Summary: Tempest and Ornstein venture into the darkness of the Tomb of the Giants. New and old friends are to met.
(Author's note: Holy, that was supposed to be one chapter, but it got longer and longer, so I had to cute it in two.
I want to thank everyone who likes this story and keeps me going with this massive thing. I have still a lot of ideas for it before the end will come, so stay tuned!)
There was only one obvious way out of Pinwheel's room and it was a ladder that led to another ladder. Once they both had ascended it, Tempest stopped in front of the very apparent darkness and just said: "Woah."
"I told you it is dark.", Ornstein dryly commented. "Now would be a good time to use that lantern you picked up from one of the necromancers earlier."
"Right...", Tempest rummaged around and soon produced a lantern from his bag. He felt a bit sour about it though, because it meant he could neither use a shield nor two-hand his sword. At least not without sacrificing them so see. He tried and attached the lantern on his belt. It produced some light, but for the maximum effect he would have to hold it. That was bothersome. Judging from what Ornstein had said earlier, the skeletons in Nito's realm were as big as him.
What a good thing that Ornstein was with him then.
"I can see prism stones. Maybe someone was here before us?", Tempest mused as he walked forwards, left hand stretched out, holding the lantern up.
"It wouldn't surprise me.", Ornstein said. "After all, there are other Undead around here. Maybe one of them explored the Catacombs and went on."
"Oh, Rhea and her friends!", Tempest exclaimed, observing the area around the prism stone. It looked like a pillar but knocked down. The good thing was, it was a bridge to the next safe spot, the bad thing was... it looked very slippery.
"We are better careful...", Tempest said as he stepped on the pillar but to his surprise the pillar wasn't slippery at all and he practically ran over it, Ornstein following him closely.
"Hey, I can see eyes in the dark!", Tempest squinted.
"Be careful, little Storm.", Ornstein said, stepping closer to Tempest.
"Right...", Tempest crept towards the glowing eyes and his fears became true when a skeleton the size of Ornstein attacked. "And this place must be full of them...", he whispered as he dodged a hit with a rather large sabre, dousing the area in darkness as the lantern lost its light during this process.
"It's just a skeleton.", Ornstein said. "The size doesn't matter. We fought one of these already in the catacombs. Remember what I told you." And with this, Ornstein aimed at the chest area of the skeleton. The hit managed to make the skeleton fall apart and the bones clattered around. "See?", Ornstein said.
"It looks a lot easier when you do this with such a big foe.", Tempest grumbled.
"You try the next one.", Ornstein simply stated and followed the path down. He waited at another overturned pillar for Tempest, who lighted the path to the right but turned to it once he had ensured that no other giant skeleton was waiting for them.
"The prism stone is here so I guess this is the right way.", he said and stepped on the pillar only to yelp when he started to slide down at a rapid speed. Landing on his rear, Ornstein came sliding after him in a much more elegant way. The prism stones led to another pillar like this, but Tempest had a bad feeling and lighted the path to his right instead, unveiling another skeleton.
"It's all yours.", Ornstein said and leaned against the pillar, watching.
Tempest grumbled but took up the fight. Which... wasn't really easy when he could barely see anything and constantly removed the lantern from his belt to light up the area only to orientate himself. Needless to say, the small Undead suffered quite a hit from the skeleton but managed to get a good strike at both its ankles making it topple over and giving him the opportunity to smash the skull in.
He took a sip from his Estus as he heard Ornstein applaud, though it sounded a bit unimpressed. "Not bad, little Storm. If you keep up like this maybe we won't need weeks for the remaining lord souls."
Tempest didn't miss the sarcasm in Ornstein's voice. But he had to admit, they had been out for hours now and they hadn't even taken a break other than at Fire Link Shrine. Ornstein wasn't undead. He might have been a seasoned warrior, but he surely would appreciate a proper break. Tempest also felt the need to take a bath. During his time in Anor Londo he really had began to cherish being clean again. Though he should probably unhollow before he tried to scrub the leathery skin that was draped above his skeleton at the moment.
"Thanks, I am doing my best.", Tempest replied with a genuine and honest smile and then went to the next pillar, stopping just before it. It looked as slick as the other. Tempest climbed on it and stared down in the darkness. He didn't want to have another awkward landing. Just as Tempest thought about how to tackle sliding down the pillar, he felt a strong hand giving him a push. Yelping he slid down the pillar while trying to regain his balance and toppled over once he was down, managing to catch himself with his outstretched hands.
