CHAPTER 27:

A NEW RESOLVE

Despite everything, his sleep that night was surprisingly restful. That being said, when he woke, and saw Ranni's face in bed alongside him, her beautiful features framed by her messy mop of dark blue hair, he very nearly panicked, until he remembered the prior night. The cold aura coming off her doll body was soothing.

"…Ranni?" he asked quietly.

Her eyes, one physical if artificial, the other spectral, fluttered open. For a moment, her expression was confused. Then, recollection came to her. She sat up, taking her hat up from where she had left it, but placing it on her lap for now, rather than on her head. "…My thanks," she said quietly as he sat up as well. "I…needed thy presence. This was a great victory for us…and yet…neither of us feel remotely victorious."

"No," Harry agreed. "I've got two Great Runes, which, if what Enia told me is true, is more than enough for me to head to Altus Plateau, and Leyndell. And now, the way to Nokron should be clear. And yet…" He shook his head. "We need to be careful from now on. The Malfoys escaped, along with a few of his allies, and we don't know where they are. They came for Delphi and I, I dunno how, unless they managed to reconstruct Hermione's ritual. Rogier died because of me, and so did a few of the others at the Radahn Festival. Rogier came to the Festival ready to die fighting Radahn, true, but…not fighting those damned shadows of my past!"

"…I know," Ranni said, gently hugging him to her as they sat side by side on the bed. "But thou art not to blame. I doth not blame thee, nor would my mother, or Blaidd. Radahn did not blame thee either, nor did Jerren. I feel…sorrow at his passing, and that of Rogier. Rogier was a too-inquisitive man, asking me much about the Night of the Black Knives, and yet, for all his dogged persistence, he was also a goodly man. But…I also feel that I hath been a touch craven. That I should hath been fighting alongside my mother to free my brother from the Rot. And to learn that Malenia had a purpose in trying to slay Radahn beyond mere ambition, but to resurrect the brother who willingly died as part of my plans…" She closed her eyes. "I am shaken. My respite with thee did me some good, but…am I truly suited to be an Empyrean? The Two Fingers chose me, but…am I worthy?"

"…Are you asking me that?"

"…No, 'twas a rhetorical question," she said sadly. "And 'tis irrelevant. I vowed to throw off the yoke of the Two Fingers and the Greater Will long before I met thee. I hath the power of an Empyrean. I hath the power to break the hold the Outer Gods have on the Lands Between. Before, I did it mostly for myself, for mine own ambition, but also to rid this world of the Outer Gods. For too long, they hath warred over this world, and the people suffer for it. But now…I perhaps care more about what comes after. And whether the cost is too high."

With that, she stood. "I should be cursing thee, for thawing my heart. But I cannot bring myself to do so. Delphi began the process, but thou continued it," she said, toying pensively with her hat. "…In any case…if thou doth wish to not continue for now, I will make the journey alone, and thou may stay here for..."

"…No," Harry said. As Ranni whirled to face him, he said, "Leaving aside those bastards ambushing us yesterday, we may be up against the clock. The Greater Will and its cronies may realise what you're up to, Ranni. We need to get to Nokron and this weapon of theirs ASAP, before the Golden Order can act."

"…Yes, thou art correct," Ranni said quietly. "I was going to go, but…I did not wish for thee to come with me if thou did not wish to. I thank thee. Not only for thine commitment, but for consoling me last night."

With that, Ranni kissed him. A simple, chaste press of her lips to his forehead. The cold of her body felt soothing once more, but he blushed a little at the intimacy of the gesture.

"Come. I am sure Delphi is impatient to hear of what happened, if she hath not heard tidings already from others," Ranni said, with a solemn smile. "Thy daughter needs thee."

"Yeah…I know…"

Thankfully, Rennala, of all people, had explained things to Delphi, and the others. Delphi had promptly glomped him upon his emergence from his room. He didn't even need to reassure her that he would never let anyone take her away from him. She already knew.

Eventually, after breakfast and some much-needed talks, their little circle had gathered around a table Rennala had conjured in the courtyard of the Caria Manor. Ranni then spoke. "…Yesterday…was a success. A qualified success, to be sure, but aside from my fate being freed from the shackles of the Golden Order…my brother is now at peace. However, Rogier was slain by those damnable wizards, pursuing Harry, Hermione, Delphi, Andromeda and Teddy from their world. They intend to pursue and detain or slay them. And to achieve that goal, they may target any of us. Therefore, whether thou doth go thine separate ways now, or stay under our aegis, I beg of thee, remain vigilant outside of the Caria Manor or Raya Lucaria, until we can be certain that these wizards are vanquished for once and for all."

Nepheli nodded. "I cannot speak for anyone else, but I shall stay. I have no other place to go. Harry and Hermione's cause is my own, and their cause is linked to your own, Lady Ranni."

"As is mine," Millicent said. "I seek answers to my existence, and I feel that they would best be served here."

