Chapter 24: Ramdon
The doors of the Riverview keep opened and Aldren, Anna and Barec walked into the hall with weapons drawn and a small group of soldiers trailing behind. Aldren's sword glowed brightly and he held it up to illuminate the darkened room for the others to see, as they dispersed each of them opened the doors and windows to let the light in. Once this was done Aldren let the glow of his sword die down. The Riverview keep was not large and only consisted of the main hall and a few rooms to each side and the upper levels.
At the very back of the main hall was an elaborate throne of wood and gold with twin banners of a gold ram's head across an umber background hanging from the ceiling to the sides. The head of the backrest was decorated by a pair of golden goat horns while the wood of the right arm rest was carved into the visage of a ram's head. One would assume the left arm rest would be of the same design were it not broken away long ago.
Against the right wall, adjacent to the throne was a display that held a two handed bearded ax and an open face helm. The pommel of the ax was made into a steel spike, the handle wrapped in tight umber leather while the butt was formed into a golden ram's head. Aldren narrowed his eyes at the engravings along the blade that read as 'Beak Splitter'. The helm was in the same gold shade from the banners above, the image of two downward angled, upward curving horns were etched into the sides while the crest along the top was a figure of a charging ram.
The age of the hall was clear in the rusted metal, rotted wood and tattered banners. No one had taken seat here for many years and it showed in image...and in smell, the stink of the rotten wood permeated the air. But while the throne like the rest of the hall had fallen into disrepair, the helm and ax looked as though they had been forged yesterday. As if someone had polished them every day since the end of the war...curious.
Anna held a hand over her mouth, her nose crinkling in distaste for the odor, "Maybe we shouldn't set up our war room here, yeah?"
"Agreed." Aldren nodded, holding a hand over his own nose.
The soldiers that had each checked a room of the hall in pairs had all returned and confirmed that no naga were in hiding, Aldren turned to Anna and Barec and said smiling, "Well I say that makes Riverview officially ours."
He cocked his head when he saw Anna gazing at the banners in the hall, lost in thought. "Anna?"
She snapped back to reality, "Yes! Yeah I...I just noticed, this symbol: the ram, we have banners like this at Arendelle during Christmas...and my sister has a box with it too."
His eyebrow raised, "Hmm...Interesting."
Anna looked around at the throne and weapon display, then back to him with curiosity in her eyes, "Aldren, what is this place?"
He turned and walked towards the throne, "Before it was called Riverview this hold was once known as Goldhorn..." he stopped in front of the throne, "The ancestral home of house Ramdon and seat of power for the deceased lord Erik Ramdon."
Anna walked up beside him, looking down at the broken arm rest, "What happened here?"
"Many years ago before you were born and I was but a babe still in my mother's arms, Lord Erik of house Ramdon tried to usurp your father's rule. He declared himself the new king of Arendelle and waged war on the crown and all others that stood against him. He possessed a large army and took possession of Ashla's Pike, which belonged to no house, as his new seat of power and in doing so committed greater treason and violated ancient Arendellian custom and law which turned the other houses against him. He swore that he would take King Agnarr's throne, his life and afterwards queen Iduna as his own."
Anna shuddered at the thought of such a person having anything to do with her mother, Aldren noticed this and placed a comforting hand on her back as he continued. "Needless to say it didn't go well for him. Near the end of the war he sent his son Oddvard with a portion of his forces to create a diversion by harassing the towns and villages near Hadenville to draw the king's army away while he laid siege to Hammerhel. Had he succeeded in capturing my father's house, he'd been able to use my mother and my own life as ransom against my father and he might have possessed a fortress that could outlast the king's army indefinitely. But there were two things he hadn't counted on: The combined armies of Arendelle city, the Forge lands and Glister lands defeated Oddvard's diversion faster than he had hoped. And the fatal assumption that the dwindled Hammerhel guard would make for an easy victory, what he got was a steady and unyielding resistance led by my uncle Aldris and former captain Krar. My father realized the trap and while house Floran and Starlon finished with the rebels in the Glister lands he led the Embercrow army to break the siege of Hammerhel."
Aldren then looked down at the floor sadly "Unfortunately Aldris was killed in the fighting by lord Ramdon himself, when he realized the battle was lost he fled with his army northwards. Enraged by his brother's death my father pursued them back here to Goldhorn, but Erik was not here...instead Oddvard had been left to defend his father's house alone, with a meager force of three hundred." he traced his hand along the shattered arm rest, "This is where my father killed him..."
Despite the fact that Erik Ramdon sounded like a horrible person in life, Anna noticed that Aldren did not seem proud of his father for Oddvard's death. But she remained silent as her friend finished his story. "With Goldhorn in possession of the crown, our fathers led the kingdom's combined armies to the final assault of Ashla's Pike, 'The Battle of the Northern Gate'. After my father slew Erik and house Ramdon was declared extinct, Goldhorn was renamed Riverview and deemed to belong to no house not unlike The Pike itself." Aldren looked at Anna, a determined smile on his face, "The Pike is where our fathers defeated the Ramdon Rebellion and it is where we will defeat the Witch King and the Naga Ai...it is where we will win Anna."
She smiled back and nodded, "I know Aldren...I know. But if they were traitors, why does their standard still show in Arendelle?"
Aldren looked back at the throne, "I think perhaps...your father was a kinder man than mine in this instance. Maybe...it was his way to honor their house despite Erik's crimes."
"And...The box?"
"I imagine it was taken from here after the end of the war, perhaps given to her as a gift from my father on her name day."
He squeezed her shoulder, then he turned to lead them out of the hall, "Now let us find a better place for our..." he held up a hand and everyone stopped.
"What is it?" Anna whispered.
