She gripped her sword as she kneeled from exertion. Whatever breaths she took were short and labored; effects of her prolonged battle with the person in front of her. She heard footsteps and tilted her head up as if to see (merely for aesthetic reasons, as the Rot had robbed her of eyesight many moons ago and forced her to use her other senses). This was it, she thought. This was her undoing.
This was her defeat.
She waited for the final attack, powerless to do otherwise. This person, this Tarnished, this warrior had taken everything she had thrown at him. She could not overwhelm him with skill alone, much like her brother all that time ago, so she gave in to her curse. The throes of divinity coursed through her rotting body, filling her with unbridled power and renewed determination. Her ascension to godhood complete, she lashed out at the nameless assailant before her once more.
Yet still, his might proved greater than her own.
Now here she was, beaten and truly out of options for the first time in her long life. In a moment of morbid curiosity, she wondered how he would go about ending her. Another swing of his mighty sword? Perhaps she would be devoured by that strange swarm of flies he had used earlier in her their bout? Maybe he would decide to end her with his bare hands? Whatever the case was, she waited, as that was all she could do.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited some more. Usually, her patience outstripped most other beings. Being a demigod, she had plenty of time to do things, long as her natural lifespan was. Even afflicted by the curse of Rot, she had managed to make it to this point in time from the Shattering with little issue. This particular case, however, pushed her buttons.
"Why does thou not strike, warrior?" she finally asked. The steel-like gaze the nameless warrior focused on her almost gave her pause, but it only increased her curiosity. He was clearly ready for something, so why did he stay his hand? Was it pity? Pity for a once undefeated master of the blade?
"Does thou think me so unworthy a challenge that you wish not to even sully your blade?" She jumped to the only conclusion she could think of. After all, she had felt much the same when Godrick groveled at her feet like mere vermin. So pitiable and devoid of pride was he that he would beg her for his life. This champion, mighty as he was, might not have even seen her as a challenge and merely an obstacle in the way of his conquest.
Such was the outlook of most warriors she had known.
She was surprised when he suddenly spoke back.
"I stay my hand not out of pity or newfound compassion," he started. "Rather, I consider it a waste to strike thee down." Her confusion grew ten-fold. What could he possibly gain from keeping her alive? Was he a madman, after the power held within her body? Who would covet such a thing?
"You say it is a waste, yet you do not give reason to your decision. What does thou want from me?" Even though she was loathe to say it, his might outstripped hers. There was nothing she could offer him that would help in his conquest.
"… I suppose you could say that I do not want anything from you. What I want… is you yourself." More nonsense he spoke. More questions for her.
"You would have me as an underling? I refuse. I will not place myself at your beck and call, nor will I take orders to leave this place. I have my own obligations." Yes, she had to protect her Miquella. "Leave this place if you do not wish to finish what you started." To her surprise, the Tarnished let out a hearty chuckle.
"An underling? No, I wish to have you as an equal. I won't regale you with tales of my travels, but I will give you insight into one fact. Of the many warriors, monsters, and abominations that I have come across and felled, you stand at the top of all of them. You are, by far, the most difficult fight I have ever had to partake in."
She supposed that she could take the compliment and find solace in-
"Your beauty also stands atop them all."
Now she was certain. She spoke with a madman.
"Beauty? Thine eyesight is worse than my own, and it has since rotted away eons ago." She got another laugh out of the Tarnished. The mood went from solemn to… somewhat irritating, but she supposed that there was a semblance of relief that he seemingly had no intention to kill her. She could continue her duty to Miquella, and that's what mattered the most. Still, she was being courted, and that's not something that she thought was even possible. Those that knew of her knew of her curse (hard not to know when you've blighted an entire region with Scarlet Rot) and would not even think to get near her, lest they be afflicted themselves and either die or go mad like Radahn did.
"My body has rotted away. I have no eyesight. Most of my limbs have long since been lost, and what remains is marred flesh, filled with a curse that makes others go mad. Simply being near me afflicts others with pain and misery, yet you claim that I am beautiful? Surely, you jest?" She stood back up to her full height, having recovered enough from their showdown to do so.
"And yet, you have loyal followers that would put themselves in harms way simply to keep you alive and have your conquest fulfilled. Is it so strange that another would find you attractive? You are far from the most hideous thing I've encountered in my travels, even as the Scarlet Rot courses through you. I have slain some truly horrid abominations, my lady." The Tarnished thought back to when he fought Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, and suppressed a shiver at the terrifying visage of the alien entity.
