By the Bonfire: One final duty
It had been three days since the return of the summoner and his group from the city of London, reports were sparse enough and information slim. Even if his eyes were not focused on the general climate of the covenant, then he would have clearly noticed that there was unease amongst the gathered Servants. Naturally, one could only go so many days without even the slightest glimmer of information before they became concerned. Overly so, in this case.
The human patron of this group had yet to formally comment upon it, but he had caught sight of her making her own little pilgrimages to and from the place of healing. The physician as well seemed to be in some manner of focus. Not alarmed, but not at ease either. Three days of slumber was cause enough for concern in his case. That they had not called upon himself or the human knight of Catarina for miracles informed him that it was not an ailment of the body.
It could have been of the soul, but illnesses of the mind were just as great a concern. Not even the gifts of the Gods could grant deliverance to those who had the voices of the unseen lingering within their heads, or the slowness of birth cursing their every movement.
Regardless, his focus lay elsewhere at the moment. In another point, he would have been more concerned with addressing the current state of this Chaldea, of keeping some semblance of order within the fortress and ensuring that the words of Sulyvahn - the deceiver that he was - were kept far from the ears of those whom he might poison. The mere thought of that thing wandering the halls of this place was bewildering enough to him. Especially since those of Chaldea could no longer claim ignorance to his misdeeds.
Lord Gwyndolin had made little effort to keep the crimes of Sulyvahn concealed, yet he had specifically ordered him not to make any move against the false Pontiff. That had been the end of that, if Lord Gwyndolin wished no harm to befall the swine, for whatever reason, then he would let the matter lie. The concerns and commands of the Gods were not for him to ponder upon.
The hiss of the doors before him heralded the opening of the lift, his eyes lingered to the side and caught sight of the slightly taller figure. Offering them a single respectful nod before he stepped into the lift. Turning himself around and facing the door, letting silence occupy the room as he made no effort to speak with the other two occupants in the confined space.
That being said, the silence was short lived as the woman cleared her throat while looking at the back of him, as far as he could sense. Turning his head ever so slightly so that he could glimpse at her from the corner of his eye. Indeed, she felt similar enough to him in that they were both lesser beings of light when compared with the third one, the tallest of them, even more so than him but only by half a head, if that.
Yet it was not the woman who spoke first, it was the lesser God who decided he would break the silence. His words were conversational but hardly interested, it sounded more as though he was attempting to find something to speak of. "Even in the grotto, we all heard the tales of the Silver Knights. Proud and fierce warriors, Servants of the Gods and each of them the equal of at least ten men."
Arkon remained silent as the God spoke, keeping his expression thin for what little it was worth, yet it was more for his own benefit. Even if the helmet hid his features, it did nothing to hide his state of mind. Perhaps the God could not sense it, but that did not suddenly make it acceptable to display.
"Yet my first meeting with one of your order was…strange." The God muttered with a low tone of voice, a touch of bemusement as he continued. "He seemed humbling, perhaps even distant. I would say he had a great deal more in common with the carefree youths who played within the forest than the great warriors I heard from the stories."
There was a brief moment of silence further, then he finished. "Yet here you stand, the idyllic image of what I always assumed one of the Silver Knight's to be. Perhaps it is merely my own bias but I cannot help but wonder, was there truly such diversity in terms of personality amongst the ranks of the Gods?"
Distaste flowed through his mind as he uttered those words, he already knew of who he spoke. That he was being associated with that one was troublesome enough and would only serve to sow the seeds of confusion and doubt for his future. Besides, he would rather not be compared with Ledo now of all times.
His voice came out as measured as he could make it, keeping his anger buried deep within. "Ledo was an outlier even before his departure from the ranks of the Silver Knights. His behaviour should not be taken as a standard for the knights of Lord Gwyn, if that should be a concern for my professionalism and devotion to my duty here."
To be thought of as little more than an eccentric clown peddling jokes for children was humiliating. He was a knight, he had been born a knight and Gods willing, he would perish like a Knight each and every time. Wandering around the world and indulging in whatever little shiny trinket or bewildering settlement caught his eye was the stuff of animals. Not of the knight's of Lord Gwyn.
The God hummed to himself.
He replied, sounding indifferent. "From all the stories I heard of the Silver Knights, you did not venture far from the land of Lordran, if you ever ventured from Anor Londo at all."
Arkon clenched his jaw behind his helm, he could already tell where this line of questioning was going to lead and he could only hope that his answer would prove satisfactory for the God.
"So how is it that a Silver Knight comes to leave the ranks of his brethren and becomes a roaming traveller of the world?" The forest God tilted his head curiously, mild intrigue now in his words but his general posture made it clear it was little more than a harmless curiosity. Perhaps in the same way one would ask why a wolf was spotted so far from its pack.
Exhaling lightly, Arkon lowered his helmet as he spoke. "There was no formal dismal, a knight does not simply leave the service of Lord Gwyn…yet Ledo is one I would claim to be something of an exception to the ranks of the knights." he had deliberated over this for years and came to a very simple conclusion. "For his freak strength, I am left only with the belief that it came at the cost of his mind. Ledo is an overactive child, easily strung along with whatever next adventure awaits him with no sense for the duty he was born for."
He could feel the lip slowing to a half. "If that should answer your question, then it is merely a case that Ledo did not think of us. I cannot even begin to comprehend the madness that swirls in his mind that led him to abandon us all and forgo his oaths so easily…but the less time that is spent thinking of that fool the better." taking in a deep breath, he exhaled once more. "I would ask that you never compare me to him again. He strives to be everything the Silver Knights are not."