He propped himself up and yelled: "You are having fun with his, Orn... argh!" Tempest got interrupted by an arrow that just managed to fly over his head and two giant skeletons crushed their blades down on him. Very hard. Bleeding and fumbling for his Estus Tempest noticed how Ornstein arrived, sliding down the pillar in a rather graceful way and busied one of the skeletons long enough for Tempest to take the live saving sip.
Together they took care of the foes when Ornstein turned around and blocked an incoming arrow with his spear. "Where do they come from?", the dragon slayer growled. "I am not looking forward getting hit by another one of these..."
"And I am not looking forward getting shoved by you again.", Tempest growled in response but he felt a pang of guilt in his stomach. Ornstein had managed to get an arrow wound in the catacombs, Tempest had seen it when he respawned at the bonfire and Ornstein had tended to it. Unlike him Ornstein couldn't heal wounds with Estus. Tempest made a mental note to cook Ornstein's favourite meal once they had obtained the second lord soul.
"...It doesn't appear we can reach the sharp shooter from here.", Tempest said and walked along the path only to another pillar. This place was littered in them. "Wonder where we land when we slide down there?", he said and stepped on the pillar.
"Only one way to found out.", Ornstein said as he stepped on the pillar next to him.
"You won't shove me again?", Tempest asked.
"I just did that because you needed forever.", Ornstein chuckled. "Come, I show you how to slide them down safely." Ornstein offered Tempest a hand which the small Undead took, blood rushing into his face. Could his hollowed out form even blush? He didn't had a clue. He only knew that his heart was pounding in his chest. With the help of Ornstein he managed to land safely and breathed a sigh of relief when he wasn't faced with another skeleton but instead with the sight of a bald man, who was sporting a spear and a tower shield.
"Huh, so there has been someone there...", Tempest whispered.
"Someone you know?", Ornstein whispered back. Tempest only shook his head. He never had seen this man before. He wondered if the bald head of this man had doubled as useful light source, because he wasn't wearing a notable light source around. Or maybe he could just see in the dark.
"I am going to talk to him.", Tempest said. Ornstein just nodded and stayed back. He didn't want to have a say in Tempest's relationship with the other Undead. Besides, they could recognize him. He wasn't keen on explaining this whole situation.
When Tempest was talking with the other Undead, Ornstein noticed just how small Tempest was. For Ornstein all humans were small, but Tempest was a particular short example, a good head smaller than the bald Undead. Ornstein barely follow the conversation, just casually watched. He could hear the word treasure. Ornstein started to get an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He hoped that Tempest would feel it too but apparently the little Storm wasn't feeling mistrustful at all and even went to the cliff next to the bald Undead to take a look at whatever was down there.
Ornstein clutched his spear but then forced himself to relax. He should try and trust the little Storm a bit more. After all, most of the Undead at Fire Link Shrine had felt like genuine fine people. This however changed once Ornstein saw the following scene played out in front of him.
The moment Tempest had been in place and glanced at whatever the other Undead had told him to look at, he kicked Tempest into the back, making the small Undead stumble and fall with a small yell. The bald Undead laughed a dirty laught and then shouted: "This is what I do, my friend! The trinkets I am stripping of your corpse, that's the real treasure!"
He was in the middle of a second cackling laugh when Ornstein loomed behind him. The Undead turned around and his face went pale. Before he could even open his mouth to say anything, Ornstein laid a hand on his shoulder.
"The only one who is allowed to kick the little storm down a cliff...", Ornstein said with a very casual and quiet voice and then raised his foot. "...is ME!", he yelled and kicked the bald Undead down the same cliff Tempest had fallen down and promptly jumped it down himself.
As soon as Tempest heard a loud thud he turned around. The thud was soon joined by clank and once Tempest lighted the lantern to see what had fallen into the pit after him, he saw Patches getting up, dusting himself off and Ornstein next to him, glaring. Tempest shouldn't have been able to know that Ornstein was glaring with the dragon slayer's face behind a mask but he simply knew. It was the way Ornstein stood, clutched his spear and just his overall posture. Tempest was much more interested in Patches however.
"You.", he snarled.
At Tempest's sight, Patches face dropped and he stammered: "...Oh, you, I..." He regained his composure and added: "Let's just calm down and talk about things."