"Still, if my visage does not displease you, my affliction should." She was not sure why she was fighting so hard against this man's affections. He was more than strong enough, and merciful if her still being alive is anything to go by. Normally, she'd pay such a thing no mind, but something about this person riled up her curiosity. Just who was this unparalleled warrior who she'd never heard of?
"You speak only of your afflictions yet fail to see your strengths. You are a protector and a fierce warrior. Even now, you wish to protect one such as I whom hath beaten you in combat and could have machinations on your life." The Goddess of Rot pondered over this. Was that really the reason?
Truly, she did not wish to see another of such mighty stature felled because of her curse. This blight should be hers and hers alone. She had already spread it and ruined a land once; doing so again because of her pride when she's already hurt so many would be reprehensible. This person seemed to be able to see right through her. The question that's been burning her tongue came out before she could stop herself.
"Just who are you?" She had half a mind to cover her mouth like an embarrassed child. She had not felt such a burning curiosity for something in her life. She felt small standing next to this man, even though she towered over him in reality. Something about his presence seemed… majestic to her. She was, dare she say, enraptured.
"I have no true name, but I will abide. I am he who will usher in a new age soon. Not one of corruption and decadence, as is the current state of affairs, but one where everyone will be able to do as they please without coercion. I will remove all Outer God influence from these lands and leave the power in the hands of its inhabitants. I am the Elden Lord, and I would have you as my consort, Malenia." He capped off his mini speech by summoning a hammer that glowed golden while in his grasp.
It all made sense to her now.
The unmatched strength.
The majestic presence.
The weapon that she knew only one being to have possessed.
He had done what she nor her siblings could do. She felt embarrassed that she had not noticed. She had slept for so long and was so unaware that she had completely missed the crowning of a new Elden Lord. What else had she so lazily glazed over in her slumber? What was the state of the world outside?
Shaking her head of these thoughts, she came back to the matter at hand. She knew not why this lord coveted her so, but she must refuse for her duty.
"I am flattered, my lord, but as I've already said, I have my own obligations."
"And I intend to help you fulfill those obligations." The now-titled Elden Lord produced a ring from his garb, kneeling down. Out of the loop she may be, the significance of such a gesture was not lost on the Empyrean. She would have preferred to have been… clothed, should such an occasion arise. Her current form rendered her nude, and twas' quite the odd feeling to be courted while wearing no garb. She was not one to be conscious of a state of undress normally, as it could prove fatal in battle, but this… was no battle.
At least not one that she was familiar with.
"I will become your eyes with which to see, and your limbs with which you traverse the lands. I will become your blade, your shield, and your armor to protect you from harm. I will see to it that all your dreams become reality, even those thought impossible. On my honor as the Elden Lord, as a warrior, and as a lover, I swear to serve thee as long as your bosom draws breath. Take me as thy champion, and I will give myself over to thee completely. Malenia the Severed, allow me to make you whole."
The demigod warred within herself. She had a duty to fulfill towards her brother; keeping him safe from harm should be her utmost priority. It should, but the person before her was worming his way into her thoughts. She had fought him and seen the conviction in his eyes. There is no better way to judge someone's character than by crossing blades with them, after all, and this man seemed nothing short of sincere. He certainly was powerful, and had accomplished something not even she could with her vast skill. Maybe, just maybe, he had the power to finally change things.
He had changed the feeling in her heart, after all.
"My body is barely my own anymore. My flesh is dull, and my blood, rotted. Misery and death follow whatever paths I tread, finding refuse in my footsteps. I am a blight to all who dare approach me… yet still, you would have me?" The Tarnished simply shook his head, certain in his convictions.
"Noble lord of these lands, I accept thine's gesture." She held out her prosthetic hand, and he put the ring on it. Maybe she'd come to regret such a hasty action, giving herself away to another without putting too much thought into it, but then again, was it really that risky? He had defeated her and could surely take her by force if he wanted, yet he deemed it important to ask her and prove himself a consort worth having. There was no deceit in his blade, nor in his eyes, nor in his actions.
Perhaps it is time she throws her pride and her stubbornness away for good.
Just as she was pondering this, her new consort took to… rolling around on the ground, seemingly in pain. He took out something and ate it, ceasing his rolling as soon as the item disappeared into his maw.
Ah, the Scarlet Rot. She had completely forgotten that simply being near her could poison someone. He had actually come in contact with her several times over the course of their battle and to put the ring on her finger. Had he been in pain this whole time and only just now chose to show it?
What a strange man indeed.