A Deal with Death

Emery played the memory over and over in her mind. The mixing of the two. The elves. She reached up to her own ear and touched it a moment as she seemed to be drawn deep into thought. She sucked in a breath and lifted her hues to look to Tora as she spoke. “I can imagine it to be confusing…” She spoke to Tora’s comment about the memories, how it was hard to figure out sometimes. But she didn’t speak anymore on the subject. Her eyes looked back to the crumbled in hallway. She stepped to the rubble and touched a few pieces of it. “I do hope there is another way out of this temple…with that storm outside I don’t see anyone being able to come for us…” She muttered and turned around. As she did she saw Tora walking off down the hall. “Hey wait up!” She jogged slightly to catch up with the woman.

Emery stopped outside of the small doorway and furrowed her brows. She gazed about the room a moment before she stepped in as Tora lit the brazier. Her eyes looked to the books. The shelving. It was old…it had to be centuries old. How many seers had used this temple before? And now Tora was supposed to be the replacement…and yet she turned a blind eye to the temple. Emery couldn’t blame her…to know that her own mother died just for her to live and gain a gift. That was something rather heavy. Even if Tora fully believed in these gods that she spoke of…it wasn’t something easy to swallow.

**

Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos

Ciliren was asleep on her couch, her hand hung toward the floor. Death stood before the orb he watched with curious eyes. “You could shift this entire timeline child.” He spoke softly. He glanced to his daughter a bit of a smirk upon his lips. He’d agreed to this, simply because he didn’t agree with how the future had played out. Though this might be what would divert the people of Silas away from such blood magics. His daughter wasn’t an idiot. Though most treated her like a child. He knew that she carefully placed things, she’d chosen to put Emery right where she needed to be to change the timeline.

“How much more weaving to do expect me to change?” A beautiful woman stepped from the shadows. She had long tasseled chocolate hair and chestnut hues. She wore a simple blue dress with a red ribbon tied around her waist. She smirked as she looked to Death.

“Lachesis.” He spoke and stepped to her. He gave her a hug and kissed her upon her cheek. “You’re good at untangling things.” He winked to her. “You’ve done it before. This I do believe will be worth the effort.” He looked back to the orb. He then gazed to his sleeping daughter. “I put Ciliren to sleep for a few hours so that the girl may remember her true memories with the help of this Seer.” He raised a brow and looked to Lachesis. “Where are your lovely sisters?” He questioned.

“Well…Clotho is quite busy spinning. And…as I am sure you can imagine Atropos is rather…upset with you. She was just about to snip the girl’s thread when you allowed Ciliren to take her.” She tilted her head slightly.

Death drew in a breath and then nodded, “I do understand the frustrations. But it is our duty as Gods to protect the realms. That timeline.” He waved his hand and another orb appeared before them. “Just look at what has happened.” He looked to the city. The buildings were crumbled. The once beautiful Aramore was nothing but a ruin now with the earth reclaiming it. “Much of the world has fallen into this…” He spun the orb and another city came into view. “I am all for claiming souls Lachesis…but…this is quite a mess for you and your sister’s. Is it not?” He grabbed the orb with his hands and it disappeared between his palms. “Give Ciliren some time. Hm? The threads will become less twisted…yes? Give the human some time to sort her memories out. Ciliren is right, we can’t just hand the girl the fix. That would cause too much chaos. But, she will discover who she truly is. This persona that Ciliren has developed for her…I would have gone with a much less…flashy persona…but you know my daughter.” Death smirked and looked to his girl as she slept peacefully.

“Each action has a consequence, Death. You know this. That girl did not exist in this timeline. We’ve had to weave backward. We’ve had to develop an entire lifeline for her.” Lachesis huffed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I do hope that she is able to change that future. It was a mess. Just ask my sisters.” She shook her head slightly. “You had better see this through, Death.” She warned before she stepped over to the orb to peer into it once again.

**

Emery was looking over the books in a broken bookshelf. She blew the dust off of one and looked to the ancient Nordic text. It looked like symbols to her, nothing that she could understand. “How do you know what would be worthwhile?” She questioned as she turned with the book in her hands. She stepped over to the desk as Tora offered a book forward. Emery set the old journal down upon the table and lifted the tattered leather-bound book. Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked to it. She drew in a breath and opened the pages.

