Those Long, Lonely Nights (part 2/6)
Author’s note: This is a retelling of the story These Deep Dark Woods, but from Roman’s perspective. I recommend reading that story first, but this can also stand alone.
Summary: Roman, a knight, insists on accompanying his best friend Logan, a potion maker, when he decides to head into the notoriously dangerous woods bordering their home to find some rare herbs and minerals for his apothecary. They find much more than they bargained for when they encounter Remus, a bloodthirsty giant. Logince. Angst with a happy ending.
Fic Warnings: food mention, blood, injuries, death mention, killing mention, gun mention, mild body horror (it’s Remus), disturbing imagery (it’s Remus), character death, temporary/believed character death, kidnapping, guilt, attempted self sacrifice, talk of giants, vampires and other monsters. Very unsympathetic villain Remus.
Word Count: 3039
Part 1 : Part 3
Writing Masterpost!
...
Roman and Logan planned to meet at the base of the South Tower, which was one of the four largest towers of the wall, home to both the largest concentrations of knights as well as the main tunnels leading out from the settlement. Other tunnels existed, but they were mainly used for emergencies. It was much easier to know who was in the woods and who had safely returned, or more importantly, who had not, when they all had to leave from one place.
Roman had gathered the supplies he normally took on missions beyond the settlement—his uniform, of course, and his sword, as well as a tent and a few other items that fit neatly in a pack slung across his shoulders. Roman also preferred to bring his own water. There were ways to tell if dark magic had polluted a water source, but Roman preferred to just assume none were safe.
He spotted Logan, with his ever-ridiculously straight posture, just beside the tunnel entrance. He, too, wore a pack over his shoulders, and it looked like he was wearing a pair of black leather gloves.
Roman swallowed his doubts about this ‘outing’ and put on a smile. “Hello!” he called.
“There you are,” Logan said, turning towards him. He waited while Roman jogged closer, pulling a pocket watch from his coat and checking the time. “I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten.”
Roman put a hand over his heart. “I would never! Are you ready to go?”
“Yes; I have been ready for nearly forty-five minutes.” Logan held up the pocket watch for emphasis.
“Excellent!”
The pair stepped into the tunnel, which was lit by more of those electric lanterns, with torches here and there as well, probably just in case the lanterns failed. Just past the entrance a handful of sentries stood, speaking with a group of traders and knights who appeared to be from one of the eastern settlements, waiting to get through with an armored cart laden with goods. One of the sentries checked off a few final things on his clipboard, nodded to his colleagues, and the group was allowed to pass.
“Ah, Sir Roman, you’re going beyond the wall?” one of them asked while the cart rattled down the passage.
“Good morning, Sir Rose! Yes, I will be accompanying the fine apothecarist here.”
She nodded, turning to a knew page on her clipboard and beginning to write. “How long do you plan to be gone?”
“At least until evening tonight,” Logan supplied. “Possibly until noon tomorrow.”
“I’ll put until tomorrow,” Sir Rose said. Her pen scratched on the paper. “And where will you be going?”
“I am collecting medicinal herbs, minerals, and other ingredients. Where I go will depend on their abundance and distribution.”
“Ah.” She hesitated.
“We won’t leave the southern woods,” Roman assured. “Walking distance, you know.”
The sentry nodded. “Try not to go too far in,” she suggested. “It’s easy to get turned around, and the monsters get more common the deeper you go.”
“Of course,” Logan said. “May we pass?”
“One more thing; I’ll just need an inventory of what you’re bringing out of the settlement. And I trust you both have weapons?”
Roman patted his sword, and Logan pulled aside his coat to show his dagger. Then, after a quick list of what was in their packs, plus an obligatory glance in each bag to confirm, and a signature from each of them, they were allowed to move on.
“I ought to bring you more often,” Logan commented as they made their way through the passage. “Normally it takes more than twice as long to be cleared to leave.”
“Thank you, I know I make an excellent travel partner.”
They continued on for a few seconds, walking over the smooth stone floor, their path lit by flameless lanterns and the opening of the tunnel exit beyond.
“…Hey, Logan?”
“Yes, Roman?”
“How does electricity work?”
…
That first day in the woods, they didn’t have many problems.
They came across a ghoul about a mile into their hike, which Roman quickly dispatched with a swing of his sword. It was satisfying, watching the thing crumble to dust. He even managed not to get any of the mess on his uniform—he loved how dashing it made him look, but it really was a pain to clean, sometimes. They also carefully avoided a pond which, at first glance, appeared perfectly normal, but seemed to glow faintly from within.
“I don’t think that was here last time I came this way,” Logan commented, sounding intrigued. “Although that was in early spring. Perhaps it is a seasonal feature? I would love to collect a sample.”
Roman scrunched up his nose, eyeing the too-inviting pond, and was quick to remind Logan that they were on a time limit. And Logan had to admit that poking around a likely cursed pond when they didn’t have to was probably not a smart idea. So, they avoided the pond.
Around noontime, Roman was pretty sure that he saw a pair of harpies in the distance, flying between the tallest trees near the top of the canopy, but they didn’t come too close. Roman probably wouldn’t have noticed them at all, had one of them not cast a shadow as they passed over a gap in the leaves.
