Chapter 2
Well, Arslan had got what he wanted, an adventure and a travelling companion. A companion that has privileges to go anywhere in the city. Yes, a child of Gwyn. And by the gods was he in trouble. I'm just a merchant's child! I'm not even a bloody noble! Yet here he was disguised as a servant, with a god that thankfully, seemed to be similar in age to him. Though he didn't know how gods aged, if it were any different.
Arslan walked hand in hand with her, her gloved hand grabbing his tanned calloused one. It would be nice if they could walk at a faster pace but… she had snakes for legs. How was that even possible? Are they even real?
A snake turned its head towards him, hissing and snapping its jaw. He quickly turned his head away.
Arslan didn't dare ask. He didn't feel like losing a finger.
Gwyndolin told him of a path that little knew of and pulled him along. He followed without question. I thought I was supposed to lead. They walked along the railings until they reached their destination.
"A wall?" He asked.
"Hit it." She commanded.
"But it's just a wall." He pointed.
"Hit. It." Her voice said there was no room for debate. "Hard."
"Yes my lady." He walked over to it and pulled his fist back. This is going to hurt. He punched it. And at first his fist felt like it had hit something similar to the texture of pillow, but then it felt like it touched only air. Arslan stumbled, unbalanced by the sudden disappearance of the wall. "Whoa." He looked back to see the small curl of Gwyndolin's lips before it quickly disappeared. So you can smile.
"Don't dawdle, keep moving." She walked up beside him and lent her hand. It was a flight of steps that led up to somewhere he didn't know but that's what an adventure was, wasn't it? To go somewhere you had no idea of what lay ahead. They walked up halfway and then he finally asked.
"What about the wall?"
"With time, the illusion will come back."
"Is it magic?"
She raised a brow. "What else would it be?"
He chuckled mirthlessly and walked up with her gloved hand in his. Her hands must be soft. Arslan thought with a blush creeping up his tanned neck, he quickly shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts. It earned him an odd look from Gwyndolin. "Can you do magic?" He questioned.
"Yes, I can cast sorceries." She replied.
"Like that wall I punched?"
"I could, though I train myself in other forms of sorcery." She glanced down at her snakes.
Right, other sorcerers were usually very old and wise. At least from the stories he had heard. And she seemed to be around his age. "If I had my catalyst, I could cast more complex illusions and sorceries. Without it, I can only do simple ones such as this," She lifted her hand up and a small blue light formed atop her palm. It lit up the small corridor of stairs they were in. "They require less… technique, I suppose."
That was the most she spoke besides when she was shouting at me. She must like her sorceries.
"It's beautiful." He complimented.
"Do not flatter me, it is nothing."
"But it's true, I've never seen anything like it." Arslan did in fact, try flattering her.
"It is expected of me to excel in my pursuits." She dismissed his attempt.
Arslan's shoulders slumped.
They reached the top of the stairs, finally breaking out into an open courtyard lit up by the moon. It seemed to lead to another larger spiral staircase structure. This'll take a while. Arslan glanced at the snakes next to his feet. Where are we going anyways?
"Follow me." She slithered ahead, letting go of his hand. Arslan complied, letting her lead. They walked in silence, but unlike other times it wasn't awkward or tense. So it was tolerable. He also didn't want to risk her wrath.
Eventually they reached the huge spiral structure and Gwyndolin told him to head to the center of it while she stood at the end of a platform, waiting. "So what is this thing exactly?" He shouted out, holding the large handle sticking out of a wheel of sorts.
"It is an elevator. Now push." She gripped the railing with one hand and waited. An elevator?
"Alright." He muttered under his breath. Arslan pushed the stick. "Hurgh!" He clenched his teeth. It moved just by a hair's breadth. "You mind helping? Any magic?" Gwyndolin didn't reply, instead she shot him an incredulous look which pretty much screamed, 'Really? Me? You're the servant.' He groaned and planted his feet. Arslan pushed with all his strength, chin just above the stick, teeth clenched.
Finally, his efforts paid off and it suddenly jerked forward, the loud sound of gears hitting each other pierced his ears. He felt the entire structure shake as stone churned against stone. We're moving! Arslan desperately looked towards Gwyndolin for help. But she stood there indifferent to his struggle. His bladder dropped to his feet as he saw the world rise. We're falling!
