"You wished to see me, my lord?" Oswald quietly shut the door behind him.
Owain was thankful his squire had sought him out in one of the rare moments Ranni was not at his side. This was awkward enough as it was.
"Ah, yes. Os, pray, sit." he cleared his throat as he rounded his desk, sitting too stiffly on Ranni's chaise.
"My lord?" Oswald asked, hesitantly sitting across from him.
"Forgive me, but I should have asked you earlier. What became of Tiche?"
His squires eyes widened in surprise. "I have not seen her since…the night of your death."
Owain studied his wringing hands. "She gave no warning?"
"A note conveying her…love. Pray, sire, why do you wish to know?" Oswald's voice was uncharacteristically urgent.
"Should you wish to, I'd grant you leave to see her out." He could source another to take over his squire's duties, this was important.
Tentative hurt flashed across Oswald's face. "Should not-" he snapped his mouth shut.
"No need for the formality, Oswald." Owain had raised the boy and Oswald could hardly bear to call him by name. Perhaps too much of his own regard for courtesy had rubbed off on his squire.
"Should not my love have withered by now?" Oswald whispered, frowning melancholically.
Owain reached across the small sitting table, grasping one of Oswald's hand's gently. "Mine did not. You have a gentle heart, my squire. There is no shame in holding tight to her, even after all this time." Oswald's eyes, faintly hopeful, met his. "Seek her out, bring her to our side. I would be most joyed to see her safe."
Oswald was silent for a long moment, working his jaw. "I had promised Lady Alecto to wed Tiche only once I had ascended to your position, sire. That I might be worthy of such a high lady." Owain's smile slacked as he felt a memory push its way to the forefront.
He admired the boy's spirit. To face off against foes that far outmatched himself in the name of what was right, it made Owain wish to smile despite the circumstance. He and his queen had been out on another of her excursions among the people, when he'd heard the sound of glass shattering and men yelling. The queen had naturally been curious and would, of course, heed not his words of warning. So now they stood at the end of a quickly emptied street, watching a boy try to prevail against three men grown.
"Wain." Queen Marika said quietly, nodding her head at the altercation. He cast his eyes about in a wide circle, his lady would be unprotected when he went to aid the child. He frowned. "Owain."
A sentinel should never hesitate to do what was right, he would follow the boy's lead. "Halt!" He called, perhaps too loudly, as dust billowed up from the cobbled road. All three men froze in unison, heads turning to him, faces comically shocked at the sight of a knight of Leyndell. He would've liked to see their reactions had he and the queen been unveiled. "Submit to the justice of gold!"
As one, they disregarded the boy, who was struggling to stand, and began to make a mad dash to escape. It hardly mattered, Owain far outpaced such common criminals. Several quick blows to their heads and Owain was aiding the boy to stand, his queen walking up to them quietly. "Nobly fought, child." He said softly.
Awestruck eyes looked up at him. "Th-thank you, ser knight!" Owain scowled at the wounds that covered the child's body. He cast a spell of grand healing, dusting the boy's tattered tunic with a hand.
"What is your name, boy?"
"Oswald, ser." The child looked down shyly.
"Oswald, you sought to protect this place. Why?" He regarded the damaged store front, a produce seller it seemed.
"The owner has been kind to me since…since my father died, ser."
"Have you and your mother need of aid?" Owain knelt, so be somewhat eye to eye.
"My mother-she is dead, ser." Owain frowned, this boy could hardly be younger than the twin princes.
"Knight." His queen's voice was somber, her eyes bored into him ponderously.
This was a golden opportunity, one he would be foolish to disregard. "Come then with me, child. I have need of a squire, and you have proven your mettle." His lady smiled with a small nod.
"Tr-truly? Of course! Of course, ser knight! Only, let me grab my things. Might I meet you at the knight barracks? I need to say goodbye to my-to my friends." Owain laughed, clapping the lad on the shoulder as he stood.
