Chapter Text
Leonard looked around the small town of redlarch, it was one of the small towns in Liones. Liones was the biggest of the six notable kingdoms scartered around the lands of Britania. Leonard had travled through most of Liones . He gave a wave to a nearby farmer as they passed with a trolley and headed towards the nearby Tavern; The boars Hat. Not for ale but for food. He had his bag of holding slung over his shoulder and his sword on his hip. The sword was mostly just for show as ten year old Leonard Wynters mainly used magic. He entered the Boars Hat and saw two kids sitting alone at a table in the corner “Do you mind if I sit with you?” He asks
“Yeah sure, you here for the festival” The boy with Black hair asked. The two were clearly brothers, both with green eyes. One had black hair and the other a yellow, blonde color. They radiated power.
“Yeah, guess you could say that” Leonard says this festival was happening all across the lands of Britania there was no where he could go that he could avoid it
“Where are your parents” the blonde boy asked
“Not around” Leonard says “Yours?”
“Oh, we’re not kids” the blonde says “We may look it but we’re just short”
“Oh, I’m sorry” Leonard says
“What’s your name” The black-haired boy asked
“Leonard.... Leonard Wynters” Leonard says “But you can call me Len”
“Leonard, your elven right?” The blonde asks Len tries to cover his ears but cant with his short hair
“Oh, not fond of it” The black-haired boy says
“It’s complicated” Len says
“Thats cool. I’m Meliodas and this is my brother Zeldris” Meliodas says, Len went around and enjoyed the festival with the two brothers even staying with them that night. Zeldris had insisted that he stayed with them, and he wasn't going to turn away a free room. He was awoken that night to loud thumping, unnaturally loud thumping. The room was pitch dark for a moment until it lit up, a fire from outside lighting it up. Len jumped out of the bed and pulled on his boots intending to head outside to figure out what was going on before Meliodas shoved him to the ground
“What the-”
“Shhhh” Meliodas says “Get under the bed” Len stared at Meliodas like he had lost his mind Meliodas grabbed him and drug him under the bed with Zeldris and himself moments later the roof was pulled off by a giant. Len went still as did the brothers. The Giant spoke to what Len assumed was other Giants in the giant language; Len could understand Giant
“ None in here ” The Giant had said, and it lumbered off
“None in here? What did it mean by that” Len says once they could no longer hear the screams or footsteps of the giants
“You speak Giant?” Zeldris asks
“I speak a lot of languages” Len says
“I fear this is what Elizabeth had been warning us off” Meliodas says looking out the window “They’ve taken the town”
“They’ve what?!” Len says being sure to keep his voice down, while giants were dumb, they had excellent hearing
“Look, there would be people in the street after an attack like that” Meliodas says Len runs over to the window and peers out there was indeed no body in the streets. Len’s ears twitched as he heard the sound of a Giant’s laugh and a Scream
“Did you hear that” Len says
“Hear what” Meliodas asks cocking his head to the side, Len had only heard it because he was Elven and even then it was barley
“Someone screamed just now. We have to go help them” Len says pulling his sword from his bag of holding and throws the bag over his shoulder, it was small for a bag of holding. Meliodas and Zeldris pull theirs from their shealths and Zeldris pulls on his Metal boots and Gauntlets. Meliodas pulled on his tie. Len didnt understand why the tie was improtant when people were in danger. They head to where len heard the scream and see four people and four Giants. One Giant was running away holding a struggling bag, A woman was chasing him screaming. Len noticed these were Hill Giants. He saw two knights and a woman standing on a ten foot cliff battling two of the giants. This road cut through two cliffs. One the other Cliff there was a lone Giant throwing rocks . One of the two knights was throwing daggers and the Other knight was riding on a gryffin and getting tossed around like a rag doll.
