The Iron Hunter

by Marcilio.RandomGuy

Stranded and in unknown territory, a Yautja finds himself at a turning point in history between kings and monsters. (Cover made by me!)

3. Meeting of three worlds

The desert fell under a veil of the dark blue sky as the stars and moon shined. Constant wind blew sand as it rolled over the land with low whispers. No other sound came from the night. There was just the desert and its high dunes.

It was in this quiet void that Noc'ture stood.

As a master of his craft, he worked fast and with precision. His trophy was close to being ready. The cleaning tools placed on the vehicle, no longer of use, as he picked apart the last traces of flesh while staring at empty pockets.,

For the last two days, he scoured through the endless empty miles of land. And as of now, his critique of it was: Mainly disappointing.

Yautjas preferred hot environments but not the dry types. Those with humidity were some of the best. The jungles on earth, swamps, and so on., With his full armor, Noc'ture wasn't feeling the most comfortable. But that was just a minor inconvenience.,

Those who lived there are what semi made the experience have some value.

The people weren't the nomad kind, to his surprise. Living away from the desert.,Using it just for travels and as battlegrounds in wars. That meant small numbers of wandering habitants for Noc'ture to take their worth.

Until they came right before him.,

A day before, he considered following the trails and roads, all of which led to one, if not the biggest, settlements of this Dorne. A city with a unique style, but quite remarkable for how underdeveloped this world was. The people, while different in their garments, acted very akin to what he had seen and interacted with previously.,

On both sides.,

It started when an elder crossed paths with Noc'ture. He traveled with his mount, accompanied by a more youthful man beside him. Almost reaching adulthood by human standards, but still nothing but a pup to his race. Olive skins, heightened by constant exposition to sunlight. Though they shared no blood relation from what the hunter observed., Both were coming from the opposite direction in the road. Light with their load, and only the young carried a weapon with him.

They went past Noc'ture as he watched them from afar. Nothing in them seemed to worth to give chase. And he was close to ignoring their presence altogether. He stopped when seeing they weren't alone anymore.

Few in the universe could equal a Yautja in their sense of tracking and hunting. And when a group of five came right after the due, Noc'ture knew what they were doing instantly. Their faces were as hidden as their weapons under black clothing and kept a distance to avoid attention to themselves. Tho, one of them carried a larger one with himself.

Basic tactics, not that Noc'ture expected more. But it did catch his curiosity.

Making a detour, he trailed after both groups.

The elder and his companion stopped to rest at dawn, mounts tied to pieces of wood on the ground. Setting a small campfire and eating no ample portions of food. Noc'ture could identify the smell of roasted meat, but the spices were unknown to him.,

It seemed that they were in for a quick and short journey before returning home. And probably have done this other times before.

Noc'ture tone out after they finished their dinner, casually speaking of random topics. Focusing mainly on the other males. He had to give credit to their patience and control over their animals to make not a noise.,

Only after the elder and youth were in a deep sleep did they act.,

Noc'ture inwardly chastised them, especially the young one. Slumbering without keeping watch was a sign of either stupidity or too much confidence. Things he literally had beaten out of him and that he beat out of the un-blooded pups in their training from time to time. Now the humans could pay the price by such.,

One of five moved slowly over the sand, reaching for the elder's items. Reavers, Noc'ture concluded their nature as the male searched nonstop for something. He didn't find it. Next, creeping closer, he pushed the cloak covering the elder to his chest. There was the object that humans used hanging on a collar. Key, if he was to recall the name.

Judging by the reaver's reaction, that was what he was looking for there.

The situation took an interesting turn.

Maybe the male wasn't as silent as he taught. In a quick rush, the young companion reached for his sword and aimed at the reaver's arm. By luck, he didn't lose a limb, as he jumped back to avoid further damage., It was loud enough for the elder to wake up in a panic.

A standstill formed between them.

They exchanged heated others for a while until the biggest's reaver, with long hair coming out of his cloth mask, took a step forward. Noc'ture figured that the other four weren't taught in the warrior's ways, from how they shook under the youngest's gaze and his blade aimed at them, not even bothering to reach to their weapons.

Cowards.

The large man cast out his robes, revealing his face and a sword similar to the young one's, with a wavy edge and curvy shape.

Understanding the silent challenge, the young responded by getting into stance. Noc'ture was impressed by his fighting prowess. Blow by blow. He matched an older, more experienced foe. But he fought like the pup he was. No holding back, going by uncontrolled emotions, with wild swings of his weapons.,

The result couldn't be any different than expected.

At one point, the reaver caught the young in a downward strike. The superior strength pushed through any defense knocking the pup's sword away. And he didn't even know what happened as the reaver slashed the blade across the exposed throat.

The elder wailed as blood all over the sand, and young gurgled a few last breaths before life as last left his body.

A clean death in Noc'ture's eyes., While acting in the wrong, the pup stood his ground and didn't waver at any moment. He could meet the black hunter with no shame in his name.

As for the taller male, he held a neutral look in his eyes at the boy's body. Sheathing the long sword and a ghost of a nod, he moved away., A sign of regard.

If he thought the male was a worthy trophy before, Noc'ture now had no doubts. The same didn't go for the worms that accompanied him. He snarled with disdain, remembering what they had done next.

In his culture, elders were one of the most valued members of society. Their wisdom and teachings were gifts to be passed over all generations after them, victories and failures alike. And honor in the hunt was forever a lesson they set in stone first and foremost.

To only hunt for the worthy game. That which inspires challenge. That actually has a chance of fighting back or even winning. Every Yautja lived by the code.

So Noc'ture was rightfully infuriated when the four other cowards surrounded the defenseless old human. Two kept him down and silent, while the other two stabbed his chest repeatedly.,

He had further proof of the long-haired warrior's sense of honor when he looked at them in disgust a the butchering of a harmless being. It was a spark that ignited a great discussion between him and the four.

By the end, he chose the moral path and broke away from the group, wanting nothing more to do with any of them.,

Oh, Noc'ture, on the other hand, wanted a lot.

But not before earning his great price. Which he now held in hand.

The white light of the moons showed the clean skull in perfect detail. The small cracks at the parietal and temporal parts. Some teeth tilted, and a strong jawline.

The warrior showed his true abilities when facing Noc'ture. Blades collided as both reached for the goal of prevailing against each other.

His heart was beating faster at the Yautja's presence, like with other humans. But on the outside, there was fear to be seen.

Once Noc'ture stood victorious, he allowed the man to raise with what strength there was in him still. And asked with a deep growl a question.

His name.

It was a personal custom Noc'ture took for himself when facing off against sentient species like the humans. If they are to go amongst his other trophies, he should carry their names as well.,

Amum. The warrior said to him through heavy breaths. He accepted death with pride as Noc'ture ripped his head off with a simple move.

Staring at the skull now, Noc'ture made a mental note to put it in the front rows of the trophies room. It seemed - appropriate.

Running a short talon across the frontal region, he turned to his bike, ready to return to the ship. Following the holographic map earlier, he saw there were miles between them. Close to another settlement that seemed made for younglings. Seeing them in the various pools made him wish for his own in the ship's chambers.

While not satisfied with his first outing, he had a few things to think about.,

Storing the skull in the bike's compartment and hopping on top of it, he couldn't help but go back to the female pup in the city. She had managed to spot him in the heights, even with his cloaking on.,

A part of him considered that it was a result of sloppiness on his part. Another saw it as a sign of potential. The cub's eyes must be sharp, even at such an age. If shaped well and with guidance, maybe she could turn into a quality hunter. But what were the chances of it actually coming to fruition?

Impossible.

Noc'ture huffed, bringing his arm up and pressing a button on his integrated gauntlet. The computer calculated the fastest route to any other source that emitted Yautja signs. Sending the feed directly to the mask's inner interface for him to follow.,

And moments later, Noc'ture shot out of the bike, head snapping towards the right. He thought it had been malfunctioning somehow. Or his eyes were being deceitful.

Not one but two signals were present in his mask!

The second was a hundred yards from his current location. Its signal was weak, but it was there, clear as the sun. Noc'ture found himself struggling to believe that it was real, even as it blinked and the sound ringed in his ears. How could it? If his brethren had a station of any kind on this planet, it would've been in the records. In addition, beacons would've sent alerts to any other hunter to find.

Noc'ture silently bristled at being so empty-handed in terms of knowledge of this rock. If there was more, some form of sense could come out of this.

Looking at the dunes ahead, he considered the options. At worse, it would be a simple waste of time. On a brighter outlook, should he find more of his kin on this planet, even just their equipment and supplies, his way home became an easy task.

Yes, that's a chance he could take.

An engine roar cut through the land, and sand was cast up in the air as the bike accelerated at full speed. A trail of blue flames behind it.,

Noc'ture found the second signal origin in instants. No wonder it was so weak, for the location was under a dense layer of sand under his feet. Digging could take longer to reach it. So he would cut through the space.,

Sound's of energy starting to gather reverberated as the plasma caster rose, its tip spinning in circles. When ready, instead of releasing the usual blasts, a continuous beam of heat spilled out of the shoulder cannon into the ground.,

Noc'ture counted the time before shutting it down. And to the armored enforcer's glee, amidst the scorched portions of sand, was the entrance. There was no doubt of its Yautja origin as he slid down to get a closer look. Tho, it seemed older in form and design. Reminding him of the temples the ancestors built many millennia ago in the father worlds.,

Could it be they had been here before, in a long-forgotten era?

The grand expansion saw many a world found. Some as new homes for the Yautjas, others with sentient life forms were contested between clans to serve as a hunting ground., And then some were special, where their race built the foundations of all that's known.

And if it gate was anything like those in the temples.

Bending and running his hand along the hard black stone surface, Noc'ture expertly looked for an elevated portion in the door. He found it, almost at the base. With a small amount of force, he pushed the bottom down.

As he had seen before, the door's figure rumbled and shook as it started to change by the sound of gears. Soon enough, a panel came forth, bearing Yautja markings and an oval red centerpiece. Three iron strings converted to an opening in the middle of the circle.

Shrim!

With wrist blades out, Noc'ture jammed both into it, twisting them back and forth once.,

Like time never had any effect, the door smoothly opened itself with the sound of scraping rock. Pure darkness welcomed Noc'ture in a long stone stairway leading further underground.

There was nothing on the visor and no sign of life.

Slowly, Noc'ture places one foot in the first step, equally silent even with heavy armor. At the fifth step, the door closed behind him, cutting away the only light source from outside., Huffing without turning, he fearlessly strode on into the pitch-black stairs. Eyes keenly going through every inch. Ears listening to any noise.

His blades were already painted with blood but not nearly as satisfied. Any who dared to strike him in the shadows would be welcome to try their luck against them.

And down he went, through narrow and large corridors, twisting into more tunnels. With a filtered mode in his mask, Noc'ture could see the carvings and murals on the walls. Tellings of old happenings. And confirming the presence of the ancestors there. Constantly he wondered what purpose they had to build those temples in an unknown world that wasn't even a hunting ground, designed for Chivas, a motherland.

Those musings stopped once he walked into an open space. His head tilted, and his fist opened while taking in the state of the spot.

