Knight of Avalon
Chapter-13
Helga, Kay
The Fjord was just how she remembered it. The sky was cloudy just how she remembered it. The grass. The cold wind. The longships…
She remembered all of it.
She had only come to this spot twice in her life. Once, to see off her father and uncles set sail south towards Danmarkr and join Könungr Ælle. Second, to conduct a ritual that she would never forget for the rest of her life.
Every time Helga wished to use the Seidr taught to her as a child and extend her sight across realms, she would forever be cursed to return to this spot.
No matter how much she tried, Helga would always find herself at that accursed spot in her visions.
Helga's dull eyes looked upon the horizon, cold and dead without any sun.
"Bringing back the dead is futile. In the end, we will all be consumed by Surtr's flames in Ragnarök."
A single tear slipped down her cheek as that day came flashing back to her.
Her greatest mistake.
The mistake that cost her everything.
"Forgive me, my child…but it seems your destiny shall be chained to the endless void."
"Gah!" Hega clutched her head, breathing heavily.
"Bad memories?" A voice asked as Helga saw a man sitting on a rock.
"..."
"Ah, sorry. Stupid question. Of course you'd have bad memories. That's just how being a practitioner of Seidr is."
"But besides that…" He spoke getting up. "You seem to be getting along well with that Briton."
Helga looked down. "Kay is an old friend. After all that has happened, he is one of the few people I can trust with everything."
"Really? Everything?"
"..."
The man laughed. "No need to answer. I know already. But you're going on the right track. You'll need his help if the Avalon Le Fae is to succeed."
"Of course."
"What about the unraveling?"
"It…will take time. I am not as much of an experienced Völva as my mother yet."
The man chuckled. "Of course you aren't. If you were an experienced Völva, you'd be the one giving out knowledge, not the one receiving it."
Helga sighed. Despite the harsh tone, the man was right. Before meeting Kay, Helga was embarrassed to admit she was very prideful and arrogant of her abilities. It was only the hunt for Cath Palug that showed her how much she still had to learn.
"But don't worry…you'll succeed where many others have not. You have her help after all." He spoke putting an arm around Helga's shoulder.
"Soon…you'll know all the answers you need, Helga Eiriksdottir. Now go. Focus on helping calm the tension with Hödr at the moment."
Helga looked at the man who simply gave an innocent smile.
…Before she opened her eyes, finding herself in the inn they were staying at in Gloucester, Helga herself floating down on the chair she'd been sitting on. Helga's hair was all over the place, and Helga could even spot tear stains on her cheek. A far cry from her cheerful and calm persona back when she first met Kay.
Another failure.
Helga gripped her gown tightly.
Why? Why can't I see?! Helga thought in frustration. It's always back to that day, that scene again whenever she tries her visions…
Helga put her face in her hands, shaking her head furiously.
She then heard a knock on her door, which her eyes could see through to notice Kay.
Helga's eyes widened as she got up, brushed her haggard hair, hid the tear stain and put up a smile before walking up to the door and opened it to Kay.
"Are you done?" Kay asked as Helga nodded.
"Yes, I am."
"Good, because the brat princess of Britain is standing outside right now, threatening to pull all of us out herself if we don't come out in the next few minutes."
Helga sighed. "The rest?"
"Ready. I figured you were in the middle of one of your spooky visions so we waited for you."
Helga kept smiling, not letting her recent frustration pop up on her face again as Kay narrowed his eyes.
"...You were having a vision, right?"
Helga kept smiling.
"Ah, forget it. You'd never tell me." Kay spoke, shaking his head, as Helga put on her cloak, sheathed her short sword and summoned her Ash staff.
"Really, Helga. We've been friends for…how many years?"
"Not counting my 1500 year hibernation in ice, about 20." Helga spoke as the two of them walked out.
"Yes…I'd expect you'd be more open to me by now."
"Now, now, Kay. We Völva are keepers of…"
"...Dangerous secrets that go against the laws of the World itself. Yes, I know." Kay spoke, rolling his eyes.
"See? You finished my sentences! Isn't that proof of our long-lasting friendship?"
Kay gave her an unamused look as Helga giggled, her smile turning genuine as the stinging of her failure lifted off her shoulders.
She truly missed talking with Kay again. After she left her home, Kay had been the first friend she'd ever made on a foreign land. And after all that they'd been through, she couldn't ask for someone better.
"Really? You know, I finished Artoria's sentences as well. I've told you what happens after that."
"Is that any way to talk to your King?"
"Oh, stop that, Helga! It's been 1500 years now! People in Britain struggle to believe Camelot even existed, let alone live as if they're still Artoria's subjects!"
"Many still worship her as the pillar of knighthood and kingship."
Kay's face scrunched. "All because of some french bloke who couldn't help but insert elements from his favourite moorish books into our lives."
"Do you think he did a good job?"
"Of course not! I like the popularity it got us, but…our 'honourable' tactics would not have worked against Vortigern's deceit."
"Does it really matter now, Kay? Even if it wasn't accurate, it wasn't how you actually tried, did you?"
"Well…my rock-headed sister did wonder about that. A quick slap brought her daydreaming mind back to reality." Kay spoke as he slapped Helga's back, the two friend sharing a laugh before they came out of the inn to see Tam Lin Tristan standing with her arms crossed along with Habetrot, who was glaring at Tristan's weapon and grumbling something about 'I can make much stronger strings than you!' while the Silent Knight stood off to the side, standing awkwardly as his body language gave off the aura of a confused child despite his face being hidden behind a helmet.
"Greetings, Princess." Kay spoke.
"Greetings, slave." Tristan replied back. "Do you not know the etiquette?"
Kay sighed before bowing. "Apologies, your highness."
The Silent Knight stared at Kay in slight surprise as Tristan grinned.
"Remember, slave. This is temporary truce enforced by Murian. Once we're done, I'll be coming after you and your pig of a master."
Kay was surprisingly calm at the insult directed as his master.
"To serve us tea and biscuits?"