“I’ll take the one by it-” Meliodas is cut off by a goblin running out of the wood it scales up the back of the Giant that was getting ready to throw a bolder at them slicing a X on it’s back with his swords; The hill giant screams in pain dropping the bolder it was about to throw. Len looked at the Knight in green; he was taking a beating and needed help now
“Alright, Meliodas and I will take the giant attacking the Lady. Len you can fight?” Zeldris asks Len nods in response trying to take everything in “Yes? Good, help that knight before he dies”
“Right” Len says he raises one hand to the sky and points his sword toward the Giant and channels a bolt of magical lightning out of his sword striking the Giant in the chest. Everyone noticed him. The Lady did the same thing to her giant hitting it and the one the goblin was fighting however hers was different. Hers could hit multiple targets
“Kids! Get out of here!” The Knight in the blue yells.
“They’re not kids” Len says Meliodas and Zeldris ran to their gaints scaling the ten foot cliff with ease and remarkable speed almost as if they had to do something like that often
“ Ow that hurts” The Giant Len had hit with his magic says and he hits the knight in green with his club as Len was out of his Range. The knight took the hit in full force despite having a shield
“Use your shield!” Len shouts to him
“Kid, I’m a professional” The knight says, “I got this get out of here it’s not safe” He didn't look like he had it. Len hated being treated like a little kid.
“You don't look so well” The woman who was chasing the running giant calls back. She casts a healing charm on the Knight and continues after the Giant
"Yeah, get it together, please don't die” len summons another strike of lightning, as the woman; A druid; makes a field of Throns for her Giant to run through hopfully to slow it down, she had no chance of catching it. Len considered a Fireball but decided both Knights, the lady and Meliodas and Zeldris were to close.
“ Ow lightning Bad, Magic boy bad ” The giant says Te one who stepped in the thorns was now bleeding
“ Ow bad ow hurt ow bad ” The giant says
“ Ow goblin bad ” The giant on the other side of the street says len glanced over to see the goblin was doing a number on the Giant
“RRRRRRAAAGGGGGHHHHHH” The goblin let out a feral scream one that only a goblin could make and the pulls a rune from his pocket. Len had no idea what this rune was but he knew it was a rune. The goblin activates the rune and chains of fire ensnare the Giant and it now could not defend itself from the fury of blows that came from this rage filled Goblin. Len liked this goblin. Len then readied his sword and Ran and the Giant, scaling the cliff as fast as he could and attacks the Giant before it could attack the Knight again. He stabs his sword in the Giants leg as high as he could as the knight bashes the giant across the face with his while riding the Griffin
“Grovel” The knight commands, Len imagined he had a few simple spells available to him; Command was a rather simple one Len could do it on a very complex level. The few other warlocks he had meet called him a Prodigy. The Giant kneels before the knight and Len steps back sheathing his sword through his Beltloop, he didnt dare attacking the Giant or he’d risk breaking the Spell.
“Pick on someone your own size!” Meliodas yells taking a hit in full force from the other Giant
“Or just leave, don't make us do this” Zeldris says “Hey Lady, can we get a Witches Bolt?”
“Um yeah” she casts witches bolt and it hits the Giant however a bolt of lightning come streaking out of the sky towards her, then it spuraditcly changes course and hits the Giant the Goblin was fighting. Len noticed a different rune in the goblin’s hands. The Giant then stumbled off the cliff dead
“SSSSTTTTTTIIIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX” The goblin yelled
“I gave you a chance” Zeldris says pulling Meliodas up and throwing his brother high in the air by his Ankle Meliodas screamed and then stabbed the Giant in the chest with his sword
“Zel! I am not a projectile!” Meliodas says as the Giant stumbles and falls on it’s back dead as well. Meliodas yanks his sword out. Len turns back to knight
“Run” He tells the Giant who gets up and runs away
“It’s getting away!” The woman who was running down the road screams. Len had completely forgotten about her “He has my friend! He has my friend!” The fight was now over, Meliodas and Zeldris were checking on each other. They both appeared fine despite the fact Meliodas had been plumed with a Club; That wasn't normal, but Len decided he wasn't going to worry about that tonight. “WRENN!”
