Characters: Chosen Undead/Dragon Slayer Ornstein, Petrus, Patches, Sieglinde, Siegmeyer, Quelana
Word Count: 7.908
Summary: Ornstein and Tempest visit Fire Link Shrine in preparation for the Demon Ruins and then head down to Blighttown.
(Author's note: In case you have missed it, I wrote some smut that kinda happened between this chapter and the previous one, which you can find anywhere but here.
I don't have too much to say about this chapter actually, just glad that I finally have a regular chapter update again. It felt like I barely managed to write on this story lately and I really want to finish it. There might even be not too much left anymore, but I think we will get above 40 chapters.)
Tempest opened his eyes, smiling when he saw Ornstein's slumbering face in front of him. It still was hard to fathom for him what had happened, but he knew that Ornstein wouldn't be mad that they shared a bed with each other.
In fact, it was Ornstein who currently had his arms wrapped around Tempest, holding him close to his body. Tempest didn't complain about it, he was warm and surprisingly soft for a man with so many muscles.
Though, while Tempest very much liked to be hugged by Ornstein in his sleep, he wanted to get up and start breakfast. There wasn't much reason for them to stay in the cathedral, so today they would get out again. Tempest tried to get up, but quickly had to notice that Ornstein held him very tight. In fact, the more he struggled, the more Ornstein seemed to embrace him. Oh right, he liked to cuddle things in his sleep.
Well, it seemed like Tempest had to stay and stare at Ornstein's sleeping face. He could do it all day after all, he looked so cute and peaceful...
After twenty minutes or so Tempest had to admit to himself that staring at Ornstein's face for ever and ever was boring. Of course he liked Ornstein's face, but studying it for a good twenty minutes was enough. He really wanted to get up and cook. He felt this certain itch in him, he just had to get up and cook. He always felt weird if there was something that would be hungry and he wouldn't cook for them. However, because Ornstein was holding him so tight, there was no way that Tempest could get out of it without waking Ornstein up.
His lips brushed over Ornstein's and he said: "Good morning, sunshine. Time to get up."
Ornstein only grunted in annoyance and pulled his embrace around Tempest even TIGHTER, so tight in fact that his face rested on Ornstein's chest and he felt how the air left him. Now, being smothered to death by a giant knight wasn't the worst death (it had happened after all already), but Tempest really didn't want to waste another humanity and give Ornstein another reason to apologize to him, so he wrestled his elbow free and pretty much knocked Ornstein in the chin.
"Ow!", the dragon slayer yelped, apparently awake now, "Little Storm, what?" Tempest heard Ornstein gasp then and felt how the embrace around him lightened.
"Sorry Ornstein. You just almost did it again.", Tempest said, taking a deep breath now that he wasn't in danger of choking anymore. "I want to cook breakfast, so I have to leave you alone now."
"Hmm...", Ornstein said, it seemed he was still tired. "Please get me when it's ready... side effects of Gwyndolin's medicine are still there..."
"Alright then.", Tempest said, leaving Ornstein behind, who apparently had already fallen asleep again. Ornstein had gotten a second dose of the medicine before they went to sleep, so it didn't surprise Tempest that he had trouble waking up.
Tempest walked over to his clothes and put them on, looking at himself in Ornstein's mirror. His hair was a scraggy mess, so he went through them with a brush shortly and then was off to the kitchen. What should he cook today...?
His eyes fell on the leftover mushrooms from yesterday. He could cook something with them, but what should he cook? Tempest decided to go to the pantry and get some inspiration there. As soon as he opened the door, his gaze fell on a basket with eggs. "An omelette.", he exclaimed to himself. "Mushrooms go great in an omelette."
With the decision made, Tempest went back to the kitchen with the eggs he needed and started to cook. It felt a tiny bit lonely without Ornstein looking at him. He always loved when he sat in the corner, not saying a single word or sometimes throwing in a remark. Somewhere deep in his mind, Tempest asked himself how long they still would be able to spend time like this.
Tempest washed and cut the mushrooms, whisked the eggs and put some butter into the pan, and soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of fried mushrooms and eggs. As Tempest put salt and pepper and a few herbs with the omelette, he once again missed that he couldn't taste anymore. At least Ornstein would be able to cherish his cooking. That he lost his sense of taste was one of the few things that Tempest disliked about being undead.
Just as Tempest put the steaming omelette on a plate, a very sleepy looking knight stumbled into the kitchen. It seemed like Tempest didn't have to wake him after all.
"You did quite a number on my chin, little Storm, that will certainly leave a bruise.", Ornstein murmured, sitting himself into the usual corner.
"I also almost killed you, Ornstein, surely you can forgive me a little hit like that.", Tempest said, getting some silverware ready. As he noticed what he had said, he froze and stared at Ornstein, who stared back at him.
"Well, I killed you over two dozen times, so we are even."
