Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo 2 or its expansion.
This is my first fan fiction though, and it is based on the new Necromancer character and his adventures. Other characters from other professions might come in sooner or later in time.
First, I want to say thank you for all the great reviews that I have received. Just let me clarify with you that Leoric is not the Paladin in the story. Westmarch will send another in due time. The Barbarian is also being dispatched from Harrogath. So, I need a vote for two things. Which of these two should arrive and meet the party and where. Secondly, that leaves the choice being the Assasin, Amazon and Sorceress. Which of these ladies would you want to enter the storyline first. Please vote as you review. Please do me a favor as well. Take a look at my other fic, Star Trek: Antioch and review it also.
Now... back to the Story.
Chapter 7: Tools of the Trade Part 1
Haimler went to Kashya and then said. " The task is done. The Countess of Blood will no longer plague the region of the Black Marsh and we had killed Diablo's minions there." He then asked the group to present to Kashya the leather pouches filled with the hoard they found in the Countess's Tower. " In addition, we helped to get you some monetary aid. These were taken from the Countess's hoard and I believe that these will help to purchase the necessary things fro Warriv to help keep the camp alive for some time." He then leaned over and whispered something conspiratorially at her ear, and Kashya's gaze drifted to Fenric and Paige, then Leoric, and she smirked, giving them a teasing grin.
The undead knight's cheeks lit up again, as did Paige's , while Fenric just looked at the Rogue Captain cooly, though he raised his eyebrow in reply.
Kashya just grinned unrepentantly and said. " Just go see Gillian, Leoric. I think she will be happy to see you. And Fenric, Haimler here has told me how you reacted to the Countess' intention for my niece here. Remind me not to get on your bad side." She teased. " All the same, I am grateful that you are looking after her. You might be wild and untamed, just like the aspect of the wolf that you have, but I know that you will never hurt her. I entrust her welfare and happiness into your keeping."
The druid nodded and said. " I am most honored and pleased at the confidence you have in me, honored Kashya. Rest assured that I will care for her. and that her welfare, safety and happiness will be put above my own at all time." As he said that, he gently drew Paige into his arms, and the young rogue girl rested her body against his, fitting easily into his embrace, and looked at him with tenderness. Fenric looked down and smiled at her, brushing a tender kiss on her cheek.
A few dreamy sighs was heard around the camp as some of the Rogues looked dreamily at the romantic scene, hoping that someday they will too, find their life partners. A few of them even commented on how lucky Paige was to catch such a man. Fenric has a wild animal magnetism that drew attention to himself, yet despite the wildness that is deep within, he was also tender.
Haimler smiled as he too, slipped an arm around Blood Raven's waist, gently pulling her to his side. The former Corrupted Rogue, just sidled up to him, and gently laid her head on his shoulder as they looked at the new couple. Both of them were happy for Fenric and Paige for different reasons. For Haimler, he found Fenric to be a just and honorable man, and he trusted him to take care of his sister. While Blood Raven knew that Paige had suffered much, despite her young age. She lost most of her friends, as more and more of their brethren were corrupted by Andariel. Even before her corruption, she knew that Paige was forced, most of the time, to kill former childhood playmates and friends in battle. Not to mention that her sister perished in battle against Diablo's minions.
Her only comfort is that Flavvie, her best friend did not succumb to the corruption, and that her aunt Kashya was still with her. Blood Raven knew that Paige was hurt at her brief corruption under Andariel, for Paige had trained under her, and they enjoyed a good friendship beyond their master-pupil status. And Blood Raven knew that Fenric's strength and tenderness, would be a way and the beginning of Paige's recovery, not of her body, but of her heart and soul.
Meanwhile, Gillian stirred awake and screamed, as she relived the horrors that she saw before she lost conciousness. She saw dear sweet Pepin, their healer being mercilessly slaughtered by a group of Night Clan goat demons, while Adria was butchered by a group of skeletons and zombies, which despite her magic being able to repel them, there were too many for her to overcome.
