Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Finally, the first light of civilisation any of the marching bugs had seen in months was visible just over the horizon. The ringing of the bells halted, as the group’s leader stopped. A sign infront of them had only one character they understood, and even then it was written in a foreign style. But the character revealed that they had finally reached their destination: The Kingdom of the White Wyrm.

The veiled bugs picked up the runed cage again, and the bell chimes continued in rhythm to their march.

The gate of the kingdom was guarded by a knight in full armour.
“Halt. What business do you have?” The knight said with a surprisingly soft spoken-voice, despite his stature and authority he commanded.
The veiled bugs looked at one another and back at the knight. The leader spoke up.
“We have orders from our Queen to bring her the transgressor residing in your Kingdom. They of our lands, and of our kin. We do not wish to interfere with your kingdom.”
“A transgressor? What had they done? I’m sure our king would not want them wandering in our lands anyway, if they are anyone dangerous.”

“They committed the ultimate sin, sir. They betrayed their creator.” The veiled leader clarified “we have come very far, if you could let us in to talk to the Wyrm, this will be very easy for all parties.”

The knight responded.
“The King? Oh, no.” The knight laughed. “He does not speak with common bugs in such matters. How about this. I can let one of you within the kingdom, but the rest of your and your um-“ he looked up at the runed cage. It was a very powerful spell, even he - someone who didn’t mess around with that kind of thing - could recognise this, “…cargo… you may set up camp in the village.”
He pointed to the small cluster of homes within the gate, but on the top of the kingdom itself.
He continued “You may go to the City at the Heart of our great kingdom. It may be locked up now but you may give them this at the gate, and tell them that Hegemol sent you.”
The knight - whose name was apparently Hegemol - handed the leader a simple pass.

The leader looked back at the cage and up at the knight.
“Very well, thank you for your help.”

The now lone, veiled leader bug wandered through the kingdom. They were forced to leave their bell staff behind with their journeybugs and their cage. This new kingdom seemed dying. Like a harp with serval broken strings. All this the bug assumed typical of a society outside the great powers of the Citadel. Of course these bugs had no concept of true song, nor the true majesty of real power. A shame he could not bring all these bugs back to allow them to bask in the great glory of the Citadel.

When the bug reached the gate of the grand city, they handed their pass to a guard, and was allowed through after they briefly unveiled themselves to reveal their eyes.
How odd.

As they were rather tired by then, he found a place to rest between the large towers, which seemed to be a flattened area in preparation of a small structure. He opened up the map he had traded previously in his journey. The tradesbug was after something called ‘geo’, but was intrigued by the currency of faith the veiled bug had brought. They said something about how it would be “a pleasant gift to impress a warrior lady”. Although the veiled bug held some reservations about giving away beads for a secular purpose, he justified it by acknowledging that the task he was given would ultimately bring honour to the Citadel, so it was a holy cause overall.

Just as they were collecting their thoughts, they were approached by a fancily dressed bug, in some sort of servant attire.
“Sorry to bother you sir, but my master requests your presence.”
“Your master?” The veiled bug asked
“The watcher of this city, loyal servant of the King. He requests an audience in his spire, if you would be so kind as to follow me.”
The veiled bug nodded and followed the servant bug toward what seemed to be the tallest spire of the city. Hopefully, this ‘watcher’ individual may be able to help him, with such a title.

They walked past some guards, and entered into an elevator.
When the elevator reached its destination, the veiled bug was escorted off it and down a long hallway that’s walls were made of glass. He was not at the spire’s peak, but he felt he could see the whole of the city from there. If this was the ‘Heart of Hallownest’ it was no wonder the kingdom was dying. The residents seemed to make some attempt to keep society as it was before, maybe trying to scrape onto some time of previous prosperity. But something in the air seemed off. The whole of the city’s air felt heavy. It was like he could feel the hushed absence of bugs that were there before. Like an unspoken murmur of some horrible danger that was to come.