"Calm down? You tricked me!", Tempest shouted. "I mean, I am used to this treatment from Ornstein, but...", he added in a whisper. Patches took a few steps back but had to stop once Ornstein's large frame blocked his path, arms crossed.
"I did you wrong, but I didn't mean it." The words came out of Patches very quickly. "These temptations, they can, well, overcome me..."
"Temptations.", Ornstein spoke. His voice was low, quiet and dangerous. Tempest felt like he never had seen Ornstein this mad before and he had spent time with him back then when they still didn't liked each other.
Patches turned around, looking up at Ornstein and said in a rather weak voice: "Won't you please forgive me?"
"That is the little Storm's choice.", Ornstein said. "But don't pretend that I didn't hear you loudly claiming what the ireal/i treasure was." Ornstein's right hand touched his spear and Tempest heard Patches swallowing.
"Wait, it's fine, I forgive you!", Tempest said. It wasn't like something bad had happened to him. He felt more mad at himself for falling for such a trick. Especially after Ornstein had shoved him into pits without warning the last few hours.
"Oh, brilliant, a second chance, wonderful!", Patches breathed out. "I had a feeling you'd understand. I did. But if I were in your shoes…Ooh! Who knows what I'd have done? But now we're friends again, eh? Heh heh heh…" Patches finished with a creepy laugh and Tempest frowned.
„When we see the next time you better not try to shove me into a pit again.", he said.
„Because that is my job.", Ornstein said from behind.
„Oh surely, I assure you, there shall be no ill feelings between us anymore. I should let you and your partner go. I will just stay here..."
Patches walked towards the wall and startled when a big golden gauntlet appeared on his shoulder and pulled him back. "Don't you think you owe the little Storm an indemnification?", he said in the same low, dangerous voice from before. Patches looked like he wanted to fold himself in, but rummaged around in his pockets and produced a twin humanity.
"Of course, take this. It should prove something, right?", he commented as he handed it over to Tempest.
"I think you can let him go now, Ornstein.", Tempest said after accepting the "gift".
Ornstein removed his gauntlet from Patches and saw how the bald Undead hurried along the wall, probably trying to get out of their sight before they could force him to give more of his treasures up.
"Hmph, that sort is the worst.", Ornstein said. "Little Storm, I thought you had a better common sense. Especially after what I told you about this cleric at Fire Link. Talking about treasure and willing to share it with a total stranger? You should have smelled that trap a mile ago."
"He asked me if I was a cleric and when I said no he said we were friends. I felt like I could trust him...", Tempest said.
"At least nothing bad happened.", Ornstein started walking and motioned for Tempest to follow him. "And it was fun kicking something else down a cliff besides you."
"Ornstein, please.", Tempest chuckled. "...Are you done with pushing me down cliffs by the way?"
"Maybe.", Ornstein said.
The both of them followed the path with Tempest a few steps in front of Ornstein to lighten it, searching for a way back. Even for Ornstein the jump back was a bit high. It didn't help that his leg still hurt either. A few steps later Tempest gasped and dashed forwards, calling "Rhea!".
Ornstein stayed back at always, listening in this time. The girl in front of him was dressed in cleric garbs. She probably was on an undead mission of the Way of White. As Tempest greeted her, she startled and then spoke in a timid voice: "You're no Hollow, are you? Thank goodness. Please be careful. There are two fierce Hollows not far from here." She pointed into the darkness. "They were once brave knights… my former escorts."she continued before almost breaking out in a sob: "Who would let such strong spirits be Hollowed so? Heavens… Is there nothing… Nothing at all to be done?"
Tempest came back to Ornstein and one glance in his face was enough for Ornstein to understand. "Alright, fine, we'll help her out.", he sighed. Killing Hollows wouldn't do anything good. They would just stand up again and pray on every living or non hollowed Undead again. That is why they had the Asylum. But they would have at least a few hours of peace and maybe the hollows would wander into another area of the tomb or even burn themselves in the bonfire. Though the hollowing sounded too recently for them to be doing this.
It was just like the girl was saying. Two hollows wearing the cleric garb of Thorolund were approaching them. They probably had gotten tricked by Patches and while they had tried to find a way out they had lost their minds.
