Hero's Bane
Chapter 68: You're The Weapon
Thanks VodkaWarrior for the Fanimation.
Edited 5/15/2022
"That was awfully rude of him. I am too old to be pushed around like that." Nigel lightly complained as he angled his glasses to fit perfectly on the bridge of his nose again. The elderly adventurer then fully sat up but not without grimacing first. "Oow!" The man winced as he bent his back into proper place.
"Nigel!" Steve placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and gave an expression of concern, he was glad that no real harm was given to the old guy considering it was Jimmy who held a blade up to him.
"I'm okay! I am definitely not as-" He paused as a light audible popping sound filled his ears from moving his stiff back joints. "-Flexible as I used to be."
"He's crazy. We're all going to get killed." Steve said as he sat back and gazed blankly at the cobblestone floor.
"I do have to agree with you on Mr. Morrison's level of sanity, he evidently wants so much to be free of Herobrine that he doesn't even pay heed about the things you've said. In fact, he's only going to make matters worse depending on what he has planned. It cannot be good, that I can assure you. I can tell that he's acting rather rash and impatient now, being an elitist really doesn't help either. There's no telling what he's going to do but I fear that it will not bode well for either of us, nor for him and the people living in this village." The old man said as he carefully stood up and walked slowly back towards the cobblestone wall to lean against, he stopped within a foot of the wall and traced his fingers over the smooth stone. He brought his hand close to his face and he could see the small drops of moisture rolling down his fingertips, he tilted his head up and backed away as drops of rain misted from the barred windows above. "Well now the wall is wet. Just dandy." He said with dry sarcasm before moving to the right side of the wall that didn't have a barred window to wet the wall's surface. Nigel softly grunted as he leaned down and sat on the cold floor, a sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back against the cobblestone to support his aching spine.
Steve just stayed sitting quietly alone in the middle of the cell, lost in thought.
The two men quickly shot their eyes in the direction of the loud footsteps coming from the stairwell again.
"Well, it looks like I'll be taking Jimmy's shift then." Said Carson as he made his way down the steps and onto the damaged cobble flooring. The man heavily exhaled as he pulled his leather cover off of the floor and began to dry himself off with it, he bowed his head and used the sheet to get most of the accumulated water out of his mid-length black hair. "It's pouring out there, the wind makes it feel cooler than ice." Carson said as he raised his head back up and looked into the cell. He noticed that the miner looked even more edgier than before and Nigel didn't look much better, the elder almost looked infuriated which was odd; given his usual composed persona. "So your talk didn't go so well I assume?" He asked Steve but the miner sitting on the floor didn't reply or even look in his general direction. "Figures. Morrison looked pissed when he stormed out of here, he even told me to go back down and watch you guys and it's supposed to be Jimmy's shift. I am actually quite surprised and curious, neither of you look like you want to talk so I won't ask anything else."
"You're right, the discussion did not go over well," Nigel started as he leaned forward and scooped up his quill and book and tucked them into a large pocket of his long brown coat. "Your village chief believes that Steve can fix the problem and he plans to use him and possibly me in some way to stop Herobrine's rampancy. However; we don't know what he's exactly planning as of yet, only that his means to resolve the problem at hand may be impulsive and reckless. He's clearly not thinking, he at first seemed like a patient man but with night drawing closer by the hour and our 'unwillingness' to help; or so he claims, it's pushing him to act hasty and irrational. I also believe that he might not be entirely right in the mind as of now."
"Oh, well he's acted that way a few times before, but hardly ever in public. Usually when the merchant brings goods pass the deadline or when he has too much work back in his quarters. He often gets antsy when Herobrine visits too, but who wouldn't right?"
Nigel leaned forward and watched as the man took a seat and gazed quietly at cracks and gaps along the cobble floor that seemed to spread all across the room. "Just what is Morrison going to do now? Did he tell you anything on his way out?"
The guard reverted his attention back to the older man. "No, he commanded me to get down there and watch you and that was it, he was furious when he left. I don't even get a break it seems. Bossy bastard." He cursed with a uninterested tone. Carson leaned back in his chair and huffed quietly to himself. "What's wrong with him?" He gestured to the miner with a light nod, Steve had still paid no mind to him.
