The trek in Deepnest was long and hard. Some of the beasts and spiders were already infected. The Pale King walked intently down the darkness shrouded hallways, his glow providing little illumination against the blackness. He had his doubts about Herrah reacting in a positive way, granted the king had never had the best relationship with Deepnest. Memories of the tramway raced through his mind. What a failure that had been, costing Hallownest a few tram workers. The king shuttered.
He needed to convince Herrah to become a dreamer, she was the only other bug capable of upholding the position. Were she to accept, Hallownest would practically be saved. However, the Pale King just knew that she wouldn't do it for free.
The king thought of just how lucky he had been with Lurien and Monomon hastily agreeing to his request. Ok, he knew the Watcher would accept- he held great affection toward the king- but Monomon agreeing was more surprising. She had even planned an extra layer of seals. When the plan was to be executed, she would give her mask to her right hand man, Quirrel.
Although the king appreciated how well thought out this was, he couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical. What if, for whatever reason, the seals would need to be broken? Monomon's extra seal would make that task much more difficult. The Pale King simply shrugged off this thought.
Eventually, the king arrived at the dens of Deepnest. He had to admit, the small village they had managed to create- despite being filled with hostile spiders and beasts- felt quite cozy. It didn't take him long to find the one that was owned by Herrah, he remembered what it looked like from the last time he came to talk with her about the tram situation.
The Pale King couldn't wrap his head around how someone could call a place like this home. It was dark, damp, and downright dreadful. He could hear the noises of little spiderlings, but other than that, it was rather quiet. Too quiet, he felt. Like something was to jump out at him at any moment.
He didn't know where he was to find the Beast. But he knew she was here, as she always kept her promises. The king made sure to let her know in advance that he was coming, yet he didn't mention at all what they were going to discuss. He thought it would give him the best chances explaining it in person, whatever chances he had.
It wasn't long before the king saw Herrah, back turned, studying something he couldn't make out. He took a breath before he spoke.
"Herrah, I have arrived. I wish to discuss a rather serious matter with you." He tried his best to make it sound as appealing as possible. Herrah quickly turned around, giving the Pale King a stern look.
"Wyrm. This better be worth my time, I have business to attend to regarding my citizens." Her voice was as firm as her stature. She crossed her two front arms.
"I assure you, Herrah, your consent could be the very thing to save Hallownest."
"Well then, take a seat and get on with it." Herrah walked toward a table with conveniently two chairs and sat herself down. The Pale King sat down on the other end.
"My plan to rid Hallownest of the infection is fairly straightforward. I have created beings, known as the vessels, with the queen. I have added void to their shells for certain aspects as well." Herrah squinted her eyes, clearly confused at the statements made.
The king continued. "The plan was to create a completely hollow vessel, with no thoughts, feelings, or emotions. This would ensure that it would be able to contain the source of the infection for eternity." This part of the plan was hard to muscle out of his mouth, after all, it was very harsh. The king knew he would never atone for his actions, but it was for Hallownest. "The vessel in question is currently being trained to its adult stage, giving it the best chances of survival. I predict it shall be ready very soon."
It was obvious that Herrah was very impatient. She got up and leaned onto the table, bringing her face closer to the king. "And what exactly does that have to do with me?"
The Pale King knew she was trying to be intimidating, but he remained unfazed. He did his best to hold eye contact. "I was getting to that part before you interrupted me." Herrah sat back down. "I plan to seal said vessel in the black egg temple. For good measure, I am asking for three beings to become dreamers to hold the door to the temple."
Herrah raised her right eyes, clearly asking for a description. "W-what that means is you fall asleep and your dream will act as a seal, holding the door shut. You are the third and last being I require." The king's voice was very shaky. He knew what she was about to ask before she asked it.
"And when exactly will I… you know… wake up?" Her voice was soft, but she was furious with the offer.
"Um… you will be sacrificing the rest of your life for this seal-"
"No. Of course not. I will not sacrifice my own life for this mess of a plan. You were small minded to even think to ask me this. I want you out of Deepnest immediately." She slammed her arm on the table, shaking it.
"It will get rid of the infection. Isn't that what you want?" The king was not surprised at all by her reaction. He seemed quite inferior to the Beast at that moment, despite being a Higher Being. He sounded like a child begging to his mother.
"I will not serve."
"…Please?" The Pale King looked at her with a pleading face, knowing it wouldn't change anything.
"NO! My answer is final!" And there she went. The king knew this behavior was bound to come out. Herrah started walking out of the room.
