Warnings: Angst, slash, bloodplay, violence, torture, sex. If you're mature enough to watch True Blood, I think you'll be fine reading this.
Disclaimer: True Blood belongs to Alan Ball and the SVM books belong to Charlaine Harris. Only the original characters are mine.
Summer. 1020 AD. France.
Chills ran down Eric's spine when he heard the howls of wolves echo throughout the valley.
In his mind, he could still hear his father calling out to him, see his sword go into the chest of a wolf that turned into a man before he'd even hit the floor. He remembered very clearly the three horizontal lines and a single diagonal line connecting them on the man's neck. Saw the wolf picking up his father's crown and giving it to his master. The wolves, man and the crown disappearing into the swirling snow, leaving him to listen to his father's final gasping words as his life's blood spilled on the floor.
Godric stopped abruptly, staring at the ground, and Eric ran into him. Any other time, Godric would have turned around and scolded him, "Always pay attention to your surroundings."
As he didn't, Eric warily stepped around him to see was had captured his Maker's attention. It took him a moment to spot it. There were tracks all over the dirt road, but he could see where several pairs of human tracks stopped and paw prints started. Their pattern wasn't noticeable with a casual glance, but when studied, they melded together. Eric drew a breath. It can't be.
When the wolves howled again, Godric turned to look back the way they'd just come. He scanned the area, frowning thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Eric finally asked, even though he already knew.
"Shape shifters." Godric glanced at him, hearing the fear in his voice. He paused, waiting to see if Eric would explain. When he didn't, Godric returned to looking down the road. "They will not be pleased that we are in their territory."
Eric flinched as the howls came closer. "We should leave before they find us then."
"No." His Maker shook his head. "We will greet them and apologise for the intrusion."
Eric immediately cursed himself for letting his fear show through. Of course, Godric would make him confront it, even if he didn't know the reason behind it. The reason wouldn't matter, Eric thought.
Godric gave no indication that he knew the thoughts going through Eric's head. He focused on the direction the animals seemed to be coming from. "You should always be courteous to other supernatural beings."
There were answering howls in the opposite direction. They've surrounded us. Eric stood by Godric's side, facing the other way. They could watch in each direction to see where the wolves would come from first, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
"Why should we be courteous to animals?" If Godric wanted him to understand something, he would. It was plain stupidity to do otherwise.
"Which would you prefer?" Godric chuckled at Eric's naiveté, but kept watching the trees around them. "An ally or an enemy?"
"An ally," Eric said cautiously. He could hear feet crashing through the undergrowth and panting dogs.
"Then be polite." Godric looked up into Eric's face. "Do not think of them as just animals, my Child. They are two natured; both animal and human."
A group of wolves with eerie yellow eyes emerged from behind the trees on all sides. Ears laid back, their fur upright and their mouths drawn back far enough to reveal their teeth, they looked just as wild as any wolves Eric had ever seen.
Godric nudged him and Eric turned to see a large, dark grey wolf and a pale female wolf step forward.
Bring me the crown.
Astounded, Eric watched as the two wolves turned into humans, a man and a woman. They straightened up, not minding their nakedness, and the man stepped closer again. Eric looked at their necks, searching for the scar he'd seen on the shape shifters that had killed his parents. Not seeing it on their necks, he quickly looked them all over, but all he saw was smooth, unblemished skin. Why don't they have that mark?
The man's now hazel eyes immediately went to Eric, assuming, as most humans did, that he was the leader because of his older appearance. His eyes glinted yellow for a second, and Eric felt a chill of fear go through him and he quickly moved behind Godric.
Confused, the man looked from the older uneasy face to the young expressionless face, trying to figure out which of them was in charge.
"Why are you here, demons?" the man growled, finally focusing his glare on Godric.
"We are only passing through." With his hands behind his back, Godric inclined his head. "We mean no disrespect."
The unaggressive surface hiding Godric's savagery was proof of his Maker's intense self control in the face of the man's hostility. As his fear of the wolves continued to increase, Eric wished he was as strong. The chill rapidly spread through him, the complete opposite of what he felt when he drank. A human heart would be beating frantically, but lacking that, all Eric felt was icy terror.