"Take all the time you need, young Oswald. When you are ready, go unto the palace, ask for the lord commander."
The boy's face was the picture of confusion. "The burnished? I have not the clothes to appear before so lofty a lord, ser knight. Will I-."
His lady crouched, placing a delicate hand atop the youth's head. "He shall see thee, child. Doth not fear." His queen turned to him with a sly smile. Owain huffed a laugh with a smile of his own.
"-ord?" Oswald was looking at him anxiously. Owain sighed, he was tired of the memories making him look a fool, but at least this one had been wholly pleasant.
"Apologies, Os. I just recalled the day of our first meeting." as the man flushed, Owain pushed on with a laugh. "By the by, should you wish it, you've leave to seek her out once we reach Altus."
His squire rose only to kneel with a fist over his heart. "Thank you, my lord. I…I will do so."
"And Oswald. The day will come when our lands are righted. My mantle shall be yours to bear, if you would still take the weight."
Oswald's eyes were alight in fierce determination. "It will be my honor, my lord!" Owain smiled, he'd expected nothing less.
Owain sent him off with orders to rest well before they departed. His lady Melina would be arriving on the morrow and the manor's final preparations would need to be completed before they went north.
Mother Rennala summoned him just as he and Lord Moongrum had finished inspecting those soldiers that would be escorting their party. Owain entered her chambers curiously, surprised to find Ranni already there. She greeted him with an excited grin. "Mother?" He asked.
The queen ushered him in with a wave of a hand. "Ah, good. Thou'rt here. I've a present prepared for thee, before our departure." She snapped her fingers and an armor stand appeared before them.
Owain's breath was stolen at how beautiful the set on display was. Enchanted silver with delicately engraved golden filigree. The suit was almost a twin in style to his sentinel armor, with several distinct changes. Where once a great tree sprouted from the helm, a rising sun of layered silver and gold rose. Where designs of the Erd Tree had been adorned, were inlays and sigils of the moon, stars, and sun. Where he'd once been arrayed in a great cloak of gold and red, striking purple and shining silver draped. He could not stop his smile at the tapestry on the back, it was clearly Ranni and her wolves.
"T'was meant to be a wedding gift, but I wouldst rather see it put to use now. Thankest Ranni for the fine touches, she dictated the design to Iji."
He could not speak for a moment, too overwhelmed with gratitude. Instead, he swept both wife and mother into his arms, careful to not squeeze too tight. "Thank you both very much. It is a wonderful gift." Ranni pressed a kiss to his temple while Rennala pat his back patiently.
Ranni smiled mischievously as he stepped back to once more admire the armor. "Another thing, my fair consort eternal." he looked at her quizzically, "The New Moon Sword must keepest its perch above our bed. My lord needs a weapon to wield against foes abroad from home." She snapped her fingers, just as her mother, and a resplendent spear and shield appeared before them, leant against the armor display. His spear! His shield! They were returned! Though greatly changed, spined in binding silver, his weapons of gold were reforged works of lunar art.
He dropped to a knee, reaching out tentatively. His fingers wrapped around his spear, rejoicing as it thrummed with even more potent power than that of eld. Owain found there were tears brimming in his eyes, he tried to communicate how much this meant to him but could only smile helplessly. This time, his family embraced him, both Carian royals joining him in a jumbled embrace on the carpeted floor. Alas, that his loss of composure made them sully their fine gowns. "Useth these mighty tools to bring our family once more together, mine noble son of gold." Rennala whispered, kissing his head.
Ranni laughed brightly and sunk her face into his shoulder, Owain swallowed passed the tightness in his throat. "I will, mother. Hear now, my solemn vow. Caria will stand whole once more." Owain would see it through, outer gods be damned.
Ranni found him that evening, a strange looking necklace in hand. She held none of the levity of their earlier meeting. "Come husband, I wouldst see to Alecto." Owain barely had the chance to nod before she transported them away.
