The next three panels are Maleigh walking quickly and stoically through Leyndell, getting to the throne room. I dislike Leyndell's layout so much as a supposedly lived-in city that I'm not going to go into detail. (The fact that there's no easy method to get to the throne room from the official entrance is kinda baffling. Like, Stormveil and Castle Sol are very walkable.)
Maleigh walking.
Maleigh walking.
Maleigh is now approaching the Queen's Bedchamber, which Godfrey apparently walked through earlier.
He enters the Queen's Bedchamber, not noticing all the stone slabs in the room.
He ascends the staircase to the Elden Throne.
He kneels before the arch to the Throne. Maleigh: My lord.
Morgott, in his aforementioned disguise, in his aforementioned veil, with his aforementioned symbolic weapon. The wound he received from the defense has not quite healed. Morgott: Maleigh. Morgott: Give me a report on the enemies you encountered on Altus.
Maleigh: The Recusants, as expected with the Serpent's appearance, arrived in more-or-less the same numbers as in years past. Maleigh: The Bloody Fingers have grown in number. They may have doubled.
Maleigh: I had difficulty moving through southern Altus. Both sides brought their champions. Maleigh: Rather than risking the whole venture, I proposed a truce. Maleigh: Thus my asking for reinforcements.
Maleigh: Given the enemies' intelligence, I deduced the Tarnished were escaping through Seethewater. Maleigh: We gave chase, but the Tarnished, ultimately, were assisted,
Maleigh: by the Traitoress, Ranni.
Morgott: You saw...? Maleigh: Yes. Only she could have produced that moon.
Morgott: Interesting. Maleigh: The shardbearers then escaped through a balloon, some contraption of the Carians or the Academy, I know not which.
Morgott: How many men did you arrest? Maleigh: None.
Morgott: Why is that? Maleigh: I did not think, with so many enemies, there was amble opportunity to take either the Recusants' or the Bloody Fingers' heads.
Morgott: Hmm. Morgott: How will you recompense me?
Maleigh: Sir. Morgott: I am merciful, yea, but to fail at the most pressing of emergencies... Maleigh: Sir.
Morgott: It seems punishment has to be doled out. Morgott: Else, how will the mechanism of justice operate smoothly?
Morgott: Maleigh, rack your brains no more on it. Morgott: My proposal is this:
Morgott: One more shard of the Elden Ring is at play. Maleigh: Sir...?
Morgott: It is time. Morgott: Jerren is opening the gates to Castle Redmane once more, to begin the hunt for Radahn's shard.
A view of Redmane Castle, gigantic and solitary on the coasts of Caelid. Tarnished and Alexander can be seen crossing the greatbridge to it. Morgott, in card: You or your champion shall attend the war festival, enter the Wailing Dunes, and come back with Radahn's Great Rune. Morgott: If you cannot give me the Tarnished's shards, then give me the Battlefield's Lion's.
Maleigh: ...Sir. Morgott: And, in the event your champion dies, name me their successor. Morgott: Now.
Morgott: Else, you will be the bedrock of my indignation; it can fall on no other. Morgott: The Golden Order shall agree with me. I will make it so.
Maleigh: ...I can think of someone. Morgott: Oh?
Maleigh: Yes. Maleigh: With the Erdtree, we'll guide them to the capital.
It is night. The woods around the Minor Erdtree on the Altus Plateau. We are at the extreme west, where the Mirage Rise had been.
A Wormface walks by.
It looks left and right.
It passes by.
In a nearby bush, Morrowe peeks out.
Morrowe returns to what he had been doing, secure in the knowledge the Wormface is gone.
Morrowe attends to an unconscious Millicent, whose head and back are bandaged after Bernahl's attack. He is sorting berries and leaves. (To get this out of the way, in case anyone is confused early on: no, he has no idea what he's doing.)
Morrowe grinds the berries and leaves into a paste.
He mixes the paste with water. (The water can come from a canteen on him, but I'm not really sure where he is pouring this into.)
What comes out is a very gross-looking soup.
He looks at the soup. Morrowe: ...
He tastes the soup first.
He spits it out, as quietly as he can.
He looks at Millicent with concern.
He puts his hand over Millicent's mouth and nostrils.
He feels a light breath.
He covers her to keep her warm (with clothes or leaves, I don't know; this is kinda revealing my lack of wilderness skills).
His stomach rumbles. Morrowe: ...
He drinks the awful soup.
He coughs; it's disgusting.
He hears footsteps coming closer.
He holds his Scimitar in hand, ready to defend himself and Millicent. He peeks out.
It's Latenna, on Maurice; Maurice has ripped the Wormface apart in his jaws. Latenna: Morrowe?
Latenna and Morrowe sit around a fire; Latenna has her bow on her lap, and is pulling an arrow out of a rabbit she has caught. Latenna: It looks like the plateau is quietening down. Latenna: But I haven't found Reane all day.
Morrowe: ... Latenna: It's not your sole burden, Morrowe.
Morrowe: What are you talking about? Latenna gives him a face. She is also skinning the rabbit.
Latenna is now cooking the rabbit. She gestures to Morrowe. Latenna: Turn it around so it's cooked evenly. I'll look at her.
Latenna touches Millicent's head. Latenna: At least she's breathing, however faint it is. Morrowe: ...
Latenna: You can't stay here forever. Morrowe: Then I'll move north.
Latenna: The soldiers of the capital patrol the northern road. Morrowe: Then I'll travel west.
