Authors Note: Kept you Waiting, huh?
Sorry for the hiatus, got both a severe case of Writer's Block, and family drama too. It probably impacted the quality of this chapter, if so, I'm deeply sorry. My Mother has been having some serious health problems lately, and it's been a cause of depression.
If you don't want to be spoiled, don't translate the Grimm.
Any real world language used in this story will probably be a grammatical nightmare to any one who speaks any of them. As much as I would love to know every language perfectly like Saint Germain, I am just an American.
"I don't own any of the series I write FF of. I only own my OC's and my unique aspects added to the story. I don't own any music or songs possibly mentioned, they are just recommendations. I don't own the Dragon/Dovahzul Language, all credit goes to Bethesda Softworks. All credit of Rwby goes to RoosterTeeth."
Chapter 17: Der Bluthund.
The Knight locked eyes with the Warrior before him as he strode forward with Balmung in hand, the azure blade gleaming in the daylight. The Tuathan slowly twirled his spear in his hand, a grin wide across his face. When Siegfried got around fifteen feet from him, he started to walk to the right, to which he did the same.
[Play 'The Children of Danu'-Assassin's Creed Valhalla OST.]
The two started to circle one another, their weapons held in their right hands, and their eyes glued to each other. The Crimson spear, and the Azure sword gleaming in the sunlight. The wind rustled the trees, their hair and capes. And for a moment, the Swordsman saw the Spearman smirk, and in the next, a red spear came for his face.
Raising his sword, he barely blocked the piercing blow. Before he could create an opening, the Faunus leapt back. In a twirl, he brought his spear at him from the left, Siegfried ducked beneath it. The Young Knight then slashed upwards, aiming for the Tuathan's exposed side. But the Canine Faunus rolled away to his right, and lunged up with a thrust aiming for his armpit.
Siegfried once again brought his sword up in a defensive reflex, blocking the strike, and locking his blade with the Spear's winged tips. "Nice try," Said Cúchulainn leaning in towards his face, a wild expression across his own, "But Trying isn't enough!" The Tuathan laughed and kicked him in the stomach, sending the Young Knight stumbling back.
The Faunus lunged forward again, aiming for his heart. He barely had time to deflect with his sword, but his opponent just took a step back, and lunged again for his gut. Siegfried jumped back from the attack, only for Cúchulainn to continue his momentum into a twirl, and swing his spear at his legs. Azure aura sparked from the slash, and the Mantlean buckled forward, only to meet a left boot coming at his face from his left.
He felt spit and saliva burst out of his mouth as he stumbled back from the spinning roundhouse kick. His dazed eyes looked back to see his enemy coming again, his Gae Bulg lunging for his neck. Quickly, he stumbled out of its way to the right, only for the Faunus to swipe it rightwards after him.
Siegfried ducked, and grabbed its haft right under the spearhead to jerked it aside as he raised Balmung up to slam its pommel down upon the Tuathan's forehead. Cúchulainn moved his head to the side, the butt of the sword struck his armored shoulder. The Faunus grit his teeth, and slammed his forehead into the Mantlean's. He jerked back from the headbutt, letting go of his grip on the shaft. His enemy then pressed his advantage by hitting his jaw with the butt of his spear, before stabbing it into the ground, and swung around with a kick to his chest.
He was knocked back, stumbling with his sword in his hand. His Opponent held Gae Bulg to the right, reared back, and came at him with a thrust, shouting, "Die!" The Crimson Spear moved towards his chest before he could raise his defenses, but it's objective was not to pierce. The Young Knight noticed too late, as the small barbs at the bottom of the spearhead exploded out into a spreaded shot like a shotgun.
Siegfried was hit point-blank, his aura sparked, and he was thrown back off his feet onto the ground. His sword flew from his hands, and the air from his lungs. Cúchulainn laughed as he ran his left hand through his hair, looking down at the winded Knight, "Is this the best the man who felled the Blood-Axe has to offer?!" He berated him, twirling his spear in his hand.
The Faunus walked over to the sword, and grabbed it, saying, "Fight with all your heart, damn it!" Before tossing it at the Redhead. Siegfried caught it, and got to his feet. His chest was heaving, and his body was covered in sweat. But there was a determination in his eyes, and he raised his sword with both hands.
"As you wish." He said stoically, before charging forward with a battle cry. Twisting Balmung's handle, the sword shifted into its two handed form. Siegfried raised the Azure blade into the air, before driving it downwards, towards the Faunus before him.
Cúchulainn met him head-on, his Gae Bulg took the hit effortlessly. He maneuvered the sword to his right, and leapt away to the left. The Mantlean then swung his sword in a twirl, causing him to leap back again. The Canine countered with a jab of his spear, which the Knight parried, and riposted. His enemy nearly buckled from the impact of his blade against his armored shoulder.
But his eyes grew more wild.
"Time to turn this up a notch!" The Tuathan shouted, before leaping back, and changing his stance.
"How-" Siegfried was interrupted when, in the blink of an eye, the spear made contact against his armor. Then against his sword arm, then his left leg, and then his gut. Every strike forcing him back, and sparking his aura. Quickly, he swung out his blade with his right hand, but only more strikes managed to peck him as he gave him an opening. He eyes strained and searched for his enemy, darting back and forth, only seeing the spear coming at him over and over.
Managing to deflect one thrust, he saw something his eyes couldn't believe. Three more spears were seemingly coming at him at once from three different directions. One from his upper right, one from his lower left, and one from his middle center. The Young Knight couldn't block them as they all struck at once, causing him to spark like a sparkler.