Tristan scowled. "Don't play smart with me, Slave. I've dealt with smart-mouthed little boys like you. Hold your tongue, or I'll cut it out." She spoke as Kay gave her a blank stare.
"Understood, your highness." Kay drawled in a bored tone as he stood straight.
"Now, do we have a plan or a place to look into?" Tristan asked in an irritated tone.
Helga frowned. "I…have a way."
Tristan looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"And what is this way?"
…I am a Völva. Contacting one of the Æsir shouldn't be much of a problem for me. Helga thought.
But as she said, the völva are keepers of secrets, secrets that must be kept.
"I am afraid I cannot disclose that." Helga spoke as a look of understanding crossed Kay's face.
"Secretive, are we?" Tristan asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Helga frowned further. From what her clairvoyance told her, there was a high chance Tristan would try to intimidate her…
But Tristan simply smirked.
"How…interesting." Tristan spoke as she leaned back. "I like that. I'll just have to figure it out for myself. Sooner. Or. later."
Huh? Helga thought in confusion. That was slightly surprising. Perhaps the princess of Faerie Britain wouldn't be as much of an easy target to read with her clairvoyance.
"Whatever, Helga. Just do your thing." Kay spoke, putting a hand to Helga's shoulder.
"Ok, this shouldn't take much long." Helga spoke before taking deep breaths to slow down her breathing as she closed her eyes, feeling the mana flow through her veins towards her fingertips. She would just use runes to track down Lord Höðr.
Helga then inscribed Kenaz, Ansuz and Eihwaz runes around her temple, the runes glowing purple wherever her fingers touched her body.
Suddenly, the runes fizzled out as Helga felt some kind of restraints put on them.
Helga grimaced as she sweated bullets in exertion.
"What happened?" Kay asked.
"Its Murian's domain. Its restricting her magecraft." Tristan spoke. "I was expecting this, so…"
"Wait!" Helga spoke as Tristan looked back, walking over to Helga and glaring at her with a her hands to her hips.
"Don't be an idiot, human. Your fancy tricks won't work here in Gloucester."
The domain… Helga thought before she opened her eyes. Runes weren't going to help her here. It seems even they could be restricted by Murian's domain.
Think, Helga. This domain feels like a wall, but it has its holes. You just need the right magecraft to slip past it… Helga opened her eyes as she came upon the solution.
"No, there's one thing that can quickly get me to Lord Höðr." Helga spoke.
"What is it?" Kay asked.
Helga looked back. "Seidr."
Kay's face immediately paled.
"Helga, this is just a searching operation. You cannot be possibly thinking of using that horrifying piece of magecraft again. Don't you remember Ynys Mon?"
Helga grimaced.
"Yes. It shouldn't be a problem…"
"It shouldn't be a problem? Helga, I watched myself die a thousand times across different times the last time you tried Seidr!" Kay spoke pointing at his scarred eye as both he and Helga shivered, her mind going back to that fateful day on the Fjord as Helga touched her stomach. No doubt Kay was himself thinking back to the horrific night of bloodshed on Ynys Mon.
Seidr had scarred both of them, both physically and mentally. It had left them with a deep-rooted fear of the consequences of using it.
"I don't know what this 'Seidr' is, but it sounds pretty dangerous. Do you want to do this?" Habetrot pitched in.
"Wait, before that, what even do you intend to do with Seidr?" Kay asked as Helga looked at him timidly.
"…Separate my hugr and send it to Lord Höðr's location?" She spoke meekly as Kay's eyes widened, having already learnt the terminology from Helga a long time ago.
"Helga, this is a search mission. Are you telling me you plan to rip your own soul out of your body and send it to some other location?!"
"We can't waste time, Kay!" Helga finally snapped back. "We need to get Artoria out of Cornwall!"
Kay's expression changed.
"…Is that why you're doing this?" He asked in a softer tone.
Helga nodded. With the amount of time she'd spent with Artoria, she'd grown close to the young fairy. She'd quickly wormed her way into Helga's heart with her fascination and eagerness to learn about runic magecraft. The thought of her unnecessarily going through the nameless woods really made Helga worry for her safety…
"You know where Britain wants her path to end."
Helga's thoughts stopped. Right, the prophecy of the Avalon Le Fae. The one where Artoria would have to sacrifice herself to forge the blade Excalibur. Kay didn't know, and to make sure he didn't make any rash decisions, Helga found herself unable to tell Kay of Artoria's possible future as well. A future of the prophecy coming true…
…Except there will be changes. Changes that might affect the prophecy itself with what is planned for Artoria.
They would be going against the World itself if Artoria is to survive.
But is the alternative any better? Helga thought, before shaking her head.
Memories of that day on the fjord came back to her, and a sense of fear and hesitation set in briefly.
Kay looked at her. "If you really want to do this…just be careful. I don't think I want to see another Ynys Mon again."
Helga looked at Kay before nodding.
Same here, Kay. Same here. Helga thought.
She needed to be careful with Seidr. If she messed it up, she could end up tearing her soul into pieces.
Helga closed her eyes again, focussing her mana all into her heart rather than her fingertips for inscribing runes. At the same time, Helga uttered a quick prayer to the goddess Freyja, the one who taught humanity the knowledge of Seidr and was its greatest practitioner, before she channeled all her mana into her.
Right at that moment Helga felt her vision completely branch out, her perception of the world going much beyond the physical plane. She could see not just her hamr, her form, but her hugr, glowing blue in her head. Her fylgja, a crow, flew around her, while her hamingja surrounded her hamr like a protective aura.
Helga focussed on her hugr in specific, and began the process.
"Baldrs bana…Skjótanda Mistilteins…Son Óðins… Heljar sinna… Vála dólg…Höðr." Helga chanted, her hugr breaking free from the bindings of her hamr with each Kenning she recited.
As soon as she uttered Höðr's name, her body lurched backwards as her hugr floated out, travelling at rapid speeds across Gloucester until it went into a certain spot within the city's underground sewers. Helga screamed in pain as the separation of her hugr sent a burning pain through her being. For a moment, Helga was seized by a moment of panic.
But the pain was gone just as soon as it set in.
