To see a Darkened Sun (Dark souls fanfic)

DMDS chapter 3

Dark-Moon Dark-Sun

chapter 3

"Ah, thou'rt returned! How was thy walk?" Gwyndolin chirped cheerfully as Arias walked in through the open door.

"Yeah it was nice. Still strange seeing Anor Londo from so far below but nice. The flowers looked really nice today, you should go take a look at them too." Arias spoke though with something of a forced tone of cheeriness. It was easy to miss but Gwyndolin noticed it right away. Arias walked over and took a seat next to him on the couch.

"Arias, is... something the matter?" Gwyndolin asked him almost immediately. Indeed he wasn't slack when it came to Arias' wellbeing, especially after what happened in Firelink.

"No, nothing. Why?" Arias asked, feigning confusion. Gwyndolin saw straight through it and asked him again.

"Why? Well I can see clearly there's something bothering thee that's why." Gwyndolin insisted. When you've been through these things you recognize them elsewhere very quickly. Gwyndolin could see that same worry and fear in Arias' eyes that had been in his many times. He didn't want Arias to go without the help he never had.

"Well it's true I'm not feeling my most joyful, but I'm not upset. Guess I'm just tired?" Arias again tried another excuse. Again, Gwyndolin saw straight through it. Tired? After going on a short walk? Yes of course because the same man that almost single handedly saved the kingdom would get exhausted from a small walk around a courtyard.

"Arias." Gwyndolin said sternly, taking his hand in his and looking him in the eyes.

"Thou knows I am always here for thee, no matter what. No matter the import of thy worry I can listen. I will always be here to help bear any burdens that weigh thee down. Because I love thee." He told him with nothing but honesty and devotion in his voice.

Arias didn't want to tell him, for have him worry over something he himself wasn't even sure was actually a real issue. Just a strange gut feeling. That could be anything. Maybe he dropped something in the kiln and that's what it was?

To tell him he felt some imposing doom looming over them but that he had no idea what it was or if it was even real felt stupid, and even a bit cruel. But as much as he tried to keep these thoughts to himself, as much as he tried to be an unfaltering brick wall, those eyes, as always, they mesmerized him in their beauty, and his words, they were so comforting, he felt so safe, comfortable and loved with his hand held in his. He couldn't help but give in.

"I..." He started, still trying to hold back but that was gradually becoming impossible. Gwyndolin gave him a reassuring nod, encouraging him to go on and not hold back.

"...I've been getting this... Feeling, I'm not sure how to describe it. But ever since I woke up without the memories of what happened in the kiln and before I passed out, I've had this weird feeling in my gut that... Something terrible is about to happen soon. This feeling won't go away either, and the large gap in my memory wherein anything could've happened only makes it worse. I feel like there's something seriously wrong that I won't even see coming since I don't even know what it is. Though I have a small idea but it's such a loose connection I can't be sure. That darkwraith told me before I took her out of her cell that Oliver had been close with her. The man I used to be. She said he'd challenge fate itself to keep her safe. That thought also sends a similar shiver down my spine but that's the only connection there is." Arias unloaded all of his problems and worries, Gwyndolin listening carefully and encouraging him with small squeezes to his hand.

So this was why he was so hesitant to tell him. He wasn't sure what he was afraid of was even real. What he hadn't realized was that real or not, a burden is a burden and it'll weigh you down nonetheless. And he would gladly help him bear it either way.