Quickly shifting his blade back to its shorter form, he caught sight of what seemed to be his opponent moving in several different places and directions at once. The Faunus' attacks and movements were so fast, that he was creating several different afterimages. Speeds that are only attainable through two methods, either through a semblance, or mastery in Aura Manipulation. The latter took significant training and practice that took years.
Concern now started to flood his mind. What could he do to survive? His thoughts were interrupted when another attack came at him from four different directions from in front of him. Siegfried tried to dodge the attacks, but two hit their mark against his thigh and side. Cúchulainn then appeared right in front of him, his face twisted in a malicious smirk.
"This is where the fun starts!" He shouted in joy, before lunging forward in six different directions all around him. The Young Knight did the only thing he could, he quickly crouched down, and revved his blade. Once again, its runes glowed cyan as he activated Hard-Light dust, extending Balmung's blade without the weight. When the spears came for him, he quickly swung with a twirl. The Hard-Light blade deflected a couple of the strikes, but two struck true at his abdomen and thigh.
"Damn!" The Tuathan shouted with laughter as he reappeared in his original position, "Breaking out the fancy dust for me? I'm honored."
Siegfried regained his stance, "Just shut up!" He snarled, before attacking head on with a horizontal leftwards swing. Like he expected, the Faunus leapt back, was suddenly flanking him from both sides. So he used the momentum of his attack to kneel down forward, and rolled out of their way.
In a instant, he arose with a reverse one handed swing rightwards, the cyan-azure blade knocking the crimson spear that came from behind to the right, and a left hook towards his opponent's surprised face. Spit flew and Crimson Aura sparked, the Young Knight then took advantage of his opponent's broken guard. With both hands, he slashed down diagonally from the right, and again in the reverse with all his might.
Cúchulainn was thrashed back, but his face displayed pure excitement instead of pain. When he stabbed the muddy ground in between them, Siegfried had no time to react as a explosion threw them both away from each other, and mud into the air.
The Mantlean skidded through the mud, disoriented with ringing ears and blurry vision, made worse by the mad laughter echoing along with the horrific sight of twenty spears in front of him. In that one moment, a static image flashed through his mind.
[Pause 'The Children of Danu'-Assassin's Creed Valhalla OST.]
"Did thou understand what the Ravens said?" A man in black armor chuckled sadistically while looking down at him as he laid paralyzed and dying, his smile wide and crazed, midnight beard black and long, his one red eye burning with hatred. He raised the cursed black spear up, its tip pointed down at him, "VENGEANCE! That was the word!"
"Hættu! Nei!" He shouted while throwing his left hand out, blue flames shot out in a stream before him, the Faunus' Eyes widened, and he quickly moved out of the way. The fire went on for twelve feet before striking a tree and igniting it to the surprise of everyone. Siegfried's eyes widened as it flashed before them in a explosion, the leaves and bark burning to cinders in seconds, before going out like a candle on a birthday cake from the wind.
Everyone, the Knight, his mentor and companions, the Fianna, and his opponent gazed at the site dumbfounded for a solid thirty seconds. It was Cúchulainn who broke the silence first with a whistle, "I gotta say, that's a pretty badass semblance you got." He said getting back into a stance, before a crazed smile spread across his face, "But you just fucked yourself."
[Play 'The Children of Danu'-Assassin's Creed Valhalla OST.]
[Resume at 4:56.]
"W-What?" The Red Head said confused, still shook by what just happened, his mind still racking at what he saw.
"You~just~used~your~semblance." The Faunus sang, and Siegfried realized his folly. In a second, the aura of Cúchulainn exploded in a crimson flash, and killing intent was radiating off him like radioactive dust. His aura was like a raging inferno, his red eyes had widened in madness, and his sclera had turned black, his mouth drooling with hunger. The Tuathan's body began to shake like a tree during a windy thunderstorm, and the sight of him before him began to distort. So did his laughter.
The Young Knight knew this was bad, but he had no idea on how to proceed until the Faunus made a move, which was right after this thought. He was on him in a instant, Gae Bulg sparking his aura as it stabbed his stomach. Siegfried was thwacked back, and he saw a fiery blur in front of him move to his left in a blink, before a roundhouse kick sent him and his sword flying separately, the Hard-Light dust disengaging.
But he was slammed down by a slash from Cúchulainn's spear, he had been flanked in a microsecond. Mud splattered his face and armor as he hit the ground. It wasn't for long though, as he was grabbed by the ankle, and thrown at a tree. At the impact, it buckled and shattered, and his aura almost did as well. Rolling onto his back, he was panting as his vision blurred.
Hearing the Tuathan's jeering laughter, he struggled to push himself up to see the Faunus striding towards him, holding his spear low behind him. The Mantlean started to crawl back away, towards the tree that nearly broke him. Only for his opponent to twirl the spear in his hands, and leap forward shouting "DiE!", as he thrusted down towards his chest.
"Sieg!" He faintly heard his Mentor call out, but his attention was fully focused on the crimson spear that sought to shatter his aura, and pierce his heart. His hands shot out and grabbed it before it struck, surprising Cúchulainn and everyone. His arms strained as the pressure didn't stop, the flaming Faunus looked down at him with glee.
"CoMe On!" He shouted, his Ríastrad shimmering as his voice was distorted, "DiE, DiE, DiE AlReAdY!" His strength greater than his own, making him grunt as he was mad with bloodlust. His strength was leaving him, his grip was loosening, and death was near. But he couldn't give up, he hadn't against Hunding or Skoth, and he sure as hell wasn't giving up to this rabid Bloodhound.
"CoMe On, CoMe On!" The ground beneath them vibrated from the struggle, "JuSt FuCkInG DiE!"
