Chapter 13
Guest- Really? I always thought it was the same deal in Fantasy because of all the conflicts elves had with Slaanesh. Plus all the hatred they have for Slaanesh and their champions and daemons. Well, I guess I have to adjust and change a few things.
Naestra
The elf known as Naestra simply sighed again before responding to Archaon's question.
"Your correct, my king. Forgive me." Said Naestra as she looked at Archaon's burning red eyes. She then looked at the elf prisoner, feeling sorrow for them, before speaking up again. "May you give me your name, young one?" Instead of saying it, the young elf just sneered at her, disgusted at her.
"You're not worthy to even hear my name, traitor!" Yelled the elf, too dignified to spit at Naestra as she looked at the elf with remorse. "If I was not in these confines, I would kill you myself for being such a disgrace to our people. Not even Witch-King of Naggarond is as much of a traitor to our people as you are today. How the mighty have fallen from grace." Naestra, having expected all this from the elf, tried her best to calm her down when Archaon made a suggestion.
"If you wish, my queen." Said Archaon as he looked at the elf. "I can have her be made more compliant to your rulership. Just say the word and I'll have my sorcerers and warriors work on her." Naestra just looked at Archaon warily, knowing what fate will happen to the elf if she let her be taken by Archaon's men.
He will have her sent to sorcerers of Nurgle, Slaanesh, and Tzeentch to break her. Not only in body but mind and spirit as well. He will have his sorcerers use their vile magic on her at the same time, overloading her senses with so much pain that either she dies or her mind will shatter, making her a shadow of her former self. That was something that Naestra wanted to avoid at all costs. No matter what harsh words she'll have to endure, she won't allow this elf to be given to Archaon's warriors.
"Thank you for the suggestion, my king." Said Naestra with a tight smile. "But I wish to do this without their aid. What queen am I, after all, if I cannot handle one harsh elf?" Archaon, no doubt knew the true reason, that cursed artifact on his forehead revealed all to him, but he nonetheless relented and allowed Naestra to continue conversing with the elf.
"Child, I know you believe I bring shame to our entire race, something that is common amongst my people, but it's either this or our people suffer more from being under the control of the servants of Chaos. Little as it may be, I try to lessen the pain and misery that our people suffer from being under his rule." Said Naestra as she looked at Archaon, who simply looked at her and the elf, not moving at all. "So please, help me in lessening the burden of pain and misery on yourself by cooperating with me." Rather than reacting calmly, the elf just turned her head away from Naestra, causing her to sigh. Seeing there was no point in continuing the conversation here, out in the open, she ordered four of her escort to bring the elf to a room in the castle, which they did without hesitation. Once the elven prisoner was gone, Naestra turned to Archaon and spoke.
"Shall we proceed to our personal quarters first before we converse with your underlings, my king?" Asked Naestra. Archaon just nodded before walking towards his castle with his guards and Naestras' own. Upon entering his castle, Archaon felt slight satisfaction at being inside its walls again. It was the only place that he felt something even remotely close to resembling a home for him.
Servants and slaves were busy at work maintaining the castle for their master, keeping it clean for him as well any other task that can help ensure that they're still worth being allowed to remain within Archaon's fortress for it was one of the safest, if not the safest place, in Kaon and even in all of Helheim.
Walking towards his chambers, Archaon looked at one such servant, an elven male, painting an exquisite painting of Archaon leading his warriors to glorious battle. Taking a brief glance of the painting, Archaon saw its grandeur and took a moment to examine its details before resuming his walk to his personal chambers that he shared with his Everqueen. The trek was long and arduous, but the two were used to it along with their guards and soon the group was upon the doors that led to the personal chambers of both the Everchosen and Everqueen.
Placed deep within the palace with constant patrols, the chambers were laced with the best Tzeentchian wards and spells to give full privacy to Archaon and Naestra when they entered. It took many sacrifices and prayers to Tzeentch to be given such powerful wards, but they were worth it considering that Archaon valued his privacy whenever he needed to contemplate on what to do, where to send his forces, and what to do next in their bid to conquer the entire galaxy.
Ordering two men to open the doors, Archaon soon stepped into his chambers along with his wife before ordering his men to depart, which they did after closing the doors. Once the doors were closed, Archaon observed his chambers and saw that they were the same as before. A lavish chamber filled with old Asrai artifacts, furniture, and jewels. Even the bed was of Asrai making and the sheet was weaved by some of the finest weavers that the Asrai had left. Such things were for Naestra than anything else as Archaon needed very little for his accommodation. All he required was a bed to sleep in and a place to brood by himself. Anything else in his chambers was fair game for his Everqueen.
"I assume you wish to have that elf be given to me to properly induct her into your cities?" Asked Naestra as she sat down on a chair while Archaon stayed standing.
"If you desire to teach her, then yes." Said Archaon, knowing that Naestra would take the elf in to prevent her from being killed by any of Archaon's warriors, regardless of how stubborn the elf is. "Just know that you'll have to keep a close eye on her. She possesses a fierce heart and a fiery attitude. A poor combination if you wish for her to live around my warriors."
"Indeed." Said Naestra, agreeing with Archaon reluctantly. Wishing to move on to other pressing matters, Naestra spoke to Archaon of events that went on during his absence. "The Shepard has helped keep my people safe for the most part, but one of my handmaidens has informed me that a Chaos Lord of Nurgle has plans to infect one of the elven reservations in the city. As you know, those reservations provide fresh fruit and meat that you're most elite warriors eat. If even one of them is corrupted."
"I know." Said Archaon. His warriors cared little for the loss of such fresh food, they only care about the thrill of battle and serving the Chaos Gods, he cared about the elven people under his rule, if only because they were his servants. And it'll look bad for him if he allowed his people to suffer without any retaliation from him, which will cause even more rivals to arise and face him for the title of Everchosen. "My people will suffer, and we'll need to find more lands for them. Very well, I'll deal with this."