Helga's hugr stopped right in front of the same assassin who'd escaped from the Dome earlier. The assassin was sitting away from the stream of sewage water and was examining an Ulfberht sword.
"I-I did it…" Helga spoke
"I did it!" She exclaimed in delight. This was the first time a seidr spell for her had gone well.
I wish you could have seen this, mother. Helga thought with a wistful smile.
"You know, I was not expecting to meet a Völva here in Bretland." The god spoke as Helga jumped, suddenly remembering why she'd performed the spell in the first place.
"A-A pleasure to meet you, Lord Höðr, I am…"
"Helga Eiriksdottir. I don't forget a voice, you know?" Höðr cut her off.
Helga tried to speak but her voice suddenly seized up as a sense of awkwardness washed over her.
Say something, Helga! Helga thought as Höðr continued cleaning his sword in silence.
The silence stretched on until Höðr slowly turned around.
"Yes? You send your hugr to my location, obviously in hopes of speaking to me, and you shut your trap? What happened, is meeting an Æsir too spooky for you?"
"..."
"Ah, whatever. I know why you're here." Höðr spoke. "But know I'm not going back to her."
Helga pursed her lips.
"I understand, Sir Kay has a plan to ensure you are not handed over to the Dome."
Höðr's face remained impassive as he examined his blade before dipping its tip against the sewer water, freezing it instantly.
"This will do." Höðr spoke bringing his attention to Helga.
"You're not lying, so I'll take up on your offer."
Helga blinked. "That's it?"
Höðr's grip tightened on his grip. "I think you know how I could tell the lie, m…Völva."
Helga looked down.
"Tell your friends to meet me in the forest near the city. And control that draugr as well. If she makes even a single funny move, I'll fucking chill her yapping soul." Höðr spoke as the air suddenly turned cold and wet.
"As you wish, lord Höðr." Helga spoke as she went to return to her hamr.
"And Völva Helga…" Höðr spoke as Helga's hugr stopped.
"Every living creature has an end. Everything will dissolve into the Ginnunagagap, ."
"And what about the prophecy?" Helga asked.
"That's Avalon's headache…"
"Not Avalon. I'm talking about our prophecy. The aftermath of Ragnarök."
Höðr went silent.
"...Maybe such a world has come to place, we just weren't a part of it."
"Lord Höðr…" Helga spoke with a frown.
"Right, right. I know. Perhaps a part of us does want to see Baldr's perfect world. But you know very well who the prophecy spells out will survive."
Helga looked down.
"That's enough. We are not in the new midgard, but still in this odd island ruled by the denizens of Avalon. Devote your mind to your Breton friend and meet me outside the city walls at night. But I warn you…things might not go smoothly."
Helga nodded before her huge zoomed away from Höðr's location, zipping back into her hamr, which was being cradled by Kay.
Helga sat up with a loud gasp as she found herself on a nearby bench, Kay jumping back as he stared at her, while Habetrot and the Silent Knight stared at her in confusion.
"What in the bloody name of Dubric did you just do?" Kay asked. "It's like your spirit jumped out of your body."
"Kay…we scandinavians don't have such a simplistic division between the body, mind and spirit. Having my 'spirit jump out of my body' is a gross oversimplification of what I just did."
"Whatever it was, it was just how Grímr used to do it…" Habetrot spoke.
Helga's mind stopped to a halt.
WHAT?! She thought as her head snapped towards Habetrot.
"Wait, did you just say 'Grímr'?" Helga spoke as Habetrot flinched.
"Um, yes?"
"Did this Grímr look like an old man with a fur hat and black cloak?" Helga asked.
"Um, no? Grímr was just a young blue haired fairy from Orkney like Aesc." Habetrot spoke. "I mean, he did have two wolves and two ravens with him."
…The All-father was here in Britain. Helga thought.
She was aware of some of the deeper details about this Britain's history, but the fact it had caught the All-Father's attention…
There's something I'm missing. Helga thought. The All-father's personal intervention meant something big was in Britain.
Could it be…that? Helga thought back to the pit near Camelot.
Whatever the case, she'll see more about the All-father's possible presence when they met lord Höðr again.
"But anyways, Lord Höðr said to meet him the forest near the city."
"Hm?" Tristan perked up. "He wishes to meet in the Forest of Dean? Now that is interesting."
"What do you mean?" Kay asked as Tristan shot him a look.
Wha…oh are you joking? Kay thought in annoyance before clearing his throat.
"What do you mean, your highness?" He asked as Tristan gave a cheeky smile.
"The forest of Dean is a short journey from here. Small forest, nothing like Yorkshire, but it has its fair share of danger."
Habetrot slumped with a sigh. "Ah, right. It's where the Boar of the Rifts lives."
"Context?" Kay asked.
"During the Calamity of rifts in Orkney where the Outer Beast came into Britain, it tore into space with its claws to create more rifts that brought in beasts from other worlds. Aesc had to take down them down after she slew the Outer Beast, but one of them escaped to the Forest of Dean in Gloucester. Its always been a problem, but its eluded our forces, and the High Queen doesn't exactly wish to do act upon it, because it does nothing but prey on fairies that come into the forest. It doesn't enter Gloucester."
"How bad is it?"
"No one's been able to kill the Boar since Aesc became…Aesc died in Orkney. I don't think Höðr knows about it, but should it attack…"
"Its fine. We'll have to deal with it. Let's meet at the given time." Kay spoke.
Höðr sighed as soon as Helga's hugr disappeared.
"Damn it…" He spoke before inspecting his ulfberth sword once again.
"Whoever has me inside them, they certainly know their smithing…" Höðr muttered.
While it was clear the swordsmith was more used to making swords in the style of the eastern reaches of Asaland, it didn't take much time for his body to adapt to making more western swords.
While the dwarves obviously were much better in the art of making weapons, Höðr wasn't a slouch either. Making tools of war and battle was something he could manage.
Höðr made a round shield of ice and took a few practice swings, his sword being a wave of darkness as he did so. Höðr also slung a bow of made of shadows on his back.
