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@deathblightprince
"What doth thou seek from these depths? Doth thee wish to commune with I, The Prince of Death?"
Independent, semi-selective, RP blog for Godwyn the Golden/ Prince of Death. 18+ minors dni.
OC friendly
Multimuse friendly
Multiverse friendly
Shipping friendly
NSFW friendly
Canon-divergent friendly
You are always welcome to ask questions, message me, or tag me in starters, dabbles, and memes!
Verses, Rules
Main blog, Godfrey, The First Elden Lord.
Godwyn The Returned and his mothers.
From the moment Godwyn was born, the shadow of Godfrey, The First Elden Lord, was cast over him. The visages Marika kept never let him forget memory of the man who was once his father.
Breaking Point
@deathblightprince
Radahn soon returned, with his army. The trip did not take too long, and everything went smoothly. His men, while surprised, were happy to see him alive, and once he explained them what happened - leaving out the worst details - and how Godwyn, who returned, had saved him, they were eager to help out. They have been fighting a hopeless battle for a long time. Now they would once more have a worthy cause, and their beloved general back.
He reported back to Godwyn when he returned, while his men settled in.
It seemed everything was going well, but inside, he had been falling apart. Seeing the devastation in his old home, and how few were really left, was painful. And while he did not tell anyone, he was filled with dread the whole time. Memories of the rot came back in full force, along with the fear that he might get infected again. He never expected to be afraid.
Being out of there again was a relief, and he made sure to eat the boluses his men offered. They supposedly prevented infection.
On top of that, he also learned his faithful old Jerren was gone. He should have expected it, but the news still broke his heart. They had a deep bond, and Radahn missed him dearly.
After his return, the nightmares got worse. That fragment of Miquella's grace, still embedded in his soul, seemed to gain more and more... sentience. And it tormented him. It knew all his fears, all the memories he'd rather forget.
How weak you really are, Lord Brother... all your strength, all your magic power, and you are still brought down by something as small as an echo of me.
He tried to avoid sleeping, and he still did not seek help. They had much to plan with Godwyn, and he buried himself in work.
But he was breaking apart, slowly, day by day.
Godwyn himself was feeling a tad more anxious than usual. It wasn't because he felt remorse for collaborating with Radahn and his men, but he was more afraid of how they might react to the rituals and practices they might witness.
Godwyn doesn't even let surface-level followers see the ritual of communion. He knows what the rituals and practices of death can easily scare people away. He hopes that isn't the same case for Radahn and his men.... but just in case, he'll postpone any larger-scale rituals and festivals until the redmanes get... acclimated to the new routine.
Godwyn was thankfully walking a little more freely now, continuing his work to the best of his ability. When Radahn reported back to him after returning from Caelid, he sensed that Radahn was on edge. Did something happen at Caelid? He later asked his men to brief him privately, but they confirmed that Radahn didn't leave out crucial information in his report. Godwyn didn't confront Radahn just yet, hoping maybe he'll come out himself. Then again, he knows Radahn can be a stoic, stubborn man (Funnily enough, just like Lord Godfrey). Godwyn can understand being too embarrassed to be upfront with your feelings. He's been there, done that.
In the early hours of the night (or whatever is considered night down there), Godwyn found himself sitting at his desk, drinking a medicated tea, waiting for his other plethora of medications to kick in so he could sleep. A chest filled with bottles, boxes, and bags carries all sorts of medications he takes not only daily, but in emergency situations as well. He had a perfumer in the room to watch over him while they kicked in.
His mind wandered back towards Radahn. Poor bastard has been looking exhausted these past few days. He should pay Radahn a visit in his quarters and offer him some Trina Lily tea.
So that's precisely what he does.
By now, he could hear Miquella talking to him even awake. Not all the time, but always when he least expected it.
How could he get rid of him? That fragment was part of his grace now. He doubted there would be any ritual to separate it, although he read what he could find on the subject of grace in the library here.
Most likely, he'd have to lose his grace altogether. A heavy stigma under the old Order - but Godwyn seemingly did not mind, since his own chosen companion was a Tarnished. Yet, Radahn couldn't find much on how to lose grace voluntarily, either. There were historical accounts on Marika divesting Godfrey and his followers of their grace, but she was unavailable, and she might not be willing to grant such a request, even if he found her.
Just give up, Lord Brother. You cannot be rid of me.
He hated that gentle voice. Always so sweet, so innocent sounding, but his words were dripping with venom.
You're losing this battle and you know it. I'm growing stronger day by day, and your stubborn resistance cannot last forever. I will return, and this time, I will be one with you. A god and his Lord, one being, like Marika and Radagon, unstoppable. My enchanting powers and your strength in battle. All will worship us and we shall be feared, but adored.
"I will not let that happen! I will cut you out if I must."
Perhaps it was that simple. He had been doing all this research to no avail, instead of his usual method of just using brute force.
He was not afraid of pain. He'd find where grace was the most concentrated and go to town with a sharp blade.
But he probably shouldn't do it right here. It'd certainly make a mess, and someone might interrupt him. He'd need to find a secluded spot in Deeproot, and bring some bandages and stanching boluses.
He started to pack up what he needed, then he dressed up to set out. Only to have Godwyn arrive just as he was about to exit the room.
"Oh! I did not expect thee tonight" he said.
Godwyn wasn't blind to see that Radahn wasn't in his loungewear; in fact, he looked like he was ready to go on an adventure.
"Oh, my apologies, brother, did I interrupt you during something?" A subtle way of asking Radahn what the hell he was doing. Godwyn held a tray with a steaming teapot and cups already lined with teabags that held the precious St. Trina lillies.
Godwyn was already suspicious, but he would hold his tongue for now.
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
The twins were confused at first on where Dada was taking them. Once they figured out Dada was tasking them to the box they must never touch. It only confused them more.
"We to'ch?"
Luna ask Godwyn, looking up at him. Meanwhile, Solis's tail began to wag, Finally, she can see what is in the box they must never touch.
"look for mama shiny! YEEEE!"
The moment he opened the box. Solis jumped into it and...disappeared? What an odd box Dada has in his room. The odd box is making Luna upset. She can only look at Dada with the look of 'where did my sister go?'
"You may touch what is in this drawer just this once." Godwyn firmly, but still warmly, spoke. In one easy swoop, he opened up the big drawer to reveal a sparkling sea of silver and gold. Shiny galore!
Godwyn didn't have much time to react to Solis before she jumped off into the abyss of silver and gold. He watched her sink inside, quickly disappearing into it, leaving only a dent of where she sunk.
Godwyn watched silently for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened to his child.
"Solis...?" He calls for her.
There was a moment of silence before Godwyn saw the little clawed hand of Solis. Frantically waving about. Along with muffled yelling.
"dadadadada out out!"
Luna peered over to watch her sister hand waving around. She giggled at seeing Solis regret her choice of jumping. Neither didn't know Dada had so many big shiny. They'll find something that Mama likes in no time!
Godwyn held back a giggle himself, watching Solis' hand wiggle to the surface. But he knows those jewels can be quite heavy due to being catered to demi-god size.
He quickly ends the fun for Luna by pulling Solis out by the arm. The sea of Gold and Silver shifted to reveal the Gold hair gremlin, stopping when she hovered over the surface. Godwyn plopped her back down next to her sister.
"We shall go slow and carefully choose a piece of jewelry for thy mother. I will take some out, and you must choose which one thoust would like for mama to have."
He explains before he takes a handful of his jewels out of the drawer with his free hand, and lifts it up for the babus to dig around and pick.
