Chapter Four: Run Away
Noxus had hoped the farce would be over when the summit was concluded. Alas, luck wasn't looking favorably upon the grey haired man. Apparently, there was still a banishment ceremony to conduct. Noxus hoped there would be an opportunity to speak with Frampt soon. Solaire was escorted back to his small room by Ornstein and a pair of silver knights. Noxus wished he had an escort that would at least keep Gwyn's girlish son from pestering him.
The ghostly youth appeared in front of the smaller man in the courtyard, a human knight standing close behind him dressed in well polished brass armor. " 'Tis a pleasure to finally meet thine acquaintance, Lord Noxus!" the youth said excitedly.
"Ist that so? Thou art the Sun King's youngest begotten child, art thou not?" Noxus responded, placing his helm back on his head so the princeling wouldn't see his expressions.
"Yes, I am Gwyndolin, and this ist my stalwart guardian, the good Knightess Matilde of Thorolund." he gestured to the human behind him. Noxus inclined his head to the warrior, and she did the same. "This may seem forward of me, but I was wondering if thou were perhaps interested in assisting me in a personal endeavor of mine."
Noxus cocked his head quizzically, Before he could answer, he felt a familiar presence moving slowly behind him. "I see thou art introducing thyself to the final First Lord, Prince Gwyndolin." The Witch of Izalith spoke, her voice slightly uncertain, yet still warm and kind.
Noxus sighed, he truly wasn't in the mood for chatting. "Yes, my lady. He 'tis not what one would expect, given father's scorn for him."the Prince responded as if Noxus was no longer there.
"Enlighten me, what didst thou expect, Moonlight Prince?" Noxus asked, his tone bordering on the caustic.
The prince swallowed nervously, realizing his tactlessness. "Um, well, I had imagined thee to be something akin to the Gravelord, or at least an oppressive sort of man, yet thou art rather…" Gwyndolin let his voice trail off, dropping his vermilion eyes to the ground.
Noxus laughed abrasively. "And I am but a man after all, naught more, naught less." The Witch glided up beside Noxus, looking down at him curiously. Quelana stood partially hidden behind her mother's robe, her saffron eyes appraising the situation in stoic silence.
"Yet, when my father insulted thee, thou became something more than a man! Thine power was god-like!" Gwyndolin yelped, his voice full of admiration.
The mood suddenly darkened. The Witch nearly placed a hand on Noxus's shoulder, but hesitated. They were no longer friends, Noxus truly was an outsider now and the Witch realized that with sadness. "What ist thine personal endeavor that thou wishest my assistance with?" Noxus asked.
Gwyndolin brushed a strand of his platinum blonde hair out of his face and looked back at Matilde anxiously. "W-Well, 'tis a chronicle I am writing. About the lives of the First Lords, my father and Lady Izalith hath already contributed, all that remains ist the Gravelord Nito and thyself, Lord Noxus."
"Yes, 'tis an ambitious undertaking, to be sure, yet, there art only a few as ambitious as Prince Gwyndolin." The Witch said warmly, reassuring the timid prince.
"I am no lord, Moonlight Prince, just a man. And my life hast been only that of man as well. Therefore, 'tis of no consequence." Noxus spoke laconically before tapping his catalyst upon the white marble and walking away. Gwyndolin was distraught, his eyes wide confusion.
The Witch sighed deeply. "I apologize, Prince Gwyndolin. Noxus ist a man of few words and of fewer vanities, you must excuse his lack of courtesy." She watched the man disappear into the darkness, longing to say something, but knowing it wise to remain silent.
The banishment ceremony was an over bloated affair, it's unnecessary extravagance sickened Noxus. The beautiful goddess Fina was there, here tawny hair and sky blue eyes enchanting, her vanity and arrogance unbearable. The fire god Flann arrived late, his bellowing laughter and bright red hair grating on Noxus's nerves. Executioner Smough stood near the back with Noxus, his angry breathing and massive , muscular size making the far smaller human even more claustrophobic. Noxus kept his eyes upon the black clad Velka, though, her small, waifish body constantly disappearing and reappearing throughout the great courtroom. He had been avoiding the Bride of Flame, as well as Gwyn's androgynous child, Gwyndolin.
Finally, the ceremony ended and Noxus had a mission to complete. As the courtroom emptied, the nimble man jumped over the seats (human and giant sized alike) until he reached the railing that overlooked the circular court below. Grabbing the rail, Noxus flung himself into the air, falling the twenty feet to the marble floor below. He landed with a tremendous clang. Captain Ornstein, standing beside Solaire, watched the human apprehensively, whilst Gwyn was trying to hold his contempt back. Straightening, Noxus studied the banished prince. At the end of the ceremony, Velka and the Bride of Flame had used magic to change Solaire from lord into man, and now the golden haired princeling stood not much taller than Noxus, his white tunic draped over his shoulders like a huge tapestry. Solaire was distraught, his feet wobbly underneath him, his formerly carnelian eyes now a simple ruddy brown.
"Before I leave, I wouldst share words with thine adviser. Where doth Frampt be?" Noxus asked of Gwyn.
"Seneschal Frampt ist travelling to New Londo to bringeth the news to the Four Kings." Gwyn answered angrily. Noxus clenched his teeth in vexation, tapping his catalyst on the floor to keep himself from yelling aloud.
"Giveth the boy some clothes, we must away soon, Astora awaits." Noxus said, looking at the once prince with stark indifference.
Prince Gwyndolin was furious, Matilde could feel it. He stood out on the balcony, watching the sunrise with quaking vehemence. He had chosen not to attend the banishment ceremony, he had even commanded Matilde to leave the room when she had broached the subject. It hadn't been long before he demanded her presence, yet he still hadn't said nary a word to her. So, instead of possibly worsening his mood, the knightess decided to remain by the door, her crescent axe in one hand. Of course, she felt rather guilty, since it had been her who had told the prince about the Pygmy.
"Matilde," Prince Gwyndolin abruptly spoke, his voice cold. Quickly, the knightess turned about, swallowing worriedly. "Y-yes, my prince?" she asked.
He had turned around as well, the gold and scarlet sunlight framing his pale silhouette, the prince appeared truly angelic as a slight breeze stirred his silver gown and platinum blonde hair that fell slightly past his shoulders. "I hath grown tired of this sordid place. Let us be away, let us journey to the Tomb of the Giants, let us meet the Gravelord!" His voice was sad and desperate catching Matilde off guard.
"Um, my prince, thou knowest we cannot do that. The Gravelord's domain is one of death and carrion, I wouldst not go into such a cursed place with five hundred silver knights behind me." Matilde answered, her voice concerned. Gwyndolin looked down dejectedly.
"Fine, I shalt goeth by myself," he whispered sadly before raising a hand towards Matilde, palm open. A shiver ran through the knightess before her vision went black and she slumped onto the floor. When she reawakened, it was noon and Prince Gwyndolin was gone. Shooting up despite a bad case of vertigo, Matilde immediately ran to the balcony, hoping that Gwyndolin was only playing a trick on her. He wasn't, he really was gone. The knightess wanted beat her own head in for being so foolish. Instead, she ran across the chamber, flung the door open and raced into the hallway. She tore past curious onlookers, her brown eyes alive with fury. She had to find the prince before he fell victim to the world outside Anor Londo.