Aldren remained silent, he knew the sound even though nobody else had heard it...it was a cough, but where was it coming from? The rooms had been checked and there was nowhere in the main hall to hide, he checked the rafters just in case. There was only one other place it could have come from, slowly he pointed towards the floor. As they all looked in the direction of his finger, he used his foot to lift up a small rug that cover the handle of a trap door.
He nodded to Barec who carefully lifted the rug off of the door and grasped the iron handle. Anna knocked an arrow and stood beside Aldren as he drew his sword and positioned himself in front of the door while the soldiers with them surrounded it with weapons poised. Barec looked to the rest of the group and held up three fingers, Aldren nodded, lowering himself into his battle stance while Anna tightened her string as Barec counted down. Once he hit zero he threw the trap door open, they had expected naga to fight...but what they all saw surprised them greatly...
Children, several young Arendellian boys and girls of various age and size. And in front of them shielding them with her arms was an older woman with graying hair and faded green eyes who was dressed in a light gold and green dress, to her sides were two Arendellian guardsman in similar stances who still wore the original Arendellian uniforms, one of them had a bandage wrapped around his head that covered his left eye. They were all dirty and their expressions were utterly terrified, Aldren, Anna, Barec and the other soldiers lowered their weapons at the sight of the children, making them relax slightly, all save for the elder woman in front of them.
Anna put away her bow, smiling she knelt down in front of the group and spoke softly, "Hey, it's alright. We're not going to hurt you." She held out her hand to them, the elder woman hesitant to take it, she seemed to eye Aldren with caution in particular. But a young boy ducked under her arm and graciously took the princess's hand. Anna helped the boy out and set him down on the floor next to her, the rest of the children followed suit, the elder woman and the two wounded guardsmen helped to hand off the children to Aldren, Barec and the other soldiers.
When time came for the last: a small brown haired girl who was no older than eight, the elder woman lifted her towards Aldren but again hesitated.
"Don't worry, I've got her." he reassured her.
She handed off the girl to him who was about to nod off on his shoulder, he smiled: she reminded him of Alandra. He then offered his hand to the woman whose caution and distrust was clear in her expression, even so she allowed him to aid her. At the same time Aldren watched Barec help one of the guardsmen out of the space, the guardsman seemed to recognize him and smiled to Barec, "Barec? You're alive?"
Barec narrowed his eyes towards him, "Lukas?"
Lukas nodded and Barec laughed, "I didn't recognize you with that bandage covering your whole face."
The guardsman shrugged, "I'm lucky to have a half a face-"
"Wait! My brother: Derad, did you seem him, is he alive?" Barec grasped Lukas's shoulders with desperate hope in his eyes.
Lukas's expression dropped, "Yes but...they took him north with everyone else, I'm sorry Barec..."
Barec's sad eyes gave away more than the rest of his expression allowed, he distracted himself with another question. "Ned...?"
The guardsman's somber expression remained, "He lived up to being a veteran of the rebellion, but...no one could stand against that many of them..."
Barec could no longer hide his sadness, his eyes wrenching shut.
"Then it is as we feared."
Everyone turned to Aldren, the little girl asleep on his shoulder, "The naga have taken our people to Ashla's Pike, but we still don't know why..."
Anna walked up beside him, "It doesn't matter why; it matters that we get them back." she said firmly.
"Indeed, but before we discuss that topic further, I think we'd very much like to hear how you all managed to avoid the naga as long as you did...and your names as well." he said to the guards and the elder woman.
"Colborn, my lord." the second guardsman piped up.
"I'm Lukas my lord and the mastermind behind that is her." he said gesturing to the elder woman.
Aldren turned to her, "And what may we call you, madam?"
She was silent for several seconds before she swallowed hard, standing as tall as she could as she spoke, her voice weighted by various emotions, "I am Freja...and I am the overseer of Ramdon keep in Goldhorn."
It was brave or perhaps foolish of her to speak of this dead house in the presence of Aldric Embercrow's son, she did so with pride in her station and with no small amount of contempt towards Aldren. Anna didn't particularly like her attitude but before she could say anything Aldren beat her to it.
"Really..." he said simply with a raised eyebrow, then turning to Anna, "Your grace, might I ask you to help get these children something to eat and some comfortable beds to sleep on?" he offered the little girl in his arms to her.
She gingerly took the child from him, speaking in a whisper, "Sure but...what are you going to do?"
He turned back to Freja, "I wish to have a little talk with the 'Ramdon' Overseer. I won't be long..."
Anna was now somewhat concerned for Freja, though the elder woman looked slightly fearful her proud stance did not falter. Anna nodded and turned to leave with the rest of the soldiers as they escorted the children from the hall, she turned back with worry in her face. The doors closed behind her and the last she saw was Aldren's neutral expression as stared down Freja whose hateful gaze was no longer contained now that they were alone...
OoO
Freja continued her glare towards Aldren in the silence while he simply met her gaze without showing any emotions. He then took a few slow steps towards her, her face became less angry and more afraid but still she stood her ground. He stopped directly in front of her, looking down on her he folded his arms, "So...how did you manage to evade the naga?"
The elder woman searched her thoughts nervously before answering, "When...when those creatures attacked, I was with several families here in the hall. A guardsman came here carrying one of his own...from there it became clear that they would not hold off the...naga as you call them. The-the parents of all the children agreed that...the children should be saved first. They volunteered me to watch over them, I took them down here: below the floor. While the parents stayed above to be found...they were all taken..." These last words nearly brought tears to her eyes, her lips trembling.
"One of the things I've learned about the naga during this conflict is that their senses of hearing, sight and smell are much more acute than a human's...so how did you stay hidden?" he already knew the answer to this question but wanted to see if she did.