Latenna: With an unconscious woman? Morrowe: If it comes to that.
Latenna: ... Latenna: I suppose you can ascend the mountain. Morrowe: Mmm.
Latenna: Are you still going to look for Reane? Morrowe: ...
Morrowe: I want to. Latenna: Are you serious?
Morrowe: What? Latenna: You're going to risk your life for two women?
Morrowe: Why not? Latenna: ...I don't understand.
Morrowe: There's nothing to understand. It's what I want to do. Latenna: What if Reane is dead?
Latenna: Doesn't that seem to be the likeliest outcome? Morrowe: Then I bury her.
Latenna: Is it just about her dignity? Morrowe: Not everyone is like you. All of a sudden, she doesn't deserve dignity?
Latenna, upset: What - I - Morrowe: How are you supposed to understand? You don't know humans.
Latenna, angry: Fine, I suppose I don't. Latenna: Forget it.
Both are quiet now. The rabbit is still cooking.
Latenna: ... Latenna wants to ask, because she's really, genuinely confused.
She angrily gives up. She offers Morrowe part of the rabbit. Latenna: Here.
Dawn breaks over the forest.
Latenna, Morrowe and Maurice are sleeping.
Millicent groans. Morrowe immediately wakes up.
Morrowe bounds over to her. Morrowe: Millicent. Millicent, are you okay?
Morrowe: Millicent, wake up! Latenna herself is waking up. Latenna: Don't shake her so much.
Millicent: Ah... Morrowe: Millicent! Latenna: Morrowe, let her rest.
Morrowe and Latenna sit around Millicent. Millicent is coming to. She is touching her head. Millicent: Where are we...? Morrowe: In the woods. Beneath the greatbridge.
Millicent: What happened? Morrowe: You...were hit in the head.
Millicent is fingering the bandage on her head. Millicent: Ow...
She is removing the bandage. Morrowe: Millicent, don't!
She removes it. It's revealed the other side is completely bloody.
Millicent is touching the wound. Latenna's mouth is agape. Latenna: Oh my...
Bernahl's blow destroyed parts of her skull and exposed some of her flesh. It's a miracle she's even alive. Latenna, obviously, is horrified. Millicent: Ow... Morrowe: Stop touching it!
Morrowe brings the bandages, dressing the wound again. Morrowe: The good news is, it's looking a lot better from yesterday.
Millicent: And then there's my back... Morrowe: I'm glad you can even sit up. Morrowe: You...certainly were in a state.
Millicent: Morrowe. Thank you. Morrowe: You're welcome, m'lady.
Latenna is flabberghasted. Morrowe: Are you hungry? Millicent: A little.
Morrowe looks at Latenna, meaningfully. Latenna: Oh, come on.
Millicent also looks at Latenna, innocently. Latenna: Fine, fine. Millicent: ?
Latenna has cooked some squirrels and rabbits; they are eating. Morrowe: You said you want to see the windmill up north? Millicent: Yes. I apologize for my selfish request.
Morrowe: Don't apologize at all. Let's go. Latenna: ... I just think it's funny how Latenna has no read on Morrowe at all.
Millicent: With the plateau the way it is? Morrowe: I'll protect you.
Morrowe, remembering briefly what Bernahl told him: ...Yes. Yes, I will. Millicent: Don't worry, I can look after myself. Latenna, muttering: Sure.
Millicent, to Latenna: Will you come with us? Latenna: ! Latenna: I honestly don't know where to go, without Reane.
Millicent: Then let's look for her together. Latenna: Truly?
Latenna: What is your concern with her? Millicent: ...
Millicent: When I suffered with the rot, in that church, Millicent: what hurt me most was that I was ... alone.
Millicent: It's nice to have people who care for you, and to care for those who do.
Latenna: Alright. I'll attend you. Millicent: Thank you, Latenna. Morrowe is not too happy with this arrangement.
Millicent, Morrowe and Latenna climb onto Maurice.
The trio - or quartet - move eastward.
As they traverse the forest, Latenna and Maurice ward off more Wormfaces.
The Tarnished are now entering the road leading to the windmill villages up north.
The trio see Dominula, the Windmill Village of Millicent's dreams.
Morrowe and Millicent get off of Maurice and pass through the village's entrance.
Morrowe: ...Does anyone hear music?
The Tarnished see the windmill dancers of the village twirling in place in the village center, as Meilyr had seen earlier. The village, in comparison to other places in the Lands Between, is covered in pink flowers which, if one has played the game, is the color I think that is most associated with the Scarlet Rot. Whether this is intended or not, whether the color scheme is for a different purpose, who knows. Morrowe: What the hell. Morrowe: How garish.
The dancers approach the Tarnished rapidly. Morrowe arms himself.
They grab Millicent by the arm, pulling her closer to them. Morrowe: Hey!
Latenna has a quizzical expression but is ultimately not concerned. Latenna: I'll stay here. Morrowe: Millicent is being abducted!
Latenna: By dancers? I'm not used to human customs. Morrowe, storming off in a huff: Oh, to hell with you!
The dancers pull Millicent among the dancing circle. The dancers look at her eagerly with crazed eyes.
Someone puts a crown of flowers on her head.
The dancers encourage Millicent to dance with them.
Millicent, a bit bewildered, but pressured very strongly by the dancers, dances a little bit.
A dancer pulls out a sickle from their robes.
The dancer pulls Millicent by her nape. Millicent yelps.