The pale haired woman took upon the silence to speak this time. "I can sense as though you have a great deal of distaste for this Knight, yet though my time with them was brief, they were-"
Arkon raised the flat of his hand towards her, silencing her before she could tread down this path further. "I know of what you speak and it goes without saying that Ledo is, if nothing else, a Silver Knight. That he knew of even the most basic tenants should be a given…but adhering to the common sense of a knight does not absolve him of his actions." he lowered the hand and shook his head from side to side. Turning around and facing the woman.
"Perhaps you did find some decency within the presence of Ledo, if he offered you an opinion of the Silver Knights that was worthwhile, then there is some small modicum of worth left within him." Though the thought itself was laughable, to his shame he could not contain his incredulity, given that the woman raised a single eyebrow in him in a questioning fashion. "You may judge him how you wish, you knew of him before you knew of the order of Lord Gwyn's knights. I ask only that you treat Ledo as the exception, not the rule."
Crossing his arms over his chest, he sharply turned his head to the side and closed his eyes. "You should be thankful that Ledo remained to render aid unto you at all, rather than leaving you at the first sign of something trivial and go wandering across whatever fettered wasteland you were confined within."
When he opened his eyes once more, he was greeted by the sight of the woman frowning at him. Brynhildr thinned her lips ever so slightly before she spoke in a slow and measured tone of voice, if there was any anger in her words then she concealed it well. "While I would not deny the hospitality of my homeland, I would ask that you not be so crude in your speaking of it. Those who lived there made out their homes that they could take pride in, to call it a wasteland would be to dismiss their efforts."
Arkon stared at her in silence for a moment, he could find no words to speak of as she matched his sight for but a moment. Then he found himself humming in puzzlement, there were some things about his world that truly mystified him to no end. "I shall forever remain confused over this pride that the Lordkin of this world have in humanity."
It went without saying that he would still protect humanity, as had been assigned to him when he was made guard of New Londo. He served as protector until the time of the Izalith campaigns and he took his role seriously. He knew of many humans he would have personally believed to have been an equal to a silver knight but they were often the exceptional individuals. Still, it was the prerogative of the Gods for how they viewed humans, if the Gods of this land treated them differently, that was their own choice.
It wasn't as though he was offended, it was just a strange novelty for him.
"If you were offended, then that was not my intention. I merely viewed it as a statement of fact based upon the information that is currently available." He turned to the God in the elevator with them at the time "Forgive me if this seems presumptuous, but the land of this 'Scandinavia' was fully bathed in ice?"
The God let out a long and tired sigh, bringing his hand up and rubbing the front of his face. "The land was not one that I would have cared to call my own home, but that was more in line with the lack of groves. I am no stranger to the cold…" he lowered his hand, then sent a glance towards Brynhildr. "But I shall admit you are a patron to hardy people. If only because their bodies are seemingly as stubborn as their minds…a more headstrong pack of fools I shall never expect to meet again."
Brynhildr merely offered a small, if polite, smile in response. "The Norse are a hardy people and they take their way of life quite seriously. Though it might also be my nature as a valkyrie that focuses on those who perish in battle…" she remarked with a light frown now dusting her features, eyes turning downcast. "It was simply that those who did not meet their end in such fighting were those who I did not encounter."
"Some manner of Milfanito then?" He remarked with a tilt of his head, earning a puzzled look from the woman. He waved his hand as he explained, it was likely a different word they used. "Those who looked after the souls of the dead. They were the Servants of Lord Nito, they were said to keep the souls of the dead placated with their songs, as the the First of the Dead once did."
The God to his left blinked twice, then spoke in an odd tone of voice. "The Lord of Graves was an ardent singer?"
Arkon hummed "I would not call it ardent, I never heard him…" he trailed off for a moment, a strange thought about a time in some distant country and a pack of skeletons singing while the First of the Dead played upon the musical instruments. He quickly corrected himself. "Upon further examination, I shall decline to comment. Whether or not Lord Nito did enjoy his talents is not for me to ask. He was merely the one who watched over the dead and ensured death reached all one day."
A loud scoff came from the direction of the lesser God, the incredulity in it mixed with the sheer disbelief alluded to something that went without saying. His expression pinched behind his helmet before he spoke upwards. "I will not make comments upon the state of the undead curse, I know of neither its origins nor its relation to the Gods themselves. All I can speak of is the lengths we went to ensure it did not spread…or the lengths that I know of. I am certain others went further than what I witnessed from commander Siefer but that is not my place to comment upon. Distaste for his methods aside."
Setting fire to the lower quarter was something he could find no reason in.
Torin, he believed to be the name of the God, offered no comment upon his words and the remainder of the journey was carried in silence.
Arkon departed from the lift without further words, offering the two within a single nod of the head as a parting before he continued on his walk through the halls in the direction of the cafeteria. It had become something of a routine and he had passed along instructions to those inside to await his arrival and to prepare his food in advance. Though he wasn't certain if they would have remembered. He expected them to but…
…Expectations were a source of disappointment as of late.
Entering the mess hall was as anti-climatic as he imagined, perhaps it had been his paranoia seeping in but his mind could not help but draw comparisons to the time of Anor Londo when Lord Gwyn had departed with over half the army of Silver Knights. Though who remained at least tried to keep order but it was a fumbled effort at best, made all the worse with Ser Artorias continuing his fights far away from the capital and Ser Ornstein vanishing into the knight prior to his short winded return.
It was poor form to compare the human summoner in any capacity to the King of the Gods, but it was more for the role he occupied as the central figure to them all. His absence was felt just as the absence of the others had been felt. Perhaps it was not so much the loss but the scale of it. He knew it well enough, they had been drunk off success and stepping away from wars with minimal casualties that being rebuffed in such a way was jarring.
They would recover.
They were not fresh faced recruits, most were battle hardened veterans who had experienced loss before.
