Chapter Text
Garroth Ro'meave was born into Lordship, and soon into nobility - but that's getting ahead of ourselves.
He lived in the ever expanding village, soon to be city, then kingdom, O'Khasis. With his overbearing prideful father, and his sweet blissfully naive mother.
The first thing he remembered learning was how to hold a sword. A real one.
He hadn't even been taught to crawl nor walk yet, and somehow he had gotten his hands on one. He wasn't in trouble as much as the guard in charge of watching him was. But even still, in that age where everything was simpler - he remembered how he felt wielding a weapon... he felt... good.
But those feelings were quickly replaced with that of dread as he spent his youth being raised to speak in full sentences, then quickly to speeches he would be giving his future people. His to walk and then how to glide like a royal monarch which his Father was hoping his eldest would find a way to do, how to hold his utensils, how to speak properly to the villagers - when and where to give command.
Garroth's Father would yell and snap at him, should he apologize for messing up, trip over his words, add a 'please' and 'if you can' at the end of every request - but it wasn't a request! It should've been a demand - a command!
He grew to resent and fear his father over the months, especially when his father would parade him around the city - have him spend hours making sure he looked like a king and walked just a few inches behind the Lord, to appear though even Garroth will be Lord someday there is still someone more... powerful, than him.
He hated that feeling more. Giving command... every time he walked the streets with his father to pay mind to their farmers and miners, he longed to be at home with his pregnant mother to ensure her safety and his future brother's safety as well.
There was something else too. Something he enjoyed, when his father was away and Garroth had personal guards of his own, he would... talk to them. Try to be friendly, try to get to know his guards, and he did particularly enjoy speaking with one of the very young apprentices; Jeffrey. He was Garroth's brother before Zane was born.
When Zane was born... it changed absolutely nothing for his Father. For Garroth will always be the firstborn, set to inherit their city now, and Zane was just another child his wife adored.
And Zane knew it too. Zane could feel, any child could feel, when a parent didn't love them.
Zane may have looked the most like their Mother, but she loved him and Garroth equally.
Whenever Garroth could escape his Father's patrols or Lordship lessons, you could find him at two places:
- His mother's side with Zane
or 2. In the Guardmen's tower.
How he loved watching them fight and train and he, a teenager at this rate, stood proudly in the group of small children who watched their heroes practice in awe.
"Hey," One of the guards had approached him one evening. "Do you wanna give it a try?"
Garroth held his breath, "May I?" He held out his hands and the familiar grip of the sword brought him back to that fuzzy memory. He sure he held the same goofy smile on his face, if only for a moment. "May I try... May I try what you have all been learning?" His eyes were sparkly and hopeful, but the guard laughed gently.
"Woah now, that's a little too advanced for you... how about we do some beginner stuff?"
"Beginner?"
"Yeah... What just because you're a Lord doesn't mean you never have to yield a weapon! You never know what might happen."
Garroth's father had scolded him for bringing up the idea of a Lord wielding a weapon.
He had said; "The Kings of old only took arms when Lady Irene called for war, as a very last method of self defense... a real Lord will use all of his resources, all of his guards, before finally picking up a weapon."
In truth, it had made Garroth's sick to his stomach at the idea of sacrificing the man he saw before him before he would lay his own life on the line.
"You.... You are right." Garroth nodded. "Please, teach me how to start becoming a Guard."
... For a while, it was perfect. He would go on walks with his Lord father and charm his citizens, assist mother in caring for Zane, and then her new baby she was about to have, and sneak off to go learn how to use a sword.
The Guard who was teaching him had the prettiest, most shiny blue diamond sword he had ever seen. While the rest of the Guards held swords of iron and gold... and the ones shielding the High Priest held swords of Frost.
It was a gift and an honor to be able to hold, if just for a few hours.
When Vlyad was born, Garroth was learning the more advanced skills he remember watching on in awe at. His Mother made a comment about his muscle, and how big he was getting. If his Father had an inkling or observed his muscular grow, he didn't mention it as much as his dear Mother had.
