"Goblin Slayer stop!"
Goblin Slayer had reached out toward Dwarf Shaman's shoulder to wake him from his nightmare when he heard the feminine voice call out to him. He looked around, but saw none but his comrades still under the effects of Fear. One look back toward the open field and he could see the army marching forward, in a few short minutes they would easily enter the destroyed gate.
"An effect of the spell…I must wake them."
"Please listen Goblin Slayer, you must not wake them with direct force."
"Reveal yourself, whoever you are." Goblin Slayer reached for his sword as he looked for the source of the voice.
"I am the one who healed you in Mountain Pass. The spell of the Lich is very powerful, using ones fears against them, only those of extremely strong wills or who have conquered their own fears can break the spell. If you wake them now, the shock would be enough to destroy their hearts."
"Then how should I proceed…the army will be here momentarily."
"You must help your friends within their minds. Close your eyes and I shall guide you to the nearest one, from there, lend them your strength. Once you've aided my little one, have her use Holy Light…it shall dispel the fear without harming anyone."
"Understood." Goblin Slayer closed his eyes and placed his trust in this mysterious voice.
Lich Queen looked on with surprise at this armored figure who had already managed to break her spell. She was not able to hear the conversation between him and the disembodied voice, but figured he was now trying to wake his friends from their nightmares. A smile formed beneath her shroud at the thought of turning this mysterious figure into one her slaves…he may even be worthy enough of being like the Armored Skeleton.
xxxx
She found herself beaten, violated and on the verge of death within the darkened goblin lair, the only thing keeping her from completely collapsing to the floor were the manacles and chains bound around her wrists and neck. Like the other elf they had seen on their first quest with Orcbolg, now High Elf Archer had become their victim. She could hear the goblin cackles all around her, but before here were the shadowy outlines of figures, ones that looked like her party members.
"Help…me…" Her voice strained from the constant screaming after the hours of torture.
"Why aid a useless elf like you?" The voices came from all of them but were warped from what she was used to hearing. "Your sister was right, we should have found a better ranger than you. You are nothing but a burden, your capture was your own fault…the least you can do to atone for your failure is to die as quickly as possible."
High Elf Archer looked toward them with wide eyes, tears running down her face as their words echoed in her mind.
"How…how can you abandon me? Am I really that worthless to you all?"
"Do not listen to them."
It was a mechanical voice that sounded near her before a sword struck the chains tethering her to the wall. The moment the chains were cut her body fell forward, it felt heavy, and she was too tired to stop herself from falling until strong hands caught her. Her tired eyes looked up to see a man in dirty leather armor looking back at her.
"I have you…you are no burden."
Tears welled up in her eyes as he threw her arms around this man, hugging him tightly while sobbing like a child. Goblin Slayer was hesitant at first then gently placed his arms around her gently patting her the back of her head.
"Orcbolg…thank you…thank you."
"Listen…what you have been seeing is an illusion…you are not in a goblin lair…your body is fine."
High Elf Archer looked at him, unsure if what she was seeing was also part of the illusion or if what he was saying was the truth. She looked down at her nude form, covered in blood and wounds, she closed her eyes concentrating on what Orcbolg had mentioned and when she opened them found she was back in her normal attire, her wounds completely gone. She then looked back toward Orcbolg to see him standing and offering her a hand, which he happily took as he helped her back to her feet.
"Can you still fight?"
"Of course Orcbolg, but what about the others?"
"I will help them too."
High Elf Archer suddenly gasped as she opened her eyes and saw that she back on top of the ruined fortress. She looked back to see her friends and comrades still under the effects of the lich and off to the side was Orcbolg standing perfectly still. She smiled at the thought of him coming to rescue her and quickly recovered her bow to be ready for his instructions.
xxxx
"You…you were supposed to help us…you worthless…"
Dwarf Shaman cradled his dying uncle in his arms while looking ahead at the burning fortress and the hordes of the undead assaulting and feasting upon his friends. The look of utter defeat present on his face, how had this happened, how had he failed to help his uncle in his time of need.
