Summary - "There's something you want to fight for, and you know what it is. It shows in your eyes." Richard Castle is given a choice - to sit back or to stand up and fight. And little does the author know that he's beginning the greatest story yet. (Five years before Season 1)
Hello everyone! Welcome to my Knight of the Castle universe - a universe that is a combination of both Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Andrew Marlowe's Castle.
I won't lie, I'm really excited right now. This is a little something I've been developing and working on for a while. It just came to me one day and would NOT go away. But I'm glad that the plot bunny decided to stick around and make baby plot bunnies. Because I am really enjoying writing this story.
Ok, let's get some background information settled. This story takes place about 5 years before Season 1 of Castle. Castle has already been divorced twice, Martha is living in the loft, and Alexis is about ten years old. And there's one more tidbit of information that's REALLY important, but I'm going to hold off on it for now.
So, as this doesn't take place during Castle's time at the Twelfth, our favorite detectives are not featured. But I am planning to make a series out of this. So not to fear, Beckett and Co. will soon be here!
Just reminding you all that this fic is my baby... so no flames please?
And now... onto to the story! Ladies and gentlemen, I now give you... Knight's Birth.
They had taken his baby.
For those painful few days, Castle had been useless. He had been unable to protect his daughter, unable to save her on his own. What kind of a father was he, that he couldn't keep his only child safe? It was one the most basic parts of the job and he had failed.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Castle eyed his now sleeping daughter, curled up on the couch with her feet resting on his lap. She was only ten years old, for Pete's sake. Castle knew how close he had come to losing her... And with both the NYPD and FBI giving him the runaround, Castle attempted taking matters into his own hands. Even then, he failed.
No, Alexis would not be here with him if it weren't for the ninja-esque man, Henri Ducard. The man had saved both Rick and Alexis's lives, and asked for nothing in return. Instead, he vanished into the night, giving Castle neither a goodbye or an explanation.
However, Richard Castle was not a selfish man; the press could believe whatever they wanted. Ducard risked life and limb for his daughter, Castle had to repay him somehow. While not having much to go on, Castle did have one lead: a black stoned ring. And it was not just any stone. The stone was chiseled into the form of a demonic face.
At first, the sight of it freaked Castle out. Now, he was grateful for its uniqueness and it's (for the lack of a better term) gruesome appeal. But, at the moment, Castle was content to be with his daughter and simply watch over her.
He'd worry about Ducard later.
The next day found Castle in an isolated and understated café, one he used to frequent before becoming a best-selling author. Gina wanted to meet with him to discuss releasing a public statement about his daughter's ordeal. As much as Castle tried to keep Alexis away from the prying eyes of the press, sometimes it could not be helped.
He was nursing an iced tea, waiting for Gina, who was about 10 minutes late (something Castle was now concerned about. The woman was never late). Maybe she forgot the address to the place; after all, Gina did prefer high-end restaurants-
"Hello Mr. Rodgers." Rick looked up, surprise etched on his face.
"Ducard?" His voice went up an octave. Coughing to clear his throat, Castle motioned to the empty chair across from him. "What are you doing here? How did you..." His voice trailed off upon realizing something. "What did you call me?"
"Would you prefer to be called Mr. Castle?" Ducard questioned in turn, taking the seat casually. "I figured you would not mind if I called you by your birth name."
"I, uh, no. It's fine, you can-" He cleared his throat again. "It's fine."
Ducard smiled briefly before letting his eyes wander throughout the café. "How is Alexis?" he asked, surprising Castle (yet again) with the abrupt change in conversation. "An experience such as hers can be... distressing."
Castle nodded once. "She's fine," he assured, before looking at Ducard pointedly. "And I have you to thank for that."
Ducard gave that brief smile once more before seriousness came in its place. "Don't throw away your own credit, Mr. Rodgers. I may have finished the job, but you certainly started it." At this, Castle gave a look of confusion and disbelief mixed together. "It was your actions that got you as far as you did. You used every possible resource, contact, and manner that you had." Ducard leaned back in the chair. "It was only then that our attention was caught."
"Our attention?" Castle repeated with interest. Ducard displayed a smirk that threw Castle off.
"Of course. You did not believe I worked alone, did you?" At the lack of response, Ducard went on. "I represent a powerful man, by the name Ra's al Ghul; a man greatly feared by the criminal underworld. He shares your hatred of evil, your wish to serve true justice... He is the head of the League of Shadows."
Unintentionally, Castle let out a snort of laughter before he bit his lip. "I'm... I'm sorry, it's just that... the League of Shadows?" He shook his head and took a sip of his iced tea. "Sounds like a league of vigilantes."
This time, it was Ducard who shook his head. "There, you are incorrect Mr. Rodgers. A vigilante is a man, lost in a search for his own pleasure, his own purpose, which he will never find. He can be stopped, destroyed... take your pick." Castle nodded once slowly, understanding. "You see, man is frail. Weak, corruptible. No man can be steadfastly consistent."
Castle's eyes narrowed. "So how is this League of Shadows any different?" At this, Ducard gave an almost unnoticeable smile.
