(A/N): Now, this is where the more complex part of the story happens. The Remembrance chapters are not filler chapters. They heavily contribute to the plot.

Gatepoint

It was nighttime. Again.

Mattheas cleared the garrison stationed at the nearby ruins and left a trail of blood. Literally. As the Tarnished warrior sits near the site of grace, humming can be heard coming from his right side. Mattheas saw a familiar woman wearing a brown dress and a black cloak that shrouded her eyes.

"Greetings. Traveler from across the fog." The woman then takes off her hood, revealing herself as a young woman. A pretty one, too. However, he noticed that her left eye was closed shut, a tattoo or a mark across her eyelid spreading out into claws.

"I am Melina. I offer you an accord."

...

"Ah. So YOU were the pervert staring at me back at the cave." Mattheas said plainly.

Melina's cheeks turned crimson red. All that preparation, practice, and will to make herself look cool-headed and mysterious figure was all but naught when she remembered that moment back in that graveyard. Melina struggles to find words as the picture of her Tarnished's perfect body (albeit littered with scars and burns) begins to surface. How rude! Making a lady embarrassed over a memory that should be overlooked! She has feelings, damn it! Feelings!

"T-That's not what it was trying to do! I swear!"

~~x~~

After a few minutes of prolonged silence, Melina has calmed down from her sudden outburst. She can finally think straight now, but then it hits her. Melina pales as she realizes that she is about to offend her Tarnished by calling him maidenless! But she has to keep her act up, or else her tarnished wouldn't take her seriously! The nerve of this man! Wait, did he already know that this was all an act? It cannot be! He just met her today!

Melina swallows a lump in her throat. If she were to maintain her act, she would have to be brutally honest and cold to her Tarnished. Even if it also means damaging the pride of the Tarnished warrior.

The young maiden sits up and moves a few feet away to face her chosen Tarnished. A blush spreads across Melina's face as her Tarnished's steel-colored eyes met her golden one, his demeanor completely the opposite of what he was moments before. Melina speaks, her perplexing facade taking over.

"Have you ever heard of the Finger Maidens?" Mattheas shakes his head.

"They serve the Two Fingers, offering guidance, and aid, to the Tarnished." That got a head tilt from him, showing curiosity and eagerness to proceed.

However, Melina begins to get nervous. Her palms are getting sweaty. Her breathing becomes shallow, and her lips quiver from fear. Melina swallowed a lump in her throat and continued her speech.

"But you, I am afraid, are m-m-maidenless..."

Mattheas' eyes turned glassy as if his soul had left his body at that exact moment. Melina's fear increased a thousand fold as she felt her entire body tremble before his lifeless stare. Her body wanted to leave, go back in spirit form, and turn into ash. But she trudged through that fear, rushing through the next part as if her life depended on it.

"B-But I can play the role of maiden!"

Mattheas' brows furrowed. His eyes became steely and neutral again. Melina was shocked that it worked. At least she survived another day.

"Turning runes into strength. To aid you in your search for the Elden Ring." Mattheas doesn't respond.

"You only need only to take me with you. To the foot of the Erdtree."

The Fellsword gave her a prolonged stare, "If I accept, what will you do in return?" Mattheas questioned.

Before she can even answer, Mattheas interrupts her with a raise of his index finger.

"On top of turning runes into strength, what else can you do besides that? Truly, you can do more than just that, right?"

Melina's reply was quickly shut down. He had a point. WHAT can she do other than strengthening her champion? Wait. Is he...? Melina's face began to turn red.

Does he... does he want use her body?!

Melina's heart was pounding. Her breath was getting moist from her own body heat. Her mind began wandering into places that she dared not to think about. The prospect of playing a maiden, literally and figuratively was too much for her to bear.

"You can fight, right?" Mattheas finally asked, oblivious to Melina's prior dilemma. The maiden looks at him in shock before she slowly nods.

'So that's what he was trying to say? Phew, I was worried about nothing this whole time.'

"Do you know what happened to the Lands Between? The only thing I know is that the kids waged war on one another and now everything is in shambles." Mattheas inquired. Melina's eyes widen slightly.

"Kids?" Melina questions. The Tarnished nods.

