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The Inbetweens of Roses, a Trout, and Stag (Elden Ring/Asoiaf): Chapter 1

Loras I

It was rather pathetic when his sister was the only one who truly cheered at his show of skill. Not one man of the Rainbow guard he watched over cheered. Why was there no desire in his people's eye, desire to be as skilled as he? He deserved glory for this joust. Which he did not receive, and he was in a particularly sour mood about it. If he was as dull as many thought him to be he might invoke the seven for revenge.

Why was Catelyn Stark here? Well, that was an answer he already knew. She was here as an avenue for Renly to become king. As he explained to him last night, it did not mean he liked it. He had no issues with the alliance, it was after all Renly and his sister's wish. The issue was the memories the women brought back to his head.

How do the starks fare now, no father, one child dead, one crippled, another a gilded cage. A gilded cage… hmm for the briefest of moments he felt a pang of longing, a longing to go straight to Renly. And do exactly what he did to him last night. In front of the whole of his company. If the queen can commit high treason, fuck her brother and get away with it. Why not the future king, and head of House Tyrell.

When this thought occurred he realized he definitely needed to talk with his sister. He was shocked when his sister found out all those years ago, she didn't care and simply went with it. It just became a new secret we shared. Became a part of her plan to become Queen. The one question she asked him still sticks in his mind though.

At the time he said Renly was just fun, he believed it. Perhaps at the time, it was the truth. Though each and every night that changed. The bed chamber and the stag's increasing capabilities were certainly a factor though beyond that there was something more something indescribable a warmth he felt. A warmth like no other when he was by his side.

They had their moments of conflict, their hot-headedness, and stupidity, but that's what made things so great. They were equaled not in status but in personality. They had such a deep understanding of each other that even when it came to things the other wasn't familiar with they still could comfort one another. Renly has never been one for combat, and he lacked an understanding of political strategy. Yet they still were able to tend to each other's wounds. Renly was more than his king. He was his best friend.

The thought brought him solace. Imagining Renly's arms weighing heavy on his side, in a deep embrace. Calming his thoughts, no more rage at the lack of glory he received. Perfect timing as he reached his sister's tent. Though he paused at the entrance.

Did he truly need her for this moment? A Rose is held stronger by another but a rose should be able to survive on its own. This was his fight, not his sisters. Yet despite this, he proceeded closer to her tent. But was stopped again, not by his thoughts but by something in the corner of his eye. He swore he saw the darkest of silhouettes in the distance, head in the direction of Renly's tent. His body shot with unease. Consumed with only one thought.

The thought of death, it was as if at that moment he was so certain Renly was going to die. He could envision the decay and creatures eating away at his flesh. A vile thought that almost caused him illness. But, a thought of certain clarity. Why he did not know but in his heart and mind he felt so certain.

Certain he would perish and there was nothing he could do. So he resorted to something he never thought he would, praying. Not to the seven never but he prayed to whatever could be out there. "Please gods whoever may hear, if he will die tonight let it not be so."

Not a moment later night turned to day. He was struck pale by the occurrence.

A choir of screams arose amongst the camp. Bringing him out of his state, the air felt different, much different from just a moment earlier. The sky did not just change, their entire surroundings were different, now on inclined ground surrounded by a completely foreign landscape.

Ranni I

Glancing at the hill once again she was growing impatient. She paid attention to the tarnished. Not for a time. Though the past few months she heard tales from Blaidd that the tarnished as of late have been of greater stock. So she resumed her astral post at the Church of Elleh, not far from the place many tarnished began their journey. . Intending to give them the whistle of the steed she no longer had use for. Steeds do not take kindly to moving dolls as it seems. Torrent was a keepsake of childhood; she no longer needed another part of her that needed to be cast away.

Childishness is treated unkindly in this world. A fact she thought she knew, death always surrounded them in the lands, funny how that happens in a land where death was gone. Brothers gone to madness, but it happened far from her eyes. Her mind young, she never truly learned the unkindness of such things until the day he left. Seeing mother on the floor distraught… Later, Her own students went against her.

Yet she could not afford to save her, even the protection placed on her was a risk, of the greater will deciding to trap her just as it did Marika, her mother. Even her father's choice was simply an extension of that. The Academy is the safest place for her until all can be properly upended.