Alecto materialized out of dark mist as soon as he entered into the gaol. "Wain!" She called, before stopping short as Ranni emerged at his back. Owain knew not what to say and instead settled on a clipped nod.
"On thy knees, assassin." Ranni ordered, voice frosted in derision. He watched as his old friend's face fell once more into its usual mask of indifference.
Owain's hands twitched as his wife pushed herself before him, but relaxed as Alecto did as she was bid. "Princess." She bowed her head.
Ranni sneered, nose high. "This necklace hath I enchanted with most deleterious of spells. Shouldst thee bring harm to any I deem thou shouldst not, thou shall die in agony unmatched." This was the item meant to 'compel a friendly disposition'? Rather blunt of his princess but he supposed she did despise Alecto. How had she altered the technique to safeguard Blaidd?
To the black knife's credit, she did not flinch as Ranni placed the cursed jewelry upon her neck. Alecto looked not at all upon Ranni, her dark eyes remained locked only on Owain. "For what it is worth, I vow to follow your orders, Lunar Princess. I would…I would seek what atonement I could through deed."
Ranni moved between he and the hand-maiden, blocking her gaze. "Keep thine eyes upon thy path, and perhaps some measure of forgiveness I might find." Owain did not wish for this to devolve into anything violent, so he stepped forward to place a hand against his wife's back. She looked at him in sharp warning.
"Aye, princess." Said Alecto softly.
"Thou wilt go forth, findeth first thine foul sisters, then seeketh the know-nothin' cur , Ofnir. Returnest him to me alive." Owain blinked in surprise, he'd been wondering what Ranni's plans for Alecto had been, this made a great deal of sense.
Alecto smiled grimly. "A task I will undertake with joy, my lady."
Ranni straightened, "See it done." Her voice was cutting, her hands clenched. Truly, she'd made great strides in regaining her former composure in only a short while. His princess waved a hand and the prison around them began to dissolve, fading until they stood upon the true stone of the platform, sky unhindered by magic.
"My lady, might I speak to Wain for a moment?" Alecto asked, as she too stood straight; eyes watching the falling dusk. Ranni seemed for a moment just as likely to kill the woman as let a word escape from her mouth, but in the end nodded curtly. Alecto reached for his hand, kneeling with his knuckles upon her brow. "Wain. I know my feelings have been made clear to you, understand I never- I was content with your friendship, I meant no disrespect. I beg your forgiveness for my deceit, and for my hand in your death."
Owain regarded the handmaiden morosely. Apart from Godwyn and Tricia, Alecto had been one of his closest confidants for centuries. He gently extracted his hand from her trembling grasp, laying it atop her head. "In the words of my Lady Fortissax, I can not blame the blade for the arm's direction. Even if your actions threw our nation into chaos, the burden lies not only upon your shoulders." He dropped his hand, swallowing to try and fight the tension in his throat. Ranni was watching him speculatively, perhaps she realized the similarities betwixt she and the dragon. "I have called you friend most all my life, Alecto, and for my death… will I forgive you."
She rose from her bow swiftly, face hopeful. "Oh, Wain-"
"But I cannot forgive the death of my Lord Godwyn, the slaughter of his line. I cannot-" his voice broke. "I cannot forgive what your recklessness wrought to our queen and our country. Perhaps, should all be mended, I will grant you such clemency. Alas, old friend, the work will be harrowing and the toil will take a heavy toll upon you."
Alecto's face slowly crumbled as he spoke. Slow tears fell unheeded as she struggled to master herself. "You h-have my word, Wain. I will give my all. I would share your dreams, I would see them made true." She promised hoarsely.
So earnest was her vow, that he could not doubt it. The sentinel nodded, blinking away tears of his own. "I wish you good hunting." his jaw twitched, they must away, too much turmoil was this causing! "Oswald is to seek out Tiche upon our arrival to Altus. Report to me your progress in a few moons, and I will share with you his." Alecto nodded, wiping at her tears with a knuckle. "Farewell."