To Godwyn's surprise, the twins took choosing a big shiny for mama seriously. He would notice how they were narrow down the choices. One twin were feel the jewelry. Then, they would hand to the other twin who would to same. If they like the big shiny. It would go into a small pile. But if they don't like, it goes back into the box. Luna would always give Godwyn the jewelry back. Solis would try and toss it back into the box. Half of the time, it would make in back inside the box.
After a few hours of repeating the method, their pile was now three different big shines. An earring, a necklace and a hair ornament.
"Dada...help"
Solis asks with a huff. After having a baby babble argument with Luna on which shiny to choose. Luna was quiet, touching the jewelry all over again. hmm, which one would Mama like?
Godwyn watched the twins as they babbled away and touched the jewelry. He was very impressed at how coordinated and careful they were in picking a present. He wasn't very impressed with Solis tossing very delicate and expensive jewelry into the drawer with little care, but he found their way of deduction very good for their age.
They had sat the table, sorting and picking jewelry methodically until the twins began to argue.
"What do you need help with, dear? Do you need me to check it too?" Maybe they want his approval?
Luna gives Dada a nod. She moved the jewelry closer to Dada. Three big shines and the twins can't decide on one. Her wings fluttered in annoyance.
"Dada know?"
"Dada see Mama big shiny?"
They both asked Dada. Now that both twins think about it with what little braincell they have. Neither had never seen Mama wear any big shiny. Maybe Dada seen Mama wear a big shiny before. Not the one you wear as clothes.
Godwyn carefully inspected the pieces of jewelry they were caught up on. He held up the necklace and observed it. For a necklace that belongs to Godwyn, it's a thin silver chain, but it's incredibly long for an average-sized mortal.
"I have not seen thy mother wear much jewelry, let alone a necklace."
Godwyn could see the necklace looking good on her during nights out, especially if she folded it to make it layered. However, most days she'll be working on things that would make the necklace impractical to wear most of the time. He could imagine her getting into a fight with a bear in mistwood, and it getting caught in the bear's claws, either breaking off or flinging her around.
Godwyn puts down the necklace. "Let us see the earrings now." He says as he picks them up.
The earrings were tarnished; he could tell they were ancient and hadn't been worn in centuries. Why would the babies choose this? Is it the smell? Is it the more coppery look that comes with tarnished silver? Were Nouma's ears even pierced? They would be good if they were hoops, but these are hanging solid shapes of carved silver. Not to mention, there is some old GO symbolism on them.
"This earring may not fit thy mother's ears, dear..." He gives that excuse to pass it up. Finally, he moves on to the hairpiece.
Now this one looked more promising. No GO symbolism? Check. Practical? Check. Something Nouma would actually use? Check. Not to mention, it had texture from the metalwork, wear that one could feel the carved flowers and leaves hammered in. He could see Nouma wearing this daily, as he often saw her with her hair up.
"This one shall suffice as a gift most thoughtful. What does thou say, girls, hmm?" Godwyn asks as he gives the hairpiece to the twins to inspect again.
They both nodded in agreement on what Dada said. Mama rarely wears any shiny like Dada does. Then, Solis handed the earrings with carel, for once. The earrings smelled nice and the colour would look pretty on Mama. They don't know what the patterns are for. Maybe Papa's will know. Then they got to the hairpin. It reminded them of the flowers Mama for make with her hands.
Luna's pupils became big at seeing the hairpin. Yes, that one will make a nice gift for Mama. Solis's tail began to wag at Dada's suggestion.
"ye ye, Mama like"
"Mama ha'w 'ook pwetty"
The twins said with excitement. They began to stand up, preparing to rake the big shiny to Mama. Dada should know where Mama is. Black flowers always show where Mama is.
"Dada, see Mama"
"'ake b'g sh'ny to Mama!"
"Wait, my darlings." Godwyn halted their trek towards the deathroot by gently pinching the collars on the onesies.
"Mother's Day has yet to be upon us. I believe we shouldst spend our time wrapping this gift and complementing it with flowers." While Nouma can't see the flowers, she might enjoy smelling them.
"Perhaps, we couldst even make a batch of fine sweets for her, like berry tarts or draconian cookies?" He asks that to gain their interest. It wasn't time for Nouma to have the twins back yet, so he's just filling in the time.
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
The twins were confused at first on where Dada was taking them. Once they figured out Dada was tasking them to the box they must never touch. It only confused them more.
"We to'ch?"
Luna ask Godwyn, looking up at him. Meanwhile, Solis's tail began to wag, Finally, she can see what is in the box they must never touch.
"look for mama shiny! YEEEE!"
The moment he opened the box. Solis jumped into it and...disappeared? What an odd box Dada has in his room. The odd box is making Luna upset. She can only look at Dada with the look of 'where did my sister go?'
"You may touch what is in this drawer just this once." Godwyn firmly, but still warmly, spoke. In one easy swoop, he opened up the big drawer to reveal a sparkling sea of silver and gold. Shiny galore!
Godwyn didn't have much time to react to Solis before she jumped off into the abyss of silver and gold. He watched her sink inside, quickly disappearing into it, leaving only a dent of where she sunk.
Godwyn watched silently for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened to his child.
"Solis...?" He calls for her.
There was a moment of silence before Godwyn saw the little clawed hand of Solis. Frantically waving about. Along with muffled yelling.
"dadadadada out out!"
Luna peered over to watch her sister hand waving around. She giggled at seeing Solis regret her choice of jumping. Neither didn't know Dada had so many big shiny. They'll find something that Mama likes in no time!
Godwyn held back a giggle himself, watching Solis' hand wiggle to the surface. But he knows those jewels can be quite heavy due to being catered to demi-god size.
He quickly ends the fun for Luna by pulling Solis out by the arm. The sea of Gold and Silver shifted to reveal the Gold hair gremlin, stopping when she hovered over the surface. Godwyn plopped her back down next to her sister.
"We shall go slow and carefully choose a piece of jewelry for thy mother. I will take some out, and you must choose which one thoust would like for mama to have."
He explains before he takes a handful of his jewels out of the drawer with his free hand, and lifts it up for the babus to dig around and pick.
To Godwyn's surprise, the twins took choosing a big shiny for mama seriously. He would notice how they were narrow down the choices. One twin were feel the jewelry. Then, they would hand to the other twin who would to same. If they like the big shiny. It would go into a small pile. But if they don't like, it goes back into the box. Luna would always give Godwyn the jewelry back. Solis would try and toss it back into the box. Half of the time, it would make in back inside the box.
After a few hours of repeating the method, their pile was now three different big shines. An earring, a necklace and a hair ornament.
"Dada...help"
Solis asks with a huff. After having a baby babble argument with Luna on which shiny to choose. Luna was quiet, touching the jewelry all over again. hmm, which one would Mama like?
Godwyn watched the twins as they babbled away and touched the jewelry. He was very impressed at how coordinated and careful they were in picking a present. He wasn't very impressed with Solis tossing very delicate and expensive jewelry into the drawer with little care, but he found their way of deduction very good for their age.
They had sat the table, sorting and picking jewelry methodically until the twins began to argue.
"What do you need help with, dear? Do you need me to check it too?" Maybe they want his approval?
Luna gives Dada a nod. She moved the jewelry closer to Dada. Three big shines and the twins can't decide on one. Her wings fluttered in annoyance.
"Dada know?"
"Dada see Mama big shiny?"
They both asked Dada. Now that both twins think about it with what little braincell they have. Neither had never seen Mama wear any big shiny. Maybe Dada seen Mama wear a big shiny before. Not the one you wear as clothes.