"Aagh!" Arlsan fell on his bottom from the sudden movements. He held onto the stick for dear life. The noise eventually came to a stop and Arslan thanked the gods as he ran past Gwyndolin and off the structure. He got down on the normal-level-unmoving floor and kissed it. "I love ya!" He shouted at the floor.
Surprisingly, he heard a snort and muffled laughter from behind him. Arslan slowly turned his head behind and saw Gwyndolin cover her mouth with a hand and the other on her stomach as she laughed. But then her eyes met his and she tried to disguise her outburst with a cough as she steeled her face to its usual indifference. "What seems to be the problem?" She questioned.
"No. Nothing at all." But he couldn't help stifle the laughter that came out of his own mouth.
Her lips curled upwards the smallest of amounts, "Get up now. Let us keep moving." She slithered past his crouched form and Arslan followed, dusting his knees and hands.
The pathway they were on led to buildings in the distance. Silver knights seemed to idle around the pathway looking for intruders, and it uneased Arslan to no end. This is what he would've had to sneak past if he wasn't with Gwyndolin. Their pitch black face behind their helm seemed to wash over the two, before looking straight ahead. Trees were also on the left side of the small pathway, a small garden it seemed.
Arslan whistled at the sights, trying to force his mind off the Silver knights. "Where to?"
"Do you ever stop asking questions?" Arslan felt a little scared when Gwyndolin opened her mouth. "Straight ahead." She nodded towards the buildings in the distance. "My quarters." Okay - Her quarters?! Arslan felt sweat travel down the side of his face. "You do not need to take me there. You can leave if you wish." She pointed at the trees. "There is a pathway through the gardens to leave back to the entrance of the banquet hall."
"W-well what are you going to do?" Honestly, Arslan didn't feel like wandering around with the Silver knights boring a whole in his back.
"It need not matter to you, servant." She stopped slithering. I'm not even a servant gods damn it. "But since you have kept my company and have… amused me, I shall tell you." Her eyes dropped to his still dusty bottom before quickly looking him back in the eyes. "I am going to study."
Arslan waited for her to say more, but she never did. "That's it? Just going to study?" You leave a banquet to study?
"Yes." There was a tinge of confusion in her voice. "I must continue to improve and excel in my studies and sorceries." Talk about dull.
"Hmm." Arslan pondered for a few seconds, hand on his chin before he replied, "Alright I'll come with you."
"What?" She asked. What do you mean, what? You'll get bored all alone. And I'm too scared to wander off alone. Arslan looked around to see Silver knights patrolling an alleyway.
"What?" He replied. The light from the moon lit up Gwyndolin's widened eyes. Then he remembered, he was just a servant to her, just a human. How would that seem, a human boy entering the quarters of the Great Lord Gwyn's daughter. "Oh," A blush crept up his cheeks. "Um." He covered his mouth and looked to the side.
Gwyndolin fiddled with the hem of her robe. "You… you can come with me. Keep me company." Arslan perked up. "Follow." She quickly turned her face away from him and slithered ahead. Whoa.
.
.
Gwyndolin choked a groan. What am I doing? The two were at his manor's doors, two Silver knights were guarding it. He ordered them to open the doors, yet they were hesitant when letting Arslan pass. Even Gwyndolim was hesitant. What would his father say if he learned of this?
I hope he never does. He froze momentarily as he processed the words. But if Gwyndolin were being honest with himself, he did not want his father to find out. In the short amount of time Gwyndolin spent with the human, he was… new. And he did not get much of that at all. It was his brother and sister that gave him company and they were not always there to be with their youngest sibling.
Gwyndolin was still young and no one in Anor Londo was near his age. He should be allowed to have someone his age. A 'friend'.
But part of Gwyndolin was conflicted. The part that is filled with the Great Lord Gwyn's teachings. The part that treated humans with caution and aversion.
Yet here he was, leading Arslan to his room as his jaw fell to the ground at the inner ward of his manor. It was a normal sight to him, and he never really left his room besides when it was time for him to practice his sorceries. Gwyndolin headed up the familiar spiral stairs with Arslan in tow. They walked through a hallway of doors and decor until they finally reached what Gwyndolin calls home.
A homely sight. A simple wooden door at the end of the hallway, compared to all the other lavish ones.