"Well, the demigods, of course. I took them all under my wings. Taught them the skills they needed to become what they were. From Godwyn the Golden to Miquella the Unalloyed. I raised them, and I loved them. Despite not being my flesh and blood. Our bonds are as deep as the roots of the Erdtree."

To say that Melina was shock is quite the understatement. First, she never imagined that her Tarnished was THAT old. Second, wasn't he just the caretaker of the demigods? Finally, how close is he exactly with Queen Marika's children?

"To give you a reference. Even after Miquella reached his semi-adulthood. Godwyn and I sparred along with Fortissax. Rykard brings me gifts from foreign lands from his explorations and tells stories about his adventure. Radahn and Ranni wanted me to go to Raya Lucaria to visit them. And I was Malenia's master. I also welcomed Morgott and Mohg into my home."

Melina's cheeks flushed again, embarrassed by saying her doubts out loud. Mattheas laughs.

"It's okay to doubt about it. I once doubted myself the moment I took Godfrey's oath to take care of Queen Marika's children after all. And I'm NOT old." Mattheas spoke, crossing his arms.

"...Well, how did it exactly go? How did you become the Caretaker of the Demigods?"

Mattheas looks at Melina's golden eye before letting out a deep sigh.

"Well, it was a rather touching moment. A moment that shifted my entire life, realized that my life isn't all about fighting and killing."

~~x~~

Leyndell, The Royal Capital: The Elden Throne

Before I became the Caretaker of the Demigods, I was called Mattheas, the Fellsword because of my people. We were a bunch of sellswords, mercenaries from a far away land called Numen. Where Queen Marika was originally from.

I represented my people as a whole. I served alongside Godfrey, the first Elden Lord, as his battle brother. During the Age of the Dragons, I led my people and Godfrey, Maliketh and Marika led their armies. We were triumphant. With the dragons defeated and Marika ushering the Age of the Erdtree, things started to look up for me, Marika, Godfrey and Maliketh. As soon as Marika became the vessel of the Elden Ring and Godfrey became Elden Lord. It didn't take long for them to fornicate, and have children. When Godwyn the Golden was born, I was called upon by Godfrey, who wanted to meet me in his Elden Throne. And I did.

"Mattheas, the Fellsword. My battle brother. I am glad to see your face again." Godfrey greets me with a smile. The lion behind him purrs. At this point, Godfrey has chosen the Beast Regent, Serosh, upon his back to quell his never ending lust for battle.

I shook his hand, and pat his shoulder. I also pet the beast spirit, which in turn, lick my face.

"So, what do you need, battle brother? Another dragon gone in the Lands Between?" I asked him. Godfrey chuckles.

"No, brother. I need you for something more important than that. Here, follow me." Godfrey says before walking away, I quickly followed suit. Both of us arrived at the door of Marika's bedchamber. He opens the double door and both of us went inside.

There, I saw Marika, carrying her baby, Godwyn, swathed in golden cloth. She was softly humming a lullaby to her baby son until he heard me and Godfrey's plate boots echoing throughout the room.

Marika pouts at me and Godfrey. Telling us that we will disturb her son's sleep. Godfrey and I apologized, the Queen giggling all the while as we took off our boots to prevent Godwyn from waking up.

"Alright, brother. Now that I'm here with you and Queen Marika. What do you need of me?" I asked him. Godfrey and Marika looked at each other before nodding, and they looked back at me.

"Mattheas. I want you to become my children's caretaker." Marika said. Simple and to the point. Godfrey looks at Marika in shock, not expecting his wife to say it so straightforwardly.

"Marika! I had a whole speech prepared for him and you ruined it!" Godfrey whispered to Marika, the latter giggling at her husband's despair.

"Indeed, the responsibility of being my children's caretaker carries a heavy weight on your shoulder, but you also wanted children of your own, yes?"

I look at her with wide eyes. I was speechless. Had nothing to say to her.

"I know the curse that plagues you and your people. Being sterile, both male and female, is a serious problem. So you all resorted to adopting children, doesn't matter if it was human, demihuman, cursed or disabled."

