Fanfic / We Make Our Own Light

We Make Our Own Light is a crossover fanfiction between Dark Souls and Elden Ring, written on Archive of Our Own by WorldSinger.

In which an imprisoned Gwyndolin accidentally sends dreams of his distress to another world entirely, to a Tarnished formerly of no renown who never could ignore a cry for help. So she proceeds to show Aldrich exactly what she thinks of his god-eating tendences before spiriting his victim away to the Lands Between.

There, the last god to remember Anor Londo in its full glory slowly follows the path to healing and comes to the difficult conclusion that it might be best for him and everyone to step in the Dark.

The moon doesn't make its own light. Gwyndolin is still bent on trying.

Contains the following tropes

• Awesomeness by Analysis: Gwyndolin pegs the invisible bridge leading to Yorshka's tower by observing the snow falling. Dunstan muses it has to be an habit he got after mastering Illusion magic, since he would need to pay attention to small details to be convincing.
• Awful Truth: Gwyndolin carefully avoids to mention how exactly he fell sick, since Sulyvahn acted on Yorshka releasing confidential information out of stress about his recurrent nightmares and he knows it would devastate her. Sure enough, when Dunstan casually mentions the Pontiff poisoning the god, Yorshka immediately puts two and two together and is horror-struck to have been an Unwitting Instigator of Doom for her beloved brother.
• Became Their Own Antithesis: The Dark Sun was one of the most fanatical believers in the Firelinking, and it took some serious trauma for Gwyndolin to finally re-evaluate his position. Now, he firmly argues for allowing the Flame to fade and usher the Age of Dark — Prince Lothric almost did a double take when Dunstan explained that and Sirri's knee-jerk reaction when informed was to insist her god had been tortured into madness.
• Bigotry Exception: Dunstan sneers at the gods for ruining the world by refusing to let the Flame fade, but Yorshka is just so sweet and gentle that he cannot bring himself to despise her. He also starts to warm up to Gwyndolin as he learns just how much crap was heaped on the poor guy's shoulders, and because he gets to see Gwyndolin is genuine in helping him to put an end to the Age of Fire.
• Central Theme: Breaking cycles of abuse and discarding masks.
• Determinator: Gwyndolin cares not for his frail body or unstable mental state, he will accomplish his goals. It was quite detrimental for the world as he staunchly upheld the Age of Fire far beyond its natural end, but it also helps him to recover from his captivity and go through the Fire fading in spite of being terrified by the possible aftermath.
• Disabled Deity:
  • For a very long time, Gwyndolin was too frail to walk under his own power and was reliant on his snakes to carry him everywhere. Even after recovering in the Lands Between, his stamina isn't the greatest so he quickly exhausts himself and his lungs are prone to sicken.
  • Malenia keeps suffering from the Scarlet Rot, to Miquella's great distress.
• Distressed Dude: Gwyndolin is about to get devoured by Aldrich when Eira receives a dream of his dire circumstances and decides to run to his help.
• Establishing Character Moment: Dunstan's first interaction with Gwyndolin is a pretty good summation of his Jerk with a Heart of Gold tendences, as he's pretty curious about the Dark Sun so he casually attacks Gwynevere's illusion and chases the god down the endless corridor to rip his mask away, only to get mortified when he sees how young Gwyndolin is. Yes, the Ashen one can be pretty cold and insensitive when pursuing his goal, but he does have a softer side when he truly gets to know somebody.
• Foil:
  • Eira and Dunstan. Both are undeads who unexpectedly found themselves in a position to leave a ginormous impact on their lands, and care for Gwyndolin. Eira is much more cheerful and doesn't drag any baggagge regarding the Gods of Anor Londo, Dunstan is rather embittered by his existence and has to overcome his grudge against the Gods who ruined the world.
  • Morgoth and Gwyndolin. Both were deemed physically repulsive and stubbornly defended a divine rule that only drove them to loathe everything they were, only for Eira to stumble into their lives and encourage them to change. Where Morgoth is bulky and worships a tree, Gwyndolin is frail and worships fire.
