Prelude Chapter 13: The Short March
Godfrey I
Godfrey hummed to himself as he marched alongside the army that had come to Liurnia to wage war against the Carians and their subjects. Godfrey thought to himself how he had enjoyed the conflict and how he had met a near-equal in the Twin Moon Knight, he looked forward to facing her in combat again. On his shoulder a feline eye opened, meeting his gaze, after he had returned from Farum Azula, Marika had ordered him as the first vow of their marriage to don Serosh as seal, keeping Hourah Loux's bloodlust in check.
Your enjoyment of battle is still strong human, even with me suppressing your inner urges, you still love the taste of warfare.
Serosh purred his message telepathically inside Godfrey's head, the Elden Lord had yet to become used to having another being inside his head, although it was needed to keep Marika's love with him.
"You need not worry, my dear pelt, I shall not revert to my old ways, save till I find a worthy foe." Godfrey smiled, even as his speech confused many around him he garnered looks as the soldiers thought he talked to himself, he did not mind this. Many of the soldiers did not know that Serosh was alive, and merely thought Godfrey wore his pelt as a trophy, which Godfrey did not object against.
Perhaps a worthy opponent may come, and you shall rip me from your flesh and become what you once were. That would be preferable for me to happen sooner rather than later.
"I wish you no suffering Serosh, I wish only to be your partner, as our union was not my order." Godfrey said as he looked into Serosh's glaring yellow eye, even as it narrowed showing his disdain.
You… brought violence to my home, challenged a duel upon me, and broke tradition by electing not to kill me after you claimed your victory. I loathe you Hourah Loux, you are a plague without sickness, the disease of war and battle.
With that, Serosh's eye closed and Godfrey felt the lion leave his mind and return to his own to slumber. Godfrey was undimmed by Serosh's comments as he knew himself to be honorable, even if his actions decreed by Marika were viewed as less, he had to serve her as she was queen.
"Lord Godfrey?" a prying voice interrupted Godfreys thought, as Godfrey turned to face a knight who walked by his side who had spoken. The knight wore elaborate golden armor of the Leyndell knights, although he held a spear adorned with rubies signifying his rank as one of the captains of the force.
"Speak Knight Kristoff." Godfrey told the lad.
"I do not wish to interrupt you, but your conversation with Serosh is… unnerving Lord Shabiri, who is resting." Kristoff motioned to a stretcher that Shabiri, the current head of the Roundtable Hold, lay on after he had received a very brutal beating from one of the Carian Knights.
Godfrey disliked Shabiri, as he found him to be weak and undeserving of his title or political power. Godfrey knew of Shabiri's intellectual powers and achievements within the Golden Order for his loyalty and knowledge of the Order and its ideals, although Godfrey only recognized strength, which Shabiri had none. "I shall not disturb the young lady's sleep." Godfrey chuckled, which earned him a glare from the bedded scholar, which Godfrey silenced with his own look. "I shall converse with Radagon now, good day Kristoff."
Godfrey made his way up to the head of the host where Radagon walked, beside him walked his two wards, Andreas and Lhutel. Godfrey walked up behind Radagon and put his hand on his shoulder. "Radagon, my friend, we were nearly at the cusp of victory, why must you order a retreat when you knew this?" Godfrey asked his question quite honestly, as he was thoroughly confused about the retreat.
"If we had continued fighting, all that would remain would have been your Crucible Knights, yourself, and possibly me. I was saving the lives of many soldiers so they could come home to their families instead of being slaughtered for a small victory." Radagon said promptly, his answer only confused Godfrey more.
"You know better than I, with the rune of death gone, would both forces not be revived until one side claimed victory?" Godfrey asked
"Death here is but a temporary separation of soul and body, with resurrection uncertain and often delayed. Many prefer a rebirth through the Erdtree, embracing the cycle revered before our Queen's reign, the Carians and many who do not follow the teachings of the Erdtree are more susceptible to longer reincarnation times, often taking years or decades." Radagon explained, shedding light on the deeper rituals of their kind.
