The Altus Plateau had faired better than Leyndell in the aftermath of the burning Erdtree. Even then, as Gundrik and Marika made their way through, following the overgrown road that led to the Dectus Lift, every so often a clump of ash gathered in one of the stoned corners of the road; a constant reminder of what happened.
Marika, for her part, was completely silent as they traveled, her golden eyes gazing upon the ruination of Altus as they moved. Gundrik paid it no mind, leading the way. He had seen it all before and had become used to such things. The gibbering soldiers that stalked the roads, the silent knights that followed their last orders to protect the capital even in undeath, they were all such familiar sights, as if he was looking upon bees gathering honey, or birds chirping.
"This ruination, this devastation," Marika began as they were halfway toward the Dectus Lift, her golden hair blowing in the breeze along with her black dress. "How far hast it gone?"
Gundrik waved his hand as he kept walking, the Bolt of Gransax jostling on his back slightly with the motion. "Everywhere. There are very few places within the Lands Between that aren't completely ruined. Caelid's the worst, though."
"I hadst known of this outcome. Bound though I was, Grace was ever present, and through it I couldst see this. And yet, as I stare upon this land, I feel…"
"Having second thoughts?" Gundrik asked, stopping and turning with a brow raised behind his helmet. "It's okay to have second thoughts. I've had plenty."
Marika scoffed. "I doubt thou hast done a deed with as much echo as the Shattering. Not to put down thine deeds; thou art not a god, but a god ye have slain. 'Twill one day be reborn, all of this devastation. With Destined Death unleashed, thine sword shall strike true, and free these lands and its inhabitants."
"Well, that's not cryptic at all," Gundrik grunted, moving forward again. "I suppose I'll ask what you meant by that later. It just sounded like you asked me to slaughter thousands of people."
"Dost thou consider it slaughter? Didst thou not cut through hundreds to reach the Erdtree?" Marika questioned, "There lieth no hope for those afflicted with this insanity. With Destined Death, may they be unshackled as I was, free from a world that no longer hast need of them."
"I can see what you mean," Gundrik sighed. "And I won't get into how that is partly your fault. Not now."
"By all means, speak thy mind, Lord Gundrik," Marika said, stepping in front of him to face him. Even though Gundrik was not small in stature, Marika still easily dwarfed him by a head or two. "Thou art a lord now. My lord, true, but a lord nonetheless. And I would have thee speak and let thy voice be heard, rather than suffer in silence."
Gundrik sighed again, removing his helmet for a moment as they stalled on the road. "Look, I do not believe it is entirely your fault. Do you share most of it? Absolutely. And perhaps you do not deserve redemption because of it. There are thousands dead because of your actions, but I am not one of them. I am here because of your will, and so long as you are willing to make all of this right, no matter the cost, I will help you do it."
"And, my lord, what drives thee so?" Marika asked quietly, her features softening. "I would have thy answer."
Gundrik held his arms out. "Why do I do anything? It's a mystery for the ages, Queen Marika. Most of the time, I don't even know myself."
"Thou must have a reason."
"Because I was born here and seeing it this way breaks me more than I care to admit?" Gundrik finally said, his arms falling and his shoulders slumping. "Because there are dozens of Tarnished who sacrificed themselves before they even got to Leyndell? Because there are a handful who sacrificed everything just so I could be here? So I could be Elden Lord and make the Lands Between right again? Those are just a few."
Marika stared at Gundrik for a second, and he felt himself shrink underneath her steady golden gaze. After a moment, however, he felt something against his cheek.
"I recall dubbing thee a strange man," Marika stated, trailing her hand down his cheek before moving it up and tangling it in Gundrik's messy black hair. "Not wrong was I, but not for the right reasons. Thou hast the makings of a true lord. Thou art a preserver, Lord Gundrik, and I realize now that mayhaps this was always meant to happen."
Gundrik shivered as she took her hand away. "That's… alright?"
"I do intend to rebuild these lands anew, just as I have said before. But know this, Lord Gundrik: never wilt I deny the heinousness, the depravity of mine actions. And if I do not deserve redemption, then I shalt spend every dawn in this realm, for the rest of my days, doing everything in my power to ensure that the creation outweighs the destruction."
Gundrik blinked before looking down and sighing one more time.
