Rises A Newborn

Belle heaved as she awoke to the taste of soot and ash, rolling to her side before hitting the ground with a hard thud. She groaned as the sunlight poured through crystalline glass. Representing the sun and the moon entwined with one and other, it’s shadow bearing down at her in judgement.

“By starlights, I didnt hear you awaken, Are you alright Ms.Bearmason?”

Belle’s eyes turned to face the much older man, A gnome that was in his late 200’s yet with only a speck of grey in his bushy golden beard and combed hair, A kindness that blossomed naturally off his wiry figure as a warm hand went to her side, waiting to be accepted. Belle looked towards the priest, before rising on her own two feet, only staggering for a moment before leaning on the stone cot, “Ello to you too, Hendrecks, I dedn't expect a voice of de gods to be de first thing I see dis mahrnin.”

Hendricks sighed, though unhurt as he withdrew his hand. He was well aware of a dwarf's Stubbornness and pride, and Belle has always been a prime example of such, “Then tell me dear child, What were you expecting?”

Belle rowed her eyes, “What I was expectin...” She trailed off for a moment, trying to grasp the events of the night before, "What 'appened? I got droehnk and you pulled me ahff de streets like da good pastahr you are?"

Hendricks studied her for a moment, his eyes slightly narrowing. It actually made Belle a bit uneasy. She had always made jabs at the old man, but never enough to stoke his ire, “Oehh what? I didn’t break anythin dis time did I?”

Another second of silence, then a sigh, “..No Belle you haven’t. I was simply asked to look after you for the night, by your father.”

“Da…” She tried once more to grasp the night prior.

Nothing.

“...No need to worry for him, he said he was making the last arrangements for a trip you’re taking up north,” He walked behind his podium, grabbing a large knapsack by the scruff of its hanging loop, “Here’s the items that you packed, Simple food and supplies, also this,” He held up a plum scaled book before placing it inside,“He...said to give it to the rightful owner. I’m sure you know who that is.”

Belle gave a slow nod, she felt drowsy, and her back itched and ached, "Yeah,tho I'm sure de doehmbass is stell asleep. I dahn't want to wake 'im wit it bein soehnrise."

Hendricks cocked an eyebrow, “Belle my dear, it’s not sunrise.”

Belle's eyes darted back and gave the priest a frown,"O' cooehrse its foehckin soehnrise. Da soehn is restin over de-" she stopped, eyes widening as she went to a neighboring window, festival goers filled the street with a mix of laughter, cheers, and drunken reverly, "Ahh foehck! It's...I can't have slept in dat lahng!! I gaht slahshed before, boeht I never slept ahff a 'angahver till-” Her eyes widened in panic, "Ahh gahds Rahse!! She's alone wit de wahlves!!" She quickly dug into the knapsack, taking out a corset and tavern skirt, hastily putting them on, only for the blouse to pop a string due to her breast not being...relieved none of the day, "Ahh fahr foehcks-oehgggh!!! Stupid foehckin tits! Now isn't de time to be toehrnin against me!!" She gave another heave as she tightened it once more, another two strings popping before giving in to her very heavy top, It showed more skin then she would have like, but there wasn't any time for more fuming, she threw the backpack over her shoulder and quickly rushed out the front, giving another look towards hendricks direction, "Danks fahr lookin after me after an uh, all nighter. Keep it frahm me da, Wooehld you? Rahse needs me, and I can't affahrd a lecture!"

Hendricks a nod, his smile strained, “Your...secret is safe with me, Now go, I must prepare for the rites of-”

She didn’t hear the rest as the heavy door slammed behind her. Leaving Hendricks alone in the house of a god. He waited momentarily in the dark, before waving a hand across the room, lighting the incense and candle with a divine command. The smile has long left him. A look of anger as he walked into the back room. He sat in the chair, a glare on his features as he looked down at his long time friend of more than 80 years, “Of all the things you have asked of me, was the last part truly necessary?”

The dwarf attempted to nod, but even an action such as that proved too much from his current state, “The pain endured during the transfer is more than psychical, but spiritually, I...I gave her...everything, All I had.”

Hendrick took the dwarfs hand into his, Gone was its warmth and hearty grip, both reduced to a bony grasp that lacked the heat that once poured through his veins, “And to ask of me to alter her memories? The spell will only hold for so long-”

“She would have never left my side Hen, Not if she knew what needed doing.” Stollen heaved as he coughed, spit wetting her starch white beard that once gleamed a sun’s hue, “She’s no stranger to conflict, the standard visits we get from throat cutters has molded her, but Wail’s is different, YOU know this.”

Hendricks nodded, He couldn't fight back the tears that streamed from his cheek, “Aye, sadly I do, but what of the keys, the boy, and...and-”

“The boy will be fine, Belle will be with him, and he’ll be there for her. As long as they make it to the capital, They’ll be safe.”

“Rose should go with-”

“Rose CAN’T go!” His gaze hardened and softened as he returned his gaze to the ceiling, “I...Her Mother has her being watched over, and Bridget made it clear to steer clear of her.”

This got a confused look from the priest, earning a shrug, “It’s complicated, not just on my end, but on hers. With her profession and all that, we never did get along.”

Hendricks stifled a snort, “You too got along well enough.”

That got the blacksmith to laugh before he returned to a coughing fit, “Fuck, it hurts to laugh.”

He gave a shudder as he rose upright, “It's almost time, I can feel myself heating up in the core of my gut.”

Hendrick hand stayed grasped to his, earning an eye roll from his best friend, “Ah quit your crying, you big baby. Honestly, You’re the softest hearted milk drinker I’ve ever met!” he growled, stopping for a moment, before wrapping his arms around the gnome, his voice hitching slightly as he continued, “And I don’t regret a day gone by since then.”

The painted circle glowed underneath the makeshift bed, Stollen using the rest of his strength to shove the priest back as the lights grew brighter, “Tell my little sunfire that I’m sorry, will ya? The next couple hours are going to be shite for all of us.”

And with a flash, he was gone, leaving Hendricks in the dark once more. He fell to his knees, letting the tears fall freely as he clasped his hand in prayer, Such souls should be looked after in their final moments, and though Stollen would never allow it. He gave the dwarf the rites he deserved.

Rites of Heroes.