The dancer cuts her hair knot, releasing her hair to shoulder-length. Morrowe: Millicent!
Millicent: It seems they only want to dance. Morrowe: Dance all of hell away. Why not, I suppose.
Millicent, to the dancers: Do you understand what we're saying? The dancers go on dancing. Millicent: ...
Millicent: Maybe they don't like me. Morrowe: Oh, come on.
Morrowe: Do you remember anything? Millicent: ...
Millicent sees flowers drifting downward from the crosses in the village center.
She raises her hand up; a petal falls in her hand.
The petal has turned from pink to soft gold. Millicent is somewhere else; branches surround her.
Millicent's astonished face.
Millicent is on an immense tree (the Haligtree) with marble structures built on it. Golden and white petals are falling upon her. In comparison to the sights of the Land Between, there is a sense of beauty and health on this tree. There are people around, but they're shadowy; she does not recall them whatsoever.
Millicent, still surprised by the memory she has accessed, walks around, noting how lifeless and timeless the shadows are around her.
Millicent comes across a kneeling shadowy figure, their hands closed around something.
The figure slowly opens their hands.
Inside of their hands is a flower resembling the Scarlet Aeonia.
Millicent is back in the present, trembling.
She lets the petal fall. Morrowe: What is it?
Millicent: ...Who am I? She brushes Morrowe off.
The dancers pull Millicent by the arm. Morrowe: Again?
Millicent and the dancers ascend to the windmills higher up.
Morrowe and Millicent are welcomed by dancers with bowls of wine.
Millicent: Oh, no thank you... Morrowe ponders on this.
Morrowe: Why not? I can hold my liquor. Morrowe downs a bowl.
They continue upward, Morrowe carrying the other bowl.
The Tarnished are brought to the windmill in the west; at its base are a pile of white cloths.
The dancers leave Millicent, gesturing to the clothes.
The dancers sift through the clothes. Some of them encourage Millicent to come closer. She does so.
The clothes are revealed to have human faces on them.
Millicent is taken aback.
The dancers remove their sickles and cleavers from their garbs.
They fall upon one of their number, hacking their body into pieces. Some of them chew on the flesh.
Millicent is silently horrified.
They then reassemble the various body parts - plus or minus some bite marks - into the white cloth.
The reassembled body seems to sleep peacefully inside the robes.
The faces on the robes begin to scream.
The body inside of the white robes comes back to life; it bulges outward, ballooning.
The seams where the body had been cut expand rapidly with new flesh. The body becomes horrendously long like a serpent, writhing on the ground.
The body extends too far; it rolls and winds upon itself, unravelling like yarn. The grotesque body, which has grown many sizes greater than its original, is dormant again. The body kinda looks like the Divine Dragon from "Sekiro", a human head on a serpentine body.
The dancers beckon Morrowe to come; Morrowe has been drugged by the wine, and is carried by dancers.
Millicent pulls her Shamshir out. Millicent: No! You can't have him!
The dancers of Dominula pull out their weapons which, it is clear now, are made out of the bones of human beings.
Millicent is surrounded by enemies.
Millicent and the dancers look toward the body. A grey flame is emitted from it.
The body shrinks, its arms and legs returning to proper proportions. The flesh of the body is consumed by black flames; in its place is new flesh.
The dancers leave Millicent immediately, rushing to the sacrifice.
They bite their hands, pouring blood over the flames so that they grow higher.
For their devotion, the body, like a snake, swallows the dancers whole, incorporating their flesh into its own.
The features of many animals grow from the flesh, howling and shrieking wildly.
The flesh then "cools", shrinking back into human size.
The final figure - a demigod of a sort - rises, with its robe of human faces.
The dancers fall on their faces before their long-awaited messiah. Millicent gazes at it fearfully.
The figure, the Godskin Apostle, approaches Millicent. Unused to this material body it tries to speak. Apostle: ...
The Apostle speaks in a language unknown to Millicent. Millicent: ...
The Apostle turns their cheek.
The face of a dancer grows out of their neck. This dancer speaks. Apostle: Your flesh...has a certain scent. Apostle: Are you...one of Marika's brood?
Millicent: ...Isn't everyone?
Apostle: ...Where am I... Apostle: ...When...
With a shaky finger, the Apostle points at Morrowe's slumped-over body.
Apostle: He... He has something of the goddess's flesh. Apostle: He's a more suitable vessel.
The dancers bring Morrowe's body to the Apostle.
Millicent slams the hilt of her blade on a dancer's head, cracking it open; Morrowe falls over, again.
Millicent, to the Apostle: I don't know who you are. I have nothing against you. Millicent: But you cannot have him.
Millicent's face, enraged. Millicent: Nor anyone.
The apostle's nostrils twinge.
Apostle: You do... You smell exactly... Apostle: ...as if you were born from Marika's womb...
Apostle: On the honor of my queen... Apostle: I will tear you into pieces.
The Apostle picks up a dancer.
The Apostle tears out the dancer's spine.
With their hands, they magically fashion the spine into a weapon: the jewel-encrusted Godskin Peeler.
The Apostle and Millicent square off.
The Apostle leaps and twirls. Millicent is taken aback, surprised by how agile they are.
They slam the head of the Peeler on the ground. Millicent dodges.
The Apostle twirls, cutting with the Peeler horizontally; Millicent ducks.
Millicent tries to stab forward, but the Apostle twirls again.
The Apostle slices again, stepping backward; Millicent, quick-witted, also dodges in time.