She rubbed her eyes before continuing, "They don't seem to like the smell of the hall, the stink of rotten wood masked us and kept them from venturing into the keep. It's here that we've remained all these weeks, Lukas and I would sneak out to find food for the children when we could."
Aldren walked away from her towards the ax display, his hand behind him as he continued to speak with his back to her, "And...What were you and those families doing in this hall?"
"We heard it was a time of war: we were honoring the dead and dear...we honored Oddvard."
"Yes...the son of the traitorous lord Erik Ramdon, felled by my father's own hand..." he said this in an unconcerned tone, grasping the ax and looking over it, knowing that would raise her ire.
Freja huffed in anger, seemingly enraged that Aldren would even touch the weapon and stomped over to him, "Yes! Your father who had no qualms about killing the young lord who had an army a fourth the size of his own!"
Aldren turned towards the fuming woman, "My father is not to blame for lord Ramdon's diseregard for his own son's life, as Oddvard was ordered to defend Goldhorn with such a meager force; Erik sentenced his own son to death-"
"HE WASN'T ORDERED!"
Aldren's eyes widened slightly, Freja breathed heavily, closing her eyes and sighing heavily, her voice growing heavier with sadness as she went on, "He-he wasn't ordered...Oddvard...he chose to remain, he would not abandon his ancestral home while his father ran like a coward! And those that were loyal to him remained by his side...till the end..."
Aldren tilted his head slightly, "And how do you know this?"
She looked up, her gaze hardened again and speaking through gritted teeth, "Because I was here!" She pointed to the trap door, "In that same spot all those years ago, I watched the battle in the hall! I watched your father kill my-!...the best hope for this house to prosper again..." tears now began to well in her eyes as she finished.
Aldren nodded slowly, carefully setting the ax down, turning away from the display and walking back to the middle of the room as he spoke, allowing himself to be more sympathetic, "I believe you...but I would ask you: would you have had Erik win the war, kill king Agnarr and rule Arendelle as he saw fit? Should Arendelle, rather than be tended under Queen Elsa's gentle rule been oppressed beneath Erik's cruelty?"
It took everything Freja had to hold back her sobs, "I prayed every day for that man to meet an early grave, no one loved him, no one wept for him when he died...I hoped that his son would take his place and bring peace to the realm...I-I don't blame your father for Erik's death!...but I do blame him for Oddvard's...I loved that boy like he was my own, he was good! He was kind! And he KILLED HIM!"
Aldren turned back towards her and approached her, looking her in her tearful eyes, "He did...And I am sorry, I am sorry you had to bury your 'son'...and his house's hope with him."
Freja was weeping now, she couldn't stop herself as her head leaned forward against Aldren's chest plate. He sighed, putting his hands on her shoulders and asking her to look at him, "I won't ask you to forgive my father for what he took from you, I won't ask you to forgive me for being an Embercrow...I only ask two things of you: That you continue to servethe realm by caring for these children and...That you consider where we would be here and now if Erik or Oddvard ruled rather than queen Elsa..."
Releasing her shoulders, he turned to leave the hall, before he reached the doors she called out to him, "Lord Embercrow." He turned back to her, she wiped the tears from her eyes before speaking, "You're right: I don't forgive...and I'll never forget. I will do whatever duty is required of me to serve this kingdom...but I'll never trust an Embercrow." her gaze was as hard as it was before but no longer hateful.
He smiled, "Of course not, trust is earned and I have yet to earn yours...I have quite the task ahead of me."
He left her then with a surprised and perplexed expression towards his kindness and understanding, though she still remained bitter and scorned towards the Embercrow name. Still one could not deny that there was hope for closure and trust...perhaps far off hope, but hope still...
OoO
Aldren, Anna and Barec all stood around a table inside the destroyed building from the troll attack which so happened to have been the Riverview guardhouse. It still possessed some semblance of a roof and at first thinking seemed the best place for them to hold their planning, but they soon came to regret it as the stench from the dead troll was hard to ignore.
Anna held a hand over her mouth and nose, nearly gagging, "Ugh, we should have stayed in the hall."
Aldren nodded in agreement as he laid out a map, "Indeed, we should have..." Though he seemed less bothered by the stink than everyone else.
"Why does it smell like that?"
He looked up from the map, "Tyranite doesn't just twist its victims, it hastens decay, and creatures infected by it are generally doomed to lead short and very unhappy lives. Once they perish, the smell is like a last insult left by the tormented creature...as if even in death the monstrosity mocks us as we-"
Anna poked him, "OK, now your starting to creep me out."
He smiled and shrugged, "Sorry. Though while I too might prefer the smell of rotting wood rather than decaying troll, I think it best we leave Ramdon keep to Freja whenever possible."
Anna folded her arms, "It was good to see you both walk out of there alive..."
"You doubted one of us would?"
"Well...no but-"
"There are grievances between my house and the house she served but for now at least, there are no problems between her and I that will affect our mission."
Anna stepped a little closer, putting her hand on his arm, "So...What did you guys talk about?"
"I think it's best if we discuss this later..."
"Come on, it can't be that bad-"
"Later." he said in a whisper, motioning behind her with his eyes.
Anna turned to see Freja approaching them, standing just outside of the shattered building, her stance as proud as ever. "Your grace...lord Embercrow."
"Overseer Freja."
"Some of the homes of the children are blocked off by debris. May I request the aid of some of your soldiers so that they may reach their belongings?"
"Of course." he turned to Barec, "Sergeant, gather some men to help them."
Barec did not respond, his gaze towards the ground displaying he was somewhere else.
"Barec!"
He snapped back to reality, "Y-yes, my...lord-I was..."
Aldren sighed, grasping Barec's shoulder, turning him away from the others and speaking in a hushed tone, "Barec, if your brother is alive then Ashla's Pike is the best hope you have for finding him but I need you to hold fast until then, I need you here and now my friend."
