Eleanor Verse 4.5 - The Lane of memories X the Lane towards disaster

Eleanor

“Drinking was just about the only thing you could best me in” Eleanor sung proudly, drawing a slightly unfriendly glare from her old friend.

“Pfft I was the only one who could go toe to toe with the so called perfect princess. You forget our arm wrestling bouts.”

“If I recall wasn’t it 985 wins to me whilst you were on 979 wins?”

Skaldi slammed her fist so hard against the table the wood chipped and fluttered everywhere.

“Oh is that right! Then why don’t we go right now- come on then princess”

Eleanor waved her away, she was used to dealing with the woman she referred to as an enraged bull at times. She straightened her back into a more comfortable position before setting her droopy gaze towards the open-hearth flames to the side. Staring dreamily into the crawling embers.

“Skaldi...do you ever miss it all?”

“Hm? You mean...”

“Our lives before the wars...the days we simply enjoyed touring the different lands across the world. Earning our keep as we went along. Before we tied ourselves to a single banner, before we lost the ones we loved. Before it all...went to hell.”

Skaldi didn’t respond with her usual witty self, she thought about Eleanor’s plight this past year. Her eyes remained tethered to the empty mug against the table.

“Of...of course I miss it. Our adventures were incredibly fun during those days, we were free to live as we chose to live. But that’s whats afforded to the young after all. With age comes responsibilities.”

“Sigh, Sometimes I wonder...I wonder what might’ve been if I...”

“If you didn’t meet...him?”

Eleanor felt tears gather in her eyes. The sheer thought of what she was considering felt like a mortal sin.

“You can't have believed it would’ve gone like this. I mean...I hate to admit it as you know, but you and him were destined to be together. He could’ve had any woman he wanted, but he chose you. That wasn’t by chance, it was fate” Eleanor noticed the stiff tone Skaldi addressed her in during that speech. She couldn’t blame her considering what had happened during the past between them all. ‘I guess she still hasn’t forgotten.’

“The great Hero Party aha! Well...At least we saved the world...I guess.” Skaldi scoffed mockingly

Eleanor thought about that party they formed those years ago. Their sole purpose was to defeat the demon king who almost succeeded in destroying the world. Whilst the kingdom naturally thanked her party for winning the war. But both Eleanor and Skaldi understood the truth behind that war long ago. And it was the very reason they disbanded in the first place.

“We’ve drained all the bottles El... sigh...H-how are you feeling now? And for what it’s worth...sorry about your son.”

Eleanor exhaled a deep sigh, she realised she was sighing a lot these days. Her unsteady moods were also bothersome . Her eyes caught a lavishly golden Warhammer hung beside a smaller cut of armour pieces. ‘Oh right, she married a Dwarf didn’t she.’ Eleanor was just about to ask about the half ling fellow, when she heard a loud thrumming noise, echoing from her pocket. She reached into her leathers and pulled out a flat stony grey plate. The plate was handed to her by the leader of the White Tusk company for emergencies. Eleanor narrowed her gaze towards the green runes continuing to dance vibrantly against the surface.

“Isn’t that a summoning talisman?” Skaldi asked with intrigue as she moved closer towards the glowing lightshow.

“It is...I think I'm being summoned.”

“Hm? So late in the day...tsk the life of Knight who bends the knee to the royals ay. Haha I certainly do not miss that life.”

Eleanor creased a wry smile, even she was getting tired of this kind of way of living. But for now she understood she was sworn to her duties. She swiftly rose up to her shaking feet and said her goodbyes.

“Now that you know where I am. Don’t be a stranger El...the past is the past.” Skaldi gave her a lasting hug before ushering her out.

By the time she looked up towards the skies, the once azure blanket was replaced by a velveteen darkness beckoning the approaching twilight. With so much time already wasted, Eleanor couldn’t help thinking she had missed the window of discovering much underneath the waking sun anymore.

The interesting thing about life inside of the citadel was the bustling night life which arose in place of the fading morning. The citadel turned into a completely different beast once nightfall beckoned. Eleanor steadied her walk through the dark cobbled streets, neon signs appeared across the buildings usually asleep during the day. Many different kinds of faces had also appeared for the sake of exploring the wild fantasies of the night . She purposely wanted to stall her walking pace in a bid to at least sober up a little. She held a nagging feeling her importune disappearance this morning was perhaps the reason for this summoning. Knowing exactly where these fellows would be currently gathered. She headed straight for the Guild Masters Tower.