Ranni said nothing as she transported them away via spell, but he could read her tension in the lines of her neck. To his surprise, it was not Caria that Ranni brought them too, but what seemed like southern Limgrave. He spotted the circular stone platform of a gaol; Blaidd's prison then? Ranni made to step forward but Owain gently grabbed her arm. "Darling, wait." She whirled on him, gaze cutting. "Ranni." He said softly, not trusting his mouth to speak properly the words he wished.
Her lips parted, but closed once more. Owain must have looked more pathetic than he'd thought, because she tenderly brought his face to her chest, hands making slow furrows down his back. "My sweet man. Do not look at me so, I am no rageful beast, unlearnt in compassion." He felt her lips upon his hair, the soft air of her breathing him in. "Heed not the viciousness that the long dark broughtest forth from me, I work to cage it. Let thy noble heart leadest me as well, perhaps then the shadow's hold wilt not be so very unyielding."
Owain nodded, taking solace in the scent of lilacs and old books that seemed to ever cling to his princess. "The dark has not so tight a grip upon you as you think, Starlight." He spoke to the cloth at her sternum. They stayed embraced like that for a few lingering moments, but the pressing duty towards Blaidd brought them once more to focus.
Linde awaited them within, sitting at a small tale with the half-wolven, who stood abruptly at their entrance. Owain stepped protectively in front of Ranni. "Steady brother. How do you feel?"
Blaidd made no effort to hide the hurt upon his face. "Iji must be wrong, Wain! Ranni! I could never hurt you, I'm- I'm part of your very being!" Linde watched the wolf man steadily, taking a position at his back.
Ranni gently pushed Owain out of her way, "T'is better to be safe than sorry, Blaidd. Any odd sensations?"
Blaidd huffed, looking aground. "No! Besides being stuck in the gaol!"
Ranni watched her brother curiously, stepping forth and holding at a hand. Blaidd took it gingerly. Owain strained not to pull her away, he must trust she knew what she was doing. "It seems the fingers have yet to discover our intentions."
"The fingers?" He asked, moving to stand beside them both, within arm's reach of either.
Ranni began to laugh, pacing in focus. "They really- hah! They truly still believeth thou'rt set on restoring the golden order, Wain! Imbecilic beasts! They thought themselves my- our better, yet they art blind. They art not as omniscient as they wish us to believe." Her hands made fists in the fabric of his shirt, her eyes a worrying electric. "Thou'rt no lealhound! Thou shalt not prostate thyself afore the those ghastly things, afore Ofnir." She snarled.
Owain eyed their spectators, an anxious Blaidd and tense Linde. He too, could feel the growing mana in the air, he needed to calm Ranni down. His hands enveloped hers. "No, I am not, I will not. Be not afeard, Ranni."
His wife blinked at him, face and mana both relaxing. "No. No, thou shalt not." Ranni whispered. She turned, going to Linde. "Linde, has it gathered enough moonlight?"
The knight nodded, grabbing another strange looking necklace from the small table that Owain had not noticed. It was lined with intertwined silver and gold, tiny mirrors ran the whole of it. It reminded him of Iji's helm. "Aye, my lady. Her Majesty's enchantment has reached its full power."
"Excellent." She held it before her brother. "Blaidd." He sullenly allowed her to place it on his neck.
"What's it do?" Blaidd asked, pawing at it.
"It shouldst keep thee deaf to the will of the fingers. Mother's full moon is much kinder than my- I am hopeful this shall keep thy wits thine own. Hopefully they leavest thee be"
Blaidd's confusion cleared into sparking hopefulness. "Then…I can come north?"
Ranni laid a hand on the man's cheek. "It is better if thou aidest Radahn in his recovery, sweet Blaidd."