It was a thought that lingered in his head until he stepped past the slumped form of the white haired Queen, the woman he recognised vaguely from his time in the company of the French. She was not a warrior and she had looked that way when she stepped back from their outing. His steps slowed as he moved past the table, halting himself and then turning his head towards the woman as she stared into the cup of what he presumed would be cold drink by now.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled before exhaling and opening them up once again, turning to the woman fully and advancing on her table. She did not look up until his shadow fell upon her, turning her eyes towards him and offering a polite smile. Perhaps he would have been more fooled if he wasn't familiar with the look.
"Hello, Sir Arkon-"
"Arkon." He corrected, in a rather strained tone of voice before anyone could overhear her. The last thing he needed was to be attributed with the rank of a Ser, he was as far from being worthy of the name as a Silver Knight could get, behind those of Ledo. Though given what became of Ser Ornstein, maybe even those with the title left something to be desired. Not that it was his place to judge…he might have followed him had he been there at the time. "And I shall deliver advice unto that would be in your best interest to take."
Blinking, Queen Marie opened her mouth to no doubt ask what he meant, but he cut her off before she could begin speaking. "I am not looking to make this a long conversation so I shall keep my words curt. I have prior arrangements that I must see to." she closed her mouth and nodded her head once. "The loss will not fade, nor shall the surprise."
She froze on the spot.
"All I can tell you is to think about that loss, ask yourself what you can do better next time." A distant memory came to his mind, he wasn't sure whether his next words were aimed at her or to himself. "But do not let it consume you, else you will forever remain trapped in that one moment…every failure will draw you back and every thought will be consumed with the events that could have happened but did not, the actions you should have taken but didn't."
He looked her dead in the eyes.
"Think on your failure. Let it teach you, ensure it shall never happen again…but don't let it consume you. Or it most certainly will." Arkon did not even wait to see the effects of his words, already moving towards the direction of the counter and leaving her behind. He wasn't sure why he spoke, but perhaps he knew deep down. He'd seen that look before, he saw that look every day when he stared at his own reflection. He was there whenever spoke his name.
Approaching the counter, he noted that it was neither the woman nor the Catarinan that were awaiting him, instead it was the tanned man who wielded the longbow fit for any Silver Knight. The pale haired Archer had noted his approach and was still looking at him, perhaps he had been since he entered the room. Remaining silent up until the point where he stood before him, neither one of them speaking to the other.
Archer's silver eyes darted towards Queen Marie for a moment and then back to him, it might have been quick but Arkon still caught it.
"Do you have something to say, bowman?"
Archer hummed and shook his head from side to side. "No. I believe you have said all that needed saying. Perhaps I am surprised you said it at all." he shrugged his shoulders.
"Your wording implies that you knew what needed saying as well but kept your tongue still." He accused subtly, Archer did not even deny it and instead stared at him. "What was it that stayed your words, bowman?"
Raising an eyebrow, Archer folded his arms over his chest "There are some things that people can only learn about themselves. You can't give them the answers to everything and even if you do, it's not possible they're going to understand what you mean." he jerked his head towards Queen Marie. "Servant she might be, but I'm not going to deny that her combat experience is now overshadowed by her own Master."
"She was a Queen. They did not take to the frontlines."
"An excuse that would work if she was still governing a Kingdom." Archer countered bluntly, uncrossing his arms and placing his hands on the counter. "And it would hold greater weight if I wasn't working alongside Queen Boudica of the Iceni. Though I'm hardly expecting Marie Antionette to brandish an axe and charge headlong into a legion of Roman soldiers while garbed only in blue paint."
Arkon snorted "No sane warrior would ever…" he trailed off at the blank look that Archer gave him. He blinked slowly behind his helmet before bringing his arms up and placing his hands on his hips. Words failed him, evidently he did not know enough about Boudica but he struggled to imagine her doing such a thing. Though given the lack of armour she was currently adorned in, perhaps it wasn't far from the truth. "...I would prefer to fight alongside those with adequate protection, or the sense to have it. What use is there for a blacksmith if none go to him?"
Archer just shrugged "I would say armour slows you down but that would be the answer of a novice." he brought his hand up, tapping the front of his clothes twice with his index finger. "Besides, this is armour. Just a bit lighter than the one you're wearing."
"There is no substitute for Titanite."
"Unfortunately not all of us can get our hands on the metals of the Gods." Archer responded with a dry tone of voice. "I'm afraid that us mere mortals have to get by on whatever we can find. Though I'm sorry if we don't meet your lofty expectations."
Arkon grunted "You mock me but that makes my words no less true."
Archer offered nothing more than a shrug, then switched topics. "Returning to the matter at hand. Perhaps I just wasn't interested in holding her hand every step of the way. It's not like she doesn't have those around her who can tell her." He stepped away from the counter "If they are not helping their friend when they need it most, then that is their fault. Besides, given that she hasn't spoken all that much, one can only do so much with the stubborn sort."
"A fight with a dragon does not end after the first arrow bounces from its scales." Arkon flatly responded, leaning forwards and tapping his finger onto the counter to punctuate his sentence. "And this Covenant is no longer a case of separate individuals who keep to themselves. You are all bound under a singular goal, you should make certain that those fighting beside you are, at the very least, going to survive to see the end of the next day. Holding your tongue only assures that someone will die. Either her or whomever she is trusted with."
Archer raised a brow "I would say those are wise words, except I was informed earlier that you would be arriving to take your food away back to your room." he gave an insufferable smirk "Is this a case of 'Do as I say and not as I do?'."
Arkon drew his arm back sharply. "Do not confuse the two matters. Ensuring that my allies do not get their summoner or their comrades killed does not mean I must socialise with them when I have more pressing engagements." he fell silent, then turned his head to glance over his shoulder for a moment.
