Elden Lord Of Orario: Limgrave arc

I was not expecting such an influx of people to read and favourite this. To everyone who reads this I want to say thank you, seeing people actually like what I put out was such a confidence booster.

I just wanted to get a second chapter out, i'm writing this right after the first one so I guess i'm riding the adrenaline rush of actually publishing a story so, while I do actually enjoy doing this, don't expect something like a weekly upload schedule as I am still finding a balance with my university workload.

I felt like I didn't get enough of Bell's early personality from the anime so I'm trying to compensate that by giving him his bashfulness around women (Melina in this instance)

Also In this chapter I want to begin developing Bell's internal conflict with what he'll have to do to become Elden lord like him having issues killing humans so please tell me if I'm conveying that well.

How do we feel about me making Bell a jack of all trades? I mean making him have at least some hand in all stats like intelligence, faith, strength etc. It might not make too much sense right now but I plan to make it so Bell doing this won't be out of character

I'm also trying to add moments of comedy like in the anime but I am not as funny as I want to be so please feel free to make some skits in the comments, just for fun and maybe that will help me with the comedy.

I wanted to try and make this chapter longer then the first to get points across while not rushing too much

Once again feel free to give me any advice on what I need to improve

'Thinking'

Action

"Speaking"

Monster noises/speech

[Item/Armour]

Chapter 2: An accord, a witch and a way to Morne

"I Am Melina. I offer you an accord."

Bell just stares at her for a second. A girl, a pretty lady, was talking to him. His mind went haywire for a second trying to figure out what to do. Part of him wanted to run but that would make him look weird in front of her so after taking a second to gather himself. "B-Bell Cranel, nice to meet you" he internally facepalmed 'come on man you're blowing this for us!' he mentally chastised while trying to keep his composure, he was failing miserably but he was trying nonetheless. "You were saying something about an accord right? I don't know what you want but I'll hear you out on it"

Melina nodded and continued with her proposal. "Have you heard of the finger maidens? They serve the Two Fingers, offering guidance, and aid, to the Tarnished. But you, I am afraid, are maidenless-"

'COME ON! AGAIN WITH THAT?!' Bell's expression fell, he could just feel Varre laughing his ass off at this. Luckily Melina either hadn't noticed his expression or chose not to acknowledge it as she continued.

"I can play the role of maiden. Turning rune fragments into strength. To aid you in your search for the Elden Ring. You need only take me with you. To the foot of the Erdtree" Bell thought on it for a few moments. On one hand, he doesn't know her or what she wants but on the other the benefits would outweigh the risks, while he doesn't exactly understand how she can convert runes into strength he chooses not to question it too much. "I have no reason to refuse so sure, I look forward to working with you Miss Melina" Bell beamed. At least he won't be too lonely on his journey.

A brief and faint smile appeared on Melina's face at Bell's formal and innocent behavior before getting back to business. "Then it's settled. Summon me by grace to turn runes into strength. Ah, another matter. I bequeath to you this ring" As she handed the small golden ring to Bell, who put it on after inspecting it, he looked at her with a tilted head and raised brow seeking elaboration on the ring's purpose. "Use it to traverse great distances. It will summon a spectral steed named Torrent. Torrent has chosen you. Treat him with respect."

"I'll be able to summon a horse with this?" Bell looked at her like a child who just got a new toy, ecstatic while inspecting it, his voice full of gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Melina!"

"Remember to summon me by grace when you require me" she finished, it was all she said although Bell could swear she was in a good mood. Bell wanted to ask her questions, he felt the need to learn more about what was going on but before he had the chance to ask her, she stood up and disappeared in blue particles of magic. Bell had just decided to call her about his questions later, standing up himself he decided to rest for the night.

Bell chose to return to the church where Kale was to rest as he considered it safer than sleeping out in the open. As Bell returned to the church he touched the grace and began to sit down when he noticed a strange fog roll through the ruined church, Bell looked at Kale and saw him sleeping. Initially, Bell thought Kale just decided to rest but then heard a woman's voice "This way, Tarnished. May I have a word."

