A New Age

The queen smiled as she looked to Tora, “You don’t think you’re special?” She questioned with a smirk. “Perhaps you have finally found people that match your stride? I saw the way you fought alongside Amara.” She smiled, proud of her daughter. “I still am in awe that Amara was able to call upon Bahamut...” She commented as she looked up to Tora. “She does have a fire in her veins. One that I as her mother has tried to dim for far too long. All because I am trying to protect her, though it seems she doesn’t need my protecting anymore, does she?”

As Raenisa curled on her side she closed her eyes as Tora massaged her fingers through her hair. It was an incredible feeling. One that she hadn’t had before. It was relaxing and intoxicating all at the same time. “No you’re not as threatening. But you do look good in it.” The queen’s amber hues gazed to Tora a moment before she closed her eyes briefly again until Tora began to speak of her own magic. The queen listened to her carefully, her eyes curious. “I’m glad that the fade offered you guidance, it gave you the ability to center yourself.” She reached forward and cupped Tora’s cheek a moment. “I was hoping it would offer you some solace.” She allowed her hand to fall away as she felt Tora begin to braid her hair, a soft chuckle came over her lips.

The queen gazed to the seer a long moment as she listened to the woman speak of King Alexander. “He has been using more and more blood magic over the years. I fear now he will ramp up the use of his magic...as you say...” She sighed softly. “I do hope that it does not come to demons...though my fear when this war first began was just that. That King Alexander would push so much into demonic blood magic that he would summon the demons as they were summoned thousands of years ago. I can only hope that we will be able to push them back into the depths...we had the help of the dragons then...now...Ezzas is more of a neutral party and he keeps his dragons as just that...we offer him peace and to that he does not destroy our kingdom that is positioned upon his mountains.” The queen spoke softly.

Raenisa gazed to Tora as she spoke of Bahamut. “I wonder how many legends Bahamut has been weaved into.” She pondered and offered a gentle smile to the woman. A laugh came over her lips as she listened to Tora’s laugh, it was intoxicating. The queen kissed Tora back, her hand upon her cheek. Raenisa shifted so that Tora could lay down. She lay facing the woman, her fingertips traced along Tora’s shoulder and arm. “It was incredible...I’ve never seen such powers...to see you control the lightening like that to slow your descent...” The queen paused a moment. A soft smile curved up her lips. She listened to the gentle even breaths as Tora slept. “Sleep well.” She kissed Tora’s forehead. The queen shifted and pulled a blanket up over Tora. She traced along the woman as she lay next to her until her own eyes tugged shut.

**

It wasn’t until the warmth of the sun peeked into the room that the Queen’s hues opened. She found herself pressed against Tora’s side, her arm wrapped around the woman. Her forehead was pressed into the nap of Tora’s neck. She blinked a few times as she moved and shifted her body. The cloudiness that she’d felt in her head was long gone. She kissed Tora’s cheek and smiled. “Good morning.” She whispered as she snuggled back against the woman with a soft yawn. Her fingertips traced along Tora’s arm once again.

Raenisa hummed to Tora’s words, a small laugh came over her lips. “Perhaps it isn’t that you are getting old, hm? There are other causes for such strange behavior.” The queen stayed snuggled against Tora until the woman sat up. She sat up slowly and stretched. “I wish we could lay in bed all day. Won’t that be the day?” She commented. Raenisa chuckled as Tora asked how long it would be until Liliana came. She wasn’t able to respond before the woman’s lips were upon her own. She gripped onto the woman as she leaned up into the kisses. When the knock came a sigh came over the queen’s lips. Tora’s touch caused the queen’s cheeks to burn bright pink as she stifled a sound that threatened to come over her lips. She shot a short glare to the Seer as the door opened.

Liliana walked into the room with a tray that held a fresh mug of tea upon it. She paused when she saw Tora, her eyes moved back and forth between the two a moment. “Good morning, my queen….Seer...” She stared to Tora. Her eyes followed the woman as she made her exit. “My queen...how are you feeling this morning?” Liliana questioned as she walked over and set the tray down next to the woman’s bed. “Did the Seer have a vision?” She questioned.

Raenisa stood and stretched as she looked to Liliana, the blush faded away from her cheeks. “Much better thank you.” She spoke as she lifted the mug of tea and sipped from it. “I’m not as dizzy as I was before. It’s refreshing to go from feeling like that to normal again, it makes it feel that much better.” She spoke as she stepped to the balcony windows and gazed outside. “A vision? No...perhaps she would have.” The queen smirked to herself at the comment.