A great battle happened there.

Pieces of rubble were everywhere, holes of blasts in the ceiling and the walls. But there were no sights of bodies other than small tracks.

In return, there were several types of equipment in the room, but not ancient. Those were modern, mixed with the elder architecture. What took the Yautja by surprise the most, however, is that he knew them.,

They were from his clan!

An interactive central ahead being the highlight.

It occupied a large portion of the room. Parts were broken and damaged, but they were mostly outside regions. If the inside had received just a short amount of the wreck, the central could still have its services.

Noc'ture had worked on those countless times. And he knew how great was the energy it to make it work.

Obviously, the temple didn't have any in use now. It didn't mean there wasn't one. Otherwise, it wouldn't have appeared in the visor.

So, what if?

Visor shifting to an emerald-colored spectrum, Noc'ture spotted the lines of energy running above and below. All meeting once he found the core source right in the other end of the room.

Ripping the panel covering it off, Noc'ture brought his gauntlet forward. Finally connecting the two devices, he found the initiation sequence available. And with a press of a bottom, there was light.

The number of machines inside seemed higher than he expected if the rumbles were any sign. The very ground shook as they were awakened after Paya knowns how long.

A synthetic and loud warning caused Noc'ture to turn. Going over the central, he went, quickly typing a series of precise commands. The red holograms warped in and out of the screen. More and more information appeared by the second.

First came the information about the structure.

The temple was about 8 thousand years old. All of the equipment, however, has only been there for half a century., For Noc'ture, the most evident reason would be a deserted observation point. But he would hold that thought for now.

Next, he wanted to know the level of damage. The results weren't good.

Surveillance: Shut down

Communication: Shut down

Life signals: Inoperable

Files: Unavailable

He barely didn't stop himself in not putting a new hole in the central. This planet was a form of torment. He was sure of it at this point. It took much and gave very little.

"Pauk," With a low groan, Noc'ture searched what else he could at least save. Since the surveillance was out, he was glad to find the temple's schematics.

Grabbing the image, he tossed the hologram into his gauntlet. Soon enough, everything there was at the palm of his hand. The lower levels of the structure interested him the most. If there were any tools to help him find or forge a path out, they would be there, luckily.

Next goal discovered, Noc'ture left the room. Many points of easy access and quick mobility were in the layout. Tunnels for supplies, passages to other parts of the temple, some that led to the outside., One of them was put automatically in motion when the energy restarted.

Yet, it seemed the charge was too much. The status turned red moments after, meaning the mechanism broke. At the same time, it showed the safety protocols were operational. For a platform falling from such a height would've been heard had it hit the ground.

To be safe, he commanded the hatch to close. He didn't have any sensors there or on himself. And there was no need for unexpected intruders from outside.

Considering the width of the temple, even more in the subsoil those passages were of absolute use there., One casual walk would see one go through miles of endless halls.

And the one he needed was amongst them. At the end of the hall.,

When the doors opened, a silver platform pieced itself together, lights coming to life when it was ready. Stepping on it and picking the level, Noc'ture waited.,

While traversing further into the ground, both in vertical and horizontal angles, he took the time to think more of the location.

It wasn't the first desolated grounds he had encountered. Be it human or Yautja. Each one with a story of its own. But this was the most illogical of them all. It was a physical void but with clues of a disjointed puzzle.

An unknown world, an old temple, his clan's technology, signs of battle, and no other hunters. What tied all of that together?

When the lower levels were inpecte, Noc'ture would turn the temple upside down even to find a ghost of an answer.

The platform stopping with a shake made him snap into attention. And as the doors split, he stops. Taken aback and wide-eyed. Chest raising with big breaths, body now more rigid than the stone around him, Noc'ture had an answer brought in a horrid way.

In the ceiling, lights blinked constantly. Fighting to stay on amidst the wreckage that damaged them., And between those short moments of light, Noc'ture saw it, lying on the ground.

An arm with dry blood around it.,Green blood. And next to it, the leftovers of a mask.,

He approached the riven member, heart pounding strong at the discovery. From the cut, a blade or something sharp caused it. The arm itself was skinny, rotten by time, yet still had the gauntlet wrapped around it.

Retracting the blades and grabbing the forearm, Noc'ture lifted it. Carefully unlocking the underside, he took the gauntlet out and let the member fall. At first glance, it was intact for the most part. Raising the top, the last action of the deceased hunter was on display.

He had lost the fight, and to keep his honor, had set up the explosive sequence. Yet, he didn't get to activate it.

Unfortunately, that was all Noc'ture would find. With the mask broken, any visuals or extra information was lost. No point in stopping because of it. If the chance of finding another one forwards, he would take it.,

Placing the second gauntlet in his left arm, Noc'ture continued through the path. Beyond his own footsteps, the lack of noise went on. It took a while for him to reach another significant area. Going by the layout helped in ignoring routes that went nowhere.

Now he stood in one of two intersections. The size double of that of the central above. Strangely enough, it was very human in parts. Walls white and clean as bones, reinforced, which would explain why their state compared to the halls he had walked.

In all, it looked like a laboratory. And if one was to guess. Where everything went wrong.,

At the side, a circular gate was closed tightly. Noc'ture tilted his head in suspicion at the dents in it. By their form, whatever caused them, was on the other side at the moment. Still, it found a way inside. Moving his gaze up to the ceiling, a set of three large holes were there.

Turning away from them, Noc'ture walked over to a terminal. Ahead of it were traced squares in the ground. Could it be?

The commands to make the terminal work didn't go through, as he typed into his right gauntlet. Seeing the only other solution, Noc'ture repeated the process with the left gauntlet. After 2 seconds of silence, he got full access.

Right away, he tested his theory and was proven right. Slowly, the squares rose from the ground, revealing cages. The walls were of transparent glass and narrow for the captive not move much or at all. At least that was the idea. Each of the cages had its front open.

They were left out.

Like the data in the central, the captive's files were gone, leaving only their codes names.

Number 6

Number 5

Number 4

They didn't mean anything to Noc'ture, but the cells did help him to start forming an idea of what may very well still be lurking in the dark halls of the temple.

Whatever they were, he would avenge his fallen kin by making good trophies of them.

Trusting the left gauntlet again, he turned to the sealed door. Bringing the blades back out, he pressed the command to unlock it. A bright green light shinned from the other side as the door was halfway open, with steam slowly pouring from it.

The second Noc'ture saw what was behind it. He received a new shock that evening. The strongest of them.,

It quickly gave away to a rush of burning wrath. A deep undulating, clicking growl emerged as his body shook.

He had given this place many names since he found it. Yet, looking at the black organic walls with twisted shapes and moisty forms. He knew now what it was.

A nest.

And it gave a welcome with a frightened scream coming from its depths.

---

Earlier

"Ready ?"

"Yes,"

As different as the seven kingdoms may be, there are some universal expectations for each of them. More so in their female representatives.

The way they act and dress are the main ones.

In regions such as the Reach, the focus on those is absolute. The Tyrells always held their chivalry to a high standard. Seeing themselves with a level of perfection that rivaled even the royal family.,

For that, the thought of some of them being physically ill at Elia's figure.

Gone was the beautiful, expensive dress and heels she usually wore. As of now, she resembled her nieces the most. A matching pair of simple bright yellow sleeveless shirt and pants. Lether boots and vambraces at her forearms. Hair tightened in a ponytail.

The princess held the old crossbow. Head slightly inclined towards the right to take aim.

Brude was in front of her, holding small sacks of sand in each hand. His other two fellow guards stood in the back, making small talk while keeping an eye on the horses and surroundings.

Elia recalled their names: Darius and Farid. The former shared the same age as Brude nearing his mid-forties, with a long face, lighter skin, thick beard, and curly hair. Farid was a few years more young. And had a more rounded mug and copper skin., With stubble in his jaw from having been shaven recently.

Both had similar outfits. Golden clean helmets wrapped in red cloths. With heavy shields carrying the Martell's symbol and long spears.

As for Brude. He wore the complete set of his usual light armor. With the addition of his right arm covered in a thin layer of iron. And a second weapon on his waist., One last present her father gave to him before dying. Which many would gladly kill to get their hands on it.,

After all, the number of people who own a Valyrian steel dagger was less than the number of fingers in a hand.,

Torches were put in a couple of points, giving more light than the moon could provide for them.

It was a struggle for him to convince her to leave the gardens. Until he revealed where they would be going., Looking back, Elia should've thought of it first.

The open space allowed for a breathtaking view of the sky, away from the lights of Sunspear., The heavenly bodies never looked more beautiful. She realized that it had been many a year since there was a chance to take a moment to gaze at them. She and Ashara had just turned four and ten on the last occasion.

And that was one part of it.

Between sands, in a cliff close to the sea was a secluded area., There, a miniature green garden bloomed, and a tree grew high. Some could call it a miracle, as not even the maesters managed to explain how such a thing came to be.

The gardens had many vegetations growing around them. Due to the earthy soil and constant irrigation., But this area was pure, dry sand.

Elia didn't much care for an explanation. Ever since laying her eyes on it, she fell in love. It quickly became her private corner, a calming escape from the real world. With only Brude and occasionally Oberyn accompanying her.,

For the present moment, it was also symbolic. It was also where Brude first taught Elia how to use the crossbow.

And he added more to the nostalgic feeling. "Remember the saying ?" He asked while tossing the sacks over his palm.

"Your life is held in every shot. Make them all count," Elia smoothly cited.

Brude nodded approvingly.

"Sure you don't want one at the time ?" He put it to Elia, lifting one sack.

The princess shook her head. "No. I plan on "showing" what I know, as you said,"

With a hmph, Brude turned sideways, lining his body with the tree, and braced for the throw.,

"Do it then!"

Both sacks flew up in the air, in perfect synchrony in the ascent as in the descent. Elia didn't fire right away. She waited with patience as her targets fell, seconds passing slowly.

Make them all count.

The bolt sailed out after she pressed the trigger. Speed barely trackable for the human eye. A thin shadow that passed through the night.,

A moment later, Brude heard a thud as steel pierced wood. His eyes squinted as he turned towards the tree. He didn't stop a smile from breaking into his lips. Sand quickly fell off into the ground below. With the firelight close, he could see the bolt had hit both targets, holding them in place along the shaft by their middle.,

Turning back to Elia, her stance threatened to make his smile wider.

She was always the flower without thorns. Kind, delicate, clever, but fragile. All loved her for it, a piece of innocence in the world. Even now, as a young adult, those traits remain.

Brude thought teaching her this would help to give her more confidence. And, despite never wanting her to live the horrors of war or worse, the knowledge that she could defend herself brought him plenty of tranquility.

And now, after witnessing her earlier expression. The proudness she held with a playful grin and bow hoisted on her shoulder made the Dornish guardsman consider the idea a success.

That same proudness broke slightly at the two other guard's cheers at her demonstration. Brude knew the signs when Elia became shy. Head lowered, lips pressed, rubbing her arm, dark red in her cheeks. All of those were there now as she nodded bashfully at them. Before walking (running) to retrieve the arrow.,

"No need to hurry, princess," Brude teased, following after her. "It ain't going nowhere,"

"Don't make it worse," Elia replied in a quiet voice, pulling the bolt out, its steel head taking bits of wood off. Turning to the older man, she raised a brow. "So ?"

