I do not own the rights to For Honor, That being said Enjoy!
This chapter will be rather short as it more of an epilogue for the situation, but I still hope you enjoy!
Chapter 17. Sacrifice
"There's nowhere you can hide, Spartan… put as much distance from you and the truth as you want, it changes nothing. Pretend to be everything you are not… but there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape: You cannot change, you will always be, A Monster"- Athena, God of War
Emily opened her eyes and sat up in her chair. The sun hadn't shown from the window in the corner of the room, but she knew it would be morning soon, and that meant William was awake. She stood up from the chair and took her blade, the lions head pommel making a mark in her forehead that was covered when the chainmail coif and helmet that fit onto her head. With a final, hidden yawn Emily looked around the room and noticed the other bodies, Gregor sat leaning against the wall in full armor minus the massive gauntlets, Higur laid down next to his blade, while Kastumoto, Sayori and William were all missing from the room. She assumed nothing as she walked out of the massive hole in the side of the tower and walked onto the battlefield. Bodies littered every step Emily walked of the hollow bastion. Whether they were breathing or not was indiscernible.
She looked around and noticed the small flickers emerging from the top of the walls. Emily took a step forward and stopped as she heard the small clink of the sword, she stepped pn and looked down and around her.
It had been three days since the Priors showed up after them. Nobody knew why and if they did? They did not share why. They came in fast and loud as a few shots from the catapults destroyed the ram, and the men under it. By some miracle, the small number of survivors left had managed to hold up in the main courtyard, or at least that is what she thought this place was. It overlooked the cliffs and the water behind it. While it faced inward, the barracks on one side and an armory to the other, why it was formed like this she had no idea, but Emily gave up on figuring out the Vikings culture and habits years ago.
Emily moved her foot away from the sword on the ground and made her way to the wall. The new rubble didn't give much support, but she was able to get up and see William and the others awake as they were looking over a table.
"Face it William, this is a fight we cannot win" William growled as he gripped the table and launched it up into the air, the map and few drinks went right over the wall with the table soon following.
"FUCK!" the knight screamed as he looked out to the ruined fortress and the swarm of lights coming from beyond the walls. William leaned against the stone curtain and slumped down as he took his helmet off and set it beside him. "I've led you all to your deaths" Emily coughed as she got everyone to look over to her, the knight stepped forwards and took her helmet off, Sayori looked over to her and Emily was stunned by her appearance, shed only seen the Nobushi's mask, and while it did seem odd, the massive scar would make even her want to cover it up.
"we chose this fate when we said yes to come William."
"your shiny friend speaks the truth Wolf; my family will know that when I die, it was an honorable death" Kastumoto said as he held out a hand and waited for William to clasp it. The samurai was able to hold long just long enough that William regained his composure and got back up.
"Apologies I-" sudden and very loud bangs echoed thought the bastion. drums at first before it erupted into just a massive sound of metal slamming into metal, Emily could here it just fine, she felt it just fine to as wave after wave of sound just echoed in the halls and walls of the fortress. People shook awoke as they scrambled to attention and ready for whatever would come for them, when out of nowhere it stopped and everyone on the wall stared down at the single man in the middle of the road leading up to them.
"Do I have your attention now?" a deep and rough voice echoed along the hallow an bloodstained walls of the Viking fortress. William snapped to look at the man and took a deep breath before he walked over to the curtain and watched as the man took the circlet, then hood of to show a man severely burnt on half his face with a matching hairline. "Wolf! How long has it been, 12 years?"
"not long enough Hydra" the walls were silent for a while as William finally took a breath "What do you want Cyrus?" William felt the skin on his arms crawl almost as if he could feel the Hydra's stare and twisted grin were looking right at him.
"I figured it to be obvious, im here to collect your pelt" the priors voice seemed to amplify as he finished his words letting the impact hit everyone who heard it. "you give yourself up for your crimes, and on my honor the others will be able to leave" Gregor walked along the wall as he slammed his gauntlet into place he looked out to the figure.
"and how much honor is in the word of a snake?" the mountain said as he gripped his halberd in his hand.
"Gregor of shire" Gregor shuddered as Cyrus finished speaking his name before the man on the ground pulled something off his waist.