Liliana moved about the room gathering items for the day. “The battle went well, hm?” Liliana spoke as she pulled a lovely red dress with silver stitching from the closet. “I heard stories of the princess and how well she handled the battlefield. Is it true...did she summon Bahamut?”

The queen finished her mug of tea and she walked over to Liliana and sat in her chair as she did each and every morning. She set the mug upon the boudoir and she drew in a breath, “It went quite well. Amara fought mercilessly and our people fought well alongside the vikings.” The queen commented, “And...I do believe that she did summon Bahamut...from what I have heard that is….Tora was detailing me on the battle yesterday. Everyone was so exhausted.”

Liliana gave a nod as she combed through the queen’s hair. “The vikings aren’t so bad.” She commented. “You were right...when you said that they would grow on us, and us on them.” She helped the queen into the beautiful dress and she cinched down the corset. She then placed the queen’s crown upon her head.

Raenisa smiled as Liliana spoke, “Oh? Are you more approving of them now that you’ve seen that they will help us? Not everyone is out to start a war with us.” She adjusted a tassel of her hair as she looked to herself in the mirror. She was stunning. “Good to know that you’re coming around to the idea.” The queen spoke before she exited her chambers.

**

“Seer, good to see you this morning.” Rhys smiled to her as he walked over to the table and sat across from her. He had been speaking to one of the vikings, the same woman that Tora had shoved him into the arms of that first night. “Holding the wall went well!” He chuckled, “We didn’t lose a single ranger, nor did we lose any of your warriors. The shield wall is an incredible thing to see. They are so strong, an impenetrable force.” He grinned, excited about the battle. “But you did a great deal of the fighting. I saw you riding on that steed! I asked about it...that’s one of your god’s horses?” He questioned and nodded, “I knew you were an incredible warrior and I knew that you spoke to the gods, but to ride a beast that belongs to one of the gods. That is incredible.” He grinned from ear to ear. “Did I celebrate?” He glanced over his shoulder to the woman whom sat at a table among other vikings and elves. “I did celebrate.” He smirked to her, “I hope you celebrated as well, Seer.”

“Rhys, Tora.” Amara’s voice came as she walked up to the table. She wore a deep blue dress with black lacing. She still had bruises and cuts from the fight. The dress almost looked out of place on her today with the marks of the battle upon her body. “Good morning.”

Rhys smiled to her and bowed his head. “Good morning, Princess.” He stood, “I should leave you two to speak, I’m sure the queen will be here soon.” He spoke as he slipped from the table.

Amara turned her attention to Tora, “Good to see you.” She spoke as she lifted a mug of tea and sipped upon it. “Where did you disappear to last night? You missed all of the celebrations.” She commented.

Raenisa walked in through the doors then. A few stopped to look to the elegance that the queen held as she walked across the floor, her heels clicked against the stone flooring. She sat at the table and the servants began to bring out food for everyone. “Good morning.” She smiled as she looked to Tora and then she looked to Amara. “Amara, dear.” She looked to the bruising, “Are you feeling alright? Have you recovered?”

“Good morning, mother.” The princess smiled. She then looked to the bruising upon her arm that her mother pointed out. “Oh...oh yes, I am feeling fine. I’m feeling great actually.” She nodded. “The battle went well yesterday. Didn’t it Tora?” Amara looked back to the Seer then.

The princess gave a bit of a smile, “I’m not sure how you did it...when we were upon the battlefield...I heard my mother’s voice...and I felt a surge of energy at the moment that I felt as though I had nothing left...I’m not certain how I had so much energy either. But when I fell asleep, I slept quite hard.” She laughed lightly, a beautiful smile upon her lips. “I believe you’ll never have to worry about me being an enemy of yours, Seer.” She nodded her head to the woman. “You gave me the courage to fight in that battle yesterday. Without you, I may have continued to sit within the castle, merely listening to the stories of the battles that are fought.” She sipped from her tea then. Amara gazed across the table to Tora, she smirked slightly when she saw the shift in demeanor of the woman when the queen came into the room. She saw the slight jaw drop that Tora covered up with drinking her ale.

Raenisa nodded her head, “Ah yes, nothing an Elixir couldn’t fix.” She spoke as she sipped from her own mug of tea. The queen raised a brow slightly, “Ah a salve? You’ll have to show me this.” She nodded. “We have our own herbal remedies as well. But It would be quite interesting to see what your people have created.” She listened to Tora speak of the battle, her amber hues were fixed on the woman. Though she would take a bite of her food every now and again.