Bell turned quickly pulling out his knife and got into a fighting stance when he saw her. A woman sitting on the torn open wall of the church, he saw she had not made any sudden moves, so cautiously he approached the woman who seemed radiant in the moonlight, he took in her attire, white robes and a large witches hat but as he got closer he noted she had blue skin which seemed almost like porcelain and four arms? 'At this point why question it' Bell didn't like how used these situations he was getting. Looking at her face he noted she had one closed eye with a mark over it like Melina but she had a ghost-like projection of half a face over her right side behaving exactly like her face.

Her presence was entirely different from Melina but in what way Bell couldn't tell. Her unclear intentions made Bell feel uneasy despite a voice in the back of his mind going on about meeting two pretty girls in one night.

"A pleasure to meet thee, Tarnished. I am the witch Renna. I'd heard tell of a Tarnished hurtling atop a spectral steed. And upon looking into the matter, the talk, I surmise, is of thee. Thou'rt possessed of the power, no? To call forth the spectral steed named Torrent." she had a more formal form of speaking compared

"Um yeah I can, why do you ask" Bell's hand hovered over his knife but Renna had simply lifted one of her hands from her lap, silently asking him to wait.

"As I had hoped. I was entrusted this, for thee. By Torrent's former master." She hands him a Bell. Bell looked at it and then back at her, clearly confused. "'Tis a bell for calling forth spirits", she explained with mild amusement at Bell's clueless expression. "Summon them with it, from ash unreturned to the Erdtree. The spirits will obey thine command but briefly, as they recall battles past. Now it is do with as thou wishest."

Bell now examined the [Spirit calling bell] with fascination, it didn't look extravagant but somehow Bell could feel the spirits within them. He looked up towards Renna and bowed his head "Um, Miss Renna, I... I don't even know what to say. This Bell, it's incredible. Thank you, I mean it."

Renna curtly nodded at his thanks and she began to speak "Forgive mine intrusion, Tarnished. I doubt we shall meet again. But all the same, learn well the Lands Between. "As she began to disappear in particles of magic she left an ominous statement for him "How long will it be, I wonder...Before the Tarnished tire of obeisance to the Two Fingers?" her voice lingered on the wind, leaving Bell in the church with the silence of night before he rested beside his grace.

The next day comes and Bell decides it would be better to gather runes so Melina could transfer them into strength. He leaves the church and uses his fingers to whistle to summon Torrent, as soon as he does he is uplifted and finds himself sitting in the saddle of a grey horse with a white mane and horns. "I'm guessing your Torrent" Bell laughs as he pets his new companion "Nice to meet you" to which Torrent responds with a nay that Bell takes as him sharing the sentiment.

Bell had elected not to go through the Stormgate just yet, feeling he needed to be stronger with better weapons if he wanted to get through there alive with everything attached. So after giving a farewell to Kale Bell departed the church.

Using a map of Limgrave he found a bag attached to Torrent's saddle; they travel along the road with the set goal of killing monsters in mind. Bell finds several Demi-humans, giant bats, large rats, and various types of undead and so he has accumulated a fair bit of runes.

Bell is looking at his map, he's gained around 2500 runes but feels he should get more in case he needs to buy something from merchants. Laying on a resting Torrent who is happily eating some Berries Bell had picked out, Bell contemplates the next moves while eating some lamb he had killed.

'Let's see, we're south of the Agheel Lake... Maybe we could check out the weeping peninsula. Try and see about killing more monsters.' Bell contemplated his current location as he scanned over the map but his eyes settled on a place at the very bottom of the map. "Castle Morne" Bell repeated the name with intrigue, "Maybe we could see if there's anyone friendly there and ask about if there's an Armory. Because I'm telling you now, Torrent this knife is definitely not gonna be enough to deal with a stronger monster" Bell told his companion as he inspected his knife, "Honestly, it looked like something you cut veggies with, not monsters."

"But then again the castle could be filled with either more monsters than I can handle or worse, hostile humans," Bell said that last part bitterly wishing desperately that there would be no need for it. 'I need to take the chance. Yeah, I'll just check it out and see if it's worth the effort and risk' Bell nodded to himself before finishing his meal and patting Torrent to get up.

Bell and Torrent rode slowly down the path to the bridge that would get them into the Weeping Peninsula, a place called the Bridge of Sacrifice. 'That's not ominous at all' Bell snarked internally as he continued with their ride down south.

