Summary: Searching for help with getting the black dragon Kalameet to the ground, Tempest visits Gough, the last Knight of Gwyn that he still has to meet...
(Author's note: It was such a brutal heatwave when I finished this chapter and I hope the quality is up to par. The DLC is still incredibly difficult to write and I am glad when I can move to another part of the story, but for now, the duo has a dragon to beat!)
Once Tempest had passed through the door, asking himself why it was so small, he spotted a ladder and went right to it, starting to climb it. A few rungs in, he could hear the heavy footsteps of Ornstein and looked down to see how the knight leaned against the wall, his posture slumped and his breathing sounding laboured. Tempest started to climb again once the gaze of the golden helmet hit him and soon he was on top of the tower, mouth agape at the sight of the last knight of Gwyn, Gough, the Hawkeye.
Even though Tempest knew that he was a giant, he couldn't help but feel awfully small next to him. When Ornstein was double Tempest's size, then Gough was surely fourth his size. The Hawkeye was currently sitting on the ground, in his old armour, even the helmet still on his head, busy whittling on a piece of wood. There was a mountain of already finished pieces in front of him and chippings of wood were scattered everywhere. They even landed on Tempest who absentmindedly raised his hand to brush them off his helmet.
Tempest took a deep breath, stepped nearer to Gough and cleared his throat: "Um... hello."
Gough stopped whittling for a second before he resumed and spoke in a low, but very gentle voice:
"Hm? A visitor, have we? Thou must be the one who freed Artorias. An old friend he was, and thanks to thee… He left this world with honour intact. …And here I am, retired and blind. Of little help to thee, I am afraid."
"Yes, indeed, it was me...", Tempest said, a feeling of guilt nagging at his chest. Technically, it had been Ornstein who had fought Artorias and Tempest had just delivered the killing blow. A deed that had made Ornstein mad, still having the hope that Artorias could have been saved.
"You... you aren't of little help.", Tempest said, wondering how he should put his next words. "Actually... I have come to ask for your help... because..."
"Good morrow…Is the Black Dragon posing thee duress?"
"Wha... but I haven't even said anything. How did you know?!", Tempest was taken aback. Was he that obvious?
"Yes, I thought as much. He is called Kalameet. A ferocious dragon indeed, even mighty Anor Londo dared not provoke his ire. I see little good coming from this, but… …Thy intent is to persevere… to the bitter end, hmm?"
"That and... I owe it... to a friend.", Tempest said, not looking at Gough directly, though the giant probably wouldn't have noticed anyway, he had claimed himself as blind. Tempest also remembered this detail about him in the stories about the four Knights of Gwyn. He wondered briefly if Gough would really be able to help, but scolded himself for his line of thinking, Ornstein was trusting Gough and that had to mean something.
"By the way...", Tempest said, "This probably won't make much sense, but I shall deliver an apology to you."
There wasn't any confusion in Gough's stance. Instead, a low chuckle emitted from his chest.
"Little Undead, tell him to come up here."
"Huh?!", for the second time in a few minutes Tempest was taken aback. "But how did you know?"
"I might be blind, but I am not deaf.", Gough said, his voice content. "I could hear thine battle in all its glory and there certainly was a voice mixed in from a dear friend as well as the telltale sound of his spear. Oh, how often have these two duelled each other on the grounds of Anor Londo. I knew since the battle started."
Tempest went back to the ladder and kneeled down. "Ornstein, he knows!", he shouted. "Come up here!"
"Damn... I should have known it.", Ornstein muttered and soon the form of the dragon slayer arrived on the tower, stepping next to Tempest.
"Gough.. I am... I am sorry...", Ornstein said, his gaze on the ground, his fingers intertwined, his whole posture feeling small, as if he wanted to curl in a ball. In fact, Tempest had never seen Ornstein look so miserable.
"What are you even apologizing for, Ornstein?", Gough asked. Tempest noticed that he switched from the ancient pronouns, he guessed that Gough just wanted to be polite with him. "There is nothing to apologize to me for. In fact, you shouldn't be here."
"Y... yes, I know, I should be at Anor Londo...", Ornstein said, but Gough shook his head.
"No, you already are at Anor Londo. You need to get back to your own time."
"Wait, you know?!", Tempest shouted, clasping a hand over his mouth after he realized what he just had said and also to suppress a yelp when he felt a kick at his shin.
"Yes, little Undead, I know.", Gough said. "The Ornstein standing in front of me, that isn't the Ornstein I know. The Ornstein standing in front of me is older and it appears he lived through intense hardships. I can hardly believe that he is the same knight that I remember from the dragon war."
Ornstein's shoulders slumped more and more as Gough spoke. He had been seen through so easily. There wasn't any way to deceive Gough. He could read him too well. In fact, the only way that Ciaran didn't knew he was there, was because she apparently hadn't watched the battle, only seen the results.
"But... how did you know Ornstein was down there?", Tempest asked, pointing out a detail that Gough hadn't tackled yet.
"Ah, indeed.", Gough said. "It was your voice that was with him, little Undead and the both of you crossed the coliseum later together. Besides, I could hear him breathe."
"You could have just said this in the first place.", Tempest grumbled. "Besides, I have a name and it's Tempest."