Amara gave a smile when Tora thanked her. “Oh yes of course...to be entirely honest...I’m still not certain how I did any of that...” She bit her lip slightly and shook her head. “I was being attacked by the officer that summoned Fefnir. I imagine that maybe that had something to do with it.” She glanced to her mother a moment. The queen gave a gentle smile to her daughter and then nodded her attention back to Tora. The princess gazed back to the Seer. “Ah well...I’ve trained quite a bit...but you made me believe that I could succeed.” She furrowed her brows slightly as she watched Tora take the necklace from beneath her chest piece. The princess gazed to the piece curiously as the woman explained.

As the room fell silent the queen looked to Tora curiously, her amber hues were locked on the woman. Amara gazed to her mother whom gave a nod to her. The princess stood and followed to where Tora stood. Her jaw loosened as she listened to the words of the woman. “I...” She gazed into Tora’s hues searching carefully. She glanced again to her mother whom had a warm smile upon her lips, a nod came from the queen. The princess turned once again to Tora and nodded, a grin split her lips. The princess gazed to the Seer as she spoke, as the others began to speak she looked about the room, her expression in awe. The princess grinned to Tora as the woman placed her hand upon her shoulder once the chant was done. “You may need to explain that to my mother.” She smirked with a chuckle. “She might be the one that would blow you up.” The princess grinned as she moved back to the table with Tora.

The queen looked to Tora a moment and then back to the princess. When Tora made her comment the queen chuckled. “Well, I do suppose you needed someone to properly represent you.” She then looked to Amara. The wolf fang hung around her neck, the silver glistened in the light of the room. It looked nothing like the elvish jewels that the princess wore currently.

“Tell me more of the tournament.” Amara spoke up with a smile. “What will I need to do? What does your tournament signify?” She ate a bit more of her food.

“Amara.” The queen spoke, she looked to her daughter, a chuckle came over her lips. “Don’t bombard, Tora with questions, dear.” She nodded to Tora. “When does the tournament begin? Let’s start there.” She nodded.

Raenisa lifted her tea mug to hide a smirk as she caught Tora’s eye. The princess raised her brow slightly before she turned her attention back to the Seer. “If there is a storm then you must wait for it to end huh...” She spoke out loud, “Interesting.” The princess commented. She sipped upon her tea as she listened to Tora speak of Asgard and Odin. She was completely captivated by this. Her brows rose slightly, “Oh Tora, I’m not so certain it is a good idea for you to put such a high stake bet upon me...”

“Nonsense, Amara.” The queen spoke, “You enjoy the fight, don’t you?” She questioned and watched as her daughter nodded. “I saw how you fought alongside Tora. She gave me the orb. I saw the look in your eyes, the way you moved. You will serve well in Tora’s place in this tournament.” Raenisa nodded then to Tora to continue.

The princess drew in a breath as she looked back to Tora whom decided to throw a new piece into the tournament. Elves would compete with a viking companion. She stared after Tora as the woman walked out of the room. “I will see you at the tournament.” She smiled to her mother before she quickly stood and rushed after Tora. Her heels clicked across the flooring as she caught up to the woman. “I wonder if we have a mushroom like this here on our continent?” She pondered and then gave a smile. Amara climbed into the carriage and sat down. She smirked slightly as Tora spoke of luxury. “The best sleep ever, huh?” She asked with a raised brow. “I can only imagine. I’ve grown up with luxury all around me...I honestly don’t know the difference.” She shook her head slightly. “I do like some of your customs though. Some of the ways of your people feel more...freeing...” She nodded, “With luxury you also get these.” She pointed to her dress and giggled lightly. “I can barely breathe in this, they cinch down the strings so tight.” She shook her head.

Amara climbed from the carriage and paused to look to the people as well. “This is what my mother has always dreamed of...I truly believe our people will mesh well...you should have seen them last night. How they celebrated together. You would have thought that we had been allies to one another for hundreds of years.” She followed Tora into the tent and sat down where she was instructed. “My bow broke last night in the battle. I’ll need to speak to our blacksmith before the tournament, I hope he has one that will handle like my previous bow. It was my father’s...it’s been passed down for generations...” Her voice softened slightly. She’d used the bow to block the attack from the officer. Though, if she hadn’t there was no guarantee that she would be sitting before Tora in that moment. She watched as Tora mixed the salve. Her brows furrowed slightly as she stuck her finger in the goo. “Oh gross...” Her face contorted slightly as she rubbed it on the scrapes and bruises upon her arm. “Does this really work, Tora?”