BANG!

A massive ballista bolt flew by Bell's head, barely clipping his hair. "Shit!" he exclaimed at the sudden attack, Bell looked ahead and saw the bridge but there were multiple soldiers and a massive ballista that was in the process of reloading. Seeing the opportunity Bell on Torrent rides forward strafing repeatedly to throw off the aim of the Ballista as they maneuver over and around soldiers and barricades.

Soldiers with crossbows managed to hit Bell in the arm and got two cross bolts in Torrent which caused a delay in their strafing, allowing the ballista to line up a shot and fire. But just as the ballista bolt was fired Torrent Jumped over the Bolt and then jumped again mid-air to completely clear the Ballista!

They managed to clear the bridge and find a site of grace so Bell could rest and heal. Bell pulled the arrows out of Torrent and gave him some berries from the saddlebag that healed Torrent up.

"Since when could you do that?" Bell asked incredulously while laughing from a mixture of fear and nerves. The horse simply nayed again but somehow Bell could tell it he was proud of himself. He was so damn grateful to have Torrent with him.

After an hour's rest Bell and Torrent made sure the bridge guards were not patrolling when they returned to the road but as soon as they did they saw a blond girl sitting on a rock with a blindfold over her eyes, she wore a simple faded pink dress. She was alone and had no armor or any visible weaponry, she seemed helpless honestly. Bell couldn't ignore that there was this blind girl alone on an open road in a hostile environment so he approached her on Torrent before dismounting. She had seemed to have heard them coming.

"H-Hello? Is somebody there?" She uttered somewhat nervously.

"Um, yes excuse me? Are you okay? I noticed you sitting here and wanted to make sure you're alright." Bell tried to come off as gentle as possible to put the girl's mind at ease not wanting to scare her. "I'm Bell and this is Torrent, my horse we don't want to hurt you"

The girl seemed to calm down a good bit before introducing herself "I am Irina, are you by chance tarnished?" she asked Bell, who was surprised at her deduction, " How'd you figure that out?"

"Very few humans travel so openly in recent times so you would either be a tarnished or a soldier but given how young you sound I would doubt it is the latter" She explained before continuing.

"Might I bend your ear for a moment, please." Bell nodded for her to continue. "I've escaped from Castle Morne, to the south. The servants there...have rebelled. I-I can't be sure what it is; my eyesight's been weak since birth you see...But I swear I heard frightful howling from all over." she seemed shaken just by recalling the events gripping her dress tightly before Bell put his hand on hers to calm her. She looked at him, at least where she thought he was and nodded thankfully before continuing.

"My good father secreted me out of the castle, but decided himself to stay. He says it's his duty, as commander. I... I fear for my father's life. The servants are full of wrath. Filled with hatred for every one of us. They've since come for every one of the companions I escaped with. They haven't spared a soul. I fear it's no different at Castle Morne…" she recalled calmly, Bell was glad she couldn't see him at this moment so she couldn't see his very pale face at her description of the events. He may not be accustomed to fighting but he was still fresh to how cruel things were around here.

"Please, I implore you. Would you mind taking a letter to my father, at the castle? My sole wish is that he escapes, even if his honor should be the price. Please... I just want him to be safe…" she pleaded. Bell was on the fence about it after hearing about the servants' vicious revolt but one thing made him reconsider.

He could see her blindfold getting damp with tears.

Just like that he folded. "Alright, don't worry Irina, I'll find your dad"

Irina beamed "Thank you, dearly. Then please, take this." She hands Bell a letter. "Please, if you wouldn't mind. Deliver the letter to my father at the castle. He can be stubborn, but I'm sure he'll come around." Bell pockets the letter and hops back onto Torrent.

"Alright Irina I'm off, please get off the road just for your safety" Bell requested, she simply nodded as he rode down the road to Castle Mourn.

They ride down the road until Bell sees another nomadic merchant. The merchant had a lot of good wears, there was some nice armor that was more protective than his chainmail but it was just too expensive but he did manage to buy a bastard sword, a massive improvement from his glorified kitchen knife, so at least he had a weapon with range but he was unaccustomed to swinging a sword so he'll rely on his shield to make up for it.