"I...I know my lord...what was my order again?"
"Take-some-men and help Freja with the debris."
Barec nodded, leaving the guardhouse with Freja who only bowed towards Anna and not Aldren. Anna frowned at the woman as she left, irritated with her disrespect towards her 'brother', in her impulse, a hand found a wooden cup that she readied to throw at the back of Freja's head. She was halted when Aldren grasped her wrist, stopping her throw.
He smiled and took the cup out of her hand and released her wrist. She sighed and leaned against the table, "So what did you guys talk about, hm?
"Well...you understand that my father killed Oddvard Ramdon, yes?"
"Yeah."
"On my part, I learned that she cared a great deal for him...he was like a son to her."
She nodded understandingly, regretting her impulsive attempt to throw something at her, "Oh..."
"A revelation was also revealed to me by her: Erik never ordered Oddvard to remain at Goldhorn...he chose to defend his home and face my father, he fought...he lost. She still holds that against my house and I don't expect she will reconcile with me any time soon."
"But...That's not-"
"Fair? Mm...Neither was the death of my uncle Aldris, neither was the death of Oddvard nor the death of your parents or the death of my wife and-..." Aldren looked onward, away from her and grasped his right shoulder, his eyes held his true sadness in them.
Anna nearly gasped, she had not yet seen it in him until now but she recognized it immediately. She gently wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder, "Aldren...let's not talk about it anymore."
He grasped her arm, gently squeezing, "Agreed..."
She released him, he rubbed his head and exhaled, "For now, let us prepare to solidify our grasp on the south. We'll soon send out smaller parties to scatter any remaining naga forces in the region, once that is done we will send word to her majesty that we have secured the Troll's Pine. If you would be so kind as to write out that letter to your sister?"
She grinned, "I can do that."
"Thank you, once we hear word from her that the Glister lands are taken, we will leave behind a small garrison while the rest of us regroup at Hammerhel. We then march back to the capital and after that..."
"We take back the Pike."
"Yes, and with it: all of Arendelle and-"
Aldren stopped, looking towards the sky he stepped out from the guardhouse, Anna followed his gaze and she saw it too...smoke. They looked at each other and bolted in the direction of the fumes, several soldiers were shouting and running in the same direction, some carrying buckets of water. They came upon the horrifying scene: a house had been set aflame, men threw buckets of water onto the fire in a vain attempt to douse the growing inferno, to the side Freja and the other children watched in terror.
Aldren and Anna saw Barec directing the soldier's efforts, they ran to him and Anna spoke first, "Barec, what's happened?"
Barec turned to them, "I-I don't know, the fire started out of nowhere-but that's not the worst of it; one of the kids is trapped inside!"
Freja shouted above the crowd to them, "Her name is Agatha, she's only eight!"
"We can't get close enough to get inside!" Barec shouted, on Que more debris fell that further blocked the entry way.
Aldren walked towards the burning building without hesitation, "I can."
Anna ran after him stepping in front of him, "Aldren wait! You may be fire proof but I don't think your rubble proof-"
"I'm the only one who can withstand the flames...and I-am-not going to let that girl die." he said firmly and resolute.
Anna wanted to argue but she couldn't, he walked past her and was too close for anyone else to approach now. He gripped a burning wooden beam with both hands as if there were no flames at all, using all his strength he lifted it and threw it to the side. Drawing Black Autumn, he hacked away at the rest and ran into the blaze within. Anna's expression held the same kind of terror she felt for her sister when she was in danger, but this time...there was nothing she could do...
OoO
Aldren sheathed Black Autumn, searching and listening above the flames that were creeping in from all directions, he could now hear the girls terrified cries for help. He saw her standing on top of a table, tears running down her face as she whimpered in fear. It was same girl he had held in the keep and for a moment he froze, he saw that same expression of terror that had been on his sister's face when she-
He shook his head and made his way over to her, moving through the main room, the flames snapping at his legs like blades of lethal grass. She saw him approach and smiled, her brown eyes lighting up at the sight of help that had come. "Come now girl, jump to me!" He held his arms out and she jumped into them, holding her close he started to make his way back towards the doorway, "Hold tight and keep your head down." he instructed.
Before he could make it to the exit another larger beam collapsed in front of the doorway and blocked the way. Agatha screamed in fear and Aldren shielded her from the licking flames and embers with his shoulder. Looking at the obstacles size, he knew there would be no moving it by hand, he couldn't put Agatha down and it would take too long to hack through it. His mind once again wondered to his darker thoughts: his parents, his sister trapped in a corner while the flames close in around them, his wife and unborn child dying in his arms...he could do nothing then.
But he did not allow himself to be trapped by these evils, he closed his eyes and breathed...just breathed, slowly...peacefully. His other hand extended outward and as it did he looked back on the month or so that had past: his first meeting with Elsa, her powerful words to him in the gardens, the sister he had found in Anna as he had trained her, bonded with her. The loyalty of Baldrek and Barec, his people triumphing over the naga at Hammerhel, opening up to Elsa and laying his deepest scars out to her and how she had begun to soothe them. And Christmas night...when they had danced together, they way she had looked at him, he knew what she had wanted...he wanted it too. But he wasn't ready then...now he wasn't afraid to admit the truth that he had known since that night...he was starting to realized his truth...
His hand lifted up, the flames surrounding the beam pointed upward, like tethers at his command they pulled and the obstacle lifted with them. His eyes still closed he walked through the doorway, his hand following the beam as it floated above them, the fear from young Agatha all but gone, she watched in awe as he performed the 'best magic trick'. Once outside and a safe distance from the burning house Agatha climbed down from his arms, his concentration broken he opened his eyes and leaned over onto his knees and breathed heavily, the beam crashing back down. Agatha ran to Freja and the other children while Anna and Barec ran to him.
