searching more, and faster, calling his name more and more, but still there was no answer.

But then something caught her eye. She had reached the area where the massive claw marks covered every inch of the ground, and on all sides a massive chasm dropped down in the darkness below. She saw something lying on the ground, and she saw that it wasn't a rock, or piece of crystal. Without hesitation she ran toward it, and she felt her heart beat faster when she saw that it was him.

Every bit of his light armour was torn open and ripped apart, and his face, hands and chest were covered with black blood. His long, black hair was slick with it, and his fur-covered chin was black with blood. She pulled him up and raised his legs on a nearby rock. She cradled his head and said his name a few times. First loudly, but then softer, until she only whispered. His eyes were closed, and she did not see his chest move. She was alone there as his head lay on her lap, and she caressed his cheek, carefully wiping the blood away and whispering to him.

"Come back…. Please… for me… come back."

But there was no answer, and she moved him. She kneeled beside him and raised him in her arms. He was a large man, towering above her with head and shoulders, but now she looked down on him, as she felt a tear in her eyes. She never thought she would ever feel the way she felt now, and yet she could not deny what she felt. When he had told her that she seemed to like him, she had scorned him saying that she 'had more important things to do than 'love''. But now, as he lay in her arms, she wished she could take those words back, and that she could say what she wanted to say now. But now, he wouldn't hear her words, and she couldn't say them. Her heart pounded in her breast, her throat was locked and her mouth was dry.

A tear fell from her eye on his nose, and she pressed her head against his. It felt like a piece of her had disappeared forever, and yet she could not explain why. She had never cared for anyone else but herself, and she had always put duty first. But in the last year, as she had seen him travel the realms of Amalur, from the Forests of Dalentarth to the Swamps of Klurikon, she had seen a different kind of man. One who cares, one who fights for what he believes in, for the people that he cares about. His power had been apparent to all, but she had seen more of him than ever. At times he could be kind, caring with a bright laugh and a healthy sense of humour that seemed contagious, as he made her laugh as well. And at other times he was ferocious, fierce and unfearing in battle, ready to take on any foe, and on those moments she saw his eyes flare with power. She had never been sure which part she liked the most about him, but right now she cared not. He lay in her arms, and she knew that he wouldn't come back. She looked at him again and stroke a lock of hair from his face. She remembered the colour of his eyes, and she now stared at his lips. She slowly parted her own, and despite that he was still covered in black blood, she pressed her lips against his. It was the first, real kiss she had ever give someone, and now she had given it to someone whom she thought to be dead.

But then she felt something move. She pulled back immediately and with her eyes wide open she looked at how a muscle pulled in his face. His eyes moved under their lids, and his nose made a slight wiggle. With a look of surprise on her face and her eyes wide open, she looked as he took a deep breath and suddenly he opened his eyes. The deep, brown eyes now looked into hers and she saw a look of surprise in them. He opened his mouth, and she felt how her own lips were wet from his.

"…. Alyn?" he mumbled slowly.

His voice was so silent she almost didn't hear him, but she saw his mouth move and she knew that he was a live.

"… You are… here?"

She felt that she couldn't say anything, and she gave him a slight smile, and he smiled back.

"… did you… just…."

Her face changed rapidly and she felt herself become red in her face. She grabbed one of her knives and hit him hard on his head with the pommel. He fell unconscious immediately, and his body fell limp again. Then, like Fate decided it, a rock fell from the ceiling, giving away for the light of the sun. And this one ray of sunlight fell on the two of them as he lay limp in her arms. She looked up and her old expression came back.

"It seems Fate has a sense of humour." she said to herself.

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

So… that is the very first chapter of my Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Fanfiction. I do hope you like this chapter so far, and I hope you forgive me for making it a bit too obvious that it is going to be a romance story. I did play the pronoun-game quite well I think, not mentioning 'his' name once…. But that will happen next chapter ;) For now, I do hope you stay tuned for the next chapter, and be sure to check out my other Fanfiction for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, named 'Fire and Blood'.

I do have a question, for anyone that is willing to take the time to look this up. What colour eyes does Alyn Shir have? I cannot find a good picture that clearly shows that, plus I am slightly colour-blind. I can see all the colours, but not every accent of said colours. So with the pictures, they seem blue the one time, red the next and then they look like they're yellow. I know, it's weird… but if someone knows… please tell me. It would help immensely. Thank you.

Characters:

Him: (Name in next chapter) Central and main character. He is an Almain (Human) The Fateless One, Big guy (6ft 8-ish) long black hair, muscular build, despite this 'warrior/brawler-like' physique he is a powerful mage (I like the mage-character better, because you get to wield awesome magic :). Good sense of humour, nice guy you can have a drink and a laugh with. In battle he is fierce, with a nigh-unrivalled capacity for rage and ferocity. You wouldn't like him when he's angry :)

Alyn Shir: Central and main character. Dokkalfar (Elf) Loyal to only herself, yet member of a strange and secret Order to keep Tirnoch from breaching into the World.

Gadflow: Main antagonist in the game, and second-to-last Boss fight. Believes his God Tirnoch is born in his fortress of Amethyn, and goes completely nuts over her.

Tirnoch: Gadflow's 'God(ess… since she is female)'. In truth she is a Dragon (an immensely powerful being with power that rivals the Gods… not just a flying lizard), completely insane. Shut away behind the Great Veil, and true antagonist of the game. Final boss. Has power over Fate itself.

PS: I am Dutch (from the Netherlands) so if there are any mistakes in spelling/grammar, please let me know.