She knew the text. She read it just as she would the common language that she spoke with Tora. How did she know this? She racked her memories trying to remember any scholarly work she’d done to learn Elvish. Only a few times had she worked with her tutor on the Elvish language. Enough to know basic words. But this. She knew this was ancient text. It was of a different dialect. “This…is speaking of the end times.” She spoke as she read over the pages quickly. Her eyes moved about the text. “It speaks of the Gods coming into a great city and destroying it by the will of humans.” Her breathing had quickened. “It speaks of the fires rising into the skies and making the night sky red…of the screams of the people of the city that echo for miles to warn the other cities what is to become of them…” She stopped reading a moment then her eyes looked to Tora…the amber in her eyes had surfaced for a brief moment before he hazel color returned. “This…this is just the ramblings of some old sage. Right?” She looked back down to the book. “A human couldn’t control the Gods…” She let out an uneasy laugh. She flipped through the pages a bit more and found something that felt as though it tugged on her mind. A seal. She ran her fingertips over it. Her jaw was slightly loose as she stared to it. The artwork in the book was immaculate for the books condition. On the next page it showed a woman laying in the center of the seal with red running from her hands…blood…

Emery closed the book then and shook her head. She had a dizzy strange feeling that had come over her. “I…am not sure…what this is…” She held it back toward Tora. “Just crazy ramblings of a sage if you ask me.” She commented and held a hand to her head which ached now after looking to the book. This was the very book that her father had discovered before the end of times. He'd studied it closely with his own mage before the decision was made to send Farryn back to put a stop to the use of the artifact. "We should...keep moving huh?" She set the book down on the desk in front of Tora and stepped from the room. Emery walked into the hallway and paused. "Tora..." She spoke her brows furrowed. She stared to where the hall had crumbled in on itself. "Tell me I'm not going mad..." What she looked at now was a pristine hall...like nothing had happened at all.

Emery had furrowed her brows to the woman as she spoke. “If humanity does not control the Gods, then that book is merely ramblings of an old sage that had clearly lost their mind far before scribbling in that book.” She raised a brow slightly. She’d watched as Tora slipped the book into her bag. “I…really don’t want to read anymore of it.” She spoke and shook her head. “It’s just the ramblings of a crazy old sage. It makes my head ache to read it.” She’d spoken before she discovered the hall.

The princess gazed to Tora as she spoke, even Tora seemed confused by the hallway. “Are you so sure we should venture further into this place? What if something else falls apart?” She spoke as she gazed to the hallway carefully. She watched as the door opened to the will of the woman, her jaw loose. “How…did you…” She followed her into the room. Her eyes looked to the several statues and other decorations within the room. Emery furrowed her brows as she stepped forward and stood next to Tora. “I don’t think this is a good idea…” She spoke as she watched the woman cut her palm. As the blood came from the newly inflicted wound, Emery’s eyes fluttered a moment. The amber color returned for a second or two and her breathing quickened. She looked to her own palms, but she didn’t hold any scars. Her brows furrowed as she stared to Tora as she pleaded to Odin.

Emery took several steps back as the woman’s blood lit aflame. She swallowed hard as the room seemed to drop several degrees. “Tora…” She spoke, fear in her voice. “Blood magic is very dangerous…” She whispered. A wind whipped through the room then and the blood that Tora had lit blew out, as well as the two torches that the women held. The room was completely dark. The howling of the storm could be heard as it beat upon the stone of the temple. Emery backed her back against one of the pillars as a shiver ran down her spin. Then the braziers in the room began to light. One by one. The flames danced about within the braziers and soon enough the entire alter room was lit.

Freya

“You seek guidance young seer?” A voice spoke from behind the alter. The sound of boots clicking against the stone filled the room and from behind the alter stepped a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and striking emerald hues. She had beautiful white wings that were adorned in golden armor. Her body was covered in an intricately crafted armor that looked much like feathers as well. She set a beautiful helmet upon the alter where Tora had offered up her blood. The woman had black lines that ran down the sides of her face, lines from tears it seemed. Though she smiled as she looked to Tora. “You’ve grown, child.” She spoke as she gazed to the woman. “You’ve finally come? After all these years.” She reached forward and gently cupped Tora’s face a smile split her lips then. “Odin was right to gift you, child.”