"Thank you." Said Naestra genuinely, happy that, for all his hatred and darkness, he still had enough sense to protect his people, even if it's only to serve him. "Moving on, Vilitch informed me that there are some interesting developments going on in the lands of the Batarians. Perhaps they're susceptible to corruption? Even more so than what we've already placed upon them."
"If they are, then we'll have Vilitch send more of his servants to Batarian space." Said Archaon. "If we can start a civil war in Council Space, we'll be able to throw the galaxy into even more chaos, allowing us to plant the seeds of dissident and rebellion within everything in the galaxy. Soon, the Terminus systems, the Nehekharan Empire, and the Citadel races will face our wrath."
"That is if the Reapers do not prevent us from doing so." Said Naestra, causing Archaon to look at her. She, along with every other leader amongst the Warriors of Chaos knew about the Reapers. When they all settled into the star systems that they made their new homes, they learned about the Reapers from the Chaos Gods. The gods told Archaon and their most powerful, mortal champions of the Reapers, a race of cybernetic starships that systematically commit galactic genocide every fifty thousand years.
Being from another realm and ancient beyond belief, the Chaos Gods were able to witness the Reapers come to existence and how they became the dominant race in the galaxy. At least, for now.
They told their mortal followers of how they're responsible for the creation of the most advanced technology in the galaxy since the disappearance of the Old Ones. They told them of how they drove the Protheans to extinction along with all their previous predecessors, and how they were the biggest threat to the mortal followers of Chaos, even more so than the Nehekharan empire. Rather than be unnerved, Archaon and his followers relished in the challenge offered by the Reapers, eager to face them in battle. The warriors of Khorne, in particular, were awaiting the glorious slaughter that will come when the Reapers arrive and the glory they'll earn by slaying such a foe for the Blood God. The Tzeentchian followers were eager to learn the secrets of the Reapers and the knowledge they contain. The followers of Nurgle were eager to infect and corrupt such powerful machines. Only the Slaanesh followers lacked any real interest in the Reapers, finding them dull and boring. The elven people, however, were worried about the Reapers and what they can do to them. Something that Naestra always tried to convey to Archaon, which was often met with arrogant laughter or a mere nod to her in acknowledgment.
Archaon, knowing the plans he had for the Reapers, looked at Naestra.
"While your concern for the Reapers is founded, they are ultimately unnecessary, my queen." Said Archaon, causing Naestra to turn away from him in shame for being referred to as his queen. "The Reapers, while powerful, have never faced the Chaos Gods nor of their followers. Since their creation, the Chaos Gods saw them commit their galactic genocides on the galaxy, watching with glee or interest as the Reapers slaughtered all those that fought back. They know of the power that the Reapers wield and how they commit their traps. And they know how they've fallen into arrogance and pride. Each and every successful cleansing they've committed have been done because of the trap they've placed for the other races. You know of the trap, yes?"
"Of course." Said Naestra, knowing the trap the Reapers leave for the spacefaring races. "Rather than risking the younger races to create technology that surpasses their own, the Reapers allow caches of technology of the previous races they've destroyed to remain in systems of races that have the possibility to become the next spacefaring civilization. That way they develop into a line of technology that they can control and beat. After all, it's based on their technology."
"Indeed." Said Archaon. "This trap, however, has also unwittingly trapped the Reapers as well. It left them self-assured that no race they face can create technology that can defeat them. That there isn't any variable that they haven't foreseen. That they can't be defeated. And that is their weakness. A weakness that we'll exploit." While Archaon was assured of his victory over the Reapers, Naestra wasn't so sure. He reminded her so much of her sister. So arrogant and cocky to the point that they're unable to see that they can be defeated. It cost her sister dearly and though she wanted the same fate to befall on Archaon, she knew that her people needed Archaon alive to keep them safe, much to her disappointment and shame.
"Do not be so assured of victory, Archaon." Said Naestra as she looked upon the Everchosen. "Otherwise, you'll suffer from the same arrogance that the Reapers suffer along with the Nehekharans." Giving a look at Naestra, Archaon nevertheless gave her a nod of acknowledgment before telling her that a meeting will occur soon and that they both will be needed there. With that, he watched as Naestra went to a nearby mirror to see if there was anything that she needed to fix before she met with the other leaders of Chaos. It wouldn't do that the Everqueen of the Elves is dirtied in even the most minuscule of ways.
Examining herself and finding no flaws in her skin, hair, and dress, Naestra soon placed a hand on the mirror, a feeling of sadness and shame permeating inside her as she looked upon herself again. Once she was a princess to Athel Loren, now she was the whore queen to the thirteenth Everchosen of Chaos, forced to obey his every whim and command, lest she and her remaining people be subjugated to even more torment and suffering from the Chaos masters. A single tear leaked from her eyes before she composed herself and looked at Archaon, who looked at her with his red eyes. No doubt he knew of the emotional turmoil that just occurred within his queen.
"Shall we depart to meet with them, my…Everchosen?" Asked Naestra as she made her way to the Everchosen. Archaon said nothing as he offered his right arm and allowed Naestra to wrap herself around it, holding it tightly. With no more words, the Everchosen and Everqueen made their way towards the meeting hall where the other leaders of Chaos will soon converge, now that Archaon has returned. As soon as they left the castle, their guards converged on them and encircled them, creating a circle of metal and chaotic energies that Naestra found nearly suffocating. Tightening her hold in Archaon, Naestra looked upon the Everchosen and couldn't help but recall the events that led to this situation. How the survivors of Athel Loren became under the servitude of the Warriors of Chaos and how she became the wife to the thirteenth Everchosen of Chaos.