"Honored Uncle…I'm…I'm sorry."
"What good are you apologies now…you damn useless nephew…I should never have trusted you to…"
Honored Uncle gasped for air before his arm went limp and hit the ground, Dwarf Shaman could not stop the tears that ran down his face as he yelled in ager at his stupidity. Suddenly he felt a heavy hand upon his shoulder, he turned expecting to see one of the undead come to feed on him, but instead saw Goblin Slayer looking back.
"Beardcutter…"
"You need to listen, none of this is real…your uncle has not fallen yet."
Dwarf Shaman gasped at what he was hearing ad when he looked back found his uncle gone and the flaming fortress gone as well. Dwarf Shaman sighed in frustration of being tricked by the Lich Queen, he dusted his clothing off as he stood to face Goblin Slayer.
"Thank you Beardcutter. What happens now?"
"I will continue to help the others until I find the girl, she can dispel this evil."
xxxx
Lizard Priest looked up to see the ghost-like figures of the ancient dragons looking down upon him with disdain.
"You have failed to destroy the evil that you swore to accomplish. Your inability to complete this task is the very reason the Lich Queen has conquered this land. Her hordes devour everything in their path…including your people."
"O powerful ancestors…I did not intend to fail…I…" Lizard Priest could not think of any excuse that he could give to explain his short comings, he lowered his head in shame.
"Be silent you wrym…no even labeling you as such would be too high a praise! You had hoped to become a dragon…what a laugh! You friends were depending on you and look at how you have failed them."
"No he hasn't."
Lizard Priest turned to see Goblin Slayer approaching, he was sure his friends had perished in the fight with the lich and yet here he was.
"Milord Goblin Slayer…you are alive?"
"This is not real…a trick of that creature."
"A trick…then the battle is not lost?"
"Her army is coming, help the Dwarf and Elf, I will help the others."
"At once Milord Goblin Slayer."
Lizard Priest opened his eyes and slowly stood to find Lady Ranger and Sir Mage preparing arrows for the archers as Goblin Slayer had asked. He quickly went to work to aid them in whatever capacity he could.
xxxx
Half-Demon Thief ran from the mob of people angrily chasing after her, but she was no longer the person at the fortress. She had changed to a young child, still clutching her stuffed toy, blood running from various wounds she had received. She ran until she found herself up against a wall, with her back against it she cowered as the mob drew closer. Every man and woman in that group either smiling sinisterly or glaring at her all the while they readied their weapons.
"Please…leave me alone! I've done nothing to you!"
"You mere existence is a sin! You should die and rid us of your foul presence!"
"No…we should capture it and then sell it to some lord or the king as a slave. Think of the money we could get from this demon."
"Why? What did I ever do to any of you?"
"You were born you damn monster!"
Someone in the crowd hurled a rock forward, Half-Demon Thief closed her eyes waiting for the rock to hit her, but instead heard the sound of it hitting something metal. She opened her eyes and saw a figured in dirty leather armor, with a small round shield attached to his left arm, standing before her.
"You will not harm her."
"She's a demon…they deserve to be killed!"
"I will protect those who need my help."
"Gob…Goblin Slayer."
"You need not be afraid, this is an illusion."
"The Lich Queen!"
Half-Demon Thief cursed silently for not realizing that she was under her influence. She looked down at the stuffed animal in her arms, lamenting her lost childhood, but soon realized that she would have to break this spell. With a sigh, her body reverted back to her adult form, free from any damage; she then looked back at Goblin Slayer and immediately blushed at the thought of him coming to save her.
"Thank you."
"Was that how your childhood was?"
"After being discovered…yes."
"You shouldn't worry, the others trust you and so do I."
Half-Demon Thief looked at him with wide eyes, once again indicating how her being a demon did not bother him or the others around her.