"Like the storm, I see.", Gough said, shaving a bit more wood off his current piece. "So you and Ornstein plan to hunt down Kalameet and have come to ask for my help. Quite a task you have set for yourself."
"Yes, Gough.", Ornstein said. "Please ground him for us. I... am not in the right condition to handle him in the air."
"You should know, little Tempest.", Gough said. "Ornstein once had tried to hunt Kalameet on his own, but failed. Even among the dragons, Kalameet is incredibly dangerous."
"Wait... but haven't you said earlier that Anor Londo hadn't dared to provoke him?", Tempest asked.
Ornstein clutched his spear and answered at Gough's place: "Ah... it was... because I couldn't kill him. Anor Londo's best dragon slayer failed at killing Kalameet and was bedridden for a week, Lord Gwyn forbid us to ever challenge him again."
"Wait... I think you have told me about that...", Tempest said. "He was responsible for the scar on your left shoulder and back!"
"Ornstein, should I ask why your companion here knows of your scars?", Gough asked. "When I remember correctly, you hated showing them. Has this changed after many years in the future?"
"Um...", Ornstein said and Tempest had the feeling he was about to turn red under his helmet. Of course, he would have to admit that Tempest saw him naked, that they book a bath together and that Tempest had washed Ornstein's hair. In fact, Tempest started to ask himself why Gough hadn't asked yet what Ornstein's and Tempest's deal with each other was. Still, Tempest decided to spare Ornstein the embarrassment.
"Oh, he has got hurt in the fight with Artorias and when I patched him up, I could see it.", he explained. "So will you help us ground the dragon?"
"...My mind has been made up once you asked the first time.", Gough said. "Because what is bravery without a dash of recklessness? However, do you think Ornstein should hunt a dragon in that state?"
Tempest's gaze wandered to Ornstein and he took a sharp breath as he noticed just how laboured his breathing was and how much trouble he seemed to stand up upright.
"Ornstein...", Tempest said. "Why haven't you said anything?!"
"I... I didn't want to worry you...", Ornstein said. "Besides... we can't sit around here idly, doing nothing..."
"If you continue to strain yourself like this, you will collapse.", Tempest said. "I thought you were exhausted back on the township, but I decided to trust your word. Everybody knows their body best, right? But apparently, I was wrong."
"Ornstein never knew when to quit and take a break.", Gough offhandedly said.
"That's it.", Tempest glared at Ornstein and tapped his foot. "You will take a break, right now. Get out of that armour, sit down, drink something and wait until I have cooked up a meal! You haven't eaten anything in hours!"
"...Fine... I guess I have no choice.", Ornstein said as he sank down at the wall of the tower, carefully removing his helmet.
"That's the spirit.", Tempest smiled and put his attention to Gough. "Is there a a place where I could cook something up?"
Gough pointed to a corner of the tower, where there indeed was a small fireplace with a pot over it. Tempest hummed as he approached it and searched in his belongings. He had packed some ingredients when they last had been in Anor Londo.
As Tempest was busy with cooking, Ornstein carefully peeled himself out of his armour, sighing once the weight wasn't pressing down on him anymore. Gough had been right, he wasn't in a state to hunt down a dragon. That the little Storm noticed it also was proof enough for Ornstein. Though he wouldn't sit here for hours. He would eat what Tempest cooked him and then they would be off. They couldn't dawdle here too long, his past self would arrive the next day.
"So, Ornstein.", Gough spoke, making Ornstein raise his head, "What is the deal between you and that determined Undead?"
"Gwyndolin's orders.", Ornstein answered. "It's... hard to explain."
"Of course, you know about events that I do not." A few chippings fell down on Ornstein who brushed them off, wincing when pain emerged in his arm.
"Correct.", Ornstein said. "Let's say... we have a task for the little Storm and he was asking for help, so Gwyndolin ordered me to help him."
After he was done speaking, Gough chuckled, the low, joyous chuckle, that Ornstein always had loved to hear. He always wanted his fellow knights to be happy, though at the moment, it annoyed him.
"What's so funny?", Ornstein complained.
"The fact that you seem to have some attachment.", Gough said. "Was that a nickname that I heard? I believe the Undead himself had referred to himself as Tempest."
"Yes, is something the matter?", Tempest asked, brooding over the cooking pot, blue eyes fixating on Gough at the mention of his name.
"...It's nothing. Go back to cooking.", Ornstein said. Tempest however took only one gaze at Ornstein and gasped.
"Ornstein, I told you to drink something! I can't see your canteen anywhere near you! Do you want to collapse from being parched? You lost quite a bit blood, you know!"
"Alright, alright...", Ornstein sighed, fetching his canteen from his belongings, taking a few sips. He actually hadn't noticed how dry his throat had been and he soon eagerly took larger sips from his canteen.
"That's better.", Tempest said, adding some more vegetables into the soup. At least they looked like vegetables. Ornstein knew that he could fully trust Tempest when it came to cooking. It was fighting he wasn't good at, though he became more and more competent at it lately.
"Gough... there is something I have to ask of you.", Ornstein said.