Amara shook her head, “No. That bow was made from a Aragorn tree. There aren’t many of those trees in existence. In fact, it was taken from a branch of one hundreds of years ago. The Aragorn wood is said to be the wood that the gods use in their bows.” She gave a soft smile to Tora. In other words her bow was a cherished weapon and only a noble would be seen with such a weapon. It was far to expensive for a commoner to possess something of that caliber. When the princess began to fuss over the goop she frowned to Tora. “It’s disgusting...” She spoke with a wrinkled nose. She watched as Tora spread the goo onto her shoulder, the princess didn’t look very enthusiastic about this. “Next time Tora I’ll show you an elvish trick.” She smirked to the woman. “It doesn’t involve...that...” She wrinkled up her nose once again. “I feel like I can smell it...and it doesn’t even have a smell.” She laughed then. She looked to her arms and nodded, “At least it works.” She smirked as she stood.

The princess nodded as she followed Tora from the tent. “I hope he has a bow...” She spoke and shook her head slightly. Amara chuckled lightly as she looked to Tora, “The great warrior, exhausted?” She questioned with a smirk. “Again, I’m not sure what you did last night...but I feel better than I ever have.” She raised a brow slightly. The princess gazed out the small window in the carriage. “Rhys knows a few good fishing spots, perhaps after the war is over he can show you?” She commented but as she commented this she saw the furrowed brows of the Seer. “Is something wrong?” She questioned just before Tora spoke that she would meet her at the tournament area. She watched with raised brows as the woman jumped out of the moving carriage. Amara pulled the door closed and watched through the small window as Tora took off toward the castle.

**

The queen stood with a cup of tea over her desk. She was reading a letter that she’d just received from her scouts that were in the forest beyond the two camps. No movement yet, thankfully. The scout wrote of the beautiful display of Bahamut and his powers. Raenisa lifted her hues and turned as the door opened. “Tora what is--...” She began to question but was pulled into a passionate kiss. The queen did not argue with this at all. She nearly dropped her mug of tea as she pushed it onto the desk just as Tora lifted her onto the edge of the desk. Her eyes widened as the woman overtook her.

By the end of it the queen was breathless, her legs quivered. Her body felt weak. “Oh...you feel better?” She questioned her forehead still pressed into the nap of Tora’s neck. “That’s lovely. I’m...so glad...” She giggled then, like a young school girl. “I frustrate you?” She questioned with a smirk as she saw the goofy smile upon Tora’s lips. The queen straightened herself as she looked to the woman. “Perhaps I should sit across the table from you more often.”

Her amber hues followed Tora as the woman began to pace. As Tora pulled the dragon tooth from her pocket the queen’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh...” She reached forward and touched the tooth. She could sense the magic that flowed through it. “Ezzas?” She spoke as she looked to Tora and she bit her lip slightly. “He may not be so welcoming...but...” She stared to the dragon’s tooth. “Perhaps...we can gain his trust once again. He has been extremely distant since King Alexander killed his queen….I can’t say that I blame him. Lhoris trusted them and brought knights to the offering...he should have never showed them where the dragon’s live...” She drew in a breath and shook her head.

When Tora grinned to her the queen blushed, “Oh...” She laughed lightly, “Apology accepted.” She stepped forward and kissed Tora upon the cheek. She then leaned against the desk again. “Ah is it that time?” She questioned. “Well.” She held her hand forward, “Lead the way.” Raenisa smiled, her cheeks still slightly blushed.

**

“Do you have anything with Aragorn wood?” Amara questioned as she walked around the shop.

“Princess...” The blacksmith stepped forward and looked to her, he bowed deeply. “What may I help you with?”

“A new bow. My family bow broke...” She looked to the man.

He wasn’t as slender as most of the elves. He had a descent beard and burly arms. He looked like he would fit right in with the Vikings. “A bow...” He spoke as he looked to her. The princess had never visited his shop before. The queen usually sent a servant with measurements for armor, but never the princess herself. “Is there a special occasion for this bow?”

Amara watched the man a long moment. “I am to compete in the tournament of Asgard. It is the viking tradition. You must have heard.”

“Oh yes...yes I had several citizens purchase new items from me this morning.” He smiled. “How about this one, princess.” He walked back to the back of the shop and came forward. The bow was wrapped in a silk cloth. “I’ve been working on it for nearly a year. It has taken some time to gather the different pieces.” He set the bow down on the counter and carefully unwrapped it. Beneath the wrapping was an intricate bow that held a unique design. It held a wooden bow that had a metal overlay that looked almost like that of the spine of a dragon. “Pick it up, try it out.” He gave a soft smile.