"I won't let you down sir."
xxxx
Both Wolf and Snow were shackled to the ground and each was beaten by humans and goblins. Every time snow was struck by the humans clubs, Wolf snarled and snapped as he tried to aid her but was unable to move any closer. Wolf then looked forward to see the goblins cackling as they held the bodies of his pups before him, then skewered the bodies and held them over an open flame. Both wolves growled at the humans and goblins who sneered while preparing to strike their bodies once again.
"Get away from them."
The goblins and humans turned to see an armored warrior with sword drawn. The vile humans and goblins rushed forward to attack, but were easily slaughtered by the armored warrior; once finished, Goblin Slayer moved toward the wolves and quickly undid their shackles.
"Are you both okay?" Goblin Slayer knelt to down to check both wolves.
Both wolves nuzzled up against Goblin Slayer then took turns licking his face, or rather his helmet. Goblin Slayer grunted as he gave both wolves gentle pats along their heads before standing once again.
"Good. Keep the others safe, I'll return soon."
xxxx
Spearman was down on his hands and knees, unable to grasp the situation before him. There was Goblin Slayer sitting upon a throne and one either side of him were the various women fawning over him. Guild Girl and Witch caressed his arms and chest, but Goblin Slayer did not care, only looking down at the pathetic looking warrior before him.
"You really thought you'd be the better warrior than me? You're a loser! Worthless! What woman would love you?"
"You damn hack! How dare you look down on me!"
"How dare you speak that way to Lord Goblin Slayer!" Guild Girl glared at Spearman while she wrapped her arms around Goblin Slayer's neck. "He is more of a man than you could ever hope to be!"
"You…are not…even worth…wasting breath on." Witch smirked at the sight of this man on his hands and knees. "You…were holding me…back."
"Not you too…I thought…"
"Enough."
All heads turned to the side to see Goblin Slayer walking forward until he was now beside the downed Spearman.
"Goblin Slayer! I thought…" Spearman looked back to see the visage of the girls and the other Goblin Slayer slowly fade away with a sigh he hung his head low. "It…it wasn't real…"
"Are you okay?" Goblin Slayer held out his hand to aid Spearman.
"Of, of course I'm alright!" Spearman knocked Goblin Slayer's hand away as he stood himself. "I'm surprised that you would even show up."
"We are comrades are we not?"
Spearman looked toward Goblin Slayer, completely shocked to hear him being referred to as Goblin Slayer's friend. In his mind, they had been rivals (although Spearman was the only one who was aware of this), and yet somewhere along the line, there had been a level of respect that had been built between them.
"Yeah…I guess we are comrades. So, what happens now?"
"Continue to aid the others, I will continue on myself until the Priestess has been awoken."
"The Priestess…what makes her so special?"
"I'm told that see can undone this curse."
"Is that right? Then better get to it Goblin Slayer!"
xxxx
She found herself along the floor of the darkened cave, body convulsing as blood ran from her mouth the cause of which was the dagger in her belly. She weakly looked around to see the state of her fellow party members. Warrior had been tore apart, pieces of what remained of his body thrown all around the cave. Wizard lay dead from the poison on goblin's blades, her clothing torn as the goblins savaged her body while she was still alive. Fighter too lay dead off to the side, her neck broken after the hobgoblin grew tired of her.
"How…how did this…happen…"
"Because you are too weak."
She looked forward to see a figure in dirty leather armor killing the last of the goblins before turning toward her. Even if she could not see his face behind his helmet, she could feel the cold, unfeeling gaze he cast upon her.
"Help me…please…"
"Why? What good are you if you couldn't even help your party?"
"Please…I beg you…"
"I do have an antidote. Just reach for it." This figure withdrew a vial of green liquid from his bag and placed it along the floor.
Priestess struggled to reach for the vial, her body burning and feeling like it was weighted down with steel. Just as her fingers nearly reached for the antidote, the armored figure brought his foot down crushing, shattering the bottle into hundreds of tiny pieces. Priestess gasped at the sight, she then looked bak at the armored figure to see him chuckle sinisterly.