Anna grabbed him tightly and laughed happily, "Aldren you did it!"
He hugged her back, her tight squeeze not helping his breathing problem, "I guess I did." he wheezed.
She released him and looked him over for a moment before smiling toothily. He then looked to Barec who was wide eyed and speechless.
"Barec?"
"I...I mean I knew you had powers but...heh, wow!"
Aldren nodded back but he was not fully satisfied with the outcome of events, the fire had to have been started by someone and it was no accident that Agatha had been inside. Then he felt it; like a shadow, a poison that crept its way into his ears...a dark whisper that pulled at his mind. He followed the sound upward and atop the roof, standing in the black and red armor was a Witch knight. One could easily gleam from their figure that it was a woman, she stood casually, her gaze behind her viper helm fixed solely on him. He knew of only one witch knight that was a woman...Venereth.
Aldren's teeth gritted and his eyes smoldered, the happiness he had felt earlier was gone, now...he was angry. While everyone else was distracted with the commotion, Anna and Barec followed his gaze to the naga and as soon as they saw her, she bolted across the roofs towards the edge of town. Aldren broke away from the group and tried to nail her with a fireball that missed, they followed in her direction and saw her leap from the roof and become an orb of shadow that flew into the Troll's Pine. Aldren whipped around towards Barec, "Horses, now!"
Barec did not delay and returned soon with twenty mounted warriors, steeds left behind by the naga, and a horse for Aldren but not for Anna. As he mounted she started to speak, "Aldren-"
"Stay here."
"But I can help-"
"NO!"
She looked hurt by his sudden reaction, he leaned down to her, "Please, you must do this...for me. Stay and let me handle this."
She reluctantly nodded, he turned his attention back to his quarry, "Let's move!" he snapped the reigns, he and Barec with the rest of the band rode out through the shattered gate into the forest.
Anna watched again as he put himself at risk, she couldn't stand having to watch her families lives in danger...in fact she decided she wouldn't.
OoO
Not for a single second did Aldren take his gaze from the orb of shadow that snaked its way through the forest. Several times he attempted to bring Venereth down with a well-placed fireball, Barec and some of his men doing the same with bows but she dodged every projectile launched at her and was just fast enough to stay ahead of their horses. Eventually she dashed several meters ahead of them into the air and dove downward towards the ground just out of sight behind the tree line. Aldren pulled the reigns on his horse and held up a closed fist and the rest of the riders behind him skidded to a halt, the horses braying in excitement, kicking up snow and dirt.
"Leave the horses here, you three stay with them." he commanded as he dismounted.
He drew Black Autumn while Barec knocked an arrow in his bow, they led the seventeen to the edge of the forest and came upon a small village where they had lost sight of Venereth. Aldren stopped them, "Barec, what is this place?"
"Stoneshire my lord, it's just a little village here in the Troll's Pine...looks completely abandoned."
"As it is meant to. Be on your guard...she came here for a reason."
"A trap?"
"Undoubtedly."
He walked forward into the village with the rest following close, it was hauntingly silent...no wind nor birds, no villagers to populate the empty buildings. The only sounds were their shallow breaths and the snow crunching beneath their cautious steps as they ventured ever further into Stoneshire.
The dark whisper returned, their eyes turned skyward and the black orb swirled in the sky momentarily before descending and landing onto the ground a few meters ahead. They all stood ready as the black smoke began to clear. Walking out from the impact point was the slender, armored form of Venereth, who very clearly knew she was attractive for she had no issue letting her hips sway as she walked towards them. Some of Aldren's men were getting distracted but that quickly faded as she drew her sword from her back and they were reminded that she was the enemy.
Her weapon was of superb quality, in fact if Aldren didn't know any better it looked like Alfar craft, not unlike his own weapon. The handle had a slight curve towards the base and was wrapped in dark leather with a blunt spike for the pommel, a steel viper's head for the guard engulfed the base of the blade in its open maw. The blade was flawless, an open space below the tip formed a hook that lined up with the rest of the edge, gleaming and untarnished save for two runes carved into its surface towards the tip: they were unlike the simple, angular Arendellian runes and the smooth, curved elven runes. Instead they looked more like uneven gashes, as if they were torn into the weapon rather than carved, even so their meaning was clear to him...'Alfar Marbhadh' (Elf Killer).
Aldren's eyes narrowed at the sight of the weapon, Barec aimed with his bow but the Witch knight didn't react. Instead she stopped halfway towards them and stabbed her blade into the ground and stood expectantly, Aldren's eyebrow raised and he put his hand on Barec's weapon and pressed down, asking him to lower it.
"Watch the sides." he whispered before walking to her alone while they waited, as he approached she pressed a small button on the side of her helm and the top portion of her viper mask lifted and revealed her pale face. But if there was one thing that Aldren had to confess to himself: it's that she was not unsightly, in fact if one would see past the blue reptilian eyes, lights scales around the neck and pointed canines...he would even dare to say that she was beautiful.
He impaled his own sword into the ground and came to a stop a few feet ahead of her, "You put that girl's life in danger."
She smiled and spoke in a pleasant tone, "I had every confidence that you would see her out of the fire safely...and that you would put a great deal of effort in to do so."
"So you wished to sap my strength..."
She chuckled, "Good to see you know how the game works. So...you are the one who thwarted Sorvec's assassins, who scarred the general and put my fellow witch knights to shame...causing my master so much trouble?"
He kept his expression neutral, "I am but one of many who would see the Witch King driven from these lands."
"Hmm humility, a virtue not seen in many of any race...especially yours." she slowly walked towards him with her eyes showing no fear...neither did his.