The woman turned and her hues fell upon Emery. Her smile had faded from her face. “You say, child, that there are those that threaten you?” She glanced to Tora a moment. “This is true. There is a great threat to this world that has yet to come.” She stepped forward to Emery whom pressed her back more against the pillar out of fear. The woman smirked, “You don’t believe in the Gods. Or at least you didn’t.” She reached and gripped Emery’s chin to gaze into her hues.

**

Emery stood upon a grassy knoll, her eyes gazed over the city of Aramore. The wind pushed her hair about, only her hair was not the tasseled brunette. It was a silvery white. Farryn. She held a book in her hands. “Reid, do you think it is possible to stop this? Truly?” She questioned as she turned and walked up the hill toward a man dressed in robes.

Reid was knelt before an alter, he held a piece of charcoal in his hands and was carefully drawing an inscription. “If we can do this correctly there is a chance. Possibly, yes. But…the shift has already happened. I fear the worst is yet to come. Our crops dying? That is nothing compared to what lies in our future. You’ve read it. Haven’t you?” He questioned as he stood and turned to her. He brushed the charcoal from his hands. “Did you sneak into your father’s office and read the old journal?”

Farryn drew in a long breath and offered a nod. “Yes. Yes I did. I had to know…he’s been so secretive about things since mother passed. He thinks he is protecting me. But…I fear that it will only hurt the future. Tell me Reid…would this work?” She asked as she held the old journal forward open to the page of the ritual. “If all else fails. If these offerings do not suffice…would this work?”

Reid looked over the ritual and drew in a long breath. “Blood magic…” He spoke. His eyes lifted to her. “Princess…this is quite dangerous…this would be the last of all things…”

“If it comes to it. Would it work?” Farryn questioned carefully. “If all else fails. We could stop what the sage speaks of in this journal?”

“If you are not ripped apart…if you end up where you need to be to stop it…there are so many components, Farryn…” He held the book back toward her. “Your father will know you’ve taken the journal.” He commented before he turned back to the alter. “You should speak to him…I…do not approve of blood magic…it is too dangerous…”

**

Emery was held up by the goddess whom had gazed into her hues. Her own hues appeared to be amber as she came back to consciousness, though after several seconds the hazel color had returned. “Pretender.” She spoke and searched the girl’s eyes. She released her hold on Emery’s jaw and turned back to Tora. “Your enemy stands before you, child. Her people will be the downfall to this world as you know it.” The woman drew in a breath, “Do with this as you may. You will always have my protection sweet child.” She cupped Tora’s cheek once again. “As well as Odin of course.” She smirked slightly before she grasped her helmet and the braziers in the room blew out. It took a few moments but the flames rekindled. The room was empty aside from Tora and Emery.

Emery was shaking, the memory that the goddess had ripped from her mind. Was it real? Nothing made sense. Was it a trick? She held a hand to her head a moment. She had to get the artifact for her father. She couldn’t lose sight of the mission at hand. She looked to Tora and shook her head. “I don’t understand, Tora.” She spoke her voice soft. “I’m not your enemy…I didn’t even know of your people…” She shook her head.

**

“Freya! Why did you do that?!” Ciliren stood with crossed arms before the woman. “You’re ruining the whole timeline. Now that Viking is going to kill the girl.” She threw her arms up. “We will be back at square one. Back to the timeline that happened before.”

Freya tilted her head slightly as she looked to Death’s daughter. “You’re young, child. Your father is allowing you to venture out on your own yes. But guidance is something that you needed quite a bit. Tora asked for my help so I offered her advice. She will do with it as she pleases. But I will not stand here and allow you to scold me for helping my people that asked for my assistance.” She raised her brows slightly. “That woman is quite important to Odin and myself. I will protect her from your little game that you are playing. If she kills your puppet then so be it.” Freya raised a brow. “Now be gone.” She waved her hand and Ciliren was sent back to the underdark.

Ciliren appeared back in her shadowy room with the orb and the couch. She let out a scream of frustration. “Seriously?!” She exclaimed. “Norse gods think they know everything.” She grumbled as she stepped forward to the orb. “I’ll stop her, Freya. If she so much as lifts a finger. I’ll stop her.” She spoke through grit teeth.