"Goblin Slayer…why…"
"Because I don't need a weakling slowing me down. I could have vanquished all the goblins by now if not for you…it was a mistake to save you."
Priestess eyes were wide as she heard Goblin Slayer's comment, tears running down her face, at this point she could not see any reason to try and fight her impending demise. Goblin Slayer chuckled sinisterly as he walked towards her drawing his sword, then stopped as he towered over her.
"As a final act of mercy, I shall put you out of your misery…and mine."
Goblin Slayer raised his sword, ready to plunge it into Priestess neck when a blade suddenly flew forward and struck his chest. Goblin Slayer screamed in pain as blood spewed from his wound while Priestess could only look on with wide eyes as the man she knew fell landing on his back. She struggled to turn her head to see what had struck him and gasped as the sight of Goblin Slayer walking towards her.
"Gob…Goblin Slayer?"
"Are you okay?" Goblin Slayer knelt down to check on the injured Priestess.
"I…but you…"
"That was not me. Look."
Priestess looked once more to see the other Goblin Slayer dissolving, all that remained was Goblin Slayer's sword which clattered to the ground once the false version had vanished. Priestess was shock then looked back to see Goblin Slayer extend his hand to her which she gratefully accepted. With a quick movement, he helped her back to her feet, the previous pain she had been feeling was gone.
"I…I don't understand."
"This is the work of the Lich. It is an illusion, look behind you."
Priestess turned and could see the bodies of her former party members also vanish, she looked down at her stomach and realized that the wound she received was gone, all the pain she felt had been in her head.
"You are not a burden."
Priestess looked toward him and watched as he retrieved his sword before turning back to face her.
"I heard what he said. As I told you, I trust your judgment and appreciate all your help."
"Goblin Slayer…" Priestess struggled to hold back the tears in her eyes.
"I will need your help."
"What do you need me to do?"
"The one who healed me in Mountain Pass…what did you call her?"
"Earth Mother!"
"She said you would be able to break the Lich's spell."
"What? Me! How?"
"Use Holy Light…the light will dispel her curse."
"Of course sir…right away!"
xxxx
Priestess snapped back to reality, carefully looking around to see many of the others were still under the effect of Fear, but saw that the rest of her party was quick to set up arrows along the wall in readiness for the archers once they had recovered. Down below in the courtyard, Spearman and Lizard Priest were gathering bits of debris to be used for the undamaged catapults below. Both wolves walked over toward her and like with Goblin Slayer rubbed up against her, waiting for her to pet them, which she did with a big smile.
"Lass you're back."
"I take it Orcbolg got you out of that Fear spell right?"
"Yes, did he also…"
"Indeed my dear, we were most fortunate to have him aid us." Lizard Priest gave a happy shout as he loaded up one of the stones into the catapult.
"He even managed to help me out of that situation." Half-Demon Thief looked over at the still motionless Goblin Slayer.
"Wait, this is no time to be losing focus. I have a job to do!" Priestess looked out to see the army of the undead, the skeletal warriors marching forward drawing ever closer to the fortress and raised her sounding staff high and began the chant. "O Earth Mother, abounding in mercy, grant your sacred light to we who are lost in darkness…Holy Light!"
Suddenly a bright light not only covered the top of the fortress but rather engulf the entire fortress, the skeletal army halted in their tracks as they saw the sight. Even without eyes in his skull, Armored Knight and the Lich Queen were forced to shield their eyes from the light, Lich Queen looked back with wide eyes as the red mist of her spell had blown away.
"That accursed light! Damn that spell caster…how did she break free from Fear? Wait…it was him, that armored being!"
Everyone inside the fortress woke from their trance, each looking around at their surroundings, checking to make sure they were back in the fortress. Several had died from their fright, while others had to bear the shame of having soiled themselves from their fears, but now was not the time for such trivial thoughts. Hero and the others awoke to find Goblin Slayer standing tall as he walked toward the ledge, many of them still on the ground, their legs still weak from their fear.
"The horde is coming."