Shortly after, both of them broke out in hysteric chuckles. The part in their life (or unlife) in which they had wanted the other's death felt so far away now.
"I am surprised that I didn't have to come to wake you.", Tempest said, putting the omelette in front of Ornstein.
"After you hit me, it started to hurt too much for me to be able to properly fall back asleep.", Ornstein said, picking up the silverware, his eyes sparkling at the sight and smell of the omelette. "You used the leftover mushrooms. Wonderful, little Storm."
"I didn't want for them to get bad.", Tempest said, sitting himself opposite Ornstein, to watch him eat, like usual. "And when I saw eggs in the pantry, I knew what to cook."
"A fantastic choice.", Ornstein put the first bite into his mouth and after swallowing, he continued speaking: "Where are we headed today, little Storm?"
"There is no way around it, we finally have to head into Blighttown.", Tempest chuckled as Ornstein nearly choked on his current bite. "But don't worry, we won't be there long and before we head down, I wanted to visit Fire Link Shrine. I haven't shown my face there for a while. They all probably think I have gone hollow."
Ornstein's face relaxed and he continued to eat, his face showing nothing but content. Tempest loved this expression so much, it looked like he experienced pure bliss and he surely wanted for his boyfriend to be happy.
His boyfriend...! It still felt so strange saying it, but they were a thing now. Tempest never had dreamed about it, but it had happened. The sudden realization made him almost squeal in his excitement and delight.
"Look at the face you are making, your smile is bigger than usual.", Ornstein said and while there was a playful and amused tone in his voice, the smile on his face felt as big as Tempest's. At least for Ornstein's circumstances.
"I am just happy, that is all.", Tempest retorted. "I am happy that you like my food, I am happy that you are coming with me on this journey and I am happy that I can call you my..." imy boyfriend/i. Tempest whispered the last word, which made Ornstein frown.
"You can say it, you know.", he said, looking at the last bite of the omelette.
"I am happy that I can call you my boyfriend!", Tempest blurted out, so loud that Ornstein dropped the omelette piece back on his plate.
"Yes, I am happy that I can call you my boyfriend too.", Ornstein picked the omelette piece back up and put the whole thing into his mouth at once.
"It's just the first real relationship I had. Of course there was my friend, but uh, before I could confess to him or anything, I had become undead and he sold me out, so... that isn't a particular nice memory."
"I am sorry this happened to you, little Storm.", Ornstein said, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, "Though I am not really innocent in this matter. I helped carry the undead away into the Asylum..."
"Sheesh, Ornstein, stop blaming yourself for everything. When Astora fell, Lordran already was a legend.", Tempest said, picking the plate up. "I am going to make the dishes, go and make yourself ready, so that we can head to Fire Link shortly."
"Of course, you are right.", Ornstein said, staying seated for a few more minutes before he got up and left the room, not without stealing a last glance towards Tempest.
Slowly Ornstein opened his eyes once the nausea had subdued, surprised to see that they weren't in Fire Link. In fact, the obvious clink of the hammer meant they were in the Undead Parish, where this blacksmith resided.
Looking next to him, Ornstein saw Tempest sitting next to him, still holding his gauntleted hand.
"I thought you wanted to go to Fire Link Shrine.", Ornstein said. "And you could have done your business already, no need to wait for me."
"I wanted to keep you company until you felt better.", Tempest said with a tiny smile, one that still made Ornstein's heart jump as how cute he looked. Also, that he had wanted to keep Ornstein company. He was far too cute for his own good. "And I wanted to talk to Andre and then walk to Fire Link Shrine with you. There are only three hollows in the way, that is not a problem for us."
"You are right.", Ornstein said, finally getting up. "Go talk with the blacksmith, I wait here."
Tempest nodded and was off. A while later he returned, holding his bow, which he apparently had let reinforced with some titanite shards. "Let's move to Fire Link Shrine now.", he said to Ornstein and the dragon slayer followed him outside, the both of them dispatching the Hollows without trouble, as Tempest had predicted.
"I think I will say hello to Rhea.", Tempest mentioned as they entered the church. "I might not be good at miracles, but she surely cherishes the company."
"It must be hard not to make friends with you, little Storm.", Ornstein said. "I mean, look at me, I was your enemy and now I can call myself your lover."
It still sounded a bit weird and Ornstein still knew that it wouldn't be forever, but he didn't want to think too much. For the moment, he just wanted to be happy.
"True!", Tempest chuckled, though all the joy fell from his face when he looked at the spot where the cleric normally was praying and saw that she wasn't present. Instead, and Ornstein got a bad feeling in his guts about it, there was a puddle of blood.
"Where did she go?", Tempest said, walking over and frowning at the puddle of blood. "Blood... maybe she got attacked and moved places when she got reborn from the bonfire?"