Soon spotting the shape of the strange blonde and black haired man, wearing his thick plate armour once more. The stink of the Abyss from them was nauseating and the fact not a single soul had driven their sword through the head of this creature was bewildering to him. Yet he could not account for the Abyss alone being the cause of his hatred, perhaps there was something else. The nature of the armour was familiar and yet…so very different.
He would have called them scales.
Perhaps they were one of those crazed cultists who worshipped the dragons, but he never saw one beyond hearsay and secondhand accounts that they existed. Little more than the idle gossip of tavern wenches…or so he believed at least. Looking at this one now, it was as though they were made to be an affront to everything that was good and right. All he needed to be told now was that this thing was an undead and consorted with Izalith spawn and they would have been the embodiment for the enemies of the Gods.
"Besides." Arkon turned his head back to Archer, keeping the disgust from his voice as he spoke. "You might call it personal preference, but I do not make it a habit of dining at the table with those who I would have killed without hesitation when I was still alive."
Archer gave him a dull look. "If that went for everyone, then I doubt I would ever have stepped foot in this kitchen."
Arkon huffed quietly and shook his head from side to side "It should go without saying that I am not you. Though your phrasing implies that you would be little more than an opportunistic killer." his eyes narrowed behind his helmet at the Archer for a few seconds, studying his expression and noting that it was devoid of emotion.
"I would not call myself opportunistic." Archer replied after a moment, not denying the latter part of the sentence before he waved his hand and turned around, walking back into the kitchen. "But I doubt you came here to entertain a talk with me about this, given that I suspect you would much prefer to get back to your…how did you put it? More pressing matters?"
The suspicion in the voice of the Servant was barely noted and it was barely above interest, perhaps calling it suspicion would have been to give it too much credit. It was more idle interest without any true substance behind it, and Arkon preferred it to stay that way for the time being.
Archer returned shortly after with a tray, as he had ordered it was a small selection of some manner of delicate foods - a fruit salad - and some manner of dessert trifle. He was not familiar with the names and merely repeated the instructions he had been given. Setting the food down on the counter, Archer slid it over to him while saying nothing.
Arkon wasn't foolish, he understood how this would look from the outside but he didn't care for the time being. So long as no one questioned him directly then he wouldn't need to speak about it. He stared at Archer with complete silence, issuing the challenge for him to comment upon the fruit salad and dessert that was currently sat in front of him. The tanned man met his gaze head on without wavering, neither one of them said a single word for what could well have been hours for how tense it felt.
Eventually, Archer looked down at the food and then back to him. "Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day? You were the one who asked for this and you're going to let it rot out in the open?" his lips curled into a smirk. "I suppose time must mean something different for you all after all. Though from your perspective, the fruit must rot away in the blink of an eye."
Reaching out, Arkon took the tray into his hands and stepped back. "I assure you…time passes just as slowly for me as it does any other human." he looked down at the plate "And I am not one to boast of a long life. It is quite worthless without a reason for living." without another word, he took the tray and walked off from the counter, moving back the way he had come.
Arriving in the mess hall and taking food to return to his quarters, it had been something he had repeated for three days in a row now. No one questioned him but so long as he brought the trays back, he suspected none of the kitchen staff would have reason to complain. The simple excuse of him having work to do that meant he couldn't step away for long was probably the best reason for this, at least the one he gave the red haired human.
He made his way back through the halls, sparing a glance over his shoulder every few stops to ensure that no one was following him. He didn't suspect anyone would but he couldn't discount the prospect of the extremely curious fool chasing him down, the Lords knew that Chaldea had more than a few of those currently running amok in their halls and he could do without encountering one of them.
Worse if they ended up trying to follow him.
"Another voyage somewhere?"
He stopped walking when the voice echoed through the walls behind him, his eyes narrowed into slits and he felt his breath tighten instantly. He knew that voice, where it had once brought pride and strength he - like all others - now dreaded the day they would hear it. Once again, he was to be assailed by her in what he assumed was privacy.
A quiet chuckle slipped through the halls that seemingly came from all around him, his eyes swirled in every direction as he felt the presence loom closer and closer to him. Sharply turning around, he found himself staring at nothing but empty halls, the presence lingered as though he was surrounded by a thick fog yet nothing presented itself. Though that changed nothing, he dared not even speak. There was no telling what she could be capable of if she was to hear of his voice.
"Such fear that lingers in your thoughts-"
He rolled his jaw, eyes moving around for a few moments, then blinked as her voice suddenly cut out. The confusion remained in his mind, even as he felt the presence remain though it felt weaker than before, as though the pressure had been lifted from his shoulders. Yet it had not totally abated, which meant they were still there.
Arkon wet his lips, releasing a slow breath as he moved his right hand away from the tray and downwards, sword slowly forming in his hands and feeling as though it was the one source of comfort available to him. He circled his fingers around it, narrowing his eyes and glancing left and right, turning on his heels and moving through the hallway once more. This time he never felt more isolated, a heat formed on his back, like something was breathing there…
Had it always been this hot or was it just him?
It felt like-
A faint growl behind him, he whirled around and pointed the sword straight on.
The hallway was still empty.
It felt like a lump had built up in his throat, he could feel the weight settling into his chest. That sound, that heat…they were all too familiar.
"Are you truly still so troubled by what happened lifetimes ago?" The voice returned again, his posture tightened. "Does it still weigh so heavily on your mind-"
"Get out of mine." Arkon hissed at nothing, sword arm shuddering. He felt the presence linger for a few moments longer. He was not going to even question why she could reach out to him like this. If there was one thing that was infamous about the former Queen, it was that she was almost as skilled as the paledrake. Whatever mystics the Chaldean's had at their disposal, he doubted they would serve as much of a match for the Goddess. Though he wished they would just kill her and be done with it, the longer she remained around-
"Such loyalty to my husband…do you still feel that burning need to obey his every whim?"