"If you make yourself more than just a man; if you devote yourself to an ideal... If they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely."
Castle paused. "Which is?"
Ducard leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "A legend, Mr. Rodgers." Seeing his message register in Castle's mind, Henri stood up from the chair. "There's something you want to fight for, and you know what it is. It shows in your eyes. If you want justice, if you want your daughter to grow up in a world where she can be safe, if you want to achieve something... all you have to do is find us."
"The choice is yours, Mr. Rodgers. But if you decide to go this path, I am obligated to warn you... there is no going back."
He turned to leave, but seemed to remember something. "And Mr. Rodgers, your ex-wife, Gina? There is no need to wait for her. She is currently in the Alps with her new beau."
Castle nodded, acknowledging the statement, and went back to his drink. Two seconds later, he realized that there was no way Ducard could have known that... unless he wrote the email bringing Castle here himself (purposefully?). Looking up to question the man, Castle's eyes widened upon seeing that Ducard has (magically?) disappeared. The little bell on the door hadn't even rung!
Well, that was cool.
That night, Castle sat in his office, pretending to write. In actuality, he was searching for any information he could find about the League of Shadows, Henri Ducard, and Ra's al Ghul. As expected, he was coming up with a boatload of nothing. Not to be deterred, Castle began searching for Ducard's ring as well. 'Demon ring' didn't work. Neither did 'demonic ring' or 'league of shadows ring' or 'black rock demon'.
It was only when Castle entered 'Demon's Head' that his search took a turn for the better. Google Images showed Ducard's ring in multiple angles, lighting, and locations (most, Castle noticed, were in a glass case). Clicking on an image, it brought Castle to a website for a Middle Eastern museum. Apparently a tourist attraction, since the sight was in English.
The Ring of the Demon, often referred to as the Demon's Head, is estimated to have been made around 1240 A.D. Legends surround the piece of jewelry, most stating that it's bearer had the key to immortality.
The ring went missing over fifty years ago.
'Interesting...'
It was the exact ring Castle was staring at that Ducard wore. And while he didn't particularly believe Ducard was immortal, it certainly added to his air of power and confidence...
Maybe one of the museum's curators could help with his search. Ra's al Ghul sounded like a Middle Eastern name, and if this ring originated in Arabia-
"Daddy?"
Castle's head shot up, eyes wide. Alexis stood at the door of his study, eyes red-rimmed and lips quivering. All thoughts of the League left him immediately, and Castle rushed to his daughter. Kneeling in front of her, Castle smiled softly, hoping to ease Alexis' mind.
"I had another nightmare," she whispered a moment later. Castle's heart broke.
"Oh Pumpkin." He gathered his daughter in his arms, carrying her to the loveseat in his office. Castle settled into the sofa, and let Alexis snuggle into his embrace. For the next ten minutes or so, he rubbed her back while she cried softly into his chest.
Guilt tore at him, shredding his heart and conscience. Here was his daughter; broken and frightened, unable to sleep at night. And Castle was preparing to fly halfway across the world to join some secret society, and he'd be gone for who knows how long. Realizing this, Castle pressed a kiss to her forehead. He wouldn't leave. He couldn't leave. He was a father first and foremost, and his daughter needed him.
"Daddy, I'm scared," his red-headed daughter whimpered. Castle pulled back to look her in the eye.
"It's ok to be scared Alexis, but you know you don't have to be afraid anymore, right?" He gripped her arms, trying to enforce this into her mind. "They can't hurt you anymore."
Alexis shook her head. "But what about all the other bad people? There are dangerous people everywhere... what if they hurt me? What if they hurt you?" Alexis buried her face into Rick's chest again, fresh tears falling from her eyes. "I'm not safe out there Daddy."
Oh. Oh.
To hear those words spill from his daughter's lips, to hear her fears tumble so innocently out of her heart... What father could bear it? How could he simply sit back and let his daughter grow up in this dangerous, fearful world?
"You want justice... You want your daughter to grow up in a world where she can be safe."
Ra's al Ghul... he shares your hatred of evil, your wish to serve true justice..."
"A vigilante is a man, lost... he can be stopped, destroyed..."
"If you make yourself more than just a man; if you devote yourself to an ideal... If they can't stop you, then you become something else entirely."
Castle noticed Alexis was now still, asleep on his chest. Ducard's words ran loud and clear in his mind, and Castle was now conflicted.
"A man greatly feared by the criminal underworld... the head of the League of Shadows."
"If you want to achieve something... all you have to do is find us."
He had the chance to do some good in the world, to make it better. But it required sacrifices he wasn't sure he could make.
"I'm not safe out there Daddy."
Castle shut his eyes.
He knew what he had to do.
Wow! This actually came out better than I thought it would. You can all probably see similarities between this and Batman Begins. Well, Knight of the Castle is a crossover universe, so that may happen throughout the series. But I will do my best to not make the two so alike that it gets boring. And no, this is not a re-write of Batman Begins, just in case you were wondering.
Well, that's all for now folks! Review and tell me what you think? Ideas? Suggestions?
Katrina