Marika stands up and walked towards you. When she stood a few feet away, she stretches out her arms, and offered me to hold Godwyn into my arms. I looked at her, and looked back to Godfrey, who simply nodded with a smile on his face.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and shakily took baby Godwyn into my arms.

"Do you have a name for him?"

Marika nods.

"His name is Godwyn. Godwyn the Golden. For he will be Lord of all that is golden. Just like his father."

As soon as Marika said her line, Godwyn slowly opens his eyes, revealing golden eyes that he inherited from his mother and father. Godwyn doesn't cry at the sight of me, but instead, reached out to me with his tiny baby hand. Godfrey and Marika smiles at me.

I slowly lifted my other hand, and let Godwyn grab my finger. I could feel the strength of this child, clearly inherited from Godfrey. Baby Godwyn giggles as he reaches out for my wolfhead plate helmet.

For the first time in my life, I felt something inside me crack. My cold and hard exterior melted away entirely. Tears began to well up in my eyes, and fell onto Godwyn's golden cloth. Suddenly, I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw Godfrey with a sincere smile on his face. Queen Marika smiles at me once again.

"Are you willing to commit yourself to becoming my children's caretaker? To guide them, aid them, and train them for the rest of your life? And if the time arises, will you swear that you will sacrifice your life to save them?"

I nod, accepting the offer, and became the Caretaker of the Demigods.

As Godwyn grew up and Marika bore more children, I abandoned my pursuit of power. I switched out my heavy plate armor and wore black leather armor. I also switched my Dragon Slayer Sword for a short sword and a buckler. I trained Godwyn in the arts of war, and taught him how to be humble. Eventually, we were at odds again with the dragons. This time, we were tasked with killing a dragon named Fortissax. Fighting the dragons was tough and brutal, even for Godwyn in his semi-adulthood years. One day, out of nowhere, Fortissax, their leader came out to meet Godwyn in battle. Godwyn was fascinated with dragons and their ability to summon lightning and red lightning along with the dragon's appearance. So he came up to me, and asked me, flustered by the fact he would ask me such a thing.

"Mattheas? I know this is a stupid question. And I know you're really going to hate this..."

I shake my head. "There is no such things as a dumb question, Godwyn. Ask away." I said to him. Godwyn looks down and bites his lower lip before letting out a sigh.

"I want to talk to Fortissax."

My eyes widened in shock.

"I just want to be friends with him! Look at him, he looks like a cool guy! The horns, the scale and the claws look awesome, too! Don't you ever dream of flying by sitting on a dragon's back?!"

Godwyn realized what he just did and lay his head low. But I looked at him with a smile, and told him to lift his head up, and he did.

"You want to get yourself a dragon friend? Then go for it, kid. You got this." I said to him as I pat him on the back. Godwyn looks at me with determination and nods before walking towards Fortissax. Godwyn befriended the dragon that day. News of Godwyn befriending a dragon spread like wildfire. Godfrey and Queen Marika was amused by this arrangement and asked me if I had anything to do with it. I did.

All I had to do was say yes.

~~x~~

"And the rest is history. Godwyn and Fortissax would become great friends in the future. And they would invite me to go visit the dragons in Farum Azula. Isn't that wonderful?" Mattheas asked.

Melina blinks twice before nodding at Mattheas. She didn't expect her to become so intrigued by that story. She wonders if he has a story with the Omen Twins. That would be interesting.

"And the next story would be the Omen Twins. They are very interesting. Two sides of the same coin, really." Mattheas said before standing up, and looked up to see all of the Gatepoint's soldiers and knights were sitting down, listening to his story as well.

Mattheas grabs his Golden Halberg and ran into the Tarnished Hunters and began swinging.

"GET OUT! OOOOUUUUTTT! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!!"

Fellswords Ashes: This race of people was once Marika's soldiers. Originally sellswords from a faraway land known as Numen. They are fearless, rough, and brutal in battle, for they are bred for war. But once they develop a deep bond with the person they love, they will abandon their pursuit of power to give everything they have to their desired partner. Unfortunately, they were struck with a curse that made both male and female gender sterile, unable to have children.

When Godfrey was exiled from the Lands Between, the Fellswords went with him except one.