Brude understood what she meant with the question.

"All things considered. Maybe I shouldn't have given this back. Whoever eye's you decide to pierce one day will be on me," He shrugged his shoulders.

"I wouldn't do that on purpose," Elia said with false indignation.

"...That's what a lot of people heard," He pursed his lips, side glancing.

His facade of seriousness broke after Elia backhanded him in the shoulder.

Both shared a small good-hearted laugh between themselves.

"But, truthfully, your aim is still sharp," Brude then praised.

"You made sure of it," Elia pointed out gently, remembering the hours she spent firing bolt after bolt. Lifting the crossbow, she wondered. "Where did you find it anyway ?"

"It never disappeared," Brude said. "I just kept it with me after your mother gave the orders,"

Loreza was never against him teaching Elia self-defense. She encouraged it really after Brude made the request. But when the young princess came to a certain age, it was time to focus on her responsibilities and avoid distractions.

Elia, at first, was rightfully disappointed at not practicing anymore. Yet understood why it had to happen. Now, it seemed like a warning when he decided to just put the weapon in a safe place instead of throwing it away.

The princess nodded at the reveal. She slowly sat down in the soft sand, leaning against the trunk, taking a short bit to put the arrow back in the string, and examine the bow in her hands. Brude had done more than take good care of it. The paint seemed brand new, with no signs of root in the wood nor rust in the metal. And the string wasn't loose.

"To think it used to be too heavy for me," She commented, to which Brude looked up in remembrance.

"Before settling for this one, I went to ironsmiths all over the city. Asked if there were different kinds of bows, one-handed ones if needed," He remarked.

Elia frowned. "One-handed?"

"It made sense back then," Brude stated. "You were small, and a weapon fitting to your size would've helped,"

"But there weren't any," Elia guessed matter-of-factly.

"None," The guardsman confirmed. "That's why I was extra careful, for your own sake and mine," He stared at Elia in deadpan when she had a look of inquiry. "One strand of hair out of place on you, and your mother would personally put my head on a spike,"

"You're exaggerating," Elia said.

"Maybe, but she knows how to make a threat convincing, even as a jest,"

That much the princess could give to her old friend. Her mother, while fair, kind, and open-minded in many affairs, was also firm in her rule on Dorne., From little gossip, if one can even name them such, she had heard from Doran and Oberyn, Loreza wasn't above doing what was necessary to keep order.

Some left Elia unnerved, but she knew it was the price of leadership. Any lord who has any worth has to have this balance. Not overly forgiving and tyrannical. A delicate feat in this land. Unfortunately, one the current king didn't manage to achieve.

"And here I thought only this place scared you," Elia changed topics, getting some payback on Brude's previous teasings.

"Again with this ?" He grunted with a roll of his eyes. Tho, seeing her playful wit again made it worth it.

The sly smile on Elia's face was the answer. "What was the story? The haunting of the sands? The one that left the O brave Brude shaking to his base. " She raised her voice in an overdramatic manner, poking fun of his title before a series of giggles escaped her.

The usually confident guardsman having his strong posture giving away to a subtle but constant underlying sense of dread and horror was a sight she'd never thought would occur.

It was the first time Elia asked him to take both to her secret garden. Brude must've looked over his shoulder more times in a day than he did in a lifetime.

"...The curse of the desert," Brude wearily corrected, causing the giggles to grow in speed and Elia's shoulders to shake. "You know why I take those kinds of stories serious,"

"I believe in the gods to Brude," Elia said, catching her breath. "Doesn't mean everything in legend is real,"

"This wasn't a legend of old written in a book, Elia," The guardsman argued, sitting by her side in the tree. "I was just a boy of eleven when I first heard about it. All across Dorne, people venturing into the desert, common folk and highborn alike. Disappearing, to never be seen again,"

It was polarizing at the time, many either believing, others calling it nonsense. The roads were in a close state of abandonment by the people. Only merchants and travelers dared to use it.

Years later, the occurrences started to decrease. Until no more did they happen. Making it easy to all be forgotten.,

"No one tried to find out what was happening ?" Elia then took a more real interest. The only times she heard the story were passing mentions of it. Never in detail.

"From what I know, some tried but came back empty-handed, even your grandparents. After some time, a part of me thinks no one wanted to seek the truth anymore and pretended nothing was occurring," Brude stated. "Can't say I blame them. After all, living safely in ignorance is more painless than facing the pains of reality."

Elia hummed, taking in his words. "And what do you think ?" She asked.

"Me? Back then, in my very creative mind, a lot of options. A punishment from the seven. Demons that took lives as they pleased. Or a vengeful Rhaenys Targaryen, seeking revenge against our people for her death,"

"Now? I'm not so sure anymore," Brude somberly observed the dry land surrounding them. "Something was out there, however. Maybe it still is,"

Elia stared at him, voicing her thoughts. "You thought of leaving Dorne during that time ?" By what he said, it would be a logical course to take.

"I saw many do that. A part of my family amongst them., Going further into the Storm lands or even the Reach," Brude replied. "For me, they say it was a case of going against better judgment,"

"Dorne is my home, Elia, and I wanted to serve her in any way I could. Fear wasn't going to make me useless,"

Useless

Elia's chest tightened at the word. All lightness left as her eyes turned empty and distant as she looked ahead.

"Easier to some than others,"

"Hmm ?"

"Not being worthless,"

"What do you -" Brude grimaced immediately and wanted nothing more than shove his foot up his arse upon seeing her. The progress made for Elia returning to her old self was gone. All by his big mouth.

"Elia," He began but stopped when she raised a hand.

The sharp change of mood brought an epiphany to the princess. Like the final piece missing in a puzzle. And with it, a new overwhelming wave of emotion was forming in her.,

"Can we be alone for a moment ?" She whispered.

There was a protest stuck on Brude's throat. But he wordlessly relented to the order. Signing to his fellow guards, both rose from their place, took the horses, and moved to stay farther away.

Elia waited until they were out of sight, turning to Brude, she said. "Don't speak much, just...listen mostly,"

Brude nodded.

"What's Doran's role ?"

"He's to be next ruler,"

Elia nodded. "What is Oberyn's ?"

"Many," The Martell may be the youngest of the three brothers, but his presence in plenty affairs of the family could see him as the next to sit in power. Lead the armies? He would do it. Go across the world to find certain things or people? The prince himself admitted he would enjoy making a living out of that. Even daring to venture in the dark waters of Valeria, alone if necessary., Just for the thrill of adventure.

Elia took a moment to swallow a lump forming in her throat. Shoulder lightly shaking as she asked.

"And...what is mine ?" Brude was close to opening his mouth until she warned. "Don't say I'm the princess. That is a title only,"

The guard blinked and was quiet for some time. He again cursed himself for not having a straight answer. His face most definitely reflected that, as Elia laughed humorlessly.

"Exactly," She said with a shake of her head.

Brude managed to find his voice again. "Elia," He softly started. Now understanding the true root for her low spirit. "This isn't fair, especially not to you,"

"The truth isn't fair ?" Elia sarcastically retorted. "Is ignorance better than reality ?"

"If it is a reality you create to belittle yourself, then yes, it is!" Brude growled through his teeth.

The bust of triggered fury made the one in the balcony pale in comparison. Why was it so hard for him or anyone to understand?

Jumping to her feet, Elia glared down on Brude, heat and defiance in her eyes.

"Belittling, you say," She said to him, bite in her tone, hands bailing into fists at her sides. "Is it belittling when one knows I'm not as clever or cunning as Doran? Weaker and nowhere near as skillful as Oberyn? And my mother. I see her eyes when we are together. They shine with pride at both. All their potential, all they've achieved. Who they are and will be," Her voice wavered at the mention of Loreza, even more, while adding. "And then...there's me,"

In the firelight, even with deepening shadows, her eyes began to lose their intensity.,

"There's no-,"

"Listen!" Elia hissed. "She always said I would help in the future of our house, bring it honor. She prepared me for it for years. Taught all that was necessary. And when the moment came, I wasn't enough. Good enough. I...," The dam reached its breaking point. Elia's numbness evaporated as unshed tears streamed freely down her face. She didn't even bother to wipe none away, despite hating them for ruining the steady version of herself she had put forth. "She wasted all that time. Only so I couldn't do my duties and give her nothing in return," Hiccups shook her body. "Seven, I'm a disgrace of a daughter,"

Brude would not stand for that anymore. Rising, he quickly but gently wrapped his arms around her. Like he once did when finding her crying alone after her father's burial.

Thoughts of calling Elia out on her nonsense were constant, but he held his tongue. It wasn't what she needed.

And, even as she mildly put up a fight to get away from his embrace, he held on, rubbing her back. His chest plate and garbs were soon wet as Elia wept profusely, letting all she kept hidden out. After some time, her cries slowed down entirely. Dying out in one last hiccup., Elia still had her face hidden in his chest, breaths coming as short sniffs.

With the tide dwindling inside., A part of Elia felt ashamed to raise her head and face the guard. Two light taps on her shoulder changed that. Brude placed some distance between both of them, hands still holding her.

Elia could see in his eyes, not the pity she expected, only care and worry.,

"Better ?" He asked with honesty.

While she couldn't say that, a part of the weight of her mind was gone. Along with the pressure in her chest.,

Brude accepted the meek nod she gave him. He was surprised at her following words.

"I would like to go home now," Elia stated simply to him.

Would that be the gardens or Sunspear, he would find out later. "As you say, Elia," Before he let her go, he made a soft request. "Can you do one thing for me ?" She tilted her head, curious about what it was. "When we return, don't hide anymore. Go to your family, talk to them, even more with your mother. It's all I ask,"

Elia was quiet for a moment, but she reluctantly concurred. Brude hoped he wouldn't have to force her to it when they reached the city. Grabbing the torch and bow off the ground, the two trekked over the sand to reach the road which led to the gardens. Placing two fingers in his mouth the guardsman's whistle crossed the area, a signal for his fellows to come forth.,

As they waited, Brude and Elia didn't exchange any words. The gentle crackle of fire being the only source of sound between them. Yet, for Elia, now a clearer head, it didn't feel right. She would loathe herself even more if Brude's efforts went unacknowledged.

"...Thank you for bringing me here," She thanked him.

His fixed expression lightened as he turned to her with a thin smile. "Always my pleasure, princess," An old habit he had created while watching her grow was to bop her nose at certain moments. Elia's mouth twitched when he did it now.

The sound of a horse's whine made both turn towards the dunes. They saw the two other guards closing in. Mounts right following behind.

"C'mon, you two, we've been here more than I like," Brude called out to them.

"My stomach is in full accord," Farid replied, tapping his gut.

"Slow down on your desires," Darius nudged him with an elbow.

Farid wasn't affected by it.

"Life is too short. And I plan to enjoy its pleasures," Farid pointed at the princess in good humor. "Listen to my advice, my lady. Eat well, drink well, sleep well, that's what living means,"

"I'd say don't cause at one point, he will make others carry him around," Darius said in false dread. "Oh, what a nightmarish fate!"