This was his last chance. Was he really about to show his desperate side to this Beast? Would the seal work with just two? No. Hallownest had to be saved. Herrah needed to become a dreamer.
"Anything you want, you can have it. Just consent to be a dreamer and I will give you whatever you desire. Please Herrah, this is the only way."
Herrah stopped in her tracks. Anything I want. What a tempting offer. Was it worth it? The infection was bound to only get worse. She was stuck between two worlds: live to see the infection thrive and inevitably take over Deepnest, or become a dreamer for the preservation of her kingdom.
Something she had been thinking about for quite some time came back to her. She needed an heir. She needed a child to take her position as ruler over Deepnest. Herrah decided that selflessness was a better outcome.
Herrah turned around. "A child, Wyrm. That is my offer. Give me a child, and I will take my place as a dreamer." The Pale King felt an aching in his chest. That was a smart move on Herrah's part.
His voice was a whisper. "I have a wife…"
"Precisely," Herrah chuckled. She hadn't even thought about how this would affect the Wyrm. A higher being, a god among mortals, losing his integrity because of a bargain. That will hurt. "Well, do we have a deal?" She was giving the king an evil smile.
He couldn't do it. He couldn't do it. He couldn't do it… he had to do it. The kingdom was his number one priority. He swallowed. He was really about to do it. It was worth it. It was for the kingdom. He closed his eyes and extended his hand.
Herrah chuckled again. How perfect. She returned his handshake. The deal was in tow. Deepnest's future was sealed. "I expect to see you tomorrow for conception."
The tram ride back to the palace was one that was filled with only him and his thoughts. Why a child? Anything else would have fared better with him. Tomorrow… did it have to be that soon? The king required time to deal with his decisions. Would he tell his wife? He figured he would, she was bound to find out eventually. It would put a better image on him if he admitted to it.
"My Wyrm, what happened with Herrah? Did she agree?" The White Lady questioned the king when he arrived back at the palace. He looked exhausted and overwhelmed.
"I, uh…" Looking at the face of his wife, he couldn't get the truth out. "Yes, she agreed, but I need to go back tomorrow to sort things out."
What would she think if he told her? Would she be mad? It would make sense if she would. He would eventually tell her, but today was not that day.
Arriving back at Deepnest, the king's whole body was aching. Including his brain. He didn't want to do this, it hurt so much. But it had to be done for Hallownest. He walked into Herrah's den.
The king dreaded every step that he took. His movement was slow and arduous. However, his brain was going a million miles an hour.
"I see you are a man of your word, Wyrm." Herrah was actually a bit surprised to see that the wyrm actually came back the next day, like she said. It would have made sense if he chickened out.
"Let's please just get this over with. I have things to do." He didn't even bother looking at Herrah. Instead, his gaze was directed at the floor. She could tell how difficult this was for him.
"Fine, right this way." Herrah was smiling as she led him to a dark, enclosed room.
The king felt like he wanted to throw up and faint at the same time on the tram ride back. What had he just done? He felt tears welling up inside of him. He couldn't take it. Herrah had played her side so well. This was the hardest thing she could have had him do. Besides maybe killing thousands of babies again.
As he entered the palace, the king ran straight to his room. He shut the door and sat down on his bed. His feelings were overwhelming. It didn't help at all when the queen entered.
"Honey, what happened?" Her soft tone and her oblivion to what he had just gone through was enough to make the king release his built up tears. He started sobbing. He felt the queen pick him up and set him down on her lap.
"Oh, my Wyrm…" She hugged him for several minutes until he had regained his composure. "If you are able to, I'd like to know what has caused this. Did she say something? Did she make you do something? You can tell me."
"I am sorry…" The king whispered. His queen's attitude could completely change if he were to tell her, but it would be best if he did. Very quietly, he explained the bargain he and Herrah had made.
"It was for Hallownest… If you are mad at me, then don't be afraid to show it. I deserve it." There, it was out. Was he about to lose his mate? He was about to find out. He braced himself, but his wife never removed her grip on him.
The queen was shocked. Though, now that she thought about it, it seemed like something Herrah would do. By how her Wyrm reacted, she could tell that he was not up for this dalliance. And although it hurt her to see it happen, he had the right morals. "I am not mad at you… but why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
"I was just… going through a lot… but that's not really an excuse." Why wasn't she mad? He had done something so morally wrong, and she didn't seem to mind all that much. The king wondered how he would have reacted if it were him receiving this information.