"I am afraid I will have to crush your hopes, little Storm.", Ornstein said, stepping closer as well to look at the blood splatters. "The way the blood is splattered on the ground, that wasn't the work of some hollow. That was the work of a warrior."
Tempest gasped as realization hit. "You even warned me, Ornstein. I didn't want to believe you."
"It is never a good sign when a knight leaves his lady or lord.", Ornstein sighed. "That poor girl didn't stand a chance without her guardians. Having her trust crushed by even the last of them, I don't think she came back with an intact mind... I am sorry, little Storm, but maybe it was for the better. Lordran isn't a place for a helpless lady like her. It would have ended bad for her one way or the other."
Tempest turned around and scowled at Ornstein. "I know you have a bleak outlook, but that is low, even for you, Ornstein. She was killed, and I don't think she was happy about it. She still seemed to have hope. I am sure she wasn't hollow and didn't need to be put down, she was killed by him for purely selfish reasons!"
He looked down at his feet and the next thing he said made ice appear in Ornstein's stomach. "When I would have listened to you, this wouldn't have happened... I could have saved her..."
"Little Storm, no.", Ornstein was quick to lay both of his hands on his tiny shoulders. "It was you who told me that I shouldn't blame myself for everything that happened. Who killed this woman?"
"The ugly cleric with the bowl cut. Petrus.", Tempest answered, his voice a faint whisper.
"Correct. Not you. What would you say... shall we pay him a visit and confront him about the issue?", Ornstein removed his hands from Tempest's shoulders and picked up his spear in demonstration.
The scowl started to vanish from Tempest's face. "With pleasure.", he said, picking up his own sword.
An elevator ride later, the duo stood in front of Petrus, who cast them a rather disinterested look.
"Oh it's you. Have you come to learn some miracles?" His voice had the same disinterest as his gaze as he addressed Tempest.
"No.", Tempest replied, shaking his head and then fixating his eyes on Petrus. "I've come because I know what you have done."
"Oh, and what exactly should it be that I have done?" Petrus' voice changed from disinterest to a certain danger. It made Ornstein clutch his spear harder.
"There is no use in denying it, Petrus.", Tempest said, shaking his head again, this time not to negate an offer, but in disbelief. "She still trusted you. And you are the only one who would have the guts to do it." Tempest cast a look in the direction of Patches. "And it couldn't have been Patches, he isn't that direct."
All the act vanished from Petrus' face as a devious grin appeared on Petrus' face. "What can I say? I am a wolf in sheep's clothing.", he said, raising his mace and talisman alike. "What do you plan against it, though? Attacking me won't hardly bring the 'princess' back."
Ornstein frowned at how derogatory Petrus had said this word. For a cleric, he certainly was rotten to the core.
"Maybe not.", Tempest said. "But I still can make you suffer."
A snort escaped from Petrus. "Now don't make me laugh, what could such a nobody like you, without even proper training, do against someone who lived the way of white his whole life? Like I said, I am wolf in sheep's clothing, you hardly-"
Petrus interrupted himself when Ornstein appeared behind him and kept hold on him by putting his hands just underneath his arms. "He may not be a wolf.", Ornstein said. "But he's a storm." As Petrus' breath got stuck in his throat as it dawned on him how bad his situation suddenly had become, Ornstein barked to Tempest. "Little Storm, he's all yours."
"Thank you, Ornstein.", Tempest drew his sword and eyed Petrus up and down, surely thinking about how to punish him, when he suddenly lowered it. "Ornstein, I have a better idea.", he said.
A minute later Ornstein had effortlessly dragged Petrus near the cliff next the bonfire to Fire Link Shrine, as he heard Tempest calling out for Patches.
"Oh, Patches, would you come over here? I have a surprise for you!"
"What is it, bruv?", the snarky voice of the bald undead appeared behind Ornstein. "It's better not your golden friend there kicking me down a ledge. Again."
"You kicked me down the ledge first.", Tempest complained. "And besides, he has kicked me down ledges a lot, so he was a bit iffy when you did it instead of him. How dare you take the fun of him?"
"I never said that it was fun!", Ornstein felt the need to intervene, barely noticing that Petrus struggled in his grip, fruitless attempts of escaping being completely ignored by the knight.
"I bet you had fun with it!", Tempest shouted. "But that wasn't why I called you over, Patches. I just thought that you would like to kick something else down a cliff... Ornstein?"
At his cue, Ornstein turned around to reveal Petrus and a big grin flashed over Patches' face: "Ooooh. You need to get rid of a cleric. Well, just leave it to trusty old Patches here. You made the right choice."
As Patches came nearer, Petrus made a sound that matched his pig like appearance. Ornstein relaxed his grip around him. "If you even think of running away you will regret it.", he said, as he let Petrus go and joined Tempest, both of them delighted in the show that Patches put on before Petrus inevitably tumbled down the cliff.