"how about my word as a prior" he held his hand up high "I hold my seal above my head Gregor. If I get William of Bru out here in front of me, the rest of you can go" Gregor looked at William who was in the process of putting his helmet back on. Emily stepped up and opened the face plate on her own helmet.
"How long do we ha-"
"done" William said as he spoke up and put his sword back in his sheathe.
"Excellent!" Cyrus said as he grabbed the coffin shield in the ground and started to walk back to the gates when he turned around "we'll be waiting in the front gate" Cyrus turned back around and left as Emily and Gregor looked at William who was walking away and down the set of stairs to the others.
"William we need to talk about this" Emily said as she followed him, Kastumoto followed as Gregor stood there, as Sayori just watched them all leave before she turned to look at Gregor. Both of them stood silent as he watched Sayori closer her eyes and let the two streams of tears fall as she slid her mask back into place on her face and walked down the steps.
William didn't speak as he walked down the rubble first, not even tripping on the ground he took a deep breath before he slid the face plate up. "everyone grab, anything you need, load up and carts, horses and get ready to move as fast as you can!" Emily spun William around to face her before he shrugged her off and looked around to the soldiers who were looking around confused. "get anything we brouhg tloaded unto carts, Wounded first and if you can take the dead, theres a small window to leave now move out!" the knights who were listening got up and started to buzz like bees as William screamed his command as Kastumoto looked at the warden who wasn't slowing down.
"Wolf" William turned to look at him as he took the helmet in his hand and slammed it onto his head. "Are you sure this is what you want?" William was silent as he nodded before the samurai nodded and put his own helmet back on before screaming in Japanese making the rest of the survivors lively. William looked down to Emily who was staring daggers into her friends face as he turned to move and she followed in tow.
"your not getting out of this so easily William" Emily said as the two walked past the yard and into a massive area, gated off and split into a balcony and a lower area on the ground, away from the others. "can we please think this through" William sighed as he finally turned around to face his friend.
"No, Emily. No we cant your running out of time to move"
"do you really think im gonna just let you walk out there after we leave and face death?" William chuckled s he took his helmet off and moved the chainmail coif off his forehead.
"Why not, you let me do it in Ashfield?" William said as he looked around the room trying to avoid eye contact with her. "you and I both know Cyrus isn't going to go away, he wont leave you alone until he gets what he wants"
"something that your not!" Emily practically screamed as she finally got fed up and almost threw her helmet at the man. "Cyrus thinks you're a monster"
"he created one, yes" William said in a dead tone, he looked off for a moment remembering things before snapping back to the situation and back to the knight in front of him with eyes swelling with tears. "he only wants me Emily, not you, Gregor or Sayori, he just wants me… let him have me" Emily closed her eyes as she balled up her fist and struck William who was standing still, the blow struck across his face as he looked to the right, absorbing it as much as he could before he looked at his distraught friend.
"why does it always have to be you?" Emily managed to sy before she started to choke up and tears started to well in her eyes.
"Emily" William whispered as he leaned down and wrapped his arms around his friend. "if I go, Cyrus wont have a reason to hunt you, I promise" the blonde knight looked up as tears fell from her cheeks. "You need to get the others to safety, please" William pleaded as Emily felt more hot tears fell from her eyes. "do this for me" Emily finally conceded as she nodded, illicitying a sigh from William as he embraced her tighter than before. Emily wrapped her arms around William as the two held onto each other for what felt like hours before he finally pulled away. Emily looked at her friend as he smiled again, tears welling up before he took a deep breath and looked at the gates.
"My debt is due" William said as he heard footsteps coming towards them. Gregor, fully armored and ready walked into the room and looked at the two.
"we're ready William" the mountain spoke as William turned to Gregor before seeing nothing but black and falling to the ground.
Snow fell as the carts full of supplies and bodies, both dead and moving trudged forward into the wilds of the frozen tundra. Gregor stayed at the helm of the train, marching them forwards as winds picked up and he looked to the viking next to him.
"this is the right way?" Gregor said as Higur looked over to him and nodded.
"aye, five more days north and we'll be there" Gregor sighed as the body in the cart started to rise and wake up. "He's not going to be happy" the highlander said as he jumped off the cart and walked a little ways down the train. Gregor looked over his shoulder as William slowly rose from the wooden wagon and looked around confused.