Amara's new Bow

Amara hesitated a moment before she reached forward and lifted the bow. As soon as she touched it the circular pieces on either side of the hand hold began to glow blue and her eyes took on a dim blue glow as well. The princess nearly dropped the bow. She could feel the bow, more than she’d ever felt a bow before. She lifted her gaze to look to the shop keep, “What is this?” She questioned.

“It is a very special metal that is only found within the mountains. I’ve been collecting it for nearly 10 years to get enough. It comes from one of the hot springs. It is called Estel Ore. I paired that with a pure oak bow that is from the forest of our ancestors, near the temple...” He stared to the beautiful blue color. “I’ve had a few look at it...but it has not reacted in such a way...” He grinned, “You truly are chosen.”

The princess gazed to the black smith and shook her head. “I’ve never heard of Estel Ore...” She aimed the bow. It was light. Lighter than any bow she’d ever used. She grasped an arrow from his counter and aimed in at a dummy across the shop. She easily pulled the string back and loosed the arrow for a perfect shot, as the arrow pierced into the dummy ice crackled out from the tip of the arrow. The bow absorbed and used her magic. She grinned and looked to him, “I would like to use it in the tournament.”

“Of course.” He looked to the icy target dummy. “It’s yours, Princess.” He smiled.

Amara pulled a coin bag from her hip and placed it upon the counter. She smiled to him before she turned and left. It was plenty of gold. Likely more than he’d seen in a good while with the war like it was. The princess climbed into the carriage and rode to the castle. She moved through the hallways quickly and grabbed Liliana as the woman was headed toward her mother’s study. “Help me change.” She spoke with a grin. Amara could have sworn she heard something from down the hall but she was far to excited about the tournament.

“I really should get this to the queen.” Liliana held a snack board in her hands.

“She’ll be fine. Come on. I need your help with all the buckles.” Amara smirked to her as she pulled her into her room. “What’s mother up to anyway?”

“The scouts sent a letter. She seemed pleased with it. I’m not certain what she is doing now. She’d asked for a snack...” Liliana raised a brow to the princess.

“I’ll tell her I stole you. She’ll understand.” The princess spoke as she slipped from her dress and she began pulling on her elvish armor. Piece by piece Liliana helped her get into it. The princess placed her quiver at her hip and then the bow upon her back. “Thank you!” She spoke as she rushed from the room. The tooth that Tora had given her dangled outside her armor. She rounded the corner just as Tora and Raenisa stepped from the queen’s study. Amara skidded to a stop, she nearly crashed into her mother. “Mother.” Amara exclaimed with a grin.

Raenisa had wide eyes, she’d quickly taken her hand back from Tora. “Amara, dear.” She looked to her. “Is that a new bow?” She questioned.

“Yes, father’s broke last night...it saved my life.” She spoke in a softer tone as they began walking down the hallway.

“That is what it was designed to do.” Raenisa gave a gentle smile to her. “I was just telling Tora the good news from our scouts. So far no movement has been reported as of this morning.” The queen spoke as she climbed into the carriage.

Amara climbed in and sat across from her mother, she pulled her bow from her back, which would force Tora to sit next to the queen. “That’s good, right Tora?” She looked to the Seer then as the carriage began to move.

Raenisa had given Tora a weak smile as the woman spoke to her, expressing that she’d never do as King Alexander did to her people. She’d given a gentle squeeze to Tora’s hand. “Somehow...I know...” She spoke with a soft laugh just before they’d stepped from the room.

Amara gazed across the carriage at Tora, a smile upon her lips. “I would lean more toward sneaky. King Alexander has never done anything that is brash...right mother?” She questioned. Though as she questioned this she saw the glow in Tora’s hue. The princess leaned forward slightly and touched her mother’s shoulder to see that she was fixed in a gaze as well. So, she waited. The princess bit her lower lip slightly as she looked to the two. When Tora came to her mother gasped as well.

Raenisa shuddered slightly, she’d seen the vision from her own eyes. She’d watched as Tora lifted her hand up and stopped the arrow from piercing into her own heart. She held her hand up to her heart where the arrow would have struck. She looked to Tora with worried hues. “Could be nothing?” She questioned, her voice a bit shaken.

“Green snake?” Amara questioned. “Isn’t that the sigil for Alexander? Fitting.” She frowned slightly.

The queen drew in a breath, “We will find him, we know he is here.” She nodded to Tora before they climbed from the carriage. The queen followed Tora to the chairs and she sat down, her eyes scanned the crowd. She was on edge now.