Nor... as much as Zane. "If you get any bigger, you might crush the baby." He teased, but there was an edge to his voice Garroth couldn't shake.
The truth was Zane had grown to envy Garroth for never being present whenever his father was also absent. He knew Garroth was to become the Lord, he knew he was being trained... Zane must've been jealous about it.
Father would speak proudly of Garroth in any company.
"He is doing so well, he holds all the proper feats to become a Lord... but there is never too much practice, yet I am certain when I pass, my son will be an excellent leader."
Zane would intentionally act out around Garroth - whenever he was watching, and rebelled and threw fits any time Garroth had tried to calm him down and tell him how to behave. A tactic Garroth learned his brother had picked up in order to prove he was no Leader. He couldn't even control his own brother!
But Zane realized shortly in his attempts, once he had reached double-digits in his age that his Father didn't care if Garroth had control of his own family - it only mattered if he could control the people.
So, Zane suddenly took an interest in religion and history - following around hte High Priest guards - only not being shooed away from being the Lord's child. Everyday he grew more of a hermit, sheltering inside his room with books of all sorts and hours spent in the church.
He admired the guards too, but not for the same noble reasons Garroth did, but rather for their cloaks they wore in honor of the church.
"The Cathedral is the second highest in command." Zane spoke matter of factly to Garroth one day, who stood tall in the Lord-Meeting room at the head of the table. He was to be practicing more speeches, and how to address other people of importance.
For some reason, Zane was there.
"Should the Lord perish and is left with no heir, the people often look to the Priest for guidance and leadership."
"I didn't know that."
Zane scoffed, "A pity you did not."
... "My baby brother was just born." Garroth told the guards, a newfound determination in his posture and speed.
"I know," His teacher, Raven, replied with a smile. "Congratulations, you're a big brother once more."
Garroth smiled proudly before his face morphed into something serious. "... I want to learn even more today. I want to protect Vlyad. I want to protect my brothers."
Raven eyed him. "What of Zane?"
Garroth frowned. "Of course I want to guard my younger brother with my life, I just... he is in relations with our High Priestess, he has own personal guards that follow him now everywhere... not to mention he is under the gise that Lady Irene is all the protection he needs."
"I see." Raven nodded, "Well. Let's begin then if you are going to protect your family."
Guard got into his proper stance, holding his diamond sword tightly.
Vlyad was so tiny there was a worry amongst their doctors he wasn’t going to make it through the night, Garroth hadn’t left his side - for once he even refused his father’s command at patrolling - “I think we should all be here.”
Garroth spoke confidently, seeing his younger brother Zane hiding behind a pillar in his oversized Priest costume. He gently knelt down to one knee and waved his brother over. Despite just the two year gap between them, Garroth still stood taller than most of his family and siblings. Zane timidly sprinted into the room, but to the other side of Vlyad’s crib. Instead of Garroth.
Garroth didn’t take it personally, what he took personally instead was how his father walked away.
“It’s fine.” Garroth said, looking to his brother who gazed at him blankly. “We’ll be here for Vlad, we can protect him.”
“You’re not a guard.”
“I do not need the label nor title in order to protect my loved ones.”
Zane muttered something into his mask and yet Garroth heard him loud and clear: “A Guard means nothing in politics.”
... Time continued to pass, Zane got older and more conniving. He was... spending all of his days outside of the castle and instead had announced over supper one day he was taking up permanent residence in the Cathedral.
"The High Priestess has fallen ill," He addressed Father. "I am the only one with enough training, and her trust, to aid her... and if she should fall, Gods forfend..."
"You would become the New High Priest." His father sounded... impressed. It was the first time he truly regarded Zane in such a matter and instantly the boy was overjoyed - you could see his eye light up.
Now with Zane officially out of the castle, and Garroth spending more and more time playing King - especially as their rival Village, Scaleswind, was growing ever so bigger and "stealing" more of their resources and villagers. Garroth's Father was obsessed with keeping his community large, and everything in order. His Father's stress was driving him mad and ill... whatever time he found left when it was "scheming" with his Father, he had used caring for Vlad and being a guard... he had to improvise.