Bell and Torrent were about to begin their ride again but Bell spots a collapsed caravan with dead soldiers spread around it, that's when Bell first laid eyes on them, the misbegotten. Their eyes sunken in with unnaturally wide mouths showing off jagged teeth, hunched over with grey skin akin to leather, their arms were long and hair wild, they seemed to have underdeveloped wings on their lower back above the hip. They were chopping and mutilating the soldiers corpses and appeared to be gleeful when doing it. They horrified Bell, he almost froze when they noticed him and charged him with their rusty cleavers.

Bell jumped back and kept his shield up as he parried the first one and lodged his sword into its skull, killing the monstrous thing immediately but it was so far through its eye socket Bell couldn't pull it out quick enough to be knocked away.

"Agh!" he holds his arm as the gash in his arm bleeds. He Pulls out his knife and rushed the misbegotten on the left dodging under its swing and bashing it across the head with his leather shield, disorienting the creature as Bell, taking advantage of it's disorientation to slash it across the stomach and then across the throat as its blood spurted out and it collapses.

Bell attempted the same tactic to the last misbegotten but it caught on somehow and leaped backwards to get Bell off balance before the creature leaps forward and does a flying dropkick to Bell's shield knocking him back to make him fall to the ground. The Misbegotten screeched before leaping at Bell to deal the finishing blow but Bell maneuvered himself to do a backwards cartwheel towards the first Misbegotten he killed and pulled his Bastard sword from its skull.

The two were now sizing each other up as Bell slowly made his approach, keeping his shield up. The Misbegotten must have gotten impatient as it leaped above his head intending to strike from above but Bell dodged under it and turned around quickly to thrust his sword into the back of the creature, through its heart killing it instantly.

"What the hell…those things were terrifying" he breathed out before drinking a healing flask to mend the gash on his arm and his bruised ribs. He summoned Torrent again and began to ride off down the road to get to the castle hoping to not be interrupted this time. He didn't take notice that there was something with sunken eyes in the bushes and began to go up the road he came from towards the bridge…

After having to dodge some massive stone golem with a great bow to get into the castle, Bell was relieved to find a site of grace near the entrance. After resting he ascended the elevator, he was cautious of the servants that rebelled here, he didn't want to fight humans. He soon realized he didn't have to.

As soon as he got off the lift he saw a mountain of human corpses with a man burning at a steak at the top. Bell realized who the servants there were, they were standing atop the mountain of rotting corpses cheering at the burning steak. The servants were the Misbegotten.

Bell couldn't take them all on at once, he couldn't sneak upon them either because they were in the open and if he tried to sneak one, another misbegotten would see his approach. 'Think, how the hell am i gonna get past those things?' Bell had his hands on his hips as he was thinking when he grazed a familiar metal object.

The [Spirit calling bell] Renna gave him. 'Might as well give it a try' Bell lifts the ashes over his head and rings the bell summoning 4 spirit wolves, he wants to gush over this so badly but he figured now is neither the time or place for it. He lifts his Bastard sword and points it at the Misbegotten as if directing the wolf pack.

"Sick em boys!"

Immediately the wolves charge and Bell follows and a fight ensues. One of the wolves tears out the throat of a misbegotten, 2 others attack another to knock it off balance to attack its soft spots. Bell had just killed another one, his blade still in its ribs as another Misbegotten was about to strike his back with its cleaver until the last wolf grabs its leg with its jaws and drags the wretched thing away.

Bell had finished his last enemy and looked behind him to see his wolves just finished tearing apart the last 2 Misbegotten. He looked around for a second before thinking 'Now I can gush about this' as he rushed the wolves to give them hugs and pets, which they happily accepted before returning to ash.

Bell after examining the area, found a ladder and ascended it, just then he was assailed by two Misbegotten and much to his annoyance they had wings?! Dodging them was simple, he just rolled under them. After rolling under one of them it lands getting ready to jump back into the air but Bell throws his knife into its back to kill it. Then He is hit on his side by the other Misbegotten.

"Agh!" Bell was almost knocked off the ledge but managed to catch himself before he fell. He waited for the flying Misbegotten to charge him again and as soon as it did Bell dodges to the side and grabs one of its wings before using that leverage to pull the misbegotten onto his sword.