Amara drew in a breath as she took her own seat. “Did...you share a vision with the Seer?” She questioned curiously.

“Apparently, yes.” Raenisa looked to her daughter. “Hopefully her vision is wrong.” She spoke as she looked down to the field where Tora made her announcement. “The clouds had come in...” The queen gazed up to the clouds, “An archer shot an arrow...aimed for me.” She drew in a long breath then.

Amara looked to her mother, the worry in the woman’s eyes. She watched as Tora came to her seat. “Of course, I’ll find him.” She gave a soft smile before she slipped away. The princess weaved through the crowd cautiously. Her crystal hues gazed about looking for this assassin. “Rhys!” She called out and placed a hand upon his shoulder as he cheered for the fight.

“Princess?” He turned and smiled, he bowed his head. “Or shall I call you viking?” He grinned, though his grin washed away as he saw the look of concern upon Amara’s face. “What is it?” He questioned.

“The Seer has had a vision. A man, with a black cape that holds a green snake upon it...he will attempt to assassinate my mother, when the clouds come in.” She gazed up to the sky. “We don’t have much time. I need you to find him.”

Rhys gave a nod, “Yes of course.” He bowed. “I’ll find this assassin.” He swiftly turned and moved away from the princess.

Amara drew in a breath as she looked to those that cheered and carried on for the fight. Her eyes scanned about as she moved in and out of the crowd like water between boulders. Her ears caught something then, someone speaking.

“So the Queen allowed her daughter to fight in this tournament, huh?” He questioned. The man wore viking leathers and furs. “She looks young.” He hiccuped.

Amara raised a brow slightly and then continued on. She slipped around people that cheered as she continued to look for the man with the black snake cape. She gazed up to the sky, the clouds were beginning to roll in, she was going to run out of time. She began to move a bit more quickly then. “Where is he….?” She questioned under her breath.

**

“Amara isn’t back yet...” The queen had a white knuckle grip upon the chair that she sat in. “She should have returned by now. It isn’t safe for her either if I am not safe...should we even be sitting here?” She questioned and looked to Tora. “We know there is an assassin...yet we are sitting here...just waiting to get shot...” Her heart was pounding within her chest. “I don’t know how you do it...you just keep calm...because you never know what could change...” The fight was nearing an end on the field. Flakes of snow began to swirl about around the throne chairs. It looked exactly as it had just before Tora called a pause to the tournament. “What if you don’t stop it...” She grasped Tora’s arm to stop her from moving forward, the queen drew in a shaken breath as she stood. “You can’t stop it...” She spoke. “You have to follow your customs...” She bit her lip slightly as her eyes scanned through the crowd.

**

Amara gazed to her mother as the crowd continued to cheer. She saw it then, she could see him from across the field. The princess watched as the man loaded an arrow into his bow, it was a compact crossbow. It was then that the princess quickly drew her bow, the blue light instantly began to glow upon the bow, her eyes glowed as well. She climbed upon a stool and let her breath go. As the assassin’s arrow sliced through the air toward Tora and the queen, Amara loosed the arrow. Her arrow flew through the air. Just as the arrow was about to pierce into Tora’s hand Amara’s arrow pierced through the arrow, shattering it into small particles of ice. She gazed across the field then to the assassin whom turned to run, the green snake upon his cloak bright against his surroundings.

Raenisa was a ball of stress. She tried to look to the crowd, she tried searching for the man. She couldn’t see him. What was going to happen if they didn’t stop him? The queen looked to Tora as she blurted the words out. The Queen’s panicked tone was enough for anyone to see that she was frightened. The kiss upon her forehead stopped the words from flowing from her mouth. “Tora.” She breathed as she looked to the woman. She watched, helpless. The queen stood and gazed out to the crowd. She froze as she saw the man in the crowd. Though...it wasn’t the same man from the vision. He was in a different placement. She heard the sound of the shattering arrow and her eyes moved to Tora. Just as Tora moved the queen saw another arrow rip through the air. “Tora!” She cried. The shot was aimed at the queen but, Tora blocked the blow. The queen gripped onto Tora to steady her. “We have to get down, we are an easy target.” She spoke quickly, her voice shook as her eyes gazed the crowd. She pulled on Tora just as another arrow struck the woman. Then suddenly Tora was gone. She’d vanished from the queen’s grasp.