"Come, Vlyad.” Garroth held his baby brother's hand, Vlyad had always been quiet, but not in the likes of Zane - whom when he was silent, he was plotting - but instead like Vlyad was taking everything in, observing. "I'm going to show you a secret." He whispered goofily, and Vlyad smiled.
"Garroth! Oh! Is this your brother?" Raven and many other guards were in the courtyard just outside the watch-tower today.
"Yes! Everyone, this is Vlyad. My baby brother." Garroth figured he should introduce Vlad, since the boy was still... well... a boy.
"Hi there, Vlyad!" Raven knelt down in front of the boy. "Come to watch your big brother kick our butts?" Vlad giggled and Garroth had set the boy aside on one of the benches, where the other child began gathering around.
Their mock battle had commenced shortly after, and though Raven was initially kidding, Garroth truly was "kicking butt" his movements fast and studied yet careful enough that he was leaving any real injuries on the men.
At some point during maybe their third round? Garroth was up against nearly six men and was still keeping pace with them - it was only until - "Well well well."
Hearing his brother's voice made Garroth's blood run cold for the first time ever. His blade slipped from his grasp and he was subdued, but just as soon as he was tackled the guards got off of him and stood to attention.
Garroth, from the ground, looked up at Zane. "What do we have here? The future Lord of O'Khasis playing Guard?" He stood tall with guards flaking him on either side. For once, Zane did not look like his brother, nor their mother, but a stranger. "What would Father have to say about that?"
"I..." Garroth tried to find the words, then his eyes met Vlyad‘s. "I was just... showing Vlyad the Guards! He is the one who wants to train amongst them, join them."
And that was the same excuse Zane had recited perfectly to their Father.
Next thing he knew, Vlyad was the one in the field, wielding that diamond sword that was much too big for her, in armor that was much too suffocating for his little body, and steps that were too sloppy to be precise.
"For someone who wants to be in our ranks," His Father stood beside him as Garroth watched on the sidelines, just as he used to. "He is not very good at this."
Garroth rubbed his muscles he had spent years training and building just for this. "... He is doing his best... He will get there."
It was three years, four months, and twelve days later when Vlyad had perished in a fight against Scaleswind soldiers.
The Queen, in her grief, fell ill the same day and became bed-ridden. Their Father, the Lord, had visibly mourned the hardest and declared war on Scaleswind.
Zane and Garroth tried to search for their Brother's body in the battle field, the first time Garroth had dawned their official O'Khasis guard uniform. Zane reeled at the decision but was silent throughout their search - it wasn't until their search for Vlyad’s body proved fruitless did Zane finally let loose; "This is all your fault, you know!"
Garroth spun around to face him. His brother's eyes as cold as ice. Three months before Vlyad had died, so did the High Priestess, Zane was officially in higher rank than Garroth now. And as much as he adored to abuse it, he kept on a mask for the city to see.
But not now, now that they were alone. "If you had just told Father, told me the truth about practicing with our Guard - Vlyad wouldn't be the one dead on the battlefield!"
"You... you seriously blame me for this?!"
Zane scoffed, muttering to himself - Garroth assumed it was a prayer as he did a symbol across his chest with his hands. "He is with Lady Irene, now. Let's just..." Zane muttered to himself again, in a language Garroth couldn't understand. "Let's drop it. We must return home before Scaleswinds collect their bodies and we die too."
... Scaleswind and O'Khasis were just days off from war when Garroth's father approached him. Zane by his side.
"Zane and I have spoken with the Lord of Scaleswind and his holy men... and we have come to an agreement to end the war, and join our two villages into one."
Garroth briefly eyed Zane who was smiling under his mask, rather nastily. "That is wonderful news, Father." Garroth nodded. He wasn't sure why he wasn't apart of this settlement - would his Father name Zane the new Lord instead? Even without all the training? Or was Zane just there because of his religious status?