Other times, they heard distant screeches or howls. It was faintly disturbing, but at least they could listen for if any of these signs of life came a little too close. Roman was very glad that they didn’t need to worry about ear protection: banshees stayed much further north at this time of year. It would have been much more difficult to keep watch for any trouble, if they had to stunt one of their senses. Even if it would also block out some of the creepiness.
Logan didn’t seem overly concerned about being in the woods, content to simply collect his potion ingredients; but he did keep his dagger ready. Roman kept post as guard watching the trees for movement. He wasn’t especially interested in the things Logan was collecting, but this mission as protective detail was much more exciting than standing post on the wall all day. And while this part of the woods seemed relatively empty, Roman did not like the idea of Logan out here alone. It only took one monster getting the drop on him. And Logan’s dagger was a far cry from a sword.
As the day wore on and they ventured further into the woods, seeking the specific materials Logan needed, things seemed to grow even quieter. Roman was relieved. Maybe Logan had been in the woods before, and maybe he claimed to be able to deal with monsters, but no one was ever truly safe beyond the wall. The fewer monsters around, the better.
They ended up going rather further in than Roman had intended them to go, but Logan pointed out that it had been hours since they’d last seen any kind of creature, and if they didn’t get everything he needed now, they would simply have to return. Roman couldn’t argue with that, so he followed along, keeping a look out. With how far in they went, Roman knew that they wouldn’t make good time to get back, and he did not want to wander the woods in the dark. It would be all too easy for something to sneak up in the dark, plus it would be incredibly embarrassing if Roman tripped over a root and fell on his face in front of Logan. They did have torches, but drawing less attention was always better this far from home.
Near sundown, they found clearing which had a decently flat floor, and decided to make camp for the night there. It was on the crest of a slight hill, which would give them an advantage if any monsters decided to come sniffing around in the dark. Logan had chosen the spot, although his reluctance at not continuing a little longer was clear. He and Roman both knew that it would be easier and safer to eat and set up their tent while they still had light, though, so he didn’t complain.
Soon, the tent was set up. The lantern within let off a cheery glow, flickering merrily, even if looming shadows still filled large swaths of the space. They only had one bedroll—Logan’s—since they planned to sleep in shifts. As confident in this mission as Logan was, he wasn’t foolhardy enough to let them both be unwary at once. Of course, even if he had been, Roman would not have let that happen.
They ate a quick dinner, of hard, cold, and rather tasteless provisions. Roman knew better than to risk cooking food over a fire, or even bring food that smelled too delicious and might attract company, but would it kill Logan to bring something that didn’t taste like the field rations they gave knights who were going on long-term, far-flung missions?
...Actually, that might have been exactly what this was, Roman thought, looking over the brick of what might be some kind of grain meal before taking another stiff bite. He wasn’t sure where Logan had gotten it. Maybe there was some sort of knight surplus store. Roman had never exactly gone out of his way to get these rations.
Logan finished his meal first, clearing his throat and taking a long drink of water.
“I’ll take first watch,” Roman announced, setting aside what remained of his own rations, and shifting a napkin so it was less obvious how much was left..
“That would be appreciated,” Logan said. He looked tired, for good reason. He had been up and down all day, pulling up plants and digging in rocky cliffs for mineral deposits.
They cleaned up the remains of dinner, brushed their teeth, and got ready for bed, or in Roman’s case, for his watch. Logan sighed as he sat down on the bed roll. He removed the pocket watch and several of the items they had collected that day from his coat (what there hadn’t been room for in his pack, minus what Roman had agreed to carry) and set them to the side. “Please wake me in a few hours for my shift,” he said. “And do keep a vigilant watch.” He reached for the blanket.
“Aren’t you going to remove your coat?” Roman asked, watching. They had brought more than one blanket, and it was summer besides—Logan wasn’t keeping the garment to help with the chill.
“I would like to be prepared,” Logan said. “This is not the first venture I have made, and I am cognizant of the creatures found in these woods.” He patted his coat where his dagger was hidden, then pulled the blanket over himself, moving to lay down.
Roman grinned at him and held up his sword, posing, well aware of how impressive he looked in his stark white uniform. “Not to worry, Logan, for the noble knight Sir Roman will protect you!”
Logan rolled his eyes, but then he smiled, just a little.
Romans heart fluttered.
Logan removed his spectacles and set them to the side, with his other belongings. “Sure, Roman. Good night.” Logan never called him by his title, but Roman didn’t actually mind, not when it was Logan.
“Good night.” Roman slid his sword back in its scabbard and turned to leave the tent. He glanced back over his shoulder to see Logan’s eyes closed, his chest rising and falling gently. It was clear he was already asleep, or nearly so.
Roman bit his lip, allowing himself to watch for just a few seconds, appreciating the moment, under the guise of making sure he had everything (in case Logan wasn’t actually asleep). The coziness of the tent; the warm, tranquil night air; the fact that they got to be here together. Yet his heart ached. He and Logan were best friends, at least if you asked Roman, and that was something wonderful that he wouldn’t trade for the world… but sometimes, he did wish that that they could be more than that.