Elia aimed a tiny but honest grin at both while Brude shook his head. Darius and Farid were good men and soldiers. Yet, with their quippy sense of humor, they became near insufferable. Worse is, he felt it contaminating him like an infection over their term as guards.

"Alright, alright, less talking, more riding," He prompted all to start moving.

"Oh, sour will be the day when we can't grace you with our presence, Brude," Farid stated, pushing the horses forward.

"Until that da,"

All jumped when the horses whined loudly, jerking up to their hind legs, trying to pull their reins away. No one could try to calm them down or wonder what caused such a reaction.

The ground beneath Elia, Brude, Darius, and Farid started to vibrate. And from under the sands, each could see with frightened eyes a light forming a square around them.,

"What the fuck ?!" Darius's question shifted into a collective of yelps and cries as they sunk! Farid lost his grasp in the reins, allowing the mounts to escape the same fate as their masters.

Such was the speed that they fell to their knees, the sky getting further and further away, as the world around turning in a blinding blur of white and rackety sound of scratched metal.

When it seemed the fall would never end, the four were propel upwards before coming back with a painful bang.

Their bodies were left limp and aching, the impact hard enough to drive all air of their lungs. None dared to make a move and just laid there, letting out pained groans mixed with curses and coughs.

Brude was the first to recover, rolling to lay on his back. Eyes opening, he looked up at the place they had fallen.

One way he could describe it would be by drawing comparison to a type of prison he heard stories of., Deep and dark sinkholes where men went to suffer and die, seeing the days and years fly over their heads with the sun. With no hopes of ever getting out.,

Only this wasn't of stone or dark. It was of pure and clean metal and illuminated by strange glows. As if someone managed to catch the stars and put them in a tube.

Craning his head to the side, he tanked the seven. The comparisons stopped at the basic. In the spot where his now extinguished torch had fallen, there was a large rectangular tunnel, sharing the same design as the hole., Before he continued with his thoughts,

a feminine groan snapped Brude out of them.

"Elia!" He called, voice rasp by pain.

The princess curled her body, hands holding on to her head.

"Are you alright ?" He helped her rise slowly in his arms, setting her on her knees.

"It's throbbing," Elia said through clenched teeth. Part of her arm and leg were also aching, but her head took the fall's harm.

"Keep rubbing. It'll help to stop the pain," Brude advised before turning to Darius and Farid. The latter was pushing himself up, rolling his neck.

"Hells," He breathed, noticing Brude getting closer. "What just happened ?"

His fellow guardsman was also in that phase.

"I wish I knew," Brude replied, offering a hand. Farid took it, getting up to his feet. The aftermath of the fall still was in motion, as for a moment, he almost toppled, to be saved by Brude grabbing him in support.

"Easy, easy,"

Farid nodded, staying still for a time to gather his wits. He patted Brude on the shoulder to signalize the help wasn't more necessary.

Only Darius remained.

With him the bigger of the tree, Brude and Farid had to take one of his arms each and pull.,

But he's worried about MY weight. Farid cursed at the hypocrisy, as it took several tries to get the man up from the floor.

Their minds back in focus, the guards checked to see if they had lost anything. Thankfully, besides the reins, none of their weapons stayed behind.

Speaking of that., Other than wondering where did they end up. The four began to discuss what they could to get out of it. And from many angles, the fortune wasn't in their favor.

"Unless one of us has wings, there's no climbing up," Darius pointed out, hands at his waist, as all stared at the path leading back to the surface.

He saw it from two aspects. First, the walls were smooth, with no cracks or points for them to hold to climb. Second, the kind of metal used on them. It was unlike any he had ever seen and strong, very strong. One of his daggers was lost trying to scratch the dammed thing.

"Even if we managed, we would tire before getting halfway through," Brude supported the concept.

"At the risk of being the only one, I rather take my chances with this than go in that direction," Farid thumbed at the tunnel. He didn't know why, but something about it made him uncomfortable.

Another came with a simple solution to the problem.

"Maybe we could wait ?" Elia hopefully suggested. "No doubt someone would start searching for us soon enough,"

"While I see sense in it, my lady, it could take long for that," Darius respectfully pointed out.

"Than, I'm afraid you don't know my brother well, ser Darius," Elia replied plainly.

The idea of staying down there wasn't pleasant, but the princess spoke true. If not Loreza, prince Oberyn would scour the world to find his sister. It would be a matter of hours if it depended on him.

However, before they could agree or debate further, all froze when noticing a shadow covering them. And turned pale seeing why.,

"No, no, no!" Farid spoke with growing despair as a set of two iron plates out of nowhere moved to each other, sealing the passage.

Darius lost it.

"Great!" He shouted, arms raised. "FUCKING, GREAT!"

Elia and the others inwardly couldn't help but share his feelings. She didn't try to keep a strong face. Brude noticed her trembling hands and mouth, silent short breaths, and terrified eyes.

Had he been still a simple and humble boy, both would be in an equal state. But Brude didn't allow it. He could not. Especially now when she and his comrades needed him to be strong.

Turning towards the long tunnel one more time, he knew their road led to it. And to whatever may lie inside.

Brude softly touched Elia's wrist. He gave a confident nod as she looked at him. There was no defeating her nor their fears, but at least he could try to offer them strength.

"Farid, Darius," Both turned all ears. Eyes went down below, where Brude jerked his head. They instantly understood what he meant.

Farid signed. "Are you sure ?"

No, I am not. "Either we go, or we pray someone will find us and has a way of going through that," Brude commented on their odds.

His fellow guards shared looks in silence, struggling between thinking about another method of leaving or accepting to go along with the proposition.,

Darius made his mind after some time.

"Fine," He said, running a hand over his face. "I'm with you, Brude,"

Brude nodded in understanding. He turned, waiting for Farid's answer.

"...Hope I don't regret this," He whispered before steeling his resolve and accepting. "Let's do it,"

"Good," Brude then stated. "Farid, you the take point guarding our rear, Darius with me, Elia stays between us. Eyes open for anything,"

Soon, the four walked in a crude, but cautious formation, following Brude's lead along the path, their route set only forward in the present. For a while, besides the creeping tension of being in such a mysterious location, each held on firmly. Yet, as further in they went, the complete lack of activity or any other noise than their steps started to leave the group even more at unease.

Farid decided to at least fill that void.

"So," He began in a low voice, gripping the staff of his lance tightly. "Anyone wants to guess where in the seven hells we could be? What even is this place ?"

Elia took them by surprise when she answered.

"To me, it looks like the web of underground routes made by princess Meria during the conquest," She whispered to him over her shoulder. "It's said that she spent years spreading them all over Dorne, even on Sunspear. For the troops or in case our people needed to flee from the war,"

"But, there was no mention of any of them being this deep, nor with metal walls and those white fires. Not even the one under the city isn't,"

"There's one there ?" Farid asked in surprise.

"And in every keep and palace of our bannerman. From house Allaryon to Dayne," Elia stated. "Right bellow them, to be specific,"

Out of the guards, only Brude wasn't shocked by the princess's knowledge., Many afternoons he spent with her in the library, watching books upon books fill her table. Sometimes he would get one for himself to pass the time or for Elia to act as his teacher.

Darius voiced his curiosity at the information.

"Does that mean someone, knowing those paths, could go anywhere they so desired ?" Brave and fool would be one that traveled thousands of leagues through the darkness.

"That is what people usually get wrong," Elia explained. "When the dragons were push back after Queen's Rhaenys death, any work on the paths shut down. With no use for them, why waste more resources? Besides, even without them decades later, we won our independence in another attempt of theirs again,"

"Funny thing is, the web at first was a scheme made for the hope of finding new water reserves under the sands,"

Darius hummed. "Never knew you had such a like for history, my lady," He puts it to the princess with praise in his voice.

Elia smiled. "It was the one thing Oberyn could never brag against me in smarts," She dryly said.

The light jest was a welcome gif as all shared a quick laugh. It helped to raise spirits. And take away some of the dark atmospheres from their minds, even if but a moment.,

Farid was thinking the same, as he declared.

"More than that, my princess," He said to Elia. "If we are indeed in one of those paths you mentioned, then our home maybe isn't fully out of reach yet," Only downside. He probably won't feel his legs at the end.

"May the gods let that be true, my friend," Brude declared in support.

After walking more in the repetitive pattern of the hall, the group came upon a development. At the end of it, there was a right turn. The same presented a surprise. Never have a large set of stairs have been so refreshing to the eyes. As they eagerly went up, so did their hope of being on their way to freedom.

Halfway, however, something changed, along with the mood.

Brude and Darius both grimaced as a foul odor entered his nostrils. Elia and Farid followed suit, with the latter pinching his nose close. The lights, which once burned bright, lost part of their power, taking a more bluish and cold color. In a strange duality, the halls became as hot as the desert. And humid as well, causing sweetness to form in their eyebrows and heads. The three guards started to contemplate taking off their armor.

"Damn heat" Farid took the initiative, pulling out the cloth wrapped in his neck.

Darius did the same, muttering while sweeping his forehead. "We might as well look like boars in a feast...I'm sorry, princess," He quickly apologized to Elia.

"None taken," She ran her finger over both eyebrows to wipe away the wetness.

Darius noticed how they weren't the only ones. The last steps had a layer of moisture over them, the walls constantly with drops of liquid running down on them. Since when do walls sweat ? He didn't know but probably wasn't going to like the answer, not in there.

Reaching the top of the stairs made the statement even more real.

There was an open gate a few feet away from them. Inside, one source illuminated the chamber, coming from overhead like a veil to the group's bewilderment. But what caused them to stop was how little it did to purge the darkness around.

The sight didn't do one of them any good.

"Brude, let's reconsider our options," Farid implored, a chill running down his spine as he stared.

"We would if we had more," It was Darius who replied to him.

"You're saying you want to go in there ?" Farin argued.

"Do I look like I do? Or any of us for the matter ?" Darius calmly gestured to Brude and Elia, whose faces said it all.

"...Fuck," Farid lowered his head, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. He regretted this already. Brude was about to reassure him when Elia, to his pride, did it first.

Farid felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned to see the princess, with a similar fear in her eyes. "All of us are afraid, Farid, don't feel shame in feeling it. But like it or not, our best chance of leaving is going forward, even in the darkness," She politely said, giving him a light squeeze."We are making out of this and going home, alright ?"

The guard kept his gaze on Elia while contemplating her words. Unknown to her, she had given him courage once again as fear receded within him.

Wordlessly returning the nod, he waited for their next move. After sharing a quick look with Elia, Brude took his cue.

"Stay close, and do not touch anything," He gave a warning.

Facing a potential risk head-on, they edged close to the gate. Brude was the first to enter, taking slow steps inside the dark chamber. With some patience, his eyes adjusted to the environment, and he was left wide eyed and speechless.,

The chamber was ten times the size he imagined it had, not only in height but also in length, with an intersection of two long extensions left and right. Unlike before, its walls weren't of smooth metal but pure ancient rock. The white fire also wasn't alone in brightening the room. From high points, open spots allowed some form o natural light to come through. Some larger ones, enough to fit two adult men, were pitch black.