She and the others quickly got back to their feet and rushed forward to see the damage from Sun Burst and the horde of the undead standing in place.
"We got the arrows ready Orcbolg!"
"Good." Goblin Slayer then turned toward Witch who had finally recovered. "Can you set the tips ablaze?"
"A…simple task. Also…thank you…for… removing…that spell." Witch gave a wave of her hand and chanted the phrase. "Brilliant Inflammarae."
Instantly the tips of every arrow were surrounded by a purple flame.
"Those who can fight on the front lines get down here and join me!" Spearman called out to those still atop the fortress.
"When I give the signal, have all the archers launch the flaming arrows." Goblin Slayer gave this simple instruction toward Honored Uncle and the others leaders then turned toward High Elf Archer. "Do you see those four trees toward the front?"
High Elf Archer looked out and did indeed see four trees spaced out across the battlefield and atop each one she could clearly see a circular clay object securely tied to them.
"Orcbolg…those better not be what I think they are!"
"You may strike them in any order you wish." Goblin Slayer then turned toward Wolf and Snow. "Stay with them and keep them safe."
The two wolves barked and wagged their tails in response to the armored man's voice. Goblin Slayer gave a nod of his head before rushing down the stairs to join Spearman and Lizard Priest, followed by Dwarf Shaman and Rookie Warrior. Hero and her party could only watch all this, completely dumbfounded by what had just transpired, but Female Swordmaster and Hero quickly rushed after them to join in the battle. The dwarves and humans in the courtyard quickly went to work loading the catapults while the rest of the army readied themselves.
"So, what do you want to do Goblin Slayer?" Spearman smirked as he looked over at the oddly dressed armored warrior.
"I am used to dealing with goblins. I will defer to your judgement."
"It would be a mistake for us to try and fight them in here, our best bet is to defend from outside and fall back in need be. I trust you have some sort of plan though yes?"
"I do."
"Then let's have the magic user up front to assault the army, and after the first spell warriors will move forward."
Although hesitant, the elves, dwarves and humans quickly followed with Spearman's plan. With the forces spread out in front of the fortress, the skeletal warriors turned toward Armored Skeleton for direction.
"What are you waiting for you bags of bones? Slaughter those fools! Charge!"
The army of skeletal warriors gave out an unholy yell before rushing forward, the surviving warriors grew nervous at the sight of the charging army. Goblin Slayer and the others however were calm and waited for Goblin Slayer's signal. The moment the closest skeletons were within range of the wooden pole near them Goblin Slayer gave his order.
"Now!"
The archers along the fortress took up the flaming arrows and fired their volley; Lich Queen and Armored Skeleton saw this, but paid it no mind as this rain of flaming arrows would not be a problem for the skeletons that were being targeted. As Goblin Slayer had hoped, the army was taken in by his distraction and now High Elf Archer's arrows took flight, one after another. While the other flaming arrows hit armor and the ground near the skeletons, High Elf Archer's arrows struck each clay sphere easily igniting the contents. Upon impact, the grenados exploded easily destroying the skeletons and catching them by surprise. Lich Queen and Armored Skeleton, along with the others in the fortress, were completely shock by the sudden explosions around the army.
"Spell casters and catapults, shoot!" Spearman gave the shout
While their army was in disarray, the spell casters chanted their spells and fired various projectiles at the skeletons before them. From rocks to fire, lightning to ice, the skeletal soldiers were easily destroyed, now allowing the warriors to switch places with the spell casters and charging forward to meet the army.
"You miserable worms…I have no choice but to settle things myself." Lich Queen's eyes flashed red beneath her shroud as she angrily moved forward to slaughter all before her.
Author's Note: Thanks for everyone's patience, I at first wanted to include every character's nightmares, but then realized that alone might have taken some ten pages for every person. Instead I decided to focus on the main party, Spearman's "fear" was just something thrown in for fun…and NO I'm not shipping Goblin Slayer and Spearman, it's completely platonic (For those who are disappointed, my apologies).