"I understand now, thank you." Godfrey nodded, the weight of his crown eminent. "Marika will need to know why we retreated."
"For peace, I chose to retreat for peace."
"I regret to tell you Radagon, I do not believe my wife will see this your way." Godfrey said.
"You would be surprised of what the queen truly sees and thinks of Godfrey, it is… unique." Radagon said solemnly, this statement threw Godfrey's mind asunder with his own questions.
"Whatever do you mean?" Godfrey inquired, tilting his massive head in confusion.
"Perhaps you have yet to find out." Radagon said quietly, Godfrey knew from earlier conversations with the man during the march towards Raya Lucaria, that Radagon was very elusive, this did not bother Godfrey as he only saw the power Radagon wielded nothing else.
Godfrey scratched his head, "Anyhaps, Raya Lucaria has many strong warriors, do they not?"
"Yes, they do. You know when this conflict started, I believed that it would be short and swift, that was until we faced them in battle. They are as fierce and equally strong as any soldier of ours. As you saw, the Carian Knights can at least hold back against the Crucible Knights."
"They are true warriors, I fought against one of them myself." Godfrey boasted, putting his hands across his chest as they walked.
"Indeed, you fought Rellana, the heir of the Carian Sovereignty herself, she posed quite a hindrance in the last battle. Only lady Alecto could stave her off." Radagon said as he wore a look of seriousness on his face,
"This Alecto, I did not have the pleasure of meeting her, I would like to be introduced to her, she seemeth strong." Godfrey said, wanting to challenge her himself to test himself.
"Alecto is one of the Queen Eternal's personal guards and handmaidens, she was one of the best combatants these lands have seen. When Marika entered these lands Alecto, alongside her Numen sisters and Maliketh himself assisted Marika in securing her future throne by defeating a competing emperyean, and forming the Golden Order. I regret to inform you, Alecto's fighting days are long over, as she is currently with child." Godfrey was surprised by Radagon's news of such a great warrior stepping away to bear a child, but he was impressed by the woman's deeds.
"She seems quite noble, I also saw many of our own troops show valor in the battle, like Kristoff, and these two." Godfrey said motioning to Andreas and Lhutel, who both looked up at him questioningly, their youthful eyes sparkling at his compliment. They thanked him quickly by bowing their small heads.
"I will not lie, we have powerful prospects within our ranks, although they need full training before heading into battle." Radagon said coldly, the coldness reminded Godfrey of someone, although he was unsure of who.
The two walked in silence as they picked up their pace, Radagon signaled his wards to stay back. Godfrey and Radagon eventually were far enough to be out of earshot from any prying ears, and Godfrey spoke seriously.
"Whatever is your plan, Radagon? We were sent to bring Raya Lucaria to heel, yet they recuperate at this second, do you wish to anger our queen?" Godfrey growled his question, yet Radagon was unbothered by the aggression aimed at him by the Elden Lord as he pulled his hands behind his back.
"As I said, Lord Godfrey, I retreated to find a peaceful solution. I wish to find a way to ally the Golden Order with Raya Lucaria without violence. Seemingly I have found that way, as I originally suggested it to Queen Marika before you came to us." Radagon answered icily.
"And what way is that?"
"Marriage, if a head member of the Golden Order were to marry themselves to Rennala, Queen of the Fullmoon, under the pretense that the Golden Order would not intrude in the interworking of Raya Lucaria and provide the academy with students and funding, as long as the academy and the Carians aligned themselves with the Golden Order." Radagon said, turning to Godfrey.
Godfrey took a second to take in the words of the scholar, and after a bit of consideration he saw Radagon's point, although he was unhappy with losing worthy opponents, he was satisfied with his queen gaining strong allies.
"Tis' a decent plan, will Marika agree with thou?" Godfrey asked.
Radagon smiled, "I believe she will, despite her newfound need for conquering, this will align with her plans."
Godfrey nodded before they slowed their pace and returned to the force, as Godfrey walked, he slowly lost sight of Radagon and joined the crowd. His thoughts wandered on how the proposal would play out, and what the future would not only hold for him, but for his heir that grew inside Marika.