"Just because they are clerics...", Tempest murmured. Ornstein stared at him with a bit of surprise but soon took up the fight against the two hollows. Their shields could be bothersome for a spear user like himself, but Ornstein could use his weapon with enough force to slice a boulder, his foe was soon staggered and taken down with another stab directly through he chest.
Tempest had taken care of the other one. Ornstein turned around to see if the little Storm needed help. He was fighting well, all the training with Ornstein seemed to have yielded fruit. Though as Tempest retreated to catch his breath, the Hollow kneeled down to cast a healing miracle. Ornstein used this opportunity to finish it off.
"Thanks.", Tempest said. "I would have started from scratch if he would have managed to finish this. Let's tell Rhea."
Tempest walked back to the girl and talked to her. Once again, Ornstein leaned against a wall and listened in.
"You banished those two Hollows, did you? It pains me to think of the trouble my failings have caused. I am certain that both Vince and Nico are grateful to you. Thank you so very much. Here, these belonged to them. You deserve them more than I.", she spoke and handed Tempest a scroll. "And give my thanks to your companion too...", she finished.
"Aren't you going to try and get out of here?", Tempest asked after he thanked Rhea for the gift, but she was just shaking her head. Ornstein came nearer and laid a hand on Tempest's shoulder, whispering "Come."
Tempest looked from Rhea to Ornstein and to Rhea but then followed the dragon slayer. "Shall we just leave her here?", he asked.
"I think she needs some time to be alone.", Ornstein said. After all, she had just lost her companions. They weren't dead in the regular sense, but they would never be the same again and soon join the rank of mindless hollows that didn't even had a distinct face anymore.
"Oh...", Tempest just said, realization dawning. "I am sorry."
"Apologize to her, not me.", Ornstein said. "Once you see her again."
They followed the wall until they entered a small tunnel. Tempest, with the light source, went first, walked a good while and then stopped. He put the lantern down, rubbed his eyes and then lightened the path up again to unveil a skeleton tower.
"...Nito had all these years and this is all he came up with?", Ornstein said and destroyed the skeleton tower with one swoop. "Your turn, little Storm."
"I thought you would be more fazed by this sight!", Tempest said and took up the fight, promptly getting buried under one of the towers slamming in the ground. "Ouch...", he whimpered, rolled back and took a sip of his Estus.
"I have to do everything myself, have I?", Ornstein said and took care of the other two towers.
"I haven't been of much use.", Tempest said once he had managed to get up.
"I just wonder how you plan to fight Nito when you lose your words at a mere tower of skeletons.", Ornstein dryly said.
"Wait, what? How does Nito look like?", Tempest asked.
"You will see soon enough.", Ornstein just said. Teasing the little Storm was too much fun lately. He hoped that he would unhollow in the meantime so that Ornstein could see his face once he laid eyes on Nito.
Soon after they had left the piles of bones behind them, a ladder was seen. After they climbed it, Tempest turned around and said: "It's a dead end."
"I wouldn't be so sure.", Ornstein said. "Try attacking the wall."
"What should this lead to?", Tempest asked but attacked the wall nonetheless, shrieking as the force of his attack made him stumble through the dispelled illusion. "Oh, of course. How did you know?"
"It is just basic common sense.", Ornstein said and stepped out of the tunnel. The way split up. Ornstein looked around. "Hm, let's try the left.", he said. The path led to another ladder down, which Tempest eyed with curiosity but got distracted when an arrow hit him.
"Oh, where is that sharp shooter?!", he exclaimed and stormed off. Ornstein sighed and followed him, orientating himself on the wall and found Tempest locked in battle with one of the giant skeletons while another arrow stuck out of him. Ornstein could see the glowing eyes of the sharpshooter in the dark. With careful steps he managed to make it over there and take care of the bow wielding skeleton. Tempest came over to him with the lantern lit up.
"Hey, there is another ladder that leads up.", he said.
"So where do you want to head?", Ornstein asked. Tempest considered. "...I kinda want to see what is down there first."
"Alright, light the way then.", Ornstein said and let Tempest step forwards. Tempest followed the path and slid down the ladder. Ornstein followed him. They were in a small chamber and when Tempest raised the lantern to raise it up he froze.
There were around six of the giant skeletons in the chamber.
"Let's take the other way.", Tempest said and left the room without looking back.
"Aw come one, I am sure together we could have taken on them.", Ornstein grinned.
"I haven't sat at a bonfire for ages, I won't pick a battle just to die senselessly!", Tempest said and walked back to the ladder but Ornstein leaned against it, basically blocking the path.