"I know.", Gough said. "I won't say anything. Neither to Ciaran nor to your old self. Your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you, Gough...", Ornstein said, suddenly feeling his eyes droop. Why was he so tired all of a sudden?
"It would be wise to take a little nap.", Gough said. "It appears your companion is still busy with the soup."
"...I guess...", Ornstein said and not long after he had closed his eyes, he felt sleep overcoming him.
Around ten minutes after Ornstein had fallen asleep, Tempest puts the lid on the pot. "Alright, the soup now just has to simmer a while."
Tempest walked over to Ornstein and a smile washed over his face once he saw him fast asleep.
"Finally he rests. He was about to collapse when he would have continued at that pace.", Tempest said.
"He always has been like that.", Tempest winced at the sudden voice of Gough, not having expected the giant to say anything. In fact, Gough looked like he was a part of the tower. If not for him moving, Tempest would have thought he would be a statue.
"You know him well, right?", Tempest asked, sitting himself cross-legged on the ground, having to crane his neck to look Gough in the face, or more, helmet. After a few seconds Tempest remembered that Gough was blind and it wouldn't bother him at all if Tempest wouldn't look into his face, so he went to stare straight at the wall of the tower, sometimes glancing to Ornstein.
"Yes, we knew each other since the dragon war. He came and asked me to be a part of the four Knights of Gwyn. I accepted his offer and led many silver knights archers into battle as well as fought alongside Ornstein many times."
"...He must have been wonderful in his prime.", Tempest said.
"Yes, indeed.", Gough said, chipping down some more wood from the current mask he was carving, which fell down on Tempest, who brushed it off his leather armour. "The golden dragon slayer of Anor Londo. He was elegant and deadly. Ornstein was able to take out a dragon on his own, which is an enormous feat. It was usual that a single dragon would wipe out three scores of our silver knights."
"A single dragon wiped out so many soldiers and he fought them solo?!", Tempest could hardly believe what Gough just had said. "..I can't believe that I managed to beat him..."
Tempest noticed his mistake and looked up to see if there was any change in Gough's demeanour, but he just continued whittling on his mask before saying: "Don't worry, there is nobody I will tell that I've ever met you." Gough then stopped whittling and his head cocked until it was gazing in the direction in which Ornstein was laying, maybe one or two centimetres off. "Ornstein... isn't feeling well. It isn't because of the injury you talked about, there is a deep sadness inside of him. It has been there since our loyal companion, Artorias, who you so kindly put to rest, has fallen. Ornstein... always blamed himself for everything that happened. That is why he wanted you to apologize for him. Whatever happens to me in the future, Ornstein feels responsible for it."
Tempest looked at Ornstein while Gough was talking. He knew that Ornstein was putting up an act, that the real Ornstein was a lot softer than the dragon slayer once he put on his armour. Tempest wondered if Ornstein blamed himself for the death of Smough, the executioner, his former partner. Tempest had been the one to strike him down, so Tempest always thought that Ornstein would resent him for that, but... maybe it was Ornstein hating himself. Had Tempest ever heard Ornstein say a good thing about himself? Maybe Ornstein just wanted to search out the Sunfirstborn to say sorry?
Tempest had the hunch that once they were back in their own time, Ornstein might apologize to him, even though Tempest had brought them into this mess at the first place.
"Artorias...", Tempest said, wanting to change the subject. "Did he knew that he would get corrupted? He... said a few weird things before he died."
"Artorias was very well aware of the dangers of the abyss.", Gough replied. "It was his duty to fight the creatures of the dark. For a Knight of Gwyn, every mission could be the last. Artorias would have gone even if Ornstein had forbade it. I assume that Artorias tried to find an unoccupied place before his corruption could eat him completely. That he ran into you and Ornstein might have been pure luck, so that he could die in battle. For every knight, it is a honour to die in battle."
"...I died in battle and the only honour I got was getting thrown into the asylum.", Tempest grumbled, clearly remembering his own death. "Though I am not a knight."
"That is apparent.", Gough said, making Tempest's head jerk around. "You can fight, but it isn't in your nature. When I guess correctly, it was Ornstein who trained you."
"That is correct.", Tempest said. "And he didn't even kill me that often during training."
"Tempest, I want to apologize that you Undead are getting treated so unkindly by Lordran.", Gough said. "Us giants are in a similar situation. We are feared because we can go berserk. For Undead it is the fear of your hollowing, for us giants it is the fear of our nature. I never had the urge to go berserk, but still people feared me and blinded me."
"That's awful...!", Tempest said, shuddering. "Why did they attack you even though you never did anything wrong?"
"Fear like I said.", Gough replied. "Wasn't it the same for you? You weren't attacking anyone, but once they saw your dark sign, you were carried away. People will always shun what they fear. You and me, we aren't that different in that regard."
"I guess...", Tempest said, thinking about the time he had been close to hollowing. Would he have become one of that roving hollows who would attack everything in sight or would he have become one of the hollows that just …had given up and would smash their heads against the wall, like the ones in the Sunlight Altar?
It was Ornstein who had helped him to fend off his hollowing, as well as the humanity he had taken, but Tempest knew, one or two more deaths and he would have been gone for good.
"Oh, Ornstein told me that you sell these masks?", Tempest pointed at the pile in front of Gough, wanting to change the subject.