By the color of the former, it resembled the moon quite closely. It could mean we are near to the surface.

Those optimistic thoughts were damped by what was in the room.

Brude stopped, expression changing from wonder to dread, which he didn't know was possible for a man. Elia, Farid, and Darius went through the same as they entered.

It seemed like their fall was the mouth of a giant, and now they ventured across its inner parts.

As far as the eye could see, a macabre viscous material coated the ambient., Almost as a parasite, it attached to the stone and formed cavernous links with thick transparent dripping strings. The significant portions of it appeared solid but twisted and disturbingly alive at the same time. With one focused enough, they would see short pulsations comingfrom them.

Definitely not touching anything. Farid had put more distance between himself and a streaming piece that was almost on his face. Elia now followed him in closing their noses. The stench had only gotten worst.

"Smells like something died in here,"

"Wouldn't be a surprise," Daris grimly commented, face scrunched at the smell and feeling his feet becoming wet after walking to a small hidden puddle of an unknown liquid. That boot would get a free passage to fire after it.

On Elia's end., While finding the structure remarkable, she wasn't against going anywhere else as fast as possible. The question was, which way to go.

Brude had the same thoughts as he turned his gaze back and forth between both directions in doubt. It wasn't a case of an obvious pick. They were identical and weren't very inviting.

"What's wrong ?" He heard Elia whisper at his side.

"Arguably one of the most crucial decisions of my life,"

"Where ever you decide to go, we will follow," Elia said.

"That's what has me worried," Brude somberly replied.

Even if it meant making a silly statement, Elia tried to advise her friend., "How about trying an obvious approach ?"

"Come again ?"

The princess put her theory to him. "Let's say we were there," She jerked her head up. " In which direction would the Gardens or Sunspear be ?" In terms of direction, Brude was a better fit than her.

Brude narrowed his eyes in consideration while mumbling. "Foward towards the right, one turn also right. That means...," His eyes raised with realization as he pointed at the left side. "There,"

"Just say the word then,"

He would. But before that.

"Here," The bow has been in his possession since the fall. "In case you need it," He said, handing it to Elia. As she took the weapon, he declared. "But don't test fate. If something happens, I want you to run. As fast as you can out of this place,"

"And leave you here ?!" Elia didn't believe his words.

"Especially if it comes to that," Brude said without haggling. "Are we clear ?"

"But -,"

"Are we clear ?" He repeated more firmly.

Elia wanted to protest. But held her tongue and bitterly agreed to the conditions put on her.

It didn't erase his doubts, but he had more confidence in the choice. He placed a hand on Elia's shoulder. "I'm not saying this to anger you, Elia. Allow this old-man to do his duty and watch over you,"

With a silent fine from her, Brude turned. Snapping his fingers, making Darius and Farid look in his direction, he waved for the two to come. The group continued on. Having to climb or go under various spaces created by the material.,

The further they went, the more present it became, even covering the floor at their feet. All made sure to mind where to step from thereon. And to keep an eye on each while going in an area that was intrigued maze of turns.

Luckily, the white fires were everywhere, giving them a clear vision of where they headed. And they burned more bright on those parts.

The line came to a sudden stop as Brude raised a hand. The chamber they were in was as tall and wide as first, with the same spots of light and darkness. Different corridors ran along its sides, held by thick stone pillars that limited the view. Expect an ample well right at the center.

Elia and the two other guards curiously watched as he got down to one knee and stabbed something on the ground with his sword. His body blocked them to see what it was, but the crunchy sound was like opening a piece of bread.

When he didn't say anything, Darius spoke.

"Brude ?"

Still not saying nothing, the group's leader slowly turned. And the three jumped back.

"Hells, what is that ?! A spider ?" Farid quietly cried.

Darius, more composed but astounded nonetheless, replied. "What kind of spider has a tail ?"

Elia could why they would call it that. But to her, the creature in Brude's sword was more like a hand. A deformed hand with four pairs of long thin fingers and two sacks hanging under it.

Oberyn would love to open it. She reflected on her brother's affinity for discoveries, a piece that only grew after he went to study with the maesters. He had gone into full details of the experiments conducted in the citadel. Something like this spider would make his day.

Glancing at the ground, she gulped. There were more, much more of them. Bundled together at the well's edge, all dead as the one Brude held.,

Farid noticed her gazing and followed. Silently, he went to accompany her towards them. Brude and Darius stayed behind, left in deep discussion about the creature as the two went ahead.,

"I think I speak for everyone when I say: I'm had enough with this accursed place," Farid stated to Elia as they walked.

"None would dispute that," Elia agreed.

Farid snorted. "It gets more unsettling by the minute as well," Elia crouched to get a better look at the spiders. "Those things do not help. Be whatever they are,"

"What do you think they are ?" She asked.

Farid shrugged. "As I said, for me, they are some kind of spiders. A fucked up kind,"

A type that doesn't root after death, from what Elia observed. If anything, it looked like they had frozen over time, bodies taking a husk state like an insect.

Since those weren't in a sword, Elia got to see their underside as well., And, to her displeasure, it proved that her brother would love them. The last aspect she expected to see would be one so - erotic.

Farid, meanwhile, didn't have the same interest after the initial shock. Instead, the well was much more appealing. With his companions busy, he placed his arms at the edge and took a casual look inside.,

Moments later, all snapped their heads in his direction when he all but jumped, losing part of his balance and grip on the lance, making it roll across the ground.

Elia was about to go to him. When Farid snaped and took hold of her arms.,

The princess became nervous, not at the act but his face. All color drained from it, breaths erratic, and his eyes filled with primal horror.

"F-Farid, what are y-," He shook her. Brude and Darius were with them in an instant, weapons ready in case Farid would try something rash.,

"Farid," Brude said with an edge in his voice, gripping the sword's handle. Darius did the same.

"Don't let her see it," Came his friend's quick response, the threat going ignored.

"What ?" Darius asked in confusion.

"Brude, keep her here," Farid instructed, letting go of Elia and pulling Darius by the arm towards the well. The princess was in the process of understanding what had happened. Don't let her see what ?!

Brude was just as in the dark as her. Seeing Farid's usual laid-back attitude change so drastically., It turned worse when Darius adopted the same look on his face.

Both walked away from the well.

"We've to go, at all haste!" Darius stated before Brude could say a word.

"You heard him," Farid added, going over where his lance had fallen.

Brude exclaimed. "Can you two speak sense ?!"

"We don't need sense. We need to leave," Darius said again, searching everywhere for a passage.

Already seeing the risk of being left with nothing, Elia took matters into her hands.

"Wait, Princess!" Farid called as she made a quick run towards the well.

Once laying eyes on the contents in it, she felt like puking and used all in herself to not scream, even with the suffocating tightness in her chest.,

The well's bottom was a wall of living horror.

Countless bodies, varying between desiccated decay

and skeletal, stuck in the same transparent webs from before. Bloody ribcages burst outward as if exploded from within their chests. Man and Woman alike.

Such sinister sight would be on her mind for as long as she lived. Lips quivering, she turned away from it. Instead, focusing on Brude, who stared intensely downward.,

"Gods be good," He said to the carnage. Within his mind, he was far away, remembering. Talking about the curse that terrorized his childhood with Elia opened a gate for a dark thought. Could this unholy pit be connected to it? Were those bones the ones of the dozens who vanished?

And they stood right on it?

"This...isn't human," Elia said with new tears threatening to spill.

"No," Brude looked around, fists closing so tight he could crush his sword's hilt. "This is hell,"

As much as Farid and Darius wished to spare their companion and ruler of the sight., It could be beneficial for their urge.

"And much of our time as been spent on it," The former stated. "Let us leave it behind, with whatever bastard that crawls around its halls,"

Brude would be more than happy about that.

"I found a passage over here," Darius called up ahead from the group. "It should get us close,"

Brude nodded in understanding. "C'mon, Elia," He said, nudging her to move and get going. "Hope you're ready to use that," He said, gesturing at Farid's spear.

The younger guard smiled for the first time. "You have no idea," He confidently stated.

With renewed dedication, the group went to restart their journey. But before they walked three steps, Farid, Brude, and Elia heard a noise behind them.

It happened in a blink of an eye.

One moment the bald guard and the princess looked up. The next, their vision turned red.

(MUSIC: No name, but it's the best scene in the first AVP. You guys will know which)

Farid loudly gasped as something pierced his back into his chest, spraying blood about,

Darius, Brude, and Elia all watched in terror. A gagging Farid, with blood coming out of his mouth, gets lifted from the ground., Chest punctured clean not by steel but a large, sharp, and barbed tail.,

The trio's terror turns to blind fright. From one of the wall holes, eyeless creature dark as the night slowly comes out of the shadows., Bringing Farid closer to its face, the black beast let out a loud serpent-like hiss at him. Showing a row of razor-sharp white teeth and a wide maw, a flow of saliva dripping from it.,

As life drained out of him, Farid could only gaze with fear into the demon of a creature. His painful misery came to an end. Raising its long but skinny arm, the beast flexed its set of four taloned fingers.

And slashed them through him.,

Elia's scream was one to be heard from miles.

"FARID!" Darius cried as Farid went limp after the creature ripped his head from his shoulders. Rage took over as Darius yelled at the beast. It released another hiss in a challenge. Grasping his spear's shaft, he lifted it over his shoulder and threw it in the air.

The beast didn't seem threatened by the attack. Demonstrating fast reflexes and agility, it tossed Farid's body from its tail and quickly jumped out of the hole into the floor, avoiding the spear.

It landed on all fours, raspy breath echoing in the chamber.

The white fire over revealed its complete form to the present Dornish. An unduly thin and lean body, with bone marks under the reddish accented skin. It's head long, split by a crest. The most disturbing aspect, however, is that it looked human in certain areas.,

The trio tensed when it displayed such. Ever so slowly, the creature rose to stand on two legs. Revealing an impressive height close to 7 feet., Brude and Elia, in particular, became more apprehensive when it sniffed the air, head snapping back and staring right at the princess.

With a growl, it took a step forward, hunched over, and roared leaning backward., Not a continuous roar, but a repeated burst of sound like a bell.,

For a moment after it was over, there was silence. The tree trying to understand what it did.,

They found out soon enough.

From all around them came dozens of tremors and faraway animalistic screeches. And Brude's heart almost stopped.

"Run!" He yelled in command to Elia and Darius. "RUN!"

All raced out of the chamber by the passage Darius had found. It was narrow and at regular height, equally to the corridor ahead of it that led to a new intersection., This time, Brude didn't bother to stop and think. Having the prior mindset, he and the others went left right away.

As they ran, the creature stood, watching from the chamber. It turned its head slightly behind upon hearing its brethren's arrival. Exchanging a series of hisses and grunts with them., A specific target was pick.

And their hunt began.

---

"WHAT THE HELL THAT THING ?!"

"HOW SHOULD I KNOW ?!"