Emery didn’t respond to Tora as the woman seemed angry with her for displaying fear. She didn’t understand it. Fear was something that Emery couldn’t control...she could put on a strong front but with something like this. She had not really been around magic much, her father forbid her from learning it and using it. So to see such magics in action...it was utterly terrifying...and to see blood magic...that was even worse. She watched as the goddess approached Tora, she could see how infatuated the woman was with Freya. But that moment felt short lived before the goddess turned her attention on her.

She could feel the shift in the room after the memory. Had Tora seen the strange depiction as well of the woman named Farryn? Her answer came to her before she could even voice it. Emery tensed as she was slammed against the pillar she gripped onto Tora’s wrist and grit her teeth. “I don’t know what she’s talking about Tora. I swear it.” She struggled against the woman. When she shoved her Emery gazed into Tora’s hues. When the woman finally released her Emery stayed with her back against the pillar. “I don’t know who Farryn is, I’m sorry...I am not sure why the goddess made me see such a vision.” She shifted forward finally and straightened her clothing.

“Tora that book...it can’t be the answer to all of this. It’s just ramblings.” She started walking to catch up with her. “Wait up a minute...I swear I’m not what she said I am...I...” As Tora walked from the huge ceremonial chamber the heavy stone doors slammed shut. “Tora!” Emery rushed forward and pushed against the heavy doors. The temperature within the room sank, she could see her breath as she turned around. The braziers flickered as a gust pushed through the room and shadows seemed to reach out from the edges toward her.

“You’re not what Freya said you to be?” A voice questioned. Laughter followed. The sound of hoofs clicking upon the stone floor echoed through the chamber. “Sure you are, Emery Fells. You are the beginning. You’ll put things into motion. Won’t you?” From the shadows came Ciliren upon her ghostly steed. She smirked as she slipped from the back of her horse.

Emery took a few steps back, her back pressed against the doorway. “I’m not...I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She spoke quickly.

“Certainly you know that the artifact that your father wants you to get is...well...quite powerful.” Ciliren stepped to her and grinned. “Don’t look so frightened girl. I’m not going to hurt you.” She tapped her cheek and then giggled. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She chuckled lightly. “I’m going to assist you in finding the artifact dear girl.” She spoke as she stepped forward and grabbed a hold of Emery’s collar of her shirt. She lifted her up. A flash of the memory of Ciliren holding her up from before came through her mind. Her eyes turned amber as she saw this. Ciliren frowned slightly. “You’re more difficult than I had imagined.” She tilted her head slightly. “Don’t worry, I like a good challenge.” She looked to Emery’s feet a swirl of shadows had formed beneath her. “Enjoy, dear.” She dropped her then.

As Emery was dropped there was a burst of wind through the room, the braziers were all blown out and the huge stone doors flew open. Ciliren had disappeared into the darkness with a delighted chuckle.

Emery on the other hand...she fell. She fell through the darkness and screamed. But her scream seemed to make no sound. Eventually she found that she lay on a cool stone floor. She slowly moved about, complete darkness surrounded her. “Tora!” She called out, her voice fearful. She carefully stepped forward and a single brazier lit. Her eyes gazed about the room. There were hundreds of objects within it. Chests. Bookshelves full to the brim. Though her eyes fell upon one single item. It was a clear crystal orb that would fit in the palm of her hand that held etchings within the glass. Within the orb it held a grey cloud like smoke. Wrapped around the orb was a brass band along its center. Emery stepped forward and lifted it up. Her eyes looked within the orb and her breathing quickened. She saw the war. Once again. Only this time...she sat upon her horse. Her eyes gazed up to the castle from which she stood in one of her memories. She swallowed as she stared to it.

“You can have all the power in the world.” A voice whispered.

Emery gazed about. “Who’s there?” She questioned the shadows at the edges of the room. “No...no I don’t want this...it has to stop...” She breathed. “This can’t happen.” Her voice was soft. “I won’t let it...” She shifted slightly as she gazed into the orb. The cloud like substance returned.

Emery closed her eyes a long moment as she thought of the visions that she was shown of the woman named Farryn. She felt like she knew the elf somehow. The vision of Ciliren tossing her easily into the shadows just as she’d just done. Was her own mind playing tricks upon her? She gazed back into the orb and another vision showed within it. It was the silver haired girl. She stood in the center of an inscription that was made into the stone floor. Her hands were held out before her and she watched as a man…Reid she’d called him in one of the visions. He sliced into both of her hands. Emery’s breaths shook as she stared to the vision.