"It is." His Father smiled. "The agreement is our two villages will be joined as one as the eldest of our kin join each other in marriage." His Father explained. "You will be set to marry Lord's Daughter in three days. Your wedding rehearsals will begin tomorrow.
Garroth couldn't hear the rest of what was told to him as his ears rung out loudly in horror... Marriage? At his young age? To a woman he has never met? For a kingdom who was responsible for the death of his dear baby brother?!
He - He's never loved anyone in his entire life and instead of learning what it was like now, he was to throw it all away for... what...?! Some kingdom he never felt was his home?! For his Father whom was so power hungry we would give up his son?!
No.
No no no no no - he wouldn't stand for this! He wouldn't have it! "But Father, I don't even--"
But his Father shot him a look that silenced the words before they could spill from his lips.
As his Father left the room Zane approached him. "Do not worry Brother," He teased, grinning madly. "I have met your fiancé, quite the woman. I have a feeling you two will have a beautiful ceremony, held by me, of course."
It was that night, those words, that made Garroth sneak into the Guard's tower - he stole a uniform that fit snuggly against his body, dawned a helmet that concealed his identity and took his teacher's diamond sword - the same one he gave to Vlad before that battle - and a shield in similar color to match.
And without looking back, without any goodbyes, he left.
And he traveled as far away as he could, farther than Scaleswind, than Meteli, than Brightport, than the Neapolitan Villages... until he saw a man in the distance, torches illuminated his silhouette - with curiosity he followed it before he stumbled upon a small, insignificant village known as Phoenix Drop. The man had vanished.
"You there." The Lord addressed him, "State your business here."
"My... my business?"
"Yes. You come to this village, my village, wielding a weapon."
"Oh!" Garroth quickly sheathed his blade and lowered his shield. "Forgive me, sir. I... I have been traveling many miles in hopes of finding a..." Garroth looked the man up and down. 'His' village? "...a Lord to serve and protect."
The man's face fell into ease rather swiftly. "Well... I suppose I could always use more help. I'll get you sorted with our newest recruit Dale. What's your name, son?"
"... My name is Garroth."
. . . It had been nearly Five Months now... five months since their old Lord gone and murdered, the villagers frightful, starved and gone, and his fiery apprentice - Garroth the former Head Guard of the once village known as Phoenix Drop, did not think much of it when a maiden, who had clearly been traveling long before she stumbled upon their ruins, passing through.
It was to be expected that his once lovely home became a place people would "Pass through" now.
Ever since their Lord was murdered and the village's homes destroyed... there was a shrinking population, three guards, and dead crops as far as the eye could see.
Garroth had been a loyal citizen of Phoenix Drop for nearly two years - and to see it like this... it was...
"What are our next options?" Zenix asked, staring up at Garroth expectantly.
He didn't know. He hadn't known since the Lord's... "Stand guard." Garroth repeated like he had every other day. "Until we hear word from other villages... Perhaps if there is room to spare we can travel to Brightport..."
"And what of Scaleswind? That is a prospering village in itself."
"No." Garroth shot down immediately, trying to ignore the guilt he felt when Zenix frowned hurtfully at him. "Scaleswind is... it is too overpopulated. I do not want us to be separated from the people... the Guard is all that they have left."
They were silent for a few moments.
Just days before the Lord of Phoenix Drop was murdered and his family missing, Garroth had found little Zenix here wandering the woods by his lonesome. The boy was pathetic and weak yet was stubborn and refused to let Garroth catch him in for questioning - he picked up a stick from a tree and swung it wildly at Garroth.
It was humorous... and a valiant attempt at fighting.
Without thinking twice, Garroth had lowered his weapon, mocked surrender, and asked if Zenix would be interested in joining their village as an apprentice guard - their guards were mostly drunkards by nighttime and if Garroth could have someone else watch his back it would be nice to not have to keep watch in the darkness.
It was Zenix's second night of guarding when the fire occurred. Zenix was horribly injured and so were most of their citizens. Garroth fought off what beasts he could but the true culprits behind the heinous massacre had escaped into the night.
"That maiden..." Zenix muttered suspiciously, snapping Garroth out of his reminiscing as he turned to her. She was chatting up a few of their residents before making her way towards Garroth.