"Yes, that is correct. Feel free to have a look at my wares.", Gough said and put a few items and a price list in front of Tempest. Apparently even a giant had use for souls.
Gough's wares were rather standard, homeward bones, prism stones, titanite shards... From greater interest were the gigantic arrows he sold, Tempest could only assume that they were used for the equally big great bow he could see behind the giant, and two masks. Tempest tested them both and one said "Hello" and the other "Thank you."
"Hmm.. I think I take the Thank you carving.", he said and searched for souls in his dark sign, when he noticed that next to the items he also spotted some dung pie. Why in the world had Gough excrements with him? As Tempest watched over the tower and realized that there nowhere was a privy in sight, and even if, it wouldn't be big enough for the giant, he got his assumptions and wrinkled his nose. Disgusting.
Tempest handed five souls to Gough (he probably sold the masks for so little souls because he had a mountain of them) and put the mask into his inventory, then strolled over to check on his soup. Almost done.
"It's time to wake up Ornstein.", Tempest said. "The soup will be done in a few minutes."
"I am sure he looks forward to be waken up by you.", Gough said.
"Maybe? I am not sure if Ornstein looks forward to seeing my face first when he wakes up. At least I am not hollowed out at the moment. He doesn't like my hollowed out form."
"Even as someone who cannot see anymore, I can understand that.", Gough hummed. "It's not a very nice sight."
"It's not like I die on purpose.", Tempest said and nudged Ornstein. "Hey, Ornstein, time to rise and shine, the soup is ready."
"Hnngh...", Ornstein said and opened his eyes halfway. "Oh, little Storm, that smells wonderful...", he said and both of his arms embraced Tempest and pulled him into a hug, making Tempest's face blush a deep crimson.
"Um, Ornstein...", Tempest said and once Ornstein opened his eyes completely, he practically jumped up and Tempest fell on his rear.
"Ah, do... don't take this the wrong way!", Ornstein said. "I was still... dreaming. Yes. Dreaming!"
"I heard you say little Storm...", Tempest murmured under his breath and went back to the pot, all followed by a low chuckle of Gough. Tempest put a serving of soup into a brought along soup bowl and carried the steaming hot meal to Ornstein, handing it him along with a spoon.
"Careful, it is still hot.", he said as Ornstein took it. Tempest then addressed Gough. "Would you like a plate too? I made enough for several servings, though it probably isn't enough for a being of your size."
"I gladly take a serving.", Gough said. "It's true that as a giant I require more sustenance, but I very well would like to cherish the taste. As Ornstein said, it smells wonderful."
"I am giving my all for every meal.", Tempest grinned and went to get a second serving. Luckily he had packed two bowls. Tempest didn't even know why, it wasn't like he could share the meal with Ornstein. Maybe it had been wishful thinking.
Once Gough had been given a filled soup bowl too, Tempest sat down and watched Ornstein eating. He was holding the soup bowl carefully with his left hand and slowly dunked the spoon into the soup with his right arm, movement looking stiff and with the way his face scrunched up, Tempest knew it wasn't comfortable for Ornstein.
"Do you need help?", Tempest asked.
"No, I am fine.", Ornstein answered as fast as an arrow would fly off a taut bow. Tempest was a tiny bit disappointed, he would have liked to see Ornstein's reaction if he would have fed him, but he also had the assumption that Izalith would freeze over before Ornstein would allow for Tempest to feed him.
"If you say so.", Tempest just said and continued to watch Ornstein, who ate slowly and methodically, as if he mostly just tried to get the bowl empty. Tempest sighed a little bit, Ornstein's thoughts were apparently still elsewhere. At least he got him to have taken a break.
"That surely tastes wonderful.", Gough said from above, putting the bowl on the floor. "You are a good cook, Tempest. I envy Ornstein to be able to eat a meal this good every day."
"It's not like he cooks for me everyday and I also never asked him to do it...", Ornstein murmured.
"Oh, but I would cook for you everyday, if you ask or not.", Tempest smiled at Ornstein, who choked at his current spoonful of soup. Tempest came over quickly and gave Ornstein a good slap on the back, helping him to clear his lungs from any soup that had gotten into.
"Everything alright? Have I said something funny?", Tempest said and his big blue eyes stared directly in Ornstein's equally big, green ones. "Are you having a fever...?", Tempest asked as he noticed that Ornstein's face was tinted a hue of red.
"No and don't come so close!", Ornstein yelled and gave Tempest a kick, which made him fall on his rear, his big blue eyes now conveying betrayal.
"I am remembering this Ornstein and that means you won't get desert the next time.", Tempest chuckled and turned his head when he heard the low chuckle of Gough mixed into his own.
"It's good to see that you made such a good friend.", he said.
"We aren't friends!", Ornstein said, again, far too quickly and he backpedalled immediately by saying: "Well... maybe a little..." He turned his head to the side, was looking in the air and had another red flush on his cheeks. Ornstein still couldn't admit that he liked Tempest. Tempest just sat there and grinned to himself, that Gough had noticed what Ornstein was denying felt good.
