Chapter 25:
Down We Go
Dark souls is owned by From Software.
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
"Demon/deity speech"
Line Break
Beatrice frowned, staring hard at Dusk, "…This feels wrong".
Griggs hummed, "Yes, this is quite a peculiar sensation".
"I don't know what you guys are talking about," Garret pitched in, "I'm fi-gah!". He let out a yelp as he tripped on a stone, falling flat on his face, and shattering his Chameleon spell.
Dusk sighed, shaking her head as Garret pushed himself up, "Spatial awareness, Garret, spatial awareness".
"Yeah, yeah," the young man muttered. He stared down at his feet, "Still," he smirked, "That was kind of fun".
Beatrice scoffed, carefully avoiding a pile of old bricks, "Yeah, no".
"The practical applications of this are, actually, astounding," Griggs stated.
Dusk smiled, "Well, I have had certainly a lot of fun hiding from my retainers…in my youth!" she quickly added, face slightly flush.
While Griggs ignored her in favor of entertaining his own thoughts, Garret and Beatrice (who undid her illusion) gave her odd looks.
Dusk simply looked down, fighting her growing blush, staring at the hem of her dress.
Beatrice chuckled, "I knew there was a reason I started to like you, despite that stupid thing on your head.".
Dusk flitted her gaze to the witch, "Well, you are not so bad yourself, once one gets past your choice in clothing".
Garret let out a snort, chugging a bit of Estus, "Well, nice to see that you two got over…whatever got you both riled up over the other".
Dusk and Beatrice both flushed (Dusk was beginning to feel a bit worried about all the blood rushing back-and-forth through her body), "Oh…you noticed?" the princess bashfully muttered.
Another snort, "Everyone 'noticed'," he smiled at the two, "I'm going to head over to Laurentius, upgrade my flame," he nodded to Beatrice, "We're heading out in about twenty minutes". He then smiled at Dusk, "I'll let you know when I'll send you back".
As Garret walked off, Dusk frowned lightly, before turning to her two remaining students. Rather, her one remaining student. "Griggs?" she looked at the spot where the sorcerer last was, only to find it devoid of pottery, "Where did he…?"
Beatrice shrugged, "Search me, the man knows how to make an exit".
Dusk tightened her hands around her catalyst, "Um…about the, uh, 'whatever' Garret was talking about-"
Beatrice cut her off with a wave of her hand, "Don't worry about it. He's all yours".
Dusk blinked, "…What?"
Beatrice raised her arms over her head, arching her back with a yawn, "Garret, pursue him as you will," she sent the princess a small grin, "I won't stop you".
Dusk frowned, which caused Beatrice to chuckle, "I'm being honest".
At Dusk's still disbelieving expression, Beatrice sighed, "Look, I'll admit I was…interested…in Garret when I was first freed from my crystal; but I also spent centuries trapped in a crystal, with my final thoughts, before sealing myself away, being something along the lines of 'I need to meet this man again'," she scratched the back of her neck, "That doesn't make for the most stable of mental states, in hindsight".
Dusk's face relaxed into a neutral expression, "And, now you have no interest in Garret?"
Beatrice shrugged, "Well, he is handsome, I won't deny that, and he does make good conversation, but nothing romantic". Just then, Garret let out a cry of pain; both women turned, to see Garret hastily putting out a fire that had come to life on his sleeves, while Laurentius beat his hat against his student's arms.
Beatrice bit back a laugh, "Yeah, you're free to get all that".
Dusk's mouth twitched, before turning into a full smile as she shook her head, "I graciously thank you for your permission".
Line Break
Laurentius nervously twiddled his thumbs as he waited for the rest of Garret's party, "Oh, I can't believe I'm actually going to meet Master Quelana!"
Havel sighed, "What exactly do you plan on doing, when you meet her?"