Her armor was dented and battered from many adventures it seemed but she removed her helmet and slowly her long black raven hair slipped like water from her helm, then she stared at him softly with her auburn eyes. "Hi there." She chirped like a song bird. "My name is Aphmau, and you are?"
"My name is Garroth... I am the Head Guard of Phoenix Drop," He gestured to Zenix. "This is Zenix, he is my apprentice and also my second in command... we welcome you to our village, M'Lady, although it is not much..."
Aphmau looked around, presumably she was passing through... and yet she came back. A glint in her eye. "Do you mind if I inquire what happened? Where is your Lord?"
Garroth lowered his head, "Our previous Lord had... he is no longer with us. What you see here is who remains here."
"... I see." Her voice was soft and apologetic, after a few more moments she put back on her helmet and disappeared into the words.
She was... beautiful.
And just like that she was gone.
But the next morning... she was back. With a sack full of materials like stone and wood, she hefted it over her shoulders and walked along the path. Garroth watched her with interest while Zenix was on patrol of their perimeters.
And he was surprised at what she began doing next. Without asking, without warning, she was fixing the streets.
The missing bricks, the potholes of their stairs and path... she was rebuilding it. Fixing it.
All by herself.
And Garroth stood there in awe, as did most of their villagers. Just watching her do hard work... At some point Brendan the farmer began assisting her and speaking with her. He offered her water and she graciously accepted.
Aphmau was working for most of the day and Garroth was paralyzed by such... kindness.
"The streets..." He spoke to her the following day. "You did this...? You fixed them?"
"Oh, well yeah!" She chuckled. "I wanted to help, speaking of, I asked your farmer, Brendan? To assist me with your crops... and I have noticed a bit of a housing shortage so I'm gathering more materials to begin building more houses for your people."
Garroth's jaw was on the floor.
...This had gone on for a few more days. She acquired animals, crops, houses, somehow she even gathered a few more residents from-- "Did you know there's a sunken city out on the water? I managed to convince a few of them to come with me."
Garroth had offered some help where he could, with information. Of the old Lord's house, money, her supplies and crops he purchased from traveling merchants, he even helped her settle some new residents.
And then she... began playing matchmaker. Introducing Molly to Dale, a Miner to a Farmer, she was getting the villagers reacquainted with one another like they had never met before.
Next thing he knew-- "You're... you're married?!"
Dale laughed boisterously and proudly. "Yessir! That maiden Aphmau introduced me to one of the farmers, Molly? I had.. I had no idea we had someone so charming in this village! I mean, she was always the looker but..." Dale sighed wistfully. "Who knew?"
... Garroth had to pull Aphmau aside one day, "M'Lady... I want you to know if... what you are doing here is wonderful and I have never known kindness such as yours, but I must... I must warn you, continuing to do these tasks that you do..well... some of the villagers might mistake or - or rather assume you to be the Lord of this village."
"Oh... no... really, I'm just helping! I was actually making a settlement for myself, just up this hill." Aphmau pointed. "Is.. is that alright? Lordship is... I don't meant to tread where I am not welcomed-"
Garroth cursed himself for making her help seem like a bad thing, "No! Not at all, M'Lady Aphmau. What are you doing here is wonderful, of course you have earned yourself a residence here. We appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for us, for the people here greatly... truly, no one appreciates it more than I." Garroth bowed himself slightly. "I am indebted to you for bringing my home back to life."
Aphmau laughed quietly and briefly grabbed Garroth's shoulders to raise him back up again. "Please, think nothing of it."
. . . He wasn't sure when it became official, but as their village expanded with a merchant known as Logan coming in, a population increase, Dale's son, food and crops becoming more diverse and Brendan's sister making herself at home, the building of the docks... the villagers began referring to Lady Aphmau as Lord Aphmau.
And Garroth isn't quite sure when he began addressing her as such either.
It might have been when Zenix brought in an injured Brendan to his home and he had entrusted Lord Aphmau to Brightport to fetch a doctor and herbs to stop his bleeding.