Tempest felt a large hand on himself and nearly fell down when Gough was slapping him on the shoulder. "Please stay Ornstein's friend.", Gough said, low so that Ornstein couldn't hear it, but loud enough so that Tempest could hear every word. He simply nodded, forgetting that the giant couldn't see him, but he had the feeling that Gough got his message nonetheless.
Once Ornstein was done with eating the soup, Tempest collected the bowls and put them back into his luggage. He decided to leave the rest of the soup for Gough, it seemed like the giant rarely got anything good to eat, sometimes someone from Oolacile brought him provisions but since the tragedy happened, he mostly had caught birds out of the air and ate them instead. Tempest almost was suggesting to Gough that he could come back and cook more for him before he remembered that him and Ornstein shouldn't be here at the first place. They very likely wouldn't be able to come back.
"We have now sit around idly enough.", Ornstein said and got up, but Tempest was at his side with a lunge and said: "Wait, Ornstein, let's take a look at your arm."
"How often do I have to tell you I am fine?", Ornstein grumbled.
"Expect... you aren't fine. You needed the break and I want to take a look at this bandages.", Tempest didn't wait for permission but simply rolled Ornstein's sleeve up and to his surprise, the dragon slayer allowed it.
"Ugh, it has bled through...", Tempest groaned as he looked at the bandage he had applied. He had done his best to apply a pressure bandage, that the wound wouldn't bleed too much until they could get it properly fixed, but after running around in the Oolacile township it had loosened. "Please hold still, Ornstein, I will change the bandages.", Tempest said. He searched for some new bandages in Ornstein's bag, which he found quicker by now and then removed the bled through and far too moist used bandages, gasping when he saw the wound, immediately starting to bleed again and bruised black and blue around the gash.
"You make me afraid to look, little Storm...", Ornstein said, leaning against the wall, face far too pale.
"Don't look, just do me a favour and don't look.", Tempest murmured, swallowing away bile at the state of the wound as he applied a new pressure bandage and carefully rolled down Ornstein's sleeve again. The dragon slayer bore it with closed eyes and not even a wince and Tempest stuffed the bloody bandage in his own luggage before Ornstein could take a look at it.
"I know that I can't stop you to hunt dragons, even if you are injured.", Gough said. "If you are ready, I shall keep my promise and shoot Kalameet out of the sky."
"Wait.", Tempest said. "I want to be sure that Ornstein truly is rested. So.. he has drank something, has eaten something, has slept... Is there anything else he needs to do that I don't have to do anymore... Oh!", Tempest clapped his hands. "Ornstein, do you need to take a leak maybe?"
"Huh?", Ornstein said, clearly taken aback and another red hue appeared on his cheeks.
"Oh, it's just.. we are about to fight a dragon and you can't just excuse yourself in the middle of a fight, that's all.", Tempest said, nodding to himself, proud that he remembered all the needs that a still living being had.
"That's not it, little Storm.", Ornstein half whispered. "Just don't be so, uh..., blunt about it..."
Gough chuckled again and said: "Ornstein is just very shy."
"I'll be right back.", Ornstein hastily said and left the tower, returning after a few minutes, putting on his armour and not saying anything anymore.
"Gough, please.", Ornstein said. "Show the little Storm why they call you the Hawkeye."
Gough stopped whittling and laid both the mask and his knife down, standing up, wood chippings falling down from him as he was feeling for his great bow. As soon as he grabbed it, he said: "Now watch and see how Gough hunts dragons."
Tempest knew it had been for him, Ornstein probably had seen it a hundred times and Tempest planned to watch closely. He was able to see the Hawkeye in action and his whole body tensed up as Gough bend the bow, getting an enormous arrow into place and the moment Kalameet soared near the tower, he let loose and the arrow hit the black dragon directly into the wing.
Tempest just stood there with his mouth open as Gough sat back down again and said: "Hah hah! Yes, a truer shot was never loosed! That bat will be grounded for a good spell! The rest is in your hands. I await good tidings. Ahh, dragon slaying. Knighthood's highest calling…"
"Gough, thank you very much.", Ornstein said, giving the giant a polite bow. "We will be off now and finally put Kalameet into his place."
"I know how much you waited for a chance to fight him again.", Gough hummed. "Now go. And the next time I see you, you better will be from my own time."
Ornstein looked back one last time at Gough and then turned around to walk to the ladder, giving Tempest a nudge because he still was staring in the sky with his mouth agape. After Ornstein and Tempest descended the ladder, Tempest closed the door, but didn't lock it.
"Maybe I want to visit him again.", he said. "To tell him that the dragon is dead."
"Do what you must.", Ornstein simply said. "Let's just get back to the basin where Kalameet must have fallen down."
A short walk and three dead dogs later (Tempest had been forced to slay them again because of Ornstein's distaste of them), the both of them stood in front of the basin. As Tempest was already walking towards the ladder that led down, Ornstein stopped him.
"Wait, little Storm, there is something about Kalameet I have to tell you.", he said.
"Something other than that he is a big, scary dragon which breathes fire and probably could eat me in one bite?", Tempest said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Kalameet has a very special attack.", Ornstein said, ignoring Tempest's remarks, "You see, Kalameet has one red eye on his forehead. He is able to use some kind of psychic powers with it. Whenever Kalameet is on his hind legs and his claws are pointing upwards, he will use that attack. Don't ever let yourself get grabbed by this attack. Not only do you lose control over your whole body, every wound you receive afterwards will hurt twice as much as usual."