"Unlike some, I still take my duties to heart." He retorted back, turning on his heel and continuing on his path forwards. Allowing the sword to fade from his hand and returning the limb to the tray, though he tightened his hold on it just enough that any stronger and the metal would have bent under his fingers.
He drew closer and closer to his room-
"If that were true, then why do they all still draw breath?" The voice whispered in his mind once more, drawing his feet to a full stop and leaving him alone in the hallway with nothing but the whispers on the edge of his mind. He didn't know what her purpose here was. "Surely there is one thing that my husband would command you to do, if you were the loyal knight? It would be oh so easy…wouldn't it? Just a quick thrust and it would all be over."
He mentally scoffed. "Your intentions are transparent, traitor. Say whatever you will if you believe that it is of worth. But your words remain hollow and I shall not trade them with you more."
"Loyalty in spirit but not in letter? Or is it merely that you have been taken in by her beauty just like all the others?"
His feet found pause again. "...We all serve our duties. Beauty or not, I shall maintain my pledge to the royal family."
"...And what of your allies?"
"The loss of one knight will not affect them and it shall harden the boy." He grunted back to her begrudgingly, she already knew his intentions so there was little point in keeping them from her further. Besides, if this got her from his mind faster than he could stand to speak somewhat. "With my place traded for one who is of infinitely greater aid, the choice is obvious…and I cannot raise my sword against him, thus I am a liability on the field."
He stopped outside his room "I shall serve my oath and my pledge. The royal family will survive and Chaldea shall be strengthened. It is for the best."
"...Repaying sin with sin is not the path forward. Your actions, born of duty, shall only end with pain. It is a path well trodden by those older and younger. Shall you truly perish, content with what you have done?"
Arkon was silent for a second before he replied. "Dying happy is a luxury. If my death is in the service of something greater. That is more than enough for me."
"...A shame."
"To you, perhaps." He reached towards the button on his door. "But not to me. Quite the opposite."
The door hissed open and he stepped inside, swiftly closing it behind him and feeling the weight that had settled on his shoulders abate entirely. The presence of Velka departed, a thankful turn of events to be sure but nothing more than that.
His eyes remained on the bed, and the blankets that had been pulled over a lump underneath it. His eyes lingered on it a moment longer before they fell on the table at the side and advanced onto it, approaching slowly but still loud enough that he could be heard and placing the tray down. "I have returned as you asked."
There was precious little movement from beneath the blanket, though he wasn't expecting them to adhere to his words or even respond to him. That would be far and above his current station, turning away from the blanket he moved to the other side of the room where his desk was situated and sat himself down on the chair beside it. Placing his hands on his lap and falling into a silence for a short time.
The blanket moved ever so slightly, shifting before a small gap opened up and a hand reached out from underneath it, fingers moving towards the tray and curling around the edge, dragging to closer before they moved and plucked one of the grapes from the bow and the hand disappeared back into the small cocoon.
Closing his eyes, Arkon looked down at his lap before he spoke up. "Velka made contact with my mind again on my return here. I believe she knows you are also present in Chaldea."
Silence greeted his words, at least for a moment, he looked up at the sound of shifting fabric and saw that the cocoon had turned towards him, a small gap just large enough that he could see the faint glow of two orbs, staring straight towards him with what he would assume was fear. But that would be insulting for him to call one of his Gods afraid, or disrespectful. Rightfully concerned would have been the better word for it.
"Though I do not believe she has informed others of your presence here." He continued onwards "And given her current incarceration within the Halls of Chaldea, I do not believe that is news long for the world. Though…I believe that few are currently aware of her presence at all. At least I assume that Lord Gwyndolin would have commented upon it if he were to discover the presence of Velka."
The eyes closed and he heard a hum of affirmation, but it sounded cracked. "Yes…Gwyndolin would be troubled by Velka…he would probably say something about it if he knew she was here and if he was aware I was here as well." There was a moment before the Goddess sighed, it sounded low "...Though I don't understand what his problem would be, he seemed to take my absence too harshly."
Arkon didn't feel as though he was worthy of being subject to these words, or this display of doubt. This was a task better suited to one of the handmaidens, but there were none of them here.
"What of…" She paused for a moment before she continued on with her words "...What of the Ashen One?"
Once more, she asked him of the unkindled. He neglected to comment upon their relationship, it was not his place to do so and she had not told him. "Further news relating to him has been difficult to come by, I am sorry to say, your grace. Even consorting with the…one who calls herself Demon has had little to say on the subject beyond making repeated efforts to enter the room of Velka. I believe I am one of the few trusted with the news of the Goddess' presence but my advocating for her execution was denied."
"Then…nothing?"
"...Nobunaga alluded to a deterioration of his mind. Though I am paraphrasing her choice words of 'he's going insane' which might refer to Hollowing." He paused for a moment, then drummed his hands on his knees. "Given what you said occurred with Velka's influence poisoning his mind into madness, it would seem these are the lingering effects that are worsening. But having not met him…Would you wish for me to travel to his room dire-"
"No!" The shout bounced all the walls, the covers thrown off and revealing her for only a split second. Arkon snapped his eyes shut so as to not gaze upon the shape for longer, a Goddess should not be seen in such a disgraceful way, yet the frazzled hair and sunken features lingered in his mind. "That is…I do not need for you to go so far…just the news will suffice for now. I would…not wish to draw suspicion upon myself being here…"
He did not understand the problem they had, by all accounts what she had done was the correct course of action. It is what he would have done had he been there at the time. An ally turned to madness was best off being put down, if not just for one's own sake then for the sake of them as well so that their memory was not sullied by the lingering throes of insanity. Yet he could not account for the discrepancy in that Velka was still breathing and tried to aid his summoner…a peculiar state of affairs but the Goddess was insane and there was no reasoning with the mentally depraved.