As everything seemed hopeless, a forgotten savior spoke out against the situation. An alarm rang out from his pocket, echoing in the clearing. The Tuathan stopped applying pressure immediately, and Siegfried held his breath, and the spear.
[Stop 'The Children of Danu'-Assassin's Creed Valhalla OST.]
"You're shitting me?" The Tuathan's voice became normal again, as his aura calmed down, and his eyes returned to normal. "It's already been twelve minutes?!" He jerked his spear away, and turned around in a fussy fury. The Knight sighed in relief as he reach into his satchel and pulled out his scroll, and the alarm didn't lie. "DAMN IT!" The Canine Faunus shouted, his right fist clenched and shaking, before turning around in a snarl, "I HAD YOU!"
As he sat up, Siegfried coughed before replying, "Not today, unless you intend on breaking your word sworn by honor..." His subtle question made the Faunus rub his face in aggravation, before he sighed in disappointment.
"Damn it…" Looking back down at the Redhead, he hesitantly offered his right hand, which the Kingdomer took. Once he got to his feet, Cúchulainn said with a tired voice, "Looks like holding back really screwed me over, huh?"
"I ain't complaining." Siegfried said while wiping the mud off his face.
"Of course you wouldn't." The Faunus scoffed while scratching the back of his head.
"So," The Knight began, reflexively readying his hands,"Are you going to keep your word, and let us pass by without a problem?"
"I am a man of my word," He said with a wave of his hand, leaning his spear against his shoulder. "I'm not going to backstab someone like Teach would."
"Alright, I'm going to trust you." He then warily offered his hand, "Good fight."
The Faunus then smirked, his normal jovial demeanor returned as he took the offered hand and shook. "It was a great fight, we should do it again sometime without any handicaps."
"I'll take you up on that in a few years after I graduate." The Mantlean answered him sincerely, before parting and walking over to his blade lying in the mud, and picked it up
"Oh yeah," The Faunus said with a slap to his forehead, "You're a Kingdomer, so that means you're going to one of them academies." A frown spread across his face while he thought, before adding, "Teach told me that they're a waste of time when it comes to learning how to fight, and that the best lesson is personal experience."
Siegfried looked back at him while wiping the muck of his sword, "They're right about that, but all Huntsmen need proper education when it comes to hunting Grimm, and the potential legal troubles that can come up." He could hear the horses galloped as he asked a question of pure curiosity, "Who is your Teacher?"
"Heh," Cúchulainn snickered with a smirk, "She's a black-hearted Bitch."
Duncan rode forward with Grane's reins in his right hand, Fergus and Boudicca rode with him. "I almost thought you weren't going to make it there boy." His Mentor joked, though he could sense the concern hidden beneath his jovial tone.
"I would have if time stood still." A smirk spread across his face as he approached Grane, "But Time was on my side."
"Alright, Fergus, Boudicca, you and your Kingdomer friends can go." Cúchulainn said with exaggerated disappointment, "I'm a man of my word, and Conchobar will have to accept that." As Siegfried climbed aboard his steed, the Faunus raised one finger, "But still, I am Oathsworn to my Uncle, so I'm giving you a six hour head start." As Boudicca shook her head, he finished by saying, "That should be plenty of time to get to Maeve's territory."
"That wasn't part of our agreement." Siegfried said with narrowed eyebrows.
"I know, this is the convenient way you all get to live, and I technically carry out my orders." A shit eating grin spread across his face as he shrugged with his free hand, "Loopholes, am I right?"
"Good enough." Fergus spoke, "I have a message for you to give Conchobar, Sétanta." Firmly getting the attention of both his estranged nephew, Princess and traveling companions. "Fridarheim is in ruins, there is a Grimm horde being led by Rí-Deamhan."
His eyes widened, "Well damn, that explains where the fifty Fianna went." His expression was less of worry, and more surprised than anything. "Thanks for the info, I'll be sure to tell him."
"Thank you for showing us mercy, Nephew." The Tuathan sincerely said, "May Dagda's light guide your way home, and may Danu clear the path which you tread."
"Same to you, Uncle, same to you." He then turned around to go speak to the spectators that were his men, while Duncan turned to his companions.
"Shall we be off then?" He asked, the Princess scoffed.
"Absolutely." Her tone was spiteful as she rode by, Siegfried noticed the glare the Princess gave her bodyguard as she looked back, and he suspected that he'd find out why once they were far from the Spearman. The four of them began down the road as some Tuathan warriors moved out of their way, both amazement and disappointment on their faces.
Cúchulainn looked at them with a small smile as they rode off, before closing his eyes in relief.
Later…
"I'm sorry-" Fergus was cut off by her shrill voice.
"Sorry?!" She shouted in fury, "Sorry isn't going to retract the fact that they will know we're down fifty men, and to be prepared for the Grimm if they come!"
"I couldn't just let them be potentially surprised by them." He defended himself as they rode, "They're Tuatha too, just like me and you."
"They serve a King that wants you, me, and my whore mother dead." She spat while pointing her finger, "A King that killed those Brothers whose word you gave that they would be safe, a King that killed Fiach-"
"Enough!" Fergus snapped with a snarl, "You may be the Queen's daughter, but I won't let you dirty my sons name in your mouth!"
"Dirty? I'm merely pointing out who you've helped." She waved him away, "A Man who did all that to claim a woman my age, who ended up dead anyway." She growled, "Yet you let slip our potential advantage because you're not willing to disregard sentimentality for people loyal to him, and not you!" With a spiteful and hateful tone, she then told him, "You're as incompetent as my limp dick Father!"
The Young Knight couldn't take seeing them fight anymore, "Silence! Both of you!" They both looked back at the Kingdomers behind them, "Save your disagreements for when you get home! We're still in the middle of the wilderness, and you're both being whirlwinds of negativity right now!"
