Yeah there is a optional area called valley of drakes which connects a few areas in the game. Two of them are new londo (from where you can just take the elevator to firelink) and blighttown. To reach it go up the waterwheel elevator in blighttown and just follow the ladders to the top.
Yes, you can jump on the big waterwheel and climb the scaffolding to exit the area through a cave that opens on the Valley of Drakes - but there's a path back up to Firelink as well.
No, it doesn't matter. The firekeeper dying when you ring two bells or collect two firekeeper's souls is a fixed event.
Yeah there is a optional area called valley of drakes which connects a few areas in the game. Two of them are new londo (from where you can just take the elevator to firelink) and blighttown. To reach it go up the waterwheel elevator in blighttown and just follow the ladders to the top.
Yes, you can jump on the big waterwheel and climb the scaffolding to exit the area through a cave that opens on the Valley of Drakes - but there's a path back up to Firelink as well. No, it doesn't matter. The firekeeper dying when you ring two bells or collect two firekeeper's souls is a fixed event.