Laurentius shrugged his shoulders, though it came across as more of a nervous spasm, "I mean, I hope that she'll take me in as a student, like she did for Master Salaman. Though, he did say that her lessons were hard, and dangerous…what if I'm too weak?" the pyromancer brought a hand up, nibbling his fingernails, "Oh! What if there is some sort of trial? Oh my, oh my…"
Solaire, turning away from the strange sight of Benito and the giant crow pecking at each other, quirked a brow, before nudging Havel. The bishop hummed, before standing up to face Laurentius. He placed a hand on the man's shoulder, forcing him to stop his ramblings, "Listen, I can't claim to know what you're master went through under Quelana's tutelage, but I do know Quelana," a small smile wormed its way onto his face, "and I can assuredly say that, should she agree to teach you, she won't allow you any unnecessary harm".
Laurentius stared at the man, craning his head up to peer into that gray helm, then looked down, letting loose a calming breath, "Thank you, Sir Havel".
Havel grunted, patting the man on the back, "Don't mention it," and then walked over to a pillar, leaning back on it.
Siegmeyer, who watched the exchange, strode over to Havel sitting down on a broken piece of wall. After taking a moment to make sure he was properly balanced, the Catatrinan turned, "Tell me, or don't if it's too personal, but…were you and this Quelana person…involved?"
Havel slowly turned to face the man. He internally debated whether he should answer the man, before remembering that he had a wife (in fact, Havel was pretty sure that outside of himself, Siegmeyer was the only one of their who has actual romantic experience). He nodded, "Yes, we were, as you put it, involved".
Siegmeyer hummed, "Married?"
A shake of the head, "No".
Siegmeyer clicked his tongue, "I see…"
Havel grunted, "What, do you disapprove?"
Siegmeyer waved an arm, "Oh no, Frida and myself spent a few years together before making our union official—Catarina isn't too formal in that regard. I just figured, you know, what with you being a bishop and all".
Havel let out a bark of laughter, "I'm not that kind of bishop…actually, now that I think of it, I'm not even sure how I even gained that title…" he shrugged, "I suppose it's because I spent so much time with the gods".
Siegmeyer hummed, "Makes sense I suppose".
Just then, a loud, shrill whistle (which was met with a pair of shrill caws) sounded from just below them. "Strategy meeting!" Garret cried out not a second later.
Havel and Siegmeyer got up, walking down the steps (doing their best to ignore Mathias's irate grumbling).
Down the steps, Beatrice rubbed her ears, "How do you do that?"
Garret shrugged, "My grandfather was a dog breeder, taught me how to whistle so that I could help him round up the dogs".
Oscar snorted, "Too bad there aren't very many applications for that particular talent".
Once everyone had made it down, Garret clapped his hands together, "All right people, we're heading down to Blighttown, and I'm not going to lie, it's a horrible place".
"Horrible how?" Solaire asked.
"Mathias mentioned something about fire-breathing abominations," at his companions questioning stares, he elaborated, "Mathias is the man on the fallen pillar".
Garret's jaw dropped, "He has a name?!" he then shook his head, "Wait, what am I saying, of course he has a name". He fully faced Havel, "Regardless, those things aren't all that much trouble. No, the real issue is the muck we'll have to traverse once we reach the bottom. It's poisonous, and really sticky, so we'll be forced to a crawl".
"Oh, joy," Oscar muttered.
"I mean," Garret reached into his pocket, "I have a ring," he pulled out said ring—a rusty, pathetic looking chain of a ring—flipping it in the air like a coin, "That will let someone walk normally through the muck, but it's only one ring, and there are," he took a quick headcount "seven of us so…yeah".
"But the real issue is the poison, so while you guys head on down to the entrance to Blighttown, I'm going to see moss lady and pick up some purple moss. After heading down the elevator to New Londo, make a right and go down the tower; from there, cross a couple of wooden planks—don't worry, their safe—and you'll end up in front of the entrance. There are only three enemies at the entrance, big, slow guys with poisonous clubs, but I'm confident you all can handle it. Any questions?"
There were none.
Garret nodded, "Great, I'll see you all when I've got the moss".
Garret got up, moving towards the stairs leading up, almost bumping into Oscar on the way, "Woah!" Garret exclaimed, stepping aside.