"This it?"
"Yes. This is it." Gwyndolin reached for the handle and opened the door.
The room was large, but mostly empty consisting of a bed, a table and a couch near the window where moonlight shined through.. Gwyndolin glanced down at his feet - snakes and at Arslan's shoes. He's going to dirty the floor. He slithered in and waved Arslan in. "Take your shoes off." He commanded.
"What?" Did he have to question everything Gwyndolin asked of him?
"Do it or you're not coming in." He threatened. Arslan obeyed, leaving his shoes near the door and walking on socked feet.
"It's cold." He ignored the remark as he left Arslan standing in the middle of the room, and walked towards his catalyst on his neat table. I have missed you. He gripped its familiar handle, cool steel against his gloved hands.
He quickly raised the catalyst to the front of his body, and began an incantation. To rid his body of the illusion that replace his legs and feet. A blinding light briefly lit up the room, and he heard Arslan shriek in fear.
Gwyndolin tried flexing his toes and it worked. He smiled at the familiar feeling of cold under his feet.
"They weren't real?" Gwyndolin allowed his smile to turn smug as he turned to face Arslan.
"My catalyst allows me to cast complex illusions and sorceries, as I have said." Instead of seeing the agape face of a human, Arslan was grinning.
"That's amazing!" Gwyndolin was caught off guard when he walked right up to him and crouched. "Can you do more?! Like - Make me taller?" Arslan looked down at Gwyndolin's feet, appraising them.
What kind of a request is that?
Abashed by the closeness, he turned his face away, choosing to look at his table. "I can only perform such illusions on myself, as I am not familiar with your body." Is it possible for him to move back? "Get back. Give me space."
"Are you going to do another trick?" Arslan stepped back a few paces.
"These are not tricks. They are sorceries." He felt a pang of anger. They were far more than that.
"Sorry, sorry." He raised his hands up in a placating manner.
Arslan simply didn't know the difference. He was just a human after all. Gwyndolin would let it go.
Now, what illusion would satiate Arslan's curiosity? Gwyndolin raised his catalyst, and casted a simple spell, one he had learned when he had just started speaking. A large circular blue light formed in the middle of the room, similar smaller lights formed around it. He heard Arslan gasp. That should do it.
The room was lit up like the night's sky, a perfect replica of the moon in the middle and smaller stars around it. Arslan's face was glued to the moon as he went to touch it. His hand went straight through it, "It's warm." He walked around the room, almost tripping when his foot hit the corner of Gwyndolin's bed. Arslan laughed it off as his eyes were still glued to the shining lights.
Gwyndolin, feeling generous, decided to do more. Slowly the moon moved away, making room for the sun to shine its glorious rays. Golden light replaced the moon's lustre and eventually the night sky faded, sunlight and sky replacing it all. "I prefer the moon." Arslan commented. "Still very beautiful I must say."
Gwyndolin then took the lights away, with the swing of his catalyst. "You know, I might try learning this sorcery stuff." Really, you? At that Gwyndolin couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, you would be amazing at it, I assure you." He replied.
Arslan turned his eyes to Gwyndolin, wide for a reason he did not know. "Did you just make a joke?" Oh, I did. The human's face stretched into a grin.
"It seems I have." Arslan guffawed, similar to how his brother would. It brought a warm bubbly feeling in his chest, one he wouldn't mind feeling more often. Was it really so funny?
"By the way," Arslan wiped a tear from his eye. "Your feet, why weren't they like this at the party?" Now that was a question Gwyndolin might not want to answer.
'There was loud knocking at the door. "Gwyndolin!" It was Gwynevere. What was it this time?
"Yes, dearest sister?" He replied, unlocking the door.
"Come! It's time for your brother's banquet, to celebrate!" Gwyndolin grimaced. He'd rather stay in his room. "No excuses! You must come, for your brother's sake."
"I do not want or need to go." Gwyndolin knew he sounded childish, but it was the truth. He has to improve in his studies. To impress father if he ever came by.
"Don't be such a spoil sport, it won't be so bad." She tried to grab Gwyndolin by the hand, but he quickly avoided it and walked to his table. He picked up his catalyst, "Gwyndolin don't-"
Gwyndolin casted his illusion, snakes replacing his feet and legs and he shot Gwynevere a victorious look. "I can not ruin the party with my appearance."