"If you wish for me to remain distant, then I shall comply with your commands, your grace." He nodded his head once, then raised it back up. "As for the matter of the summoner, he has still yet to retain consciousness…evidently something befell him in the Singularity after your departure but it relates to a matter distant from the unkindled."
He cracked his eyes open to see that she had assorted her hair down ever so slightly. Perhaps he could find some way of getting a hair brush for her, or something else. The human Queen Marie would likely be in possession of one, or the Empress Nero. The latter…he could explain away his need for one with his own hair. It was long enough to justify a comb. Yet not any trivial comb would suffice for the Goddess before him.
Adjusting herself on the bed, he watched as her head slowly nodded up and down but said nothing more. Her eyes were not upon him, instead they turned back to the bowl of fruit and the small dessert. Her hands reached across and took another grape, delicately putting it in her mouth before she spoke again. "Is…is there news on what befell the human?"
"...Seath the Scaleless was present within his mind."
As expected, she froze upon hearing those words and snapped her head towards him with wide eyes. Opening her mouth to speak before she closed it once more, eyes turning downcast and brows furrowing. "He…so that is where their distrust of me originated. Seath would have poisoned his mind, turned his thoughts against me, more so if he could do such things in secret." she nodded her head up and down several times "...The boy yet lives though?"
"...He does. Though he is trapped in a slumber, they suspect it was exhaustion. He will awaken shortly, if not by the end of this week then by the start of the next." He adjusted himself and leaned forwards. "However…I am more concerned for your own well being. Concealing you here is only a temporary means and there is precious little else that I can do for you beyond keeping you informed."
She said nothing.
"If they are willing to entertain the presence of Velka and the deceiver Sulyvahn, then you are sure to be allowed refuge here. In your current state, your grace…you need an anchor to exist in the world-"
"I know that." His jaw clamped shut as her eyes locked onto him, her words curt and silencing. The aura hung in the air before it receded, she looked down. "...Forgive me for losing my temper. It is merely that…the influence of Seath and the lack of willingness from these humans to act as needed might have…soured their image of me…and I…"
Arkon rolled his jaw. "Desperation makes humans more accommodating. Whatever problems they might have. Your services would be a greater boon than they could ignore. That much I am certain of, if nothing else."
She fell silent, then she spoke in a slow voice "...What do you suppose…Lord Gwyn would think of them?"
…
…
Arkon thinned his lips behind his helmet. "It is not for me to assume the thoughts of the Gods and I would not offer my own thoughts-"
"Answer me."
"...These humans have forged an existence without the grace of the Gods." Arkon replied after a few moments of silence. He would not speak of how he thought Gwyn would react, only through his own words. "It is an affront to Anor Londo and all it sought to create, the Gods of this land were either dispassionate towards worship or there is something that led to their fall from power in this land. Either way…it is not something I can understand. I cannot speak for Lord Gwyn, but I…do not believe a land such as this would be looked upon kindly by those in the court. Their…independence is bordering on arrogance that does not befit the humans I knew."
He drummed his hands "That being said, there are still many who worship the Gods…or God, there are many who live in this world, perhaps more than in Lordran, so I cannot claim they are wholly a race of heathens but the Gods have…not taken to appearing directly. There is worship but it is not reverence of existence, it is not offerings of greatness to those. It is as though they separate their lives from the Gods and view worship as…a suggestion rather than a fact."
Her grace said nothing for several seconds, before her eyes lingered on him. "But you are still here to help them."
"...They did not need to do anything to earn my protection. It is the duty of all Silver Knights to protect the subjects of the Lords." Arkon replied after a moment. "Whether they understand it or not, whether they are the humans of the Dark Soul or not…my pledge was to protect the humans as a knight. My obligations and oaths do not end at the borders of my world. Second only to my duty to the royal family."
He gestured to her, "Just as you need not do anything to earn my loyalty, they need not do anything to earn my protection."
"...And if Lord Gwyn were to disagree with this world? What would you do…?"
"...A knight with conflicted loyalties does not belong on the battlefield. He is a danger to himself and to others." The reply came to him easily. "...I can make further inquiries into the state of Chaldea and allude to the possibility of aid from you."
Gwynevere said nothing, but she nodded her head up and down as she stared at the plate. "...Did we ever meet before?"
It was an odd thing for her to ask.
"...You should not trouble yourself to think of me, your grace. I am but a single Silver Knight." Closing his eyes, his back remained straight and his voice remained blank as he spoke. "It is not worth your time to focus your thoughts on one. I am neither deserving of this attention nor worthy of it."
"...Alright." Gwynevere replied after a moment, then returned to her eating.
Arkon felt sick after the conversation ended.
Velka had done more than trade words with him, he did not know what her aim had been in telling him all that happened in the Singularity, as he could not speak a single word of it. But he knew what had happened from start to finish.
The return of Lord Gwyn.
By all rights, her grace was a traitor but he could not kill her. Not even because of her natural charm but because of everything he was. If she was a traitor, then so was he, so was Gwyndolin. They are all traitors now, horrifying a thought as that was, but he had accepted being a failure to Lord Gwyn long before this moment. It…
…It was liberating to finally be called what he always knew himself to be.
The craven fool that he was, as though the mask had finally been ripped off and he could face proper punishment. Raising a blade to Lord Gwyn was laughable, he would die before he ever thought to take up arms against him.
But he didn't need to.
He would ensure that Gwynevere found a place in Chaldea, his final duty in this world.
The matter of her child would be solved by another.
It was by Velka's hand he now suffered, if there was one who could fix it, that would be her Grace, Gwynevere.
Once she had her place, once asylum was granted to her…
…There was no place for a knight with conflicted loyalties and in spite of all, he was still loyal to Gwyn.
Once all was said and done. He would carry out the commands of his King.
And slit his own throat.