At the end of the hallway, both the servant and the veiled bug entered into a larger room, which had paintings on the wall, a small table and a few chairs, as well as a tall, masked bug in a long cape, that draped down from the seat his was sitting on.
The tall one spoke slightly awkwardly, almost like he wasn’t all that used to it. But the way he carried himself portrayed subtle nobility, if the grandeur of his tower was not enough to go off of.
“Ah. welcome… please… take a seat.” The tall bug gestured to the seat infront of him, that had a couple pillows placed on it, to accommodate for the height difference between him and his guest, “Would you care for some tea?”
The veiled bug shook their head.
“Oh. Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I am Lurien: the watcher of this city, I keep my eye on all that goes on in the heart of Hallownest, and I noticed your outfit seems rather peculiar. Not saying it, um, looks bad… You see, it’s not typical nowadays to see bugs from outside the city, let alone outside the gates Hallownest. Forgive my impertinence in calling you up here but I am curious about where you are from, and what you have come to Hallownest for? Please feel free to explain as much as you can. Don’t worry about time… I have nothing planned for today.” Lurien took out some ink and paper from his cloak. He seemed to be at the edge of his seat, leaning towards the veiled bug.

The veiled bug looked up at Lurien’s single eyed mask, slightly overwhelmed by Lurien’s sudden enthusiasm.
“I agreed to join you up here as I hoped you could help with my task, if I explain what it is, and where I am from. Could you help me speak with your ruler?”

Lurien seemed slightly taken aback by the mention of the ruler of his kingdom.
“You… wish to speak with His Majesty?” Lurien had frozen up now, but seemed to start fidgeting with his quill. “Of course I understand… His Grace truly is the most benevolent, majestic ruler of all the lands. Who wouldn’t want an audience? I mean, I know I - aswellasI’msureeveryoneelse - would do anything for even the slightest glance from His Holiness~.” Lurien was staring into space, so the butler - who has been standing silently by the door - cleared his throat unnaturally loudly.
Lurien almost fell out of his seat when he came back to reality.
“Oh yes! Sorry. The audience with His Majesty. I um… don’t know if I can guarantee that. You see, he doesn’t meet with um…” Lurien looked at the veiled bug once over “…regular bugs about matters. But I’m sure I could help you if you need any advice about this Kingdom. I like to think I know it quite well. It would be nice to share my wisdom… while I still can…” Lurien looked off emptily in the distance for a second, but then returned a second later. “If it is a message you’d like to pass on, I’d be more than happy to deliver it to His Majesty himself. Yes, that sounds like a good idea…”
Lurien was about to shout over to his butler to arrange an audience, when he was stopped by the veiled bug.

“That may not be necessary, if you have information I need. I have been sent on a holy quest from the great Citadel of Pharloom to retrieve an eternal transgressor of our kingdom. A bug guilty from the sin of their mothers, who’s betrayed their creator.”

“Pharloom… I feel like I have maybe heard that somewhere…” Lurien pondered, taking a sip of his tea through his mask.

“I am here to find the decedent of the Weavers, and bring her back to face the wrath of the great Pale Queen whom her foremothers turned their back on.”
The veiled bug looked up at the sound of the crashed tea cup, and the butler rushing to sweep it up.

Lurien started emptily at the veiled bug, not moving an inch even though he was covered in tea.
“The… weavers…?” Lurien said, with an attempt to suppress his growling disgust.

“You have heard of them? This is good, where are they?”

Lurien tried to regain his composure,
“I’m afraid… this is impossible, as they are no more …living… weavers in Hallownest. I have been personally assured of this.”

“But there are. My Queen speaks of so. She cannot be mistaken. There is at least one of their line remaining in this Kingdom.”

Lurien responded, with an fright to his voice, “…if you believe so confidently… then… feel free to venture to the land they call Deepnest. That is where they were said to live. If there are… any left.. they will there. If you’d like I can send a messenger to the Mantis Tribe to allow you to pass in. I cannot guarantee any of your safety once you enter that place, however. I hope it is not too obvious, but I am rather disturbed by the news of a Weaver remaining. I’m sure many of us - including His Majesty - would be happy for you to remove it.”

“That would be appreciated, thank you for your help and your time.” The veiled bug nodded, and was escorted back to the elevator.

“Oh, you may want to change out of the veil, small one. It represents you an outlier” Lurien remembered to say, just before the veiled bug left.

Chapter Text

The Pale King stood over the balcony, watching as his Pure Vessel train. It was swift with a nail: muscle memory somehow imprinted into emptiness. So many sacrifices have been imposed for this final product, but no cost was too great for how extraordinary this vessel was. It would only be a handful of years, maybe months, longer for the King’s plan to come into fruition. The Pure Vessel looked up, and for a brief second, caught the Pale Kings gaze.