Raenisa was grabbed by her knights who whisked her down from the stage. She cried out and fought against them as they toted her away. She watched in horror as Tora was shot with arrows. The sound of thunder that filled the area was almost deafening. She watched as the lightening surrounded Tora, “We have to stop her!” She cried as she pulled from the grasp of her knights. The queen rushed forward as the screech came from the skies. She gazed up to see the beautiful white dragon. Like a ghost from the past. This dragon looked just like the dragon queen that was killed 20 years ago by the humans. “No!” She cried as the dragon wrapped its claws around Tora. She watched helplessly as Tora was torn away, the lightening dissipated.

The queen turned and rushed through the crowd of elves and vikings alike. Some cheered for the massive display of power from their Seer. The elves were stunned, their eyes gazed up to the mountain. It had been a long time since they had seen one of the dragons from the mountains.

**

Amara grinned as her arrow shattered the arrow that was meant to kill her mother. She caught eyes with Rhys who was not far from her and he nodded to her. Though a gasp from the crowd turned the princess’ attention back to the podium. Her brows rose as she saw an arrow wedge into Tora. She climbed up slightly and she drew her bow once again. The princess stopped another arrow from making its way to its target. She stopped three to be exact. Though just as she stopped the third one she felt a burning sensation in her side. She looked down to see the feathers of an arrow sticking from her armor. It was a precise shot...the arrow had lodged between a gap in her armor in her lower abdomen on her left side. She let out a shaken breath as the pain washed over her body. She loaded another arrow and shot one of the men down as he shot an arrow into Tora’s back.

“Princess!” Rhys rushed over. He grasped her down from the riser. He stared to the arrow that stuck from her side. “Just breathe.” He spoke as the roar of thunder filled the area. He wrapped his arm around her and moved forward carefully through the crowd.

“Rhys...let me go...I need to help her...” Amara grit her teeth. She was feeling dizzy already. Her steps stumbled as her crystal hues gazed up to the ball of lightening. “We have...to help...” The princess gripped onto Rhys, her breathing was becoming erratic. She watched as the dragon took Tora away...saving the entire arena from certain destruction.

“You’re alright, just breathe princess.” Rhys spoke to her over the sound of the crowd. He came to the carriage just as the queen made her way through the crowd. “My queen.” He gazed to the woman.

“Amara.” Her eyes widened as she stepped forward. “Amara…?” She cupped her daughter’s cheek. Rhys was holding the princess up completely at this point. Her skin had grown pale. The queen gazed to the injury, “Get her in the carriage.” The queen climbed inside swiftly.

Rhys quickly climbed into the carriage. He leaned Amara’s bow against the side and he held her upon the bench carefully. His eyes looked to the arrow that stuck clean through the princess’ body. “I’m sorry my queen.” He spoke as he lifted his eyes to the woman.

“Do not apologize to me, Rhys.” Raenisa leaned forward. She looked over the arrow. The green and black feathers, she grit her teeth. There was a small tube within the arrow. “It’s poisoned...” She pressed her lips together in a flat line. “This injury is not causing this...there was something inside this arrow.” The queen felt the carriage stop at the castle and she climbed from it. She ran up the stairs swiftly and ushered Rhys to the princess’ chambers. They were swiftly followed by the apothecary and a few other servants. “Liliana.” The queen looked to the woman. “Gather my armor, have the stable hand ready my horse.”

“My queen?” Liliana questioned.

“You heard me. Now go.” She ordered as she knelt next to her daughter. She carefully released the buckled of the armor to expose Amara’s abdomen.

“Pull the arrow.” The doctor spoke. “I’m ready.” He had a thick substance mixed within a wooden bowl. It had a slight glow to it almost.

The queen drew in a breath. She brushed Amara’s hair from her face. “Okay.” She spoke as she gripped onto the arrow’s feathers.

“Be careful my queen. Allow me.” One of the servants spoke as he stepped forward. He gripped onto the arrow. As he pulled it out the princess whimpered and grimaced in her sleep. Blood began to pour from the wound. The servant paused a moment, he stared to his hand, the feathers of the arrow had punctured his palm as he pulled the arrow out. “My...queen...” He spoke as his skin began to pale. Moments later he collapsed upon the floor.

The apothecary was busy packing the princess’ wound with the thick salve. He lifted his hues to the servant. “Damnit.” He grit his teeth. “I’ve never seen a poison like this before, my queen.” He spoke as he moved swiftly to stop the bleeding.

Raenisa gripped onto Amara’s hand, her eyes full of worry. She pressed her lips together. “You’ll save her, Aegnor.” The queen placed her hand upon her daughter’s forehead, it was burning hot. She bit her lip as she remembered Tora’s words the night before. She closed her eyes as she focused on this. A gentle blue glow came from the queen’s palm and sank into the princess. She stayed like this, she could feel her power syphoning into her daughter. The queen began to shake, she grit her teeth slightly. She opened her hues and gazed to her daughter. A shaken breath came over her lips.