Yellow eyes turned his way, intrigued by his obvious fear. The group of wolves was tensed and ready to attack if ordered to, but his Maker simply waited as the frowning man debated the truth of Godric's words.
Don't be a hero, Viking.
"Did you kill anyone in the village?" the man demanded. Several wolves to Eric's right growled and he braved a glance at them. Is the symbol hidden beneath their fur?
"No," Godric said, truthful. "We left them with their lives."
"Another of your kind was here not long ago. She killed many." The woman glared at Godric, as though he were to blame. She stepped closer to the male. "I think we should kill them. They claim they haven't killed here, but they'll kill elsewhere." She gave Godric a scornful look. "They always do."
You would know. Eric thought of the wolf ripping out his father's throat.
Godric's cold eyes flickered to her, barely acknowledging the fact that she'd spoken, and then looked back to the leader.
"We will be gone by daybreak," he said firmly.
"Send them to their true death," the woman urged again and several wolves yelped in agreement.
Godric ignored her. Angered by his indifference, she focused on Eric. Under her furious glare, he cringed back.
"Your pathetic friend looks too frightened of us to do much of anything." The fear in Eric's face proved too tempting and her body coiled as she prepared to change form. "I bet we could easily kill him."
That got a reaction. Godric's grey eyes glanced in the direction of several puppy sized wolves that were standing at the far edge of the group. The man started in alarm.
"Enough!" the man said angrily, whirling on her. He glared at her until she transformed back into a wolf and lay down meekly.
Satisfied with her submissiveness, he turned to Godric. "We merely want to protect the people in this valley."
Godric nodded. "I understand."
The man studied Godric for another moment, trying to figure out if he was angry, but Godric's neutral expression gave away nothing. He sighed. "Please do not come back."
"Thank you." Godric nodded again. "Farewell." He turned around, pausing for the wolves to step out of his way. Yellow eyes watched them go.
Closely following, Eric could not remember the last time he'd felt so ashamed and humiliated.
He hated that these creatures would no doubt laugh over his fear. He hated that bitch of a woman for frightening him. Mostly, he hated that Godric had seen something from his human life.
Godric would ask him to explain, but he wouldn't care why. He would only want Eric to overcome his fear of them.
Eric cocked his head, still able to hear the wolves. His hearing was particularly sharp; he could tell that some of the wolves, probably the puppies, were playfully wrestling and others were simply watching over them. He couldn't hear the man telling off the woman. Perhaps he would punish her some other way. Or maybe not at all.
You know what to do.
Yes.
Vengeance...
Vengeance.
The must know something about the murderers of my parents. Eric looked at the back of Godric's head, thinking over his earlier advice, and then grudgingly asked himself: Can I be gracious towards the creatures that killed my parents?
In the distance, he heard the wolves begin to leave. I have no choice. He stopped mid-step. I need to know.
He leapt into the air, flying back to them.
He landed several feet away from the startled pack. They growled warily, their yellow eyes darting around, looking for Godric. But he didn't appear.
Eric went down on one knee before the dark haired leader. The wolf transformed into a human again, clearly curious.
Swallowing back his fear, Eric looked at the man's feet. "I would like to ask you something."
The man raised an eyebrow and several of the wolves tilted their heads, puzzled. At least the aggressive female stayed away.
"What do you want to know?" the man grunted. The suspicious tone in his voice made Eric anxious. Perhaps he'd refuse to answer.
Eric drew the four connected lines in the ground.
"Please, can you tell me if any of you recognise this mark?"
To his surprise, all the wolves came closer to look. They studied it carefully, glancing at each other to see if someone else recognised it.
Watching them, Eric saw the spark of human intelligence in their yellow eyes and felt he understood what Godric meant about them being two natured. Animals would not have done this, but humans could.
One by one they shook their heads.
Disappointed, Eric went to wipe his hand over the dirt, but a wolf with a greying muzzle nosed his hand away. It stared at the mark intently, then transformed into an elderly man with a long beard.
