I forgot to mention in my last Order of Night and Flame AU post is how Messmer, Rellana, and even Commander Gaius even survived and returned to the Lands Between.
Rellana was told by the Tarnished and their companion (Yes, the companion is part of this AU) of her sister's mental state, and that she needs family. Rellana, in conflict between her loyalty to Messmer, and her sister, does not know what to do but allow the Tarnished to leave, but warns the Tarnished not to kill Messmer.
Messmer soon fell to the Tarnished (no summoned companions, as the Hornsent would never allow Messmer to still be alive), but after "Mother... Marika... A curse upon thee..." Messmer was suprised to feel a flask on his lips, and the taste was familiar. A Blessing of Marika. As such, his wounds given to him by the Tarnished were healed, and Messmer only stared at the Tarnished as they walked away from Messmer, carrying a remembrance, and the companion, his eyes glowing white, mixed with something else he recognized.
The companion soon spoke, "The sins you have committed are many, and cannot be undone, but perhaps this is a second chance. Do not make me regret convincing the Tarnished to allow you to live." Then he walks away.
Messmer soon regained enough of his his strength to get up, and looked for the Tarnished and the companion around the entire Shadow Keep, only to see the Church District un-flooded. In fear of his friend, he soon sprinted towards the entrance to the Back Gate, not caring who sees his serpentine nature.
When he enters the back gate, he sees Commander Gaius battling the Tarnished and the other person. With enough force, he soon yells "ENOUGH!", making everyone there stop fighting. Gaius is confused, not about his friends serpentine nature, but about why stop fighting. Messmer says nothing but "Enough, Gaius. These two... are here for a reason that does not include us." The Tarnished and the Companion soon ventured to the Scadutree Chalice, without harming the Albinauric woman in the Shack, before leaving once more.
Confused, Messmer followed them, only to see them entering the secret door to Messmer's old village. He refused to enter, but would wait for them. A few minutes later, he heard a bell ringing, and he remembered about what Rellana told him of her old teacher who was obsessed with Bells.
He soon left for Castle Ensis to check on his Sword, riding on the Gaius' Boar, only to see Rellana sitting on her chair, helmet off, crying. She explains what she was told, and how she's conflicted between her sister and Messmer.
Messmer did the only thing he could think of. He relieved her of duty. "Return to your family, Rellana, while you still have one." He said, even though he could feel his heart break. Then he realized that there is no proper way to leave the Realm of Shadows. He once again cursed his mother, to the shock of both Rellana and Gaius.
After Miquella's Death, the Tarnished and the Companion soon met Messmer again, as Messmer was standing at the Staircase Doorway of the Gate of Divinity, having witnessed the companion "killing" Miquella, a God.
The Companion, carrying Ansbach's body, told Messmer to gather his remaining troops and head to the Gravesite Plain, then poofed into a cloud of smoke. Confused, Messmer looked at the Tarnished, who stared back at Messmer.
The remainder of Messmer's soldiers, black knights, and fire knights, soon gathered at the Gravesite Plain, near the Scorched Ruins, where the Tarnished and the Companion were at. The Companion says, "People abandoned by Marika! Your time has come to return home!" There were gasps heard around the groups of soldiers, as they thought they never could leave, "However, know this! Your home is not the same as it once was! There is much of what remains of war. But given time, you will rebuild." Then, behind the Companion, a giant portal appears, inside the portal, Messmer recognizes the plains of the Altus Plateau, but what catches his eye is an Erdtree slightly aflame.
"As I said, there is much that has changed. But this is a chance for you all to rebuild! Now," the companion says, as the Tarnished steps through the portal, "It's time to come home."
The soldiers soon entered the portal. Messmer is the last to enter, and as he looks at the burning Erdtree, he looks back at the Realm of Shadow, at the carnage he has committed, then he entered the portal.