Again, he highly doubted the blacksmith would be comfortable using weapons from a distant land, but he could use the help he could get.
We don't want a repeat of Camelot, do we? Höðr thought with a scowl, thinking of his host's encounter with the Hand of Albion.
I can take that little brat down as long as she doesn't decide to let the dragon loose. Then things get complicated. Höðr thought.
But for the time being…
Höðr shot a bunch of ice arrows which impaled some bugs buzzing up from behind him.
"That's the fourth time now, bug!" Höðr growled.
"If you want to do this, know that there's a big difference between a faerie and an Æsir of Asgard!" He snapped.
The 'bug' who was lurking somewhere in the sewers, giggled.
"Hmph, this son of a pig does realise the difference. Otherwise he would have actually attacked me already." Höðr grumbled, as he sat down.
"Hm, I wonder if he's going to attack the others?" Höðr muttered.
"Feh, no fun." Oberon Vortigern muttered as the nordic deity shot down a bit more of his pets.
He knew his limits. Without the abyssal insect, Oberon Vortigern did not stand a chance against a god's power. Confronting Höðr at this point would just be stupid.
But besides that, the fact he is even here is confusing. His Oberon side thought.
Murian's domain isn't this effective! His Vortigern side growled.
Another interference. Both of them thought. Not only with Artoria summoning Kay, but someone else bringing Ritsuka Fujimaru out of the Nameless Woods and sending her to Morgan.
Why are so many predictions going wrong? Why? Why?! Oberon Vortigern thought in frustration.
And Puck… The Oberon side thought.
Why is Puck here?
Puck being a lostbelt version of himself was perfectly plausible, but there was also a chance it could be his servant from Proper Human History.
Kay was already dangerous for his plans for Artoria, but Puck? Puck could make things even worse.
"So many deviations…" Oberon began.
"It's…It's…"
"Disgusting." Oberon Vortigern spoke as his head suddenly jerked to the side.
Oberon Vortigern shook his head before Kay's image came to his mind.
"Sir Kay must die tonight."
It wouldn't be long before Boggart decides to rise up in rebellion against Morgan. If he hasn't taken out Kay and managed to bring Artoria before Morgan decides to act, then he would truly lose control of the battlefield. He would be going in to things without control, without knowledge…
"Artoria must not be in Sheffield when Morgan attacks." Oberon Vortigern declared.
This was his final chance to get things on track to how they were. It shouldn't be too difficult, considering the Boar of the Rifts was in the Forest of Dean. All he needed to do was guide it to their group, as well as separate Kay. He doubted the Boar could handle the group, but Kay…
He just needed to assist the Boar once Kay was separated. Then, it was possible.
"hehehe…"
"...!" Oberon Vortigern suddenly whirled around in the direction of the giggle.
Who was that? They thought.
Oberon Vortigern tried to sense for any presence, but whoever had giggled had vanished as abruptly as they came.
Oberon Vortigern then noticed a piece of paper on the ground. Furrowing his eyebrows, he knelt down to pick it up.
Good evening, little bug. Answer me this:
All liars wear masks
Every day like simple tasks
But come the face at last
Is it also a mask,
If I may ask?
Oberon Vortigern grimaced as a smiling face appeared on the corner of the sheet, letting out a shrill laugh before it burst into flames.
"Someone's playing a game on me…" Oberon Vortigern grumbled before a concerning thought came to mind.
Whoever it was, they knew.
Oberon slowly looked back at his hand.
"Looks like I've got my next target after Kay." He muttered.
Gloucester was not a city that made a distinction between night and day. Eveb after dusk settled in, the city's marketplaces continued buzzing with activity.
To Kay, who was so used to the quiet lights and streets of the Briton villages back in his Britain, blinked in irritation at the loud and bright shining lights coming from Gloucester's shops.
"I seriously hate these lights." Kay spoke.
"Honestly…I agree." Helga, who was also used to quiet lights of her village in the snowy fjords of Scandinavia, spoke.
Tristan, who was walking ahead, was oblivious to their mutual dislike.
"Do you want me to shut the lights off?" Helga asked with a slightly mischievous smirk.
Kay shot her an unamused look as Helga pouted.
"You could just say no…" She spoke dejectedly.
Habetrot walked awkwardly behind Tristan while The Silent Knight trailed at the back…remaining as silent as ever.
Just who is he, I wonder? Kay thought before shrugging.
Whatever it was, it wasn't his place to know. Considering that Helga, a witch who dabbled in out of this world magic, was trusting enough of him was enough to know he wasn't hiding anything bad…
…Although it didn't mean he wasn't hiding anything.
Ah, we'll know sooner or later. Kay thought as the group continued moving, the lights of Gloucester slowly getting dimmer as they went into the outskirts of the city.
"Ah, much better!" Kay and Helga both spoke in exasperated tones as Tristan sighed.
"I shouldn't be surprised considering you two are the pig's companions, but really? Are you this much of country bumpkins that Gloucester's night lights irritate you? What will you do when you come to Camelot?"
"Shut my eyes off, your highness, like any sane person. Oh wait, I'm referring to humans of course. I don't know about fairies." Kay spoke sarcastically as Tristan's nostrils flared.
Kay noticed Tristan's failnaught glow blood red.
"Ah, perfect. Here comes the 'I'll cut your tongue off' threat'. That reminds me of something – I feel sorry for your tongue. Us normal humans already feel a terrible sting when we bite our tongues, I can't even imagine what those twin horrors of yours can do if you bite your tongue."
Helga giggled while Habetrot sighed shaking her head. This had been a repeating process ever since Kay started testing just how far he could push Tristan until she decided to break the truce and skin him alive. Clearly, both Kay and Helga were having a sadistic joy at Kay cracking jokes upon jokes at Tristan's expense.
Maybe a part of him just did not like that his depressed lover boy of a colleague had been replaced by a psychopathic bloodsucker. But whatever it was, Kay really wanted to see just how 'dignified' the Princess of Faerie Britain was.
"I'm not a weakling. It doesn't matter to me."
