Recluse ( Lautrec X reader )

8. Dark intentions

Dropping a bag next to the bonfire you heard the voice of disgust. "How awful! You ruined my day with such a smell! What in the bloody hell is that?"

Looking over to see a man sitting stone bench with his elbows rested on his knees. Wearing the chainmail set armor with no helmet he seems to hold the look of not the average knight..

You don't say anything as you take out the bore meat from the bag, some mushrooms, wooden bowls and spoons. A kettle and the estus flask filled with water.

"What are you doing?" He asked watching you put another sword beside the sword that kept the fire bond kindled. And then balancing another sword in the center as you slid the kettle and filled it up with water. "Don't you dare put out that fire! You fucking heathen..." He mumbled. Not long after you added the bore meat, the mushroom heads some herbs etc.

"No." You turned to see him cover his mouth. "Do not tell me the mushrooms are from those small mushroom creatures from the Dark Root Forrest?"

You nodded your head. "By the name of the 4 kings what blasphemy have you committed?" He said shocked. "I'm going to." You could hear him gagging slightly as you turned back to finish cooking. After sometime the soup was done as you made a bowl.
Walking over to him he finally looked up to you.

"Well, what do we have here?" He accepted the bowl. "You must be a new arrival. To be sharing such unspeakable things. Well, I can not be too judgemental. I have grown weary of my own quests. I may as well try something new." He picked up the wooden spoon as you sat next to him to enjoy your meal with him.

"Let me guess. Fate of the Undead, right?"
He asked as you looked at him. "Yes." You stated before sipping your spoon. "Well, you're not the first. But there's no salvation here." He enjoyed the meal looking around with a smile. "This is quite good. Mmm! Well, since you share such goods. I'll share some secrets and quests. There are two bell towers that need to be rang. They are both suicide missions. Guarded by a gargoyle and the one below us. Located in the swamps is the Queen herself. It's said half her body is a spider. Death would be an easier prayer if you are ever to be defeated by her. If not you'll find yourself being the carrier of her larva."

You stopped looking at him. "That is absolutely disgusting." You said shaking your head. "That's not even the full journey. No, the journey is quite dangerous. Toxins and poisons. There are things below us never seen before."
As he continues to eat with you he seems to be thinking deeply as it crept up. "Say, were you the one that the gold Knight came down with using the elevator?"

You stopped looking at him waiting. "Why?" You asked. "He is just down below these stairs awaiting you. He is not a pleasant man.. In a way he was very persistent that I inform you of his presence whenever he is here. He doesn't stay here long. But, just so you know. Tell that basterd I am not his messenger."

You nodded feeling butterflies in your stomach. "Why don't you tell him yourself?" You asked as he looked at you. "I don't want to talk anymore. Thank you for the wonderful food. But I am done speaking."

You sighed frustrated. He is lacking a spine for a knight. You did see he seemed to have a scar across his neck. Getting up you made a bowl just in case as you went down the stairs slowly coming into view of the golden knight.
Sitting the same way he sat when you found him in his cell. "Well, where have you been? I am glad to see you are safe. I have your reward. Please accept it. I am grateful to you for freeing me... Keh heh heh heh..."

You accepted the sunlight medal and trade him a bowl of soup. "Hmm? What is this? Soup, and here I thought findings of a meal was non-existent. There's nothing here unless it's taken by another. Kehehe."

"This is the reward?" You asked perplexed. Examining the sunlight medal.

"Not enough for you? Well, let's not be greedy now... Keh heh heh heh..."

You watched him rest the bowl of soup on his thigh. "No, it's just you left me in the forest where I had to join a clan. I'm sure it wasn't easy taking me there."

He lifted his head as you wished to see his face and expression better through that helmet.
"I did. I believed it would be beneficial for you there. In all honesty you do not strike me as someone who should be out in around. Were you able to collect anything useful from those savages?" He said it in a disgusted tone. "You speak as If they are lower than you? Why leave me there then? I'm insulted if you think of me to be a savage. Asking me If I've collected anything from them what are you wanting?"

He tilted his head to the right then to the left as he held the bowl carefully in his hand as he stood up. You stepped back seeing how his body curled and uncoiled as he stood firmly before you. He was much taller than you.
"Have you spoken with the Crestfallen knight? Such a pitiful fool he is. A failure, he should allow himself to be hollowed. I've thought of ending him myself. Aaa, but I found him to be of some use. Was he kind to you?"

You gulped hearing his crisp voice and chosen words. He was disgusted by the knight you were seated with. "He was much kinder and gentleman like."

Lautrec tilted his head. "Hmm Is that so?" He asked. "What did you do to him? Did you threaten him?" Lautrec tsked as if annoyed. "So he squeeled like a pig to you did he? Should have figured he would bitch of such things."

You gulped finding the nerve to stand up to him. "You will leave him alone from now on."
Lautrec hummed in amusement. "Now, don't catch any feelings for anyone. There is no time to make friends. Keep everyone in mind as a business. With my honor I will appear for whenever you call for me. Search my summon signs and no matter what or where I am. I will appear for your aid." He hummed behind his helmet.

"Did you hurt him?" You asked wondering if he caused the scar the Crestfallen knight had on his neck. "Tell me then. You care for the fool?" He leaned in closer. "You are a mystery." You stepped back. "Scared of me, Kehehe? I mean not to intimidate. Now what have you benefited from the savages? Did you make any associates?"

"I thought you told me not make friends." You attempted to put him in a loop. Hoping if you keep the conversation going he will slip up something. "Kehehe. Associates and friends are not the same. Something you need to learn if you are to make it. There are no friends. Everyone and everything is transaction."

You crossed your arms in front of your chest. "So you left me there in hopes I would make it back to give you information. I hate to disappoint you but I have nothing."

Lautrec walked with the bowl in his hand to a small hole carved into the mountain. "Above this cell is the bonfire. Come here." He bekened you.
Cautiously walking over you kept your eye on him as you turned to look into the cell. A maiden whose dress was filthy her legs wereangled. "Are you alright in there?" You asked.
"She can not speak. Her tongue was cut off so she wouldn't speak unfavorable words. She does her duties as she must but she does not want to."

You closed your hands on the bars as she kept her head down in prayer with her hands held together. "Why would they do such a thing?" You said shocked to know she was tortured and imprisoned for something that wasn't such a sin.

"Now, do you believe me to be innocent?" You realized from his words he was not a fool. Lautrec was playing a game that was more advanced than yours. He knew you didn't trust him since you found him in a cell. "You haven't told me why you were in a cell."
Lautrec moved away as he looked back to you waiting for you to follow him.

Down some stairs into a small hall turning left to a room with a circular elevator with chains above. He waited for you as he reached out to you. You took his hand as the gauntlets steel cracket as he was gentle taking your hand and pulling you in with him. Your weight and his caused the pressure plate to go down making you shake a bit loosing balance. He wrapped his arms around you. "Kehehe. It's alright." He found it amusing as you stepped back to make space as the circled sphere you and him stood in lowered.

As it went down you could smell rotting and decay. The elevator stopped and you could see the beam of the light from above peaking through a hole within the mountain illuminating a decayed drowned city.

"This is New London ruins." Lautrec stepped out first turning to the left waiting for you. As you stepped out viewing the flooded city that was hidden within the mountain.