"Keep your nose out of Tuathan business, this doesn't concern you!" She snapped at him, which made the Knight boil in rage.
"I'm sorry, but until we part ways, it is our business!" He snapped back, "You're throwing a hissy fit that could bring Grimm down upon us, because he told his nephew that there's a Grimm horde out there!"
"Don't worry, you'll be free of us in a few minutes Avalonian!" Boudicca looked forward away from him, "Then you can go back to dealing with other Avalonians, and your grander, yet equal disagreements."
"Alright, alright, everyone calm down." Duncan mediated, "I get that you have reasons for your opinions on this matter, your Highness," He spoke to the Princess, "But there is no need to argue about enemies when the Grimm are concerned." The Old Huntsman then pointed back from where they came, "Did they demarcate us back in Fridarheim between Kingdomer, Tuathan and Goth?"
"No, and I don't care about that." Her braided hair whipping in the air as she looked back at them, "I don't want to lose this war, and we are losing it." Looking forward, she continued, "If you two weren't here, Sétanta would've massacred us."
"If Siegfried didn't want to help that town, you both would've died by the Grimm." Duncan revealed, they both looked back in surprise. Siegfried suddenly felt awkward. "I wanted to go around, and leave it to its fate, instead of potentially facing an Eldritch Grimm." He admitted with a look of shame across his face, "I just wanted to get home to my wife and sons without any more risks than necessary." Then he looked at his apprentice, "He rightfully reminded me why we protect people from Grimm, no matter who they are." Looking back to them, he said, "Because it's the duty of Huntsmen to defend against the Grimm, because they are the enemy of everyone."
A silence fell over the riders. Siegfried couldn't help but think on whether or not himself was a hypocrite about his words and behavior. Would he help a Atlesian, or a Vacuan, if they needed saving from a Grimm? Would his words and beliefs hold up in that scenario? His thoughts were disrupted as Boudicca spoke.
"You're right," She softly admitted, before looking to her bodyguard, "I'm sorry Fergus."
"It's alright Princess." He stoically replied, "Let's just focus on getting back to Chonnachta before anymore Ulaids show up on our path."
"How much longer until our paths diverge?" Siegfried asked as they rode down a winding, forested road.
"Just down a curve or two from here now." Fergus answered him, "Then there should be a road to the right that leads to our lands."
"We must've passed it by when we traveled with those Hill Clansmen." Duncan thought back on their journey westward.
"Oh?" Boudicca raised an eyebrow, "Who were these Goths?"
"They were a brother and sister named Floki and Astrid." Duncan innocently answered, causing their Highlander companions to look back at them in shock.
"Floki Silver-Tongue?" She asked with wide eyes, "You traveled with that Serpent?"
Siegfried nodded, and asked, "Yeah, you know him?"
"Who doesn't?" She said with scorn, "He's Hunding's second most infamous son. Everyone has heard the stories about how he's gotten Hunding's enemies to submit to him, or kill themselves at his command." Boudicca looked back at Siegfried, "Did he help you kill his father, or did he try to deceive you?"
"Both." He answered, "He guided us to him under the guise of being some discontented warriors from another clan drafted to fight for him, and when we got to Thórsteinn, he showed his true colors, and tried to present us both to his father as an apology gift for a warband I wiped out." A smile spread across his face as he remembered, "I then challenged his father to a duel with some conditions, and now we've got some treasure, and Hunding's dead."
"Wait," Fergus raised his right hand, "You wiped out a Gothic Warband? By yourself?"
"Yeah, and I defeated Hunding's brother, Agnar Gold-Tooth there as well." The Redhead admitted with some pride.
"I guess it really is no surprise that Sétanta wanted to duel you." The Bodyguard scratched his chin, "You are a promising warrior, and that battle freak loves all challenges." Looking back to the Young Knight, he explained, "Anyone who can defeat Hunding, his brother, and outsmart his treacherous son is halfway to his level."
Boudicca scoffed, "I hope you understand that Hunding's eldest son will probably seek revenge once he claims the Gothic throne. Perhaps some of the others as well."
"Floki told me that, but he never elaborated on who his brothers were." He reflected, before asking, "Who are they?"
"Well, besides his daughter, and his youngest, the fifthborn son is a mixed man named, Sigurd Snake-Eyes, called that because of his serpentine eyes." The Princess began to explicate, "The fourth is Ivar, they call him the Boneless, because of his agility. The third is Askold, known also as Hvitserk, or White-Shirt in your Kingdomers tongue. The second is Lyngvi, the Black." She looked away as she finished, "And finally, his Firstborn and likely heir, Etzel."
Siegfried chuckled as he enquired, "What? Does he not have a nickname?"
"Well…" She said drawled out, before Fergus answered for her.
"They call him The Scourge of Gods." The Highlander answered with a serious tone, "They've said he is a far more cunning and ruthless strategist than his father could've ever hoped to be." The Redhead frowned at this information, Fergus then looked back at him, "I heard he was the one responsible for winning Hunding Thórsteinn, by ending the siege with a clever diversion and assault." He then looked forward again, "When the dust settled, the Thrumuhnefi forces were annihilated, and Hunding rode into that city like it was all his plan."
"What's the chances he continues Hunding's plans for a war with Vale?" Siegfried then asked, concern present in his voice. The Princess then gave her opinion.
"Depends whether or not all the clans sworn to Hunding chose to be independent again." She brushed her braided ponytail over her shoulder, "Considering many of them were compelled by force, it's a good chance many of them will. It will take the Goths a miracle to not fall apart. They don't have nowhere near the unity we have, and we're in the middle of a civil war."