"So you do bite your own tongue. Good to know." Kay spoke before tilting his head.
"But if you do that…does that mean you drink your own blood?"
Tristan whirled on Kay with a fiery rage in her eyes.
"Spit out another childish insult, slave. Spit it." Tristan threatened him as Kay shrugged.
"Well, there's the limit." He spoke as he quieted down.
"So immature." Tristan commented as they continued walking. The group was able to reach the main gates, where the guards let them outside.
"Alright, so where did he ask you to meet him?"
"Um..." Helga spoke before suddenly Tristan froze over in a block of ice.
"This will do." Höðr spoke stepping out of the shadows of the walls as Kay and the Silent Knight unsheathed their swords, Habetrot jumped back in fright while Helga bowed in reverence.
"Greetings, Britons. I am Höðr, Æsir of darkness, winter and battle. Or if you wish to go by a more well-known title 'The poor schmuck who killed his invincible brother'." Höðr spoke as Kay was slightly taken aback by the rather informal tone of the god.
"I know you were expecting me to be a little bit more posh. It makes sense, considering I am a son of Odin, the patron of poetry, but I really stopped caring about that kind of talk a long time ago."
"And no need to introduce yourselves. I know." Höðr spoke raising his hand as Kay went to speak.
"Actually, I wanted to ask how were you summoned here, Lord Heudr?" Kay asked.
"It's Höðr, but no, I wasn't summoned here per se. More like my host was."
"The servant, I presume?" Kay spoke, gesturing at the body of the red-haired boy.
"Yes. They're apparently a blacksmith from eastern Asaland named Senji Muramasa, a servant who had my divine core as well as another god's shoved into him by that alien messenger. The other god's dormant, and so is Muramasa. Right now, its just me in this body who can talk to you."
"But how did that happen?"
"Its probably this fairy domain. I heard it tends to flip things upside down. So, I guess it did a little switcheroo between me and Muramasa."
"But that shouldn't be possible? Murian's domain can alter a creature's form, but not its spirit." Habetrot countered.
"Plus, why was it you and not the other god?" Kay asked.
"For the first question, I guess considering that servants are spirits given physical form, the spirit would count as our form in this case. As for the second question, the other god is from Muramasa's land, across the world from Britain. On the other hand, I come from Scandinavia, a region that has had deep cultural ties with Britain since the Germanic tribes invaded the island. But more importantly…"
"…This island has hints of Scandinavian influence."
"Huh?" Kay spoke tilting his head.
"It might be because of Orkney. From my knowledge of future history, Orkney did become more like Scandinavia than Britain." Helga spoke.
"I would agree…but this is different. I feel like Scandinavia's influence here is deeper than a cross-cultural connection. And also, I have had a very unsettling feeling ever since I woke up in the prison cell." Höðr spoke.
"An unsettling feeling?"
"I can't put my finger on it, but I heard father's voice speak to me regarding this. He said: 'Seek the Avalon Le Fae, you will find your answers during the pilgrimage with her.''
Kay and Helga exchanged looks.
"So, you mean to say is…"
"I shall join you, to find out the reason behind the Nordic influence in this Lostworld as well as the source of the unsettling feeling." Höðr spoke. "Although I should warn you that once I leave Gloucester, the effects will disappear and I will go dormant again with Muramasa in the lead. So, völva…" He spoke turning to Helga.
"Anchor me to Muramasa's hugr."
Helga bowed.
"As you wish, Lord Höðr." She spoke before turning to Tristan. "What about her?"
"The Draugr serves who I believe is the enemy. I would rather not have her learning information that could put us in a tight spot." Höðr declared.
"Understandable." Kay spoke as Helga walked up to Höðr.
"Um, Lord Höðr…"
The air suddenly went cold.
"I've held back the influence of the fae domain around this spot. Your runes should work, because after last time we met, I doubt your control over your seidr…"
Helga pursed her lips at the harsh comment but nodded.
She then inscribed a bunch of runes upon Muramasa's body, with a soft blue glow enveloping the body as Höðr's hugr found itself anchored to Muramasa's.
"Good, now I shall continue retaining my consciousness even after we leave Gloucester. In that case, I shall see you in Sheffield."
"You're not coming with us…?" Habetrot asked.
"There is one last business I need to wrap up. Also, I just need to inform Muramasa about the situation as well."
"Very well. We shall be seeing you in Sheffield, lord Höðr." Helga spoke.
"Good, but before that…Briton." He spoke as Kay turned to him.
"Follow me." He spoke.
"Alone?"
"Yes." Höðr spoke as Kay nodded to the others before following Höðr into a bit of a distance away from the group.
"From what I gather, your master is a different variant of your younger sister?" Höðr asked as Kay blinked before nodding.
"Yes. It's one of the biggest reasons I'm sticking with her." Kay spoke.
"I see. In that case, I wish to ask you a question." Höðr spoke.
"Yes?"
"If you were given a choice to save your master or saving your world…what would you choose?"
"Obviously, I would…I would…" Kay tried to say his answer, but found himself hesitating.
What would I choose? Kay thought.
"So, you are not sure." Höðr observed.
"No! I am…!" Kay tried to protest before slumping.
"I'm…not sure."
Höðr nodded slowly, his own face set in contemplation.
"Very well. Perhaps you'll figure out your answer soon enough."
Höðr turned back to leave.
"Lord Höðr!" Kay called as Höðr turned back.
"From what Helga told me, you are the twin brother of the god Baldr, no?"
"Yes, I was." Höðr spoke in a more somber tone.
"What would you choose?" Kay asked as Höðr hummed.
"Honestly, I'm not ready myself. I guess neither of us are really ready to give an answer to this question. See you in Sheffield." Höðr spoke as he melted into the shadows of the trees.
At that moment, Kay heard a loud roar.
That…does not sound like a boar at all. Kay thought, before he rolled, a set of jaws snapping over his head.
Kay put on his helmet and brought up his sword, getting a closer look of what was attacking him.
It was a massive reptilian creature standing tall on its four legs, with a long snout that had long, tusk-like teeth on it. The creature wore some sort of colorful headdress with long red feathers sticking out of it.