“My queen.” Liliana returned to the room.

Raenisa pushed herself up, “Please...watch over her...” She looked to Rhys.

“My queen...you cannot go...” Rhys spoke up, his eyes full of worry.

Raenisa turned to him. She placed a hand upon his armored shoulder, “I must. Keep Amara safe. Keep our kingdom safe. I am entrusting you with this. You are in charge.” She spoke as she stepped from the room. She had to leave Amara behind. There was nothing she could do. Not in this moment. She knew this. She only hoped that she would not be too late to save Tora. The amount of arrows that had pierced into the woman. She bit her lip slightly as she thought of it. The queen was silent as Liliana helped her with her armor. She stared into the mirror to herself. The scene kept replaying in her mind. Over and over again.

Once the last buckle was done Raenisa rushed from her room with her javelin upon her back. She ran to the stables and soon enough she was upon her steed and thundering up the mountainside toward the great temple of of the gods. Flashes of the dragon taking Tora played through her mind as she rode up. “Hang in there Tora...” She whispered to herself. It took nearly two hours of riding at full pace to get up the mountainside and along the trail that led to the temple. It was usually a days journey, easily. But Raenisa had pushed her steed. As she came to the temple she slipped from his back as he breathed heavily.

The queen looked around quickly, “Tora!” She called as a storm began to blow huge flakes of snow upon her. The clouds overhead were dark as the night. “Tora!!” She called again. Her voice merely echoed back to her. She saw something then in the distance. The queen ran forward as she held an arm up to block the wind. “Tora...” She breathed as she came upon a dark spot in the snow. Though as she came closer she realized it was a pool of blood. Her eyes gazed about as she looked for the viking. “Tora!” She cried as she moved toward the temple.

**

“Tora Vyarson.” A female voice spoke. Tora had been moved within the temple. She was placed upon a stone alter. “Seer of the Stormcloaks.” The woman was dressed in furs and leathers, much like the vikings. She wore a thick grey cloak that wrapped over her head, though over her face was a skull of a creature that held horns. The woman chuckled, almost darkly. “Do you die now?” She questioned as she smeared Tora’s blood along the alter. Her eyes were pitch black from within the skull mask. Various jewelry that hung about her wrists and neck jingled as she walked around the altar. “No. I don’t see it.” She spoke as she continued. The woman spoke in Tora’s tongue. Though she had a thick accent, elvish. “We’ve been watching you, for a long time, Tora Vyarson.” The woman spoke she turned and pulled one of the arrows from Tora’s body.

“Here you thought that you only had your gods to worry about.” The woman leaned down. She smelled of ash and lavender. “You serve a far bigger purpose than that. Even the dragons see it. But do you, Seer?” She pressed her finger into the wound, it would have burned like that of a hot coal for merely a moment before the pain would have disappeared. The wound completely healed. The woman smeared more of her blood upon the altar. She began to speak in the ancient elvish tongue. “The queen knows it to be true.” She spoke in Tora’s language once again. “But do you?” She began to speak once again in ancient elvish. Runes upon the altar began to glow.

Suddenly the world around them began to swirl. The sound of boot heels hitting the cold stone echoed into the chamber. The woman turned her head as she uttered the last word. Raenisa rushed forward, “Tora!” She cried just as a flash of light came from the altar. The queen slammed into the empty altar that was covered in Tora’s blood. “No...” She searched over the altar swiftly. She knew the goddess that stood over Tora. Sehanine...the goddess of death and the moon. The queen looked to her hands which were covered in Tora’s blood. Her own hues began to glow slightly as her emotions bubbled within her. “Come back...” She breathed. “You have to come back...”

Sehanine Moonbow

**

“Is it Valhalla that you seek, Tora Vyarson? Is that it?” The goddess stood over her. Tora now lay in a lush green plain. The skies above were a beautiful blue. “Do you wish to dine with Odin himself?” The goddess toyed as she walked away. “Which is it? Life. Or death.” Her words seemed to echo as she walked along a beautiful stone bridge that led to the gates of Valhalla. The gates stood tall, the hall was upon the mountainside beyond the gates. You have to come back... Raenisa’s voice whimpered. Sehanine chuckled as she gazed up to the skies. The beautiful blue skies filled with thick clouds of rain. “Even still.” She spoke and lowered her dark eyes toward Tora. “What is it that you seek, Tora Vyarson?”

Valhalla