Chapter One - A Fateful Encounter
Malenia had slumbered without end as she'd awaited her brother's return to the Haligtree. So long was this sleep, in fact, that she'd lost all sense of time and lapsed into a blissful ignorance of the fractured world that lay beyond. An ignorance regarding the return of Godfrey's Tarnished descendants to the Lands Between, an ignorance of the fate that had befallen the tree in Miquella's absence, and an ignorance of what had happened since her blighting of Caelid.
The last of these was something she re-lived almost every time she dreamed, in addition to her battle with Radahn; specifically, all the things she could have done differently. All the steps she could have taken to avoid having bloomed in the first place, and spare the people of Caelid - not to mention herself - more of the Rot's insidious hold.
Is it any wonder, then, that upon becoming aware of a stranger's intrusion into the very heart of her brother's sanctum, she found her lust for battle stirred? Was it not expected, her anger? Her wrath? Her disappointment at seeing an altogether unfamiliar face striding through that archway rather than her beloved Miquella? Nay, were such feelings not only expected but justified for her, his blood and blade?
Slowly sitting upright, Malenia turned her gaze toward the other side of the room. Or to where she remembered it to be anyway, for the Rot had taken her sight from her many moons ago. She let it linger there for a moment longer as whoever had entered made their way to the center of the chamber, the fall of their feet barely audible over the chill wind, one that carried with it the distinct scent of burning wood and the baleful taste of ash.
For the briefest of moments she thought the tree itself aflame, but quickly dismissed that fear. If it were, she likely would not be standing here still, and neither would this stranger.
Thus it was that, after a short pause, she reached down to retrieve her prosthetic and helm. The former she slotted into her right shoulder and the latter she slipped onto her head.
"I dreamt for so long. My flesh was dull gold… and my blood, rotted."
Rising from her seat, she ran her rot-riddled hand along the length of her prosthetic arm.
"Corpse after corpse, left in my wake. As I awaited… his return. Heed my words-"
Malenia let her flesh-and-blood hand fall to the side as she lifted her blade on high.
"I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella."
She swept her weapon down and to the side, sending a rush of air arcing through the field between them.
"And I have never known defeat."
"And if you're willing to stay your blade and listen to me for a moment, you never will."
If Malenia still had eyes, she would have blinked at the stranger's - a man it seemed judging by the timbre of his voice - audacity. As it stood, however, the uncertainty she allowed to creep into her posture was reaction enough.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what I said," the man replied. "And I'd be more than happy to elaborate, but only after you lower your weapon. Business is best conducted without hostilities after all."
Malenia took a moment to deliberate before doing as he requested and lowering her sword, though she did not disengage it from its anchor completely.
"Speak quickly."
The man flashed her a grateful smile in spite of the fact that she couldn't see him do so.
"Alright then, I'll share the most important information first. Your brother's been kidnapped by Mohg."
Malenia felt like she'd been punched in the gut upon hearing this. Her disbelief regarding the claim warred with the new spark of hope that had emerged deep within her, to say nothing of the sheer amount of anger she felt slowly building up towards Mohg if the news really was true.
"He's being held prisoner in the Shunning-Grounds beneath Leyndell. Mohg's trying to turn him into a god in an attempt to create some kind of twisted new dynasty. As his sister and Blade, I assumed you'd like to know."
The red-haired swordswoman took a half-step back only to bump into the chair, her mouth opening and closing mechanically as she tried - and failed - to formulate a response. Granted, she also had to stop beating herself up about her own laxness in the matter first.
"I… Miquella is… oh what an absolute fool I've been!"
She was practically shaking at this point - though whether it was from rage, sorrow, joy, or the overwhelming weight imparted by the realization not even Malenia herself could say. All she knew was that she needed to move. Needed to act. Needed to remove that bastard Omen's head from his shoulders! It was with these things in mind that she bade the man standing before her deliver the rest of his news quickly, lest he lose his own head for the delay.
"The second piece of news is perhaps even more groundbreaking than the first, I'm afraid. There's a new Elden Lord you see. Me."
Malenia nearly choked. This stranger was the new Elden Lord? He couldn't be! And yet… she could feel a certain kind of power radiating from him. One similar to that exuded by her mother and father. That of the Elden Ring.
"I see," she said, a bit quicker than intended.
She wasn't quite sure how to feel about that revelation, though in the end she supposed it hardly mattered. It had never been Miquella's plan to work within the confines of the Order anyway, nor to take the parasitic offerings of Outer Gods - hence the creation of the needle and the Haligtree. As such, warring with the new Lord for that reason would be a complete waste of both their time, although if said Lord did decide to oppose them…
Malenia shook her head. She could worry about such things later, once her brother was secure. For the time being she merely gestured for the new Lord to continue.
"The third bit of news I think you'll really like," he said, his tone chipper than before. "I've found a way to cure your affliction. It involves the use of your brother's needle and the crumbling city of Farum Azula. There's an arena at its center suspended in a storm beyond time. It will give the needle the paradox it needs to become complete, and purge your body of the Scarlet Rot as well."
Malenia nodded, albeit slowly. She wasn't exactly convinced of that last part, but she was still willing to hold out hope - if only for a little while. The plan did involve her brother's handiwork, so she could have faith in that part of it if nothing else.
"It seems you are due my utmost thanks," Malenia said at last. "But I'm afraid that you will have to wait until later, after Miquella's safety is assured, to receive it."
With that Malenia made to leave, only to stop upon reaching the entryway when she heard another pair of footsteps trailing close behind.
"Do you intend to go with me, then?" she asked, turning to face the Elden Lord.
"I do indeed. Not only to aid you, but also to give you this."
Taking hold of her prosthetic, a movement that startled the Empyrean somewhat as hardly anyone - even Miquella - took the risk of touching her, he pressed the needle into her hand.
"It won't be enough to cure you, not now, but it will provide a temporary reprieve from the effects of the Rot. Considering the importance of this mission, I figured you would want to be at your best-"
The man smiled and withdrew his hand.
"Or as close to that as possible anyway."
"Thank you," was all Malenia could say as she clutched the needle tightly.
A moment later she plunged it into her chest, letting out a shuddering sigh as she did so, as every ounce of pain she had been burdened with since childhood slowly slipped away. It was only temporary, of course. Enough to keep her functioning and the Scarlet Rot at bay, and naught else besides, but that was all she believed she needed at the end of the day.
Not a perfect solution…
But a passable one.
Author's Note: Alright, here's chapter one of a story I started at 4 AM and worked on till 7. While I plan to continue this, I am also dealing with getting my classes sorted out for the summer semester of college, so it might be a bit before chapter two goes up. Additionally, chapter two may or may not be significantly shorter than this one, as they're both going to try and make a beeline right for Mohgwyn Palace if possible. Lastly, chapter two will take place from the Tarnished's point of view. So you'll be getting some information on them beyond the quality of their voice and manner of speaking.