"I also fell down this cliff when I started my journey.", Tempest said. "It hurt. A lot. Send me straight back to the bonfire."
"How did you even manage?", Ornstein asked, waiting for the sound of Petrus hitting the ground. It took quite a while. This cliff was very deep.
"There was a message that told me to jump.", Tempest said.
Ornstein broke in a chuckle. That was so much Tempest, it was adorable.
"Hey, don't laugh. I learned my lesson!", Tempest cried out, at the same moment as the scrunch was heard. Maybe Petrus had managed to hold on somewhere before he tumbled down. Maybe.
"Well, that certainly made the cleric learn his lesson.", Ornstein said and got up. "If he ever gets reborn from the bonfire, he will think twice before messing with you. Or your friends."
Tempest looked a bit unhappy though. "He's right about one thing.", he said. "It won't bring Rhea back..."
"Maybe.", Ornstein said. "But at least he won't hurt another innocent soul."
"Apologies to interrupt your heartfelt conversation, but it was a pleasure doing business with you.", Patches said, having returned from watching Petrus fall. "Feel free to take one of my wares to half the price."
As Ornstein glared at him, even though he wore his helmet, Patches took a step back and hastily corrected himself: "You can have one of my wares for free! What have I been thinking? Of course half the price would have been far too low for this trade."
Ornstein relaxed again and watched Tempest taking a humanity from Patches. The trickster then went back to his usual spot and Tempest joined Ornstein. "There are a few more people I want to talk with.", he said. "Are you coming with me?"
"Yes, but I will stay in the background like usual.", Ornstein said. "I shouldn't meddle too much in the affairs of the other Undead."
"Alright.", Tempest said and Ornstein followed him when he first went to the pyromancer. What was his name again? Laurentius, he thought. He was such a timid soul, not a bit like the Witches of Izalith, the original pyromancers. Apparently Tempest did pay Laurentius to strengthen his pyromancy flame. Ornstein asked himself why, in Izalith pyromancy would have next to no effect. He shuddered when he thought about the intense heat he would have to endure there. If he even made it out of Blighttown without puking. That certainly was the part of their journey that he looked forward to least.
After saying his goodbyes to Laurentius, Tempest went to the Vinheim sorcerer. Griggs, right? Wasn't he the student of this sorcerer with the big hat they found in the archives? Tempest talked to him for a bit and Ornstein could hear some parts of their conversation. It felt like Griggs wanted to leave Fire Link to join his master. Tempest wished him good luck and then came back to Ornstein, waving to Griggs.
"Where to now?", Ornstein asked.
"Back to the bonfire and down the stairs.", Tempest said. As they went back there, a new figure stood there... a knight of Catarina. "Siegmeyer? Or Sieglinde?", Tempest whispered. The question got answered once the figure noticed them and a female voice rang out.
"Oh, it's you. I am glad that I met you again, because I need to inform you that I finally located my father. All your help was invaluable to us, thank you so much. I will go and join him soon."
"That's great to hear, Sieglinde.", Tempest smiled, but Ornstein frowned.
"Are you sure you want to stay here? I have to admire your strength and skill, because never have I seen someone that wasn't undead faring so well in Lordran." It was rare for him to speak so much, but he didn't want for this girl to set on her inevitable death when she stayed here. Probably rising from the bonfire, like almost everyone that died in Lordran.
"I thank you for your concern, sir knight.", Sieglinde bowed in front of him. "But this is my duty and I need to pass on my mother's last words. Don't worry, after everything is said and done, I will leave this place."
After that, Sieglinde stopped talking and Ornstein and Tempest continued down the stairs. "I really hope this girl isn't running into her own demise.", Ornstein sighed.
"She will be fine, Ornstein. Have you seen how easily she held that Zweihander?", Tempest looked back at her, marvelling. "Knights of Catarina are amazing."
"They surely make good food.", Ornstein remembered some of the feasts he had attended back in the warm and joyful country as they walked down the stairs. There, he saw the Firekeeper of the shrine, behind bars. Tempest raised a hand to wave to her, but she just turned away and didn't acknowledge him at all.
"They normally aren't very talkative.", Ornstein said. "And I think this one had her tongue cut out when I remember correctly."
"Not anymore.", Tempest said. "When I got the soul back from this jerk, Lautrec, and gave it to her, her tongue was restored. She only spoke a few words though. She said she didn't want her tongue back."
"Lautrec? Who has that been?", Ornstein asked. He thought that Tempest might have mentioned the name once or twice, but he couldn't recall having ever met him.
"A knight of Carim. He was nothing but a jerk.", Tempest replied. "I found him hollowed on the upper floor of your cathedral. I don't think he will ever kill a Firekeeper again."
