Chapter 2
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Notes: There are several.
First and foremost, Dungeon Keeper does NOT belong to me. It belongs to Bullfrog and probably a bunch of other people who are either too mean, or making too much money to share it, probably both. I mean no disrespect, and am making roughly $0.00 profit from this, except hopefully the praise of some bored readers.
Second, this fic is somewhat of a combination of Dungeon Keeper 1 and 2. This may be confusing for those of you who have played the game, but just think of it as DK 2 with all the creatures from 1 there.
The Keepers and creatures are based on the characters in the game. Most of the feelings, and concepts like the Shadowlands are strictly made-up explanations for little things in the game. In other words, this is a mixture of actual canon and some little fancies of mine, just like most fanfics.
Even though the game is not mine, the story is, and I would appreciate it of you did not use it without my permission. I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
I don't normally make truces. It's sort of against my principles. But this.... This could be interesting. It has been a while since I have watched a romance evolve in my Dungeon, especially one doomed to failure.
They don't see it. Of course, they will eventually, but for now, it's just so perfect! A Knight and an Angel. Hm. Who would have thought? They don't realize how perfect they are for each other. They will though. And I will be here to watch them. Of course, this means I'll have to put up with that sniveling Keeper Mortagui, but it is worth it for this amusement.
I wonder if either of them are actually attracted to the other yet. I could possess Tarkasas, and find out, of course, but where would the fun be in that? I know it will happen eventually, I'm sensitive to these sorts of things. Watching them, standing side by side like that. They do make such a cute couple.
Tch! I am starting to sound like a Faerie! It is no more to me than a game. Watching how the two shall fall in love, then be seperated. I now it will happen like that; it always happens like that. A Knight is too foolhardy not to get killed in battle quickly, and Angels are the most easily punished by the Darknesses. Not to mention that I suspect that Mortagui is without any compassion at all. He would probably be the type to kill both of them when he finds out. Of course, the destruction of one of my creatures will give me the perfect opportunity to break the truce.
This will be a good game. And when it is over, I will crush Mortagui.
Seiat
Keeper is interested in these two. I can feel it through the bond. I know Tarkasas, he is a good Knight. He is one who doesn't rudely push Imps out of the way when returning from battle. He has always been a kind fellow, ever since I found him in that old cave. Well, actually Keeper found him, but I was the one who dug it out.
But why the other? He is of different alignment! Why is Keeper wondering about this Green creature? And why are they important enough to form an alliance over? I know that it was because of them.
I watch Tarkasas. He is coming back from escorting the Angel to the edge of our Dungeon. He looks strange. Sick, even. I fall into step with him. He doesn't say anything, and neither do I. I know something is bothering him, but if he doesn't want to tell me, then I won't press it.
I am lucky that he is my friend. Most fighters won't even talk to Imps. Some Warlocks have even been known to use us in magical experiments, even though it makes the Keeper angry with them.
"That Angel...." Tarkasas pauses. I look up at him.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"It's just.... well, it's strange. Usually, whenever I meet an enemy creature, I feel nothing but the desire to kill. I always thought that that was what I was supposed to feel. But if that's true then.... is it wrong for me to not want to kill him? Is that..... Wrong?"
I pause to consider this. Tarkasas seems very unhappy. I don't want my friend to be unhappy.
"No. I don't think so. I rarely feel the desire to kill anything, and Keeper wouldn't create Imps if they were wrong, right?"
Tarkasas sighs, and smiles a little bit. "You and your infallible logic, Seiat. Fine, I'll accept that. I still feel a little weird though."
"Maybe you should go lie down in your lair. I have work to do there anyway, so I can walk you down."
He chuckles. "Do you ever *not* have work?"
I smile. "Rarely. Come on."
We walk down the rest of the way in silence. I've done my best to cheer him up. I hope it helps. We reach the Lair. After watching him lie down, I go to answer the incessant Pull that leads me to a nearby hallway. When I finally finish and get back to the Lair, Tarkasas is gone.
Tarkasas
I know Seiat was trying to cheer me up. He is a good, loyal friend. But this.... This needs to be thought out alone.
There was more than what I told Seiat. It wasn't just that I felt no desire to kill him, it was....
I think I was attracted to him. I wouldn't really know, I've never felt the feeling before, but it seemed as though he was the fullfillment of a craving that I never knew I had.