Griswold, their jovial and sturdy blacksmith, was cursed by the enemy, leaving only a hulking shell of what was once a great man, now merely a puppet controlled by the forces of Hell itself. She did not know what happened to Wirt, but it is likely the peg legged boy had met his doom as well. But the worst was that she witnessed Ogden's death, where he fell to multiple attacks of Fallen Ones. She had been lucky that Ogden had hid her in a closet, sparing her a gruesome death. At once, she felt strong arms surround her. Her first instinct was too struggle, thinking that she had been found by Diablo's minions after all. But the arms held her in a steel grip, which felt very comforting and protective at the same time.
Then she heard his voice, which was firm, but tender at the same time. " Hush now, Gillian. Tis but a nightmare. You are safe now." Gillian looked up and blushed a bit. She, being an innocent maiden often had dreams about being rescued by a knight in shinig armor. Though this particular knight's armor was rather... morbid in nature, judging by the abundance of the death's head montage and designs found there. He had warm brown colored eyes, and his hair was rather short, with a light tinge of red to his mostly light brown hair. His skin was pale, paler than most, and she had a strange impression that it resembled a corpse's.
Still she said softly. " Thank you, Sir Knight. Though it is a trifle embarassing for you to find me this way. But I assure you... they are not nightmares. They were real... I saw... I saw... " Her voice became choked, and tears welled up in her eyes as the full wave of the grief and sadness and truth hit her hard.
The knight nodded and brushed away her tears gently and said. " You do not have to say anymore, Gillian... I know how and who destroyed Tristram. "
Gillian took some time to calm down, and looked into his eyes. " You have me at a slight disadvantage, Sir Knight. How is it you know my name? I do not recall ever meeting you, not even during my time while i was working in Ogden's inn in Tristram."
The knight sighed and said. " I know of you from my companions, Gillian, particularly from the old Horadrim sage, Deckard Cain, who like yourself is the only survivor of the Tristram massacre. I was a king once, though after my death, that fiend Diablo did not give me peace. My son was made to be his mortal vessel, and my best friend and advisor, corrupted into doing his do his bidding."
Gillian's face lit up, at hearing the news, her voice both joyful and surprised. " Cain is alive! Thank the Gods!" Then after hearing of what he had to say, her eyes widened and said. " Sir Knight... if you are who say you are... it is rather... impossible... you are thought... dead."
The knight nodded at her words and said. " Aye, I am who I say I am. I am formerly King Leoric, but I prefer to be called as Leoric now. And as how I came here, and how I 'live' again, well to say it briefly, the Archangel Tyrael revived me, and gave me this undead body when I was in my youth, to help combat Diablo once more. And another of Diablo's minion, Gharbad, a goat man has been revived by Tyrael as well. It seems that Gharbad did not particularly like his former Master as well."
Giliian's eyes widened at the confirmation, and then scrambled free of his arms and knelt before him. " I... I... my respects to you, Your Majesty! I did not mean any disrespect, and I feel so unworthy and ashamed that you should be worried for a peasant woman such as I."
Leoric shook his head sighing a bit as he helped Gillian up and said. " Do not be so formal with me, Gillian. I am no king any more, so you do not have to apply any formalities when you speak to me. In a way, we both have lost people that we loved. All of us have. You lost your friends that was in Tristram, and I, my trusted advisor, and my beloved son. Diablo is the root of all that has happened to each and everyone in this camp, and I have made it a personal quest to rid the world of him once and for all."
Gillian heard the pain in former king's voice, and though the man was devoid of expression, she could tell that both his son, and the now deceased Archbishop Lazarus was very close to him. She got up to his feet and then said nothing, but gently drew the undead former king into her arms. Her tenderness, surrounded him with so much warmth, that he hugged her in return, his posture tender and protective.
After a while, they both let go of each other. Gillian smiled shyly at the former king and said. " Thank you.. Your... Leoric. I do not know what I would have done if you were not here. The nightmares were so vivid... and I think they will keep on coming."
Leoric just smiled and said. " There is an old saying, Gillian. 'That which does not kill you, makes you stronger.' I believe that those words are true. Instead of fearing the nightmares, they can be a source of strength for you to live. Do not remember the way your friends, rather remember them when they were still well and alive with you. Those memories will become a source of strength and motivation for you to live. But I do think that your words have a grain of truth as well."