Godwyn carefully inspected the pieces of jewelry they were caught up on. He held up the necklace and observed it. For a necklace that belongs to Godwyn, it's a thin silver chain, but it's incredibly long for an average-sized mortal.
"I have not seen thy mother wear much jewelry, let alone a necklace."
Godwyn could see the necklace looking good on her during nights out, especially if she folded it to make it layered. However, most days she'll be working on things that would make the necklace impractical to wear most of the time. He could imagine her getting into a fight with a bear in mistwood, and it getting caught in the bear's claws, either breaking off or flinging her around.
Godwyn puts down the necklace. "Let us see the earrings now." He says as he picks them up.
The earrings were tarnished; he could tell they were ancient and hadn't been worn in centuries. Why would the babies choose this? Is it the smell? Is it the more coppery look that comes with tarnished silver? Were Nouma's ears even pierced? They would be good if they were hoops, but these are hanging solid shapes of carved silver. Not to mention, there is some old GO symbolism on them.
"This earring may not fit thy mother's ears, dear..." He gives that excuse to pass it up. Finally, he moves on to the hairpiece.
Now this one looked more promising. No GO symbolism? Check. Practical? Check. Something Nouma would actually use? Check. Not to mention, it had texture from the metalwork, wear that one could feel the carved flowers and leaves hammered in. He could see Nouma wearing this daily, as he often saw her with her hair up.
"This one shall suffice as a gift most thoughtful. What does thou say, girls, hmm?" Godwyn asks as he gives the hairpiece to the twins to inspect again.
Breaking Point
@deathblightprince
Radahn soon returned, with his army. The trip did not take too long, and everything went smoothly. His men, while surprised, were happy to see him alive, and once he explained them what happened - leaving out the worst details - and how Godwyn, who returned, had saved him, they were eager to help out. They have been fighting a hopeless battle for a long time. Now they would once more have a worthy cause, and their beloved general back.
He reported back to Godwyn when he returned, while his men settled in.
It seemed everything was going well, but inside, he had been falling apart. Seeing the devastation in his old home, and how few were really left, was painful. And while he did not tell anyone, he was filled with dread the whole time. Memories of the rot came back in full force, along with the fear that he might get infected again. He never expected to be afraid.
Being out of there again was a relief, and he made sure to eat the boluses his men offered. They supposedly prevented infection.
On top of that, he also learned his faithful old Jerren was gone. He should have expected it, but the news still broke his heart. They had a deep bond, and Radahn missed him dearly.
After his return, the nightmares got worse. That fragment of Miquella's grace, still embedded in his soul, seemed to gain more and more... sentience. And it tormented him. It knew all his fears, all the memories he'd rather forget.
How weak you really are, Lord Brother... all your strength, all your magic power, and you are still brought down by something as small as an echo of me.
He tried to avoid sleeping, and he still did not seek help. They had much to plan with Godwyn, and he buried himself in work.
But he was breaking apart, slowly, day by day.
Godwyn himself was feeling a tad more anxious than usual. It wasn't because he felt remorse for collaborating with Radahn and his men, but he was more afraid of how they might react to the rituals and practices they might witness.
Godwyn doesn't even let surface-level followers see the ritual of communion. He knows what the rituals and practices of death can easily scare people away. He hopes that isn't the same case for Radahn and his men.... but just in case, he'll postpone any larger-scale rituals and festivals until the redmanes get... acclimated to the new routine.
Godwyn was thankfully walking a little more freely now, continuing his work to the best of his ability. When Radahn reported back to him after returning from Caelid, he sensed that Radahn was on edge. Did something happen at Caelid? He later asked his men to brief him privately, but they confirmed that Radahn didn't leave out crucial information in his report. Godwyn didn't confront Radahn just yet, hoping maybe he'll come out himself. Then again, he knows Radahn can be a stoic, stubborn man (Funnily enough, just like Lord Godfrey). Godwyn can understand being too embarrassed to be upfront with your feelings. He's been there, done that.
In the early hours of the night (or whatever is considered night down there), Godwyn found himself sitting at his desk, drinking a medicated tea, waiting for his other plethora of medications to kick in so he could sleep. A chest filled with bottles, boxes, and bags carries all sorts of medications he takes not only daily, but in emergency situations as well. He had a perfumer in the room to watch over him while they kicked in.
His mind wandered back towards Radahn. Poor bastard has been looking exhausted these past few days. He should pay Radahn a visit in his quarters and offer him some Trina Lily tea.
So that's precisely what he does.
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
The twins were confused at first on where Dada was taking them. Once they figured out Dada was tasking them to the box they must never touch. It only confused them more.
"We to'ch?"
Luna ask Godwyn, looking up at him. Meanwhile, Solis's tail began to wag, Finally, she can see what is in the box they must never touch.
"look for mama shiny! YEEEE!"
The moment he opened the box. Solis jumped into it and...disappeared? What an odd box Dada has in his room. The odd box is making Luna upset. She can only look at Dada with the look of 'where did my sister go?'
"You may touch what is in this drawer just this once." Godwyn firmly, but still warmly, spoke. In one easy swoop, he opened up the big drawer to reveal a sparkling sea of silver and gold. Shiny galore!
Godwyn didn't have much time to react to Solis before she jumped off into the abyss of silver and gold. He watched her sink inside, quickly disappearing into it, leaving only a dent of where she sunk.
Godwyn watched silently for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened to his child.
"Solis...?" He calls for her.
There was a moment of silence before Godwyn saw the little clawed hand of Solis. Frantically waving about. Along with muffled yelling.
"dadadadada out out!"
Luna peered over to watch her sister hand waving around. She giggled at seeing Solis regret her choice of jumping. Neither didn't know Dada had so many big shiny. They'll find something that Mama likes in no time!
Godwyn held back a giggle himself, watching Solis' hand wiggle to the surface. But he knows those jewels can be quite heavy due to being catered to demi-god size.
He quickly ends the fun for Luna by pulling Solis out by the arm. The sea of Gold and Silver shifted to reveal the Gold hair gremlin, stopping when she hovered over the surface. Godwyn plopped her back down next to her sister.
"We shall go slow and carefully choose a piece of jewelry for thy mother. I will take some out, and you must choose which one thoust would like for mama to have."
He explains before he takes a handful of his jewels out of the drawer with his free hand, and lifts it up for the babus to dig around and pick.
To Godwyn's surprise, the twins took choosing a big shiny for mama seriously. He would notice how they were narrow down the choices. One twin were feel the jewelry. Then, they would hand to the other twin who would to same. If they like the big shiny. It would go into a small pile. But if they don't like, it goes back into the box. Luna would always give Godwyn the jewelry back. Solis would try and toss it back into the box. Half of the time, it would make in back inside the box.
After a few hours of repeating the method, their pile was now three different big shines. An earring, a necklace and a hair ornament.
"Dada...help"
Solis asks with a huff. After having a baby babble argument with Luna on which shiny to choose. Luna was quiet, touching the jewelry all over again. hmm, which one would Mama like?
Godwyn watched the twins as they babbled away and touched the jewelry. He was very impressed at how coordinated and careful they were in picking a present. He wasn't very impressed with Solis tossing very delicate and expensive jewelry into the drawer with little care, but he found their way of deduction very good for their age.
They had sat the table, sorting and picking jewelry methodically until the twins began to argue.
"What do you need help with, dear? Do you need me to check it too?" Maybe they want his approval?