Blaidd shook her off with a frown. "But I should be at your side, Ranni! I should-" he halted himself abruptly. "No, maybe you're right. I wouldn't wanna…"
Owain stepped forward, gathering the dejected man into his side and ruffling the fur on his head. "We can hardly leave the manor untended, Radahn will not stay home forever, little brother. You must rule whilst we are away. I for one am excited to see you suffer the same horrid paperwork that I have, runaway."
Blaidd eyed him suspiciously, but a slow smile was growing on his face. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up, old man, but that really isn't as encouragin' as you think."
Owain laughed loudly, "Enjoy tax season, pup!"
At Blaidd exaggerated groan, the tension in Linde and Ranni's shoulders finally eased. One more family member safe, Owain grinned as he and Blaidd kept up their rapport.
Tanya rapped at the doors to his quarters rather late into the evening. He and Ranni had only just begun readying themselves for bed. "Radahn?" Owain asked. The knight nodded quickly, gesturing out the door. Ranni met his eyes, sharing the same sense of oddness.
Tanya accompanied them as far as Radahn's door, before ushering them in and taking up a post at its other side. "Brother?" Ranni questioned. Radahn held his head in hands, sat before a half empty bottle of what Owain knew to be quite strong liquor, if the stench was any indication. "Come, sit. This shall be a heavy talk." The couple sat across from the general, Ranni taking Owain's hand. Radahn lifted his head, eyes focused on Owain. "My memories of the battle have returned to me in full. You trained the cleanrots quite well."
He sighed. "They were never meant to be wielded against my family."
Radahn was silent for several breaths, eyes glassy. "Malenia whispered something to mine ear, before she…bloomed."
Owain sat forward urgently. "Did she…was it intended?"
"I do not know if she meant for it to happen." Alas, he'd not have that question answered this night then.
"And what didst she say?" Ranni continued.
Radahn rumbled out a weighty groan, scrubbing at his face his hands. "Miquella Awaits thee, O promised Consort."
Ranni was speaking, Radahn too. Owain could not hear them, could not hear anything but the rush of his own blood. Woe, woe and horror. What had the children done?
In between her echoing dreams of death and battle, betwixt the visions of putrid gold and diminishing flesh; Malenia remembered being carried.
Her feet, indeed, her legs entire ached so very profoundly. Malenia knew she would soon lose them. The pain of it was a dull thing, long disregarded; but the shame of it… that burned ever more fiercely. Through her lone remaining eye, she watched the taunt jaw of the man she considered more a father than he that shared her blood. It was Owain, not Radagon that had burst into her room in the middle of the night to carry her to the gardens for the third time that week. It was Owain who stayed at her side when the rot called to her most dangerously.
The dour sentinel noticed her stare, tucking her head to his chest with a low hum. "Be not afeard, princess. I've tomorrow off, some time amongst the flowers will do me good." Had her guilt been so clear on her face? His gentle fingers glided down her sleep strewn hair in a comforting motion.
"Thank you, Wain." She whispered. The thick fabric of his shirt felt soothing against her tired eye, the steady beat of his heart settled her. Malenia let herself relax. Her father ever 'researched' a cure, but she'd lost faith in him the day her right eye had been stolen from her. Miquella could bond with their reclusive sire if he wished, but Malenia could not forgive his distance. At least mother's melancholy was an easy excuse for the queen's lofty ways.
Malenia felt the air cool as they exited the rear palace doors, heard the soft clinking of armored plates as the door sentinels saluted. They were almost to her favorite spot then. She wound her arms around as much of her protector's chest as she could. He kept telling her she would grow tall enough that he'd no longer be able to carry her so easily, but Malenia did not wish it so. She would never tell brother, only truly admitting it to herself when she was alone; but she oft wished she was the one stricken with eternal youth. Better the body of a child than this devouring curse. She shut tight her eye, she would not cry, she would not! She was too old to cry now.
"There is no shame in shedding tears, child" Owain's rumbling baritone vibrated gently through her. "You are braver than most, stronger than most." She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt as he halted his walk.