The Apostle brings their hand up.
Black flames crackle from their hand.
The Apostle throws the fireball of black flame; Millicent dodges.
The fireball lands on a dancer.
Millicent looks at the fire's victims; the dancer is not screaming, as one would expect from the pain from being set on fire. In fact, the dancer seems to slump over, drained by energy.
The dancer slumps over, as if their life is drained by the fire.
The Apostle leaps at Millicent, beginning a sequence of athletic strikes.
Millicent, without much time to move, parries all of the attacks.
The Apostle uses the other end of the Peeler to stab at Millicent; Millicent sways her head, and thrusts her sword forward.
Millicent thrusts the sword into the Godskin's heart.
She kicks the body away from her; red blood, notably, does not come from the wound.
The Apostle brings themself up.
Millicent: Sir. Please, stop. Millicent: I have no quarrel with you. Let us end this. It's a bit tasteless to say after stabbing a man in the heart, but, you know, magic shenanigans.
Apostle: ...Yet I have every quarrel with you. Apostle: Your kind killed my own.
Apostle: I did not seethe for eons, for naught.
The Apostle twirls the Peeler above their head.
Black flames sprout from the ends of the Peeler.
The Apostle stretches their midsection, like a snake, and shoots at Millicent.
In a series of snake dances, the Apostle waves the Peeler in circles against Millicent, leaving trails of flames in the air.
The Apostle raises their body high up in the air.
Millicent sees what he is aiming at: Morrowe, prone on the ground.
The Apostle slams the end of the Peeler down.
Millicent, at the right moment, catches the Peeler.
Millicent, who had her spine broken not too long ago, struggles to keep the Peeler up. Her hands are on fire as well. Millicent, thinking: These flames... They have a hex on them! Millicent: They're sapping my strength!
Millicent kicks Morrowe aside; the Peeler is wedged in the ground.
Morrowe rolls off hill.
The Apostle tries to pull the Peeler out of the ground. Millicent, offscreen: I exhorted you, over and over, to leave the innocent out of this affair... Millicent: And yet you refrained, and sought to spill blood.
Millicent is in the stance of the Waterfowl Dance. Millicent: I will be a hand for justice.
The next six pages are of the Waterfowl Dance. I don't really want to describe it all over again. Just imagine Millicent hacking the Godskin Apostle up. Interspersed in this panels are panels of Millicent struggling with the wounds Bernahl gave her; she is ignoring the pain of her previous injuries. That's why it's 6 panels long.
Waterfowl Dance.
Waterfowl Dance.
Waterfowl Dance.
Waterfowl Dance.
Waterfowl Dance.
The final move of the Waterfowl Dance, with Millicent ending with the Shamshir raised high. The "delayed" slashes cut up the Godskin Apostle, their flesh falling apart into pieces.
The Apostle sinks.
The face and the body collapse.
Millicent also collapses, gathering her breath.
She sees the dancers rush toward her. Millicent, gasping: Stay... Millicent: ...away!
They rush past her, putting their hands into the Godskin's robes.
They pull out the Apostle's flesh, eating it.
Millicent looks at them with disgust; she is concentrating on regaining her senses.
The dancers then move towards her, carrying the robes.
They gesture the robes to her. She waves her hand. Millicent: No, I will not wear that. Millicent: It ... does not accord with my fashion.
Millicent notices a detail on the robe.
Millicent grabs the robes, staring into the faces.
Millicent is in the past, in the Windmill Village.
She sees, in the distance, a group of shadows standing beneath a windmill, suspended in time; their poses imply they are friends or family. One person among them, however, is not a shadow; they are distinct.
Millicent moves closer to them. She peers into the faces of the shadow.
She looks at the faces on the robe. Millicent: That's... It can't be.
She then moves to the one figure who is not obscured. It is a girl, with hair as red as hers.
She moves around to see the girl's face.
The girl's face is warped and blurred, forgotten by time; however, at the edges of her face, is the Rot.
Millicent returns to current time. She returns the robes to the dancers. Millicent: Here. Thank you.
Millicent: I would exhort on you, however, to not slay innocent people...
The dancers, smiling, nod, seeming to ignore her.
Millicent: ...Well. It is what it is.
Millicent, muttering: And yet, who is so desperate to worship such bloody gods? Millicent: Humph. How can I speak?
Millicent looks at Morrowe's prone body. Millicent: Look at him, slumb'ring in drunken dreams.
Latenna and Maurice are waiting at the outskirts of the village.
Voice, offscreen: Are you sure? Another voice: I'm fine, I'm fine, I can walk myself. Latenna turns her head.
She sees Millicent and Morrowe walking down. Morrowe's knees are shaky; it's clear he's only begun walking now. Morrowe: I was supposed to protect you. Millicent: I know. You tried.
Morrowe: ...Hardly. Morrowe, to Latenna: How was your rest? Latenna ignores him.
Latenna, to Millicent: Did you find what you sought? Millicent: Unfortunately.
Latenna: ? Millicent: Unfortunately or fortunately or unfortunately...I don't know.
Millicent: I want to enter the capital.
Morrowe: Millicent. The capital's soldiers are moreso vigilant now. Millicent: ...I know.
Millicent: But ... I can see an edge of a memory, there. An edge of an edge. Morrowe: Why are you attracted to those places that'll put us in the flash of fire...
Morrowe: ...Alright. Morrowe: Then, we'll use the dog as a battering ram, charging into the capital.
Latenna: No. Morrowe: What? Latenna: You two make your own fun.