"Ornstein, come on, move.", Tempest complained.
"Nah.", Ornstein said. "Not before you give the skeletons down there a try. You have your pyromancy."
"Why should burning them do any good? They are already bones."
"I have seen many bones burned to ash, little Storm."
"Oh.", Tempest sometimes forgot that Ornstein had fought in the dragon war. Won the dragon war. Practically had slayed like 80 of them himself.
"Besides, I have my lightning powers. We won't have to go into this pit at all."
"Oh!", Tempest said another time, starting to understand. The area was rather beneficial for ranged battle. The skeletons all were in a pit and they had loads of room to stand on the sides.
"Alright, let's do this.", Tempest said and switched his sword to his pyromancy flame.
Soon the pit was bright as the day from all the fireballs and lightning strikes that got send down from the duo. The skeletons, who clearly noticed they were under attack, but not from was, were running around headless, sometimes doing a swing and managing to hit each other instead. After Tempest had thrown all the pyromancy he had to offer into the pit, two of the skeletons were down and three of them were tangled into a fight against each other. Ornstein nodded to Tempest, jumped down and downed two of the skeletons which were locked in a fight at once. Tempest followed him, preferring to slide down the latter though and together they managed to take care of the last two skeletons.
"This was kind fun.", Tempest smiled as he lighted up the room to see if something interesting was there. He walked over to a corpse who had something in their hands. "Oh, it's an ember.", he said.
Ornstein came over too to take a look. "A divine one. You should give this to a blacksmith.", he said. The corpse which had hold the ember looked very much like a blacksmith himself. Ornstein wondered how he had managed to die down here.
"Hm, I am sure Andre will be glad about this.", Tempest pocketed the ember. "I guess we should take a look at the other ladder now."
Tempest was the first to climb up the ladder and groaned when he saw the eyes of two more of these giant skeletons glowing in the dark.
"How many of your kind have been buried here?", he asked Ornstein once the dragon slayer had arrived.
"...We fought a war against dragons. Everyone who wasn't burned to ash had to be stashed somewhere. And Nito was fine with his realm to be used as a tomb for our deceased. He is the god of death after all.", Ornstein replied. "I actually don't know if all these skeletons have been revived by Nito or by some Necromancer, but let's move on and get rid of them.", he added.
"Right...", Tempest said as he helped Ornstein dispatching the skeletons. He wondered what exactly the curse of Undead was. Nito's power apparently were breathing life in bones and his task sounded like he needed to watch over the dead. So why where Tempest and the other Undead bound by the dark sign? What even was the dark sign? Tempest noticed that he involuntarily felt for it and quickly withdrew his hand. Touching the dark sign could send him back to the bonfire and he didn't want to just vanish and leave Ornstein alone. On top of that he would need to go back from the catacombs down here. And losing all his souls in the process.
"There are some ladders over there.", Ornstein said and got Tempest out of his thoughts.
"Hm, coming.", he said. After ascending the ladders and following the path, Ornstein pointed down into the darkness. Tempest could see the prism stones they had been following at first.
"Back at the beginning, I guess.", he said, as he dropped down. Ornstein followed him. Tempest didn't escape that his landing was a bit clumsy. A short while later they were back at the cliff where Patches had kicked Tempest down the cliff and Ornstein had kicked down Patches and Tempest was surprised to see that Patches was standing there.
"You... how... ?", he stammered.
"Took a shortcut.", Patches replied. "Look, there shouldn't be any ill will towards us anymore. Why not sit down at the bonfire down there and reflect?"
"There is a bonfire around?!", Tempest yelled and stormed off into the pointed out direction. Ornstein stayed for a little bit, glaring at Patches for a bit and then followed Tempest while muttering: "You better not think about kicking the little Storm down a ledge ever again."
Once Ornstein arrived at the bonfire, Tempest had made use of the twin humanity Patches had given him and not only reversed his hollowing but also kindled the bonfire.
The bonfire was at a dead end and the cliff where Patches had kicked Tempest down only had made them circle around, so they decided to take a look at the path that led away from Patches.
"It's so dark here.", Tempest complained, holding the skull lantern up to better light the path. At least it seemed to be rather straight. Better than the catacombs with all the intertwining paths and stuff. Tempest went ahead squinting into the dark and stopped when he saw another skeletal figure into the dark.