"Oh, sorry Garret," Oscar said somewhat sheepishly, "Just trying to get to Ana".
As Oscar walked on, Garret stilled, his trepidation for the upcoming area had overshadowed thoughts of what was to come.
He spared a quick glance towards the siblings, before biting back the ache in his heart, "It's all going to work out in the end," he all but shouted in his mind.
He continued this mantra as he headed for the aqueduct.
Line Break
Havel gazed silently, every bit as stoic as his reputation boasted, at the crowned ruins that are now New Londo. He sighed forlornly, tearing his gaze away from what looked like the remains of a cathedral. "How could you all let this happen?" he whispered, bitterly.
"Hm, you say something?"
"Nothing of importance, Solaire".
The Astoran nodded, fidgeting slightly. "I don't know how they could stand it".
"Stand what?"
"This…" Solaire gestured around him, "Darkness".
Havel grunted, pointing to the various lanterns dotting the dilapidated architecture.
"I'm talking about the lack of a SUN!" he responded heatedly.
Havel slowly turned to stare at the knight, who coughed into his hand, "Uh, apologies".
Havel simply waved his hand, "It's fine, I know what you mean".
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
Both knights turned, waving at the confused seer.
Havel grunted, "We cleared the path ahead—it stinks, would have been nice if you mentioned that," Garret chuckled, "and I felt…I don't know, a queer nostalgia at the sight of this flooded city".
Garret hummed, heading for the stairs, "You ever been there?"
"Once," Havel replied, "When Gwyn anointed the Four Kings a piece of his soul".
Solaire paused, "I'm sorry, his what?"
"His Soul," Havel repeated. He then snorted, "The man handed pieces of that thing out like it was an infinite supply of candy; which, to be fair, it was".
"Delectably sweet?"
Now Havel paused, staring blankly at Garret, who returned the look with a bright smile.
Solaire coughed into his palm, "Why don't we go ahead and meet with the others, hm?"
Line Break
"Oscar-"
"I see it," the knight nocked an arrow, taking a moment to aim, and let it fly, knocking another giant mosquito out of the sky.
"How many of them are there?" Siegmeyer wondered aloud.
"A couple dozen I think," Garret replied before climbing down a ladder.
Beatrice shrugged, "Better than that jerk with the blow darts".
Siegmeyer grimaced beneath his helmet, before pushing thoughts of the now dead foe aside, joining his companions down the ladder.
His grimace returned as he laid eyes upon a crude, very fragile looking wooden elevator.
"…I'm not getting on that thing".
"Solaire—"
"I'm of a like mind," Siegmeyer hastily agreed.
Garret groaned lightly, before hopping onto one of the moving platforms, and hopping in place for good measure, staring blankly at the two knights as he sank further down.
Havel grunted, stepping on when then next platform approached.
Siegmeyer let out a low sigh as the wooden contraption held firm.
Once everyone made it down, Laurentius started hopping from foot-to-foot, staring at the large white hill with what looked like spikes jutting out of the ground, "This place is giving me the creeps".
"Oh," Garret smirked, "just now?"
Laurentius chuckled, "Guess my nerves finally gave out".
"Well," he took a second to fire a bolt of sorcery at an approaching mosquito, "Maybe a bonfire will calm your nerves".
The group trekked through the mushy surface of Blighttown, half of them sighing in relief at the sight of a bonfire resting inside a massive aqueduct.
Laurentius brought his Flame out, idly forming and dissipating a fireball. "So, where is Master Quelana?"
Silence.
Oscar nudged Garret, "Hey, what's wrong?"
The sorcerer jolted, "Huh, wha—Oh! Sorry, got a bit distracted".
"Waiting for that Invader you told us about…Mila?"
"Mildred," Havel corrected.
"I think I see her," Solaire said, pointing at a small, black-red light in the distance.
Beatrice peered closer as she fully came into view, slowly moving forward "Is she…?"
"Naked? Almost. She's wearing nothing but loincloths".
Oscar shivered, "That can't be sanitary".