"I'll just say that Morrison had pushed him and even myself into a bit of a situation, we were even threatened."
The man raised a brow and lightly widened his green eyes. "That's not good grandpa, not coming from Morrison."
"Why is that?"
"Almost all of the people in this village rely on our leader and they'll follow him or listen to anything he says, it's not from fear; but dependence."
"Dependence?"
"Yeah, when I was very young. Too young to remember actually; he apparently took leadership after the previous village chief was found lying on his bed, dead as a doornail. Some claimed he died in a nightmare created by 'Him' and so he died in real life, or that is what the old bags around here say. So James K. Morrison had then self-elected himself and shortly assumed the role of the leader of our people, but ever since; we have been doing fairly well compared to what the elders say about their past.
Apparently they had it worse. So I guess everyone here is tied to the current chief because he was bold and daring but witty and persuasive. He managed to get crops and supplies up faster than the past few village chiefs by giving everyone a role or job in the village, choosing the more fit villagers to tend to the fields while others were put to other various jobs depending on their physical and mental abilities. He chose me to be one of his guards when I turned twenty-two, have been since; even when I didn't want to. I know it sounds unfair to get a job based on what he wants and not our own choice, but we have been doing better off since. He also put more restrictions on the things we do and stuff, doing that had lowered the number of visits that the de-… Steve's friend-" Carson corrected himself. "-Had made. The restrictions kept us in line and lowered the death-rate too. I know the village leader can be cold and rash but he's preserved us for this long."
"And so your people have full reliance on him?" Nigel finished with a question.
"Exactly. Who wouldn't want a leader that kept death to a minimum and helped us prosper under He-Herobrine's tides of wrath?" Carson glanced around after saying the name. The miner and the old adventurer seemed to say the name a lot and didn't summon the cold killer so maybe he could say it too? He thought. The guard eased back into his more comfortable position and leaned back after seeing no sign of the infamous tormentor. "That's why you can fight with our chief or everybody will be against you. I mean even you Nigel, you were in danger when you started speaking about Herobrine loudly around here. A lot of the people started to resent you for using 'that' name here and some probably would have gotten violent with you to keep you from summoning Him here. That's why Morrison had you detained, not only for answers but to keep the peace around here and keep Herobrine away. He has the right intentions for our safety, even for you. He… just does things a little more differently than most would."
"That may be somewhat true but I am still not content with the decision to be stuck in this dank little enclosure, he could have just kept me upstairs and treated me more like a guest than a prisoner. And I am way too old to be roughly handled by his other guard, I could have been given more care." The old man folded his arms in infuriation. "He's already told me that I wasn't an enemy of his so why treat me like this? Why not feed me a sufficient meal like he said he would or give me proper material for my wound hmm? Looks like his intentions are not as clean as they may seem."
Carson sighed and rolled his green eyes, Nigel was right but at the same time his chief doing what was best for everybody. "I said he did things 'differently', it doesn't necessarily mean that he's doing it right but he has the right intentions at least. Our village is going a little low on rations and supplies right now, so you shouldn't expect great cuisine or much at the moment anyway."
"His intentions may be true to your people but something tells me that he's not going to have those same intentions for 'us' soon, he already has something planned for us and I just know that it is not going to benefit our own interests of surviving and getting out of here. We don't belong in this settlement so I doubt he cares about us at all, he may even despise us but keep the scorn hidden behind that phony smile of his."
"Look, I don't any of his plans and he may be up to something that could either save us or get us all killed, but I do know that he's trying his best to preserve our people. He may want to use you or even sacrifice you for the people's sake, I can't say I agree, but that's not my call. No matter if he really cares about the both of you or not; he wants to keep us alive and he'll do anything to do that. He has been acting a bit out of character since you first came here Nigel, I noticed that he's not very decisive or quick thinking like he normally has been. Maybe he's just not prepared or maybe he's unsure of what he should do, I would be in the same boat if I were in his shoes, but I wouldn't treat you guys like that. I am sorry that there is little I can do to help you now, I wish I could." He quietly finished.