She crossed her arms and moved out of the doorway. Gwyndolin's shoulders sagged with relief. But then he heard the loud familiar footfalls of his huge brother. "Brother." He said.
"Gwyndolin." He knew did not have a choice any longer. His hulking figure came through the doorway and stomped his way towards Gwyndolin. He picked Gwyndolin up and tossed him over the shoulder and Gwyndolin lost his grip on the catalyst and it fell on his table.
As they left the room he saw Gwynevere trying to hide a smirk.'
"It is complicated." Arslan does not need to know. Gwyndolin sat on his couch and curled his toes. It had been the whole day without them. He looked up to Arslan standing near the couches. I do not mind if he makes himself comfortable.
"Sit. It is fine." Arslan leapt onto the couch, he stretched and yawned. He is dirtying the couch...
"It's been a tiring past few days." Arslan yawned more as he made himself comfortable. Are all humans so rambunctious? He felt his eyebrow twitch.
"You are dirtying my couch."
Arslan looked down to see dust from his back smeared onto the couch. He quickly swiped it away with his hands. "My bad."
The two sat on the couches, Arslan leaning backwards staring at the ceiling - lazing, and Gwyndolin sitting straight up, prim and proper. The room was left in an awkward silence, neither of them saying a word yet he did not feel compelled to start a conversation.
He decided he might as well relax leaning back into the pillows and propping his feet up on the couch. Gwyndolin looked to Arslan to see his dark brown hair covering his eyes and his chest rising and dropping steadily. Is he sleeping? How can he sleep in this situation?
A human falling asleep in a child of Gwyn's chambers. A story Gwynevere was sure to gossip about with her friends.
Gwyndolin got up and walked over to the couch. He looked at his resting face, relaxed and uncaring as to where he fell asleep. He must have duties as a servant. He has been with me long enough. He looked at Arslan's sleeping form, torn between letting him rest or waking him up. He must have worked hard to sleep as soon as he sits down. But should he be here? Was this improper?
He shook his head, it definitely was.
Why is he thinking of such things after he allowed him inside his personal chambers? I need rest. Gwyndolin walked over to a pitcher of water and poured himself a glass. He took off his gloves and the heavier parts of his dress - only after checking the human was not looking, and crawled into bed.
.
.
Arslan stretched and yawned as sunlight hit his closed eyelids. He cracked open his eyes and rubbed away the dust that gathered. He saw the sun just rising behind the horizon. Once again, my sleep is ruined. He groaned as he sat up, stretching his arms. Arslan looked around at the unfamiliar room. Where am I? Something about being a servant and…
Arslan shot up from the couch. Gods! He got up too quick, pushing the couch backwards eliciting the sound of wood dragging on the floor. In short, very loud. He cursed his huge legs and looked to the bed on his left. There was a figure beneath all the blankets and pillows, curled into itself and it didn't react to the sound. Is it… Gwyndolin? He had to make sure.
Arslan tiptoed his way to the bed, intent on not interrupting the godling's sleep. He leaned over and made sure he touched nothing, and saw her peacefully sleeping, without a care in the world – or that he was here. She's quite nice to look at when I'm not in danger of being killed. He forced the thought into the back of his mind and ignored the heat at his ears.
Arslan made his way back to the couch. "What now?" He muttered under his breath. He looked to the sun just above the horizon. I really had to sleep at the worst spot didn't I?
He looked around the room for anything to do but it was all just… empty. Maybe he could leave. Without saying a word to her though? Then he remembered the older brother and the guards posted around the manor. Never mind. Arslan groaned before slapping his mouth shut with a hand. I never should've left the carriage.
He looked back at Gwyndolin's sleeping form, her chestrising and dropping steadily. Arslan sat as he pondered on last night's events. Well, it wasn't all that bad. Just not what I had in mind. He could say he made a friend- don't know if she would agree though. All he had to do was not make her mad and his life would be spared. Easy. He grabbed a pitcher of water and poured himself a glass.
Then he heard the distant sound of horses galloping. Arslan leaned onto the window and looked out into the distance. There was a carriage heading straight towards the manor. Should I wake her up? The carriage reached the front of the manor and servants came around to its door opening it. And a familiar figure rose out of it. The lady he had appraised at the banquet. And after she left, another larger figure emerged. The firstborn of Gwyn. Oh I'm definitely waking her up.