“They’re already in the town! We have to go! these people have no defense” The red headed woman says. Len didn't have the heart to tell her the town was already gone; Meliodas opened his mouth but one look from Zeldris silenced him.
“I.... I need help. I need help” The goblin says coming over to them “My family needs help and I can't do it alone. Please help me”
“They have my friend; they have my friend” the other woman cries. Len looks at the brothers, then at the goblin, the to the woman, then at the other woman and then to the knights before looking back at the brothers.
“uuuuhhhhh” he says The Knight in blue checks over the one in green who had clearly been smacked around before Len got there
“You good”
“I’m good” he says “I can.... I’m good, I’m good to go there are people who need us”
“That’s what I like to hear, So I'm assuming we head to Redlarch.....Your names” The one in blue pointed at Len, the brothers and the Goblin. The goblin lifts both his weapons up and crosses them
“Stixx” Stixx says, and he brings his weapons back down
“Meliodas Blaise, this is my twin Zeldris and our new friend Len Wynters” Meliodas says Len felt guilty about lying over his last name but he couldnt tell anyone
“Hi” Len says waving
“Stixx, we will be happy to help you and your family as soon as possible, however there is Some strange lady running down the road we need to help assist them to” The Knight in blue says
“Meliodas, we have to help Stixx” Len says looking up at Meliodas
“Then?” Stixx says “Then you will help”
“The lady helped me to” The green Knight says
“Then everything will be good to help Stixx. Stixx is...” The goblin was struggling Len imagined this was the first time he had ever asked for help before, Stixx takes a step forward “Family”
“My Family is here. My only family” The red head says
“We’re here to protect the families yes” The Knight in blue says
“My family is... is suffering but I.... I will fight and then we make it back quick. Okay” Stixx says
“Yeah, we can do that, us three” Meliodas says “I will help you Stixx”
“Then let's go” Stixx throws his weapons into their holding and runs on all fours towards Redlarch The crazy woman had stopped running. She was leaned against the cliff whispering
“Follow him, follow him” She was saying Len was certain she was a Druid as the plants ripple and follow the Giant
“Lady!” The knight in green calls
“Hi! Uh Feara Moongrove” Feara says “Nice to meet you my friend went that way”
“We’re also headed that way” The knight says “Sir? Can coco ride” They see another Griffin injured on the ground.
“He is not capable of flight right now your steed doesn't look like he will stay in the air much longer either” the knight in blue says
“Back to Redlarch it is” Len says as the woman starts to sprint; Len is only a couple of paces behind her “What’s your name?”
“Nissa! And that’s my husband Dante Heartspring”
“And the other?”
“My husband's Captain” Nissa says
“You should prepare yourself Nissa” Len says he looks back “The giant with her friend is injured, we will be able to track it easily, I will be able to at least.”