The elderly man leaned up from the wall and used the uneven stone surface to stable himself as he stood up, he then moved over to the bars and wrapped one hand around the iron bar loosely. "Is there any way that you could get us out of here then? Is there perhaps another key somewhere around here?"
"Sadly, no. Morrison has the keys now and he's headed to only Notch knows where; so no, I can't help really. Sorry about that."
Nigel exhaled softly and moved away from the barred door, letting his hand and fingers slip off the iron rods so limply in disappointment. "Very well then, we'll just have to see what fate Notch has intended us to have then?" He said with a blank tone. "Thanks for at least listening to us, I know that the other two gentlemen wouldn't, but at least you did. Thank Notch we have someone moderately sane and cooperative. I don't know what's going to happen to us in the next hour or so but I wish you the best. Run if you must but don't fight, Herobrine is very powerful and he'll be even more dangerous if he's gone back to his old ways."
"Oh trust me." The guard leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "If He does show up then I will be long gone, I guess? That's as long as I don't get picked off first right?"
Carson lightly chuckled to himself with a small grin but the old man couldn't find it in him to laugh along with him, they couldn't get out of their prison cell now so things were staring to seem rather bleak. He looked down at Steve and realized that the miner had being completely unresponsive to their entire conversation, it was like he was zoning out. He also noticed that the miner looked tired, probably dwelling too much on the troubles to come. "You should utilize this time to rest Steven, I'd suggest a short nap."
"I don't want to sleep, I wouldn't be able to anyway." He replied blankly.
"You sure about that? Your eyes look heavy." Nigel countered.
Steve sighed and rolled over onto his knees before crawling back over towards the wall, he didn't even bother to stand. Once he reached the wall; he leaned his head back against the cool and moist cobblestone, he lightly shivered from the trickling cool fluid but he adjusted quickly and ignored it. He didn't mind the cold water now trailing down his back; he really couldn't find himself caring with so much to think about. There was too much on his mind as it is, a little moisture couldn't bother him enough and distract him from the grim situation he would soon be in. The light filtering from above was beginning to dim to his dismay and not from the cloud cover that was actually starting to lighten up.
The miner's frown deepened, time seemed like it was moving slow in the cell but with daylight fading; it was proof enough of the passage of time. The village's end was drawing near and here he was; unable to do anything to stop it, at least until Morrison makes him. What he could do though was nothing, Herobrine will not be himself when he returns; he'll probably not even remember his friend.
With his neck starting to ache Steve rolled his head down towards his chest and then back up to work out the kinks in his sore and stiff muscles, he leaned his head back on the old wall and briefly closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. He wished right then and there that he could fall asleep and just forget about his troubles; his failed promises, but he couldn't. Sleep would likely not greet him anytime soon.
His neck still hurt despite the stretch, the miner groaned from discomfort. It was like his day couldn't get any worse but he knew it would by the start of dusk.
"You look uncomfortable lad."
The miner tilted his head to the side to see Nigel next to him looking up at him from the corner of his eyes as he finished writing something down in his notebook. Either he had really zoned out or the old man was quick and silent, how else would he be next to him? "It's cold, dark, I hurt all over, and I can't sleep."
"I see. You have many troubles on your mind, try not to think on them too much; we'll find a light of hope soon enough. You'll see. Notch will supply one if we can't find one." He said quietly, noticing that his words only made the miner more distressful as he heard the man sigh. He decided it was best to change the subject. "Well, as for this uncomfortable cell? There's no argument there my friend, this place is just awful. You'll eventually get used to it I suppose?" Nigel said with a more humorous tone as he flipped a page and started to write more.
Steve shrugged off the idea of Notch intervening, he didn't ever stop Herobrine so he apparently didn't care for his creations anymore. The miner rolled his stiff neck. "Doubt it. With daylight fading we're running out of time, I don't even know what time it is now. Herobrine will be here soon enough though. It's only a matter of time until he returns, I don't believe that I will be able to convince him." Steve said with an impassive tone of voice knowing there wasn't anything he could do. "Why did you come over here anyways? The walls are still wet."
"The rain is lightening up, I'll be fine now. Besides, you need a little cheering up my friend. I can't do much for you other than give you some kind of distraction from your troubles. How about I recite certain phrase that used to make you feel so brave and resolute?"