"If that's the case, I shall have my loyal deathknights and Vyke escort thee to Redmane Castle." Who could be more convincing than one of Godwyn the Golden's personal bodyguards and his old dragon cult friend?
"Oi... I forgot about that." He said quietly. Radahn was more involved in the shattering than just his duel with Malenia. Godwyn leaned on his palm, trying to conjure an idea where they all 3 could talk together without it ending in a bloodbath.
"I do not wish to get violent with Morgott. The old man has suffered enough already." He'll never get used to Morgott looking like an old man.
"But if thy testimony can sway Morgott's opinion, it couldst lead us in the right direction. Hmmm, perhaps if we kiss his and The Golden Order's old stubborn arses he'll listen to what we have to say." Frustration lined his voice. It spoke of how long he's been trying to contact Morgott, and how close he's gotten to a response, only to be ignored. Something tells him he's being ignored intentionally.
"I was hoping mine father couldst vouch for me, but he's doing Gods know what in the Land of Shadow..."
"My thanks. They should prove good company."
Morgott is going to be difficult, that's for sure... especially if they want to avoid a fight that could go wrong. Radahn was willing to try a diplomatic approach, but it was hard to suppress his nature.
"Lord Godfrey has returned as well?" The idea of him fighting in the Land of Shadow sounds exactly like what he would do. But perhaps they could locate him, and convince him to help. Their family was torn apart enough already - they had to try their best to mend it.
"We should try to find him, if we can go back there."
At least he had a lot to do now - hopefully enough to keep his mind off of what happened, and keep him awake so the memory of Miquella couldn't torment him in his dreams.
"My father has been difficult to keep track of." Godwyn comments, looking in the distance towards a deathroot plant sitting in an elegant clay pot.
"The last time my men had intersected him, he was heading northwest, towards the jagged peaks far in the distance. He was going on about someone named Bayle, someone who is apparently 'terror incarnate'. My men attempted to talk him out of it, but he was determined." Oh, if Godwyn only knew!
Godwyn rubbed his temple. God's he regrets introducing the shadow lands to his father.
"For now, we shall focus on recovery and escorting thou to Caelid. I'm afraid it will take a long time to locate my father there. My deathroot has yet to touch those mountains."
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
The twins were confused at first on where Dada was taking them. Once they figured out Dada was tasking them to the box they must never touch. It only confused them more.
"We to'ch?"
Luna ask Godwyn, looking up at him. Meanwhile, Solis's tail began to wag, Finally, she can see what is in the box they must never touch.
"look for mama shiny! YEEEE!"
The moment he opened the box. Solis jumped into it and...disappeared? What an odd box Dada has in his room. The odd box is making Luna upset. She can only look at Dada with the look of 'where did my sister go?'
"You may touch what is in this drawer just this once." Godwyn firmly, but still warmly, spoke. In one easy swoop, he opened up the big drawer to reveal a sparkling sea of silver and gold. Shiny galore!
Godwyn didn't have much time to react to Solis before she jumped off into the abyss of silver and gold. He watched her sink inside, quickly disappearing into it, leaving only a dent of where she sunk.
Godwyn watched silently for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened to his child.
"Solis...?" He calls for her.
There was a moment of silence before Godwyn saw the little clawed hand of Solis. Frantically waving about. Along with muffled yelling.
"dadadadada out out!"
Luna peered over to watch her sister hand waving around. She giggled at seeing Solis regret her choice of jumping. Neither didn't know Dada had so many big shiny. They'll find something that Mama likes in no time!
Godwyn held back a giggle himself, watching Solis' hand wiggle to the surface. But he knows those jewels can be quite heavy due to being catered to demi-god size.
He quickly ends the fun for Luna by pulling Solis out by the arm. The sea of Gold and Silver shifted to reveal the Gold hair gremlin, stopping when she hovered over the surface. Godwyn plopped her back down next to her sister.
"We shall go slow and carefully choose a piece of jewelry for thy mother. I will take some out, and you must choose which one thoust would like for mama to have."
He explains before he takes a handful of his jewels out of the drawer with his free hand, and lifts it up for the babus to dig around and pick.
@deathblightprince
Radahn wasn't sure how much time has passed. He was drifting in and out of sleep, whatever the perfumers gave him for the pain must have been very strong.
But his dreams were far from peaceful. He remembered all now - and his memories tormented him. All the pain and loss of dignity, as the rot slowly drove him mad, until there was nothing left but a feral beast that attacked anything that came near.
And those dreams were the better ones.
The true dread came whenever he dreamt of Miquella. Trapped in a body that wasn't his, helpless under his god-husband's charm. He was a weapon, a trophy, a prized possession. Miquella, after abandoning his love and much of himself, was cold, serene, unfeeling. Not the kind-hearted little brother Radahn once cherished. He spoke of compassion and love, and his words rang empty. How could a god like him create a better world?
But Radahn couldn't even voice his doubts, couldn't reason with him. He could only obey, and fight whoever dared challenge Miquella.
Deep down, he knew this wasn't real. What he saw were glimpses of a future that never came to be.
None could stand before their combined might. They would be slain, or they would be charmed to forever adore their new god.
When he finally awoke from his nightmares, his wounds were almost completely healed, but he was exhausted, as if he fought endless battles.
He vowed not to sleep again. He refused the perfumers' draughts, claiming he was feeling much better.
Yet, he could feel the presence from his dreams, still lingering. Whispering to him. Lord Brother... I will always be with you.
Was he losing his mind again?
No, no... he just needed someone to talk to. That would bring him back to reality and silence Miquella's voice.
He asked the knights if Godwyn was doing better, and if he could go visit him.
The Death Knights guarding Godwyn's sickroom greeted Radahn respectfully, albeit with a very slight air of surprise. While it was calm inside the corridor, there was a tension in the air that hung over them.
The Death Knights allowed the General access into Lord Godwyn's sickroom, seemingly eager to have him enter and not wander off.
Radahn's presence was quickly announced to catch Godwyn attention. Thankfully, he was awake and alert, despite the heavy amount of herbs and incense meant to entice sleep and deep relaxation.
Godwyn was found laying in his bed, still rough looking, but dire. The glaze in his eyes was gone, his hands less shaky. he glanced up from the book he was reading, offering his brother a kind smile.
"Ah, hello brother." He closes the book he was reading, gently putting it aside. "Art thou feeling better?"
Radahn was glad to see Godwyn in a slightly better shape, and he greeted him with a smile.
"I am much better now" he said. "My wounds have almost completely healed. But how art thou doing? Thou seem'st to be in better colour than last time."
He could sense some tension on the way here, but he wrote it off as people being worried about Godwyn. Thankfully, he had no idea who else was living here.
He got a chair and sat next to Godwyn's bed. The incense was rather overpowering - he recognized the same was used in his own room.
"How long hath it been? I've lost the track of time..."
"How am I? Well..." Godwyn looked down at his legs. Nothing was wrong with them, he was just looking down at them. His back was... being it's usual self. Sensitive, on fire, pricking him any chance it can get, but that's just another tuesday.
"I am getting better at walking, and staying focused..."
He still had a tendency to get lightheaded when he was on his feet. While fatigue is not foreign to Godwyn, it plagued him more recently. Perhaps it was because his body was working overtime, his heart racing constantly even when he was resting. Despite this constant fatigue, actual sleep eluded him. He could maybe only get a wink of sleep before being jolted awake by the slightest sound or by a stress dream, but it could be worse.
Shaking off the awkward thought process and silence, he looks at the long melted away hour candles that were used to keep time. He could have sworn he had a dozen of them ready to go.