Some things just weren’t meant to be. Roman knew that. He turned out the lantern and silently left the tent.
The forest beyond their little shelter was dark and still, with densely packed trees stretching in all directions. It was too dark to see the rocky outcrops that occasionally broke up the landscape. There was just enough light to see, from the soft moonlight filtering down through the canopy. They were lucky that the moon was nearly full.
For a while, Roman paced around the edges of the tent, his sword ready, watching for any sign of something amiss. But as the hours ticked by, with no sign of any unwanted visitors, he slowed down. He eventually sheathed his sword, but kept his hand on the handle.
Still, nothing happened. Another hour, and it would be time to wake Logan so that he could take over the watch. Roman found a rock to sit upon, and perched himself there, deciding to just listen to the woods, and scan the trees.
Twenty more minutes dragged by. Roman was holding back yawns—it had been a long day, and a longer night. He blinked hard, trying to clear some of the sleepiness.
Crack.
Roman froze, instantly wide awake.
A twig, breaking. Some distance off. It was small. Potentially insignificant. Yet that one, seemingly innocuous sound filled Roman with a sudden, queasy sense of fear. He slowly stood, unsheathed his sword, and turned towards the sound.
Silence.
Then, after a long pause, came a chuckle. Just a little too loud, for how far away it seemed to be.
The trees moved. A huge, monstrously proportioned creature seemed to melt out of the shadows. Glowing, poisonously green eyes met Roman’s, and a too-wide mouth split into a grin, the filthy, too-large teeth glinting in the moonlight.
It was a giant. Twenty-five feet tall, at least, with thick, thorny, leathery-skinned legs like old tree trunks, enormous hands like boulders, powerful shoulders, and of course, those awful green eyes.
“LOGAN!” Roman shrieked.
There was a commotion from inside the tent, but it was like the shout was exactly what the giant was waiting for. He came running forward, enormous feet pounding across the earth, closing the distance between them in seconds.
Roman swung his sword, but he barely made a mark in the giant’s thick skin. He tried again, aiming higher, and cut a thin line near the giant’s knee. Not deep enough to cause any real harm. He hardly damaged more than the rags of the giant’s clothes.
Roman was still shouting as the giant’s hands tore the tent to ribbons. As he lifted something—someone—into the open air, struggling wildly.
Roman cut, and slashed, and stabbed, and still it seemed to do nothing against the giant’s armored flesh. He tried pinning the giant’s robes to the forest floor, but the cloth simply ripped free, and the giant didn’t seem to care.
The giant laughed, and laughed. Logan continued to struggle as the giant lifted him higher and higher. Roman knew he was trying to get to his dagger, but the giant was hardly letting him move at all.
“Ooh, so squirmy!” the giant said gleefully.
“Unhand him!” Roman shouted, stabbing again with his sword, putting all of his strength into the blow. He must have hit a weak spot in the tough armor of the giant’s skin, because this time, the sword sank in halfway to its hilt.
The monster let out surprised roar and spun toward Roman. His fists, Logan still gripped in them, swung closer, and Roman caught a glimpse of Logan’s terror-stricken face, his normally neatly combed dark hair flung wildly in his face. He hadn’t even had time to put on his spectacles. Roman had never seen him look so afraid.
The giant batted Roman away, still holding Logan. Roman was sent flying back, but he managed to keep his grip on the sword, which was wrenched free from the giant’s leg by the force.
Roman hit the ground hard and rolled, collecting bumps and bruises that would surely hurt in the morning, but all he felt in that moment was the buzz of adrenaline and an icy pit of fear. He even managed to avoid falling on his own sword in that uncontrolled fall—at least those protective enchantments were good for something.
The knight finally hit a bush and skidded to a stop. He immediately staggered to his feet, breathing hard. He had to get to Logan; there was no time to recover. He adjusted his grip on the sword, spat out a bit of blood, and turned to face the giant. Apparently, the giant’s bleeding leg didn’t hurt him that badly, because he certainly didn’t seem bothered by the injury. The giant was now ignoring Roman, his attention seemingly focused entirely on Logan.
Who he was shaking around like a rag doll.
The giant cackled madly, watching Logan’s limbs bounce like it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. Logan was clearly trying to curl in on himself, to stop himself from being flung about so much.
“Oh, no you don’t, you party pooper!” the giant cackled.
Roman was running back towards the giant, his sword raised.
The giant gripped one of Logan’s arms in one dirt-encrusted hand, and yanked, trying to force him to straighten his limbs.
As Logan’s body jerked to the side, he cried out—only for the sound to be cut off as his head collided with the heavy metal chain of the bone-studded bracelet on the giant’s wrist with a sickening, solid thunk.
Logan went limp.
Horror cut so deeply into Roman’s soul that is was as if a sword had pierced him clean through. He felt rather than heard himself scream.
He came to such an abrupt halt, it was as if he’d hit an invisible wall. No.
“Oh,” the giant said, taking in Logan’s suddenly lifeless body, the blood coating half of his face and his dark hair, dripping slowly down to the forest floor. “Oops.”