Crossing the corridor as fast as their legs could carry them, Brude, Darius, and Elia didn't dare to look back where they had come from., The creature's screeches being an enormous motivator for them to keep their current speed.,

At the same time, what had transpired could be ignored for long in Darius's mind. Just from what pit of hell did that thing crawl out? He had never seen or heard of the like.

His teeth gritted as he recalled how easy it tore Farid apart and threw him away like a waste. If only had hadn't misted the spear throw.

"He is still in there," Darius bitterly said as he glared ahead.

Brude bit his lip to suppress the wave of emotions running through him. Gods damn you, you fool. He swallowed a lump, thinking of the fallen guard. "There will be time to mourn him once we are safe," He said both to himself and Darius before promising. "After that, we return with our armies and wipe all of those beasts down to the last of them!"

Elia, meanwhile, didn't say anything. Throat recovering for how loud she had screamed. And as she ran, her thoughts couldn't be further away. This horrible place had done nothing but shaken her to the core. There was only death in walking in the halls.

You did this

Her tears were close to spilling again.

One of them was her fault. She could still feel the blood on her face, part of it visible in her eyesight. Had she listened on the first time, maybe Farid would've lived.

Boom boom

Elia almost tripped, her heart skipping a beat and her breathing coming in with difficulty. Not being able to keep up anymore, she leaned against a wall. And while getting dizzy, an old kind of dread crept upon her. No, no, no, not now!

It was, in a way, a never-ending cycle when it came to Elia's health. Due to being of premature birth, not everything was right with her. One of the main consequences was lack of air and painful coughing fits that left her lungs aching., In other cases, they left her bedridden for weeks.,

They mostly came when she was either: Under stress or participating in sports for too long. Judging by the situation, it's safe to say both were at play.

The next thing she knew, she was on her knees, hand covering her mouth as she coughed away.

"Elia!" She barely registered Brude's call.

He instantly stopped in his tracks, hearing the bow fall to the floor. Panic was evident on his face at seeing her start gasping for air.

"Elia, please, breathe, breathe," Brude said, rolling her, with her back held on his forearm. From years of experience, the position helped during the attacks.

The coughs slowly decreased. As Brude focused on Elia, Darius never tore his gaze from the hall.

"...Brude," He warned with an edge, as from the fires, he saw the creature's shadows closing in.

Even without seeing, the several roars were enough. "Can you walk ?" Brude asked Elia.

"I just need a moment," She replied between coughs.

"We don't have that," Brude quickly did the next best thing. With an arm under her knees, he lifted Elia on his arms. Darius took the bow with him. "Hold on,"

Thanks to how little she weighed, the guardsman had no trouble running at a fast pace while carrying the princess.,

The next time they had to stop, it was for the worst cause.

It can't be happening. All Dornish frantically thought. What stood ahead wasn't a new hall or none the like. But a solid barricade, putting an end to their path.

They could deny they could curse and rage. In the end, the three came to a strange feeling of acceptance. That was it. Nowhere to run nor hide, and the chances of fighting their way back were non-existent.

In the deeps of the earth, surrounded by demons, their resting place would be., And no one to know where it was. Honestly, it was better like that. Such a place should be left alone to rot.

Brude turned to Elia and Darius. They didn't say a word, just had a defeated expression as answers. The former was close to being back to normal asked silently asked Brude to let her down.

As they could hear the monsters nearing, waiting for their fate simultaneously, something else caught their attention. Coming from above them.,

At first, there were the same screeches from the monsters. But not a moment later, they ceased quickly. What followed were intense and heavy beats, like a war hammer hitting stone.,

Those also stopped. But with the silence came a new hope.

The tree watched a new path open on the right side of the hall. After jolting in surprise by the sound that came from it., Faster than the wind, they rushed to it. Brude saw a curious detail. From the parts where the passage spread, there was a hand-like shape in it.

It wasn't so significant as he took in what was on the other side. An enormous space with thick pipes all over., And right under where they stared was a pool of clear water. The waterhole didn't seem too shallow from their point of view.

There really were hidden water reserves underground.

Brude, Elia, and Darius breathed easy again. All it would take for their salvation was a single jump.

"Would look at this," Brude said.

"It ain't the end for us," Darius added.

Feeling revigorated, he turned to see if the beasts were close.

SKEEEEEEEH!

Only to be tangled by one head-on. The sneaky creature sunk its claws on shoulders and waist as both crashed to the ground. Darius roared at the pain, and while trying to push the monster out of him.,

Elia cried in fear seeing both wrestling, with the creature's long tail moving wildly in random directions.

For Brude, it was as if time slowed down. He saw his friend fighting for his life at the beast's claws. He saw more of them in the shadows, now a calm stride turning around the corner, intent on catching their prey. He saw the passage that would help them escape. And lastly, he saw Elia.

She was terrified.

The little girl he swore to protect. Who he had come as if she was his own. Who he thought he would've to see her death. Just as he did with another friend.,

No.

Even as the fight went on, Elia felt Brude's gaze on her and turned. The curiosity in her eyes was great as she wondered why he was standing frozen there.

"Go,"

Before she could ask, Brude shoved her through the new passage into the waters. Throwing the bow along afterward.,

"BRUDE!" Elia yelled while falling. Arm stretched in his direction.

He closed to doors as she submerged, seeing her one last time through the narrow gap.

Darius, meanwhile, was using all his strength to keep the creature from getting too close., But the freak was unrelenting, and savage Darius had to give it that. At every punch he threw at its face, the deeper the claws went, as each tried to overcome the other.,

Until it got tired of their standstill., Blood flew from its hand as the creature went for a slash on Darius's face. He braced himself for an attack that never came.

Brude crashed at the creature's back. With his Valyrian dagger, he plunged the blade deep into its neck and opened the cut even more by pulling it back. The creature shrieked and trashed, tail almost hitting him.

Darius had a chance to escape the hold. He kicked the creature in the chest. As it fell to the ground, desperately trying to get the dagger out and stand again, both guards were upon it.

Darius used his sword. With a downwards thrust, the blade went through the creature's moth. At the same time, Brude took hold of his dagger again and completed the cut he started. It died instantly.

Both men didn't get to celebrate their victory as they quickly stepped away from the corpse.

The creature's blood was dull yellow colored and came intensely out of its wounds. Brude and Darius watched in a mix of disgust and astonishment. Upon touching the floor, the creature's blood melted the material in a significant amount of smoke. Soon, each place it grazed was entirely corroded.,

They didn't want to consider what it could do with them.

Darius all but threw his sword out of his hand, seeing the same smoke coming out of it. Brude, on the other hand, was taken back, as his dagger, while drenched with the blood, was undamaged.,

"Those fucking things only get worse," Darius grunted, putting pressure on his shoulder to stop the bleeding.

That was an understatement. And now, getting a good look, Brude wondered if he found a good or another foul factor.

Remembering the red-colored creature that killed Farid, this one was the complete opposite of it. Same race, but much smaller in height, smooth cylindrical head, and brownish skin. Judging by how Darius held it off, Brude could see it was also not as strong.

Are there other types?

"Why did you stay ?" He turned at the question. "Why not go with Elia ?"

"Felt it was the right thing to do," Brude said. "If it meant to give her more time, so be it. Besides," He raised a brow. "Someone had to save your ass,"

Darius snorted. "Now we're both dying together,"

"...You're right," Brude said casually. "I should've jumped with her. What was I thinking ?" He imagined it would be one of Farid's answers.

Both shared a dry laugh. Before Darius winced at his shoulder's wound., Brude then gave him a helping hand. Ripping a large piece of his sleeve, he wrapped it around the man's shoulder., It wasn't going to stop the bleeding, but it was better than using his hand all the time.

"How did the dagger survive that ?" Darius thought out aloud, looking at the blade.

Brude could only consider one thing. "Suppose there's more in the dragon steel than it's known,"

"Need to get me one,"

"Heh, Good luck,"

Those few moments of peace were all they got. From the opposite side, a series of stomps approached.

The red one decided to at last join them. And its company answered Brude's doubt.

Standing on a bipedal stance. This new variation seemed a mix of red and the small one that the guards killed., The same color as the latter, but the structure and height from the former. However, its teeth seemed sharper, and they had strange dorsal spikes.

Wordlessly, Brude passed his sword to Darius. The new creatures aggressively hissed, detecting the treat. They didn't get to engage.

Red's snapping snarl caused each of them to stop. And the Dornishmen didn't believe what happened next.

They are talking ?! Both thought the same, as the red moved its head left and right between the others beside it.,

The notion was proven true. As soon as red stopped, the others bolted out of the hall. It, however, stayed where it was. Still as a statue, staring at Brude and Darius. Leaving just the tree of them.,

The latter was quick to pick up the meaning. "So, you bastard, is this how it is going to be ?" He muttered with a frown, twisting Brude's sword. "Alright, I'm game,"

Brude wasn't quite sure what was the creature's motive to make the others leave. But he agreed with Darius on the last part. The chance to get some payback, and keep them away from Elia, was one he would enjoy, very, very much.

Both guards readied for combat, going to respective stances for their weapons. Red merely crouched, even more, claws scratching the ground.

A breath later, they went at each other.

Sadly, the guardsmen underestimated their foe's prowess. The speed showed in the chamber was just a third of the real one.

In a moment, they were a few meters away. Then next, red jumped in the wall in all fours and launched himself head first towards Brude. The bald guard went flying as if a battering ram had collided against his chest.

Darius could only see his friend hitting the wall hard before the creature focused on him.,

Quick thinking saved his life as it jumped jaw open. The bite closed on the sword. Darius's eyes widened when instead of stopping the attack, his weapon broke in two, with red spitting the piece after.,

Not giving up, he used what was left of the sword, slashing as much as he could against it. Those proved worthless against red's skin. The sword's edge could be equal to a butter knife used as a weapon.

Red stopped the next upcoming blow. Grasping Darius's arm, it threw him across the hall. The adrenaline helped numb some of the pain and pushed the guard to stand up fast.

It was of no use.

Red launched its tail to stab Darius on the right side of his chest. It slammed him on the floor and pulled him forward. Darius landed on red's feet.

It effortlessly picked him up with one hand.

Its grip was one of steel as it placed both face to face. Even in pain, the guard refused to look defeated before the creature. He continued to fight. Kicking and punching it repeatedly to no avail.,Red stood quiet as Darius wasted the last of his energy.

When fists didn't help, the guard used his final option.

He roared, raising the broken sword.

Clang!

There was a moment of silence once the remaining part of the blade shattered when coming in contact with red's head. The hilt fell afterward.

Now without a weapon, Darius's hand was free. Red closed its larger one around it. The tail on his chest came off, enveloping around the waist to lock him in place.

Darius knew there was nothing he could do at that point. As red opened its maw, he used a few precious moments, looking at Brude slowly trying to rise.,

Until we met again, old friend.,

Turning back to the creature, Darius had the last word, grinning. "You ugly whoreson,"

Blood and brains exploded in the air. From inside red's mouth, another tongue-like shotted out with power and momentum behind it., Killing the guard instantly when hitting his forehead.,

Brude's chest and head were pounding, and his vision was blurry. Even then, he saw it all happening.

"No!" He rasped, seeing red let go of Darius, his body hitting the floor.