"'Tis all too easy to lose track of time here. Days can muddle into weeks, and weeks can muddle into months. We keep track of time through hour candles, and using mine 'eyes' to see if its dark or light on the surface." He rubbed his eyes after making that statement, something he usually did when in communion to check the time.
"There hath been times when I was down here for so long, months had gone by and I didst not notice it. I missed the entirety of spring this year because I was down here, going about mine own business as if only a couple weeks had passed."
He can understand that.
"I have no idea how long it's been since the Shattering... centuries? Millennia? It all felt the same, for so long."
Day and night didn't mean much difference when the sky was always red, and the view unchanging. And after a while, he didn't think about it. Sometimes, challengers would break the monotony. Would-be champions, or rather, dinner.
He was a bit ashamed of that, even though he was out of his mind at the time.
"Brother... can I do something to help thee? Mine old ambitions seem irrelevant after all this, and the stars are free now... but I am still a capable warrior, and I could aid thy plans. I owe thee a lot."
Godwyn mindlessly fiddled with the sheets. He's read dozens of books about the shattering, written and spoken to several scholars about the date of the shattering, and how long its been since then. So far, almost none of them can agree on a single date. The day his mother shattered the ring is still heavily debated.
"To this day I know not how long it hath truly been. I have no memory of the time that passed when I was still dead, unfortunately just my final moments in my first life and then the beginning of my 2nd life. I've read, and asked many scholars for this answer. Many say 'tis been a couple centuries, some say more." The thought made a pit grow in his stomach. So many years this land laid to waste, not even the current generations knows when it all went wrong. They know nothing but this broken world that they can't fix.
But Radahn's question snapped him out his train of thought. Did he really just say that? He must have hallucinated it. His siblings would truly want nothing do to with his plans, right? Right?
Godwyn looked at his brother, scanning his facial features for any sign of jest or sarcasm.
"Do... Do you really mean that?" His flowerly, proper Queen's English fell. The thought seem almost impossible to him.
"What about your army?"
"I do. The world is broken, and mine own ambitions played a part in that... if there is a way to make things better, I wish to do what I can. My powers are not just for combat."
He thought of his men as Godwyn reminded him of them. They probably still believed him dead... news of his return likely haven't spread to the surface.
"I'm not sure how they would feel, seeing me like this... after doing so much to grant me an honourable death. But if they would still follow me, I hope we could eventually make Caelid habitable again. It would certainly take a long time, even with my powers... yet, it's worth trying." It was his chosen home, and he did not want to give up on it.
He knew things would never be as they were again. But even just making parts of the land fertile again - for crops, not whatever strange things grew from the rot - would be a great help.
After everything that happened, he was not so eager to fight what remained of their family. They waged war, vying for power, and what good did that do for any of them?
Perhaps losing his Great Rune was a blessing. He could see clearer now.
Godwyn blinked, watching his brother almost in disbelief. Never in a million years did he think someone like his step-brother Radahn would agree to aid him in his plans.
And yet, there was something so sweet about it. Delicious even. He managed to get his killer's older brother to join him in his plan for duskborn. Then the thought of he and Radahn's army merging to become one unstoppable army... The thought of taking over Leyendell in one night to secure it ready for duskborn gave Godwyn a huge confidence boost.
If Leyndell's forces can use holy incantations to stave off deathblight, Radahn's army's siege on their capital should overwhelm them.
"I understand thou must feel regretful towards thine part in the shattering... I can feel a guilt similar to that myself." He looked down at the sheets briefly, his hands cupping together. He was carefully contemplating his words.
"Caelid is a rather... hostile place as of now. It amazes me how thy army has survived and fought back against its spread for so long." He thinks back on the brief glimpses of the wasteland he saw before cutting off the deathroot in Caelid from the main deathroot system. The land was rotted from the top of the mountains to deep beneath the soil. It was overrun with vermin and worshippers of the rot. The remnants of the bloom in the middle of the aeonia swamp gave him chills, and it was the straw that broke the camel's back to cut off the caelid deathroot network. He doubts that the network will die anytime soon, but his main concern was to prevent the spread of scarlet rot.
"I believe the only reason why Limgrave is still viable is because of their work to prevent the spread. From what I hear from other tarnished who traveled to Caelid, thy army is still dedicated to fighting off the rot, and protecting Redmane Castle..." He looks back up at his brother, offering him a half smile. "You must have been a fantastic leader if they still follow you in death."
"The Redmanes are a tough bunch." He's very proud of them. Even in the most hostile conditions, they would never run. After the battle - when he still had some sanity left - he told them to save themselves, leave Caelid, but none would abandon their chosen home. The few remaining civilians left, but the army stayed, and continued to fight the rot with all they had, even if they knew it was in vain.
Radahn, despite being in terrible pain, tried his best to help while he still could, but eventually, he felt he had not much time. He isolated himself in the desert to avoid hurting his friends.
Yet, they stayed loyal. They organized festival after festival, to give him an honourable death worthy of a hero. And even after his death, they continued to work, to burn the rot and fight the mutated wildlife.
"I'll have to visit them soon. They might think I'm a ghost... but I know they'd always be up for a good battle."
He smiles at Godwyn.
"We can do this together, no matter how hard it is. I do hope we could make a compromise with King Morgott..." Now sharing his vessel's memories, he did not wish to harm Mohg's brother. But there was no telling how Morgott would react to their current strange, merged state. Probably with outrage...
"My men can help escort thou to Caelid if thoust wish." He's sure the big man can make it Caelid himself and fight off the rotten wildlife, but just in case...
It gave Godwyn some hope with this new alignment. It's only been 2 years that he's been trying to get back in touch with his siblings, and rekindle a relationship with them. He's found little to no success, and it's difficult to not feel extremely discouraged by it. He's about to embark the world on a new age, and he has none of his siblings to celebrate with him... until now.
But now the topic of Morgott is in the air. His shoulders slump. "About King Morgott..." He looks towards the window where a desk is sitting. The image of writing letters floods his mind.
"For the past year, I've been attempting to contact Morgott by writing letters and having my men visit Leydendell aplenty, but he has refused to acknowledge me. I know not why he won't respond, but I have an inkling that it may be because he thinks I am a crock, an impersonator... Perhaps thou can vouch for me?"
"Having thy envoy with me could help convince my men thou art indeed back, in addition to mine own testimony." He didn't think he would need much help with the wildlife, but if Godwyn sent someone with him, the whole thing would feel more official.
Morgott was a stubborn man, he knew that much.
"It is likely he Morgott doesn't believe thou art the real Godwyn" he agreed. "After all, thou wert slain with Destined Death itself, and Miquella tried to bring thee back in vain... if I have not seen thee with my own eyes, I would doubt too."
He started to think. The deathroot system Godwyn uses to travel can go anywhere, no? What if they simply visited Morgott in his throne room?
"I can indeed vouch for thee, althoguh I'm not sure Morgott would be happy to see me, given our history and my whole... situtation with Mohg."
Even with only a handful of horns left here and there, he had no doubt Morgott would recognize his twin's body and likely figure out what happened. And with Miquella gone - mostly - he would probably want to fight Radahn before he'd be willing to talk.
"Might need to punch him a bit until he's willing to sit down with us."
"If that's the case, I shall have my loyal deathknights and Vyke escort thee to Redmane Castle." Who could be more convincing than one of Godwyn the Golden's personal bodyguards and his old dragon cult friend?
"Oi... I forgot about that." He said quietly. Radahn was more involved in the shattering than just his duel with Malenia. Godwyn leaned on his palm, trying to conjure an idea where they all 3 could talk together without it ending in a bloodbath.