“But first-”
“Redlarch I know” Len says “You won't like what you see, Meliodas, Zeldris and I are the only ones who were left” Len and Nissa make it to redlarch to see the fires spreading, Zeldris and Dante were right behind them
“What happened here” Nissa asks
“The Giants. They came and they took everyone. They would have gotten me too had Meliodas not pulled me under the bed. They ripped off roofs and tore off walls setting fires to draw people out into the streets. They took them all” Len says He didn't see Stixx, but he heard rustling in the wood. He knew Goblins never traveled alone. Finally, all the others join them as they all look at the Tavern in front of them
“Oh, Tempest we had our first kiss here” Dante says Len wants to roll his eyes then he noticed the Tavern
“It wasn't the outside that lit our room a glow” Len says “It was the flames upon the tavern itself, we were lucky to not come across any upon our exit”
“Did you get your bag because if not...” Zeldris says Len holds up his bag of holding
“I always grab my bag” Len says
“They didn't take everyone” Meliodas says “Some have died, those who struggled died”
“But for what reason would the Giants do this, have you had any word from Diane?” Zeldris asks
“She is not a hill giant” Meliodas says “besides She lives on the other side of Britania in the Fairy Kings Forrest, thousands of miles away. She would know nothing of this”
“Your right.” Zeldris says as Nissa starts walking through the town
“She must have known people here” Len says
“Where are you from?” Dante asks “This is where she grew up”
“Oh, out and about. When I was really little I lived in the Elven kingdom, the city of Elshia, but I left there about five years ago”
“And your how old?” Dante asks
“Ten, but don't worry I can handle myself” Len says
“Yeah, I noticed” Dante says “You saved my butt back there. What about you two”
“Liones” Zeldris says
“You always lived in Liones?” Dante asks
“We moved around a bunch; I mean now we live here.... in red larch.” Zeldris says
“I can't believe they set my Tavern on fire” Meliodas says
“Wait... where’s hawk?” Zeldris says Meliodas’s eyes went wide and he goes running into the burning tavern
“Wait!” The knight in blue yells
“HAWK!” Meliodas calls
“Umm” Dante says
“He does this, runs headfirst into danger all the time” Zeldris says with a sigh
“Who is hawk” Len asks
“His pig” Zeldris says
“He ran into fire over a pig?” the Captain says as Nissa walks off heading up a hill
“Yeah” Zeldris says “That magical pig means the world to him. He means a lot to me to”
“We’ll get him back, we’ll get them all back” Stixx says having returned
“Yeah we will” Len says
“I have to head back to Waterdeep” The captain says “Get help, it’ll take some time as Coco cant fly”
“Sir” Dante says
“In the meantime, you should take these people and search out those giants I’ll meet back up with you when I can” The captain says
“Yes Sir” Dante says with that the captain and coco the Griffin leave. Meliodas and Nissa were still separate from the rest of them
“Your people are they going to be okay alone?” Len asked looking down at Stixx, he was tall for a goblin but still a good foot smaller than Len
“You could see them?” Stixx asked
“No, but I know goblins never travel alone” Len says “I’m guessing what happened here happened to your home to”
“Wetstone was attacked, yes,” Stixx says “They took two and they took my...... my father from me”
“Like taken took or...” Len trails off not wanting to say it
“There is no getting him back” Stixx clenched his fist Len reaches over and puts a hand on Stixx’s head like many adults have done to him
“Then we get revenge” Len says, “If saving isn't a option revenge always is” Stixx gave what was almost a smile at Len
“Thought elves valued peace” Stixx says
“Not this High elf” Len says
“Heh” Stixx says “Why’d you leave your home”
“It wasn't the place for me. People say I'm too young to know where my place is and I'll admit that maybe I am but I know where I don't belong and life among the rich wasn't it” Len says
“you’re rich?” Stixx says
“Was rich but yeah” Len sighs “I’m believed to have been kidnapped. I never was, I ran away. Lewis and Moria, my ‘parents’ I guess are not very pleasurable, everything had to be perfect. I had to be perfect, but I wasn't. I am not perfect, and I never will be so I left. I read every survival book I could and I fucking left. Yeah, I was five, and maybe I gave up my childhood, but nothing beats the freedom I felt leaving that place leaving the elven kingdom.”
“I understand.” Stixx says “My real dad left me in the wilderness to fend for myself as a youngster. Fralhammer.... My dad, he found me and took me in. Taught me everything I know” Stixx says
“And that is why you seek revenge. They took everything from you” Len says
“Why do you wish to fight the Giants” Stixx says
“I need to prove... to myself that I can do it. That I don't need them, that I am able. I need to be strong; I need to be able” Len says “That and I got nothing better to do, the taken people need help”
“You could die” Stixx says
“Then I die” Len says
“Guys Over here!” Nissa calls they all head over to the hillside where they find a Bow stuck in the ground and a hastily written not secured to a tree stump with a arrow Len grabbed the note
“Ten Giants from the hills follow the Arrow” Len read aloud
“Follow the Arrow, I don't see a arrow” Feara says
“Not a physical Arrow. Where is the bow aiming at” Len says he gets down on one knee and holds the bow where it is stuck in the ground and pretends to draw it back, but not actually doing so, closing one eye as if he were aiming. In the distance he could see a tower “There” He points at the tower “It’s aiming at the tower. We head that way, start our search there upon daylight”
“That’s my Father’s bow” Nissa says
“And we will get him back, he left us the lead we needed. We can follow them. We’ll get him back and we will get Wrenn back”
“Is Meliodas still looking for that pig?” Dante asks looking over at Zeldris
“He is” Zeldris sighs as Meliodas walks up the hill looking defeated.