He walked over to the bed, and called for her. "My lady." She was fast asleep. Do I shake her? Am I allowed? "My lady, your brother is here." She stirred but did not open her eyes. Should I just let her sleep? But before common sense made itself known to his mind, "My lady, may I see more of your tricks?" Her golden eyes snapped open.
"Tricks?" Oh no.
"I- I meant sorceries. But besides that, your brother is here." He quickly deflected. Gwyndolin sat up, not making a sound or stretching.
"The sun has just risen has it not?"
"Yes it has."
"And he has just arrived from his party?"
"Yes, my lady."
"Why would he not seek rest after an entire day and night of festivities?" Gwyndolin said the sentence, annoyance clear in her voice. "He will not seek me now. Let me sleep or get out of my room." She snarled out. Not a morning person.
"Sorry, my lady." He muttered. Arslan slowly made his way back to the couches, scared of making any sound to incur Gwyndolin's wrath. He sat on the couch waiting patiently and unable to sleep, due to the sounds of Gwyndolin's constant moving. He was sure she couldn't sleep. Then there was a knock on the door.
"What is it?" She sat up and looked at Arslan. He raised his hands in a placating manner and someone knocked on the door again. "Hide!" She hissed out.
"What? Why?" Where?!
"Just get under my bed!" She looked panicked. Arslan scampered towards her as Gwyndolin waited until he was under to answer the door. "Do not make a sound." He didn't reply.
Arslan heard her take a deep breath before she answered the door. "Brother. Sister." She addressed. Gwynevere?!
"Gwyndolin." Two voices spoke in unison. "We were wondering where you ran off to. First time you've ever done that." The firstborn spoke.
"You should know, it is not very polite to leave a party without first telling its hosts." The sister spoke.
"I apologize for not telling you, then. Is that all you have come for? If so, then please let me rest." She didn't seem like one to say please. He heard the door swing on its hinges, before something meaty hit it. "What is it?" Gwyndolin asked.
What's going on?
"We were wondering where you ran off yesterday- Ow!'" A slap echoed through the room.
"Whom. With whom you ran off with." Gwynevere spoke, silencing the firstborn.
"Why do you think I would run off with someone? I came here of my own will." Haha, sure. Arslan heard the ruffling of clothes- not Gwyndolin's as he could see her from under the bed.
Laughter suddenly erupted from both the firstborn and Gwynevere. "Y-you running away from duty all on your own?" Gwynevere continued to laugh. "That's the best joke I have heard all day." It hasn't been that long since the sun came up. He heard the gritting of teeth as the firstborn spoke,
"You forget when you quoted duty or death to me after I was late to my training?" He guffawed at his own joke. He saw Gwyndolin curl her toes as the two continued to laugh at her. Please stop. You're going to get me killed.
"I have given you answers to your questions. Now, get out of my sight." Gwyndolin practically barked the words out.
"Hold on a moment. Who's shoes are those?" Gwynevere spoke, her voice getting louder. "I do not recall you having a pair such as those." Her tone took a teasing one, and he saw Gwyndolin take a step forwards.
"They are mine, now please leave." Gwyndolin tried to close the door but it slammed open.
"I must know who has been keeping you company! Was it the human boy from last night?" Arslan internally screamed as he heard the words come out of Gwynevere's mouth. Gods spare me. Then realizing they were in the same room as him, he covered his mouth to stifle a sound.
"What human boy? I know of no such person." That sent a pang of pain through him. But he chose not to think much of it considering just what kind of predicament he found himself in.
"Gwyndolin, surely you did not forget? The servant boy I forced- convinced you to make friends with." The firstborn entered the room, floor trembling as he walked. "He did take good care of you right?"
"I do not need taking care of. And the servant did his job well enough." I'll take that as a compliment.
"Oh, so where is he now?" Gwynevere forced her way past Gwyndolin.
"I dismissed him."
"And left him without his shoes? Cruel." The firstborn added as he stomped his way towards the couches. Why am I still hiding? Yet Gwyndolin seemed determined in proving them wrong.