He then smiled. " I have decided. From tonight onwards, I will sleep together with you in your tent." At the maiden's blush, he explained. " I am a gentleman, Gillian. I do not mean to do anything with you, as I am content to hold in my arms while we sleep." He then bent over, and whispered in her ear in a conspirator's manner. " Do not tell anyone this though, Gharbad really stinks sometimes. Oh, I know he washes, but the demonic reek of his fur sometimes does not help matters when I am trying to sleep." Gillian giggled softly, though she blushed at their close proximity to each other.
Leoric smiled as he saw Gillian blush. If she was beautiful before, she looked even lovelier when she blushed. The rosy flush on her cheeks complemented her fair complexion and soft moss green eyes that she had. Without thinking, the words just slipped out of his mouth. " Lovely. You simply look even lovelier with that blush on you." This incited a deeper flush on the young maiden's cheek.
His eyes widened and then he said. " Ahh, yes. I had almost forgot about one thing. I have some things I wish to give you. Give me amoment and I will get them." He exited the tent, and Gillian was wondering what he had to give her. She thought that his company was enough. She did not know why, but she liked this Leoric. She finally understood why the king had gone mad before his death. Diablo, Lord of Terror. He was the cause of all this, and she was glad that even more people had taken it upon themselves to see him destroyed.
It was then that Leoric returned with a large bundle of clothes. She blushed as she can see what they were. They were normal clothes allright, but they were made with the softest of silk and muslin, their colors bright and flashy. But most of all there were many lacy chemises and chemisettes, and bodices that were very low cut, and even the dresses were quite low cut, and if she wore them she would be displaying quite an amount of cleavage and skin.
He smiled and said. " Well, do you like them ?"
She looked at him and nodded shyly. " Yes, Leoric... I have never seen such fine clothes in my life. They look like they were designed for nobility... I do not think I deserve them. And these are so... so... boldy designed. Where on earth did you get them ?"
Leoric smiled grimly. " I do believe that these things used to belong to the many women that perished in the hands of the Countess of Blood. When we destroyed her earlier, we raided her treasures, and I found these, and I thought you might like them."
She looked at him and said. " I... I see. Thank you, Leoric. No one has been so nice to me before, apart for Ogden and the rest of the people in Tristram. God rest their souls." She swayed just a little, and Leoric supported her with his arm. " You need more rest, Gillian. Sleep well, I will be watching over you." He then gently carried Gillian in his arms and gently laid her on her bed. As she slept, he was pleased to see a soft peaceful smile on her face.
He soon left the tent and told Haimler of his intentions, as he was the leader of the party after all, that he wishes to stay behind to look after Gillian for a moment. Haimler just said softly. " It is good, Leoric for you to guard over the girl. Leave the rest of the tasks to us. You may come with us again, once she has fully recovered." He gave the undead knight a friendly pat on the shoulder and went off, while Leoric went to Gillian's tent and sat beside her, dutifully watching over her.
Haimler went to Blood Raven and told her of what Leoric has said. She smiled and said. " It is good that Gillian has him for a protector. I have heard many stories about her from my sister when she came back from Tristram. She was an orphan, did you know that. Apparently, Gillian became quite good friends with my sister, and my sister spoke fondly of her quite often. Though she is in a way, now an orphan again, she will not stay that way for long. She has now in a way, a family in Leoric, and all of us."
Haimler nodded and said softly, as he looked around. As he glanced in the direction of Charsi's smithy, he was surprised to see Fenric and Paige there, along with Gharbad. The Rogue Blacksmith's face was distraught and full of worry. He told Blood Raven this and she said. " That is strange, Charsi is usually a cheerful girl, and the strongest in controlling her emotions here, well, apart from me, Kashya and Akara of course. If she is distraught over something, then whatever thing that is, it must be very serious or important. I think we had better go there and find out what is going on."
Haimler nodded and then they both walked towards the smithy, intending to find out what matter which can make the usually cheerful and unflappable blacksmith so worried.
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