The creature's eyes were bulging out and darting all over the place, with some dark blue flames burning around its edges.
"How did this thing get called a boar…?" Kay spoke in confusion as the creature let out another roar before lunging at Kay again.
Kay dashed to the side and swung his sword at creature, leaving a deep gash.
That's a deep wound. It should be able to…huh?
The wound that Kay made suddenly had a green glow around it, as the creature's cells rapidly regenerated and stitched its muscles and vessels back together.
It can heal?! Kay thought flabbergasted as the creature roared again.
"Alright then…that's still fine." Kay spoke before he activated his scarred eye…
Only for it to blink rapidly and fizzle out.
"Right…the domain." Kay noted in annoyance before the creature grabbed Kay with it's jaws, his armor protecting him from his teeth but still bending and creaking from the force of the bite.
The creature shook its head wildly a few times, further damaging the armor before it dashed him against a tree.
Kay tried to use his water shield, but it had completely lost all shape and form, lying in a puddle on the ground. Kay then tried to channel fire through his feet in an attempt to propel himself out, but the flames sputtered out.
Damn you, Murian…I can't use anything! Kay thought. He only had a few seconds before his armor broke…
Glowing red strings wrapped around the beast's jaws, forcing them open as Kay fell out and tumbled to the ground. He shook his head and looked up to his saviour.
"You?" Kay asked as Tristan looked down at him, a frown on her face.
"You…saved me?"
"You're currently my ally, Woodwose said I should be helping my allies…" Tristan spoke, although Kay could tell she was just as confused about her actions as he was.
"But that's it. After that, when you're back with the pig, I won't be hesitating to let Woodwose rip you to shreds." Tristan spoke.
"This is the boar?" Helga spoke in confusion.
"Yeah, this looks nothing like one!" Kay spoke to Habetrot.
"What? It has tusks!"
"Those are teeth!"
"Don't blame me! Blame the locals who came up with the name!"
Kay sighed as the creature shook its head, Tristan's strings breaking easily. It attempted to charge at the group, but the Silent Knight charged forward and stopped it, holding it back.
Habetrot and Tristan attempted to wrap strings around it again, but the creature broke through them and struggled against the Silent Knight.
"Murian's domain is weakening Failnaught." Tristan muttered.
"The boar is highly resistant to fae magic as well." Habetrot spoke, as Kay frowned.
"Helga…pump in some mana." Kay spoke as Helga nodded and inscribed some runes on him.
Kay then ignited his blade.
"Out of the way!" He called as the SIlent Knight immediately dived away.
"Strike Flame!" Kay spoke as he swung his blade, sending a wave of fire at the beast.
The beast unexpectedly yelped and tried to run away, but was caught by the heat.
That should get him off the knight. Kay thought before noticing something.
The fire had as expected singed the beast, but the beast wasn't attacking anymore. Instead, it was groaning, scrambling away from the fires as Helga doused it with water.
"It sounds…terrified." Helga noted as Kay looked at his blade.
"Its scared of fire." Kay spoke looking at his flaming blade.
Kay walked closer to the beast, who snapped at him, but avoid the fire in abject terror.
"I think I've…"
"Kay…"
Kay jumped when he heard a weak voice that sounded like Artoria's in his mind.
Kay's heart went cold.
"That sounded like a command spell…"
"Help…"
Kay suddenly found his body dusting away.
"Woah! What's happening?!" Habetrot spoke.
"Its master! She's using a command spell! Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Kay replied, as he found himself being taken away from Gloucester and south towards Cornwall.
"Kay's gone!" Habetrot spoke.
"He did say he'll be fine, and I think I heard about command spells from Artoria. So he should be fine."
"But we aren't…" Tristan growled in annoyance as Kay's disappearance emboldened the beast.
Helga looked at the beast and quickly lit a flame in her hands.
The beast immediately lost its bravado and scampered back in fear, staring at the fire.
Its frozen with fear. Animals aren't this scared of flames… Helga thought in confusion. It almost seemed like a reaction to trauma than simply a natural aversion to fire.
It seemed like she would have to peer deeper.
Helga closed her eyes and inscribed a Kenaz rune onto her temple. Helga then focussed into the beast's memories.
One moment, all Helga saw was darkness. The next…she found herself looking at what seemed like a landscape taken out of Muspelheim itself.
The sky was black not because of space, but because of black smoke that blotted out the stars. In the distance, the faint orange glows of erupting volcanoes could be seen as the ground was covered in rivers of lava. Around her, Helga could see walls of flames.
And within this inferno, Helga spotted a multitude of creatures attempting to run from the scene, all wearing different types of headdresses like the beast.
Among those, she saw many creatures that look exactly like the beast that they were fighting running as well. Some got caught in lava bursting from the ground, others were consumed by the flames or blown away by chunks of volcanic rock being thrown out by the eruptions.
She saw the beast whose memories she was looking at, running three much smaller ones.
Its children… Helga realised as the beast beckoned its children to follow her, trying to find a way to escape the hellish landscape.
As the beast ran, one of the chunks thrown out by the volcano landed right next to them, throwing the beast and its children away.
The beast got up, but the children were nowhere to be seen. It looked around in concern, before letting out a call, calling for its children to come. But there was no response.
The children had been lost to the fires.
The beast continued calling out, but then Helga noticed some sort of claw emerge out of thin air and rip into space itself, creating a sort of hole in reality to show what looked like Britain.
The beast called out for its children one last time, but a bunch of flames forced it to run through the portal, emerging into what looked like Orkney during the calamity of rifts.
At that moment, Helga's vision stopped as she looked at the beast.
Oh gods… Helga thought in horror as she shut off her flames. She noticed at that point, that there was something wrong with the beast's mind as well.
Almost like…
"Hold it down!" Helga ordered the Silent Knight as he charged at the beast, wrestling it to the ground as Helga rushed at the creature.
She quickly inscribed a Thurisaz rune onto the creature's head, breaking whatever being's hold there was over it.
It didn't attack us out of hostility. It is not in control of itself. Helga thought.