A small thud came from behind them, redirecting their attention to a pale, sitting Laurentius, "Th-th-that's the one! She captured me back on the surface!"
Garret stared wide-eyed, "Wait, really?" Then, after a moment, he started to snigger.
Solaire cocked a brow, "What's so funny?"
Garret waved a hand, "Oh, nothing. It's just," another bout of sniggers, "She's also known as 'Maneater' Mildred".
Silence reigned, until Siegmeyer shook his head, "That was a very poor jest".
Garret would have replied, were it not for a splash of sludge coming from behind him. He turned, coming face-to-face with Mildred.
The portly woman stared at the group, her burlap mask completely covering her face. Yet, it was unnecessary, as her slow, careful steps backwards told them everything they needed.
"Hey there!" Garret waved at the woman, who froze, "Wanna hang with us for a bit?"
Laurentius bolted up to Garret, roughly turning his around, "What in the name of Izalith are you doing?!" he harshly whispered.
"Making a friend," Garret cheekily replied.
Laurentius whipped his head around, seeking support from the others, finding none.
He hung his head low, "Remember why you're here," he muttered, "This is all for knowledge, all for knowledge".
Garret turned back to Mildred, "Well, feel like coming along for a bit?"
The woman was still, before shrugging, and kneeling, disappearing into a dark purple fog.
Garret smiled, sitting down at the bonfire, "And now, we wait".
Oscar regarded his curiously, "You don't want to go and explore?"
Garret yawned, leaning back into his hands, "Later, after we finish our first trip to Anor Londo".
Beatrice stared disgustedly at their surroundings, "You want to come back?"
Garret shrugged, "I mean, not like I can just leave Laurentius flapping in the wind".
"You didn't seem too concerned with my well-being a minuet ago," Laurentius grumbled.
Garret shrugged, opting to stay silent as they waited.
Siegmeyer nudged Havel on the shoulder, "So," he whispered, "are you prepared for these next few meetings with the Witch's daughters?"
"I appreciate the concern, but it's unnecessary," he set his jaw, "I'll be fine".
Siegmeyer was silent, before leaning against the wall, "If you're sure…"
"Positive".
Before Siegmeyer could say anymore on the subject, a series of splashes caught their attention.
All present stood—and in Laurentius's case, edged back slightly—as Mildred entered the aqueduct.
Garret, as he is wont to do, broke the silence, "Hey, how you doing?"
Mildred hefted her almost comically oversized blade on her shoulder, "Goddamn, this brings back some fucking memories," she said, voice surprisingly light.
"What, reminiscing on the countless victims you cooked up?!" Laurentius spat.
"Wha," the woman shook her head, "No, simpler times, back when I thought—hey, I recognize you!"
Despite his earlier outburst, Laurentius shrank back slightly, hiding behind Siegmeyer, "You very well should! You wanted to eat me!"
Mildred snorted, "Good Lord, no! I just strung you up for those mindless shitheels in the depths. We have an understanding. Besides, if I did eat people, I'd prefer them with a bit more meat on the bones—and that they don't whine like bitch at every little nock on the head".
Solaire cocked a brow, "What kind of 'understanding'? You bring them the occasional meal and they don't eat you?"
"Yup".
Beatrice recoiled in disgust, "What about the people you captured?"
Mildred shrugged, "Fuck 'em".
Havel grunted, "Mathias failed to mention she was a sociopath".
Garret nodded, face set in an uneasy frown, "I'm beginning to regret inviting her along".
Mildred abrubtly pointed her blade at Havel and Garret (prompting everyone the bring their own weapons up, "Hold on—did you say Mathias? Brown hair, sharp nose, kinda midgety?"
Garret's eyes narrowed, "I wouldn't use that last descriptor, but yeah, him".
"Well, damn, I thought he threw in the towel after one of those bug demons burned him alive. How's the bastard doing?"
"Fine, apathetically staring at a bonfire hours on end, but fine," Oscar replied.
Mildred paused at that, "Really? Huh," she brought a hand to her chin, "I mean, he ain't hollowed, so that's good, but apathetic…oh well," she made a small gesture, "not my problem anyhow".