"A knight of Carim killed a Firekeeper?", Ornstein raised his brows. From what he knew, Carim knights were always dedicated to a single lady, so much even that they killed themselves should they fail to protect their lady. The fact that this Lautrec had been without a lady apparently had been a red flag already, but that he would go so far and kill a Firekeeper... something that no knight would ever dare. Because the fire was everything in Lordran. That was why they were on their mission to link it.
Ornstein's eyes rested shortly on Tempest. Was he... was he still fine with this? In the end, the little Storm would burn. Ornstein knew that it would happen, but he still had let his feelings overtake him.
Whatever would happen... they still had time. Ornstein could still think about something, anything. For now, they should just continue on with the mission.
"Yes, he did.", Tempest said. "I first found him in a cage in the Undead Burg and set him free. In hindsight, I should have let him there to rot, but a lot of the sane Undead get imprisoned by the Hollows, I have no clue whey they do it, and so I set him free and then I met him again at Fire Link Shrine and he gave me one of these medals, the one with the sun on it, do you know them?"
Ornstein felt a little sting at the mention of the sunlight medal. Of course he knew them... the symbol of his former Master...
"Anyway, he always sat there and stared at the Fire Keeper and when I returned from Blighttown, she was dead and Lautrec gone. I picked up a certain item from her corpse, looked like an eyeball. I didn't really know why I carried it around, but in Anor Londo, before I fought you, this thing suddenly activated and I found Lautrec. I then fought him... and died, but I didn't give up, because what he did was so low and I couldn't just stand there and let him get away with it. So, after I fought him so often that he got bored of me, I finally landed the finishing blow and next thing I knew is that I had the soul of the Firekeeper in my hands."
Tempest stopped and panted after this flood of words. Ornstein thought about offering him some water, when he remembered that the Undead didn't need to drink anymore. He just needed to catch his breath.
"I brought it back here and laid it on her corpse. I didn't think it would revive her. I simply wanted to do the burial rites, that's all.", Tempest finished his story. "That is when I first thought about that not everyone that comes here is a good person... but I still wanted to try. If I wouldn't have been able to trust anyone here anymore, my hollowing would have come even quicker..."
Ornstein stayed silent, unsure if he should say or do anything. In the end, he laid a hand on Tempest's shoulder and whispered. "You are a good soul."
"Thank you, Ornstein, hearing that from you means a lot, especially because you are the one who has the most right to hate me.", Tempest raised a hand to wipe a little tear out of his eyes, apparently the whole thing had gotten to him a lot more than he admitted.
"I am over this now.", Ornstein said. "Now you are my little Storm, remember?", Ornstein ruffled Tempest's hair, which only was possible because he decided to not wear his helmet when they weren't in the field. Tempest chuckled a bit at the affection.
"Thank you, Ornstein.", he said. "Now, let's finally go down the stairs."
"Who do you want to meet down there?", Ornstein asked. "Down there lies New Londo, I don't think any of the Undead would hang around there."
"Oh, one does.", Tempest got a small item out of his pocket, the blue glow implied that it was probably an ember for a blacksmith. "I told you about Rickert, the blacksmith. He has locked himself up there, but he's bored and asked me to bring him things to smith with. I am sure he will like the enchanted ember I found."
"A Vinheim sorcerer then.", Ornstein said.
"Yes. I am not a sorcerer and can't let him do much more than repair my weapons, but I am sure Griggs will talk with him before he departs and with the ember Rickert can smith better weapons, right?"
"Yes, indeed.", Ornstein and Tempest had walked down the stairs and were now riding the elevator. "That is the last person you wanted to meet though, correct?"
"Actually no, we still need to get into the Undead Burg and talk with a merchant who sells moss.", Tempest admitted. "I want to get some moss before we head down to Blighttown. I can heal myself with Estus, but when you are getting poisoned, Ornstein, we have a problem."
"True...", Ornstein shuddered at the thought of getting poisoned in the Blighttown swamp. Luckily the abrupt stop of the elevator broke him out of these thoughts. He followed Tempest, looking at the Hollows that still hadn't fully given in and tried to get out of losing their mind. Tempest ignored them, probably having seen them a dozen times already. While Tempest spoke with the blacksmith, Ornstein stared at a Hollow that looked like it wanted to pose for a painting. His thoughts wandered to his Master once again, having posed to him like this once for a painting and them chuckling about how Gwyn would have reacted if he found out about it.
If the Master still remembered this? Ornstein's eyes fell on Tempest and a smile tucked his lips upwards. Tempest was right. Why should he run after someone who had left him and never came back? He much rather threw himself at someone who was around him... or more, he had to let Tempest sit on his lap, if Ornstein threw himself at Tempest, he probably would need to get reborn from the bonfire.
After chatting a bit with the blacksmith, Tempest returned. "The merchant now?", Ornstein asked.