"I shall also stay for now," Diallos said. "Your vassals found Lanya ere the Recusants were about to slay her. I am in your debt, one that is yet to be repaid, Lady Ranni. The tale of House Honslow is told in blood, the words of my family. Better that no blood of the innocent or righteous be shed, but instead, the blood of villains."

Right, Harry had forgotten about that detail. Shortly before Harry stumbled across Millicent, Blaidd had chased away the Recusants about to slay Diallos' servant…and his unrequited love. Lanya remained at Raya Lucaria, helping organise Rennala's library and study.

Ranni inclined her head. "My thanks for thine loyalty, though I am not certain I deserve it. Soon, Harry and I intend to embark on a new expedition, to Nokron, the Eternal City."

Rennala chose that moment to speak up, unrolling a map on the table. "As thou did slumber, my culver, I scried for the impact site of that star. Here, it did tear through the ground."

She pointed to the map, to the southeastern part of Limgrave, not far from the Mistwood. "West of Fort Haight," Blaidd mused. "Probably made a few Runebears soil themselves."

"That doth correspond to the estimated location of Nokron, as it corresponds to the surface," Ranni mused. "Harry and I intend to go there. The only one who will accompany us will be Melina." As others began to protest, she held up a hand. "Prithee, allow me to do this. I…hath not acted much in my quest to shake off my shackles. I hath much relied on the actions of others. But to prove myself worthy of being an Empyrean, if only to myself, I should do at least part of this myself. Accompanied by others, yes, but even so…I need to do this."

"Rennala, you are fine with this?" Millicent asked.

Rennala nodded. "Of course. My daughter cannot expect to rely on me forever. In any case, she is of my blood. She may not hath been as strong as Radahn, but she is strong in other ways. In our blood runs great power, and while her body is no longer her own, that power yet remains."

"Why not bring Blaidd, then?" Nepheli asked.

"Because the time has come for my own leash to be severed," Blaidd said. "I am a Shadow, a vassal created for Ranni by the Two Fingers. When she gains the fabled Fingerslayer Blade, they may yet try to seize control, to turn me into an assassin. I would rather die than harm my sister in all but blood, but those monsters may not even give me that dignity."

"Thus, I shalt be reshaping Blaidd with the Great Rune of Rebirth, with the help of Hermione, Thops, Roderika and Irina. A most dangerous prospect, to be sure, and yet, I feel I can do so, severing his link to the Greater Will and the Two Fingers," Rennala said. She closed her eyes. With a voice thick with emotion, she said, "I hath buried one son last night, and another is lost to me forevermore, having become a true monster. I doth not wish to lose my last remaining children. I mourn Radahn, and hath done so ever since I hath learned of his condition. But I hath spent far too long wallowing in grief when I needed to strive. Hobbled by Radagon's curse though I was, I still neglected my duty. Once there are fewer demands on my time, fewer worries plaguing my heart…then I shalt grieve in earnest."

"…Mother," Ranni said quietly.

Harry looked to Melina, who was sitting silently at the table. "You're fine to come with us?"

Melina nodded. "Of course. And you still have Runes claimed from General Radahn that I may channel into your own prowess. When you are ready, let me know."

"Thou doth care little that we rebel against the Greater Will?" Ranni asked her youngest half-sister.

"I care only for the restoration of the Lands Between," Melina said, meeting the pale blue eyes of her half-sister with her own golden gaze from her one open eye. "Even though I have forgotten much of my life, and my purpose…as long as you grant the Lands Between an Order where life may flourish and thrive, where happiness can be attained by all, at least potentially, then I care little whether it runs against the Golden Order or not."

A sardonic smile touched Ranni's lips. "Ah, at long last, thou doth undertake thy rebellious phase, Melina." Her smile became more gentle. "However, I thank thee for thy assistance." She looked across the table, her expression becoming stern. "Make no mistake. When I procure the Fingerslayer Blade, it shalt be a declaration of war against the Golden Order, against the Greater Will. I doubt that there would be anyone who would offer us a lasting alliance. The Recusants and the Bloody Fingers would stab us in the back. And I cannot guarantee that the Haligtree will send us aid, if only because of their own problems. Though Radahn's confession about Malenia's intentions shows Malenia and Miquella in a new light."

Harry had to wonder at the knowing smile Fia showed at that remark. And when Fia seemed to notice that he noticed it…she didn't seem to show any surprise or remorse at being caught. Ranni seemed to notice as well, as did Rennala. "Doth thou hath anything to add on the matter, Fia?" Ranni asked.

"Not at this time, Lady Ranni," Fia said. "Though I am glad you have acknowledged Rogier's demise. Death is not something to trivialise, not even in the Lands Between. But neither is life. Part of Rogier's essence remains with me, a shade of what it was, but it is enough. But I must ask you…what do you think of Those Who Live in Death?"

Eventually, Ranni said, "Tis easy to label them as monsters, an absolute evil for the fanatics in the Golden Order to fight against. And I personally feel that they should be put to rest where possible. But not because they art truly malign. Such a condition is akin to an illness, a sickness, much like the Scarlet Rot. Ahh…so thou art aligned with them?"