"Well, good to know. Not that I didn't already know, but with everything you said earlier I suppose I… you know what, let's just get to that lift now."
Marika held her hand forward and stepped out of Gundrik's way. "Lead the way, my lord."
With the sun fading below the horizon, and the lack of sleep finally catching up to him, Gundrik decided to make camp at the Dectus Lift, using the cover of the overgrown architecture to protect him and Marika from patrolling bands of soldiers. Not that he expected to be given much trouble; he had been made Elden Lord for a reason, and Marika herself was a god.
Holdovers from his time in the Badlands is what Gundrik chalked it up to. He had gained a number of dirty habits while marching along his fellow Tarnished and Lord Godfrey. Some of them were more useful than others.
"By the…" Gundrik grunted, shielding his eyes as he looked toward the capital. "I almost regret repairing the Elden Ring with that glare. How is it that blinding?"
Marika was stood nearby, watching Gundrik toil away at a bundle of wood. "The Mending Rune thou used. It hast brought a new shade to the Erdtree. Worry not; it shalt not remain this way for overlong."
"Uh huh? That's good news," Gundrik stated, fire forming in his hand as he pushed it into the tinder. "Good to know we'll only need to be dealing with that for hundreds of years instead of thousands. Then again, I'm not sure I'll live for much longer than a few hundred more."
"With Destined Death released, anything is possible," Marika noted, slowly approaching the flames. "Even my own life remaineth in disarray. I do not fully understand what this mending hast done to me, in truth. The rune thou used, 'tis limiting yet oddly liberating."
"So that grandiose speech when we first met was just a guess, I take it?" Gundrik said dryly.
Marika shook her head. "Not entirely, Lord Gundrik. But, let us not talk of such things now. It occureth to me that we have not discussed our plan. We travel to Limgrave, but where else?"
Gundrik took his helmet off and placed it to his side, scratching his head. "We head to Raya Lucaria and make sure the sorcerers there are not a problem. It'll be strange for you I bet, what with Rennala still being there."
Marika stared at Gundrik for a moment before tilting her head up. "I shalt leave that to mine other half. 'Twas he who took her to bed, and wilt be him who bridges this gap. Dost there remaineth no other force that could threaten us?"
Gundrik leaned back. "Beyond the academy? Not really. Volcano Manor is gone, I saw to that when I killed Praetor Rykard. Limgrave is already technically under our control, as I've said, and Caelid is…"
Marika's eyes narrowed, waiting for Gundrik to continue.
"Well," Gundrik continued awkwardly. "There may have been a bit of an 'accident' there during the tail end of the Shattering, as I have been told. Malenia and Radahn faced each other on the field of battle there, and when it ended, Caelid had become a pit of Scarlet Rot, forever festering. Radahn's troops have ensured that it remains there, but their numbers are stretched thin."
"Dearest Malenia…" Marika said, closing her eyes. "Utter foolishness, and yet, I admire thine bravery."
"She's still around," Gundrik said, shrugging. "I… well, let's just say that I'd gotten tired of death and decided to try talking for a change."
"An admirable attempt, if it led to her survival," Marika noted. "Then it is decided. In time, we shalt be in Limgrave, and from there, we can rebuild our Order. I… realize now that there shan't be a good amount of manpower for Leyndell. Perhaps it is better to leave it as it is: a ruin, forevermore."
"That's my home you're talking about too," Gundrik grunted. "I'll not just leave it as it is. It might take years, decades, to clear away the ash, but I'll do it with my own two hands if I must."
Marika looked at Gundrik for a moment before letting out a light laugh. "Thou art full of surprises, art thou not?"
Gundrik shrugged again. "If I wasn't full of surprises, I wouldn't-"
"-be here right now. Was that what thou was to say? Yes, I find it to be true with each passing hour. But, rest now, Lord Gundrik. I shalt be here when thou awakeneth."
Gundrik snorted.
Sheep skin cots were the best Gundrik could afford ever since he had arrived in the Lands Between. They were comfy, most of the time, but without a way to properly clean them, he never could keep one pair for very long. Not that he needed anything other than the cot itself; his armor kept him warm enough. The cushioning on the inside had become incredibly worn, but he woke up most mornings, whenever he had the chance to sleep, with little issue.