"Why are you all even in a war?" He asked, confused, "Why is your mother and that guy struggling for a throne? They were married weren't they? So what went wrong?"
"You want me to be honest, Kingdomer?" She asked rhetorically, before answering bluntly, "They're both whores." Looking down the road ahead, she spoke with venom in her voice, "They're both claiming the title of my deceased grandfather, the last High King, Eochaid. He had no male heirs, only daughters. Conchobar has a claim because he married three of my aunts, and my mother, had several children with them, and he rules one of the most powerful kingdoms in our land." She elaborated, "My mother however, gained her queendom as a gift from my grandfather, and ever since then she's been on a ambitious quest for power. All the while, she's whored throughout the years."
His Mentor then spoke up with a question, "Who is your father?"
"His name is Ailill, and he's pathetic." She stated with derision. "He's the King, in name only." Fergus turned and opened his mouth for a second to speak, before closing it, and remained silent.
"My mother had laid out three criteria for a husband since she was empowered." She explained, "That he must have no fear, malice, or jealousy."
The Young Knight tilted his head, "Your mother wanted a husband that is brave, yet subservient, and willing to be cuckolded?" He said with disgust, "That's very contradictory."
"Trust me, I know." Boudicca shook her head, "My Father didn't used to be that way, before he was ensnared by her, he was a proud warrior."
"Just how many men has your mother married?" Siegfried asked in amazement.
"Married?" She said, almost as if it was a joke to her, "Well, she first married Conchobar, then she left him. Then she was given Chonnachta after my grandfather took it from its king. But then, she and the previous King became lovers. That lasted until she and Conchobar slept together, and she accused him of force-"
"Princess!" Her Bodyguard shouted in a tone that sounded like a father who just heard his son say something disrespectful.
"What? It's the truth." Boudicca shot him a look of annoyance, "My mother is that petty to do that to a man she hates."
Siegfried waved his left hand as he interjected, "Wait, so she slept with the ex husband, after leaving him, and accused him of that?"
"Yes, and that's primarily what started this Civil War." The Princess clarified, "My grandfather, waged a war to avenge his daughter's honor, and died in battle. So did my mother's lover at the time too." She ran her hand through her hair as they exited the forest into another clearing, "This resulted in a war for the Throne between the simpletons that follow my mother, and the other fools who back Conchobar." With a sigh, she then finished the talk about the past, "Anyway, she then married a man with the same name as her father, and he died when he challenged my Father to a duel."
"By the Lord's Light, I'm surprised Vale hasn't already swooped through this land in the last couple hundred years." The Redheaded Boy shook his head, "Your society is more unstable than mine is at the moment, and that's a grand feat."
She pointed up her nose, and replied, "Well don't worry, one day I shall take my mother's place, and be the High Queen the Confederacy needs." She looked back at him with a grin, "Then perhaps I shall aid your broken, and fallen Kingdom."
"As if the Mantlean Volk would need, or accept help from some Barbarians." He scoffed, "The only reason we're in a bad predicament right now is because of Atlas, and its chains upon us. One day, be it tomorrow, or a another hundred years, we shall be free of them."
"Only Time will tell."
It was only a few minutes after their conversation until they reached the diverging road. It was a well trodden dirt road that led up a low forested hill. While his, and his Mentor's path was forward down the road in front, leading down a leftward curb. "Well, this is it." Boudicca spoke with a melancholic tone, before looking back at them, "I guess this is farewell Siegfried Walsung, and Duncan Blackburn," She looked them both over, as if to burn the sight of them into her memories, "Perhaps we shall cross paths again one day, I hope it is as friends."
"I agree," Fergus turned back to them both, "You're both great warriors, and good men." He complimented them, "I'd hate for us to ever cross blades, I've enough old friends as enemies." The Highlander then looked directly at Siegfried, "And you boy, I have a feeling about you. That I, and everyone on this continent, shall hear of you accomplishing great deeds one day. That is, if you don't get yourself killed first."
"Uh…well…thank you Sir." Siegfried bowed his head, "I am honored that you think that, for that is one of my dreams."
"Well that explains the heroics." Boudicca chuckled, "Then go forth, would be heir of Avalon, and claim your destiny."
He smirked as he met her beautiful icey blue eyes, "I will." She looked away as Duncan then spoke.
"Keep safe on the roads you two, may good fortune be on all of our paths."
Fergus only nodded in response, but the Princess replied, "Keep safe Kingdomers, goodbye." She then moved her horse forward, and so did her Bodyguard.
Siegfried then yelled as they went up the road, "Farewell Princess!" He smiled, "Perhaps one day I shall be a Knight to your court!"
She looked back at him with a genuine smile, and softly said, "We shall see."
He was starstruck by her beauty, and he couldn't help but watch her as they rode off into the woods towards the Highlands of the Tuatha. A depressed feeling took hold in his heart as he looked down at the ground below him and Grane. Before he got lost in it, the Old Huntsman snapped him out of it.
"Sieg?" He asked, making him look up at him, "Ready to go?"
For a moment, he looked back up the road on the hill, before saying, "Yeah, lets go."
Mossshire…
It was something else to return to the place that all the recent chaos began. Siegfried digested the view of the ruins before him. It was near this time six days ago that they rode into the opposite side of the town, when it was aflame, crawling with Grimm, and everyone was either dead, dying or hiding. Now, it was a ghost town. Everyone was gone, either evacuated or hauled off in body bags. The Grimm were nowhere to be seen, he suspected that it was still due to the horde they encounted two days ago. And the fire had long since been extinguished.
All that remained was dried blood, ash and abandoned homes. If Grimm do not infest this town, or Valeans don't come back to rebuild, he could easily see Mossshire become a den for outlaws, or even claimed by the barbarians. But such is life on the frontier.