“Take it. Take it now while you still can.” The voice once again.

“No.” Emery replied quickly as she watched the soldiers flood into the room. Just before the end of the scene she heard a loud grinding of stone. She turned as the door opened slowly and light flooded into the dimly lit room of artifacts. She heard the clicks of boots upon the stone floor. Her hazel hues fell upon Tora as the woman walked into the room. “Tora…” She looked down to the orb, it had once again filled with the smokey like substance. She didn’t fight the woman as she took the orb and placed it upon the stand.

“You’ll be back.” The voice spoke darkly. “You won’t be able to stay gone long child.”

Emery looked to Tora. The woman didn’t react to the voice. She bit her lip slightly and gazed about before she shook her head. She followed the woman and gazed back to the orb, it had a red hue to it, almost like that of the fires of the war. Her heart raced within her chest. “Is there a goddess with silver hair that rides upon a skeleton horse?” She questioned as she caught up to Tora. She didn’t look to the woman. “I…don’t want to bring the world to an end, Tora…I would never wish to cause the world to end.” She fumbled with her hands slightly.

Emery’s hues looked to the huge statues as they walked down the hallway. “This temple is massive…it…has so many rooms…I can only imagine how many rooms are hidden.” She commented. She glanced to Tora then and the woman’s eye glowed. Emery grit her teeth as she tried to fight against the power that Tora held. “Stop…” She groaned, but her eyes fluttered all the same.

**

Emery stood clad in her armor before the king of Silas. He stepped forward from the throne to her and held a smile upon his lips. “You shall help us end our war, Emery.” He spoke, his voice proud. “Today you will ride north. Further north than any of our guard had ridden before. Into the mountains.” He walked her over to a war table. “There are savage people in the north, but so long as you are vigilant. You shall make it to your destination.” He gave a smile to her. “Our numbers on the battlefield dwindle with each day. But, we will emerge victorious if you do this one thing for me my girl.” He pulled a drawing from his pocket and unfolded it. “It is an artifact, written in the old texts that our mage has discovered. It will give us the strength to end this war. To defend Silas.” The king grinned as he handed the etching of the orb to his daughter. “Bring it to me, my dear.” He nodded to her.

Emery looked to the piece of paper and then to the map where he’d placed a marker for where the temple was to be located. It was the exact location of the seer temple of Tora’s people. “Is this safe father?” She questioned as she looked to him.

The king looked to her and tilted his head slightly. “My dear. It will be dangerous, yes. But you’re the best I have. I’m sending you to retrieve it because I know that you will not fail me.”

Emery gazed to the paper once again and then shook her head. “This magic, father.” She looked to him. “Is the magic safe to use? Relics of the past have proven to be dangerous…do you not fear that in this case?”

The king seemed frustrated as she looked to him again. “Our city will fall. Do you want that? Or would you like to survive? You will get it for me. I will handle the magic, Emery. You are no mage.” He scoffed. “Now go.” He ordered and waved his hand to her.

Emery stood a moment longer, her eyes watched as her father turned and walked away from her. She drew in a long breath, “Of course father. I will not fail you.” She turned and walked from the room. She looked to the page once again and a sigh came over her lips. Almost as if she’d been ordered around her entire life.

Emery stumbled back from Tora, she had tears in her eyes. Her breathing was quick. “That orb…is going to cause the end…I won’t take it to him…” Her voice broke. She grit her teeth slightly, her body trembled from it. “I saw it…I saw the end…in that orb…” She shook her head. “I…won’t let this happen…” Her hazel hues held a swirl of amber within them as she brushed away a tear. “I knew…something was wrong when he sent me to fetch it like I’m some dog…” She shook her head. “This can’t happen. I won’t let it…” She whispered.

Emery gazed to Tora as the woman grit her teeth. She was ready for Tora to attack her once again. She couldn’t blame her this time around if she did. The goddess was right, Emery was what would start the end of the world. “Tora no!” Emery had lunged forward when the woman threw the orb toward the ground. She was tossed back by the wave of power that rushed from the broken orb. Her head smacked onto the pillar and the world spun. She felt Tora grasp her arm as her vision came into focus. She was on her feet a second later, her hues looked to the milky substance upon the floor. But the next thing she knew she was being tugged and pulled from the room. The world around them shook and trembled. Small pebbles fell from the ceiling.