There was something different, though, about how he woke up then. There was something touching his face and running its fingers through his hair. It was warm and deceptively soft, and oddly enough, he didn't mind it.
When he opened his eyes fully, however, and looked up, golden eyes stared into his, with a small smile beaming down at him. Such a sight would have been frightening to most people – it would have been frightening to him, once upon a time, but Gundrik was awoken by a runebear turning him from side to side as if looking for food once, and he learned to keep his cool upon waking from then on.
"I have a question," Gundrik rasped out.
"Ask what ye may, Lord Gundrik."
"Is there any particular reason you're doing that?"
"Cans't I not? Dost thou dislike this?" Marika asked, faux-hurt entering her voice.
"I mean," Gundrik turned away. "I don't mind it, exactly, but there are easier ways to wake me up."
"And who suggested I wished to wake thee?" Marika said, leaning her head down. "I hast been here for quite a while, Lord Gundrik. Thou movest abed very often."
"Ah, that's probably one of the creepiest things I have ever heard." Gundrik replied. "And I have heard many creepy things, Queen Marika."
"And yet, strangely, when I performed such ministrations, thy body stilled. Hast thou felt this before, I wonder?" Marika asked aloud. "I shan't do this again if it displeases you, Lord Gundrik. I was caught in a dream…"
Gundrik blinked at that, watching as Marika's expression fell away, staring off at someone far off in the distance.
"Well, then," Gundrik said, quickly sitting up and getting to his feet. "We have a couple dozen soldiers at the end of this lift and I think we'd both rather get through them quickly before we make for Limgrave. Ready to go?"
Marika stood up, reminding Gundrik how she completely dwarfed him still. With the faded cracks in her skin still visible, she didn't look too dissimilar from the ruins that surrounded them. She drew the Golden Order Greatsword, its framework shining in the sun.
"I am. I shalt follow thine lead." she said.
As was to be expected, Marika and Gundrik's trip through Liurnia did not start out particularly eventful – that is, everything after they plowed through the garrison that still manned the other half of the Dectus Lift was wonderfully uneventful comparatively. Gundrik may have killed hundreds of the Lordsworn, but it did not mean he liked doing it. The golden-armored Dragon Cult Knights in particular were hard for him to slay. He had been one of them once, long ago. If certain events hadn't happened, he could have very well been one of the many he slaughtered on his way to the Erdtree.
Marika, for her part, was silent for most of the journey. Gundrik saw her fight for the first time; Radagon didn't see a need to intervene on her behalf, it seemed, and the way she moved reminded him of the Black Knife Assassins he would occasionally find on his journey.
She reminds me of Melina.
Gundrik had tried his best to shunt all thoughts of the burned maiden from his mind after her sacrifice at the Forge. He hadn't seen her perish; she had put him to sleep before it, and when he awoke, he was somewhere completely different. She had fought similarly to Marika, weaving in and out of frankly impossible movements, arching her back in a way that would have snapped Gundrik in half if he tried to perform it, and dodging through blows as if she was made of feathers.
The fight outside the Dectus Lift confirmed something in Gundrik's mind, however: the Lordsworn armies of Leyndell were, indeed, too far gone to save. If they would even attack their god, whose visage was plastered within ruined churches and inside Leyndell itself, then there truly was no hope of recovery. He had wished that Marika was wrong in her assessment, but reality was often disappointing.
As they traveled through Liurnia, Gundrik would occasionally see Marika's gaze stretch far beyond the shallow lake, and toward the Academy. Raya Lucaria was beautiful in the noon day sun, and with the radiant Erdtree right by it from their perspective, it was like a scene out of a painting. The mists of the lake cloaked the waterlogged forest that surrounded it, with spires of rock jutting out occasionally from the ruined gate town. While the Academy itself weathered the Shattering well, Gundrik knew the truth: they had their own ambitions, and they had failed.
The remnants of the Knights of the Cuckoo that surrounded Caria Manor was a testament to their villainy. The Academy was full of traitorous snakes. And Gundrik had no doubt that they would not bow willingly.
Of course, there was also the matter of Queen Rennala. Gundrik still had no idea what they would do when they reached the library in which she had been imprisoned. Killing her when he had already been granted her Great Rune long before didn't seem right, and she didn't seem to pose a threat to anyone around her. Then again, there was no one else around; Gundrik had killed the last Carian Knight that protected her, leaving her at the mercy of the scholars still within the Academy.