A royal retainer came into balcony where the King was.

“Your highness, your Watcher is sitting in the meeting chamber.”

The Pale King nodded and lead into the large meeting room, which had a tall bug suddenly stand to bow when he noticed the King’s arrival.

“Your highness… thank you so much for accepting my request to meet.” Lurien said, rising up from his bow but keeping his eyes fixed on the bright marble floor.

“Lurien, my watcher… my most loyal servant and friend. Never view your presence as an anything less than an honour. For what you have agreed to do for this Kingdom, all my subjects, my family and I are forever in your debt. Now what did you need my assistance for? You know anything of my power is yours for the asking.”

The Pale King seemed to be really laying it on that day, which he knew always worked in ensuring Lurien as an eternally loyal subject. Some subject’s loyalty is bought for power, others for material wealth, some for knowledge. Lurien gave his away for the small price of holy praise.

“My king… I…” Lurien’s mind wandered yet again before forcing himself to focus, “I have come to your presence to tell you of a visitor I had in my spire. He was a small, veiled bug, not of your great kingdom, but of a distance land he referred to as ‘Pharloom’.”

The King looked up at Lurien, “Yes, my watcher, many bugs leave behind their lands in search of higher thought, only possible under my reign. I believe I have heard of Pharloom mentioned before, as well as the being that rules it.”

Lurien continued: “This is where you may be more interested, my King, he said that he had received insight from his Queen that a single living Weaver remains in your great Kingdom. This bug was sent on a journey to capture this being and bring them to their homeland for judgment for some eternal sin.”

The Pale King looked up, eyes going dark.

“But there are no living weavers in Hallownest.”

“Of course, my King, the Weaver tribe has fled, and the Queen Beast has began her slumber. I sent the wandering bug to Deepnest, where I assume the claws there will allow him to meet his fate. I was worried at the bug’s declaration, but your assurance has brought me upmost confidence, yet again my King.”

The Pale King looked pallid for a moment.“Pharloom’s Queen is the Grand Mother of Silk, my watcher. The mother of all Weavers, whom she turned from common bugs.”

Lurien spoke up with smugness ringing in his voice. “A weaver is a common bug infused with the soul of some false God, whom they ultimately betrayed? Sounds consistent with my knowledge of their behaviour if I dare say, my King,”

The Pale King chose to ignore the impertinent of Lurien’s comment, and continued,

“Because silk of the Grand Mother is produced within the shell of a weaver, she is able to identify and track all of weaver heritage, no matter how thin the strand. I should have guessed… that’s why that request was made of me…” The Pale King’s voice teetered off. 

“I apologise, my King, but I do not understand what you mean.”

The Pale King glanced up at Lurien, and then a million miles down the hallway.

“Lurien… my watcher… my confidant… I am afraid I have not been entirely honest with you. But I wish to remedy this and reveal to you the truth, as I know you can be trusted with this great secret.”

Lurien straightened his back at the sudden seriousness, but bowed to his knees under the eyes of the King.

“Of course, your highness, anything my king speaks to me I hold with as much sanctity as I hold my King himself in my heart.”

“Lurien, my watcher, rise and follow me,” he led him down a long hallway, and through many sets of doors as he began to explain, “you are aware of the bargain I made with the Weaver Queen Herrah? In exchange for her to take up the role of Dreamer along with yourself,”

“I am afraid I am, my King. In your eternal care for your people you accepted her request of the unthinkable. To um-“

Lurien got a bit embarrassed at the thought, so the Pale King mercyed him with an interruption:

“Now I’m afraid there was an additional clause to this bargain, and as a result, Weaver blood will remain in Hallownest eternal, under my sworn protection.”

At this point, they had gotten to a part of the palace so far from the King’s typical route that the royal retainers were startled at the sight of him there. Lurien was unfamiliar with this part of the palace, and noticed the root iconography on the decor.

“I don’t fully understand, my King, why are we going this far into the palace? Is this not my Queen’s domain?”

Finally, the two entered a room with many royal retainers inside, all surrounding and paying attention to something in the middle of the room.

“Lurien, I’m sure I do not need to explain to you what may happen when two bugs with the right anatomy perform the ‘unthinkable’… as you described it.”