He peered closer at the symbol with human eyes and nodded.
"I was a boy when I saw a wolf with this mark." He looked up at his leader, disgusted. "He was not fit to be one of the two-natured."
"How so?" The man looked as surprised as Eric was that someone had recognised the mark.
"He enjoyed the blood and tears of others." He turned his gaze on Eric. The old man didn't say anything further, but his point was clear. The wolf had reminded him of blood-drinkers.
"Please, are you able to tell me where this was?" Eric asked him, unable to hide his hope.
"North of here," the old man said. He shrugged. "It was a long time ago. He probably moved on."
The Northlands. They must be the same.
"Is that any help to you?" the leader asked as the old man returned to his wolf form and walked off.
"Yes." Eric bowed. "Thank you."
They're still out there.
.
Just before dawn, Eric leaned against the wall of the cave they'd found refuge in for the day. His mind was filled dreams of revenge, attacking the marked wolves and killing the man that had stolen his father's crown. He hadn't had such thoughts in decades.
Godric knelt in front of him.
"You have seen them before," Godric said, his grey eyes studying Eric's face.
"Yes," Eric said, not meeting his eyes. He had not told Godric about his slain parents and sister. Other than the occasional casual remark – which Godric would ignore - he had not spoken about his human life since the conversation about his children. Remembering what had happened that night made him reluctant to speak of his family again. His Maker remained kneeling, waiting for Eric to explain further.
"What happened?" Godric pressed.
"When I was sixteen, those creatures killed my infant sister, my mother and my father," Eric said quietly, drawing the symbol in the dirt beside him.
"I killed one." He drew the connecting line. "He had this mark on his neck."
Godric studied it for a few seconds, and then looked up. "Do you fear them now?"
"I don't know," Eric admitted, thinking of how helpful the wolves had been. Animal and human. But he'd seen those four joined lines in his nightmares for months after his parents were murdered. How can fear that strong be overcome so easily?
"We will cross paths with shape shifters again." Leaning back, Godric smiled. "I have faith in you, my Child. You will conquer your fear."
Pleased, but unconvinced, Eric looked at him. "Why do we want to be allied with those creatures?"
"They can recognise us," Godric said patiently. "They can be a danger to us because they can walk in the sun."
"We fear them?" Eric said incredulously. They could attack again! He scowled. "That sounds like an excellent reason to kill them to me."
Godric gripped his chin, forcing Eric to meet his narrowed gaze. "To kill out of fear is a foolish, human thing to do." He let go, still looking at him sternly. "You know better."
"All of us are creatures that stand apart from humans. That makes us brothers." Godric's eyes darkened. "For someone who values kindred so much, you should recognise the foolishness of fighting with family."
Eric flinched at the rebuke, and at the idea of thinking of the murderers of his parents as related to him in some way. He had seen how in-fighting among blood-drinkers had weakened nests and knew Godric had a valid point.
He glared down at the mark etched into the ground beside him. "I just wish I could find those demon beasts."
"Why?"
Eric gave him a scathing look. He knew how well Godric understood the minds and hearts of men. He had once said to Godric that he would avenge his father and he had just revealed why. Now Godric tried to play dumb. It was insulting.
"Why should I waste our time when you know what I'll say?" Eric demanded. "Especially when we both know that you won't care about it?"
Godric' jaw tightened and he lowered his eyes, but did not deny it.
"I can listen," his Maker said, his voice a little stiff. "Perhaps then you will let it go."
Surprised, Eric regarded Godric thoughtfully. Eric had long accepted his Maker's indifference to his human life, though he hadn't realised that Godric might not have understood that he would not let go of it entirely.
"I promised my father I'd avenge his death." Eric's fingers twitched as he remembered the feeling of his father's blood covering his hands as he'd tried to stop the bleeding. "We couldn't find them, or their master."
"Their master?"
Now Eric's hands tightened in anger. "A man commanded them, told the wolves to bring him my father's crown. In my head I gave up hope of ever finding him, but not in my heart. When you turned me, I'd thought I might be able to track them and kill them. All of them." He looked to the entrance of the cave. "When I find out where they are, I'll be able to."
