Dark-Moon Dark-Sun

chapter 1

Silence. Pure, calm, silence. His body had longed for this feeling. The gentle stillness of rest, the closest he'd ever get to death. After all that he'd been through, the arduous trials he faced in both mind and body, he could finally, finally just rest.

Though soon, his eyes would open, to be greeted by a familiar room, painted sunset yellow, and warm like a gentle flame. The warmth seemed to be coming from the fireplace on the opposite end of the room to him. Near the fireplace was a small table and two chairs, and to the right towards a wall of bookcases was a door.

To his right was a row of bookcases and a single wardrobe between them. To his left was a bedside table with flowers and a book. It was then that Arias finally took notice that he was lying in a bed, and not just anyone's bed. Gwyndolin's bed.

His armor had been taken off and he was only in his undershirt and trousers so luckily, he hadn't dirtied the sheets with his dusty steel plate. Speaking of Gwyndolin, he wasn't in the bed with him. Arias panicked slightly, sitting up to see around the room better.

Though he didn't have to worry about him for long, looking further down the wall to his left there was a row of windows, and a couch beneath those windows. Sat on the couch was a pale god, adorned with an intricate golden crown, looking out the window, a sight as if from a painting.

Gwyndolin noticed movement in his bed and quickly turned his attention from his thoughts to Arias.

"Ah!" He gasped in surprise, seeing Arias had woken up. He immediately rushed over to the side of the bed where he kneeled beside him.

"Art thou awake? Canst thou hear me?" He asked eagerly, clearly excited that he was awake but trying to keep himself calm.

"M-Mmhm" Arias mumbled in response, which was all the conformation Gwyndolin needed, as a ginormous smile of relief painted itself across his face, and tears found their way down his cheeks.

"I am so relieved to hear that my dear." He breathed as he pulled him into tight hug. Arias put his arms around Gwyndolin and hugged him back. He hadn't remembered everything fully yet and was just recounting what'd happened in his head.

He'd fought Lenovis, he was exhausted, he sat with Gwyndolin, he took Lenovis to the kiln of the flame, fought Gwyn, almost died but caught the blade about to kill him. Then, he couldn't remember a thing. He must've been so tired that he just stopped taking things in. But by the looks of it, he'd been victorious.

Either way, he seemed to have gotten the long rest he so desperately needed.

"Well, how art thou feeling anyhow?" Gwyndolin sighed, letting go of Arias and regaining his compsure.

"Uhm, I feel... normal, and very well rested." Arias stretched, feeling some satisfying clicks in his rested bones.

"Ah, 'tis good to hear. Wouldst thou like something to eat? Or drink?" Gwyndolin asked.

"Oh, uh, yes please. If you don't mind." Arias fumbled out, still only half awake, but starting to notice that he was in fact very hungry.

"Oh not at all! I shall go have a maid prepare thee breakfast." With that, Gwyndolin stood from his spot beside the bed and promptly left the room.

Arias yawned and sat up. Rustling a hand through his hair, he tried to remember what'd happened after he caught that blade, but no matter how he tried, nothing. Not a faint idea or mental image. At least he had the scars on his arms to prove it had happened.

But... There was this feeling, deep down, that something bad had happened, it was unnerving. Like it was something inevitable that would come back to get him. The sort of feeling you get when you know you should go to sleep but are too busy to.

He dragged his hand down from his hair and wiped his face. He'd been sweating.

Now wasn't the best time to worry himself about it. Whatever it was he'd deal with it when the time came. For now he should be glad he was still alive, and that he still had Gwyndolin.

Speaking of Gwyndolin, he walked in at that moment.

"Food shalt be here shortly!" He chirped, quickly coming over, taking his crown off and getting in the bed beside Arias. Sitting close, he wrapped an arm Around him and rested his head on his shoulder.

"I missed thee dear." He sighed, closing his eyes.

"I missed you too." Arias lifted a hand and ran his fingers through Gwyndolin's silky hair. His sleep had felt like an eternity, it was like he'd slept for a lifetime. Indeed it felt like this was the first time he'd seen his lover in years.

"So... What happened to me?" He hesitantly asked, worrying he might upset him.

"After we left the kiln, thou went silent. Then keeled over. I wouldst have feared thou'dst died from exhuastion, if not for thy, well, predicament with death. But thou still drew breath, so I hoped it was simply the exhuastion overtaking thee. I brought thee back home and gave thee mine bed. Thou'st slept for almost two weeks now. I admit I was starting to worry thou wouldst never wake. I am ever so relieved thou'st proven that worry to be false." Gwyndolin leaned over a little bit more and wrapped his other arm around Arias, bringing him into a hug.

He looked so at peace. Before he'd always had worries plauging him, even when they spent the night together, even while he slept. It was so painfully clear. But now, his face was devoid of any worry, fear, anxiety, sadness. He was just, happy.

