Chapter 4
Yorshka and Ashen one
"Oh! Dear knight, how are you?" Asked Yorshka as her newly made knight returned to her via a bonfire. The man knelt before her, before speaking.
"My lady." Said the Ashen one. "I bring terribly news. It's about your brother." Hearing that, made Yorshka a bit nervous.
"What about my brother?" Asked Yorshka. "Did you find him?"
"I believe so." Said the Ashen one. "Does your brother use magic and has a crown made of gold?" He then described the crown. Her heart beating, Yorshka then gave a description of her brother. Upon her finishing, the Ashen one sighed.
"Then I'm afraid that Aldrich had slain him." Said the Ashen one, shocking Yorshka at the news. "He had consumed your brother and used his body as a way to fight me." Hearing that, broke Yorshka's heart. Shedding a few tears, Yorshka soon recomposed herself and addressed the knight.
"Where is this beast?" Demanded Yorshka, wanting the soul of the one that slain her brother.
"Dead, my lady." Said the Ashen one before bringing a soul. She sensed great power within it. More than enough to kill a god. "I had slain him and this is his soul. This is all I can give you, that does not interfere with my own quest." Yorshka just stayed silent as she took the soul. To her great sadness, she felt the remnants of her own brother's soul, along with countless others, within the soul of this Aldrich. She also felt a power great enough to link the fire, causing her to suspect that he had done so previously.
"This is satisfactorily enough, dear knight." Said Yorshka as she gave back the soul to the knight. "I thank you for finding the fate of my brother as well as avenging him. Please, take this." She then summoned a chime and gave it to the knight. "My brother had given this to me long ago. It's my most prized possession. So, please take it."
"But, my lady…" The Ashen one tried to deny it, but Yorshka wouldn't have it.
"Please." Pleaded Yorshka. "It'd be of better use in your hands than mine. It will at least be of some use, other than providing me comfort." The Ashen one, still a bit unwilling to take it, nevertheless took the chime and said goodbye. Before he did, however, he looked back at her.
"Do you wish for me to come again and be there for you?" Asked the knight.
"No." Said Yorshka. "I will be fine. I simply need to be alone for a while."
"You've been alone for quite some time already, my lady." Said the Ashen one. "Perhaps I should stay a while longer."
"No." Said Yorshka firmly. "Please knight. I will make it an order if I have to." The Ashen one just starred at her before getting up and walking toward her. "Did you not listen knight? I order you to stop and leave. Listen to your captain, knight." The Ashen one ignored the order and looked at Yorshka in the eye, despite the height difference between them. "Please knight. I wish to be alone." Tears were now starting to fall as she looked at her knight. The Ashen one, to her surprise, then began to wipe the tears away. Once that was done, he embraced her.
"My lady." Said the Ashen one. "I'm afraid that I'll have to ignore your orders just this once. Just…let me stay for awhile and help you through this." Yorshka just began to sob as she placed her thin arms around her knight, crying for her brother.
Two days later
Yorshka was starring off into the mountains like always when her knight returned.
"Oh good blade of the Darkmoon. Welcome home." Said Yorshka as she saw the knight was kneeling before her.
"Is my lady ready to have my company again?" Asked the Ashen one. Yorshka just nodded. After that little session between them, Yorshka asked the knight to leave her alone for a few days, which he agreed to.
"Yes. Forgive my behavior some moons ago. I just needed sometime to grieve for my brother." Said Yorshka. "He's been the only source of companionship I had for quite a while before Sulyvahn took over. Hearing his death was hard for me."
"No need, my lady." Said the Ashen one. "You have lost a brother. Something that I don't have any knowledge or experience on. You have the right to grieve for him and way that you choose."
"Thank you knight." Said Yorshka, happy that he was so understanding. "Now knight. I wish to have you do something for me. It's not anything difficult. I just need you to escort me and be there for me."
"What is it?" Asked the Ashen one. Yorshka just sighed before speaking.
"The chambers where you faced Aldrich, will you escort me to them. I wish to see the room where you faced the monster that killed my brother." Said Yorshka. The Ashen one looked at her in shock before speaking.