Harry blinked, looking to the blonde woman, who smiled knowingly, even as many others looked to her in shock and horror. "You do not sound surprised, Lady Ranni."

"I had my suspicions, though I kept an eye on thee and thine actions. And yet, thou did stop thy late paramour from asking too many questions of me." Ranni narrowed her eyes. "And yet, thou seem to know much of the Night of Black Knives, far more than a simple Deathbed Companion should."

"True. But I am not your enemy lest you make me your enemy, Lady Ranni," Fia said calmly. "The Golden Order have persecuted us for some time. The Tarnished, Those Who Live in Death, the Omens, the Misbegotten, Demihumans, Albinaurics, need I go on? It either subjugates or destroys what falls outside the Order, even as it claims to be inclusive. So…I wonder…what Order would you create?"

Ranni, after a moment, said, "We will speak of that later…"

The meeting continued for a time, but most of it was minutiae and trivia by comparison. No new missives had come from Volcano Manor, no major activity from Leyndell or the Haligtree. So it petered out, though Ranni took Harry, Rennala, and Hermione with her as she confronted Fia.

"I despise playing these games," Ranni said. "So, tell me…who art thou?"

Fia chuckled softly. "…You despise playing these games…and yet, if I recall correctly, Ranni…you enjoyed the ones I played with you when you visited Leyndell with Radagon. 'Giants and Astrologers' was a particular favourite of yours, as was Hide and Seek. I remember this time when you ended up perched too high up on Gransax's Bolt. Poor thing…you were screaming in fear and crying when I found you."

Harry didn't quite realise why, but both Ranni and Rennala looked utterly shocked. "…Impossible," Ranni hissed. "Thine soul…it was…"

"Destroyed by Destined Death?" Fia asked. And that's when it hit Harry, who Fia was claiming to be. "Destroyed is perhaps too strong a word. Rather, it shattered, much like Mother did to the Elden Ring. It came back together, at least in part, in this frame. Admittedly, I did not remember who I was until much later. I began to see fragments as Grace came back to me, as I saw your allies in the Roundtable Hold. It took until I saw you in person again, my sister, to remember who I was."

And then, she gave a warm smile to Ranni and Rennala. No malevolence, no sinister nature, just a genuinely happy and caring smile. And she then moved over and embraced Ranni.

"Godwyn…Godwyn, thou self-sacrificing fool!" Ranni said solemnly.

"…And I would do it again, little Ranni," Godwyn the Golden said gently. "I would do it all over again…"

CHAPTER 27 ANNOTATIONS:

So, some heavy moments, and Ranni's regained her resolve. But what's this? Fia is Godwyn reborn? What the actual fuck?

This was something I actually formulated long before I started writing the story in earnest. I wondered about Fia and her rather disturbing yet touching relationship with Godwyn. I got it into my mind that, instead of simply trying to revive Godwyn, she actually was Godwyn reborn, for this story at least. Someone inclusive, kind, and yet capable of ruthlessness when needed.

In fact, learning of the theory VaatiVidya elucidated in his videos actually helped give me a small justification for why Godwyn was reborn as Fia, not that I had any justification other than the vagaries of reincarnation when I formulated this fic. The ritual at Castle Sol did work, but incompletely. Unbeknownst to Malenia and Miquella, their beloved brother was reborn, eventually. But as their attempt to slay Radahn didn't work, the rebirth was both incomplete and delayed, with Godwyn being reborn as Fia.

Now, I'm not the only person to do a story where Godwyn is reborn, and genderflipped to boot. as kindling by cloudycats has Godwyn being reborn as Melina. Yes, Melina, which makes a perverse sense to some degree.

Anyway, we've also had the first kiss between Harry and Ranni. True, it was a pretty chaste one, but still…we'll see their relationship growing.

Oh, and the rebirth thing for Blaidd? He's going to end up with a new look. I was thinking of him looking like Guts from Berserk with wolf ears, given that Blaidd takes at least some visual cues from Guts (though he's a real sweetheart compared to Guts). But having played through Genshin Impact recently, I actually think modelling Blaidd's new look on upcoming character Wriothsley might be better. Given Wriothsley is said to be based in part on Cerberus, well, it's rather fitting.

Anyway, I think this will be the last chapter for a wee while. Yes, I know, I'm evil for leaving you guys on a cliffhanger. Deal with it. Though I'm curious, would you guys want to see another story in the same crossover? Either with a Malenia or Melina pairing?

Review-answering time! Saturnus Ouranos: I may give it a go later. I am familiar with Zullie the Witch's videos, as well as Garden of Eyes.

MWkillkenny84: Don't forget, Mohg's also a paedophile. I mean, Miquella was perpetually in a child's body. You have to wonder whether Mohg's obsession with Miquella is George RR Martin's contribution, given his fixation with incest in A Song of Ice and Fire…

No numbered annotations this time.