Arias took his free hand and moved it to the arm Gwyndolin wrapped around him, taking his hand in his own. Gwyndolin opened his eyes in response to the touch, not expecting it. He looked at Arias to be greeted with a warm smile, a smile that Gwyndolin returned.

Just then they heard a knock on the door.

"Ah, that must be breakfast! I shalt go fetch it from the maid." Gwyndolin jumped a little. Nervously getting up from the bed he rushed to the door and took the tray of food from her, thanking her as she left.

He brought the tray over and placed it on Arias' lap. He felt strange, he was just an undead knight but here he was getting served a meal of kings literally on a silver platter by a god.

"Th-Thank you." Arias nervously thanked Gwyndolin.

"Thou'rt very welcome. I hope thou enjoys it." Gwyndolin replied with a smile before going around the bed and sitting next to him again.

Despite feeling a bit nervous and undeserving, Arias eagerly ate up, he was absolutely starving. Though still he lacked even the most basic eating etiquette, for which Gwyndolin scolded him repeatedly.

Despite him being a bit of a dolt sometimes, Gwyndolin wasn't really angry with Arias, his occasional ignorance was quite endearing. Though that didn't mean he'd get away with it.

Once finished, he let out a loud burp, looking over he got a scowl of dissaprovement. Arias looked back at him in innocent confusion.

Good lord he really had no clue did he.

It felt like so long ago that he'd narrowly avoided going hollow, Gwyndolin had to keep reminding himself that it was only a week or two ago. Indeed much has happened in such a short time. Though after everything, he still ate like a child.

"Thou'rt terrible Arias." Gwyndolin jokingly sighed.

"What?" Arias asked, still confused.

"Burping at the table is bad manners, I'st already told thee this." he reminded him.

"But we're not at the table." Arias said, still confused.

"Yes well- Don't get smart with me Arias. I mean while eating anywhere." Gwyndolin tried to explain. Arias just gave him another look of utter befuddlement.

Gwyndolin sighed to himself. He'll get it someday.

"Well, since thou'rt finished I shalt take this to the table for the maid to retrieve later." Gwyndolin changed the topic, standing up and taking the tray away from him, putting it on the nearby table.

Despite Gwyndolin clearly having no malice behind his words, they only reinforced Arias' inner doubts of being undeserving of this.

Before he knew it Gwyndolin was sitting beside him again and looking him dead in the eyes with worry.

"Thou'st gone silent. Is something the matter?" He asked with concern in his voice. It seems he was easily worried after what happened.

"Uhm, well... No it's just something silly, it doesn't really matter." Arias tried to dismiss him but Gwyndolin wouldn't have it.

"No it's alright. I'm here for thee Arias. Thou may confide with me anything, no matter how much import it holds." Gwyndolin took his hand and gave him a reassuring nod.

"Well... I suppose I... I don't feel worthy. Maybe that's not the right way to put it but- I feel like I don't deserve to be here, to be treated this well. I'm just a knight, I'm no royalty..." Arias felt foolish but he told him anyway. Gwyndolin listened carefully, nodding and rubbing the back of his hand with his thumb as he spoke.

"I understand thine worries, I hast felt that same feeling before. But thou shouldst put those worries to rest. Thou'st more than earned this. 'Tis because of thine efforts that mine kingdom still stands, that the sun still rises. 'Tis because of thee that I can look at mine reflection without disdain. Honestly I believe thou may be deserving of even more. At the very least thine own chambers here in Anor Londo... Though it would be preferable if we continued to share." Gwyndolin spoke softly. His words were comforting and reasurring, and his touch reminded Arias of what he did everything for.

He seemed to have forgotten over his long slumber, but he didn't really care for anything but Gwyndolin, his god was everything to him, and his status never meant a damn thing really, as long as Gwyndolin was pleased.

"Thank you." Was all he said before pulling Gwyndolin closer for a hug, a hug he gladly received. Gwyndolin looked Arias in the eyes with a smile, though Arias didn't really notice the smile. His serpent-like pupils and golden irises were mesmerizing, taking him into a trance the more he looked at them.

Gwyndolin noticed this and playfully stuck his tongue out, revealing it to be forked, this was enough to shock Arias out of his trance.

"W-Wait your tongue is forked?" Arias stuttered in surprise.

"Mmhm. I was too ashamed to show anyone before but I'm comfortable with thee knowing." Gwyndolin giggled as he put his tongue away.

"I'm glad you're comfortable sharing such things with me." Arias smiled.

"Yes well, thine presence always seems to make me feel more comfortable, even in mine own bed." Gwyndolin sighed with a small giggle.

Arias wasn't sure of what to say after that but Gwyndolin didn't let him think of anything as he leaned in just a little closer and took him into a deep kiss, staring him directly in the eyes as he did.

Staring deeply into Arias' eyes, he felt whole. He'd missed feeling this way. He'd missed Arias. But now he had him again, and he wouldn't even let him go. Not while lived anyway.

A/N Been feeling somewhat reinvigorated to write recently, so here's another chapter much faster than usual. Hope you like it.