“I couldn't find him. They took him, they took my Pig” Meliodas says
“And we will rescue him along side all the others” Dante says
“The town is in ruins do we make camp here and move in the morning or what” Len asks looking at Meliodas. Meliodas, Dante and Stixx all look at each other. All three of them gave of leadership vibes to Len
“Here would safest” Meliodas says after a moment “Supplies and shelter even if some of the shelter is on fire”
“I can handle that” Faera says pulling out her staff she does a Solum dance with the staff and it starts to rain. The fire of the town goes out leaving them in darkness. In silence they walk down the hill, Meliodas and Zeldris leading the way until they come back to the Tavern. Meliodas heads down to the cellar and returns with three camping sets he gives one to Stixx and the other to Zeldris
“I saw you only had your weapons. I know most goblins just rough it and if that's what you want to do, okay, but I wanted to give you the option of a sleeping bag. I keep adventure sets down there for any adventures that could come through” Meliodas says “Plus My and Zeldris’s Emergency bag”
“That is very kind of you” Stixx says taking the bag
“We can sleep here tonight, In the main part would be safest probably. I doubt they will be back but you never know” Meliodas says it was then they heard a sound
“What was that” Dante asks
“Meliodas” Zeldris says Meliodas motioned for him to be silent slipping his sword out of its sheath. He heads over to the closet that they had heard the sound in and swings it open with a lot of force the door comes off it’s hinges and a pig bigger than any Len had ever seen comes tumbling out
“Hawk?!” Meliodas says
“Meliodas!!!!!” The pig, Hawk jumps onto Meliodas says “You will never believe what happened these giants came and they-”
“Took the town. I know” Meliodas says
“They didn’t just take the town they turned the entire town into pigs! You guys were only safe because of the Anti Magic ward Marlyn put around your bedroom. Good thing you took that kid in with you huh.” The pig says
“I’m sorry. Is that pig talking?” Stixx says
“Oh Hawk this is Nissa, Faera, Dante, Stixx and Len. Guys this is Hawk” Meliodas says
“I repeat is that a talking pig” Stixx says
“Yeah” Zeldris says “Hawk we are heading on a mission to save the town will you be staying?”
“You have a talking pig” Stixx says in surprise “Of course you would.”
“And have those giants come back and gobble me up?! No way Zeldris! Wherever Meliodas goes I go! Thats how it’s always been!” Hawk exclaims
“There will be combat” Zeldris says
“I am going with you” Hawk says
“You know Hawk wasn't gonna stay here, who would feed him scraps. We should get some sleep though” Meliodas says “And possibly get a message out to Ban. He's only a town over in Star vault.”
“Over the river” Zeldris says “We’re gonna need a carrier pigeon”
“Oh, right” Meliodas says, “We should have one around here right?”
“I’ll go see if flutters survived” Zeldris says
“Right, I'll write a note” Meliodas rummaged around and pulled paper and a pen from a desk. He quickly scratched out a note Len was able to read it
‘Ban,
Attack on red larch. Hill giants took all the townsfolk by turning them into pigs. We’re safe thanks to Marlyn’s spell. Heading out on a quest to save the people, duty calls. Stay safe
Meliodas and Zeldris’
“Found him” Zeldris said coming back down
“Alright Flutters I need you to take this to ban and then stay with him. Fast as you can, go it’s not safe out there” Meliodas says releasing the Pidgeon
“We should get some sleep” Dante says