"How many naga are with you here?"
She walked around him casually, the soft sound of her steel claw scraping against his armor as she circled him, tracing an armored finger against his shoulders and back, "Oh right to business? Straightforward, brave and... Handsome too if I might add..." she mused sensually.
"How-many?" he said more firmly.
"Enough...at least to keep your own men busy while we conclude our business." Aldren was starting to question what sort of 'business' she was referring to as she came back to stand in front of him, her finger trailing down his chest plate. Then her expression became more serious, "But before that, I have something to ask you."
"Oh?"
"You know who I am yes?'
"You are Venereth, the most lethal and renowned of Amicus' Witch Knights as I understand...brother of Meren."
"How is he?" she asked genuinely, unsurprised by his response.
He permitted himself to smile slightly, "He misses you...and he fears for you..."
"He should worry about himself more...but then he would not be who he was...:"
Aldren let loose a little more "He is being treated well...but might I ask you something, lady Venereth?"
She folded her arms and walked back towards her sword, "You brought me news of my brother...therefore If I can answer it, I shall." her hand rested on the pommel of her weapon.
He took a few careful steps forward, "An ice harvester: Kristoff Bjorgman, a reindeer named Sven and a snowman whom we call Olaf...are they alive?" he dreaded one of two answers he might get.
"They are...for now."
Aldren breathed a small sigh of relief, "Thank you."
She nodded, her hand reached to grab her sword, gripping the handle she frowned, "Unfortunately...you will not live to see them again." her grip tightened around her weapon, "You seem a kind man lord Aldren...Kind men die in war."
She held up her hand and then dropped it, and out from the forest around the village charged several naga warriors that numbered at least twice of what he had with him engaged his own men in battle. Instinctively he reached out for Black Autumn, the sword flew into his grasp and he turned just in time to block Venereth's first attack. Their blades clashed, she bared down on him hard but he was able to out muscle her and shove her back.
He held his weapon in both hands in a ready stance, the blade heating up to emit its orange glow, while she lowered her viper mask and rested her sword against her shoulder nonchalantly "Come lord Embercrow, let us see if you have anything that will surprise me."
His face formed a snarl as he walked briskly towards her with anger in his eyes, before he could get too close she whipped her sword forward, simultaneously the handle extended to spear length while the blade shortened to the length of a spear head. He had again stopped just in time before the tip of the spear would have gone right through his head. He swiped at the blade but before his weapon could connect she spun the spear around herself and struck his side, he blocked the attack but his blade had been caught in the hook on hers, she wrenched his weapon upward and then struck his leg with the blunt end, then rammed the length of her spear into his chest.
He fell to the ground on his back, his eyes widened as she spun herself sideways, horizontally in the air, striking the ground twice where he would've been had be not rolled out of the way. As he rolled back to his feet she flung dirt from the ground with the end of her spear at his face, he shielded his face but was still partially blinded. She dashed in again to attack, in response he swung low at her legs but she dived over his retaliation and rolled back to her feet. Spinning around she swiped hard at his head, he blocked again but again she hooked his weapon, this time pulling him forward and unbalancing him long enough to get in close.
With her spear in both hands she slammed the shaft into his face, as he reeled back from the blow she slipped behind him, pitting the spear's length around to his front, against the blade of his sword and pulling the guard spike towards his own throat. Aldren gritted his teeth and resisted with all his strength as she continued to pull his own sword closer to his neck. Growling he drove his elbow behind him into her stomach making her lose grip on one end of the spear, grabbing the collar of her armor, he pulled her into the side of his helm for a quick head-butt and then threw her away hard in the opposite direction.
She slid a few feet before whipping back around towards him on one knee with her weapon poised, he grasped his own sword in both hands with the tip aimed at her as she rose to her feet and spun her weapon threateningly. With a vicious hiss she lunged forward with her spear, her attacks varying between wide, spinning arcs to quick, rapid thrusts. He countered these with a more aggressive stance, short but heavy handed attacks and deflections at close range that made it difficult for her to use the full length of her weapon. Both were skilled and unrelenting, near equals to each other with blade and fist. Away from their duel, Barec and the rest of Aldren's men were holding their own but were slowly being overwhelmed.
Venereth thrust at his gut, he swiped upward at her spear head and then swung down on her hard with his sword in both hands. His blade connected with the shaft of her spear, the force nearly knocking her to the ground, unable to resist his strength she redirected his weapon sideways to the ground. Commanding the weapon to revert back to its sword form she swiped across his leg, cutting his thigh and sweeping his legs from under him with her own. Quickly getting back to her feet she raised her weapon as a spear once more, intending to impale him on the ground. Rolling sideways, he avoided the spear point as it bit into the ground and spun onto his feet into a swing at her neck.
She leaned back, letting the blade pass over her then grabbed the length of her spear, which still stood in the ground, in both hands and swung herself around it, her momentum carrying both of her feet into his chest when he turned back to face her. As he stumbled back from the impact of her feet she dislodged her weapon from the ground and thrust at him. In her eagerness to kill him, she overextended herself, he grabbed her weapon, yanking her forward and thrusting at her chest. She avoided it last minute but not enough, his blade sliced across the armor on her upper arm and seared the surface of her flesh. Screaming in pain and rage she head-butted him hard, her metal faceplate colliding with his helm over his forehead.
Losing his grip on her she quickly spun away from him to create distance, she looked at the searing cut for a moment but refocused herself on Aldren who had recovered from her head-butt. He held his sword two handed with the blade over his arm, his lips in a grimace and his eyes narrowed, ignoring the cut on his leg. Yelling in anger she revolved her weapon rapidly as she sped towards him and their blades met again.