"I do not wish to get violent with Morgott. The old man has suffered enough already." He'll never get used to Morgott looking like an old man.
"But if thy testimony can sway Morgott's opinion, it couldst lead us in the right direction. Hmmm, perhaps if we kiss his and The Golden Order's old stubborn arses he'll listen to what we have to say." Frustration lined his voice. It spoke of how long he's been trying to contact Morgott, and how close he's gotten to a response, only to be ignored. Something tells him he's being ignored intentionally.
"I was hoping mine father couldst vouch for me, but he's doing Gods know what in the Land of Shadow..."
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
The twins were confused at first on where Dada was taking them. Once they figured out Dada was tasking them to the box they must never touch. It only confused them more.
"We to'ch?"
Luna ask Godwyn, looking up at him. Meanwhile, Solis's tail began to wag, Finally, she can see what is in the box they must never touch.
"look for mama shiny! YEEEE!"
The moment he opened the box. Solis jumped into it and...disappeared? What an odd box Dada has in his room. The odd box is making Luna upset. She can only look at Dada with the look of 'where did my sister go?'
"You may touch what is in this drawer just this once." Godwyn firmly, but still warmly, spoke. In one easy swoop, he opened up the big drawer to reveal a sparkling sea of silver and gold. Shiny galore!
Godwyn didn't have much time to react to Solis before she jumped off into the abyss of silver and gold. He watched her sink inside, quickly disappearing into it, leaving only a dent of where she sunk.
Godwyn watched silently for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened to his child.
"Solis...?" He calls for her.
@deathblightprince
Radahn wasn't sure how much time has passed. He was drifting in and out of sleep, whatever the perfumers gave him for the pain must have been very strong.
But his dreams were far from peaceful. He remembered all now - and his memories tormented him. All the pain and loss of dignity, as the rot slowly drove him mad, until there was nothing left but a feral beast that attacked anything that came near.
And those dreams were the better ones.
The true dread came whenever he dreamt of Miquella. Trapped in a body that wasn't his, helpless under his god-husband's charm. He was a weapon, a trophy, a prized possession. Miquella, after abandoning his love and much of himself, was cold, serene, unfeeling. Not the kind-hearted little brother Radahn once cherished. He spoke of compassion and love, and his words rang empty. How could a god like him create a better world?
But Radahn couldn't even voice his doubts, couldn't reason with him. He could only obey, and fight whoever dared challenge Miquella.
Deep down, he knew this wasn't real. What he saw were glimpses of a future that never came to be.
None could stand before their combined might. They would be slain, or they would be charmed to forever adore their new god.
When he finally awoke from his nightmares, his wounds were almost completely healed, but he was exhausted, as if he fought endless battles.
He vowed not to sleep again. He refused the perfumers' draughts, claiming he was feeling much better.
Yet, he could feel the presence from his dreams, still lingering. Whispering to him. Lord Brother... I will always be with you.
Was he losing his mind again?
No, no... he just needed someone to talk to. That would bring him back to reality and silence Miquella's voice.
He asked the knights if Godwyn was doing better, and if he could go visit him.
The Death Knights guarding Godwyn's sickroom greeted Radahn respectfully, albeit with a very slight air of surprise. While it was calm inside the corridor, there was a tension in the air that hung over them.
The Death Knights allowed the General access into Lord Godwyn's sickroom, seemingly eager to have him enter and not wander off.
Radahn's presence was quickly announced to catch Godwyn attention. Thankfully, he was awake and alert, despite the heavy amount of herbs and incense meant to entice sleep and deep relaxation.
Godwyn was found laying in his bed, still rough looking, but dire. The glaze in his eyes was gone, his hands less shaky. he glanced up from the book he was reading, offering his brother a kind smile.
"Ah, hello brother." He closes the book he was reading, gently putting it aside. "Art thou feeling better?"
Radahn was glad to see Godwyn in a slightly better shape, and he greeted him with a smile.
"I am much better now" he said. "My wounds have almost completely healed. But how art thou doing? Thou seem'st to be in better colour than last time."
He could sense some tension on the way here, but he wrote it off as people being worried about Godwyn. Thankfully, he had no idea who else was living here.
He got a chair and sat next to Godwyn's bed. The incense was rather overpowering - he recognized the same was used in his own room.
"How long hath it been? I've lost the track of time..."
"How am I? Well..." Godwyn looked down at his legs. Nothing was wrong with them, he was just looking down at them. His back was... being it's usual self. Sensitive, on fire, pricking him any chance it can get, but that's just another tuesday.
"I am getting better at walking, and staying focused..."
He still had a tendency to get lightheaded when he was on his feet. While fatigue is not foreign to Godwyn, it plagued him more recently. Perhaps it was because his body was working overtime, his heart racing constantly even when he was resting. Despite this constant fatigue, actual sleep eluded him. He could maybe only get a wink of sleep before being jolted awake by the slightest sound or by a stress dream, but it could be worse.
Shaking off the awkward thought process and silence, he looks at the long melted away hour candles that were used to keep time. He could have sworn he had a dozen of them ready to go.
"'Tis all too easy to lose track of time here. Days can muddle into weeks, and weeks can muddle into months. We keep track of time through hour candles, and using mine 'eyes' to see if its dark or light on the surface." He rubbed his eyes after making that statement, something he usually did when in communion to check the time.
"There hath been times when I was down here for so long, months had gone by and I didst not notice it. I missed the entirety of spring this year because I was down here, going about mine own business as if only a couple weeks had passed."
He can understand that.
"I have no idea how long it's been since the Shattering... centuries? Millennia? It all felt the same, for so long."
Day and night didn't mean much difference when the sky was always red, and the view unchanging. And after a while, he didn't think about it. Sometimes, challengers would break the monotony. Would-be champions, or rather, dinner.
He was a bit ashamed of that, even though he was out of his mind at the time.
"Brother... can I do something to help thee? Mine old ambitions seem irrelevant after all this, and the stars are free now... but I am still a capable warrior, and I could aid thy plans. I owe thee a lot."
Godwyn mindlessly fiddled with the sheets. He's read dozens of books about the shattering, written and spoken to several scholars about the date of the shattering, and how long its been since then. So far, almost none of them can agree on a single date. The day his mother shattered the ring is still heavily debated.
"To this day I know not how long it hath truly been. I have no memory of the time that passed when I was still dead, unfortunately just my final moments in my first life and then the beginning of my 2nd life. I've read, and asked many scholars for this answer. Many say 'tis been a couple centuries, some say more." The thought made a pit grow in his stomach. So many years this land laid to waste, not even the current generations knows when it all went wrong. They know nothing but this broken world that they can't fix.
But Radahn's question snapped him out his train of thought. Did he really just say that? He must have hallucinated it. His siblings would truly want nothing do to with his plans, right? Right?
Godwyn looked at his brother, scanning his facial features for any sign of jest or sarcasm.
"Do... Do you really mean that?" His flowerly, proper Queen's English fell. The thought seem almost impossible to him.
"What about your army?"
"I do. The world is broken, and mine own ambitions played a part in that... if there is a way to make things better, I wish to do what I can. My powers are not just for combat."
He thought of his men as Godwyn reminded him of them. They probably still believed him dead... news of his return likely haven't spread to the surface.
"I'm not sure how they would feel, seeing me like this... after doing so much to grant me an honourable death. But if they would still follow me, I hope we could eventually make Caelid habitable again. It would certainly take a long time, even with my powers... yet, it's worth trying." It was his chosen home, and he did not want to give up on it.