"What is this?", he said, stepped closer and used the lantern to light it up only to be attacked by a big skeleton beast which walked on all fears. Tempest screamed in surprise and then ran away chased by the beast.
Ornstein watched the scene play out in front of him, watching at the ball of light that was Tempest still carrying the lantern and the faintly white glow of the skeleton beast. Ornstein watched this banter half amused but once Tempest had passed him the third time, he picked up his spear and sighed.
"I better help him out.", he said, but took his time as he strolled after Tempest and the skeleton beast. When the both of them made another loop, Ornstein leapt, practically flying over Tempest and landed on the beast severing the the skull from its body. This was enough for the beast to fall apart in all its individual bones and unless the bipedal skeletons it wasn't able to pull itself together again and stayed like this.
"Thanks, Ornstein.", Tempest said. "After all these giant skeletons I couldn't take a beast form of them anymore."
"You should brace yourself for more of them.", Ornstein said, in a scolding tone. A soldier shouldn't be scared by new adversaries. But Tempest wasn't a soldier, he hardly counted as a warrior. Once again Ornstein had to ask himself how he managed to get so far in the first place.
"...More of them...?", Tempest shuddered. "Can't you go first, Ornstein? I am scared." Tempest actually hid himself behind Ornstein's large frame.
"What, are you afraid of the dark?", Ornstein said with a teasing tone in his voice.
"No, but I am scared of not knowing what is in the dark.", Tempest answered.
"Fine.", Ornstein said and went first, taking the lantern from Tempest to light the path. Soon they stood in front of a fog wall.
"Doesn't look like a personal one.", Ornstein said and handed the lantern back to Tempest. "You go first. I always find it unpleasant to walk through this things."
"Do I have to...?", Tempest asked and let himself hanging. When Ornstein didn't intend to move he muttered "Fine." and moved through the fog wall only to be instantly getting hit by a black knight.
"Black Knight!", he yelled.
"Yes, I can see!", Ornstein said. Even in the dark it was hard to miss them.
It was a halberd one. They could be tricky. Artorias had trained them well and Ornstein had also been around to give them tips on how to use the more spear like part of the halberd. Tempest raised his sword to take the first hit and got hit with such a force that he staggered back. The black knight immediately started another attack, an upward thrust that started with a circling motion to bring more force into it and would likely send the little Storm flying. Ornstein jumped in and parried the blow with his own spear. Even with his own strength he could feel the force behind the blow, his arms tingling from the sensation. He put his weight into the parry, trying to get the black knight to step back.
"Ornstein, be careful!", Tempest shouted and Ornstein could hear how an arrow hit metal. Apparently, there was a sharpshooter around here somewhere and Tempest had just saved him from another painful wound. Ornstein lowly growled. This place surely was awful.
The dragon slayer finally managed to win the battle of strength and the black knight had to step back and readjust their weapon. That was enough opportunity for Ornstein to give them a good smack with his weapon. He could hear the sounds of metal on metal and a strange sound as if the black knight wasn't completely corporeal. It didn't surprise him though, the silver knights in the cathedral also hadn't been the real deal, merely magic in reanimated armour.
Still, seeing a once elite group of soldiers reduced to wandering armours, made him feel uneasy.
Ornstein could hear how the little Storm ran back and forth blocking any arrows that were coming his way. After the blow Ornstein had inflicted on the black knight, they managed to get a hold on themselves and stepped forward with raised shield, making a thrust attack of Ornstein mainly useless. Ornstein had to wait for his chance and the moment the black knight raised their halberd for an attack the dragon slayer used the gap in their defense to thrust his spear into them with lightning speed, making the black knight collapse and vanish with a ghostly screech.
"Just where is this sharpshooter?", Tempest complained as Ornstein stepped near him.
"Normally you find them by following the way the arrows came from, but there seems to be a rather large gap.", Ornstein said.
"Oh, you are done?", Tempest said and turned around to face Ornstein but immediately twirled around again when another arrow came flying. Ornstein noticed that Tempest had put the lantern into his right hand to make use of his shield. That explained why he mostly had been able to see while fighting the black knight.
"There appear to be two paths.", Ornstein said, ignoring both the arrows and Tempest remark. A part of him was feeling that he should thank the little Storm for making sure that no arrows made it his way, another part was still a bit grumpy at him having to help him out in the first place. Ornstein surely was glad once they would manage to get out of this far too dark tomb. "Which one should we take?"