They rode into the town nice and slow, their eyes scanning the ruins around them. It was so weird being alone with his master, there was no colorful companions to contrast themselves against. Just the two of them, Knight and Squire, and silence all around. It was broken by his Mentor. "We're going to have to stay the night here." He stated with displeasure, looking around with a frown plastured a crossed his face.
"Well, there ain't no shortage of free real estate around." Siegfried scanned the buildings they rode by as he asked, "Where should we stay?"
Duncan then pointed to a two storied wooden house to their right, beyond the end of the street where the road they trodded diverged. It had a wooden picket fence around it on all sides by the road, a empty stable, and a clear path to the front door. There was a brick chimney sticking out its roof with no sight of any smoke denoting occupants. "That should do."
And so they went, first securing their steeds in the stables, then entering the desolate building. It was a cozy abode, the living room they entered had one green loveseat, and one brown recliner not far from the fireplace. Above the loveseat was a painting of a deer drinking by a creek. There was no TV, instead there was two bookshelves stacked with books. The kitchen had golden wallpaper in a style that was popular back in the 50s, and birch wood cabinets. The dining table was made of fine oak wood, and its chairs were as well. Upstairs they found two bedrooms. One was the master bedroom with a king sized bed, and desk by the window. The other obviously belonged to a girl, if the make up mirror didn't give it away, the rose pattern sheets that covered the bed did.
After they made sure the property was vacated, they convened in the living room. Whiles Duncan saw to lighting the fireplace, he approached the bookshelves. He instantly noticed a few classics. Some of them in particular being Bound By Destiny, Slave to the Sword, and Howling at the Moon. He had them back home in his own bookshelf. The first was a fantasy book based on Nord culture about a Nord Hero with the soul of a dragon. The second was about a warrior with a demonic talking Red Sword, and his quest for vengeance against his father. And the third was about a Wild Wolf Faunus Man, and his forbidden love for the Princess.
When he looked back to Duncan, the fire had started. "That takes care of that." He said, before getting up, and setting down in the reclining chair with a sigh of relief. Siegfried followed his lead, and sat down in the loveseat.
"Is today finally over?" He rhetorically asked, "It's felt like three months."
"It is, we just need to get our blankets ready, and throw some more wood, or perhaps some of those books, into the fire."
"Burning books?" He raised an eyebrow at the Old Huntsman, "Who are you? Kaiser Odalrand the Fourth?"
"I'm a weary Old Man who doesn't feel like going outside to a scavage for firewood." He responded as he stroked his beard. "And right there is a bookshelf full of hardcover books that will probably rot anyway. There's just enough to keep the fire going all night."
"You know, your more like your brother than you let on." Siegfried chuckled, "That's something Reagan would say."
"I know. At least I'll admit when I'm lazy." He defended himself, "My brother always cut corners in everything but smithing. When our mother told us to clean our room when we were children, he would sweep everything under his bed, and pretend he just done the most intense work anyone ever had done." Chuckling, he recalled, "Our mother would see through it though, she was clever. And she would make him do my chores as a punishment, and as my reward."
The Young Knight leaned back in the loveseat, resting his head on his left fist, "I bet being around Malcolm and Donald is like a constant flashback to childhood."
"Indeed, it is." He smiled as he thought, "Malcolm is responsible, well mannered, and honest. Like me in my youth. Donald, in contrast, reminds me so much of Reagan, that I sometimes think he sneaks off to spend time in the forge with him, you and Wayland."
"The only time he's ever there is to ask me to spar with either you, Jaune, or Jeanne." Stretching his arms, and yawning, he added, "He wants to be a Huntsman, the same as Malcolm."
"I know. In a way it saddens me." He admitted, "The Blackburn family tradition of one son being a warrior, and the other a smith might end with me and my brother."
"It's technically being carried on with me, Wayland, and Jaune." Siegfried pointed out, "You're training us how to fight, and Reagan has taught us how to use a forge."
"You do have a point," He said with a yawn, "Plus, technically, my Brotther has you and Isolde as children, and your both walking down paths similar to us."
Siegfried blew air in frustration, the memory of his sister returning to him, "Sometimes I wish I had a Brother instead."
"I don't know how you two manage to be the second most disruptive pair of siblings I've ever met." Duncan said while scratching the back of his neck.
"Me neither," He then looked at his master with curiosity, "Whose the first?"
"A Brother and Sister I went to Beacon with." The Hunter began, "They were like night and day, yet still alike. The Brother left behind their…family's traditions, and the Sister reaffirmed them."
"Their traditions?" He asked with a tilted head, "What were they? Inbreeding?"
"Their father was a raider warlord who sent them to Beacon to learn more about Huntsmen to counter them." He informed Siegfried, who was both surprised, and confused by his answer.
"How did they even get accepted?" The Boy pondered, "Surely the staff would've known about their parentage."
"It's pretty simple really." Duncan sat up as he went into detail, "They used a fake last name, and used the classic excuse of being raised out in real rural areas. Despite the Kingdoms best efforts, there's still entire villages out there in the world with people who have no records in any system. It's real easy for people to change there identity when they get registered." He elaborated before getting to the point, "Anyway, in the end, the brother came to renouce his father, and choose the life of a huntsman, despite being his Father's Heir. While the Sister seemed to as well, but in the end, she returned and took her Father's throne, by force."
"Who are these people? What are their names?" His Apprentice asked while leaning forward on the sofa. Duncan sat quietly for a moment, as if debating if he should say their names or not. Eventually, he decided to take a risk.