Morrowe: You're quitting now? Latenna: I'm not giving up Maurice. I can't walk, if you recall.
Morrowe: Some kind of friend you are! Latenna: Oh stuff it Morrowe. May we talk earnestly now?
Morrowe: I don't - you always could - Latenna: It was Reane who wanted to help me. Latenna: You wanted to help Reane.
Latenna: My life is important to me, Morrowe. I don't put it into many people's hands. Latenna: Are you dense? I can't walk!
Latenna, getting angrier: Do you live in some ever-happy present where everyone shall agree with you? Latenna: As you go from escapade to escapade? Come on! I have things I want to accomplish!
Morrowe, frustrated: What - I - Morrowe: Well, what are you going to do, without our assistance?
Latenna: I don't know. Run from here. Hide. It's what my kind is good at, remember?
Latenna, to Millicent: Millicent, I have all respect for you, but there are limits to what friends will do for you.
Millicent bows. Millicent: Latenna, I don't need to be reminded. I know I'm selfish. Millicent: I'm always grateful to have a friend's aid.
Millicent: Is there anything I can do to return the favors you have given me? Latenna: Not yet. But thank you. Latenna makes to leave.
Morrowe, to Latenna: ...Wait.
Morrowe: You do owe me. Morrowe: Give me your hand, for this one last favor.
Latenna, coldly: Morrowe, Latenna: I consider you, at heart, a good man, Latenna: but, no matter how good men may be, do you know what we Albinaurics told every human?
Morrowe: You were going to die by that hound, and you and Reane were likely to die in Caelid, without my help. Morrowe: If you died, you wouldn't have any chance to avenge your kinsmen, would you?
Morrowe: I'm not asking for friendship. Morrowe: I'm not asking for sympathy. Morrowe: I'm only asking for payment, to a debt.
Latenna: And then we're done? Morrowe: Aye.
Latenna: Then never ask me anything again. Latenna: Don't even speak to me again. Latenna: Get on.
Morrowe and Millicent get on Maurice.
Maurice charges down the highway toward Leyndell.
The view pans away from the Tarnished, to the catapults in the west.
A Leyndell soldier brings their binoculars down.
They motion to foot soldiers to man the catapults.
The buckets of the catapults go up, throwing stones.
The stones fly through the air.
A view of Maurice, charging down the highway.
The stones smash into the ground around Maurice; their fragments punch into his skin.
Latenna puts her hand on Maurice's oozing wounds. Latenna: You're a good one, just like Lobo. Latenna: I'm sorry that I ask this of you.
Latenna: Go forth! You'll live, if you charge through! Maurice presses forward, as stones continue to crash around him.
They see the palisades blocking the gate up ahead.
Leyndell soldiers, equipped with towershields and spears, are in their way.
Latenna brings her bow up.
She fires; the arrows pierce through the soldiers' eyes. Maurice slams his jaw onto the ground, smashing into the palisades into the soldiers; even then, spears push into his flesh, trying to stop him.
Maurice bursts through the gate; workers are seen hauling away the broken stones of the gate, which had collapsed from the God-Devouring Serpent's attack.
Soldiers fire crossbow bolts at Maurice.
Maurice chews them into pieces.
Latenna, to Millicent: Where to? Millicent: All the way east!
Millicent puts her hand on Latenna's. Millicent: ...Thank you. Latenna is stoic.
Maurice moves up the staircase, at the back of the battlefield. Latenna is pointing her bow at the receding enemy, but she notices they are no longer pursuing them. Latenna: Why aren't you pursuing us?
Maurice charges through the graveyard. (I say "charge" a lot, I realize, because I think the anatomical structure of the Giant Dogs make sustained running particularly intensive for them.)
They pass the graveyard and see the open field where the Guardian Golems are. They are, notably, deactivated. Latenna: They're not moving. Morrowe: It's empty. A poorly defended capital.
They enter the woods immediately surrounding the capital gate. Millicent: Here. Millicent jumps off.
Millicent walks to the edge of the plateau. Morrowe follows her. Latenna attends to Maurice's wounds.
Morrowe finally catches up to Millicent. Millicent is stunned by what she sees.
Millicent sees, in the distance, the Consecrated Snowfield, across an unfathomable chasm.
A memory. A scarlet-headed woman is leading people through the howling, unseeable winds of the snowfield.
Millicent: ...That's it. Millicent: I need to go there.
Morrowe: ...That's one hell of a journey. Millicent: Yes.
Millicent: Morrowe... Millicent: Who am I?
Millicent: In all of my memories, I am there. Millicent: But in those memories, there are no faces, and there is no life.
Millicent: So they're not mine. But why must I remember them? Millicent: Even if I say, this moment is mine, and those are some other woman's, how can I know I'm right?
Millicent: And what if, someday, I wake up - and I am that woman, and my being Millicent was just a dream? Millicent: Is this life, and this moment, borrowed? On a loan?
Millicent: Should I enjoy this moment? Or, when the other woman takes over, will I regret it? Morrowe: Millicent. Morrowe: Stop it.
Morrowe: You are you. Morrowe: If you want to cross over to those lands, I'll help you.
Millicent: ... Millicent: Morrowe, why?
Morrowe is flustered.
He looks to the side. Morrowe: ...I was a seafarer, in my past life. Morrowe: I fought my way into everything. I'm not scared of an-y-thing.
Morrowe: I want to know more about these lands. Morrowe: Our ambitions coincide.