OoO
Anna rode hard with several other mounted Arendellian soldiers behind her, from the maps she had read she knew the nearest village they would've ended up at: Stoneshire. She did not stop when three Arendellians next to twenty horses tried to wave her down, she rode on past them to the village clearing. As the skirmish in the town came into view she did not halt her group to observe the situation, she saw fellow Arendellians and her 'brother' in danger and she had come to help. She drew her sword from her back, the rest of her men doing the same as they came upon surprised but relieved kinsmen and much unrelieved naga.
Unprepared for the sudden cavalry charge, the naga had little chance of defending themselves from the mounted Arendellians who now outnumbered them. The young princess struck down at an enemy to her left as she rode by and then another to her right, reigning in her horse and coming to a stop she saw Aldren dueling with a witch knight away from the main battle. She snapped the reigns and sent her steed into full gallop towards the two combatants, she knew that she could help turn the tide between the two...
OoO
Aldren ducked past Venereth's sword as she swiped at his head and jabbed her in the gut with his pommel, before he could ready another attack, two naga charged him with spears. He redirected the first's attack and blocked the second while kicking behind him at Venereth to create distance between the two of them.
At the same time, three Arendellian soldiers attacked Venereth. The lead attacker swung at the back of her head with a two handed sword, she ducked under it easily and thrust her spear into his back as he missed and sailed past her. But he turned enough that her blade gleamed off his armor, he quickly whipped around and back handed her across the helm, sending her to the ground. As her vision refocused she rolled back in time to avoid the Arendellian's sword blade as he roared and stabbed down at her. Back on her feet she ducked past her enemy's next swing, retracting her spear into a sword and slashed him across the side, killing him.
The other two circled her from either side, the first charged, shouting at her and wielding an ax and shield. As he swung she hooked his weapon and yanked it from his grasp, grabbing the back of his head and forcing his face into her knee. As he reeled back from the blow, the other soldier went in for the kill but before he could get close she thrust her weapon towards him, her sword extending into a spear that pierced his chest plate. She then turned back to the other as he attempted to swipe at her, she spun around him and thrust her hand into his back, a wave of force sent him flying forward several feet into the snow.
She would make a point never to underestimate the strength and skill of Arendellians again. Content with the reprieve she'd been offered she watched as lord Embercrow dealt with the two Naga Ai soldiers that attacked him.
Aldren blocked the naga spears as they both swung down on him at the same time, he then grabbed both in his other hand and redirected them to his side. He slashed through the neck of the naga nearest to him and through both spear heads, severing them. The surviving naga abandoned what was left of his spear and quickly drew his rifle from his back. With one of the spear heads in hand Aldren dashed forward and cut apart the barrel of their rifle with his sword and then stabbed their chest with the spear head. To finish them he slashed upward through their middle, sparks erupting from the wound.
As the last naga fell dead he turned back towards Venereth who thrust her hand outward, a stream of dark magic arching erratically out towards him. In response he shot a stream of flame that clashed with her sorcery in the middle, his fire proved stronger as he pushed forward and she had to shift her spell into a shield to protect herself. Once he was right over her, he relented the flames and punched her across the helm, turning with the blow she kicked him across the jaw making him reel back.
As he turned back he was nearly killed when she again thrust at his face, he moved his head out of the way. But as she drew back the hook in her weapon caught his pauldron and she yanked him towards one of the buildings to the side. His back collided with a large wooden support beam that held a porch roof up, Venereth thrust at him once more. He deflected her attack downward and traded places with her, throwing her into the beam. He swung at her head, she ducked and the blade slashed through part of the beam, making it weaker. Unable to slip away in time she raised her spear to block as his blade came crashing down, as he bared down he gritted his teeth and slowly angled his guard spike to cut into her neck.
To their side Venereth spotted a surprising sight, the young princess Anna riding in with several Arendellian soldiers to support Aldren's men. Against his better judgment Aldren followed her gaze and was even more shocked, his fear for his adoptive sister was enough of a distraction for Venereth to knee him in the chest, hooking the curve of her spear's pommel around the back of his neck and again trading places with him. This time she jabbed the blunt end of her spear into his chest hard, his body breaking the support beam, the porch roof collapsing on top of him. She reverted her spear back to a longsword and raised it to impale him through the debris.
OoO
Anna gritted her teeth and screamed as she flung herself from her horse onto Venereth before she could kill Aldren, she rolled with the prickly, armored fiend several feet before flinging them off. Rolling back the opposite direction onto her feet, Anna held her sword in both hands in a stance not unlike Aldren's and breathed heavily. She'd never faced a witch knight before and none were as deadly as Venereth-so she had heard, she had no idea if she even stood a chance but she was certainly going to try.
Venereth stood and growled, whipping her sword threateningly as it transformed back into a spear. Anna looked at the lethal weapon and swallowed, her fearful expression read as, 'this was a terrible idea!' But she was brave...or foolish, with a valiant war cry she raced towards the naga warrior and took several quick swipes at her enemy who dodged them all. Venereth was just keeping out of reach of the Anna's blade, she swiped her hand to the left and an aura of dark magic slammed into Anna that sent her flying to the side and rolling into the snow.
Anna shook her head and looked up only to see the witch knight's spear coming down on her, she could only gasp in fear as the inevitable stroke came crashing down. But it didn't, instead a glowing blade stopped it, Venereth and Anna both looked to see Aldren's who had unearthed himself from the rubble and rejoined the fight. Shoving Venereth away he pursued her as she dodged away from his attacks, Anna smiled, rising to her feet she ran to help Aldren defeat their enemy.
OoO
Aldren had to keep Venereth away from Anna, he couldn't lose her, he wouldn't! Not-Again! He saw Anna running to them, parrying another one of Venereth's strikes he pushed Anna to the ground with his other hand when she got too close, "Anna stay back!"