Brude couldn't let grieve take over now, as much as it weighed on his heart. For he was next.

Red honored that notion. It advanced as soon as Brude pulled the Valyrian dagger. In a lucky slash, the blade ripped through the creature's arm, opening a gap in the skin. Hissing, it took a step, almost in surprise.

It momentarily gave Brude time to get away from it. Or so he thought.

An animal caught in a trap would cut off its own members to escape. And when a wild one got hurt while treated, it would go in a mad and violent frenzy.

Red released a mighty roar. And a world of pain fell upon Brude.

He screamed when it bit him hard on the shoulder, feeling the bone crunch and flesh tear under the force. With teeth locked firmly, red swayed Brude harshly. It continued, beating him against the walls, breaking even more parts of his body. Such fast movement made the guard drop the dagger. Using his fist did nothing but push the ferocity further.,

The punishment continued when it dropped him back to the ground on his stomach. He couldn't crawl away. Razor claws lacerated his back and arms as red dragged them up and down rapidly., Since his head was to the side, Brude exposed himself to them. From his forehead to the back of his head, barely missing his eye, he got a set of three fresh cuts.

Changing tactics, red used his teeth again, leaving several bites across the man's body. The last was at his leg, pulling him closer. His yells and cries came to a halt. By grabbing the head, red raised it and slammed it back into the floor.

If not the torturous pain, Brude would think he was already dead.

Even as the attacks stopped, it didn't make a difference. The guard couldn't lift a finger if he wanted. The throbbing of his head was worst them before. And as he bled, his vision started to darken.

In his last moments of conscience, he watched red stand over him, still holding on to his head. Hands and maw crimson while breathing and hissing.

Finish it already, damn you!. Brude cursed the creature for prolonging the agony.

It seemed to have heard it. Red lowered close to Brude's face, maw opening in the same fashion it did before he killed Darius. There was the consistency of fate. Brude would meet his end by the one who butchered his companions.

Never once he thought their lives would end like this. But he would see them soon. And as it all turned to fade, he sent one last prayer to the gods. Begging just one wish so that he could go in peace.,

Let her live. Please, let her live.

It must've been him finally slipping away to the beyond. For, in a moment later, there wasn't any weight on his back anymore. And a final screech mixed with a purr.

Before silence and nothing.,

---

For the first time since she entered the underground, Elia felt true despair.,

Shadows loomed everywhere in this new labyrinth of stone. Black doorways yawned forbiddingly. Every creak placed fear on the princess's very being, knowing that only those deadly monsters ran about in the walls.

She held on to her weapon, with her life depending on it while moving through the dark. Leaving a small trail of drops of water in her wake.,

It was all she had left.

No lights to light the path, no idea where to go, and no companionship., She wondered when she stopped crying for the last, or even if she stopped at all.

Elia didn't know how long she called out for Brude and Darius in the water after emerging., Begging, cursing, and imploring for them to the door. To come with her., For them to not throw away their lives, not for her of all people.,

She mainly called for Brude. Going from hating the man for throwing her there out of nowhere. To having her heartbreaking all over again,

She wasn't ready to live with the knowledge of never seeing him anymore. To lose her guardian, teacher, and in many ways, another father.

All of it was left unheard.

She must have apologized to all three of them a million times by now. The same blame from Farid reached a new high, eating her from the inside.,

But, as much as she would gladly give up, at the same time, her body refused to.

Watch over you. It kept repeating over and over like a haunt. The straightforward but critical request. One that left a bitter taste in the mouth., But one which the princess owned.

Elia could safely say she hated herself at this moment. So much more than before in her confession. And she hated those monsters for what they did.

But she would honor Darius, Farid, and Brude. Elia would drag her worthless self to escape or die trying.

Increasing her pace, she rounded a corner, bow armed and ready. Seeing almost nothing, she followed along, depending more on her ears to catch any noise coming from spots the creatures could crawl out.

That's when, even if low on light, Elia caught up to where she was in detail.,

It could be easy to say it was a different place altogether. Those new corridors were wide, managing to hold at least a dozen people or more at once. Even the air wasn't the same. Before, it was mysterious, menacing, with a touch of novelty as things never seen prior were shown. Standing there now, Elia could say she was in an old tale.

These passageways were ancient, full of unknown history, and had a sacred aura to them., Paintings made with technics she couldn't describe, statutes of kneeling figures holding spears on both hands. Others standing in pride, fists over their hearts.,

She could make out their forms, but not much more. The dark and spider webs hid the majority of them.

Had the times been better, Elia saw herself loving to learn all about them. What they could offer.,

Like the ones that caught her full attention.,

They were in a circular frame of golden color, surrounded by writing she couldn't even begin to understand. The first was a drawing of two figures in battle with each other.,

One was a large man with an iron mask and armor on his shoulders, chest, and legs. His arm was pulled back, with a set of twin blades coming out of his wrist.

The other made Elia tense. It was a recreation of the eyeless monster, although different.

Staring at the second drawing, it showed both figures again. This time, the man held the creature's head high and under him, countless fists raised in victory.

Elia's assumption of ancient history was closer and closer to being correct. Part of her teachings included reading about the old golds in the North. And how the magical beings, children of the forest, were a constant mention.

They are considered legends and blasphemy for the seven's followers. Yet, Elia knew, every tale could have a bit of truth in it.

Looking at the drawings, she, be it right or wrong, started to consider that maybe, just maybe, those knights were comparable to them. Thousands of years ago, before even the Martell's arrival, they lived in the Dorne of old, battling these creatures. And this place was their home.

It made Elia wonder what may have happened to them.

Her eyes darted everywhere. Inhaling sharply, she aimed her bow at hearing a series of echoing hisses.

Whatever curiosity was gone in that instant. Since the creatures were now close, Elia took more care with her steps, not making too much noise to attract their attention.,

She rounded another corner after a few more minutes of walking in a straight line., It was one of many, and as soon as Elia entered, she came to find her mistake.

Taking the wrong turn, she found herself in another dead end.

Damn it. Elia turned to retrace her path back. As she reached the original corridor, she stopped in her tracks when seeing a silhouette from the corner of her eye.

Fighting off the shaking in her hands, Elia slowly turned to it. Standing on the other side, blocking her escape, was one of them.,

The creature crawled forth out of the dark. From what little the light showed, Elia saw it was the one from the drawing. Upper lip twitching and tail swinging behind it.

She gulped when it wasn't alone. Following suit, six more came creeping right after it. And then, another group of six surged from the celling, snarling and drolling. One jumped down, joining the five, standing on both legs.

Elia was now thoroughly trapped in there. Every beat, she changed her aim to a different creature but didn't dare to take her only shot at them., Not having more would matter. She would be dead the moment the bow needed a new bolt.

As they approached, she started moving backward in the corridor in a false hope of keeping them at bay.

She's them caught by surprise.

The ground leader suddenly stands up, making all others stop. It then tilts its head to the side and takes firm steps towards her, one at a time. It was no longer snarling, just a visage of calm and, if Elia could say, smugness.

It was taunting, daring her to pull the trigger. She shoots she's dead. She waits, same result.

Elia realizes this is her last stand. And she was in no mood for some twisted game. Fear gone, giving way for the anger she felt at them, she fires. The creature freezes, seeing the bolt touch its chest, over the heart.

The princess believes she hit the mark. But then she watches as smoke comes out of the wound. And the arrow falls to the ground a bit later, tip melted.

It was a shock for her but a motivation for them.

Even in the roars as the creatures were ready to attack, Elia feels a rush of adrenaline cut through her like lightning. She changes her grip on the bow, holding it now like a makeshift club.

"Going to stand there all night ?!" She gives a snarl of her own. "Come on, do your worst!" The creatures crouch. "Come on!"

With a blur of motion, they bounce with teeth and claws.

BOOM!

Both sides were thrown away by an explosion tearing through the ceiling right between them. Rock and dust scattered in many directions.

Elia laid on the ground, stunned that she was conscious still. The corridor was more bright because of the explosion. An enormous hole formed in the ceiling, letting the white fire spread its light. Focusing and seeing through the smoke and dust, Elia went straight to the creatures.

Those close to the impact shook their heads to get off its effects. Others, however, seemed to all but forget her existence, as they now had their heads raised, snarling even more violently at the hole.

Elia would soon find out why. Hearing a loud thump, she saw a large shadow shroud the light. Moments later, a figure landed in front of her, its feet shaking and breaking the stone under it.,

From her position, she saw with wide-eyed awe its gigantic size, possibly even taller than the creatures., It appeared to be a man, clad in a complete set of intricate steel armor, filled with symbols and marks. The figure screamed that of a knight. Two swords hilts on his back along with a strange piece close to the shoulder. A horned helmet and long dread coming out of the sides.

What left the princess in disbelief was what he held in a single hand. Motionless and with half of its body missing, the knight gripped one of the creatures by the throat.

His presence left the others in a frenzy of blind hate. He didn't show any sign of being intimidated or threatened. So much that he answered by squeezing the dead creature's neck so hard the head popped out.

Elia's disbelief doubled.

She started to believe her ears were also deceitful when hearing an animalistic sound coming out of the knight as he tossed the head away.

The following action was an eye-opener. Fists closed, from inside the gauntlets, long, lightly saw-toothed blades appeared, making Elia gasp in recognition.

He is one of them! She went back to drawing from before. The mystery about the knight's status was over in a grand form.

Even feeling this momentary relief, she backed away when the Knight turned to look over his shoulder at her.

Unlike other helmets, his was one in the shape of a demonic and angry visage, with crimson eyes that shined in the dark.

The knight grunted, turning his attention from her as the roars from the creatures became blaring. He went into a lowered combat stance, bringing a new pair of wrist blades from his other arm. Making another more aggressive animal-like sound to respond to the roars, he burst forth.

Any should be slow with that amount of armor, but Elia saw his form disappear in a blink, the same as the creatures as they jumped against their new foe. And the next time she managed to see them was when two heads rolled.

The man looked like a demon, and he sure fought like one.

Elia watched, hypnotized as he cleaved through each beast with inhuman ferocity and speed with his blades. Strength was also what he didn't lack.

One of them managed to get the jump on him from behind. Instantly, he grabbed into its arm. The corridor shook as he slammed it down, raising more stone and dust. He finishes it by stomping the head, brain, and unnatural blood flying everywhere.

Not allowing another chance, he turned fast. With the length of the blades, the next creature ended up impaling itself in them mid-flight before it could get closer.

As it attacked, another used the distraction to advance against the knight. Elia almost screamed a warning but didn't have to.

The knight noticed the plot, and from his belt, he pulled a strange device aiming at the beast. He held it in one hand, and it moved by itself, parts of it turning red suddenly. There was only one thing Elia recognized, the trigger underneath the primary area.

As she began to think it was some form of a crossbow, her mind went blank, seeing what was released.

From its mouth, a ball of intense and blinding blue fire spilled out, blowing the creature to pieces in a single shot. The knight repeated the action, slamming the one stuck on his blades against the wall. Its head was no more when hit by the blast.