"Where am i?" William said as he looked down and saw his helmet and sword right next to him. "Somehow I doubt this would be hell" Gregor smirked and chorted as he looked over to his friend.
"Were in the Frozen forest of Cham, Higur gave us directions to try and find a friend" William nodded as he rubbed the back of his head before his eyes grew wide and looked around.
"wheres the bastion?"
"an hours ride from us south" Gregor said, not daring to look the Wolf in the eyes.
William hopped off the wagon and grabbed his things before he looked around. "I need a horse!" the knight shouted as he growled, now realizing what happened he readied himself.
"it wont do you any good William, nothing is there anymore" Gregor said as he shifted the reigns on the wagon. William looked around as he realized they were a man short and the pit in his stomach grew. "she's not here William" Gregor said as his voice grew low and thick with sadness. The knight on the ground looked at Gregor in disbelief and felt his heart slamming in his chest.
"GET ME A HORSE NOW!" the wagons stopped as someone ran up with a good-looking horse. William snapped the reins away and jumped up into the saddle and looked at the direction the wagon train was going and with a kick of his heels the black armored knight galloped down the trail.
William could only think of a handful of times his armor felt too heavy for him to wear, three in fact. The first was when he first wore it, young and full of caution he wore it and almost toppled over not used to the feel and weight. It was a month into his training, and he was able to choose his colors and knew it would be heavy but deep down he was worried it would topple him at the slightest hint of a breeze.
The second was the first time he saw a battle, his sword cleaved through a man and the screams and blood stained his standards and echoed in his ear making him fall to his knee before he made himself rise to his feet as a blade came from his right and forced him to forget his mind.
The final time he felt like he could not breathe in the breast plate was at the news of his grandfather's ambush and death. The knight commander called him from the training grounds and let him read the report that forced him to drop to his knees, the air in his lungs escaped him and the weight forced him to his hands and knees in anguish for what seemed like a century.
This was a different feeling, William thought the armor was to heavy, almost as if it stopped him from going any faster, preventing him from being able to go any faster. He hoped and prayed to whoever or whatever was listening that he would make it in time to stop what was happening, yet a small part of him. The dark part full of hatred and anger knew it was useless.
Smoke filled his lungs as he reached the bastion again. The stench of death filled his nose as he dropped from the horse as he reached the gates and his heart sank when he saw a lone sword, one splattered with blood sat on the small hill Cyrus was standing on sank half of the blade into the frozen ground. More horses galloped out of the forest as Sayori and Higur both rode to find William as he ran to the hill.
The blade was well made, it was rumored to be made from Damascus steel, before the world was different, it was passed down the line of Relaund proudly and regally as anyone who carried this blade had the strength of a lion in battle. The lion head pommel was caked in dry blood but William could recognize it in a heartbeat as he approached. He looked around for a sign, a note, fuck even a whisper to let him know the feeling in his chest wasn't true. He took the blade in his hands and pulled it from the ground and fell to his knees as he moved a hand along the metal and pulled the armored hand off the blade, dropping the metal all together as he slowly lurched his fingers towards the fresh cut, blood still running and falling to stain the white snow as the storm started to pick up.
Sayori and Higur both walked up the hill and got closer to the man who fell to his knees. William took the glove off the arm and his heart shattered as he slid the small ring off the petite hand and felt as tears freely fell to the ground.
"Wolf?" William didn't speak as he fell backwards and into the snow, emotianlly dead, metally he didn't seem there either. "William" the Viking spoke up again as Williams eyes darted to the others and he stood up. And showed them the ring.
"This ring has been in the Relaund family for generations" William Whispered as he stumbled, his feet barley able to support him, Sayori stepped forward as William held his hand out, he caught himself as he didn't stop staring at the ring as he looked as the dead earth being blanketed by snow. It did not matter that he was alive, that the others were alive or the fact that Cyrus had just disappeared from the bastion. he gripped the ring in his hand as he looked at the path the invading army left behind them and knew that she would not have parted with her father's ring willingly. Cyrus was toying with William again and he knew how. Not only has he killed one of the few people William trusted, and loved. Cyrus took her body.
William could not hold himself at the thought and dropped again to his knees as he began to weep, he took the helmet off and felt his hair sweep over his face as his lunged screamed, it didn't matter what he was trying to say the only thing to escape his mouth were screams for his best friend.
End of Part One.