AN: Yep. Gwynevere escaped to Chaldea.
As for how?
Well…
Noble Phantasm and remember for Gwynevere's parental leaning, this stuff doesn't just appear out of nowhere.
It's a learned behaviour.
The ultimate irony?
She is just as much a victim of mental abuse as Ash is and doesn't even see what went wrong.
Gwynevere
Servant: Caster
Strength: D
Endurance: D
Agility: C
Mana: EX
Luck: A
Noble Phantasm: B++
Calming Rays of the Bountiful Lands - Let this Goddess soothe your spirit: B (Anti-Army) Max Target: 50, Max Range: 0-20
Using her authority as the Princess of Sunlight, Gwynevere bestows a blessing of tranquillity upon the area. Servants in combat find themselves losing the will to continue fighting and aggression melts away into peace. Those with greater links to Gwynevere will find this NP affecting them to a much greater degree.
Exodus of the Dead Lands - The Fertile Fields Grow Elsewhere: A+ (Anti-Unit) Max Target: 1, Max Range: 0
The Queen escapes again and again, she is so skilled at escaping death that she can continue to do so. Avoiding attacks that would otherwise have spelled her demise.
It is unknown how far she can take this NP, but one thing is certain. If escape is possible, then she will see the path to freedom clearly.
Class Skills:
Territory Creation: B
Item Construction: C
Provide blessings of healing and protection on charms.
Independent Action: B
Magic Resistance: B
(Does not extend to Dark or Chaos Magic. Ranked down to D)
Divine core of a Chief Goddess: EX
The second highest God in the Kingdom of Heide. She is the eldest Daughter of Gwyn and is also the second strongest of his children. Easily eclipsing Gwyndolin in terms of raw power.
Personal Skills:
Princess of Sunlight: A
Miracles are more effective under the sun.
Queen of the Knight Kingdoms: A
She can boost the parameters of 'Knight-Class' Servants but a factor of one to any of their parameters. As expected of the Queen of Lothric, the kingdom famed for its knights. It is an additional parameter for those with an affinity for dragons as well, as the Lothric knights would ride them into battle.
Charisma: A+
Even without her beauty, Gwynevere has a long history of ruling to her name that she acquired. Her Charisma is easily high enough to rule a nation, as she has done many times before.
Manifestation of Beauty: EX
The Princess of Sunlight and the one considered the living embodiment of beauty.
Everything about Gwynevere is designed to capture the mind, her looks, her words and her actions all are the epitome of grace. So great is her charm that she can even interact with the laws of physics and bind them to her own will, humans will naturally find her to be an object of perfection. In terms of combat abilities, this is a skill that can prove deadly to even Servants, specifically those without any magic resistance.
Summoning
"Servant, Caster. I am Gwynevere, Queen of Sunlight. Fufu, I see you've called out to me then? Alright…I can see some potential within you. I'll nurture it."
Dialogue 1
"Master and Servant? Don't think of it in such terms…I would consider it more as though you're a project I am working towards raising to its highest potential. Be sure to pay close attention to my words."
Dialogue 2
"There is always such a life about Chaldea…a sense of excitement that does not ever fade, I am rather taken with this place, I shall confess."
Dialogue 3
"Have you ever thought to create something yourself? I would recommend it, though I would advise you recall who you would make this in reverence of."
Dialogue 4 (If you have Sulyvahn)
"...I used to be taken with his presence, you know? I thought we had such things in common. The love of progress, the value of potential and growth…but it seems he is so taken with trying to meddle. This is why obsession breeds chaos, it is a simpler thing to create something new than to fix the broken."
Dialogue 5 (If you have Ash [after completing London])
"...I raised him how it is only proper to be raised. All things serve a purpose in this world, just as the Kingdoms I nurtured blossomed into the finest capitals of their era, so too did he nurture into the greatest sacrifice for the betterment of the world. I had never committed to sending my children to perish before…even without the title, I did value him."
Dialogue 6 (If you have Lorian and Lothric)
"Ah…my sons…to see them turn from me. Lorian was always so protective of his younger brother, but I thought nothing of it. Perhaps that is my own mistake, I could not see how he would willingly cast himself into ruin. All of that potential, the good he could have done as King…to see it all cast aside for a single being."
Dialogue 7 (If you have Ishtar)
"Fufufu? Beauty…I suppose the standards of mortals are subject to change. Given how your body is flat as a shield, I can see how you are better suited for the title of war. Though, is that how you treated your consorts? For shame."
Dialogue 7 (If you have Gilgamesh)
"Is that so? He turned from his purpose…honestly, what was his mother thinking when she let that happen? Hmm? My own children. That is not of my own fault, they were subject to the influences beyond my reach. She has no such excuse."
Dialogue 8 (If you have Caffrey)
"I'm so pleased to see her taken with her purpose of bestowing fortune, even more so that she delivers both good and bad. An achievement of her value, yes…you perform most splendidly, my little light. I'm so proud of you."
Dialogue 9 (If you have Gwyndolin)
"Little brother always looked up to me when we were younger, but now he can barely stand to gaze upon me? I do not understand what his problems are. I merely fulfilled my duty as father told us all was good and proper. I left to nurture the lands beyond the dead, he could have followed and remained as the Moon to my Sun…why did he never leave?"
Dialogue 10 (If you have Faraam)
"...I cannot speak for certain, but I recall father being different before brother betrayed him. Yet that might remain little more than a fleeting memory. I know of the lessons father taught me that he should have taught brother as well. To always serve your purpose in the world, that is the duty of all. From the lowest human to the highest of the Gods. Yet…he brought war into our family, perhaps he was serving his duty even then?"