"Aaalright, that is pretty bothersome...", Tempest said. "How do you know about this attack?"
"Because I got grabbed by it.", Ornstein said. "It was the reason I lost the battle."
"Sorry...", Tempest said. He hadn't planned to reopen old wounds for Ornstein, especially after so many old wounds had been reopened already. "I will take care to not let myself get grabbed. What is our strategy?"
"Sadly I am severely hindered.", Ornstein said. "I can't two hand my spear which from great benefit when fighting a dragon. Hurling lighting will also be troublesome, because it will send pain through my body, but I will do my best when it comes to it. I will distract Kalameet as well as possible and you search for the opportunity to get a deadly strike in."
"You want ME to be the main force against a fucking dragon?!", Tempest screeched.
"Language, little Storm.", Ornstein scolded Tempest, not used to that Tempest would use such strong language, at least not in front of him. "I will give my best to pierce the other wings of Kalameet too, so that he will have trouble to fly at all. For you, try to get a good hit at his head or at his belly. You are small enough to fit under him, but don't let yourself be stomped to death. Dragon skin is hard, even though Kalameet would be considered an ancient dragon and not an everlasting dragon. It could take a while until you cut through his skin."
"...I will give my best...", Tempest said, but he felt very small and weak. He had relied on Ornstein so much during this journey, how should he be able to let Ornstein rely on him? Wait, how had he managed this journey before Ornstein had been there? He usually had died until he somehow had made it. That was a tactic he couldn't rely on anymore. If he was absent for even a few minutes, it could mean death for Ornstein.
Tempest felt a hand on his shoulder and then Ornstein murmured: "You can do it, little Storm. You are stronger than you think. Just.. keep calm and remember what I have taught you. I will give you instructions during the battle also."
Tempest took a deep breath and nodded. Fine, it was fine. He could do this. Ornstein was at his side. They had beaten so many dangers together already. A fire breathing dragon was just the next step on their journey to the kiln.
"Let's go then.", Tempest said and slid down the ladder.
Ornstein came sliding down shortly after Tempest had landed, taking the lead, walking into the middle of the basin where Tempest could spot several corpses. He shuddered. Had the dragon killed them all...? Thinking of the dragon, where was it? Hadn't it crashed around here?
Tempest's eyes widened when a rather pissed looking dragon came around the corner, an arrow stuck in his left wing. Once Kalameet saw Ornstein, he stopped and Tempest had the weirdest sensation of a voice in his mind.
"Dragon Slayer!", the voice, probably belonging to Kalameet, spoke, no, hissed. "I knew we would see each other again... not having any confidences in your skill anymore though... for you had to ask the Hawkeye to keep me grounded..."
Kalameet flared his wings during these words, not being able to spread the left one all the way out. Tempest still find it to look very intimidating and hid behind Ornstein's huge frame.
"I am afraid I am not up to my usual skills anymore.", Ornstein said. "That's why I won't be your demise. Kalameet, today you will face your demise by him!"
As soon as he had said this words, Ornstein stepped to the side and exposed a very tiny, very scared looked Tempest, who had his mouth open in shock. He grabbed his sword with both hands and tried to look at intimidating as possible, but failed because of how much his knees were shaking.
"A puny tiny little Undead?!", Kalameet roared. "Dragon Slayer, don't make me laugh!"
A low, rumbling sound was heard and Tempest, frantically looking around to find out from where it was coming, had to realize that Kalameet really was laughing. A moment of carelessness that Ornstein used to his advantage immediately, jumping up in the air and landing on the back of Kalameet.
"You!", Kalameet hissed and flapped his wings, getting both him and Ornstein airborne. Ornstein nodded to Tempest and he knew what he had to do. While Ornstein easily was holding his balance up on this dragon, Tempest got his bow out. Only seconds later he heard a screech and saw that Ornstein had driven his spear through Kalameet's right wing too, which made the dragon soar through the air rather unstable and he was about to collide with the ground.
Before Ornstein could collide with Kalameet, he jumped off his back and Tempest aimed his bow directly at Kalameet's head. As soon as the ground shook from the dragon's impact, Tempest let the arrow fly and while it didn't hid the red eye that Tempest had aimed at, it still ripped a wound at the dragon's temple, hot blood dripping on the ground.
Kalameet scurried back to his feet and took a deep breath.
"He is going to breath fire, careful!", Ornstein shouted and Tempest didn't waste any time to run as the greenish flame came out in kind of a cylindric shape. As he rolled out of the way, he still could feel the heat. He didn't want to know how it felt like to be touched by that fire. It felt worse like that of the Hellkite Drake and Tempest had died quite a few times in its flames.
"Now what?", Tempest asked once the flames died down.
"Follow me.", Ornstein said and ran towards Kalameet. For Tempest, it felt crazy to take a dragon head on, but then he remembered that he was fighting alongside the dragon slayer. He had to trust that Ornstein knew what he was doing.