"Shape shifters are mortal," Godric sighed. "They have likely been dead a long time, my Child."
It had not occurred to him that the demon dogs that had attacked his family would die. He'd just assumed that all supernatural creatures were immortal, like he was. Eric continued to stare out the entrance, feeling... detached from everything around him. Thoughts he'd managed to keep at bay for years crept in. Everyone who knew me is dead. He closed his eyes. My children...
Missing his children was an old pain, one that he'd gotten used to... but accepting that they were dead was completely different. They'd grown up and he'd missed it all. The grief welled up again and Godric saw it in his face.
"Control your emotions, my Child." He wiped his hand over the symbol, as if clearing the rest of Eric's human life away.
Eric spun around, his fangs bared. "Go to hell, you cold-hearted bastard!"
Godric stood up, looking down at Eric with cold eyes. Despite being unsurprised by it, Eric was angered and hurt by Godric's lack of empathy.
"You torture yourself needlessly by thinking of them," Godric said after a moment. His cool fingers touched Eric's shoulder lightly, something that normally would have greatly surprised him, but now he shook Godric off.
"You've never lost someone you love. You couldn't understand, Godric," he said bitterly. Eric buried his face in his hands. "Just leave me alone."
He would never be able to get revenge for his father. For something that he'd long thought he'd reconciled to, it hurt far more than he'd expected.
Godric hadn't moved. He was staring at the ground, his hands balled into fists, and his nails were digging in so hard they drew blood. Through his fingers, Eric saw his Maker's rigid posture and grew angrier. If he's angry with me for caring about my family...
"I said, leave me alone!" Eric snapped. Godric glanced at him and nodded.
"As you wish, my Child." Godric retreated into the depths of the cave.
Eric was angry about his newly realised losses and tired of grieving for the old ones. He would never be able to convey how strongly his people believed in honour and righteousness.
For months he had tried to find mysterious man and his demon wolves. It had been all he could think about. But by the following autumn, the elders of the village had demanded he cease his searching and take his rightful place as king.
Outraged that he should be forced to ruin his family's honour by not avenging his father, he'd fought angrily against them. Eric had always felt judged for failing his father by the same men who demanded he accept his duties as king. I suppose it doesn't matter anymore, Eric thought miserably. They're all dead.
Despondent, he watched sunlight creep into the eastward facing cave. Though he wasn't in the direct path, it still pained him a little, but he felt too inert to move. Blood trickled from his ears, eyes and nose, but he didn't care about that either.
I have no family anymore.
It wasn't until the light reached his toes that he got up, staggering to the back of the cave, away from the sunlight.
To Eric's surprise, Godric was awake, and blood covered his face too. He was lying on his back, though he must have been sitting up at one point because there was dried blood on his legs.
Eric lay down beside him, pointedly not looking at Godric's face. He briefly considered apologising for losing control of his emotions and being disrespectful, but knew he wouldn't mean it.
Eric was just about to doze off when Godric spoke.
"I have not cared about anything in a long time," Godric said, so softly that Eric could barely hear him.
Eric glanced over at him. "Realising that nobody alive knows who you are is a lonely feeling, Godric."
"I understand that, my Child," Godric said, his voice heavy. "More than you will ever know." He sat up and stared intently into his lap.
"You make me feel. It hurts me to know you are unhappy. It is something human." His grey eyes nervously met Eric's. "I had thought all that was human in me was dead."
"I don't want it to die in me, Godric." Eric sat up as well. "Can't you see that?"
"I see it." Hesitantly, Godric touched his cheek. "I am sorry I hurt you. That is not something I wanted."
"It's not in your nature to care about such things," Eric said. "I was harsh to you. I'm sorry." He meant it.
"You spoke the truth, my Child," Godric said, pulling his hand away. "Don't apologise for that."
Looking uncomfortable with his confession, Godric lay back down and rolled over, his back to Eric. Just before he fell asleep, Eric glanced over at Godric and realised something else. I was wrong.
I still have family.