Bastard's Blood (Elden Ring)

Ch 2

"Godwyn.....is dead......"

Melina watched as the revived knight processed all the information she had given him. "The night of Black knives" in which a group of black knife assassins stole destined death and slayed Godwyn the golden, first son of Queen Marika. "The Shattering", a war that broke out between the demigods due to Queen Marika's absence and the shattering of the Elden Ring. A family that turned on one another in almost an instant. He seemed taken aback, confused and heart broken from the news, a surprise to her considering how he was treated.

".......w-...." Artorias tried to speak but hesitated in doing so, sweat still leaking down his face. Melina tilted her head, waiting for the question to be asked. ".....how come I don't........"

"You Died."

Melina spoke out, making the wolf knight widen his eyes in shock. It was the honest truth. When she took care of him in his unconscious state, removing his armor in order to clean any old and exposed wounds, several weapons had pierced his body and left a noticeable mark on him. The wolf knight leaned forward, more confused than before.

"Okay........say for a minute I did believe you......" Artorias spoke calmly as he pulled a small rock out of the ground. Melina watched as he crushed the rock with his hand, dust spilling out as he rubbed his index and thumb on the tip, making a very sharp piece of rock. "Why did you revive me? What killed me? And most importantly: where's my damn wolf?"

"................I'm afraid I can only answer the first question, for I do not know the answers for the others." Melina spoke as she readjusted her position on the ground, crossing her leg over the other. The wolf knight twirled the sharp shank he made around his fingers, like he was going to kill her if he didn't hear what he wanted. "I do not know the whereabouts of Grey Wolf Sif, she had seemingly vanished from any records I could find regarding you. Your killer........I don't know, but I believe the Golden Order had a hand to play in it. But as for why I revived you........Knight Artorias you haven't seen the kingdom, but as of now it is in desperate need of Order.......and a Elden Lord."

"No." Artorias shook his head immediately. Before Melina could replay, The knight's ears twitched before he twirled the stone in his hand, got it into his grip, brought his arm in front of him, and threw it outwards into the tree tops. A shriek came from above as a large bat landed beside him. It's body twitched as blood leaked down it's face, the rock impaled between the rodent's eyes. Artorias looked at Melina without checking his kill, a deep frown on his face. "Sorry, but I can't be Elden Lord....."

"I'm afraid I don't understand....." Melina spoke as she looked over the dead rodent, watching as it's wings twitched. The knight's skill was impressive even now. "Mind explaining Thou's reason?"

"It's not mind to inherit. Simple as that." Artorias spoke out with a sigh, pressing the stone further into the dead rodent's skull. "The Golden Order gave me a role, I cannot leave that role without specifically being told to do so by the two fingers. Even then, I don't Queen Marika would allow it."

......oh. Melina tilted her head in response to his reasons. He wouldn't become Elden lord because the Golden Order didn't tell him? Had he not heard what she just told him?

"If the Golden Order did kill me, there had to be a reason." Artorias spoke simply as he fully pressed the rock down into the Bat's skull. "If you revived me.....that means you violated the Golden Order, lady Melina."

The tone had shifted to full hostility from the knight, something that made the woman shift back just an inch as she stared at the man. Artorias stared back, eyes unblinking. He was a loyal knight of the Golden order, raised directly underneath it's point of rule. Melina, expecting him to attack like a rapid dog, watched as he simply sighed before he stretched his arms.

"Alright.......I'll play along for now, Melina. If that even is your real name." Artorias sighed as he sat up straight, reaching behind him to pat Torrent on the head. "If the Golden Order is nearly shattered it won't be a sin if I help restore it and find lady Marika. But after that I return to whatever grave you pulled me out of, deal?"

".......what you do upon reaching the throne is your decision. But you cannot do so alone." Melina spoke as she got up and walked over to the knight before kneeling down beside him. "But I don't you are fully convinced. So I shall let you roam around the Lands and see the aftermath of a war you believe to have never happened. But you are not deathless like the Tarnished who seek the throne, should you die, I'm afraid the results might be permanent."

"Of course, whatever you say......." Artorias forced out a chuckle as he turned towards the maiden. A smile formed on his lips as he leaned in close and whispered into her hear. "We both know it's you Ranni, but I'll humor you. That illusion of Liunaria was impressive though......."

Melina pulled away with a frown, eye narrowed at him before she walked away and disappeared into blue particles of light, torrent doing the same as well. She would let him find out the hard way if it meant he realized the truth.

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Artorias hummed as he stared up at the night sky, more specifically the dark moon. Ranni wasn't much of a prankster, but she's really outdone herself with this. To think her magic could have grown this much without him realizing it. He couldn't help but wonder who else was in on the prank. Certainly not Radhan, the mountain of a man always let you know it was him. Miquella, maybe. The blonde could be serious when the time called for it, but rather childish most of the time. Malenia? Eh, not likely. The woman didn't seem to have a sense of humor since her Scarlet rot emerged, he still needed to find a cure for that. Rykard was an ass.

But what really concerned him was Sif. Since he woke up he's been extremely uncomfortable without her presence. He knows she must feel the same way, the pup loved him as much as he loved her. He'd kill for her, had done so before. But if this is a prank, and it was, Sif is probably waiting on his and *****'s bed. Blaidd was probably watching over her since Ranni was pulling this prank on him.

'Pfft, you know me Ranni.......' Artorias thought with a grin as he stared at the dark moon, imagining her blood red hair. Ranni, the carian princess and daughter of Radagon and his first wife Rennala. He's sinned for her before and wasn't going to stop now. To lust for her was a sin in itself, for she was royalty and he a bastard, an abomination to life itself. 'A prank like this is nothing.......you'll see.'

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Far out of view, above the treetops, a figure stared down upon the campfire Artorias laid beside. The figure's eyes narrowed before giving off a howl, echoing through the night as it leapt away from tree to tree, leaving the knight to himself.

End.

A little rough, mostly because I'm trying to expose to Artorias that everything he once knew has changed. Then again the first few chapters are always rough. There will be chapters that will dive into Artorias's past. But, as you can already tell, Artorias is close to the Demigods but the world seems to hate him.

Criticism is welcome.

Hope you enjoyed.

Have a good day/night!