New Tarnished though affected by the greater will. Have the highest capacity of change after all. Perhaps whatever Tarnished was intelligent and kind enough to talk to me would benefit from the steed. Whatever may happen after that was up to them.

Though the world cruel perhaps kindness will beget kindness.

She glanced up at the hill again, the white-faced servant still there. She knew very well who he was. Who he served. So her spot to assist the tarnished also served as a spot to gleam information, on the supposed lord of blood. Who she suspected lived in the lands below after Blaidds latest discovery.

*Bwong*

Her arrival ward. Blaidd seeks audience.

He must have more information on Nokron. She began the process of letting her form fade, but she could not and that which faded returned. She tried again… She closed her eyes and imagined her form leaving here and appearing in her doll. Nothing. She tried again… she could not. What is the meaning of this her magic never failed her like this? For a fleeting moment she grew scared, She knew of only one force that could suddenly stop movement.

Suddenly something flashed before her, she heard screams and talking, she let her eyes adjust, looking around she at first saw a tent not more than 30 paces front of her. How peculiar? , then looking back up the hill she was astonished to see at least 10 tents of different sizes along with numerous torches. in what was once mostly bare nature now infested by cloth and fire.

Eying deeper she saw many beings scrambling, not tarnished, but human? Different energy than any being she came across in her travels. She spied numerous armaments on wooden carts, arrows, spears, and swords. Peeking out from under their tarps. A good chunk of the beings held armaments of their own. A temporary stronghold for nomadic people of some type. She wagered. What did they desire to get from the Lands Between?

Is this the will's doing as well?

She saw the tent in front of her burst with movement and a women with an older-looking face came out looking around mouth agape. Upon glancing around. her hair shined a sort of reddish-brown in the light, a far cry from the red hair she was familiar with, but a reminder nonetheless. Cursing her father under her breath. The women still stood seemingly dumbstruck.

After her a man came out, younger in face, darker of hair than the women, and unusually uncorrupted by disease and battle scars for a human. A noble? Ranni guessed. This made the women's dumbstuckedness much more sensible.

Finally out came, a knightess clad in gold armor and a cloak darker in blue than herself. The Knightess looked around seemingly also struck dumb but only for a moment. The Knightess looked toward the man.

"King Renly, how do you fare?"

"I…" The man took a labored breath seemingly shook, "In truth, I do not know Brienne, but we must remain strong in the face of our people." she caught whiff of something else with the man, The lingering darkness not within him, but A dark magic, one she could not recognize. Was cast on him. A Unique Magic she did not even know rumors of… what exactly was going on?

The effects of whatever was cast in relation to the man were fading fast even as she gained a sense of it seconds earlier. Whatever was once there likely would be gone but it intrigued Ranni even more so. Never in her time alive has she heard or seen an event such as a new large group suddenly appearing. Out of nowhere, perhaps this is what the stars had in store for her.

She heard heavy hooves quickly trotting in the distance, a noise she grew familiar, with the patrol of the local Tree Sentinel. Monitoring it from time to time, it never changed its patrol. Even if it saw you it never attacked. Unless attacked first or gotten close to. The heavy trot it had now indicated it viewed something as a threat though… Seems the nomads may not be faring so well destiny unkind to such.

Suddenly a large gold-plated horse, with the sentinel atop it tore through the tent the trio just left. Aiming its Halberd at the man.

The Knightess rose to action at that moment. Shifting into a combat stance.

"Halt, You have committed treason against King Renly Baratheon, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands."

It was laughable to Ranni as if that would do anything, the sentinel continued its assault towards the man. But at each swing of his halberd is blocked by the knightess frail sword. After a single hit it is chipped away, The sentinel tries a thrust towards the man's head and is blocked not by her sword but by the Knightess herself.

Wincing heard, despite this she perseveres continuing to guard the man, with labored breath, thrust his halberd downwards she stands in the way again, her shoulder plate crushed, skin broken. The sentinel readies for another attack.

Despite the pain, and damage to her mobility she persevered. A courageous effort, one that would result in her demise and that of which she guarded. Ranni could appreciate true courage, her projection still refused to fade from this place, but her magic still worked, She did not desire for one this courageous and duty-driven to die here so she used Crystal Barrage directed at the Tree sentinel.

A.N. This Fic is up to chapter 7 on fanfic platforms below.

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