Kalameet didn't spit fire again. It wouldn't wonder Tempest if that would take a lot of energy and effort and he had to wait a bit for his throat to cool down before he could breath fire again. Instead, once Ornstein came closer, Kalameet used his head to try and smash Ornstein with it. Ornstein dodged to the side and once Tempest had caught up to him, he managed to get under Kalameet's belly while the dragon was busy raising a claw to sweep at Ornstein.
Tempest looked up and raised his sword to stab Kalameet into the belly, only to realize that he still was too small to reach him! Was Ornstein just expecting for him to jump up and slice it open? Still, he had to use the distraction that Ornstein procured him to good use, so Tempest did the next best thing and inflicted a wound on the inner thigh of Kalameet's hind leg. The dragon screeched in pain and surprise and raised his hind leg only to stomp down right where Tempest stood. The little Undead rolled out of the way, looking up to see Kalameet's tail and gasped when it came smashing down him.
Ah, so that was how it felt like being hit by the tail of an ancient dragon. Tempest must have flown several metres, because he could see how Kalameet's form got smaller. Tempest had the feeling that he could hear Ornstein calling "Little Storm", but it was fine, he had Estus. He would just heal all the breaks and ruptured organs that he surely had suffered, judging from the pain when he collided with the ground. There was no reason for Ornstein to run to him, he should keep the dragon busy, so why was Tempest seeing golden armour hurrying in his direction...
"Little Storm, are you alright?!", Tempest heard and the next thing he knew was that Estus ran down his throat and he felt how his wounds closed.
"Ornstein, the dragon...", Tempest murmured, still a bit dizzy. Ornstein raised his head and gasped. In the short time in which Ornstein had run to Tempest and apparently given him Estus, Kalameet had caught up to them and he was on his hind legs, claws pointing upwards. The attack Ornstein had warned Tempest about.
Tempest felt himself lifted up and his ears were complaining once a piercing sound emitted from Kalameet, Ornstein managed to lunge away just in time, but his movements were sluggish and Tempest knew why. Ornstein was holding Tempest with his injured arm and that must have hurt. A lot.
"Ornstein, let me go.", Tempest said, practically forcing Ornstein to let him fall on the ground, were Tempest scrambled back on his feet, both of them lunging in different directions when Kalameet's fire was shooting at them again.
"Damn, even grounded he is still a tough foe.", Ornstein said, readying himself once Kalameet was running towards them. "We need to inflict a deadly wound soon... or we'll get into trouble."
"I know, but you haven't taken into account that I am too small to reach his belly.", Tempest said, gasping when he saw Kalameet tensing all muscles and felt himself flying through the air when Ornstein shoved him, the dragon slayer himself having jumped on Kalameet's back again, spear scraping at his neck, making the dragon hiss and splutter while he tried to get Ornstein off his back.
"If only I had a spear like the one of Ornstein...", Tempest murmured. "With a spear like this I could easily reach Kalameet's belly..."
However, even if Tempest would borrow Ornstein's spear, he would have trouble lifting it and he would need enough time to actually inflict a wound with it. Thinking about it, it would have been the best, if Kalameet would be on his hind legs again. For now, Tempest should support Ornstein and ran to Kalameet, slicing two new wounds in his front leg. Ornstein came jumping down, wincing, while Kalameet was busy with wincing in pain himself.
"Ornstein... I kind of have an idea...", Tempest said. "But, uh, it is a bit reckless..."
"Whatever it is, you better spill it soon.", Ornstein said, panting, "Kalameet isn't about to wait until we are done talking."
"No, but he is going to breath fire again. I tell you once we are out of danger!", Tempest said, jumping out of the way. Ornstein followed him and Tempest said as quickly as he could: "Get him on his hind legs... and toss me your spear."
"Are you crazy, little Storm?", Ornstein asked as he twirled around, spear ready to knock one of Kalameet's teeth out.
"Trust me, just trust me on this.", Tempest said.
"Alright then...", Ornstein said. It was a good thing that he kept a backup weapon with him at all times, but... maybe he should try and support Tempest with his miracles, even if it would hurt. He just hoped that for once the recklessness of the little Storm would be worth it.
Ornstein looked at Tempest one last time and saw the determination in those blue eyes. They both nodded to each other.
"Hey!", Ornstein shouted. "Kalameet! You are right! That fight is between you and me and not between you and that puny Undead!"
Tempest couldn't help but feel a tiny bit hurt, even though he knew that this probably was just Ornstein's tactic to get Kalameet's attention. And it worked, the dragon stopped trying to snap at Tempest and put his gaze on Ornstein.
"Oh, are you finally going to fight seriously, dragon slayer?"
"You remember our last fight? Where you wanted to burn me to ashes? Well, I am still here! You haven't burned me. How about you take a second shot?" Ornstein, who was standing right in front of Kalameet raised both arms and hurled his spear in Tempest's direction. The little Undead hurried to it immediately, struggling a bit with picking it up, but he managed with both hands.
"Do you have a death wish?", Kalameet pretty much howled and raised on his hind legs, hot flames starting to appear around his mouth. It was the exact opportunity that Tempest needed. He ran towards Kalameet, dropped his sword and used all the strength he had to lift Ornstein's spear high enough and drove it as deep in Kalameet's stomach as possible.