The creature thrashed and struggled, as Helga again realised what she had to do.
"Seidr again." Helga spoke. She was apprehensive of using Seidr once again. Yes, last time her spell worked, but Helga wasn't confident enough to use Seidr again.
"But…" Helga shook her head, as she pinched her throat and uttered a quick chant, in an attempt to speak to the creature's hugr.
Her throat burned as Helga initially couldn't get anything out, but Helga coughed and tried again.
"Please, stop." The creature heard Helga speaking in its hugr.
"Who is that?" A harsh voice demanded back.
"It is I." Helga spoke waving to the beast.
"What? Impossible, you do not have a shred of Malla in you. How are you speaking to me?"
"I cannot explain. But please, stop this. You are no longer under someone else's control."
"Lies! All you fairies do is harm me!"
"What?"
"That's what they all do! They come here, only to harm me and take my skin! So I kill them!"
"...I see. But please, we do not intend anything like that. We were just helping our friend?"
"Lies!"
"Stop!" Helga told the Silent Knight. "Let her go."
The Silent Knight looked at her with a questioning tilt of his head.
"Yes, that is what I am trying to say. Let her go." Helga spoke as the Silent Knight stepped back.
"Uh, Helga?" Habetrot spoke. Tristan tilted her head in confusion.
"Trust me." Helga spoke raising her hands. Habetrot put away her strings, but Tristan didn't put Failnaught away.
"We promise we don't wish to harm you." Helga spoke as the beast stared at her and then at Tristan.
"Don't worry about her. She looks scary, but she's not going to do that…"
Helga stopped. Actually, Tristan was exactly like the kind of fairies this creature was scared of.
Clearly the beast could see that as well, and it was looking at Tristan warily.
Tristan frowned as Helga sent a pleading look at her.
I don't know if she is going to do it. Helga thought.
O All-father, please. Please don't let Tristan do tihs. Helga prayed.
Tristan looked at the beast before putting Failnaught away.
"Y-You don't mean harm?" The beast asked.
"We don't. So please, no need to do this." Helga replied.
"O-Okay." The beast spoke as Helga's throat started burning.
I've been using my Seidr for too long. Helga thought with a wince before cutting the connection.
"It's not attacking." Tristan noted as Helga raised her hand, the beast staring at it.
For what seemed like eternity, the beast continued looking at Helga's hand, unsure to trust Helga's words…
…Before gently pressing its snout against her hand.
Helga let out a sigh of relief, as she smiled at the others.
Her seidr was doing a lot better now. It was going better than it had in the past.
"Kay, are you alright?!"
"Helga, you're burning up!"
Memories of Ynys Mon came to mind, a place that had been both physicall and mentally exhausting upon her and Kay during their hunt for Cath Palug.
She was happy this time things were much smoother.
"But what do we do now?" Habetrot asked, looking at the creature.
Helga looked back at the creature. When she'd first heard of it, she'd imagined a terrible monster who killed anything that ventured into the forest…
But what she'd seen was only a mother who had lost her children in a world being consumed by fire, and taken to a place foreign to her, filled with fairies who wanted to kill her for fun.
Helga thought back to that day on the Fjords. When her first usage of Seidr happened. A big disaster which had ended with Helga losing her mother.
She thought back to another day, when she'd watched her father leave for Danmarkr as a child, not knowing he would ever return.
The creature had lost its children.
Helga had met someone who had lost family, and found themselves in a world not their own.
Helga looked at the creature again.
"I'll be taking it." Helga spoke. "Back to Sheffield."
"Are you sure?" Habetrot asked.
"Yes. I can't leave her here in the forest. She'll be safer with me."
The creature perked up.
Tristan crossed her arms. "Really, you'll take this beast?"
The Silent Knight also crossed his arms in apprehension.
"Its fine. She won't harm us." Helga told the Silent Knight.
"I didn't ask out of concern for you, mage." Tristan spoke as Helga sighed.
"Tristan, please…"
The Silent Knight suddenly stepped in front of Tristan. He was about her height, but his helmet stared at her, daring her to further object.
"Neither was I asking because I was going to kill it. Take it if you want to." Tristan spoke with a huff.
Helga smiled and looked back at the beast, whose eyes, only filled moments with hostility, now stared at her in wide-eyed curiosity.
"Its ok. I'll make sure you are safe." Helga spoke with a smile. The creature let out a soft growl, but one that was more of happiness than anger.
Baobhan Sith watched the whole interaction with a frown.
She was surprising herself the more she went on. First, it was saving the slave's life. As much as Woodwose had lectured her about preserving allies, Sith didn't really care. She didn't know why she saved the slave there.
And next, was the foul beast. There couldn't have been a better opportunity for her. The Boar of the Rifts was something the people of Gloucester really wanted killed. If she'd killed it then and there, then she would have improved relations between Camelot and Gloucester. She would have done something that would have made mother proud.
The creature was too dangerous, and she could have killed it.
But then it reacted so strongly to fire. The amount of fear it radiated nearly made Sith salivate. So much negative emotions, so much of it she could feel. But then the creature seemed less like a monster and more like another one of mother's snivelling courtiers before she hacked them to pieces and ended their pathetic lives. In that moment, Sith found herself a new emotion - pity.
And when the human mage looked at her, as if she wanted to solve the problem by pacifying the beast, Tristan wanted to ignore her.
She wanted to kill the beast, claim the personal glory, and maybe use the beast's skin as a new design for her couch in her personal quarters.
But at that moment…
"Perhaps you don't need to kill to be happy, Lady Sith."
George's words came back to her mind, and something made Sith put Failnaught away.
Why? Why am I letting this happen? Sith thought, not really feeling any happiness or frustration. She just felt…doubtful. Unsure.
Watching the human pacify the beast…it tugged at a memory.
Tristan couldn't reocgnize, the memory seemed like something from the past, but it was too alien for her to see it as hers…
Or was it her memory?
Mother had taught her that violence was the only way for her to ensure her happiness. All other fairies and humans fail trying anything else. Kindness had no place in the world, and only fear and aggression could get her the results she wanted.