Lurien’s head was swimming, of course he knew what could happen. I mean, that’s what his parents had done to create him. He never thought himself personally interested in the ‘unthinkable’. He was always too busy watching over his city to worry himself in such trivial matters. The only time he had thought about it more was when it was revealed what Herrah the Beast had demanded the great King for. After this, he was so overcome by anger at the Beast for the audacity of proposing such a request to the great King, Lurien couldn’t bring himself to stop thinking about it. Especially when it came to the King. But he was sure it was just out of the sheer respect he held for his Majesty, nothing else.

“A…” Lurien swallowed, “child…”.

The second the words left Lurien’s jaws he was shocked what he dared to insinuate. Surely the great King did not conceive one with a weaver. For the king to even perform dalliance with such a common bug disgusted Lurien to his core, but the thought of this bastard child, one bred from God and Weaver. It was near inconceivable. In both ways.

The Pale King gestured to the cot in the middle of the room, after parting the royal retainers huddled around it.

Lurien walked towards it apprehensivly, scared of what he was about to see and racking his brain in reasoning all of the information he had just learnt.

That means the remaining weaver of Hallownest was… a child of the King… it would be a demigod, a royal of the Kingdom, a being that would live for as long as the eternal Kingdom itself The King’s line will be continued with a bend sinister; A creature whose generational line was thick with both sin and holiness.

Lurien looked down at the creature in the crib. It was sleeping, its body oddly still. Its tiny shell was shaped like Herrah’s, but it generally resembled the King’s own. There was no denying their relation. It was wrapped in a red blanket, crafted with a technique unfamiliar to Lurien. He imaged it a weavers’. Its tiny arms grasps onto the blanket, as if it knew this was the last of what their tribe left behind.

This little creature was the living proof of the unholy alliance. Would it know of its past? Of the threads that make it? As much as Lurien despised the Beast and her vulgarity, he had to acknowledge how clever she must have been to weave this out the deal. Did he just commend Herrah? Was this all actually happening?

The tiny creature was startled awake by the sound of Lurien’s fainting body crash on the floor.

After Lurien had left for home, the White Lady came out of her room to meet her husband.

“It’s not typical to hear you away from your work, let alone ventured to side of the palace, my Wyrm. Who was your guest?”

“It was my Watcher, he informed me of a journeying bug from Pharloom: the birthplace of the Weavers. This bug was said to be on a task given by their Pale Being to abduct the remaining weaver of my Kingdom, for some generational transgression.”

“Well, my Wyrm, I am aware you are far more intimately familiar with Weaver-kind than I am.” The White Lady had a certain playful suggestion to her comment that the Pale King detected, but did not appreciate.

“My watcher sent this unarmed bug to Deepnest, of course this being nothing short of a slaughter attempt.”

“I’m sure you know what’s next,”

“Yes, my Lady. I’m afraid I do. My watcher, as blindly faithful as he is, is not privy to our train of thought. Of course, this bug did not come alone, as I heard from Hegemol, who is watching over the fellow journeybugs and a large runed cage by the Grand Gate. I too know that once the Kingdom learns of his death, more will be sent, increasingly heavily armed and less patient than the ones before.”

“Oh your watcher, he means well. Though I don’t understand why you don’t just allow him the same treatment as the Beast. I’m sure he will be anything but resistant.”

“He is a very helpful, loyal subject. I have no need nor wish to subject him to a premature slumber, as I bargained with Herrah”

The White Lady laughed.

“You misunderstand, my Wyrm. I wasn’t talking about that side of your bargain.”

The Pale King looked up suddenly at his wife in shock, then bashfully back to the floor. But forced his voice a sheer of professionalism.

“Even if I may be able to interpret what you are implying about my watcher, when it comes to those sorts of relations, I sincerely believe that once was more than enough, twice was necessary for the sake of my Kingdom, but thrice would be indecent.”

The Pale King looked back up at the Queen, which caused him to at sudden to remedy what he said before.

“But that’s just for me, though. I know your nature is different to mine. Rather… I better get some troops to rescue that poor bug from the tearing jaws of Deepnest. Goodbye, my Lady.”

“Farewell, my Wyrm.” The White Lady faintly curtsied, before listening to the Pale King’s steps fade from earshot.