The dragon screeched in pain as blood seeped out of the wound, staining Tempest's arms that still were holding the spear, some green flames shot out of his mouth, but then he managed to pour his fire breath on the ground. It was hot and uncomfortable, but Tempest kept standing where he was, holding the spear and pushing it deeper and deeper into Kalameet's belly.
Tempest slowly turned his head in an attempt to look at Ornstein and saw a big dragon claw coming down on him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, already awaiting death, when he heard a sizzling sound... a far too familiar sizzling sound and when he opened his eyes again, he could see how a lighting bolt had hit Kalameet right into the red eye on his forehead.
The black dragon screeched again and started to trash around, Tempest was still holding on the spear, being convinced that if he would let go, that he would surely be smashed on the ground or any nearby wall.
After several seconds that felt like minutes, Kalameet's body finally went limp and he collapsed forward... Tempest's eyes going wide when he realized that the big body would bury himself under it. Tempest let go of the spear and clasped both hands over his head, eyes shut close, slowly opened them again when death never embraced himself.
Tempest saw that Ornstein's spear kept Kalameet's belly into the air, though it looked like it would collapse any minute now. Tempest hurried to crawl out of the danger zone and yelped when the spear gave in and his leg got buried and smashed by the sudden weight.
Tempest needed a few minutes to free his leg and then took a sip of Estus to heal the damage. When he looked up the next time, he saw Ornstein standing over him. "Well done, little Storm..." Ornstein's face looked pale and his voice was strained.
"Ornstein, are you alright?", Tempest asked.
"...That last attack left me unable to move for a while...", Ornstein said. "I better sit down for a while..."
Ornstein sat down, leaned against the corpse and took a deep breath. Tempest, who already was on the ground, just looked at him, removed his helmet and then scooted a little closer, mostly to look closer at Kalameet.
"Incredible.", Tempest said.
"What?", Ornstein asked.
"I have slain a dragon!", Tempest grinned, euphoria rising in his chest.
"Do you want to keep his head as a trophy?"
"Uh gross! No! I didn't even knew where to hang it."
"Well, there is still some space in my trophy room, but I can't claim this dragon, because it was you who killed it."
"Only with the help of you and Gough.", Tempest said, his gaze darkening. "On my own I would have been screwed. I probably would have died so many times that I would have gone hollow..."
"Don't be so hard on yourself.", Ornstein said and Tempest felt a hand on his head, ruffling his hair but got withdrawn pretty much immediately. He stared at Ornstein, asking himself if that really just happened.
"...Ornstein, your spear...", Tempest said, a hand over his face.
"What about it?"
"It is still under the dragon!"
"Well... that will take a while to get back...", Ornstein sighed. "Maybe we should convince Gough to come down his tower and move him for us..."
"Or we use that ring of Havel's...", Tempest mused. "Isn't it there to make heavy things lighter?"
"That was meant for armour, not dragons.", Ornstein chuckled.
"It's worth a try.", Tempest said and jumped up, searching for the ring in his inventory, sliding it over his finger and eyes going wide when he saw the golden tip of a spear under Kalameet's body. "Hey, I don't think we have to move him!", Tempest said and grabbed the spear, pulling it with all his might, until it was out and Tempest flew on his rear.
"Here, Ornstein.", Tempest gave the spear to the dragon slayer, who accepted it and then stared at the cross a little longer. "What's that?", he said and removed a round little object from it.
Tempest came closer and saw a ring. It actually looked a bit like the eye of Kalameet. "Belonged that to him?", he asked. "What is it for?"
"I don't know.", Ornstein said. "How about you try it out?"
Tempest stared at the ring and then slid it over his finger. As soon as it was sitting tight, he had the feeling that something was very very wrong, that something evil had him in his clutches. As if... yes, as if a calamity had befallen him.
Tempest removed the ring immediately and sighed in relief when he felt the force over himself lifted.
"...That dirty black dragon...", Ornstein hissed.
"What is it?", Tempest asked.
"Even in death he was a sore loser. In that ring is the power of the attack that makes every injury hurt twice as much! I advise you get rid of the ring as quick as possible!"
Tempest instead looked at the ring and the pocketed it.
"Why are you keeping it?", Ornstein asked. "That thing is dangerous."
"Exactly.", Tempest said. "I think it is safer with me than with anyone else. I have to wear it for the curse in the ring to take effect. Besides, I want a souvenir that reminds me of this fight and the ring is cleaner and easier to carry than the head of a dragon."
"Well then, little Storm.", Ornstein sighed and got up. "Our duty here is almost gone. Let's move on and face the beast of the Abyss."
"You sure you are up to this?", Tempest asked.
"I have to.", Ornstein replied.
"Alright, but as soon as we are back at our own time, I'll make sure that you rest."
(Author's note: I am very sorry about the joke with Gough and the dung pies, my mind is just immature and I found it too great of a coincidence to not be a coincidence...
Kalameet in NG+ is brutal. I am actually glad that I don't have to beat him, just fighting him is enough. Like always, I make the fights a lot more realistic instead of simply getting an HP bar down ^^ I hope you enjoyed.
Please leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thank you very much!)