"I doubt it'd work." He said somberly, giving the old man a quick dejected look.
"So much doubt is unbecoming of you Steven, in fact; I'd say that you are losing faith." Nigel removed his quill to see the words he had written down; words that he had almost forgot to write in his notes from the story the miner had shared with him. His brown eyes gazed silently at the words on the paper and he turned to the miner to see that the man had no interest in the book he had in his hands. Nigel lightly sighed and grazed his fingers over the dried ink, tracing out the phrase. He reluctantly closed his notebook, thinking that maybe he should say something and soon. He would also have to make the miner listen good though, especially with him seeming so downhearted and quail.
Steve looked up at the guard to see the guy now polishing his sword with a small cloth. "Hey Carson?" He asked, the man's deep green eyes moved up to meet his blue ones. "What time is it?"
"Don't know." He simply replied with a dull tone, moving his gaze back onto his weapon. "I don't have a clock."
"Is there any kind of clock around here?"
"I had my pocket watch Steven, but Morrison confiscated it with most of my things. Sorry if I can help you." Nigel spoke up as he stored his quill and book back into his large coat pocket.
"It's okay. I'll just have to guess by the position of the sun then… if it comes out today?" The miner said while rising up off of the floor in an unhurried manner. He fully stood up and turned to face the barred window above, he moved onto his tiptoes and reached his hands onto the wet and slippery windowsill. Steve pulled himself up a bit with caution and looked through the tall grasses, he wasn't surprised by the sight he got but it did drop his confidence even more.
"Well?" Nigel curiously asked.
"It's still pretty cloudy, but looks like we'll have an hour or two at most." He said bitterly as he let go and stabled himself on his feet.
"Wish I could help you, but the only person who has a clock in this town is Morrison himself. It's in his office. He got one when he first made a deal with a passing merchant, it's why we have a merchant come by every few days or so to make trades. It's how we get anything of value that we can't make ourselves."
Hearing this; the miner turned to face him and moved up to the iron bars, he wrapped his hands around the cold and rusty rods as he stared at Carson.
"It'd be pointless anyways. I can't abandon my post, especially with another guard at the door; one of the chief's archer lookouts. And as you've said; 'He' is going to kill us all soon enough anyway."
"The merchant? When does he leave?"
The guard shrugged lightly. "I don't know, but he should be here in town by now. He'll probably leave soon though, he doesn't stick around for too long when he comes. Don't blame him. Who'd want to stick around in this cursed-dead-end town?"
"Oh? Well… it's not like we can get out of here anyway. Thanks though." The miner finished and headed back to his spot, dragging his heels as he did.
The old man looked up at the younger with a concerned expression, he thought that the miner was looking for a light in the dark situation but it only turned out to make the man see nothing but more darkness. He was losing hope again and it just wasn't right, Nigel just couldn't sit by and watch the man brood anymore. The old adventurer placed a hand on his large pocket that rested against his thigh; remembering what he had wrote recently; the notebook was just beneath his palm and covered by cloth. He was just about to speak up before Carson spoke first.
"Hey. If this 'beast' really does exist and you do somehow stop Herobrine; then we can fall victim to it right? I'm curious man." Carson gained Steve's attention with his abrupt question. "If this 'Thing' can do what you say; 'dissolve' Herobrine's hands, then just imagine what it could do to any of us?"
"You shouldn't worry too much about the End lord. Ender is trapped in a realm that is beyond our reach, he can't touch us for he was banished by Notch. I wish there was a way to stop him but there isn't and Herobrine will not allow himself to fall prey to the beast so he'll obey, also because of his debt that has yet to be paid. With these two reasons and the combination of his hate for the people of this village is his drive; his motivation to be a monster. He will not refuse his position, I've already tried to convince him and failed.
As I've said earlier, there is nothing that I can do. This is why I don't have any confidence Nigel." He said as he slowly turned to face the elder. "I failed big time and have broken promises." Steve moved his emotionless gaze back to his hands he coiled this fingers into a fist, he soon let his balled hands peel open to reveal many reddened cuts and scrapes that he got from the sharp Netherrack back in the Nether.