They climbed the stairs and rushed down the hallways. It felt like they would never make it to the entrance. But just as they did Tora threw Emery forward. Emery fell forward and rolled a few times as the collapse happened. Her chest heaved as she gazed to Tora trapped beneath the boulder. She pushed herself to her hands and knees and crawled forward. “I…” She shook her head and looked to the boulder. “Tora I’m not a mage…” She spoke her voice soft. “I can fight in an arena…but I’m no mage…” She stood and pushed against the boulder. It didn’t budge at all. Her hues looked to the blood that leaked from beneath the boulder. “No…no, no…” She held a hand to her head. “You won’t die like this Tora…I’ll go get help.” She nodded. “I’ll get someone to help you.” She turned to rush toward the entrance of the temple.

As Emery stepped into the huge open space that led outside she gasped slightly. At least four feet of snow had accumulated and the snow appeared to still be falling. She rushed forward and held a hand up as flakes of snow blew into the temple. She pushed against the snow, it was up to her chest. “Damnit…” She groaned her eyes glanced back to the flickering flames of the temple. Emery ran back inside then, snow upon the front of her clothing. “The exit…Tora it’s blocked…” She knelt down before the woman and took her hand into her own. “I can’t get help…” She looked to the growing amount of blood that seeped from beneath the boulder.

She grit her teeth as she stood and pushed against the boulder again. Emery let out a cry as she tried to move the massive rock. It was then that a piece of debris fell from the ceiling. It hit the top of Emery’s head and clattered to the floor. Emery collapsed onto the floor, her breathing quick as if she was running. Several minutes of this passed as the woman lay upon her side facing Tora. Then she woke, her eyes opened swiftly and the amber hues stared to Tora. She didn’t speak as she sat up slowly. Her hues looked to the boulder. “It will be okay.” She spoke and placed her hand upon Tora’s shoulder. “You will be okay.” Her voice had a different accent to it than before.

Emery held her other hand up and she began to speak in the ancient elvish tongue. She pressed her palm against the boulder and slowly cracks began to form in the rock. The cracks glowed bright red and began to pulse. Emery’s breath’s shook as she pressed harder against the boulder. After a few more long moments the boulder seemed to disintegrate…only a bit of dust remained. “You’re okay.” She spoke again as she looked to Tora’s crushed legs. She could see the bone sticking out of one. The woman had lost a good amount of blood. Her amber hues looked to Tora and she gave a soft smile. “Just breathe, hm?” She stood and she reached down and carefully rolled the woman to her back she pulled her away from the debris and down the hallway. Emery pushed open the door to the bedroom and pulled Tora inside. She lifted her onto the bed and placed a gentle hand upon her forehead. “Just, breathe. That is all I want you to do.” Her voice was calm.

Emery pulled up a chair and then placed her hand upon Tora’s leg. She held Tora’s hand with her other hand. “Breathe.” She spoke again. Emery began to speak once again in the ancient tongue, elvish runes began to show along her forearms that glowed a gentle blue color. Her head lulled slightly as she continued to speak the words. She pressed against Tora’s legs as the skin began to mend and the bones began to heal. After several moments of this Emery’s nose began to drip blood. Her breathing began to shake. Even her hand that gripped onto Tora’s hand began to shake slightly. Her head lulled slightly as the healing continued. Soon enough the runes faded from her arms and Emery looked to Tora with a soft smile. “There…” She whispered and just as the word came over her lips her eyes fluttered, and she collapsed forward. Her forehead pressed against Tora’s side her body grew slack. Her breaths shuddered, she had fallen completely unconscious.

“Well that’s quite interesting…” Ciliren stood before the orb. She watched with curious hues as Farryn broke through and saved the young viking seer.

“The past will always find a way child.” Freya spoke as she stepped from the shadows. “You can throw your tantrums and you can spit at me all you want. Your plans that you have for your puppet will always be thwarted. Though, I hear that the timeline has begun to shift. There has been a change.” Freya smirked slightly.

“Well your seer certainly made that change, not my puppet.” Ciliren spoke with a laugh as she looked back to the orb. “But…interestingly enough. Under enough pressure…she saved Tora…she was able to use her magic and save her.” She smirked slightly.

“I’m sure the fates won’t like your meddling, Ciliren.” Freya warned before she walked back into the shadows.

Ciliren rolled her eyes and then looked back to the orb as Tora began to wake.