"You did it for Hallownest, and that's all that matters. I know there is nothing going on between you two, so why should I be mad?"
Wise words from his wife. She was always able to soothe him. But he would never atone for his actions, whether she cared or not.
About a month later, the king got a letter from Deepnest. He figured what it was going to be before he even opened it. And despite not wanting to show his face there ever again, he reluctantly opened the letter.
"Wyrm, come to Deepnest immediately. It is hatching."
Yup, just as expected. He dreaded having to be an actual father. He hoped the little hatchling would just stay in Deepnest, and he would never have to deal with it. But he figured it would be right of him to see the hatching.
The king quickly told the queen what was happening and left soon after. His pace was quicker than usual, he noticed. He told himself he didn't care about the creature that was going to come out of that egg. But he felt that he did. What was he thinking?! Hell, it hadn't even hatched yet!
The king arrived right on time to see the first bits of the spiderling pop up out of the egg. Herrah paid no attention to his arrival. Her gaze was strongly fixed on the egg. She only noticed his presence when he stepped right up next to her. No words were exchanged.
The little hatchling had two horns sticking out of its shell, just like Herrah's, but shorter. It hatched more and more, and eventually it tumbled out of the egg and onto the floor. It wasn't even a second later that Herrah picked it up and caressed it.
"A girl. My little girl." The king had never heard Herrah's voice so quiet. She hugged the hatchling tightly, and she started cooing in her mother's grasp.
That was her end of the bargain. That little child. The king had no reason to interact with her at all, but there was no stopping the affection that came with her. That was his daughter, no matter the reason she was conceived.
After a couple minutes, the king walked toward Herrah and the child. "Can I hold her?" He spoke in the quietest voice possible to not spook the child, who was making small noises in her mother's arms. There was nothing wrong with simply holding her, right?
It took her a while for Herrah to respond. "She belongs to me." Herrah matched the quiet tone, but he could still hear the anger in her voice. Herrah was quite the possessive type.
"I am the father. I have the right to simply hold my daughter, no matter why she came to exist. I will be gentle, I promise." The king pleaded. He shouldn't even have to reassure Herrah that he would be gentle, it was his own spawn!
Herrah sighed. She was just the cutest thing. Herrah was reluctant to hand her over. "Fine." She handed the child over to the king. She didn't want anything to do with the Wyrm. But he was right, he should be able to be a part of his daughter's life, even if it was solely business between him and Herrah.
The little spiderling looked up at her father when he grabbed her. She was quite warm. The king was surprised that she hadn't cried yet, especially because it was him holding her. He was very inexperienced when it came to children. Before the infection arose, he didn't even want to have any of his own. Now here he was.
Herrah could tell he was nervous when holding their daughter. Yet, he was looking at her with strong affection and love, that of a true parent, something she hadn't expected. The king raised a third arm that was normally hidden under his cloak and lightly tickled the hatchling's belly. She giggled a bit.
Herrah was somewhat surprised how naturally this came to the wyrm, after all, he hadn't any children. The vessel didn't count, since he had mentioned something about them having to be pure. That would rule out any form of emotion toward them, or it would probably taint them. That got Herrah thinking back to the wyrm's end of the deal: she would have to give up her life to the seal. Would it be smart to try and not get too attached to her daughter? The more she loved her mother, the more painful it would be when Herrah would have to go to sleep.
Lost in thoughts, Herrah was startled when the wyrm spoke. "You should name her. You are the one that wanted a child." Oh right, a name! She hadn't even thought about that. For a better thinking process, she attempted to take the child back from the wyrm and came out successful. Herrah examined her, not only her physical body, but also how she acted. Her sharp horns and squirmy personality reminded her of a certain type of insect. Was it the right name? She thought for a few minutes longer before deciding it was the right choice.
"Her name will be Hornet. She is active like one and her horns look like stingers." The king was rather satisfied with that name. It fit her well. Just then, the king came upon a big revelation. Hornet was conceived by the king of Hallownest and the queen of Deepnest. Did that make her the heir of both kingdoms? That would be a lot to control. He wondered what he would do in that situation.
She would soon learn the deals that had been made and what the future was for the kingdom. Dealing with her realities would be tough. No, it would be near impossible. But whatever she would have to go through when Herrah was gone, the Pale King would make sure he would do whatever he could.
No matter the reasons, the circumstances, or the bargains, she was his daughter. And nothing would ever change that.
(Authors note: I enjoyed this, Herrah is very fun to write. Thanks for reading! Lmk if there is anything you want me to write abt in the future)