"Whichever doesn't lead to a skeleton beast.", Tempest gave a sheepish smile and led the way with a raised skull lantern. Much to his disdain both of the paths were blocked by skeleton beast. He looked at Ornstein with big, pleading eyes.
"You owe me for this, little Storm.", Ornstein said in a half scolding manner. He actually didn't mind taking out the skeleton beasts. It reminded him of dragon hunting. Only that they weren't breathing fire and were bound to the ground, well, expect for a rather large leap. Ornstein's own techniques could deal beautifully with these beasts and so he managed to take out the first of them with a swift hit before leaping up right to the second one. Tempest provided light and gazed at him in awe.
Just as both of the beasts were nothing more but cluttered bones, another arrow came flying from the path on the left. "It seems we found our sharpshooter.", Ornstein said and gently pushed Tempest forward to provide light and block the arrows. Tempest tensed up on his touch, probably having expected to get shoved in a pit again.
The path indeed led to the sharpshooter which Tempest fought too happily. "Finally no more arrows.", he sighed. "Though the path leads to a dead end. I guess we have to take the one that leads down."
"Lead the way.", Ornstein said, gesturing for Tempest to step in front of him. "After all you have the light."
"..And what if there are more skeleton beasts?", Tempest whimpered.
"They barely seem to see or hear anything, just don't get too close.", Ornstein said. As strong and relentless the skeleton beasts appeared, they also seemed to be rather dumb and Ornstein had noticed how close Tempest was able to get to them while wearing a glowing light source before they would even notice his presence.
The path down let into a rather spacious cave where even more skeleton beasts resided. Tempest took a step back and hid himself behind Ornstein's large frame. Ornstein turned around to stare down at him and narrowed his eyes: "Are you expecting me to take out every one of these for you?" He stretched out his arm in the general direction of the beasts.
"Please?", Tempest said, looking everywhere but at Ornstein.
"You owe me more and more, little Storm.", Ornstein grinned. He could at least made the best out of the whole situation. "How about I can wish for one thing for each skeleton beast slain?"
"...Fine.", Tempest said. It was a bit hesitant. Ornstein asked himself if Tempest feared that he would ask something mean of him. Like making him fight the next skeleton beast. Ornstein decided to let Tempest in the dark about this a bit further.
Tempest narrowed his eyes and lightened the cave. He then swung the lantern around and a path to the left and the right revealed themselves.
"Should we check them first?", Tempest asked. Ornstein nodded and took the right way, Tempest closely behind him, the light of the lantern just providing enough brightness for Ornstein to not fall of the path. The right path ended in a dead end however. Tempest bend down to pick up a shield from a corpse.
"What a strange shield...", Tempest said, staring at it. Ornstein took a look at it too and shuddered.
"It's occult...", he said. "That must have been... centuries ago since I last saw one of these. Weapons like this are deliberately smithed to defend against divine power... and also they hurt us more. Weapons like this are banned in Anor Londo for a reason."
"Wait, so there was something like a riot once?", Tempest said, his eyes following Ornstein's every movement.
"It was a long time ago. I don't wish to talk about this.", Ornstein said. "Do you need to take this with you?!", he complained once Tempest slipped the shield in his bag.
"Why not? It's an interesting relic from the past. Should we let it rot here?", he asked.
Ornstein still shuddered at the thought. Having been hit with occult weapons had been a bad experience. The riot failed of course, but it had left him and the other knights of Gwyn with a few new scars.
Tempest apparently had found enough courage to lead the way again and so the both of them took the path to the left. At the end they found another bonfire.
"Oh, there it is. I could see it from before the fog gate.", Tempest exclaimed and sat down at it.
"You are aware the skeleton beasts will come back now?", Ornstein said but sat down too, glad about the short rest.
"Oh, right.", Tempest made a morose face. "I guess I will owe you even more favours now..."
"Hm, I was thinking about letting you cook me the meals I requested.", Ornstein said, as he rummaged around, producing some of the bland food he had taken along and a bit of water.
"Are you kidding? That isn't even a punishment!", Tempest said, his face turning into a grin.
"Oh?", Ornstein said, taking a bite of some dried meat. "Then how about one hour of extra harsh training for every beast I have to slay for you?"