It could have also been when Garroth and Zenix were on the lookout for the culprit of Brendan's attempted murder - and he was shot from behind... supposedly it was Lord Aphmau who had found his body, brought him back, and traveled across the sea to Brightport, to Werewolf territory, in order to bring in a cure and antidote.
And when she was the one who told him the truth of his apprentice.
His son... his good friend Zenix, disappeared into the night.
She kept the guards in order while he made a slow recovery. And did not mock him for it either. "How are you fairing, Garroth?" She entered, shutting the door carefully behind her. Garroth was doing laps around the small room he was condemned to for resting.
When he saw her face, he felt instantly lighter.
"Just gaining my strength back... I truly cannot thank you enough, Lord Aphmau, for what you have done for me... for this village, I-"
"Please do not thank me, Garroth. It was really nothing-"
"You keep saying that and yet, look around you. We were in ruins when you arrived and now I feel as though we have truly earned our spots back on traveler's maps. Garroth tripped suddenly and in an instant Aphmau was there helping his stand upright.
"Thank you..." He whispered.
She took a deep breath. "... You are welcome."
. . . When.. the baby.. had made an appearance Garroth wasn't sure what the think of it at first. Until Lord Aphmau explained it was left on her doorstep did he go into panic mode.
A baby on the doorstep?! Was the child alright? How long had it been left out in the cold? What if it was running a fever? Did anyone here who didn't already have their hands full with children know how to take care of a child? And their beloved Lord Aphmau so generous as to take care of this baby - and praise Zoey for offering to help as well -
And then Garroth came to his senses, especially after he heard a mother in Scaleswind had reportedly lost her baby. Though the child did not match Levin's description-
A darker skinned baby with brown hair.
And Levin had bright blue eyes and blonde hair - which at first Garroth had panicked over for... personal reasons... at how close Levin compared to him in physical qualities. Not that Lord Aphmau knew of his traits anyway.
Still, in the days he was protecting his Lord, he was also with Levin and Lord Aphmau.
There was... something so sweet and.. tender sitting in the Lord's house with her, rocking little Levin back and forth while she cooed over the child and Garroth watched with an invisible smile on his lips.
Something about it felt right.
So... he left her supplies in a chest for Scaleswind, and she had departed.
Now it was his mission and Zoey's to care for Levin in Lord Aphmau's absence, while they waited for any word back from the Lord about Levin's birth mother...
...
…
... It had been a week. Garroth sought out his wyvern, Raven, to make sure Lord Aphmau was safe. The first time he had done so he reported back good news, the second time however-
"That human, Lord Aphmau, is being escorted to a prison in Neapolitan Village, under suspect of murder."
Garroth knew instantly his Lord was innocent. He thanked his wyvern and sprinted back to Phoenix Drop. "Zoey!"
He quickly returned to Aphmau's house and found Zoey in the basement with Levin in arms. "Garroth, is everything alright?"
"I must make an emergency trip to Neapolitan Village. There has been a misunderstanding with Lord Aphmau, I must bail her out of jail and clear her name."
Zoey's face fell in confusion and shock. "... Oh.. o..kay..."
"I will return within the day, I will leave Dale in charge of guarding Lord Aphmau's home, please keep looking over Levin until my return. I should not be long."
"Wait!" Zoey stopped Garroth just as he turned for the stairs. "Aren't you going to say goodbye?"
Garroth paused, approaching Levin timidly as his beady blue eyes bore into Garroth's helmet. There was an unspoken expectation in Zoey's mind that Garroth would remove his helmet to bid Levin farewell... Instead, Garroth merely took Levin's baby hand in between his finger and thumb and gave it a small shake. Zoey 'tsk'ed out a laugh as Garroth left.
He reported to Dale, informing him he was in charge of Phoenix Drop, specifically protecting Lord Aphmau's house and by default Levin too while he was away.
Quickly and without a moment more to waste, he set sail for Neapolitan Village. Where his Lord was being held.
Unknownst to him... someone was already on his way there too.