"As I have said, they are mine-"
"I can't even recall the last time you wore shoes." Gwynevere silenced him. "Well, you are always holed up in your room." She added silently. "Well then, where is this human servant-friend of yours? You didn't order him to carry all those books of yours around did you?" She made her way to the center of the room. "No signs of illusion here…"
"Dearest brother." The firstborn perked up from his lazing. "Could you make yourself useful?" What does that mean? He got up from the couch and its legs disappeared from his field of vision. Oh, I have a bad feeling about this.
"Brother, stop it. You are ruining my decor." Gwyndolin pleaded, herself incapable of stopping the huge figure.
"Sorry," He lifted the next couch up, before letting it slam back into place. "But Gwynevere's orders."
Arslan, loyal to Gwyndolin's orders, latched onto the underside of the bed. His fingers strained on the wood, his feet were looped around the frame and he made his form as small as possible as he awaited his eventual demise. The firstborn eventually made his way towards the bed, ignoring Gwyndolin's protests and cheered on by Gwynevere.
"Brother there is-" His world left the ground. "No one there…" And no one was under the bed,
"Hurgh!" Just someone holding onto it.
Eventually his fingers gave out and Arslan fell onto his back. He groaned as he arched his back and turned onto his stomach- only to see three gods looking straight at him.
"Hello there."
Gwyndolin's face seemed to finally waver, contorting her face into a grimace. Gwynevere looked ecstatic, her hands clasped together in a scheming manner, and the firstborn just looked confused, he was the first to speak,
"What were you doing under there?"
"I was, uh-" He looked to Gwyndolin for help, but she simply ignored it. "Looking for something?" She facepalmed. You're the one who left me here! Help me out! "B-but it's not here, my lady." Arslan made his last ditch attempt for help and Gwyndolin grimaced as he added the last bit.
The firstborn had a look of confusion for only a moment before Gwynevere interrupted. "Oh? My lady?"
"Yes, dearest sister?" She replied.
"Gwyndolin?" The firstborn called out.
"You allowed him to stay the night?"
"No-"
"There is no way you let anyone into your room this early into the morning." Gwynevere had a victorious smirk on her face. "So, what did you do? Nothing nefarious surely?"
Arslan felt a blush crept up his face at the suggestion. With Gwyndolin? His eyes drifted towards her and hers to his.
"Never!" They both shouted in unison, surprising themselves and Gwynevere.
"Gwyndolin-"
"What we did is none of your concern." That is definitely not how you answer that question. All it did seemed to spark Gwynevere's curiosity.
"So you did do something." Arslan finally got up from his crouched form, and dusted himself. Gwyndolin shot him a look before replying.
"All I did was show him my sorceries. Now please, could the two of you leave-"
"You, human. What is your name?" Gwynevere cut her off.
"A-Arslan." His voice quivered when he saw the familiar look of anger on Gwyndolin's face.
"Gwyndolin-" The firstborn called out again.
"What did you and Gwyndolin do? What kinds of sorcery?" Her gaze turned imperious, feeling as if he had turned transparent.
"It is as my lady said," Gwynevere's lips curled upwards at the myriad of things they could have done. "She showed me her tri- sorceries and that was all." He forced his eyes downwards, unable to meet her gaze.
I wish I were home.
"Brother." All heads turned towards the firstborn. Brother?
Arslan looked around, Gwyndolin's lips had thinned and Gwynevere no longer looked cheerful. What brother?
"Did I not tell you? On the balcony?" The firstborn spoke to him. "Why are you using my lady?" What?
"It would be disrespectful-"
"No, that's not what I meant. Gwyndolin, he's my brother." Arslan turned his eyes to her- him? Gwyndolin's face remained impassive.
'Are you an angel?' There was an awkward and tense silence in the room. Arslan's eyes looked distant, as if he were somewhere else. The firstborn's eyes swept over everyone as if the silence was uncalled for. Gwynevere didn't know what to say, opening her mouth but closing it right after and Gwyndolin stood in silence, eyes glued to the floor.
"I believe that we shall take our leave." Gwynevere nodded at the two of them and dragged the firstborn out of the room.
"What? Why-" The door was slammed shut.
Gwyndolin moved towards the couches and Arslan flinched. He seemed to notice but didn't care. Gwyndolin sat down on the couches and propped his feet up, curling into himself. How is she a man?