"The brother, a dear friend of mine, is named Qrow Branwen." The Huntsman told him, "The sisters name is Raven."
"Qrow? Raven? Really?" Siegfried fought back a laugh, "What was their Father's name? Rook?"
"…Maybe…"
Siegfried slowly facepalmed and sighed, "I guess I shouldn't judge that naming tradition of their family," He leaned back into the loveseat, "After all, meine has had one for centuries where every son's name starts with Sieg. But still, where they Faunuses?'
"No, they were humans like you and me. They just had fucked up morals is all that's different." The Redhead looked up at the beige ceiling as he racked his brain about their last name.
"Branwen…I think I have heard that name before somewhere." He faintly recalled some conversations he barely overheard during their travels throughout the years, and even a few in Ansel.
"Well thats because its in their name, The Branwen Tribe, they're a very notorious group of raiders." Duncan enlightened, "They've sowed chaos all over Remnant, but they usually rotate around Vacuo, and the continents of Anima, Ossa, and Dracus. They usually try to avoid Valean and Atlesian territory."
He nodded as he thought, that explained why he hadn't directly heard about them. "I guess that makes sense, considering how compacted the latter are to the former."
"Exactly, all of Mistrals and Vacuos territory is perfect for groups like theirs to operate. And the Alizeans, despite being under the joint protection of Vale and Atlas, is hardly as occupied as they were under the Mistralian Empire. Everywhere in Ossa beyond Alize has basically reverted to tribalistic behavior, if not outright criminal behavior."
"Like their slave trade?" Siegfried sarcastically remarked.
"Exactly. And Dracus is just like the lands we've just left."
"Except for the Mantlean Colonies my people carved out of it." He remarked with national pride, "The 'Stadts' have brought true civilization to that land, unlike what those Mistrali fools did when they conquered Ossa."
"What's the difference?" His Mentor asked, knowing what shit he was about to stir, "Both empires subjugated the peoples of those lands, if not worse."
"The difference? Really Duncan?" Siegfried ask unamused, "My people carved out some of Dracus because their primitive raiders were a nuisance." He stated with conviction, pointing his finger at his teacher, "They raided and raped our frozen coasts, taking many of my Landsleute as slaves back to their barbaric Mistgruben. Just like the Goths have done to this very town we are in." Spreading his arms out wide, gesturing to the ruins beyond the house they sat in, "They're lucky we only took the wings and the tale of that dragon shaped hell. The Mistralians literally stabbed the Alizeans in the back, despite trading slaves, weapons, and dust with each other for centuries. They just wanted their resources for themselves without paying for it."
"You may be right about the variety of causes, but Mantle and Mistral ultimately did the same horrific things as the people they conquered." Duncan rebutted, "Your people conquered the Vingeøyene and Østøya, and forced the natives to convert, or die. Drekalander Women were even given to your Knights and Soldiers as rewards for their participation in the conquest."
The Mantlean faltered for just a second, it wasn't a lie. Converted Drekalander Women were given as brides to bachelor Imperial Knights and Soldiers, so they could plant the seeds of a Mantlean population with ties to the new land. He personally thought it was wrong, but it was a different world back then, and the Drekalanders did far worse.
"That may have been true, but the Drekalanders did the same thing to our Women with the ones they hauled off in raids." He deflected as he regained his composure, "It was wrong what the empire did, but if one doesn't wish to be beaten up, then you shouldn't get in someone's face, and push them. Because you might not like it when they push back." Then he struck the Valean where it hurt, reminding his Master of one of his people's greatest atrocities, "Your people should know that better than anyone with what happened at Ruhig Frieden, and the Great War that followed. Not to mention the Æthelans, and their struggle for independence." He then placed his hands upon his own chestplate, "I acknowledge my people have blood on our hands, and how we settled scores with our enemies went too far beyond Honor sometimes, but when will Vale do the same?"
His words had the desired effect, his Mentor slumped back into his seat for a moment in silence, before saying with a sigh, "Soon, we'll have no choice but to." He then looked back at his apprentice, "Let's put this talk about our Fatherlands to rest, least we summon Grimm with our argument."
"Fine by me, I don't want to end this day with negativity." He accepted, before looking back at his Mentor, and asking, "How long do you think it will take us to get to Venta?"
Duncan racked his brain, before concluding, "It will take two or three days to get to Venta, and after that, a couple of hours to Ansel."
"I wish it were a hundred." He muttered to himself, but he knew it was loud enough for his Teacher to hear when he saw him narrow his eyes on him.
"What's been going on that made you not want to be around Ansel?" He just came right out and asked.
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"Don't play stupid boy," He pushed, "I know when something's up, you're not good at hiding stuff. I've been suspecting something was amiss during this entire trip, but we've been too distracted with our hunt, and the battles we've fought for me to stop and ask what it is."
"…" Siegfried had no words, they were stuck in his throat. Instead, he looked down at his hands.
"Is it something to do with Jeanne?" Duncan inquired, "You've been avoiding speaking about her for weeks now." He pointed out, "You've mentioned Jaune, and the rest of his Sisters, you've mentioned Wayland, and his Brother, you've mentioned Isolde, and my family. But you haven't said a word about her-"
"It's complicated! Ok?!" He bursted out, catching his Mentor off guard. "Something happened, and now, I don't know what to do."
"What happened?" Duncan calmly asked, leaning in from his chair.