Millicent stares at him. Clearly, she doesn't think even this reason suffices. Morrowe is aware of this and is still flustered.
Morrowe: I lied. I was a pirate in my past life. Morrowe: I was told to pick up a sword and point it at people.
Morrowe: I didn't have much of a childhood: just long days at sea and scrapping for gold. Morrowe: I don't know who I am either.
Morrowe: So, what I'm saying is... Morrowe: it doesn't matter... it doesn't matter, what I do... what I am doing...
Millicent: Morrowe. Thank you.
Morrowe swallows his throat and bows his head down. Morrowe, muttering: Don't mention it.
Millicent, returning her gaze to the Consecrated Snowfields: But even this, is too much...
Millicent: I shouldn't try at something so impossible. Latenna approaches, crawling on her hands.
Millicent: Latenna? Latenna: Someone wants to speak to you.
Latenna points to the distance. Millicent and Morrowe look.
It is Maleigh, next to the wounded Maurice.
Morrowe: Oh hell. Morrowe has his hand on a scimitar. Millicent: Morrowe, wait!
Morrowe, walking up to Maleigh: You shit-for-brains, no-good, peacock leper - Morrowe: What do you want from her?!!
Maleigh: Me? Maleigh: Nothing. I want nothing from her.
Maleigh: I want to speak to you. Morrowe is surprised.
Millicent approaches. Maleigh: Frankly, I want to speak to you alone.
Maleigh gestures away. Maleigh: M'lady?
Millicent walks away, concerned.
Morrowe presses his face toward Maleigh. Morrowe: Listen. I was a real son-of-a-bitch in my last life. Morrowe: Start talking, and if I don't like what you say, beat it.
Maleigh: Hmm. Maleigh: Well. I might as well get to the end.
Maleigh: I need a champion. Maleigh: Someone to fight for me. This person will enjoy unforeseeable privilege.
Morrowe: Don't like it. Get the fuck out. Morrowe: Leave her out of your schemings.
Maleigh: ...See, this is why it's so difficult to talk to you cutthroats. Maleigh: You don't listen, ergo you don't understand. So listen.
Maleigh: I don't want her, Maleigh: I want you.
Maleigh: I understand how the Tarnished would think. Maleigh: We of ancient stock condescend to you from our ivory towers. It's a fair perspective.
Maleigh: However, we do mind the goings-on in the Lands Between, as best as we can, anyway. Maleigh: You have a reputation. You fought Godrick's grafted warriors.
Maleigh: You traversed through Caelid, braving the Dragonbarrow. You fought with Leyndell, and survived. Maleigh: Among the Tarnished, you are of a quality. And, you dueled my champion, without so much as blinking.
Maleigh: And, I know by your bearing, Maleigh: you ... know things, the girl isn't privy to.
Maleigh: She has a purity. Let's be blunt, your favored style. Maleigh: Such singlemindedness is not good, for what is required from a knight.
Maleigh: A sword that is too sharp, will break. Maleigh: I admire her, so I would not break her.
Maleigh: You are a much better fit. Maleigh: And, again, let's be blunt, because you prefer bluntness:
Maleigh: You will advantage greatly from being by my side. Maleigh: After all these years, there is a reason why Morgott keeps me, among his many past servants.
Maleigh: And, it's clear to me, you have something for the girl. Maleigh: And you won't be able to protect her.
Morrowe: What are you talking about? Maleigh: I told you, I try my best to keep up. I know things.
Maleigh: Someone of her skill, and someone of her destiny, Maleigh: will get herself killed.
Morrowe: Shut up. Maleigh: Then why are you here? In the thick of enemies? Morrowe: ...
Maleigh: To be fair to you, I cannot tell you how and why misfortune will come. Maleigh: But that's the thing: she is not a logical person.
Maleigh: Some way or another, she will find herself in the thick of trouble, Maleigh: and she will need you, her knight in shining armor, to get out of a jam.
Morrowe: ...But that's not... that's not Millicent - Maleigh: Huh? Are you thick? Why be a stubborn ass?
Maleigh: No disguises. No deception. This is how you prefer to talk, right? Man to man. Maleigh: So let me be honest: you think like a girl.
Maleigh: You protest. You drag your feet. Maleigh: You want to believe her innocence will protect her, and the world will be in accord with it.
Maleigh: Be a man. Maleigh: The world doesn't work in this manner. Maleigh: Don't be stupid, and ignore your own experience.
Maleigh: Once, I was asked to capture a man. Maleigh: He stole a dinner roll.
Maleigh puts his hand in a circle. Maleigh: This big. But he stole it from someone of reputation. Maleigh: So I summoned my strongest knight - a man like Elemer, or, hopefully, you - and we hunted him.
Maleigh: We tied him to a tree, and my knight, with a whip, would lash at him. Maleigh: Over and over and over, all night long, until his clothes were wet with blood, until soil smelled like iron.
Maleigh: And my man would complain his arm was sore, and I would say, "Go on. You must go on." Maleigh: And then would resume the sound of flesh being cut, of flesh being pounded.
Maleigh: I forced him to go on, because I was told to enforce this punishment. Maleigh: I was a witness, and I had to see this man's misery - I had to see, with my own eyes, him lose hope, and him shake with pain, as we rubbed salt on his wounds.
Maleigh: It was my job. Maleigh: But, frankly, it was fun. Maleigh: To have another man so helpless in one's hands.