Either she was dead, or she still remained in her library, cradling the amber egg that Radagon left her. Neither fate seemed particularly pleasant.
Whatever the case, Marika and Gundrik would see soon enough. They came upon Stormveil Castle within a few more days, its ruined walls still marked with blackened holes from catapults. Despite that, Gundrik heard hammers knocking against stone, and men shouting at each other from within.
"'Twas the last stronghold," Marika stated wistfully, looking up to the walls of Stormveil Castle. "The last true obstacle. Castle Morne to the south was the final battle for Godfrey. When the sun rose the day after, I was given no choice. He hadst served his purpose."
As they moved around the outside of the castle, Gundrik watched the battlements warily as he spoke.
"I wasn't there for that one," Gundrik said, almost bitterly as he let out a laugh afterward. "I was too busy elsewhere. I don't even remember what I was doing. The next thing I remember, I'm labeled a Tarnished and sent across the sea with Lord Godfrey and the rest."
"I do not recall seeing thine face among Godfrey's army," Marika said, the unspoken question obvious.
"I was a nobody. A Dragon Cult Knight I may have been, but a notable one? No. I had little renown, no real title to speak of. Until now," Gundrik replied, cracking his neck. "We're almost at the gate. I would've gone through the back entrance but I have a feeling us going through their would be seen as a sign of aggression."
"Didst thou not say that this Nepheli Loux owed thee fealty? What dost it matter where we arrive from?" Marika asked, brows furrowed.
"Yes, but anything can change. It's been weeks since then. So long as Gostoc is manning the gate still, maybe there's still hope," Gundrik grunted. "Besides, even if they posed little threat to us, I do not like the idea of slaying an entire castle's worth of people because of a mistake."
"Thine aversion to killing is admirable, but I hope it dost not bring ruin upon thee," Marika sighed.
"I spent I don't even know how long killing," Gundrik murmured. "If not taking life is to be my downfall, so be it."
Marika hummed but said nothing. The howling winds of the Stormhill ensured that whatever they said would be drowned out soon anyway.
The entrance to Stormveil Castle was as rundown and broken as ever. Gundrik could only assume that Nepheli was focusing on the inside of the castle, what with no worthy adversaries to guard against. Besides, while the walls of the castle were rundown, it didn't mean that it crumbling to pieces entirely. Gundrik wouldn't put it past Nepheli to consider the scorch marks across the castle as 'battle scars'. Then again, perhaps the move to repair the inside came from Kenneth Haight instead.
"If this is to be our temporary shelter," Marika said, her expression blank as she spoke. "then I wouldst suggest you pray, but unfortunately, I shan't be listening."
"I could always dedicate our inevitable victories in your honor," Gundrik suggested.
"Thou wouldst do well to remember that thou art mine, anyway," Marika said, but a small smile betrayed her intent.
"Whatever you say. Gostoc! You slippery snake, where are you?" Gundrik shouted, moving forward. "I know you're there. You can't hide from me!"
"Graciousness, it's you," came a soft-spoken voice from the broken gatehouse. A tall, spindly man with a missing left hand peeked out from behind the broken stonework, a shackle tied around his neck. "Not come to check my stock again, I take it? And who-"
Gostoc went silent as Marika came into his view. His jaw slackened as he quickly went behind the stonework.
"She's not going to hurt you, Gostoc. We need to talk to your lady," Gundrik said, patting the side of his leg. "Don't make me come in there."
"B-by Marika! That is Marika!" Gostoc whimpered out. "What in blazes have you done!?"
"I am all at once disappointed and impressed at the people's recognition of me," Marika commented.
"I'm Elden Lord, Gostoc. Don't tell me you didn't see the Erdtree burning a few weeks ago? That was me."
Gostoc peeked his grey head around the broken wall again, his eyes squinting. "So. You are to be our lord now, is that it? I always knew you were meant for great things."
"Is that why you trapped me in a room with one of my kindred when I first came here?" Gundrik asked, crossing his arms.
"That was in the past, my lord. I'm gainfully employed, I'll have you know," Gostoc responded, the smile he flashed looking more like a sneer. "I will- That is to say, give me a moment."