Bell wandered around further looking for Irina's father, it began to look more dire as every place he turned had dead soldiers. Eventually Bell found himself at the gallows and after killing some more Misbegotten climbed the stairs and saw a man clad in armor sitting on a bench. His hair and beard were disheveled but his armor was well maintained if you ignore some minor denting. The man looked up at Bell's approach.

"Ah, there's a face I've not seen before." he said in a tired but firm voice.

"I'm Bell Cranel" he introduced himself "I'm Edgar, warden of this castle as ordained by Lord Godrick himself. But you can see how things have turned out." He spat that last part out bitterly

"The menials have all rebelled. They gave me good service, or so I thought, but it seems it was all an act. Foul creatures, as it's said. And true enough they're foul inside and out. I'm sorry to disappoint you, But whatever you've come here to do, I'm afraid Castle Morne won't hold much longer." he spoke, Bell could hear the defeat in his voice as Edgar held his head in shame.

"Sir this letter is from your daughter, she's urging you to leave this place" Bell hands him the letter. Edgar holds it with great care as he reads it and rereads it, He has a look of contemplation before gently shaking his head

"I see... Thank you. I'm in your debt. But I can't leave yet. Even if the castle should fall, as commander, I must remain. To ensure the treasured sword of Morne does not fall into the wrong hands." He stated firmly, trying to leave no room for debate.

Bell bristled "With all due respect sir, swallow your pride your daughter needs you, surly she matters more then some sword"

Edgar didn't respond, still stoic and unmoving. Bell breaths out a frustrated sigh "...I'll get the sword if it gets you out of here then" Bell marched off in frustration.

It took another half hour of looking to find his way to the castle's shore, seriously this place was hard to navigate, but after killing a truly staggering amount of Misbegotten he found his way down to the shore. There were a lot of spirit Jellyfish but they seemed harmless so Bell left them alone. He walked past a ruined threshold and laid his eyes on the sword he was looking for.

It was a weird looking thing, it was a great sword that was composed of a bunch of other swords grafted together. Bell couldn't help but think it was cool.

Problem was it was with a large, red maned Misbegotten. Great.

It ran at Bell. leaping into the air to try and cut him in half but Bell just rolled under it and struck it in the back twice before the creatures swung all the way around to slam him with the blade which Bell barely managed to block with his shield but the force launched him a few feet back.

It ran up and swung again but he just jumped over the sword to give it a deep cut to the shoulder. The Misbegotten swung again and Bell leaped back in an attempt to dodge but he did receive a deep cut to his side by the blade's edges.

It runs at Bell again and hits Bell's shield pushing him further away from the creature. This gave Bell a window to drink his healing flask to mend his injuries. As soon as the wound closed Bell rushed the creature. It swung its grafted blade down but Bell leaped back and then lunged again to jump onto the blade and bash the Misbegotten with his shield forcing it to be staggered and release its grip on the blade. While it was staggered Bell swung his sword to cut off the head of the creature.

The blade was heavy but Bell managed to carry the thing back to the gallows where Edgar was, still hunched on the bench. Edgar looked up and was surprised to see Bell holding the grafted greatsword.

" You got it?...I'm in your debt. I'm no longer bound by duty. Once I've rescued Irina, I will spend my remaining days with her. Thanks to you, I will be reunited with Irina. And devote my remaining days to her. Irina has a gentle nature, though. I only hope it remains intact. Keep the blade, I can tell it's in good hands" It seemed like Edgar finally allowed himself to breathe and relax as he left the castle with Bell following behind him to show Edgar where Irina was.

They were just a few meters away from Irina and Bell pointed out where she was hiding off the road. Edgar looked full of energy and began to run ahead of Bell and Torrent. He was moving like he didn't have armor weighing him down a bit. But suddenly he stopped and fell to the ground.

"Edgar? Hey Edgar, what's wrong?" Bell was concerned, initially he thought Edgar was having a health issue given how aged he was but when Bell and Torrent rode closer they could see what was wrong.

A bloody cleaver and Irina's dead body.

Bell fell off Torrent, tripping up a bit before reaching her body. He began to gently nudge her. "Irina! Irina wake up, wake up now!" Bell begged. He lifted her head slightly and gave her a healing flask but it did nothing. Bell laid her back down and looked at Edgar.