**

Emery stood in a beautiful courtyard. The sun was warm against her skin. She spun in circles and giggled cheerfully. She was a child. Young and without a single care in the world. She toppled onto the plush grass of the gardens after spinning several times. Another giggle came from the girl. “Dear Farryn.” A beautiful elven woman walked forward. “Your mother would scold you. Look at that dress.” She spoke as she pointed to the grass stains upon the beautiful light blue dress. “Come, come, let us get you into something better.”

“But Arywen…” She whined as she looked up to the elf. “Mother won’t mind. Promise. The sun feels so good.” She lay back in the grass and giggled again. “The sky is so blue. Can’t you feel it? It feels so lovely.”

“Young princess…there is much for you to learn dear. The world is a beautiful place. But it is also filled with nightmares. Now come before your mother sees this dress.” She held her hand out to the young princess.

“You ruin all the fun Arywen.” She giggled as she took her hand. “I can fix it you know?” She held her hand over the cloth and when she removed it the stain was gone. She grinned. “See?” She giggled and then ran off from the handmaiden.

It took several seconds of Tora shaking Emery for her to budge. Emery lifted her head groggily, her hazel hues gazed to the seer. She gazed about the room and then she reached and inspected Tora’s legs. “You’re alright…oh that must have been a dream.” She spoke with a smile. Then Tora began to speak. Two souls. Her expression softened and she gazed into the woman’s hues. She furrowed her brows as Tora questioned her. Emery rubbed her head slightly and shook her head. “I…don’t know Tora…” She spoke and looked to her confused. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?” She asked and looked to the blood on Tora’s pants. She remembered the boulder. Emery winced slightly. “Did…did the boulder really fall upon you?” She questioned then and bit her lip. “I can’t remember anything…I remember shoving against that boulder…I knew I couldn’t move it…but I wanted to…I was trying to save you…I didn’t want you to die…” Emery looked to the seer a long moment. “Did…I do this?” She pulled at Tora’s pants and looked to her perfectly mended skin. “Your legs…they must have been broken…crushed…” She shook her head. “I must be still asleep…” She looked back to the woman.

Emery looked to Tora and lowered her gaze. “I…I’m sorry that I do not remember, Tora…” She looked to the woman as she grinned and spoke that a boulder couldn’t injure her. A laugh came over her lips as she stood. “I do suppose that someone gifted by the gods should be gifted with such resilience.” She smirked slightly as she followed her. “If anyone was a non-believer…just seeing one of the gods…” She shook her head. “Two…of the gods…” She muttered the last bit and then sighed softly.

Emery gazed in disbelief to the snow that had melted away. Was it also the doing of the gods? The storm? To prevent her from leaving Tora. More and more she believed it so. She climbed upon her horse whom neighed happily to her and bobbed his head. “Hey there old friend.” She spoke. When Tora told her that she wouldn’t speak of what happened at the temple, Emery looked to the woman curiously. Her expression fell slightly when the woman reminded her that she was not free. To think that she was a prisoner. She gripped the horn of her saddle and drew in a long breath. When Tora spoke the word Princess in a sharp tone she lifted her hazel hues to her, her expression soft. She didn’t speak though her gaze returned ahead of them down the pathway.

Even after saving the woman’s life. Even if she didn’t remember it. That is what Tora had claimed. She still remained a prisoner. When the woman told her that she would continue to read the old sage’s journal a slight sigh came over her lips. She gazed to Tora again as she spoke of her knowledge and how she held it upon her shoulders for her people. “Knowledge does cause a lot of stress. You’re not wrong in that.” She finally spoke before she looked back ahead.

Then Tora spoke of the Forest of Odin. Her hazel hues fell upon the woman once again as she spoke of attacking the people and their magical forest. Her expression washed with an almost pain as she listened to the words. Her jaw loosened slightly as Tora spoke of the possibility of Emery reading the text and causing more deaths to befall the people. Perhaps even without the orb she would still be the harbinger of the apocalypse upon this world. She gripped onto the saddle horn so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She didn’t speak though. What use was it to argue with this woman? She wouldn’t see Emery’s side of things. She saw Emery as an enemy. Her goddess had claimed it so. And perhaps maybe she was the enemy. Perhaps she just hadn’t been pushed to the breaking point that would cause her to become such a thing.