"Mhm.", Tempest confirmed and the both of them were once again off. The merchant Tempest talked about wasn't too hard to reach, the hollows in their way were hardly fighters, only a few of them having been soldiers of the Undead Burg. It surprised Ornstein a bit when they arrived and the merchant turned out to be a hollow herself, but still with her wits about her. She also had a sharp tongue, because she groused at Tempest about having left her alone here.
Tempest apologized and then asked for the moss. As Ornstein saw the merchant lay the wares out for Tempest, he noticed something. "How curious.", he said.
"What?", both Tempest and the merchant looked at him.
"The transient curses you have.", Ornstein spoke. "They were used to fight ghosts. They are barely seen anymore at this age. Little Storm, if you still have a few souls left, would you get at least two of them?"
"Really? But they are so expensive...", Tempest pouted, but when both Ornstein and the merchant glared at him, he quickly bought them.
"We will need them in New Londo, trust me.", Ornstein said, as Tempest stowed several clumps of moss away.
"If you say so.", Tempest crossed his arms as he walked. "But you better help me get the souls back."
"Of course, little Storm.", Ornstein promised. "Where to now?"
"The bonfire. We finally have everything we need and can go to Blighttown and from there to the Demon Ruins."
"There is no way around it anymore now, huh?", Ornstein shuddered.
"It surely won't be that bad, Ornstein.", Tempest gave him a little smile when he put on his helmet. "We only need to wade through the swamp for a short time and then we are out."
"And then there will be unbearable heat...", Ornstein sighed. "Wait, little Storm, do you remember the ring?"
"Which ring?", Tempest looked at Ornstein with a raised brow.
"The one from the Asylum. It will help with your footing in the swamp. I doubt I will be able to carry you through the swamp."
"Oh yeah.", Tempest said and found the ring in his luggage, slipping it on his finger. "Now I am truly ready. Let's go, Ornstein."
The next time Ornstein opened his eyes, he had to suppress a gag. He knew that the stench down here was foul, but he didn't remember it had been that bad. With his natural nausea after each warp, it was especially hard for him to not throw up right here and there.
He was sure that he needed a good five minutes to be able to raise his head, noticing that Tempest had held his hand the whole time.
"My apologies.", Ornstein murmured. "Now let's just get this over with."
"Tell me if you need moss.", Tempest said. "I have them ready and can give them to you anytime you need."
"When we cross this cursed swamp soon enough, I hopefully won't need it.", Ornstein said and walked towards the sludge, stopping in front of it, reluctant to step into it. He knew the water was so poisonous that mere contact with it was enough to get horribly sick, if kept untreated, the poison could even lead to death. It was a good thing that Tempest thought to bring moss with him. He was right, he could just undo the damage with his Estus until the poison had worn out, Ornstein couldn't do such a thing.
"Do you need another moment?", Tempest asked, intertwining his fingers with Ornstein's again. The knight gave Tempest a little squeeze, he very much appreciated the support, even though it didn't make Blighttown smell better.
"No, the longer I procrastinate it, the worse it will get.", Ornstein said. "Let's go."
What felt like five minutes later, Ornstein stood at one of the few dry islands of the swamp and was busy puking his breakfast out. It hadn't even been the poison. He had felt it after he took the first step into the swamp, but he knew that it would take time to take hold and Tempest knew a good route from island to island. No, it had been the stench and the feeling of the poisonous swamp under his feet. It had grossed him so out that at one point, he had flicked his helmet off and just barely had time to stoop down before his stomach forced out its contents.
He was faintly aware that Tempest was holding his ponytail out of the way, all while muttering soothing words to him which meanings Ornstein didn't get.
"I am sorry.", Ornstein muttered, his stomach turning when he looked at what once had been a very tasty omelette, "Your food deserved better than this."
"Don't worry, Ornstein. I should have regarded that it could happen and cook something that is easier to digest.", Tempest said, still holding Ornstein's ponytail when the dragon slayer dry heaved a few times, it appeared that his stomach didn't have anything to throw up anymore. He raised himself up again, frowning at the sour taste in his mouth.
"Do you want some water?", Tempest pretty much held a flask in front of Ornstein's face.
Instead of taking the water, Ornstein stared at Tempest with wide eyes. "Why do you have water with you, you don't even need it?", he asked.
"It's for you, silly.", Tempest grinned. "I also made a food box while you were preparing to leave, but I don't think you are up for eating in such an area and in this state..."
In an instant, Ornstein felt guilty. Tempest had put so much thought about his well being before heading out, and all Ornstein had thought about was that Tempest should better fill his Estus. He swore to himself that he would make the journey for Tempest as comfortable as possible the next time they headed out.
"Thank you, little Storm.", Ornstein mustered a weak smile and took the flask to wash out his mouth and free it from the sour taste of having thrown up. While he probably should drink a bit of it too to replenish his lost fluids, his stomach told him that wasn't a good thing to do, so he didn't swallow any of it. He probably would need the water more in Izalith anyway.