Beatrice sharply turned to face Garret, "Can we go now?"
Garret sighed, hefting his trident, "Yeah, let's".
Line Break
Quelana was, for the first time in a long while, intrigued. Not enough to get up from her rather comfortable seat, but intrigued nonetheless.
She could hear the large group as they traveled down that ramshackle contraption the native Blightownsmen called an elevator (before they all went mad at any rate).
She didn't see them—again, she was too comfortable to be bothered to get up and look at them—but she could hear at least five voices, before they faded away at least, which surprised and pleased her. It was nice to know that, despite all the horrible things going on both above and below her, those rascally humans—or Undead, or whatever they liked to call themselves nowadays—could still find the time to bond and work towards a common goal.
"I wonder if any of them are Pyromancers?" she let the thought roll around in her head, before dismissing it. Even if there were any, she doubted they would have the sufficient power to see through her enchantment.
Then, the first two came into view. A pair of knights, one in large, rotund armor that made him (at least, she assumed it was a he) look like some misshapen onion, and the other wearing more standard armor, the only glaring difference being a red feather coming from the top of his helm, and an image of a sun—Lord's above, that brought back memories—on his chest.
They did not see her.
Then came another three (rushing a bit, since the other two had started to fight those giants guarding her family's tomb) another knight, wearing armor a bit fancier than the other two, that madwoman with the cleaver, and a witch (for who else would wear a hat of that size) in leather armor.
They, too, did not see her.
Then, came a man, the sight of which brought back fond memories. Brown, almost tattered clothes, with a hood pulled over his head. So much like that slippery salamander.
And to her quiet joy, he saw her.
"Oh," the man gasped, "Y-you're really here?"
That made smile, she'd always wondered if Salaman spread her teachings and whereabouts, "Hmm? Heard of me, have you?
But he ignored her, turning to look back, "Garret! Garret, you were right, she's here!"
Quelana frowned, they knew she was here? How? They might have heard of her from Salaman, but she was on the surface when she trained him, not down in these dregs.
Soon enough, this Garret person came into view. His eyes shone with what she assumed was glee, but not to the same degree as his friend.
"Hello Quelana," he waved, "How are you doing?"
The Witch blinked, "So…I take it your Salaman's pupils, come to learn from the source?"
His friend nodded, though Garret made a 'so-so' gesture. "I've got a couple of other things in mind". He then looked to the side, face set in a small frown, "Hey! The hell's keeping you? She's right here".
Quelana's face scrunched up, but before she could voice her query, the person came into view.
And her heart stopped.
Line Break
"Hey! The hell's keeping you? She's right here".
Havel swallowed back the lump that had once again formed in his throat.
He stepped forward, coming to a stop just beside Garret, and followed Laurentiuss's line of sight.
Staring at nothing.
Thankfully, Garret had mentioned Quelana's illusion before, and Laurentius mentioned a possible way to counter this. Indeed, the Great Swamp native frowned, and moved closer to Havel.
Only for a flash of fire to stop him in his tracks.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the flames faded away, revealing an all too familiar garb to Havel's old, tired eyes. Only, the hood now fully concealed her face, instead of before, when it only covered her eyes.
He barely registered Garret and Laurentius walking away, concentrating only on the woman in front of him.
She stood, shakily, like she did whenever she'd come face-to-face with some great shock—his mind briefly flashed to a distant memory, a particularly complex trick Ledo had pulled, which then immediately backfired, quite literally, on the eccentric knight. Havel immediately shook away the foggy memory, focusing on the present.
Quelana was in front of him now, one arm held close to her chest, the other reaching up to his helm. But then she stopped.
"N-no," she softly whimpered, "I-Impossible. H-Havel's dead!" She spat out, "You're just an imposter!".
Havel hummed, "I was imprisoned, Quelana, not executed. Though, admittedly, I should be dead".
She was backing up now, until her back was against the wall, "N-no," she whimpered once more.
Havel sighed, placing his hammer and shield on his back, and reached for his helm. Shoving down his lingering nerves, he took it off, setting it aside.