He knew things would never be as they were again. But even just making parts of the land fertile again - for crops, not whatever strange things grew from the rot - would be a great help.
After everything that happened, he was not so eager to fight what remained of their family. They waged war, vying for power, and what good did that do for any of them?
Perhaps losing his Great Rune was a blessing. He could see clearer now.
Godwyn blinked, watching his brother almost in disbelief. Never in a million years did he think someone like his step-brother Radahn would agree to aid him in his plans.
And yet, there was something so sweet about it. Delicious even. He managed to get his killer's older brother to join him in his plan for duskborn. Then the thought of he and Radahn's army merging to become one unstoppable army... The thought of taking over Leyendell in one night to secure it ready for duskborn gave Godwyn a huge confidence boost.
If Leyndell's forces can use holy incantations to stave off deathblight, Radahn's army's siege on their capital should overwhelm them.
"I understand thou must feel regretful towards thine part in the shattering... I can feel a guilt similar to that myself." He looked down at the sheets briefly, his hands cupping together. He was carefully contemplating his words.
"Caelid is a rather... hostile place as of now. It amazes me how thy army has survived and fought back against its spread for so long." He thinks back on the brief glimpses of the wasteland he saw before cutting off the deathroot in Caelid from the main deathroot system. The land was rotted from the top of the mountains to deep beneath the soil. It was overrun with vermin and worshippers of the rot. The remnants of the bloom in the middle of the aeonia swamp gave him chills, and it was the straw that broke the camel's back to cut off the caelid deathroot network. He doubts that the network will die anytime soon, but his main concern was to prevent the spread of scarlet rot.
"I believe the only reason why Limgrave is still viable is because of their work to prevent the spread. From what I hear from other tarnished who traveled to Caelid, thy army is still dedicated to fighting off the rot, and protecting Redmane Castle..." He looks back up at his brother, offering him a half smile. "You must have been a fantastic leader if they still follow you in death."
"The Redmanes are a tough bunch." He's very proud of them. Even in the most hostile conditions, they would never run. After the battle - when he still had some sanity left - he told them to save themselves, leave Caelid, but none would abandon their chosen home. The few remaining civilians left, but the army stayed, and continued to fight the rot with all they had, even if they knew it was in vain.
Radahn, despite being in terrible pain, tried his best to help while he still could, but eventually, he felt he had not much time. He isolated himself in the desert to avoid hurting his friends.
Yet, they stayed loyal. They organized festival after festival, to give him an honourable death worthy of a hero. And even after his death, they continued to work, to burn the rot and fight the mutated wildlife.
"I'll have to visit them soon. They might think I'm a ghost... but I know they'd always be up for a good battle."
He smiles at Godwyn.
"We can do this together, no matter how hard it is. I do hope we could make a compromise with King Morgott..." Now sharing his vessel's memories, he did not wish to harm Mohg's brother. But there was no telling how Morgott would react to their current strange, merged state. Probably with outrage...
"My men can help escort thou to Caelid if thoust wish." He's sure the big man can make it Caelid himself and fight off the rotten wildlife, but just in case...
It gave Godwyn some hope with this new alignment. It's only been 2 years that he's been trying to get back in touch with his siblings, and rekindle a relationship with them. He's found little to no success, and it's difficult to not feel extremely discouraged by it. He's about to embark the world on a new age, and he has none of his siblings to celebrate with him... until now.
But now the topic of Morgott is in the air. His shoulders slump. "About King Morgott..." He looks towards the window where a desk is sitting. The image of writing letters floods his mind.
"For the past year, I've been attempting to contact Morgott by writing letters and having my men visit Leydendell aplenty, but he has refused to acknowledge me. I know not why he won't respond, but I have an inkling that it may be because he thinks I am a crock, an impersonator... Perhaps thou can vouch for me?"
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
All the whines of protest ended. Oh,,,It makes sense now. They've forgotten Mama made the big shiny for Dada. Even Papa Adeo made it by keeping it in his big mouth.
"Mama need big shiny too..."
Solis tells Dada. She lowered her hands down. Solis places her little hands on Dada's palm to keep herself balanced. Luna lets out a sniff and nods in agreement. She holds onto Solis, for balance and to look extra to convince Dada to help them.
That's lead to another question. What would make a good gift for the mother of his twins?
"'Big shiny', hmm?" Godwyn can't help but smile at their cute display. How did these little gremlins crawl into his heart?
"Perhaps we shall work together to find thy mother another 'big shiny', hmm? Something to complement her beauty and hard work."
Godwyn lays his crown back down on his desk. Still holding the babus, he whisks them away to his bedroom. Time to dig through his deep jewelry drawer!
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
The twins yelled when being picked up. They didn't like how their plan failed. Along with both of them trying to hold onto the crown like their lives depended on it. Which Godwyn didn't feel any resistance once it was out of their hands.
"g've back daaadaa"
Luna whines, fluffing out her little pin feathers at him.
"for mama on mama day!"
Solis whines too. She held her hands out, expecting Dada to give back the big shiny. They have the date of the holiday wrong. It's not till whatever next month is in baby time.
The twins were likely not expecting Godwyn to laugh at their reason to take his crown. He was waiting for a reason to usurp him and his power, but this one took him so off guard it was hilarious!
"Little ones-" He held the babies in one hand, holding the crown in his other to keep it away from them. "This crown was given to me by thy mother. T'was a birthday gift to me. You can't give a gift thy mother a gift she gave to me." He was snickering through his words. At least he wasn't mad.
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
They were halfway to the deathroot when Dada open the door. They stared back at him. How did he know they were taking the big shiny? Did booboo tell on them?
"nothing"
They both said in unison. That's a very very terrible lie. Then, Solis threw a deathroot at him. It did nothing. But the twins think it did something because they are now back to trying to roll his crown to
It took him only 2 steps to reach them. Before they knew it, he reached down with his large hand and plucked the crown. He didn't stop, even when he felt the weight of the babies hanging onto the metallic crown.
He held up the crown, now eye-level with the twins. He gives them a knowing glare.
"Nothing, you say?" He'll let them slowly rat themselves out with excuses.
@deathblightprince
Radahn wasn't sure how much time has passed. He was drifting in and out of sleep, whatever the perfumers gave him for the pain must have been very strong.
But his dreams were far from peaceful. He remembered all now - and his memories tormented him. All the pain and loss of dignity, as the rot slowly drove him mad, until there was nothing left but a feral beast that attacked anything that came near.
And those dreams were the better ones.
The true dread came whenever he dreamt of Miquella. Trapped in a body that wasn't his, helpless under his god-husband's charm. He was a weapon, a trophy, a prized possession. Miquella, after abandoning his love and much of himself, was cold, serene, unfeeling. Not the kind-hearted little brother Radahn once cherished. He spoke of compassion and love, and his words rang empty. How could a god like him create a better world?
But Radahn couldn't even voice his doubts, couldn't reason with him. He could only obey, and fight whoever dared challenge Miquella.
Deep down, he knew this wasn't real. What he saw were glimpses of a future that never came to be.
None could stand before their combined might. They would be slain, or they would be charmed to forever adore their new god.
When he finally awoke from his nightmares, his wounds were almost completely healed, but he was exhausted, as if he fought endless battles.
He vowed not to sleep again. He refused the perfumers' draughts, claiming he was feeling much better.
Yet, he could feel the presence from his dreams, still lingering. Whispering to him. Lord Brother... I will always be with you.
Was he losing his mind again?