He was again distracted, her heart broken expression as she hit the ground was enough to provide Venereth with another opening. She swung the spear into his sword arm, the hook in her blade piercing the underside of his forearm. He cried out in pain as she swung him the opposite direction away from Anna, he rolled against the ground, losing his grip on Black Autumn as it was thrown several feet away.
"NO!" Anna screamed, shooting up from the ground to attack Venereth, the witch knight extended her hand and blasted the princess back, Anna hit the ground hard and was half knocked out from the impact so that she would not interfere again.
Venereth turned back to Aldren who was on his back. She stomped her foot on his wounded arm, earning another cry of anguish. She then raised the sword above her and stabbed into his chest, he barely caught the tip of her blade with his left hand just as it had begun to pierce through his chest plate. He gritted his teeth as he struggled to keep her weapon at bay as she hissed and put all her weight against the sword to end his life. He glanced to Anna who laid on the ground only partially awake and the rest of his soldiers, neither would be able to help him and he knew of only one way he could help himself in this moment. He really didn't want to do it, he'd hoped to avoid since the garden attack but if he didn't he would die and Anna would soon follow, and he did not intend to let that happen...he would have to let the beast loose again.
Aldren's eyes began to glow, the burning crimson intensifying within a matter of seconds. His eyes fixed solely on Venereth as he began to push her sword away from his chest, she tried to resist him but was no match for the sudden burst of strength he had mustered. With her foot no longer on his arm he was able to push himself off the ground and back to his feet. With the tip of her sword still grasped firmly he narrowed his eyes, the heat from his hand making her sword hotter and hotter. With a pained scream she forced herself to grip tighter, kicking him in the chest and ripping her sword away. The kick only made him move back slightly, he reached for Black Autumn and the weapon flew into his grasp in time to meet Venereth in another clash of blades.
He pressed forward, her feet sliding against the ground as she tried in vain to push back. He broke the clash and kicking her in the leg making her almost fall on her face, he then began his onslaught of hack and slashes, a primal cry tearing from his throat with every attack. Each one that struck her blade nearly knocked her off her feet, his attacks no longer held any poise or form, they were only angry and powerful. Venereth rolled away, in desperation she erected a magical ward to block him but he leaped into the air and brought his sword crashing down on the barrier. It shattered, the explosion sent Venereth flying back, she landed hard on her side and struggled to force air back into her lungs.
With his foe now immobilized, Aldren growled lowly, sheathing Black Autumn and raising both hands to his sides, fire ripped upward from the snowy ground around him. The flames swirled rapidly as he gathered them into his hands, forming a fireball that would wipe Venereth from the face of the earth.
But before he could, he felt extraordinarily ill, a sudden tightness in his chest followed by a weakness in his limbs that brought him to his knees. The flames he had created began to die down around him as he hacked violently, he looked to the wounds on his left hand, right arm and leg, what he saw made his heart stop: the veins began to turn violet, his very blood darkened like deathly nightshade. He had been poisoned and he only knew of one kind that had this type of delayed and severe effect: manticore venom...there was no cure. He fell to his side, his back arching in pain, the foul poison was starting to paralyze his higher functions, and soon he wouldn't be able feel anything other than pain before he died.
Venereth recovered and saw that the poison she had laced her weapon with had done its job, she quickly got to her feet and ran to make sure he stayed dead. But before she could bring her sword down a dagger pierced through her arm, making her scream in pain and drop her sword. Snatching the sword back with her other hand she turned just in time to avoid a sword thrust at her head from the young princess, she had even less time to raise her sword to block as she swung back at her hard. Venereth stumbled back, pulling the dagger from her arm and raising her face shield to hiss at Anna. The princess only glared back as she crouched over lord Aldren's body, like a wolf protecting its kin.
Venereth could have killed both of them now but behind them she could see her forces being overwhelmed by the Arendellians, some were already coming for her. Growling in frustration she took to the air, a signal for her band to retreat too.
OoO
Anna watched intently as the black orb flew out of sight, her expression shifted from aggression to one of concern as she looked down to Aldren. She knelt next to him, putting a hand against his chest plate, "Aldren! W-what do I do? What do I do! I don't know what to do!" she cried in panic, tears starting to form, she was watching her friend die and knew no way to help.
He managed to utter two words in a hoarse voice, "Trust...me..."
He shakily extended his hand in front of himself, closing his fist tightly, beneath his skin the orange glow intensified so much that she could see the outline of his hand bones. The same effect could be seen in his face, Anna did not take her eyes off of him even at the sound of their soldiers gathering around, similar concern on their faces as well. After several moments the glow faded and Aldren gasped before breathing heavily in relief, Anna supported him as he rose to stand, "Are...Are you OK?"
He nodded, hands on his hips and sighed "Yes...Yes..."
"What did you do?"
"I...had to burn out the poison...I just...need to...rest..." he fell forward onto the ground.
Anna did her best to catch but simply slowed his fall more than anything, she held a hand to his neck and sighed in relief when she still felt his pulse. "Horses, now!" she snapped and the soldiers obeyed. "Barec, help me get him up."
Barec assisted Anna in carrying a now unconscious Aldren towards the nearest horse, "We need to get out of here before any more show up."
Once he was laid over the front of her saddle she mounted the horse, with one hand resting on his back she snapped the reigns and rode back to Riverview with the rest of their war band following. Looking down at Aldren she felt relieved that he was alive...but more than anything she felt shame: it dawned on her that Aldren more than likely hadn't needed her help...and if she had stayed back, he wouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place...
I think as a writer, Aldren is my like personal punching bag, I mean I almost feel bad for all the injury and pain I'm putting him through...Almost ;)