Just when Ornstein was about to give the flask back to Tempest, he saw that the small Undead stared at something in the distance.
"Siegmeyer?", he blurted out and then darted off as suddenly as he had spoken, making Ornstein's guilt vanish all at once. That was his little Storm to a T. Gladly, Tempest stopped not far from him, next to another undead in the armour of Catarina. Ornstein joined them and was graced with the picture of Tempest tapping against a clearly sleeping knight.
"He's SLEEPING! In Blighttown! Can you believe that, Ornstein?"
"I have to believe it, because I see it clearly in front of my eyes, if I have not got poisoned, otherwise it could be a hallucination." Ornstein eyed the knight of Catarina, there was no way to distinguish him from the other one, that woman named Sieglinde.
"So how do you know that is Siegmeyer?", Ornstein asked.
"We warped down here, Ornstein, there is no way that Sieglinde made it down so quickly.", Tempest said. "Also, would a young woman like her snore like that?"
Ornstein was about to say that a woman could snore just as loudly as a man, but he had to admit, the sounds coming from the knight sounded male and far older than Sieglinde, so he closed his mouth. Instead, he put his helmet back on, not wanting for his face to get perceived by any of the other Undead.
"This guy isn't waking up at all.", Tempest said, still tapping against his armour, when Ornstein felt how something sank its teeth into his ankle, or at least, the armour around his ankle. As he looked down, he had to rethink his phrasing of teeth, because that was a giant maggot and there were even more coming.
"Little Storm, you have to wake him up later, we have a tiny... or more, a big problem.", he hissed and drew his spear, piercing the maggot that chewed on his armour with it. Tempest turned around and gasped, preparing his pyromancy flame, hissing something like "Those bastards again."
It was a short, but intense fight. Soon Ornstein was surrounded by five or so maggots that the powers of his spears had burned to a crisp, but that was nothing against Tempest's new pyromancy flame, which pretty much burned the maggots to ashes. Just as the last of them fell, the knight known as Siegmeyer finally stirred.
"Mm! Oh-hoh!", were the first words out of his mouth when he adjusted his greatsword and his gaze apparently wandered from Tempest to Ornstein and then fixed itself on Tempest. "Excuse me. I was so absorbed in thought, I just drifted away."
Tempest and Ornstein shared a look with each other, he just hadn't drifted away, he had fallen asleep in Blighttown. Ornstein still didn't know it was possible, if he wouldn't have seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe it. However, Siegmeyer continued without having noticed or simply having chosen to ignore their stare.
"You see, I'm actually in a bit of a fix. I've made it this far, but I'm short on antidote moss for the trip back. By my knighthood, I am ashamed to ask... But can you spare a few scraps of moss?"
"What do you think, Ornstein?", Tempest had turned to Ornstein and was holding the moss out to him. Ornstein counted a minimum of ten.
"Yeah, sure, give him a few.", Ornstein replied. "I don't think that I need that many. We won't stay in this swamp forever and we try to avoid any poisoning. They are just for the worst case."
"Great.", Tempest smiled and then counted three mosses which he handed to Siegmeyer. If the face of the knight of Catarina hadn't been obscured by his armour, Ornstein was sure that it had lit up when he spoke his next words.
"Fantastic! Thank you, a saint you are. This knight of Catarina expresses his deepest gratitude. I shall not forget this. Please take this, a symbol of my appreciation."
Siegmeyer handed Tempest a small shield, the same one that he was using. Certainly great for parrying, though its aesthetic didn't fit with Tempest's outfit at all. As Ornstein was still observing the shield, Siegmeyer continued speaking.
"Well, our fates do seem entwined, don't they? Perhaps this, too, is the will of Lord Gwyn."
He ended with a hearty laugh while Tempest was thanking him for the shield while Ornstein frowned. He doubted that anything was still the will of Lord Gwyn. There was much reason to believe that the once great lord was nothing more but a husk... that is why they were on this journey. Ornstein knew they drew the Undead in with the promise of being someone great... and once he hadn't wasted a second thought at it, but now that he had gotten to know Tempest, it left a sour taste in his mouth and it wasn't from throwing up this time.
Tempest held a little small-talk with Siegmeyer, mainly about how to move around best in the swamp, before he bid the knight farewell and rejoined Ornstein, who had stood at the wall, being deep in thought.
"I am a bit surprised that he didn't comment on me.", Ornstein said.
"Hm, I think as long as you don't try to kill him, he doesn't mind who or what you are.", Tempest shrugged. "He told me about wanting to go to Izalith, so maybe we will meet him there. He also mentioned that there is more to Blighttown than meets the eye, I am kind of interested in what he meant with this..."
"Please don't make us run around longer in this swamp just to search for illusionary walls.", Ornstein shuddered.