It occurs to me as I walk down the halls of the Dungeon that I don't even know his name. This seems to me incredibly funny for a time. Here I am, angsting over a Dark Angel whom I've only met once, and don't even know the name of.
I exit the claimed territory of the Dungeon, and begin walking through the river that borders it. I try to pretend that I'm exploring, or scouting, but really I could never concentrate on my surroundings long enough to make a report, not in this state.
The Heartbeat of my Dungeon is weaker, now that I am outside the wall, but it is still there, beating in time with my own heart, a point of security that identifies my self.
I realize as I trek through the water that while the red-jewelled wall of my own Dungeon is on the left, there is a different claimed wall on the right. A closer examination reveals it to be green, which means it probably belongs to Mortagui's Dungeon. And the Angel's.
Curse that stupid Angel! If I had never met him then I would never miss him. Why did the Keeper have to pick me of all creatures to escort the Ambassador? WHY? It could have just as easily been a Demon Spawn, or a Mistress, or even one of our own Dark Angels! Why did she choose me?
I have a sudden idea. I could ask her myself. I dismiss it quickly. Creatures like me don't just go asking trivial questions of their Keepers. At best you would be slapped and sent back to your duties. At worst.....
I can't help thinking that there is something strange about this truce. Our Keeper never just agrees to a truce like that. Even if it is necessary to ally with another Keeper, she still doesn't arrive at a decision without much thought and deliberation. To just say yes like that..... Something's up, I know it is.
Ramasha
My Keeper will be pleased. We were not expecting Kaelay to ally with us; this is great fortune. I cannot help thinking that the Black Knight, Tarkasas, had something to do with it.
Being a preist, as all Angels are, I am more sensitive to the Darknesses than most other creatures. I sensed, as I stood before the Heart of Kaelay, that her attention turned from me to Tarkasas right before she agreed. This seems to me to be very strange, for I have never known any Keeper to rely on a creature's judgement, except possibly a Horned Reaper.
But maybe..... I mean, as pretty as Tarkasas is, he could be..... But Kaelay just doesn't seem to be the type of Keeper who would.... I mean, she doesn't even seem to possess her creatures much, let alone....
Was this allience really well thought out? I mean, she could build her Dungeon right up to ours and then just call off the allience and destroy all of us within moments. I know as well as Mortagui that we are not as strong as she is. I know better even,for I have seen her creatures and felt the power of her Heart. We would be no match for her if she decided to turn on us.
This whole thing reeks of something. I will find out what. But first, my report. My Keeper knows that the allience has succeeded. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have come back. But he does not yet know the terms she imposed upon us.
I kneel in front of the Heart. "Great Mortagui, the truce, as you know, has been accepted. The Red Keeper has demanded that in return, we allow Her to build her Dungeon up to ours, and that either side may request assistance from the other. There shall be no hostility between the two of us."
I can feel Mortagui frown. In a moment, he speaks to me. "You realize the danger in this, of course? If she decided to call off the truce, she could attack us at close range. We would be no match for the power of one that supports a Darkness."
I gulp. "I know, my Lord."
I know feel his frown turn into a rueful grin. Apparently he approves of my knowing the situation.
"So then, Ramasha, do you believe that She will turn on us?"
I hesitate, wondering whether I believe my own suspicions enough to relate them to my Keeper. "Your Grace.... I do not believe She will turn on us just yet."
The impression I get from my Lord is one of a raised eyebrow, but he doesn't seem to be angry. He appears to be giving me a test of some sort. "Oh? And why not?"
"Well, Sir," I falter, then begin again. "Apparently Sir, this is not just a whim of Hers. Though She is entirely strong enough to take us down, She activated the truce for a reason."
"And what, Ramasha, is that reason?"
"I don't know My Lord. But before She activated the truce, I saw her turn to the Knight that had escorted me to their Heart. I don't think that they communicated in any way, but I got the distinct impression that she was doing this because of him."
My Master's frown has returned. "Thank you Ramasha. I shall consider what you have told me." His tone changed from contemplating to ordering. "Call a meeting at the Temple. Tell all our creatures that we have allied with Kaelay of the Red Darkness, and there are to be no attacks on them."
I nod, and bow again. "Thank you, My Lord Keeper."
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.