Nigel was baffled. He knew that Steve was lacking in spirit; but now he was just downright dismal and completely discouraged, definitely not acting the way he did when he found the man. "You've grown weak Steven, the faithlessness in yourself right now isn't you. The real you." He said with an worry, halfway hoping to coax a little of the miner's pride to come out and defend himself. Anything to provoke a sense of hope and the eagerness to fight to survive instead of sitting back and accepting a horrible fate.
The old adventurer leaned to his side and moved a hand up and firmly placed it on the miner's shoulder but the miner refused to even look at him this time and shrugged the hand off quietly. Violet eyes just continuously stared at scraped palms. "Not even an answer or acknowledgement? I dear say? This is not you at all Steven 'Stonewall'." He purposely highlighted the last name. "Just a little while ago you were given us light smiles and I thought I even saw a smug expression when you showed us the scars on your chest and back when you proved your case. What happened to that man?"
Steve lightly snorted and shook his head. "He realized that he's wasting his time, he had realized it earlier but remained silent. He's completely powerless to do anything, that anything he says or does will not help him or his friends. He finally realized that Notch had abandoned him to this fate along with all of these villagers and many other innocent people." Steve said lowly with a dull tone of voice. "Even Herobrine says that we were abandoned, it appears to be true. Ender was sure to prove it, he has been for years. Even now we are facing the proof. I thought wrong the entire time, I was blind."
The older man felt anger bubble up within him, an anger that he hadn't felt in years. He used to always be the calm and collected type with deep understanding to the side but now he just couldn't contain himself. What Steve was saying was just blasphemous, almost unbelievable to the elder's ears. The old man pulled out his notebook and flipped it to the nearly bare page that had a small phrase written on it, he couldn't sit back and take such a pathetic outlook on fate that was theirs to change. Nor could he stand the idea that his god was gone, being so cold to leave them all to face the terrors of the world alone.
He lightly grunted as he leaned forward and pushed himself off of the ground, he took a few steps forward and stood in front of Steve with his free hand balled into a fist that rested on the side of his hip. He held his open book close to himself. "And to call yourself a Stonewall? My word, your father wouldn't be very proud of you at all." Nigel said with a deep frown across his face, eyes slightly narrowed to show his anger and concern. "No, not giving up like this."
Steve lifted his head from the adventure's words. "We can't fight and we can't escape."
"What's wrong with you Steven?! This is not you, not you at all my friend. Where's that confidence you once held gone to? You've never been this down and defeated before, at least not that I've seen."
"It's gone. I've failed for the final time and I've broken promises. Dad wouldn't be very disappointed in me." The miner said in his defense.
"He's not the only one." The adventurer said lowly. "You can't possibly say that you are accepting the dreadful fate that's approaching? What about that powerful willpower of yours? Did you lose that along this journey back to the village?"
Steve exhaled loudly, Nigel just wasn't looking at the situation from his point of view, after all; he was given one last warning and death would come if he stayed in the village. "Herobrine will kill-"
"He probably will, if you allow yourself to sit down and go out so willingly! But you need to get your mind off of the grim possibilities right now, you need to keep your focus on doing what is right. Doing what you know you can Steven, not sitting down and letting your faith bleed away like this. I know you may not be able to save everybody here, perhaps not even me; maybe not even yourself! But that should not stop you from at least trying! I know that you are a miner but you are also a fighter, you proved your strengths and determination to me many times over. As your friend I will not settle for this sulking sad sack sitting there on the floor before me, I am going to make sure that you stand up again.
You don't have to listen to what Morrison says, he's an elitist for Notch's sake! He's also prejudice against us and particularly you for befriending the immortal. I also think he may have some loose bolts in that brain of his, but don't let his words put you in so much despair. Don't sit there and think on what Herobrine will do either. It's partially my fault that we are in this mess." Nigel paused and gave a more serious but guilt-ridden look as he held out the note book by the cover and revealed the words. "I intend on getting us out of it, even if I have to go down fighting. Even if 'we' have to go down fighting."
"Fighting? I don't even have a swor-"
"That's not the point Steve! Here, since you apparently can't see what I've wrote on this page from here; then have a closer look." With that, he tossed the book down in front of Steve and the miner scooped up the book into his hands. He read what was on the page and stared intently at it.