"It's…we…" He struggled for a moment to conjure the words to explain what happened, but after a deep breath, he began, "The weekend before we left, during the snowstorm…when me and Isolde were over at the Arcs…" He rubbed his face, "I was on the sectional couch in their living room, trying to sleep when she came downstairs." He remembered the awkwardness he felt when she appeared, the feeling in his chest, the butterflies in his stomach. "She said she couldn't sleep, and that Isolde and Jaune's cuddling made her feel awkward. I told her she could sleep on the other half of the sectional, then we talked for a bit, and then…" The memory of her hand gently gripping his thigh flashed through his mind, "Then it progressed into something else, she came onto me." The way she looked at him, her soft words, her hot breath. It was intoxicating.
"I tried to reject her advances, but I couldn't." He couldn't rally any sort of defense against her siege, she had stormed the castle without fear, "I was weak, I gave into desire, and…and the next thing I know we're kissing, and touching, and stripping." He looked down at his hand, and he could remember the feeling like it was yesterday. His hand and thumb had caresssed something firm, soft, and smooth when he had undid its strap. The memory of her moans ringed through his ears, and set alight the invisable fire which many are ruled by, "We were about to…converge as her twin sisters came down the stairs."
"No way!" Zafira had said with a tone of amazement, her preppy voice exaggerating it with an air of smugness, he jumped off the couch and saw them both in the doorway.
Zafiris looked around her Sister, and saw the state they both were in, her tomboy voice rang out, "Oh my god! You two finally did it!"
"And just like that, everything came crashing down, and I snapped out of my delusion." Shame, disgust, and embarrassment flooded his mind like a busted dam. "I grabbed my clothes, and ran out the door, through the snow, to home." He remembered the snow crunching under his bare feet, he had been thankful that night he had grown up for ten years on Solitas. "I spent the next day in my room, trying to figure out what to do, and I couldn't come up with an answer that wouldn't shame me." He then looked back up at his mentor, "When I did come out on that Monday, there had been talk with some traders passing through town about Hunding, and his raids. We both heard the account that had been passed around from a survivor that had been instructed to purposely spread news by those barbarians to sow fear." He then sighed, and admitted the truth, "I rushed us to leave because I wanted escape, I wanted to go on some grand quest like Randgeir the Red Knight to avoid whatever that mess is. Thats why I haven't mentioned her, or tried to reflect on home that munch." He then rubbed his face with both of his hands, "I just, I just don't know what to do."
"Sieg, I understand being nervous, or ashamed by that." Duncan began, "All men must struggle with desire, and that one chief among them all." He shared a sympathetic look, "But you owe Jeanne some acknowledgement, and you must not, by your honor, leave her without any answers."
"It's not just Jeanne, its everyone." He said in a tired voice, "I have built my reputation by my virtue, and devotion to the lord and chivalry. I have done my best to live by the Seven Virtues, the Eight Values, and the Nine Principles with every fiber of my being." He was so disgusted with himself, "I have admolished and lectured everyone on their behaviors, and have tried to set a shining example." Shaking his head, he gritted his teeth, "My sister will never let me hear the end of my weakness that night when she finds out, and Jaune will be angry with me because of my hypocrisy. I don't even want to imagine what Nicholas' reaction will be like."
"Sieg, you need to face this with courage, no matter the outcome." The Old Huntsman told him stoically.
"I know, its not right for me to be brave facing death, and be a coward with this." Looking down at his hands, he stuttered, "I just…I just don't want…I just don't want to…" He couldn't summon the words in front of his Master.
Duncan then got up from the chair, and walked over to his Apprentice, and patted him on the shoulder. "Lets…just get ready for bed, shall we?" He asked rhetorically, "We can continue this conversation later."
"Yeah, thats fine by me." Siegfried softly responded, Duncan nodded before going to add more fuel for the fire. He just sat there, and thought what he couldn't say. 'I just don't want to break her heart.'
Authors Note:
And it's done, if any of it seemed weak, well, I literally got it done today, and about 70% of this chapter was wrote this week. I hope I can get to Chapter 20 before the new year.
And yeah, I personally felt like I faltered in a few places with the dialogue in this chapter. And the fight felt too short to me. If anyone has any criticism, I'm willing to listen.
Next Update: Maybe next Friday, or the one after that. Depends on what Randomly Generated Events happen in my life.
I'm open to all criticism (I'm writing Fanfiction to improve my writing after all), So please review and give me your honest opinions. If you like it, please be sure to favorite or follow.
Reviews:
Fatswordsman: Well, more than his Canon version. He ain't "Aura? That important aspect of our world that lets people survive lethal strikes? What's that?" Jaune, but he's definitely behind most Trainees his age. A lot of characters have had some slight changes to them, in a effort to improve them.
And on canon characters, one will appear in the next chapter or two, but be vastly different from their original version. And a few shall be named dropped.
RonaldM: True.
The Black Knight: That's an apt comparison, like traveling Skyrim or the Mojave Wasteland, there's always some unpredictable danger on the roads of this version of remnant.
And I'm glad I portrayed her well, Boudicca and Fergus were designed to be foils to Astrid and Floki. And those shows are good (despite their inaccuracies) comparisons, but what inspired the Tuathans plotline is Celtic mythologies, mostly the Ulster Cycle.
I won't spoil things, but I will say Beacon will be more fleshed out, and there will be 'side missions' there. I'm trying to plan it out to be like a actual school, with school events and plots to deal with. And canon things such as initiation, what shall replace the Jaundice arc, and Blake and Weiss' whole Faunus plot drama will diverge greatly. In fact, I guess I will say this. Blake and Weiss have a lot more reasons for their spat in this story than they did in Canon. Honestly, one of the things really that was really getting me into high gear writing a few months ago is that I want to write them already.
And I don't mind suggestions, feel free to offer some up.
I will be introducing certain elements such as characters and locations from them. Things like Ice Queendom might appear as what they were written like, Filler Arcs. The only things I will take from Arrowfell are the towns, and maybe a few characters.