"Ah, that was what he meant!", Tempest clapped his hands together. "Don't worry, Ornstein, we will head right to the Demon Ruins now, just be careful, there were some trolls with giant boulders there last time and-" Tempest interrupted himself and stared at his right. Curious, Ornstein turned his head as well, wanting to know what had thrown Tempest for a loop. He gasped when he saw just what Tempest was staring at it.
"That person hadn't been there the last time I was here.", he mused, but Ornstein had already stepped in front of her, more so, kneeled in front of her.
"Lady Quelana.", he said, having recognized the daughter of Izalith right away.
"Sir Ornstein.", Quelana said, her voice tired and cold. "And where have you been for the last thousand years?"
Ornstein felt a sharp stab of guilt at her words. He knew what she was talking about. Izalith had fallen and... Anor Londo had abandoned it. They had left it to the demon forces and the fake flame that had transformed the witch of Izalith herself.
"Is that someone you know, Ornstein?", Tempest finally got out of his stupor and joined them. "I am pleased to meet you, my name is Tempest." He gave a little bow, seemingly confused for why Ornstein was kneeling in front of a dirty woman in a black hood.
"Oh, a mere Undead that can see me?", Quelana's gaze settled on Tempest, who put both his hands in his hips and was about to reciprocate something, when she snatched his arm and his pyromancy flame sparked to life. "Ah, you possess the gift of Pyromancy... I am surprised that you accompany Ornstein, this old knight normally lashes out at fire with lightning."
Ornstein blushed brightly under his helmet. It hadn't happened in a while and Tempest always kept his distance when he used his pyromancy, but the instances where it had happened were still in Quelana's mind.
"Don't worry, Ornstein has killed me over thirty times already, one more because of a stray spark won't kill me. Um, you know what I mean.", Tempest grinned, making a waving motion with his hand.
"Quite a curious relationship the two of you have.", Quelana said and then her gaze locked on Ornstein again. "You haven't answered my question, dragon slayer. Where have you been the last thousand years? Izalith needed you."
Ornstein was about to open his mouth to defend himself, but there was nothing he could say, so he closed it again and stared at the ground. Quelana took this opportunity to speak again.
"No, it was cruel of me to ask you that. I know that you have to follow orders. You had to come back to your lord when he asked you and your knights to retreat. He gave up on us and you simply followed orders, as you always do. I bet even accompanying this one", Quelana's gaze went back to Tempest, "simply was an order."
"It's not like that!", Ornstein quickly said, feeling both Quelana's and Tempest's gaze on him. Well.. it had been an order, Tempest knew that, but... it wasn't like this anymore, or was it? Was he accompanying Tempest because Gwyndolin had told him, or because he wanted to?
"It isn't?", Tempest intervened, his big blue eyes ripe with confusion. "Does that mean you finally admit that you enjoy being around me, Ornstein?"
"You already know this.", Ornstein said, crossing his arms, as Quelana spoke next.
"Oh, I wouldn't have guessed that you had that kind of relationship. Though I am surprised, Sir Ornstein, your eyes used to follow the prince's every movement and now you replaced him with this whelp?"
"Hey!", Tempest said. "I am not a whelp, I am more like a puppy. Ah, but Ornstein is afraid of dogs, that means he wouldn't like to be around me..." He turned to Ornstein and his eyes were just as big as the ones of an actual puppy. "Would you still like me if I would be a dog, Ornstein?"
"Of... of course...", Ornstein said, feeling more and more awkward about this whole situation. "Though I would prefer if you could be a sheep."
"Of course. I can be a sheep for you, Ornstein!", Tempest grinned, only lowering his volume when Quelana cleared her throat.
"Anyway.", she said. "If you, the undead, or the sheep, or whatever you want to be, seek for stronger pyromancy, you can feel free to talk to me. I once had a human pupil, that was two hundred years ago. He was called Salaman in your world."
"Ah, I think Laurentius once mentioned him.", Tempest said, stepping closer to Quelana. "I very much would like to learn more about pyromancy. Especially how to control it. The better control I have over it, the less I scare Ornstein with it."
"Very well.", Quelana said. "Then let you be my pupil."
While Quelana talked Tempest through the finer arts of pyromancy, Ornstein was once again left alone with his thoughts. Even though Quelana wasn't mad at him, her words had left a stinging feeling on him. He always had only followed orders... when had been the last time he had decided for himself? And more so... would he be able to follow through with the mission and let Tempest burn?
Far too many questions he didn't have an answer for. He still had time to find one, at least until they acquired the last two lord souls. Though, it felt the day that Ornstein dreaded would come soon.
"I am ready, Ornstein.", Tempest said, suddenly appearing at his side. "What are you brooding about?"
"Nothing.", Ornstein said. "Let's move on, little Storm."
(Author's note: I actually wanted for the chapter to get longer, but there were plenty of words already and it felt like a very god place to cut, so I ended it here.
As always, I hope you enjoy and leave me your thoughts in the comments below.)