• Guys Smash, Girls Shoot: Inverted with Eira and Gwyndolin tag-teaming Aldrich, as she's physically stronger while he's flinging long-range sorceries.
• He Cleans Up Nicely: Inverted with Gwyndolin's divine regalia since it doesn't fit his true self at all — Dunstan comments on his golden ornaments looking like shackles rather than jewelry and Yorshka was terrified by his sun crown because it hid her brother's face and made him look robotic and unfeeling. When Gwyndolin is dressed as a mere knight, both of them think the humble garments suit him much better.
• Hero of Another Story: Eira managed to spare Morgoth, rescued Miquella from Mog, and ascended as Elden Lord through the power of the Great Rune of Mending.
• In Spite of a Nail: Lothric still insists on fighting the Ashen one after learning of his wish to snuff the Flame, as he wants to test Dunstan's resolve and check it will hold no matter what.
• Just a Kid: Dunstan's reaction when he first met Gwyndolin, as he lifted the god's crown. Centuries later, the undead is still shaken to remember how small the Dark Sun had been.
• Meaningful Name:
  • Eira is Welsh for "snow".
  • Dunstan means "black stone", since the Ashen one will become the cornestone of the new Age of Dark.
• Modest Royalty: Gwyndolin and Yorshka live in a humble manor very unlike Anor Londo's lavish opulence, dress rather simply if given the choice, do their housework themselves and personally help their worshippers. Dunstan muses he likes them more for that than when they were aloof, unreachable deities.
• "Not So Different" Remark: As he's venting his spleen to Siegward, Dunstan realizes this is why he ultimately sympathizes with Gwyndolin. Both of them were deemed rejects and weaklings, yet at the end of the line, they're the ones saddled with the task to clean the mess left by the Gods.
• Parents as People: Gwyn did genuinely care for his last-born son, trying to make him at ease and comfortable, but he was too stuck in his tunnel-vision, black and white idea of how things ought to be to actually understand Gwyndolin. A pretty good example is the fact that he didn't force his child to wear the Ring of Reversal but he nonetheless was strongly relieved by that.
• Screw Destiny: Attempted by Gwyn who defied the omen that a darkmoon birth heralded the end of the Age of Fire by trying to mold Gwyndolin into someone more palatable for his worldview. As Morgoth hints the Age of Dark might be necessary, Gwyndolin's insecurities drive him to shout he "won't be a prophecy".
• Shrinking Violet: Gwyndolin's natural social anxiety wasn't helped by millenia of seclusion. Merely speaking to his worshippers terrifies him.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Gwyndolin discarding his elaborate robes and golden ornaments for more practical, comfortable clothes showcases his progression, as he breaks free from his father's worldview and grows more at ease with himself.
• Sour Supporter:
  • Morgoth just won't stop complaining about Eira's Chronic Hero Syndrome and harebrained schemes, but serves her just as loyally as he served the Golden Order.
  • Dunstan is deeply bitter regarding the Gods of Anor Londo's tremendous mistakes. He nonetheless encourages Gwyndolin to grow and bring change to the world.
• Take a Third Option: Gwyndolin has believed for a long time that he was doomed to watch the world slowly crumbling, or to sacrifice himself to the Flame as kindling. His recovery in the Lands Between help him to understand he also can usher the Age of Dark.
• This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: Dunstan's opinion about Gwyndolin fighting Sulyvahn then the Soul of Cinder, as the god needs the fighting to put his demons at rest.
• Traumatic Haircut: In the Lands Between, cutting your hair indicates mourning. Gwyndolin decides it's quite appropriate, as he's saying goodbye to his former self and preparing himself to destroy the cause he devoted his whole life to uphold.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Morgoth still drags a huge lack of self-esteem with him, consequence of millenia spent indocrinated. Eira firmly reminds him of his virtues when she thinks he's too depressed.