He stared intently at Quelana, desperately wishing to push away her hood, lose himself in her impossibly bright eyes, but stayed his hand; it would not do to push her, not now.
She stared at him, frozen in place. Then, after a time which felt longer than his imprisonment, Quelana let out a quiet sob.
Havel, immediately, moved forward to comfort her, hold her as he did ages ago, only for her to crash into him, grabbing him in a tight hug.
Not for the first time—though the first time in a long while—Havel marveled at the how she found a way to comfortable nestle into his grasp, despite his admittedly bulky armor. The thought quickly faded away, however, as he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her, so that that he could nestle his head into the crook of her neck.
Quelana sobs had quieted, enough for her to gasp out, "I-I'm sorry!"
Havel let out a small, disbelieving snort at that, "Wha-What do you have to be sorry for?"
"I-I-I didn't stop you! I should have kept you away from Seath! I should have—"
"Heh…heh…HAHAHAHA," Havel laughed, a great booming laugh—one that had not been heard since his imprisonment—startling his companions and Quelana (though the latter quickly latched onto it as another steady reminder that Havel was really, truly here). He couldn't help it, overjoyed at the fact that after everything, all this time, all those tragedies, Quelana was still Quelana.
He let out a long, happy sigh, bringing a hand up to take off her hood, staring deep into her warm, wet, orange eyes, "You have nothing to be sorry about," he placed his hand on her cheek, smiling as she leaned into it. "I was stubborn, impatient, and arrogant. Nothing would have kept me from trying to kill Seath that day. So please, do not blame yourself, not for my errors".
Quelana laughed, quieter than his own, and closed her eyes. She then brought up her free hand, squeezing his bicep.
Havel's pulse quickened, breath hitching, as he leaned in closer. Then, in a move of desperation, longing, and sheer joy, captured her lips in how own.
And just like that, for a few brief, precious moments, Havel felt a sense of peace that had long eluded him.
But, that peace was merely temporary, and though he would like mothing more than to hold Quelana in his arms until the Flame finally faded away, but he knew that he still had a job to do.
Reluctantly, he pulled away.
Quelana's smile threatened to split her face apart, but it seemed that her rational side had taken control as well, for that same smile quickly morphed into a hard, determined grimace. "Havel, I need you…I need you to do something for me. It's my sister, Quelaag, she's—"
"Transformed into an unholy cross of woman, spider, and fire," Havel interrupted, setting her down.
Quelana's grimace turned into a confused frown, "H-How did you know that?"
Havel turned to his group, who were waiting up near the entrance to Quelaag's lair, "See that man with the Trident," Quelana nodded, "He can see the future, and the past".
Quelana nodded sadly, bending down to pick up Havel's helm "So, he's come to ensure my sister's death," she said, trying to keep her voice from quivering.
Havel chuckled, taking the helmet from her, "Not quite"
Quelana's eyes narrowed, "What do you—?"
"CAW!"
The two flinched at the sudden squawk, facing the sky. Havel grunted, holding his hand out, where Benito landed. The crow preceded to squawk repeatedly, aggravated, at Havel.
Quelana stared wide-eyed at the small bird, "…What is that?"
"A crow," Quelana rolled her eyes, pulling her hood up, "named Benito".
Her jaw dropped, "I'm sorry, 'BeNITO'?.
Havel chuckled, shaking Benito off, who simply settled on his shoulder, "Come on, I'll fill you in on the important bits before we meet your sisters".
Quelana said nothing, letting Havel lead her towards the rest of his group, her arm entwined with his.
A/N: This took a lot longer to put out than I wanted, but I'm glad I got through Quelana and Mildred in one chapter, saving Quelaag, the Fair Lady, Kirk, and Ceaseless Discharge for the next one. Oh, and Eingyi I suppose. Plus, I got rid of the whole 'Love Triangle' thing; came to the realization that it was unneeded, plus I didn't want the two (currently only) girls in the group to be divided by something so trivial. Be sure to leave a review. Later.