Maleigh: Like playing with a kitten in one's hands, and knowing... Maleigh; you could snap its neck at any time. But you choose not to. That's how you know, you can take pleasure and only pleasure in a thing.
Maleigh: I am not saying I intend to do this - Maleigh: no, my meaning is worse.
Maleigh: There are men like me all over the Lands Between. Maleigh: If you don't fear those men now, then see what happens, and tell me just what it is you can lose.
Maleigh: You want to trust in her purity. That's cute. Maleigh: Anyone with even a jot of reality would tell you to trust only in yourself.
Maleigh: I will give you the power to trust in yourself. Maleigh: In your ability to protect her, in your ability to help her with whatever she wants to do.
Maleigh: And my leash won't be long. I'm not unreasonable. Maleigh: You won't scrub floors; you won't even have to stay by my side. I'll find some other knight.
Maleigh: I won't make you do things outside of your morals, though we'll have to make an exception for killing. Maleigh: And even then, I can turn a blind eye in some cases.
Maleigh: Really, all you have to do is represent me. How you do it, is up to you. Maleigh: If you like, you can even find your own champion! Morgott only cares that the thing is done.
Maleigh: I am being so considerate and so generous to you, frankly, I feel I shouldn't even have to ask, Yea or Nay? Maleigh: The answer is yes. In your heart, it's yes. If it's not yes, then I would like to know just what fiddly emotion it is blocking you from what is right.
Morrowe: ...
Morrowe looks to Millicent, who is tending to Maurice with Latenna.
Morrowe is not so much upset to have to give up his freedom for Millicent, but is more concerned that even this is not enough.
Morrowe: OK.
Maleigh: ...Alright. I'll assume that means yes to everything. Morrowe: One more thing.
Maleigh: Say it. Morrowe: The pale girl and her dog. They're also under my aegis.
Maleigh: Sure - Morrowe: And attend to the dog's wounds.
Maleigh: ...I doubt it can come inside, but we will send a doctor out here.
Maleigh hands Morrowe two seals. Maleigh: These have my official stamp. Maleigh: One is for you, the other is for the dog. Maleigh: No one will hurt you, so long as you have my mark.
Maleigh: And that, I can guarantee: Maleigh: No one. Even Morgott will hunt the man who violates my word to the ends of the earth.
Maleigh: Come. Morrowe: Wait. Morrowe gestures to Millicent.
Maleigh: You want to bring her too? Fine.
Maleigh bows to Millicent, still in awe of her presence. Morrowe explains the situation.
They walk through Leyndell. Again, I hate Leyndell, so I'm not going to describe it.
Walking through Leyndell.
They approach the Queen's Bedchamber, the same as in the beginning of this chapter. Elemer is waiting here.
They enter the Queen's Bedchamber.
They present themselves to the throne.
Maleigh kneels. Morrowe is crossing the arch to the throne, but Maleigh stops him. Maleigh: No. Maleigh: With me, kneel.
Millicent and Maleigh kneel before the Elden Throne.
Maleigh: My lord. Maleigh: I have Elemer's replacement.
Morgott: I commend your ability to find capable people. Morgott: Bid your knight to come. I want to look at the man more closely.
Maleigh gestures to Morrowe.
Morrowe walks past the arch.
Morrowe walks toward the Throne. Morrowe, thinking: Hmm. His image is distorted. Morrowe: A secretive man. Or, ugly.
Morrowe is right before the throne. Morgott: Kneel.
Morrowe kneels. Morgott: Extend me your hand.
Morrowe raises his hand. Morgott extends his.
Suddenly, Morgott pulls Morrowe much closer, bringing his face up. Morrowe has a view of Morgott's mask.
Morgott inspects the gold in Morrowe's eyes. Morgott, thinking: One of the graced Tarnished, I met in Stormveil. Morgott: And yet his gold is...different. Watered. Threaded differently than the others.
Morgott: He is, therefore, perfect, for Maleigh's purposes. Morgott: There really is some devilry, in how he chooses servants.
Morgott removes his glove. The Erdtree brightens immensely, such that he and Morrowe are shrouded in white.
Morrowe looks down at Morgott's hand. It's up to you how coy this panel is: this panel can show Morgott's hand, or it can be out of frame, so as not to reveal who Morgott really is. Morrowe: ! Morrowe: You are -
Morgott: Shh. Morgott: This moment, belongs to the Erdtree. This moment, is out of time. Morgott: And therefore it is meaningless. You won't remember a thing.
The gold in Morrowe's eye is drawn out, like a thread.
A knot is made in the golden thread.
Morgott and Morrowe are bathed in white; the Erdtree seals the accord.
Morrowe returns to Maleigh and Millicent. Morgott: Maleigh. I accept him. Morgott: Go now. Fetch me what is mine.
Maleigh: Fantastic. Let us go. Maleigh: But first, let us arm ourselves. They descend the steps to the throne.
They continue descending, walking down the tree roots leading to the throne room.
They enter the barracks at the very bottom of the capital, near the sewer, I guess. (Again, why is the armory here? Who knows! Leyndell!)
Maleigh: Take what you need here. Maleigh: I'll explain what I am intending for you, afterwards.
Maleigh: We'll discuss what is to come from there. Maleigh, to a Leyndell Knight: Make sure he has what he needs. Knight: Sir.
Morrowe: Your swords... May I have one? Knight: ...You're Maleigh's knight, correct? I suppose you can have one.
Morrowe: Why so coy? Are they made only for proper people? Knight: Yes and no.