30 minutes later and Eleanor arrived at the ascending stairwell, she met two guardsmen cladded in rose gold armour standing by the entrance. The moment she approached them they parted aside and gently bowed.

“Lady Eleanor” they muffled through their closed visors. Eleanor nodded but didn’t give them any eye contact. She was still trying to figure out why she was being called at this time of the day. She entered the hall and was escorted to the upper rooms resting on the lower floors. Once she arrived at the iron door, she lightly wrapped her knuckles against the surface, prompting the door to be opened from the other side.

Eleanor walked into the warm and strong perfume scented room. Her eyes landed on the centre of the lavishly fitted room, where five familiar faces were seated.

They sat themselves around an oval shaped table covered with a crimson flag with the sigil of a four-winged golden bird etched across it. Her eyes expressionlessly scanned the familiar faces she instantly recognized.

The heads of Lucien’s kingdoms four most famous companies and rather surprisingly, the acting patriarch of the Azure feather sect. The Elven Chief she had known quite well. Razziel.

Her mood darkened a little more once their eyes met. ‘Wh-what’s he doing here?’ she thought, but outwardly she performed the knights salute before making her way to the round table.

The first to address her was a woman clothed in a tightly fitted purple one piece, she was tall and extremely curvy with two large great mounds of flesh fighting to break free from where she concealed them in. A slight chuckle escaped her pretty mouth whilst she brushed one of the strands of her lavishly long platinum hair over her ears. Hilgrath she was called, the vice leader of the infamous crusaders company.

“Ah she finally arrives. The great hero from the blue mountains fufufu. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but didn’t you encounter a personal escort once you were sighted outside of the citadel?” she asked with obvious intent, Eleanor gave the woman a lasting glance before she shifted her attention back to Razziel. In attendance he was the only man considering the company leaders were all women. So he kept his eyes low and his arms folded, almost as though he was falling asleep.

“Hm, who knows. I’ve been busy so I might’ve missed them.” Eleanor replied purposely refusing to meet her gaze.

“H-how dare you- do you know who you dare to show such impu-”

“Hilgrath! That's enough...she’s a gold ranked knight. And that affords her a certain level of freedom. Else you wish to hold quarrel with the Queen about her laws? “spoke a woman with reddish brown hair and a cold but pretty face. She wore white and grey furs over a silver breastplate. Brumhilde, the white tusk company’s leader and perhaps the only fellow inside of this place who Eleanor considered somewhat a friend. She creased a slight smile when both of their eyes met.

“Tsk! Since when were we rolling out the lavish treatment for Elves hmph!”

“Hahaha Hilgrath you wanna settle the matter with the Elf in the arena? I’d pay good coin to see that.” Spoke the third lady seated around the table, she wore heavier armour pieces and wore her deep violet hair in a cropped style. Her wilds eyes didn’t hide the lecherous intent of her stare as she looked Eleanor twice over each time she turned her way. Jebel the scoffer.

“Yawn! Can we get this over with. I’m tired.” said a voice exasperatingly

Eleanor glanced towards the fourth women in attendance, she looked much younger than everyone else. Almost childlike at times, but Eleanor sensed the most danger from her when she first probed her during their initial meeting. The little loli was even much older than she looked. Leader of the Syrillian Ironwood. Delilah.

She seemed to command the most respect from the other company heads also. All disgruntlements had ceased and Razziel slowly lifted his sunken eyes. His gaze landed upon Eleanor. Who felt a mixture of loathing and deep annoyance sitting in her spirit once she saw him. He on the other hand merely looked at her with an expressionless gaze.

“It’s good to see that you’re well...Eleanor.” Said Razziel, his actions surprised her a little. Knowing his true nature she deduced he was either putting on an act, or something serious was disturbing him.

“Why have you come here?” she asked him sternly. Her words drew a few murmurs from the seated fellows.

Razziel didn’t respond at first, his almost cold lizard like eyes never removed themselves off Eleanor. Though she noticed a slight twitch in his gaze once she moved her torso a little, her large breasts of course swaying slightly.

