Chereads / Delphine of Moria / Chapter 68 - Gathering of Dark Forces

Chapter 68 - Gathering of Dark Forces

Delphine tries desperately to make Simon stay awake on the trail back to Bebbanburg as the morning has already come. The morning sun has vanquished the horrible night, and the demons were already dead from Simon's brute strength against them. Simon already proved himself two times over that he is up to the task against any night creature that will stand in his way. He spilled so much blood just by slicing and dicing every single beast that tried to slay him. Then, Delphine and Simon were already making it past the large mist and not encountering any type of evil whatsoever.

The mist would tempt them to do many things against their own free will, but only during the night. The night has always been the toughest part of their day, and even more so when dealing with sorcerers and magic. They followed the road, which led to the very first step of the pathway. Luckily, they were not tempted by evil and did not find themselves slipping away from the trail. Then, Delphine and Simon were speaking amongst themselves as to what they think will happen if they do not make it.

"Simon, I know you're tired, but I need you to be a strong man and stay awake," Delphine said. She was more concerned than ever about his safety and needed to do the best she could not to make him slip and fall.

"You have no idea what being tired is. I could go on all day long if I could on what it feels like. That is, of course, if you can stay awake long enough to hear about it," Simon said.

"Oh, don't even think about it. I know what's it like to stay awake and fall asleep when we're trying to get somewhere," she said.

"I'm supposed to feel good about that? I'm supposed to feel so surprised at the fact that you can stay awake longer than me and still be able to go to a large city?" He asked.

"I'll let you know now that one time, I walked for about three days without stopping and still managed to do what was needed to be done."

"That sounds impressive. But, I'm still on the side of whether or not I should keep my distance from how far a place can be from where I stand."

"I want you to continue thinking about that. Now, let's keep going."

And so, Delphine and Simon walked past the mist and did not find themselves to be tempted by evil. Before they knew it, they already set foot onto the crossroads and never had to make such a long journey again. Then, Delphine and Simon began to follow the road, which led straight to Bebbanburg and not accidentally find themselves in the forest of Dunsinane. A few minutes later, Delphine allowed Simon to rest himself next to the road and not be bothered again. Delphine sits down beside him and starts to imagine something before she could get some rest under the sun.

The sun would warm their bodies and back, but they did not mind because they were in a very snowy place for pretty much the whole day. Delphine looked at her sword and could still feel the flames touching her hand and not find anything to do to stop herself from staring at the fire. She cared both about her protection over Simon's life and the fate which awaits her and her friend. Then, Simon turned around and began to hear Delphine breathing and thinking about some odd thing instead of sleeping. Instead of closing her eyes and going to sleep. She had an idea about something, but it did not stop Simon from questioning the way she acted.

"Are you still awake, Delphine?" Simon asked.

"Don't worry about what I'm doing. Just get some sleep," she answered. She did not know that what she was thinking about could make Simon still be awake.

A few minutes later, she still watches as Simon is lying next to her and not moving anywhere during the morning. Then, Delphine lifts her hand and begins rubbing his head and face, and he allowed her to do this. Even though he could feel her hand on his face, he did not overreact to the pleasurable thing she was doing with him. Delphine was doing Simon a favor and gladly accepted the offer in a way that would make him feel good inside. Then, she also finds herself a place and starts to get some sleep before they could go anywhere else.

She then curls herself up with her cloak as she slept, and her sword was lying next to her. Delphine made sure that nobody would steal her sword and claim it their own, and she would gladly hunt down the one responsible for taking it. A few hours later, Delphine begins to hear a voice calling her name; the voice sounded very familiar and not demonic and distorted. She could listen to the view so clearly that it made her get up from the floor and not get more sleep.

"Stay here. Don't follow me, Simon," Delphine whispered. She then grabs her sword and begins to walk around and find out where the sound is coming from.

He was already too far gone in his sleep that he could not move another step nor move his head around. Delphine left him on that very spot to make sure he rests and not get himself up from the ground. Delphine could hear the voice again, and her patience was running low in her mind as she tries to find him. This mysterious person will have to answer for disturbing her peace and why that person called for her.

"Enough of these mind games! Show yourself and be done with it!" Delphine said. Then, she saw Lagertha walking towards her from the shadows, and it was she who called Delphine from the shadows.

It was her who has been messing with Delphine's head, and she had a few things to say to her before she goes back to Bebbanburg.

"What do you want?" Delphine asked.

"There are dark forces, Delphine. Since you've acquired the dark magic of the elder dragon, you are now seen as a human worthy of being feared by both demons and humans. There are forces out there who could bring about the end of our kind," Lagertha answered.

"Why are you here, though? That's the question I'm asking you."

"What do I want? I want your help."

"Why should I trust you? Why must I put my trust in you after all the lies you've ever told me?"

"Lies? What lies? I've been honest with you ever since I saved you on that day."

Delphine was already too angry with Lagertha after being revealed about all the things that occurred a hundred years ago. Delphine refused to stand idly by and watch more of Lagertha's treacherous plans to take shape and stand in her way.

"My god. You have forgotten then," Delphine said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I've given you all I could when I came to you," Lagertha said.

Then Delphine said to Lagertha, "Perhaps I need to refresh your memory. I've seen all that needs to be seen with you, and I already know what has happened all those years ago. You fought against the demons in your lifetime and stood up against the Demon Wolf. You fought him to the death and unable to defeat him when you had the chance. I also saw that he killed his kin to take his place as the ruler of Midland. You have a lot to say to me, and I'm not leaving until I have a proper response."

Lagertha was already cornered and could not find a way out of the anger and contempt Delphine is having with her. Lagertha looked down at her hands and knew that she has not been honest with the Ebony Knight for all these years.

"You have seen them, haven't you? The paintings and the sculptures? Those events are true," Lagertha said.

"What are you saying? Share your proof with me. I must know," Delphine said.

"Mephiles, the Demon Wolf... is my father."

As she said this, Delphine became disturbed by everything the Wolf Queen is saying, and she became more shocked than ever. The only way to make her talk to Delphine is to be reasonable with her and make no mistake about what she tells her.

"Then, you know that I have to kill you. You know that I must put you out of your misery before you can do any more damage," Delphine said.

"I saved you. I took you in because you were losing a lot of blood. I could not just leave out there to die like everyone I've ever loved," Lagertha said.

"I know that much. But's that not what I want to hear from you."