Elia would come to find out these creatures were clever as they were unrelenting. In synchrony, two of them wrapped their tails around the knight's arm, which held the fire weapon. Locking it wasn't the sole reason, however. As he moved to get it free, out of the ceiling, a third jumped in, making both fall down.

It caused his grip to lose, and the weapon flew, sliding across the floor near Elia. Dread started to resurge on her as all the remaining beasts went together, pilling over the knight.

All except one.

Halting on its steps as it moved to join in the fray, the creature took notice of Elia's presence. It didn't even think twice before bearing its teeth, running towards an easier prey.

The princess acted fast and went for her best chance. Taking the Knight's weapon in both hands, she raised it just as the creature was a few paces from her. She closed her eyes after pressing the trigger.

Breathing rapidly, feeling a tiny ache in her arms by the recoil, Elia opens them to see the creature down, with a hole through its stomach. Guts spilled out, with the yellow blood forming pits on the melted stone.

RUUUOOOOAHHHGHH!

A roar broke across the corridor like thunder. Elia turned to its source. The pile of the creatures became undone as the knight rose to his feet, arms spreading, making them violently fly off in every direction.

Elia's mind was in the middle of processing many things. Yet, the sight of the creatures vulnerable while righting themselves and now with a weapon that could harm them caused a new surge of adrenaline and anger to wash over.

Without hesitation, she aimed and fired non-stop.

Unknown to her, the knight paused, watching as she turned the beast to smithereens. Hearing some behind him, he casually raised his blades and made a quick end of them.

When both finished, the weapon had a heated color in its mouth, smoke pouring out, just as it did in the bodies Elia left behind in her rage. With it satisfied, she turned to her unexpected companion.

The knight had blades drenched in the creature's blood., He calmly looked around, probably checking if any more were hiding, before his attention drifted to the princess.,

He pulled his blades back to the gauntlet, starting to walk towards her.

Elia rose to her feet slowly, as she didn't want to antagonize the one that kept her alive in the nick of time. Still, she had his weapon semi in position in case of having to use it.

Soon they were face to face, with the knight staring down on her silently with his head tilted to the side.

His size was more intimidating up close. Barely coming up in the area of his belly, Elia could very well be a child compared to him in height., Staring at those angry red eyes, something about them drew her gaze., But she fought against the feeling.

So to keep any nerves in check, Elia focused on his armor.

There was a grey layer underneath the armor pieces. And from what Elia could see, those did little to nothing in hiding his physic. The rest of it, from the waist down, was almost draconian in style., With metal scales covering his legs to the knees. The feet pushed further that aspect, designed by a set of two splitting claws.

Considering it was from an old culture, she held no comparations with other armors from the seven kingdoms.

A sound she least expected caught Elia's attention.

D-Did he just purred ? She thought, staring in surprise at the tall knight. It wasn't that of a cat but an intense one that would come from a lion or crocodile.

Before she could ask how he did that, Elia saw the reason for it. He had an open hand at her, waiting patiently for something.

Oh, Elia realized what it was.

The knight undoubtedly saw her hesitation in giving up the weapon. Then he broke his silence while setting his arms in a pacific manner.

"Be calm. You are safe,"

Elia didn't know if it was the helmet that caused the effect, but his voice was the deepest she had ever heard., Powerful and echoing but calming at the same time.,

And effective as when he asked for the weapon again, she willingly handed it to him.

"W-Where are you going ?" Elia asked after he placed it back on his belt and started walking away., Not before taking her bow from the ground.

He looked back at her, standing under the hole.

Jerking his head up, he replied simply. "Come,"

"What ?" Even unsure, Elia went towards him. It wasn't like she had any other options at the moment.

The knight wordlessly pointed at her, then at the hole. His intention turned clear. When Elia was close enough, he extended his arm but stopped before making contact. His crimson gaze was one of waiting.

Elia found it quite amusing that this giant man had a gentlemanly side. Nodding in permission, he wrapped his arm around her. Gazing upwards, she saw that the distance was longer than she had assumed. And there were no ropes or hooks on sight.

"How are you- Woaaah!"

The next thing she knew, Elia borderline flew through the hole, the knight's hold firm but not crushing. It's a travel of moments before he lands his feet found solid ground again.

Elia's heart was beating like one from a horse, and she could almost feel a new coughing attack coming. She was thankful for the Knight not letting go of his hold. At the same time, she wondered just what he was. With normal being at the bottom for an answer.,

He didn't seem to care much, continuing moving along the halls. The halls that Elia now took notice. The knight brought both back to the area she first explored.

He walked fast, making precise turns, before stopping on a door. There was a sound Elia didn't recognize, and it opened by itself, making her gasp. Behind it, there was a similar platform as the one she and the others fell from.,

The knight placed Elia on her feet on top of it.

She did a once over before nervously asking him. "Does this lead outside ?"

Nodding, he stated. "Safe,"

Elia allowed an emotional smile to appear on her face. Asking for a name, as well as her thanks to the knight were interrupted., Both snapped their gazes at new bestial cries coming from further behind. The knight growled, arming his blades.

He pressed a finger many times on his gauntlet. Repeating a goodbye.,

"Go"

The door closed, and Elia ascended.

---

Had it been decades heretofore, Noc'ture would've been at the brink of losing himself in a fury that could make a Hish-Qu-Ten cower before him.

After leading the human female out of the temple, he went on a mad dash across the levels, searching for any serpents that may be left. All the while asking the same question.

How were they here ?! It didn't make sense!

They couldn't be native. Life existing outside proved that. But that was him thinking by Yautja terms. From memory and living it, this scenario fitted on the humans. And that meant many things.

Someone put the serpents in this world. And worst, if Noc'ture was right, they were assisted by his kind. No Yautja would ever hand over their craft to another race in life. Not on this scale. No, this was a Joint plot.

A new band of bad-bloods meddling with human affairs.,

For what reason ?

Be it whatever it was, success was not the result. A lesson never learned. There's no controlling the serpents. No one could. No one ever would. The best to do when dealing with them, especially in Noc'ture's view, was to put an end to them all, leaving nothing behind.

Many already fell by his hand while going over the lower levels, but the job was far from over.

He had done so on many nests. Studied to know every detail about them. And almost broke his bones when training to be more than a match for them., Be it in speed or brute force. And this was next on that long list.

Pushing forward, he found signs of the serpents. Following the trail, he ended up in a concentration point.

Not something Noc'ture hadn't seen before., The hatched eggs, bodies of their host rotting, and at the center, them., The hive went there as a defense after they acknowledged his existence. Good, he had his work cut out for him.

Yet, no roars or shrieks came to meet him, only silence. The serpents had their heads raised and bodies frozen in place. Noc'ture quickly figured out what it was. Only one being could cause this reaction. Not a pack leader like the reddish serpent. But the top of the hierarchy.

A queen.

And to the elite's astonishment, her order wasn't for them to attack like before. It was to retreat.

In blurs, all of the serpents abandoned their positions and went to the nearest hole to leave.,

Noc'ture wasn't going to allow that.

Hot on their trails, he had to knock down some walls along the way as short-cuts.

He thought he had them when nearing a circular area. But that they had a surprise for him. It came in a hulking serpent dropping down, from the kind he didn't recognize, blocking the path. The momentum Noc'ture had built didn't allow him to stop, going straight to it.

With a roar that rivaled his own, it swung its heavy tails against his chest. The force was enough to dent the armor and send him meters away to the end of the hall, taking a piece out of stone before hitting the floor.

Noc'ture quickly rose to his feet with a snarl, ignoring the pain. To find nothing.,

C'jiet He cursed their swiftness in disappearing. He also knew it was no more use in going after them.

Still, it couldn't stay unchecked.

There was a smooth ramp as Noc'ture went over the entrance's edge. Down bellow was a construction site, the floor covered in the serpent's secretions. It was dry, possibly where the nest began before spreading inside the temple. But the new traces were highlighted by the mask. It was going to be easy to find where they went.

Noc'ture halted at the trail's end.

Paya, it was worst than he had thought. Whoever those bad-bloods were, they had doomed this world. The elite stared at an extended handcrafted cave. That was miles long.

He wasn't dealing with a simple nest. But a possible full-scale infestation.

Many feelings went through him, ending in acceptance. As the human saying went, there would be rest for the wicked.

One thing any could never question him, or the Yautjas, was accountability. Those of his clan did this, and it was up to him alone to clean the mess and hopefully save another world from extinction by the serpent's hunger.

And this would be the beginning of Noc'ture's new task. The serpents could run to wherever they desired. But no more would they nor no one else disgrace this temple.

Pulling out the second gauntlet with a newfound distaste for it, he would complete what its previous foolish owner could not. Reintroducing the command, he set the explosions parameters. But before he pressed the final key, Noc'ture turned his gaze back to the temple.

There was only last thing he needed to do.

(LINHA)

Elia gripped the horse's reins tightly, urging him to go faster. The moment she reached the surface, she thought of going on foot back to the gardens. It was nothing short of a blessing when she came face to face with one of the lost horses. And it had been calm enough to let her mount on it.

The relative regular travel ended when a wave of harsh came from behind, Followed by an ear-piercing explosion which shook the very ground.

Holding on to the reigns as much as she could, Elia turned. Hand up to block most of the flare.,

She was left appalled.

Brighter than a thousand suns, a ball of blue-fiery horror rose in the distance. For a few moments, it was the same before changing to an immense mushroom-shaped cloud that rose to the skies.,

The princess stood still, watching with a pit forming on her stomach as a fury that could rival that of the gods took a part of her homeland way in a blazing inferno.

---

And - its- DONE!

Sorry for the delay. As some of you may know, January is a hard time, especially when it comes to work and many other things.

Besides that, I also had a series of writer's block during this chapter. And part of them come from my mind focusing on a new project I've been working on with a fellow writer, which I promised to start working on after finishing this. That's why I made it as long as I could. Since it may take some time before I come back with a new chapter.,

Two storylines meshed together don't go well.

Now on to some new details regarding the characters. Since I'm mostly basing it in live-action setting, I considered actors for some key players. Here are my picks for two of them.

Elia = At first, it was going to be Zazie Beetz. But then I found a lovely lady going by Imaan Hamman(Thanks to the AO3 account that showed me her). Instantly she screamed Elia.

So I'm leaving it up to you guys to have your pick going forward, as both fit the role well.

Brude = Right away, Javier Bardem in his Dune style, minus the hair.,

As for Noc'ture, the dark-Blade is known to have some if not THE biggest predators in lore. Towering even the Xenos in height., So it was obvious to make him 7'2+ for this. The Wolf predator, Scarface, and Dark from the AVP game also influenced his character. He will have a actor too, but that's later down the line.

(Little side note: Disney and the original screenwriters came to an amicable deal. Meaning that maybe this year, the new predator comic will finally hit the stores. Thank Paya!)

Speaking of the Xenos, there will be lots of the "special" ones over the story. The first, Red AKA The crusher, came from Fire Teams. And the big one at the end will remain a mystery for now.

Thank you for the patience and even more for the support. Never before a story of mine gathered so many followers and favorites so quickly. It was mind-blowing, XD.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and keep an eye out for the new story coming soon.

Peace.