Pressing forward! (Mattahouen)

Ok. A game. Doesn't matter if I die. Souls game though, so I'm gunna die a lot.... OK" I mutter to myself and sigh as I peer over the ledge to see a large golden figure riding a horse.

"Fuck that noise" I say as I shake my head. After some brief exploration I determine that my only way forward is through the gold guy... or past him! Doing my best to silence my rapidly beating heart, a fall into a crouch and begin to move through the bushes.

After a few tense minutes, I sneak up to a ruined church and finally allow myself to breathe, and stand. Now that I'm breathing again, a melody fills my ears, and now that I look, I can see that it's coming from a thin man sitting by a camp-fire.

Me: "Hello? You gunna try kill me?"

???: "You are Tarnished..."

Me: "Ok skip." I breathe a sigh of relief as he shuts up. Without hesitation I activate the grace and take a seat. Suddenly, there's a whooshing sound and the day turns to night.

Me: "Oh come on Miyazaki, bonfires are safe!"

???: "Greetings, traveller from beyond the fog. I am Melina. And I, offer you an accord."

I turn my head to look at the source of the voice, and I'm speechless to see a woman with short brown hair crouched beside me. She wears a large black cloak, but has removed the hood to reveal her brown hair and creamy complexion, as well as her left eye closes, with a crow foot brand over it.

Me: "Uhh, H-hi?"

Melina: "Have you heard of the finger maidens? They serve the Two Fingers, offering guidance, and aid, to the Tarnished. But you, I am afraid, are maidenless. I can play the role of maiden. Turning rune fragments into strength. To aid you in your search for the Elden Ring. You need only take me with you. To the foot of the Erdtree"

Me: "Hold up. You're going to serve as my... maiden? If I let you come with me? And what's a maiden?"

Melina: "A very brief synopsis of my proposition, but yes. The role of a maiden, is to turn thy runes to strength. What say you?"