And yet…
She was watching the complete opposite happen.
W-Was mother wrong? Sith thought as she shook her head.
"I-I need to see George…" She whispered softly, extremely troubled at sheer absurdity of the thought she just had.
"Hey, where did Kay go?" Habetrot asked, while Sith was too lost in her own thoughts to hear her.
Kay found himself in a ruined city, right in front of a massive palace, with multiple craters in the ground.
He saw multiple creatures lying dead, hacked to pieces with a sword…and Artoria's group.
Da Vinci was sitting on the ground, clutching her stomach as blood trickled down the corner of her mouth.
Puck stood beside her, with bruises on his face.
Anice was sitting, having a black eye and cuts over her face as her right arm was limp, like it had been broken. She was cradling someone with her one good arm…
Kay's eyes widened.
His master lay on Anice's lap, her body unmoving as her eyes, the staff of selection lying off to the side. Her hat had fallen off, and her blonde hair was stained red with blood, which was trickling from her head down across her face.
On her stomach…was a very deep wound, from a blade that had looked like it had run her straight through.
"...Little sister?" Kay asked softly.
A/N: So, I went to Oxford on a winter school program for two weeks, and I came back yesterday, meaning my college break has officially begun. The trip was really amazing, and I got so much information for writing the Oxford arc in this story. All those times I was out roaming the streets of Oxford has given me so much ideas to work with when the Oxford arc comes, especially during visits to the Ashmolean and all in all, it was just so good. IRL Oxford is such a calm and peaceful place, that walking in it almost made me switch sides and start rooting for Woodwose. It almost made me want to write Artoria loose and just write a scene of them being paraded in defeat throughout Oxford. That's how much I fell in love with the city.
As for UK in general, again, such a delightful experience. I went to London two times, where I visited the site of the London Mithraeum (Old Roman temple dedicated to the Iranian god Mithra) and accidentally found Boudicca's statue at Westminster. Like, I was just looking for a good angle to photograph the Houses of Parliament and I accidentally spotted Boudicca's statue. I then stood there imagining FGO Boudicca standing on that chariot. I also saw Richard the Lionheart's statue at Westminster, and it really made me realise that Fate sort of...lessens the impact our mythical and historical figures have had on history (At least in my opinion). Seeing the majesty of the statues of both Boudicca and Richard, and then comparing them with the designs of the FGO counterparts, I just realise FGO's Boudicca and Richard just don't have the sheer amount of weight and presence their statues at Westminster do. Its a fun thing I noticed.
And before you ask, no. I did not visit Arthur's tomb in Glastonbury. I was considering going there, but after researching its background and looking at its really sketchy nature. Simply being in Britain was enough for me.
But onto the chapter, this is the Helga chapter. Its time I started fleshing out my OCs, so here we are, with character exploration of Helga and a slight development for Sith. the 'Boar of the Rifts' here is inspired by the Beast of Dean, but beyond that I won't elaborate further. Points to those who are able to guess what direction I am taking with the Boar's backstory.
But anyways, next is the final chapter of the 'Gloucester-Cornwall' arc. After that, I can say is the end of Part-I of this story with the battle of Sheffield.
And with that, 100,000 words hit. And in only 13 chapters. That means this story is now about the same size as the NA scripts of the Russian and Scandinavian lostbelts each, and only slightly shorter than Babylonia. Heck with the target I've set for myself, I think I might end off this story at about twice the length of Part-1's NA script and definitely longer than the NA script of LB6. I'll post a talk about the story next chapter.
Hope you guys enjoyed and constructive criticism is appreciated!
Foot Notes:
Asaland: According to the Ynglinga Saga, Asia is termed as Asaland. So of course, 'eastern reaches of Asaland' refers to Japan. Now, while the Ynglinga Saga also geographically places Asgard in Asaland, I'll just ignore that and stick to Gylfaginning's version instead.
The Outer Beast: A monster that emerged in the calamity of rifts in Orkney in 1950 FE. One of the most dangerous enemies encountered by Aesc, its claws had the ability to tear through space and time and bring monsters from other worlds. It was initially able to overcome Aesc and nearly kill her, but after Aesc met the Worker in their first encounter, they helped her slay the Outer Beast. The Worker claimed the Outer Beast came from their world, and after that started a working relationship between them and Aesc which would last till the present day with Aesc now being Queen Morgan.
Boar of the Rifts: A creature brought in from another world by the Outer Beast. It is said to have terrorized the people of Gloucester, but as Helga pointed out, the boar was merely defending itself against wanton cruelty. When it came to Britain, it left a world that was on the brink of mass extinction. Who knows what that world was?
Response to Reviews:
King0fP0wers: Yeah, I can understand why Morgan flaunts her power and why she doesn't really require trickery (Heck, I really like her doing that. She deserves it after all the blood, sweat and tears she put as Aesc), but it would be cool to see a bit of a manipulative side of her.
Kleave guy: Well damn, would you look at that.
Seeking the Miraculous Dream: I actually wasn't planning on having Kay come over. But your review gave me the idea to have Artoria command spell him over.
Guest: I was expecting someone to point that out. But no, while the Gwyn in this story may resemble Gwyn from Dark Souls, Zeus was actually what I had in mind while designing Gwyn (Not FGO's robot design, but more general depictions of him as a sort of an old man with white hair). Plus, Gwyn's name isn't exactly referencing its meaning of 'white, pure, light' in Welsh and Cornish (That Dark Souls references). Its more like a slight change from the word 'Gwyns' which is a Cornish word for wind, thus referencing Gwyn's status as the original Wind fairy.
Love-to-Peace: Well, I did write Murian showing Kay's group Ritsuka and Tristan being taken to Camelot, and the dude known as the Worker guiding Ritsuka and Tristan to Morgan in an earlier chapter.
Darth Kyuubi Kurama: Thank you
Brownie-Pie: That's actually interesting. I didn't think much about that. Thanks! I'll see what I can do with that later on.
Dragonwolf511: You'll see in the next chapter immediately.