Dialogue 11 (If you have Gundyr)
"...I know of this one well. The shame of Gundyr and Gawyn, the blotches on my name. Perhaps it was my own fault for straying beyond my role, I am to nurture lands, not create heroes to the world. Those are to come naturally…Still, it is better to learn the lesson than to remain ignorant to it."
Dialogue 12 (If you have Kiara)
"I don't understand how anyone could draw a comparison between us? Doesn't she get bored living like that. I can understand the desire to be the centre of love, but it isn't just enough to live off love. There has to be gratitude there as well, you need to teach them an existence and then show them the correct life to lead…but I suppose this is merely what happens when humans think to emulate the Gods."
Dialogue 13 (If you have Flann)
"Oh yes, we were married. But that ended with Heide, really, I do not see what his problems are. I told him that I parted from Lordran for it was a Kingdom of decay, nothing left to grow. What did he suppose I would do when Heide fell to a similar state?"
Dialogue 14 (If you have Morgan)
"To obsess over one thing. You became too focused on protecting Briain and let the country forge itself around you. Perhaps if you had cared about the people a touch more but…ah…yes, you couldn't sway their hearts as I could. Really, you should have put more effort into the humans. The Spirit Folk have always been a bit troublesome."
Dialogue 15 (If you have Artoria Lily)
"She's absolutely wonderful, isn't she? That little knight errant, she's just spectacular. I can see just how much potential burns behind that charming little smile of hers. Oh, if she had appeared in my Kingdom I would have raised her to be the greatest knight in all the lands…she became a King instead, I've seen her records…a shame that it came to an end but all things do. She did not even get the chance to start again elsewhere but it was her duty to protect Britain, I cannot fault her for that."
Dialogue 16 (If you have Filianore)
"Younger sister, you've become a delinquent riding around on that dragon everywhere. Honestly, it is quite beneath you to be acting in such a way. You should take greater care in acting in a matter befitting of the Lords."
Dialogue 17 (If you have Llew)
"Ah…Llew. I believe there is an old human adage - the one that got away - that would serve him quite nicely. I thought I had him all figured out and then he goes and does something like that right at the end. I was so dumbstruck that I stared at his coffin for days. Still…it shows that there were some parts I didn't know about him…he kept those a secret from me? Well…you might call it my pride but I am not one to be abandoned."
Dialogue 18 (If you have Gawain)
"...That Knight of the Sun…is that truly what Gawyn could have become had I not sent him down his path? Perhaps this compounds my failure, to see what a dazzling knight he is and to see my own child as little more than a shadow of this…I mustn't dwell on the past. What is done is done. To linger on it further is to stagnate."
Dialogue 19 (If you have Priscilla)
"I knew that she would still live within the Painted World, father's reward to Seath for his efforts against the dragons was our short union. Yet…looking at her now, I wonder if it would have been wiser to keep her close. She has potential but we shall never know."
Likes
"Fufufu~ Aren't you the bold one, asking me what I like? But alright…I'll tell you. I'm something of…a gardener. I enjoy growing things up to their highest potential."
Hates
"Something I don't like? I suppose that would be when there is nothing left to nurture. But it is merely the way the world works, I suppose. When something gets too old, it can grow no more and you need to just take a step back and move onto the next project. It can be difficult sometimes but obsessing over one thing is bound to lead you to ruin."
Wish for the Holy Grail
"Something that grants wishes….Hmmmmm. I suppose I would need a bit of time to think of a wish I would grant."
Bond Level 1
"I think you're growing up rather nicely, though we're still far from seeing your true potential. Not to worry, I see more than enough reason to linger around you and nurture it as best it can. Worry not, under my guidance you shall become your best self."
Bond Level 2
"I've noticed you're acting a little different than how I have been teaching you. That's no good, but I can allow a little bit of this rebellious nature from you. It keeps you interesting, but remember not to veer too far from my guidance. It's for your own good, at the end of the day."
Bond Level 3
"Don't think I haven't noticed what's been going on lately, you've been coming to me more often than I have been going to you. Oh, I am not criticising you, far from it. I'm glad to see that you recognise my guidance as important."
Bond Level 4
"My interest in nurturing? Ah…I am the Goddess of Bounty and Fertility. As Lord Gwyn commanded me, I am to nurture all of the world and those within it. To help them reach their greatest potential. All my children - those who are placed in my care - are raised as I was raised. That is my love for them, to experience the clarity that comes with purpose and…why do you look at me so strangely?"
Bond Level 5
"I am…Hmmm. No, I demand you explain that odd look you gave me. Gwyn's love for me? He stayed in Anor Londo for as long as his rule was needed, when the flame started to fade he departed from the lands to ensure it grew. That is what love is, is it not? To grow something and then to depart when it can grow no more? I do what is needed for all, I grow the world and move onto the next garden when it can sustain no more. Why…why does that look return to you?"
Birthday
"Ah, you celebrate your birthdays do you? How strange…the onward march of time. I celebrated my own birthday as well, you know…perhaps we should converge them into a greater celebration?"
During an Event
"These events are rather sudden and very unexpected, yet the surprise is not unwelcome. The spice of life, as it were. I do not dislike it…shall we venture there?"
1st Ascension
"Hmm? What did…what just…did…did you think to grow my power? You…you! Rapscallion! How bold of you to turn the tables upon me like this but…Ah~ This sensation is new and invigorating…alright, I shall allow it."
2nd Ascension
"To feel this sensation again…I see, so that is how it feels to grow further. I had not believed myself capable of experiencing this once, let alone twice. Very well, let us continue this onwards."
3rd Ascension
"Yet again we step onto the path together but…what is this foreboding I sense…as though it shall only carry us a short ways before coming to an end?"
4th Ascension
"...It is over…does…does this mean I shall grow no further…but…but there is still much I have to teach you…Ah? You are to remain with me? Of course, of course. It is only expected. This growth is merely of the material, the immaterial is that which can never be fully matured."