“I will keep things brief. The Rode Kingdom has a problem. A secret realm was discovered not so long ago and one which has finally started to reveal the necessary requirements to explore it. I have been told that the Queen plans on sending the best silver ranked knights the kingdom has to offer, in order to claim whatever treasures are hidden.”

Eleanor’s stonewall demeanor had finally changed.

‘A secret realm...within the rode kingdom for that matter. W-why now all of a sudden.’ If her memory served her well, the last time a secret realm had appeared on the mainland was around the time she first started her knighthood. ‘Come to think of it...he appeared shortly around that time as well.’

Thorjens father was still a mysterious entity to her till this very day. She felt a bad premonition arising from all of this. ‘But what does have to do with me?’ she wondered. Staring at the faux reserved Razziel, who continued to hide behind his mask.

Brumhilde was the next to speak, “We plan on having you leading the parties we will in due course select for this exhibition, which will take place in 14 days time. The Rode kingdom have stated that a single entity above the Silver rank can enter through the void at the same time. We simply cant allow more than one.”

“Why me? Doesn’t the queen have 13 Holy Wielders to choose from? I’m sure she can spare one of her strongest pets to complete such a meagre task no?” Eleanor quipped with venom

“14...” Hilgarth replied with a mild grin.

Eleanor narrowed her brows at that response, but she paid no mind to it, still wondering why she was being put forward towards such a task.

Deliah patter her little mouth before a second yawn escaped free again. She then rubbed her eyes and said.

“The queen doesn’t want to risk it. In fact, she has asked us to make sure the ratio of silver knights being sent are favoring the Elven parties strongly. Being a phenomena cultivator have experienced, the queen believes the Elves would be the best ones suited to leading this expedition.”

‘Bullshit! She would rather just waste Elven lives rather than her own. What kind of fucked up reason is that. And you-so called chief of the Elves do you not give a damn about what they’re doing to our people?’

Her cold glare focused on Razziel, but Eleanor was shocked to see a similar look of rage clear as day writhed against his face.

“Never mind the reasons. As part of our agreement, you have **** but to comply fufufu”

Eleanor knew she was right, but she was getting close to simply disregarding all this nonsense and leaving. Thorjen was gone, so what did she truly have to lose by doing so. Whilst her mind was swirling with possibilities of escaping. She heard a harsh noise of someone clearing their throat, an obvious attempt to garner the attention of the seated folk.

“Secondly. There is a matter that must be dealt with prior to the expedition Lady Eleanor. The Elven Queen will be holding a summit of the five sects in the coming days within Sudrien. As part of her pilgrimage so to speak, she’ll be passing along the red tork mountains. None of those northerners understand the lay of these lands like we do. Therefore, I'll be using this opportunity to send our newly ranked Golden Knight to escort the Queens convoy safely to the summit. But...I will need you there also, to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

Eleanor felt like numerous thunderbolts had hit her all at once. Firstly, ‘T-the Queen is on the move? That cant be a coincidence can it... there is supposed to be a civil war brewing in the north because of her recent appointment. And we’ve been tasked with escorting her? Sigh...razziel, what the hell are you planning.’ Eleanor understood the Elven politics these days were as complex as anything one could imagine. And actively involving themselves into the thick of it was as good as choosing a side.

Secondly.

‘Wait...did he say Golden ranked knight? Which one of our people has managed such a feat’

“The whole ordeal shouldn’t take you no more than 7 days in total to arrive back here. We have no business escorting her back to the north. So it’ll give you the chance to spread some of your knowledge with the new gold rank...”

*Knock-knock-knock*

“Ah he’s here...Lady Eleanor, let me introduce you to the youngest Gold Ranked knight in the history of the Lucien kingdom.”

Eleanor swiftly turned towards the opening door. It softly creaked open, allowing a lavishly dressed and very handsome young Elf to stroll inside. Her eyes instantly widened out of surprise the moment she saw the long silken strands of green falling across his face. There wasn't many interactions between herself and the young elf back on the mountain. She was only aware that that both he and her son weren't on the best of terms in the past.

Varriel the sly ones only son.

“M-marco?” she said bewildered, judging by the aura surrounding him, he had in fact reached the Golden rank. Something odd stirred against her abdomen the moment she saw his boyishly handsome smile.

He performed the Knights salute. Before he raised his helm gently and spoke

“Thank you for having me...and it’ll be my pleasure to accompany you. Oh Lady Eleanor. Hero of the blue mountain.”