"Repulsive is it not?" He spoke. "My appearance." Gwyndolin sounded different… Her– his stern tone was softer, quieter.
Arslan didn't know what to say. Why didn't Gwyndolin just tell him? This was all too sudden.
"You need not say anything. I know what you are thinking. How revolting it must be, to treat a man like a lady." Arslan clenched his fists. But he couldn't find the words to convey what he felt. But what place did he have to say anything to a god? Damn it I should've listened closer to the firstborn.
Gwyndolin looked at Arslan, eyes wanting. "So I am right?" Tears swelled at the edges of his eyes, but before Arslan got a word out-
"Get out." Gwyndolin's eyes turned to the cold gaze he regarded him with when they first met. "Get out of my room. Servant." He spat out.
Arslan shut his mouth and bit his tongue. And he listened, turned around, put his shoes on and walked out of the room all without even sparing a glance at Gwyndolin.
.
.
Arslan sighed as he roamed the halls of the manor, it was an amazing sight, truly. But the walls of sun gold and beautiful decor did nothing to alleviate how he felt. He didn't even feel like exploring now that he was 'free'. He had a feeling an apology wouldn't be able to mend whatever bond he had formed with Gwyndolin either. Wish his father taught him more on the nature of apologies. Maybe a gift?
Wish I listened more. He was just a human anyways, Gwyndolin could find someone better right? He was a god after all, people must flock to him!
The thought didn't comfort him as much as he hoped it would.
He reached a clearing where there were mosaics carved into the walls and grand statues tall enough to shadow him and five others. One of Gwyn and his firstborn on his right, and Gwynevere on his left.
Then he noticed, Where's Gwyndolin? He lives here. Arslan looked around and saw not even a mention of the young god. That's odd.
The Lord of Sunlight not having a statue of one of his children? Arslan thought the god quite liked showing off his accomplishments to everyone. Maybe they were still just planning on where to put it. He 'hmm-ed' and decided that was it.
Arslan left the section of the manor, instead heading towards a large double door. What could it be? He opened them and heard the clang of steel on steel.
It was the firstborn, Arslan's eyes were enraptured by the sight. He was fighting off five Silver knights using just his spear. He parried and deflected blows as if he were swatting away a fly.
"Whoa." Arslan walked closer to the fight. The air seemed to vibrate at the force from the blows, it was incredible. The firstborn eventually defeated all but one, the last one standing right before Arslan.
The firstborn released a shout before he hit the knight with the blunt end of his spear, knocking the knight down to the floor. With the obstruction out of the way, their eyes met. "Human!"
I have a name you know…
The firstborn, seemingly detecting his displeasure, greeted him once more. "Arslan was it?"
"Yes my lord."
"What are you doing out here?" Am I in trouble? A bead of sweat traveled down his face.
"Oh, um- I just left Lord Gwyndolin." The title felt weird in his mouth. He would get used to it.
"Something happened between the two of you?" Arslan had a feeling lying wasn't a good idea.
"No, I just didn't know."
"Didn't know what?"
"You know," Arslan had the sense to be embarrassed. "That she was a man."
"I did tell you." The firstborn took a serious tone.
"Yeah well, I didn't hear you," He reeled back his irritation. "And I'm sorry, for what it's worth."
"You'd do well to listen, there would be consequences the next time," Arslan nodded.
"Thank you, my lord." He replied with as much propriety he could muster.
"Bah! Enough formalities." The firstborn wiped off whatever sweat built up on his forehead. "I keep telling Gwyndolin it isn't a big deal. But our father thinks otherwise…" The firstborn muttered under his breath, barely audible to Arslan.
Is there a strained relationship between Gwyn and Gwyndolin? He thought back to the lack of statues in Gwyndolin's name. Am I supposed to be hearing any of this?
"I did tell you to take care of him. Even if you are just a human," Arslan grimaced. "Gwyndolin doesn't seem to… dislike you. Yet that is."
"Gwynevere and I will not always be here." The firstborn silently added. Is he trying to get me to go back to Gwyndolin?
Arslan thought back to the past day. Gwyndolin hadn't treated him horribly, while there were some ups and downs for sure. He sighed as he thought of what to do. Should he really go back? He leaned his back on the wall as the firstborn readied himself for another bout.