She gave a soft laugh to the man’s comment about the wolves. She knew just in watching how Tora moved that wolves wouldn’t stop this woman. As she climbed from her horse she gave a nod to Tora. “Of course.” She spoke as she pulled her saddle from her horse and docked it on a rack. She gave him some grain and found an apple. “Thank you old friend.” She pat his shoulder and he bobbed his head to her before he continued eating.

Emery watched as Tora walked off toward the long house to meet with her father. She stood for a moment at the entrance of the stables for a long moment. Her thoughts raced. She eventually turned and made her way toward the training grounds. It was still early in the morning yet and the grounds were silent. She looked to the training dummies and a soft smile curved up her lips as she thought of her training. She stepped up to the dummy and reached forward and touched it. Emery turned then and saw a young viking boy that was walking toward the training grounds. He was lanky and small. But that didn’t mean anything to Emery.

“You’re the outsider.” He spoke as he walked up to her. He stopped before her and looked over her clothing. “My father says that Jarl Erik made you a trainer. Is that true?” He questioned.

Emery looked to the young boy, “Yes. It’s true. That is my task. That is what the Jarl has given me as my chore.”

The boy looked around to the empty training grounds. “Teach me.” He spoke and then smiled.

Emery returned the smile. “Alright.” She pulled her belts from her hips that held her axe and her sword. “Do you prefer a sword or an axe?” She asked as she looked to him.

“We don’t really use swords much.” He smirked to her.

“Ah well, what better time to learn?” Emery spoke as she found two wooden sticks among the training weapons. She tossed one toward him. “Hold it like this.” She spoke and stepped forward to adjust his grip upon the sword. “Now you must word on how you move your feet.” She spoke and soon enough she was beginning instruction. She moved about the training ground and worked with the young boy. It wasn’t long before other boys and girls began to come to the training grounds after their chores were complete for the morning. They sat around and watched as Emery worked with him.

Emery grinned as she dueled with the boy. The sound of the wooden swords smacking together echoed over the dirt of the training grounds. She chuckled as they finished their session and soon enough she was moving about the other young children. Instructing and aiding in their combat skills. She offered something that they had never had. The Finesse that it took to wield a sword. The careful artwork of footwork. All of the children seemed awestruck by the stranger.

An older teen boy approached her, a smug look upon his face. “You’re just an outsider. What do you know.” He spat and glared to her. He stood nearly a foot over her head. “Besides. You’re too small to become one of us. You’re too small to fight.” He shoved her harshly.

“Brother!” The young lanky boy rushed forward. “Leave her alone she was teaching me!” He whined.

The young man chuckled and looked to his brother. “Oh? She was? Well that just shows how stupid she truly is. Doesn’t it? You’ll never be a warrior Halvor. You can gather berries with the old women of the village during the summers.” He chuckled and a few of the older children also laughed as the boy poked fun of his brother.

“What is your name.” Emery spoke, her voice commanding in a way.

“Tarben.” He grinned to her. “Why? What’s it to you? You’re just a pet to our people.” He shoved her again.

Emery grit her teeth as she fell to her back from the harsh shove. She got back to her feet. “Oh…yes that’s right isn’t it?” She spoke and brushed the dirt from her shoulder. “Come on then. If I’m so terrible. You should be able to best me. Shouldn’t you?” She tossed a wooden stick to him.

Tarben scoffed and looked to the stick. “You really want me to make you look stupid?” He questioned. “You might have killed my uncle. But that was just luck.” He lunged forward and swung hard toward her.

Emery dodged to the side easily and slammed her stick against his back. “Take this as a lesson Halvor.” She smirked to the young lanky boy. She dodged again and hit the back of Tarben’s leg this time. The boy was red in the face with anger. Emery danced around him easily as he lunged again and again. She grinned as he continued to exert his energy lunge after lunge. She locked her sword with his. “Give up yet?” She smiled, not a bit of anger in her expression.

Tarben let out a yell and suddenly let go of the stick. He tackled Emery to the ground out of pure anger. Emery put her arms up, protecting herself as he threw punches at her. He’d pinned her to the ground and she had nowhere to go. Halvor rushed forward. “Stop! Stop Tarben!” He cried as he tried to push his brother off. Most of the other children had disbursed for breakfast. Halvor took in quick breaths as he watched his brother. “Stop!” He cried again as he shoved at him more.