"No, don't, please let me cook!", Tempest said, a shocked expression his face. Ornstein chuckled.
Tempest enjoyed the brief rest he got while Ornstein took in his meal. He already asked himself which kind of meals Ornstein would ask him to cook and his fantasy imagined the most colourful things he wasn't even sure if he could cook them. Tempest was completely spaced out and so completely overheard when Ornstein talked to him and had to be shaken back to reality.
As it turned out, Ornstein simply asked for some privacy for a few minutes and so Tempest took the skull lantern and wandered away from the bonfire, looking into the cave. Damn, he could make a skeleton beast out right in front of the cave and there also was one deeper in. That would be a lot meals to cook. Tempest simply stood there, acting as quiet as possible as to not alert the skeleton beasts. When he had the feeling that enough time had passed, he returned to the bonfire to see how Ornstein changed the bandages on his leg. The wound didn't look too bad but it didn't look to good either.
"Ornstein? I could have helped you with that. You didn't had to send me away for changing your bandages.", Tempest said.
"What?", Ornstein said. "Oh, it wasn't about that. I just thought I could take care of it because you stayed away longer than I thought."
"But then why did you send me away?", Tempest was confused. After all, he had already seen the dragon slayer naked. On accident, but still.
Ornstein stopped cleaning out his wound and looked at Tempest. "Because I am not undead.", he said.
Tempest already wanted to retort that he still didn't get what Ornstein meant when realization flashed over his face. "Oh!", he said. "Ornstein, sorry, I am sorry, I tend to forget that you still have to do things like that... Like, pretty much the only thing we Undead can still do is sleeping and even that isn't necessary..."
"At least you aren't bothered by basic nuisances anymore.", Ornstein said, continuing to cleaning the wound.
"It's just a small comfort.", Tempest said, slumping himself down next to Ornstein. "You know, when I first got into the cell in the Asylum, I was wondering because there was nothing there that was expected for you to take care of your basic needs. And after a whole day I didn't even got any food or water. I was wondering if they expected me to starve or parch until I went hollow but then I realized that I wasn't get hungry or thirsty. I wasn't even getting tired. I wish I would have been able to sleep because sitting in this cell, waiting for the end... it was torture."
Ornstein finished cleaning the wound and pulled some fresh bandages out. "Little Storm, just how long have you been in the Asylum?", he asked. Ornstein had never asked himself just how long Tempest had been isolated in that place. He never had even thought about how the Undead felt who had been brought there only to turn hollow.
"I don't know.", Tempest answered. "Long enough for me to nearly go hollow. At first there were still voices. Other people to talk to. Undead like me. But over time more and more of them fell silent. Until it was only me left, pleading for anyone to talk to me until I fell silent too. If the elite knight hadn't thrown the key, I would have joined the ranks of the hollows in the Asylum."
"You know I was asking myself how you even made it to Anor Londo.", Ornstein finished up the bandage and tightened it. "It was because you had nothing to lose."
"Even that only lasted for one half of the journey.", Tempest said, face gloomy but it brightened up immediately. "Ornstein, I am very glad that you joined me for the second half."
"...You know I am only doing this because of Gwyndolin's orders.", Ornstein said.
"I know, but I am still glad.", Tempest smiled at him and Ornstein was glad that he had his helmet on already. This smile was genuine and heart warming and Ornstein simply couldn't hate the little Storm anymore.
...He actually had stopped hating him a long time ago.
Ornstein glanced at Tempest and saw that he frowned. "What's the matter?", Ornstein asked.
"Oh...", Tempest said. "I was thinking about the elite knight. He never even told me his name and... when I found him he almost was hollow... I just wonder, why I left him there."
"...Do you want to go back and look for him?", Ornstein asked.
Tempest's face brightened up: "It is possible to go back to the asylum?"
"Yes, but first we have to get out of here.", Ornstein said. "Let's move on before this place decides to get even darker.", he said further and put his leggings back on.
"Alright!", Tempest shot up and produced the skull lantern from his bag. "I already scouted the area. There were two skeleton beasts around. One above the cave and one in the cave."
"Lead the way then.", Ornstein said. "And once we see the skeleton beasts, I take care of them. And you owe me a meal for each of them." He grinned under his helmet.
(Author's note: I actually had planned for a long time now that Ornstein would kick Patches down a ledge ^^
What was your favourite part of the chapter? Tell me in the comments!)