The knight rapidly slashes with his greatsword, showing how swift and fluid his movements are. Knight: The sword is balanced in a way for skilled swordsmen to use. Knight: It's not a hunk of metal.
Knight: And...well... Knight: This is more a tradition, but these swords are generally reserved for those knights who serve the demigods.
Knight: Maleigh serves Morgott, therefore you serve Morgott. Knight: I will send a man to fetch you one. Morrowe: You have a whole rack of them?
Knight: No. We pull them from a knight's grave. Knight: Again, a tradition.
Morrowe: Doesn't seem respectful to the knight. Knight: We are defined by our service. Nothing more.
Morrowe: ...I see you're a good man. Can you teach me how to use it? Knight: Certainly.
Morrowe: Teach me, too, how to use them against, err, things bigger than myself. Knight: Of course, you needn't ask. 'Tis necessary in these lands.
Morrowe: Do you have any armor, that is not plate? Morrowe: I like to be on the lighter side.
Knight: Sure. In that room are chainmail, leather, all sorts of things. Knight: Try them out, and see which you are most comfortable with.
Morrowe: Thank you, sir. Knight: No need. Morrowe leaves.
Knight: ... Millicent: ...
Knight: Are you...an escort? Millicent: No.
Millicent: Don't mind me if I'm improvident... Millicent: Morgott is a demigod? Knight: Yes.
Millicent: To whom was he born to? Knight: No one knows.
Millicent: ? Millicent: Marika, Radagon, Godfrey? Knight: No one knows.
Knight: The story goes, he simply appeared, when the Battlefield's Lion attacked Leyndell. Knight: By then, Radahn had slain many other demigods, and the twins and the Carians had abandoned the capital.
Knight: Morgott, then, under the brilliance of the Erdtree - and indeed, no such miracle has happened again - raised his sword high into the air, and shouted "Men, follow me!" Knight: He repulsed the Lion, and wrestled the Snake to submission.
Knight: There is a reason why he is called the Grace-Given. Knight: If he is not loved by the Erdtree, then no one is. Knight: Therefore, he must be a direct descendant of Marika.
Millicent: Why hasn't he proved it? Knight: Humility, maybe. Who knows? Who cares?
Millicent: ...You are willing to defend the capital forevermore under him? Knight: I am a Tarnished too. I have wandered the lands much. No one else has his luster.
Morrowe comes out.
Morrowe is in the Noble Page's clothing. Morrowe: These work well.
Millicent and the knight, obviously, are staring at him. Morrowe: What? What is it? Morrowe: Is there a smudge?
Millicent: What...humble clothing. Morrowe: How do you mean?
Millicent: Isn't that a page's clothing? Morrowe: ...Is it now?
Millicent: You know, a page. A servant. Morrowe: You're right, it is.
Millicent: This just doesn't seem...fitting, for your attitude. Morrowe: Yes...
Maleigh appears, with Elemer. Maleigh: Yes, indeed. Maleigh: I am now given the chance to explain, for the sake of honesty.
Maleigh raises a finger. Maleigh: Look closely.
Morrowe and Millicent perceive a tiny thread of gold extending from Maleigh's finger to Morrowe's eye. Millicent: Oh. Oh.
Morrowe, in a rage, approaches Maleigh. Morrowe: You sneak - Maleigh: Sir, at least I didn't try to deceive you.
Maleigh: As Morgott prefers, he binds my champions to my fate. Maleigh: I am given some control over them.
Maleigh: I prefer reason to coercion but, alas, that is the king of Leyndell. Maleigh: I want to be upfront about this contract, and show how it can be used.
Morrowe: Change my clothes! Maleigh: Go ahead.
Morrowe, in a huff, returns back to the changing room.
Morrowe comes out, with the same clothes.
Millicent: Morrowe... She points to his clothes. Morrowe is furious.
Morrowe pulls out his scimitar and walks toward Maleigh. The knight should probably do something, but it's not like he likes Maleigh either.
Maleigh: What do you think you're doing?...
Morrowe thrusts forward, against Maleigh.
Elemer catches the blade.
Maleigh: I know you're all hot and bothered, but I want to explain something to you:
Maleigh: I did allow you your intent to kill me. Maleigh: Simply because I can restrict you doesn't mean I will.
Morrowe: So what's the point of dictating fashion?! Maleigh: Two reasons:
Maleigh: The first is, because grace is so subtle, I do have to remind you that we have this relationship. Maleigh: I don't want to explain this every time.
Maleigh: Two: you are my servant. Maleigh: You are elevated in status now, but you are still beneath me.
Morrowe pulls out his other scimitar. Elemer is surprised; he forgot Morrowe had another one. Maleigh: And I will explain one last thing:
Maleigh: If you kill me, you will die too. Maleigh: Again, our fates are conjoined.
Maleigh: I know men's tempers. I know you. Maleigh: I prefer passionate men to cold.
Maleigh: I know if I push you too far, you will disregard this tether and kill me anyway. Maleigh: Let's be transparent: this is the end of my meddling.
Maleigh and Elemer leave. Maleigh: Once more, do as you wish, but let me know when you are ready to leave. Maleigh: Enjoy your peace.
The knight, knowing an awkward situation when he sees one, leaves, looking for the servant who is fetching the sword.
Morrowe looks at Millicent, who is upset.
Morrowe averts his gaze from her, ashamed in himself and his powerlessness.
Millicent looks at Morrowe. She senses that she is at fault here.