No, no... he just needed someone to talk to. That would bring him back to reality and silence Miquella's voice.
He asked the knights if Godwyn was doing better, and if he could go visit him.
The Death Knights guarding Godwyn's sickroom greeted Radahn respectfully, albeit with a very slight air of surprise. While it was calm inside the corridor, there was a tension in the air that hung over them.
The Death Knights allowed the General access into Lord Godwyn's sickroom, seemingly eager to have him enter and not wander off.
Radahn's presence was quickly announced to catch Godwyn attention. Thankfully, he was awake and alert, despite the heavy amount of herbs and incense meant to entice sleep and deep relaxation.
Godwyn was found laying in his bed, still rough looking, but dire. The glaze in his eyes was gone, his hands less shaky. he glanced up from the book he was reading, offering his brother a kind smile.
"Ah, hello brother." He closes the book he was reading, gently putting it aside. "Art thou feeling better?"
Radahn was glad to see Godwyn in a slightly better shape, and he greeted him with a smile.
"I am much better now" he said. "My wounds have almost completely healed. But how art thou doing? Thou seem'st to be in better colour than last time."
He could sense some tension on the way here, but he wrote it off as people being worried about Godwyn. Thankfully, he had no idea who else was living here.
He got a chair and sat next to Godwyn's bed. The incense was rather overpowering - he recognized the same was used in his own room.
"How long hath it been? I've lost the track of time..."
"How am I? Well..." Godwyn looked down at his legs. Nothing was wrong with them, he was just looking down at them. His back was... being it's usual self. Sensitive, on fire, pricking him any chance it can get, but that's just another tuesday.
"I am getting better at walking, and staying focused..."
He still had a tendency to get lightheaded when he was on his feet. While fatigue is not foreign to Godwyn, it plagued him more recently. Perhaps it was because his body was working overtime, his heart racing constantly even when he was resting. Despite this constant fatigue, actual sleep eluded him. He could maybe only get a wink of sleep before being jolted awake by the slightest sound or by a stress dream, but it could be worse.
Shaking off the awkward thought process and silence, he looks at the long melted away hour candles that were used to keep time. He could have sworn he had a dozen of them ready to go.
"'Tis all too easy to lose track of time here. Days can muddle into weeks, and weeks can muddle into months. We keep track of time through hour candles, and using mine 'eyes' to see if its dark or light on the surface." He rubbed his eyes after making that statement, something he usually did when in communion to check the time.
"There hath been times when I was down here for so long, months had gone by and I didst not notice it. I missed the entirety of spring this year because I was down here, going about mine own business as if only a couple weeks had passed."
He can understand that.
"I have no idea how long it's been since the Shattering... centuries? Millennia? It all felt the same, for so long."
Day and night didn't mean much difference when the sky was always red, and the view unchanging. And after a while, he didn't think about it. Sometimes, challengers would break the monotony. Would-be champions, or rather, dinner.
He was a bit ashamed of that, even though he was out of his mind at the time.
"Brother... can I do something to help thee? Mine old ambitions seem irrelevant after all this, and the stars are free now... but I am still a capable warrior, and I could aid thy plans. I owe thee a lot."
Godwyn mindlessly fiddled with the sheets. He's read dozens of books about the shattering, written and spoken to several scholars about the date of the shattering, and how long its been since then. So far, almost none of them can agree on a single date. The day his mother shattered the ring is still heavily debated.
"To this day I know not how long it hath truly been. I have no memory of the time that passed when I was still dead, unfortunately just my final moments in my first life and then the beginning of my 2nd life. I've read, and asked many scholars for this answer. Many say 'tis been a couple centuries, some say more." The thought made a pit grow in his stomach. So many years this land laid to waste, not even the current generations knows when it all went wrong. They know nothing but this broken world that they can't fix.
But Radahn's question snapped him out his train of thought. Did he really just say that? He must have hallucinated it. His siblings would truly want nothing do to with his plans, right? Right?
Godwyn looked at his brother, scanning his facial features for any sign of jest or sarcasm.
"Do... Do you really mean that?" His flowerly, proper Queen's English fell. The thought seem almost impossible to him.
"What about your army?"
"I do. The world is broken, and mine own ambitions played a part in that... if there is a way to make things better, I wish to do what I can. My powers are not just for combat."
He thought of his men as Godwyn reminded him of them. They probably still believed him dead... news of his return likely haven't spread to the surface.
"I'm not sure how they would feel, seeing me like this... after doing so much to grant me an honourable death. But if they would still follow me, I hope we could eventually make Caelid habitable again. It would certainly take a long time, even with my powers... yet, it's worth trying." It was his chosen home, and he did not want to give up on it.
He knew things would never be as they were again. But even just making parts of the land fertile again - for crops, not whatever strange things grew from the rot - would be a great help.
After everything that happened, he was not so eager to fight what remained of their family. They waged war, vying for power, and what good did that do for any of them?
Perhaps losing his Great Rune was a blessing. He could see clearer now.
Godwyn blinked, watching his brother almost in disbelief. Never in a million years did he think someone like his step-brother Radahn would agree to aid him in his plans.
And yet, there was something so sweet about it. Delicious even. He managed to get his killer's older brother to join him in his plan for duskborn. Then the thought of he and Radahn's army merging to become one unstoppable army... The thought of taking over Leyendell in one night to secure it ready for duskborn gave Godwyn a huge confidence boost.
If Leyndell's forces can use holy incantations to stave off deathblight, Radahn's army's siege on their capital should overwhelm them.
"I understand thou must feel regretful towards thine part in the shattering... I can feel a guilt similar to that myself." He looked down at the sheets briefly, his hands cupping together. He was carefully contemplating his words.
"Caelid is a rather... hostile place as of now. It amazes me how thy army has survived and fought back against its spread for so long." He thinks back on the brief glimpses of the wasteland he saw before cutting off the deathroot in Caelid from the main deathroot system. The land was rotted from the top of the mountains to deep beneath the soil. It was overrun with vermin and worshippers of the rot. The remnants of the bloom in the middle of the aeonia swamp gave him chills, and it was the straw that broke the camel's back to cut off the caelid deathroot network. He doubts that the network will die anytime soon, but his main concern was to prevent the spread of scarlet rot.
"I believe the only reason why Limgrave is still viable is because of their work to prevent the spread. From what I hear from other tarnished who traveled to Caelid, thy army is still dedicated to fighting off the rot, and protecting Redmane Castle..." He looks back up at his brother, offering him a half smile. "You must have been a fantastic leader if they still follow you in death."
"heavy..."
Luna whines to her sister as she attempts to roll the big shiny. For something small on Dada's head. It's big compared to the twins.
"Dada has big head!"
Solis declares, also trying to help roll big shiny. The twins were trying to move Godwyn's crown. The one that their mother had forge as a present for him. But, they forgot about that. Toddlers have simple mind.
"Mama be happy!"
"ye!"
Godwyn thought he could look away for a minute to get a drink. He thought wrong.
Intending to not work today and focus on his children, he decided to put up his crown and don a more comfortable robe. He was approaching the room he left the twins in for possibly no more than 1 minute until he heard the commotion of something metallic thumping and rolling against the wooden floorboards. He paused to listen quietly... and then, he heard the twins' voices along with the metallic clutter. He already knew.
Sighing, he puts his drink on the table and swiftly opens the door to stare at the twins silently. He caught them red-handed as expected, pushing his metal crown across the room towards a deathroot stalk. After locking eyes with them for several moments, he finally speaks.
"What are you both doing with my crown?"