"Irina...How could this be...My daughter deserved better...The fault lies...with me. I chose duty over my daughter's safety. And that is how fate has answered...I'll find them. The foul wretches responsible for this. I'll hunt them down, and exterminate every last one of them. Rest assured, Irina. It will be done." his eyes full of anger, despair and tears he leaves, to where? Bell couldn't say. He was stuck staring at her body.

Bell began to sob "I-I told you to get off the road! Why didn't you get off the road!" Bell inspected her again and noted something. Tracks, specifically tracks showing something was dragged. Given the amount of dirt on her and the fact the tracks originate from Irina's body gave Bell a horrible realization. She did get off the road, she did hide but a Misbegotten found her and dragged her back to the road, but why?

Bell noted the tracks, dirty footprints in the same shape as the feet of Misbegotten. He followed them back down the road, down to the raided caravan where he first encountered the Misbegotten. The tracks originated from the bushes.

'It was here…the one that killed Irina was here, it watched me kill the others and went up to the road for Irina!' Bell was hyperventilating, turning every ounce of sadness inward. 'If I had noticed, if I had paid attention to everything around me she wouldn't be dead! This is all my fault!' He fell to the ground and began sobbing uncontrollably only calming down when Torrent nudged his snout against him to try and calm Bell down.

Bell looked at his steed and simply climbed onto his back, riding back to Irina.

It took until nightfall for Bell to both dig her grave and bury her. Bell couldn't even offer her words because whenever he would try he'd just choke on his tears. Now he was sitting at the grace near the bridge of sacrifice looking at the golden ray dance in front of him before muttering.

"Melina…I'm ready"

As soon as he breathed that out the blue particles of magic appeared again. She was surprised by his appearance. He was still covered in dirt from digging the grave and stained by the blood of the Misbegotten that he killed and the blood of Irina as he carried her to put her to her grave. His hair was disheveled and his eyes red with tear stains on his cheek.

"Bell what has happened"

Bell recounted the story, from meeting Irina to seeing her corpse. Bell tried to keep calm but failed multiple times, his voice would crack or tears would fight their way out. Melina simply put her hand on his to comfort him.

"I don't understand how this happened. Why did this happen? They were servants and I get that sometimes they don't get the best treatment but why would they resort to this" Bell desperately inquired hoping she would have an answer.

"The Misbegotten have always been viewed as lesser by the Golden are seen as heretical creatures still tied to the crucible, a force that predates the Golden Order and the Erdtree, so after the Golden Order was established the crucible and those who are associated with it are looked at the same way you look at a monster." she explained with closed eyes as if to properly remember. She then continues.

"The way this Edgar spoke of them, calling them Menials and only talking about the service they give makes me believe that the Misbegotten in Castle Mourn may have been treated harshly" she finished with a natural tone.

"That doesn't justify it! Irina was blind, she spoke like she knew nothing of their treatment!" Bell retorted

"No Bell it does not justify it. Unfortunately in events like this the innocent will be casualties. If you are going to brave what is to come on your journey through the lands between then you must learn and accept this fact…" she said in her always calm voice but somehow Bell could tell she didn't like this fact either.

Bell was silent for a while until he said "Turn my runes into strength"

She sat in front of him. "Let my hand rest upon you, for but a moment. Share them with me, your thoughts, your ambitions, the principles you would follow."

Bell's hand and hers met and Bell looked inward thinking of every experience he could recall in the lands between. The tree sentinel and Castle Mourn being the most prominent. He wasn't killing enemies fast enough because he lacked strength, he was scared of getting hit because his body felt weak, he got winded too easily. These traits are what he'd have improved and because of these desires that's where the runes were converted to.

Afterwards Bell simply inspected himself and went back to looking at the grace but Melina could see him biting his lip in an attempt to hide himself. She wouldn't have that and simply rested a comforting hand onto his and as soon as that happened the tears began to flood. Torrent moved himself so he could put his head on Bell's lap. Melina needed him to fulfil their accord but she wasn't going to rush this, the fight was a concern for tomorrow.

Tonight he needed to mourn.

This is probably the most I have every written something willingly but I had fun

Constructive criticism is welcome so long as it is respectful.

Feel free to ask questions and I'll try to answer in the next chapter without spoilers.