Dark-Moon Dark-Sun

chapter 5

Warmth, a pleasant warmth once again, like resting beside a bonfire with friends after a long journey. He felt it wrap around him, blanketing him in the calming comfort it provided.

Arias yawned and sleepily opened his eyes. Blinking a bit, he looked around. The same room he'd been waking up in for the past month, a comfortable one. Though the fire directly opposite him brought back the memory of what'd happened the day prior.

He remembered seeing the man he once was, Oliver, seeing him stand in flame and feeling his gaze. He remembered being overcome with fear, huddling in a corner like a wild animal, only for Gwyndolin to bring him into a warm embrace to drive away the fear.

He'd continued his story about Saldus of Latria and the kingdom of Boletaria, though Arias couldn't remember anything after the knight fighting with a soldier. He supposed he must have fallen asleep.

Wondering how he'd ended up on the bed, Arias lifted up his head, only to see two arms wrapped around him. He lifted his head further to see Gwyndolin behind him, with a warm smile.

"Good morning, dear." He spoke, his voice smooth like silk.

"Gwyndolin..." Arias sighed happily, lying back down into his embrace.

"Didst thou sleep well?" He asked softly. Arias mumbled an affirmative.

"How dost thou feel?" Gwyndolin asked warily.

"...Better." Arias said almost somberly. He was definitely better, but he still felt... off.

"I am glad." Gwyndolin nodded, he pulled Arias closer and lifted a hand from under the soft silk of the bed sheets, softly he laid it upon Arias' face and quietly he spoke to him. "Dear, I do not wish to force thee so please do not speak if thou desirest against it, but pray tell, what horrors besiege thy mind, love?"

Arias felt the concern in his voice, though also a strong desire to protect, it seemed he'd rubbed off on him. "Myself. Or something more like a reflection of myself. It glared at me from the fire, hatred radiating from the flames in place of warmth, and I felt an overwhelming fear choking me, as if despite my own skills and will to survive I was truly defenseless, without hope." He choked up as he recounted what he saw, the picture of the knight still painfully clear in his mind. "Thank you for being there."

"Of course, love." Gwyndolin stroked his cheek lovingly. He made the connection where Arias could not, this was undoubtedly because of what Lenovis had screamed out before they burned her, begging Oliver for help. She clearly knew him before his hollowing, and it seems some part of Arias resonated with it, whether it was from an actual remaining part of the man that was or an intense manifestation of guilt, she caused a part of him to haunt himself. That is, despite him having no memory of the incident. After awakening he had said the last thing he remembered was moment before his slaying of Gwyn, nothing about throwing Lenovis into the flames. Gwyndolin recognized this as a response to severe trauma wherein the brain completely blocked out the memory of an event to protect itself.

He would have to do some heavy research to understand how to help Arias. But that would keep him away from him when he needs him most, then maybe, he should see if Seath had any remaining servants willing to bow to a new master, maybe summon scholars from faraway lands to help with the matter. He was a royal and thus commanded much authority, Gwyndolin had many methods available to him that could help heal Arias and for that he is grateful. One on his snakes lazily slithered onto Arias' stomach while Gwyndolin pondered his options and Arias lifted his hand to pet the little one, he could be so cute. That did remind him once again however, that even with all these resources, Arias needed him more than scholars.

Though maybe, what he needed most above all else was himself. All this talk of seeing his old self in the flames full of hate, fear of him, maybe even fear of his current self, he was capable of terrible things Gwyndolin had to admit, even if they were in service of him. The man's very ego, Arias, was trembling under the weight of two selves torn between past and present.

Gwyndolin wondered, if it was the sheer guilt of what he had done to Lenovis, the power of those doomed wails. At the time he did not even flinch, but he did not look quite present upon further recollection. All of this made Gwyndolin believe that the best way to protect and heal Arias, was to restore the value of his current self, to once again trust in the strength of his sword and armour, trust that his actions were just and to trust that he was a good man. If he could only restore the strength that he'd lost since the linking of the fire, then he could save him from this pit of despair his mind was being dragged down.

Though of course this would be difficult to put into practice and honestly, he would need time to plan his course of action. Though... there was one thing he could do now that he was sure could help in restoring Arias' trust of strength at the very least.

"Dear." Gwyndolin leaned his head to the side as he spoke, brushing his hands gently along Arias' cheek.

Arias, who had been enjoying the calming silence opened his eyes and hummed attentively.

"There is a gift I'st been waiting to reveal to thee." Gwyndolin said, running his fingers through Arias' hair. "If thou'rt fit to visit the cathedral that is."

Arias sighed. "Do you think me so feeble as to not manage a walk through your city?" He sounded somewhat defeated, Gwyndolin had said the wrong thing, and he felt a quick sinking feeling.

"Ah- no I-I just wished to be careful! I cannot know for certain your condition due to its nature in thy mind and, thou seems quite comfortable, I did not wish to make thee leave if thou didst not yet want to!" Gwyndolin stumbled over his defense.

"Sorry, I did not mean to upset you, nor do I doubt your intentions. It's only... I cannot help but to feel helpless and weak as I am. Again, I apologize for putting that on you." Arias apologized as he sat up, Gwyndolin's snake slithering off his stomach and onto his lap. Another snake slithered around his arms and into his left hand, its tongue flicking innocently.

"I understand dear." Gwyndolin sighed, leaning forwards, pressing himself against Arias' back and wrapping his arms around his chest. "I do not blame thee for thy despair, I of all know all too well what it is to feel helpless." He nestled his head on Arias' right shoulder as he spoke soft words into his ear. "It was thee who saved me from mine own helplessness. Thou didst so much for me, my knight, my love. I may lack thine strength, and thy courage, but I am at thy side, and I will protect thee, and I will restore thy strength once again, so thou mayest fend off the specters that haunt thy mind." He promised, speaking with conviction and certainty as he held Arias firmly.

"I... Thank you." Arias lifted his right hand to Gwyndolin's and held it close to his heart. Gwyndolin placed a small kiss upon his cheek as he did.

"So, what is it you wanted to show me?"

A/N And I'm back in the groove, more Gwyndolin x Arias fluff chapters coming up! Hopefully before another year's passed.