Gostoc disappeared, and a moment later, Gundrik heard shouting. The great port cullis further into the castle opened, and Gundrik remembered the last time he had been through it.
Let's hope that they are a lot more friendly than last time.
As they entered, Gundrik was immediately on guard. Exiled soldiers and Kaiden Sellswords lined the walls, watching them approach. The only reason he did not take out the Bolt of Gransax was because they showed no signs of hostility; no raised weapons, no ballista bolts raining down upon them and exploding, nothing. As if mocking Gundrik's apprehensiveness, Marika continued forward a few paces before turning around and looking at him expectantly.
"Nepheli, I hope you have strong wine. Or something. Anything," Gundrik muttered to himself.
"It's good to see you, friend."
Outside of the throne room of Stormveil Castle, Gundrik met Nepheli for the first time in what felt like years. The tanned woman hadn't changed a bit – she still looked the part of a proper barbarian, with her midriff still exposed and rags of all sorts the only thing protecting her from the elements. Still, as Gundrik had seen in the battle against Godrick, she should never be trifled with.
The area they met in was the same place Godrick the Grafted met his end at the tip of Gundrik's halberd, what felt like centuries before from his perspective. The graves remained, but the armaments of fallen Tarnished were removed, and the dragon that had been pierced upon a statue had been greatly reduced and in the process of being removed entirely.
"And you as well. I never thought I'd see this place again, but, well, here we are," Gundrik said, taking off his helmet and offering his hand. Nepheli took it before grasping his elbow lightly. She let go a minute later. "Don't trust me, do you?"
"I can never be too careful. Kenneth has made it clear that assassins can show under the guise of friends and loved ones. I would hate to see such a fate befall me when I am starting to get these untamed lands under control," Nepheli quickly explained, looking off to Gundrik's side. "And… ah, Queen Marika."
"It occurreth to me that I hast not introduced myself to mine own subjects in quite some time," Marika noted, stepping forward. "Lord Gundrik has spoken a great deal about you, warrior. I hope thou art half the fighter he proclaimeth."
Nepheli bowed, her eyes closed. "It does me great honor to hear that, Queen Marika. So, I suppose you are Elden Lord, then?"
"Nay, he burnt the Erdtree and seat of our power because his piece of gristle proved too great a challenge," Marika stated.
"Yes, I am Elden Lord," Gundrik said, standing tall. "Came into the position a little while ago. Nothing big. I still feel the same."
Nepheli smiled. "I believe I made a promise to you, before you became a lord. My fealty. You have it, for whatever it is worth. I am glad to see father was wrong."
"Well, never take what Gideon says to heart," Gundrik replied, looking out over the Stormhill. "And since I have your fealty and access to your… army, I have something we need to do."
Nepheli raised a brow and motioned for Gundrik to continue. However, Marika spoke next, her words reverberating across the barren stretch of land.
"It is time to bring order to the Lands Between once more," she intoned. "And while these lands resteth in ruin, only one great victory is to be had – the sorcerers of Raya Lucaria. Their betrayal of their queen bringeth shame upon us all. I would have thee journey with my Lord Gundrik, and put them to the sword. When it is over, what is left of these lands will be made whole, and we can rebuild what hast been lost to time."
Nepheli stared at Marika before her eyes went back to Gundrik.
"We're going to march on Raya Lucaria and put them to rest. You saw what they did to the Albinaurics. They are monsters that need to be purged," Gundrik said as Marika scoffed.
"I shall take your word for it, Lord Gundrik," Nepheli said. "Now come, we can plan with greater secrecy within the throne room. Kenneth will want to hear this."
Special thanks to my good friend GrandPaladinTyrux for beta-reading this for me! Go ahead and check them out on AO3 and FFN if you're in the mood to cry! I heartily recommend it! They've got a few Elden Ring one-shots with plenty more on the way!
Anyway, yeah, shit's about to go down. As I said before, this is a bit more fast-paced than my usual, but I'm honestly loving it because of that lol. This fic could easily be done by the end of the year at the latest if I take long breaks or something.
Also, if you're wondering what Gundrik is using, he's wearing the version of the Banished Knight set with the red hood, plus a Dragon Cult Talisman and the Bolt of Gransax. Just thought I'd put it out there.
Here's a link to our Discord server: discord .gg/9XG3U7a
See you guys next time!