"Are you sure?" Asked the Ashen one.
"Yes." Said Yorshka. "I wish to see my brother's final resting place as well. To say my final goodbyes." She then smiled at her knight. "Do not worry for me, my knight, I have already accepted his death. I just need you to escort me there." The Ashen one just starred at Yorshka before nodding. "Thank you." She then held out her hand, which the Ashen one took and helped her up from her chair. The two then ventured to the bonfire and used it to teleport to Anor Londo.
Anor Londo
"This is the chambers? Where you fought the beast?" Asked Yorshka as she eyed the mess of flesh, feces, and other matter that she didn't wish to know.
"Yes, my lady." Said the Ashen one as he walked with Yorshka. "This is the place." Yorshka eyed the place sadly as she recalled what it used to look like in better days. How the executioner Smough and Ornstein would guard the entrance to her sister, Gwynevere's chambers, and would protect the royal family from intruders or assassins. She had a good feeling what happened to Smough as he was here when Aldrich came to Anor Londo. She had no idea what happened to Ornstein though. However, she did hear he was assigned by her brother to search out for Gwyn's eldest son. If he did, he never returned. Oh, how she wished he was here. Then, maybe she could have another to help her in this time. Nevertheless, she walked to the end of the hall, ignoring the sludge she was stepping on, where she saw the body of her brother. The Ashen one had explained to her that he tried to salvage the body while also acquiring the cinders that he needed to complete his quest. With honor, he placed Gwyndolin' s body on the only clean spot in the chambers, behind a bonfire, something that pleased Yorshka greatly. Once she was near her brother's corpse, she knelled before it and examined it. Everything above his waist was fine, all of his fine features were there, but below, she saw the damage Aldrich had done to him. His legs were gone, torn apart or crushed when Aldrich consumed him and used him to fight the Ashen one. Brushing a lock of hair away from his face, Yorshka grabbed Gwyndolin' s crown and placed it on his chest while also placing his hands on top of it. She then clasped her hands and whispered a prayer for him, hoping that he'll find peace. The Ashen one, meanwhile, was standing guard. He watched as a group of silver knights watched from afar. They had tried to attack him when he approached the castle, but upon seeing Yorshka, the knights stood down and allowed them to pass. Yorshka explained that it was due to her belonging to the royal family and that he'll be safe so long as he's close to her. The Ashen one starred at the knights as they watched Yorshka pray. If he didn't know any better, he thought they were mourning the loss of Gwyndolin in their own way. Soon, Yorshka was done and got up.
"My knight, we're done here. Please escort me to my tower." Said Yorshka. The Ashen one just nodded and the two left. As they moved past the knights, they kneeled down before Yorshka. Yorshka just waved her hand, and the knights soon dispersed, returning to their original duty of guarding the perimeter of Anor Londo. Once the two returned to the tower of Yorshka, the Ashen one spoke.
"You don't have to stay here anymore, my lady. Sulyvahn is dead. You can go anywhere you please." Said the Ashen one.
"I know that, knight." Said Yorshka. "But I don't think I can ever step foot into Anor Londo again. It's the final resting place of my brother, after all. I wish for it not to be disturbed anymore than it has to be. However, I'm willing to let you venture into it, should the need arise. You are, after all, seeking to link the fire and you need as much assistance as you can." The Ashen one nodded. "I'll inform the silver knights that you're a friend to the royal family and that you're not to be harmed. They'll no longer seek your head anymore. I'll also inform them to guard Gwyndolin' s final resting place. I have a feeling that they'll not object to such an assignment."
"Is there anything else, my lady?" Asked the Ashen one.
"Yes." Said Yorshka. She then got up and looked at her knight. To the Ashen one's surprise, she kneeled down and kissed his helm. "Thank you for being there for me. You're a true friend and I wish you good luck on your journey."
"Thank you, my lady." Said the Ashen one. "I'll try and visit you again soon." Yorshka just smiled.
"That would be appreciated." Said Yorshka. With that, the Ashen one used the bonfire and left for the Firelink shrine. With him gone, Yorshka smiled to herself and looked out to the mountains, enjoying the view and breeze.