"I am afraid." She murmured, voice thick. Owain sat on her favorite bench, the one beside the lilies. He made to set her beside him but she clung to him tightly, he chuckled and settled her into his lap. Malenia knew she was getting too old to be coddled like this, but such moments were precious to her. There were so few others who would even share a room with her for longer than a few moments. To be touched was a blessed rarity. She missed when mother would hold her like this.
Wain sighed, resting his chin atop her head. "You are too wise for your short years, my lady. Your queen mother, your lord father, your lord brother Godwyn, even young Prince Miquella; they all search desperately for a way to cure you. I know these fears are monstrous, but do not yet give up hope."
"But it hurts so very badly, Wain." Shame welled in her chest as she felt his shirt grow wet with her tears.
The thick calluses on his fingers scratched against her nightgown as he rubbed small circles in her back. "Would that I could bear this pain for you, my lady." She finally opened her eye to look up at him. Her nose could faintly smell the lilies beside them, the stars glittered softly in the velvet sky above. The princes had long grown blind to the sickly sweet stench of the rot, and it made any other scents she could glean all the more treasured.
The searing gold of the sentinel's eyes regarded her warmly. "It will not last forever, Malenia. The day will come when you are free of the rot, I have no doubt."
His voice was so certain, so resolute. Surely Owain could not be wrong.
Her dreams shifted, another memory taking its place.
The thrones, her siblings. Convened in a circle, contending in fierce argument. Ranni's seat was damnably empty, she would have welcomed her elder sister's wisdom at a time such as this. Even if she knew Ranni did not…did not love her as a sister the way she did her.
Morgott was gesturing emphatically. Malenia's sight was dim now, but she could see that well enough. "Please, wouldst thou all just listen! Queen Marika is-"
Lord Rykard interjected, reclined in his seat. "Nowhere to be found, Lord Morgott. The shards must be claimed, let them go to Caria."
The dreg, Godrick rose from his stolen throne to address Morgott. "Nay, kinsman, let me keep them safe in Stormveil. It is what my great sire would-"
Malenia stood from her throne, indignant, ignoring the ache of her prosthesis. "Who are you to claim such a thing, wretch! The blood of Godwyn is so thin in your veins, you are lucky you are even allowed upon this platform!" How had this mongrel been among the only two left alive of Godwyn's lineage after…after the knives.
Morgott sighed, pinching his brow. "I shouldst keep the shards, perhaps the ring can yet be reforged." And who would wield it, she wondered. Of the three emperyan's, the only one uncursed was absent. It almost made her...suspicious. Malenia shook her head, Ranni would never order Owain's death. Her own shard of the ring was so heavy to bear, she was still unused to its…weight.
"Caria would be the safest place for them, Lord Morgott." Radahn crossed his arms, brow furrowed in thought.
Mohg, who had been muttering to himself, rose in defense of his brother, rounding on the gargantuan man. "Would it? Where is Lady Ranni then, to provest her innocence?" The two carian siblings leapt to their feet as well with all four men primed to come to blows before her lord brother Miquella called out softly from his own throne.
"The Haligtree would be better, brother. Let the cleanrots guard the shards, among the roots, where they shall be kept secret."
Morgott clasped his hands behind his back, the motion achingly reminiscent of the Lord Commander himself. "Why would I trust the cleanrots over the sentinels? If Owain were here-"
Fury flooded her at the mention of the commander. "But he is not! He and Godwyn lie dead! Slain in the very palace you profess to be secure!" Malenia shouted.
Silence struck the pavilion. Not even a whisper could be heard from their many waiting attendants. The demi-gods all, save for Godrick, matched looks of potent grief. "Let us…let us reconvene this council after we-" The man's voice cracked, "after we hath laid them both to rest."
For once, they all agreed, even craven Godrick.
She lost herself once more in dreams of blood red death. The rot's voice was stronger than ever, alluring, seductive, inescapable. Alas, Malenia dreamt so desperately of the day she could escape.