"And what would Lionel think if he was here hmm? After everything you've shared about him, I know that he was no quitter. He literally died trying so hard to beat the odds, he may of failed but he fought to the bitter end to free himself and save Herobrine. How come you have submitted to this… this despair? The fight isn't over until we are dead! So get up boy!" He gestured with his arms rising and falling. "Get on your feet and think, ponder on your options; even if they are very limited. You may not have a sword but you still have a weapon, one sharper than anyone else's in this village.
You yourself are the weapon actually. Your words can cut straight to the powerful being while ours are too dull to get through or even close to him, you can still talk! You haven't failed those promises just yet either, in fact; you haven't failed anyone but yourself!" Nigel smiled lightly when Steve finally removed his eyes from the book and made an attempt to stand up. The old man reached out to the miner and helped him onto his feet. "It's good to see you back on your feet friend." Nigel placed a hand on the miner's shoulder and accepted the notebook back as it was handed to him. "I hope my words have sunk in now, you are not entirely defenseless you know."
"But what if my words aren't enough?" Steve looked into Nigel's eyes, half expecting the old man to scold him some more.
"Give everything you got and fight a good fight to the very end! Forget the possibility of failure my boy! Remember Lionel and what he did! He was trapped but did whatever he could until his dying breath, can you speak and fight till your dying breath? You need to ask yourself that, but I already know you can. So don't think about failure, think about saving yourself. If Herobrine does come and starts his attacks then reach him, do whatever you can to stop him but don't just stand there and let him massacre all of those innocent people out there."
"And my broken promises?" He asked with hesitance.
"Those promises have just yet to be fulfilled, you just have to realize that even if you think you failed them. You can still carry them out. You can still fight. You can still save Herobrine. You can still stop him. You just have to have the resolve and the drive to do it. You cannot give up Steven Stonewall, remember your predecessor and that old saying you once told me that I had written in this book. Keep in mind your family's heritage." The elderly man folded the book close and held it by his side with a strong grip. "If you keep that kind of resolve in your mind like you had when fighting Herobrine the first time then I know that you will find a way. Notch knows that you have gotten you this far, so don't stop now."
Steve took a step back and lightly swayed his head back and forth. "You're right. I-… I can't believe I was giving up so easily. Notch, I am so stupid!" He brought a hand up to his forehead and rammed his palm against his face in realization.
"Don't go beating yourself up, you've just had it rough for a while and needed a little reminder. Hopefully I will not have to do this enlightening speech ever again for you, in fact; you should be telling yourself the words that I shared and go over them when your courage and will falters."
The miner nodded with a faint smile and slanted brows. "I will. Thanks Nigel, I don't know where I'd be without you and your words of wisdom."
"Call it words of encouragement, it sounds better." Nigel chuckled to himself. "Oh and you are most welcome. I don't blame you for being so down on our current situation, not after the things you've been through; but it's time to leave that behind now and prepare for the problem at hand."
"Yes, you will be prepared for our problem at hand, right Steve?"
Both of the caged men immediately turned to the sound of the soft but malicious tone of voice, they immediately narrow their eyes and fully turned around. "James K. Morrison, don't you think it's a bit too early to be coming for us yet?" Nigel inquired with a light but rigid tone. His eyes moved to the spot where Carson was but the man was now standing with his arms folded, standing right next to Jimmy and some archer.
"Well as much as I hate to ruin the motivational moment, it's time to get ready."
"And just why is that? It won't be dusk for at least an hour or so." Nigel asked before looking out the window from the corner of his eye to predict the time or location of the sun hidden by the overcast. The windows were facing westward so the sun should be setting from his point of view, but the cloud cover prevented him from being able to tell.
Morrison moved closer to the cell and folded his hands behind his back as he gazed at the men inside with a serious expression on his face. "I have received word from a few villagers that they saw a human-like figure moving about in the woods by their house, he was pretty tall and wore a cyan shirt. I know that it cannot be you Steve, so it has to be Him. Herobrine has apparently showed up a little earlier than expected and there's no telling when he'll come out of the shadows of the trees and attack, so we have but no choice to go ahead and have you set up for a black arrow execution."