Chereads / Ashes: The Awakening / Chapter 3 - Chapter Three

Chapter 3 - Chapter Three

The burning rage I felt fueled my transformation, urging Anacalongon to reveal itself. My body felt as if it was on fire as it begun. My body turned black and scaled, shooting large spikes from my back. A tale sprouted at the end on my spine, my neck grew and horns formed on my head. My face grew, my teeth feel out to create room for my fangs, my wings grew and my arms disappeared into my large chest. And then I grew, and grew. Before I knew it my black wings took to the air and lifted me up. Thrusting into the cold air. Anacalongon was the largest of beasts, the largest of the dragons. My nostrils steamed as a liquid fire built in my chest from the pain, my black chest begun to glow red, my spikes and horns glowed the same colour. My senses pricked as I could still smell Vili, his musk was my trigger. I let out a bellowing roar that would have shattered windows, I was in pain. I turned my massive body towards the island in the middle of the ocean, leaving Vili behind. My wings carried me quickly to my island. As I came in to land my large talon feet cushioned my land, my wings folded up to act as front legs so I could move. I turned my large head towards where I had just came from, I huffed and growled at the thought. I couldn't let this consume my mind, it will weaken me and Anacalongon will control my mind and actions. I shook my large body and stretched out my spine, a large frozen rock situated by the edge of the cliff was like a small mirror. I looked at the black, red eyed figure that was staring back at me. A monster.

I slowly let my massive body slowly form back into my God form. Black scales becoming skin, horns becoming hair but my red eyes remaining. I huddled my cold naked body as I sat down on the snow covered island. It was large enough to hold 5 grown dragons, it was our meeting place. Nothing but a handful of trees and rocks covered this island, a small rock formation at the top end of the cliff was our worship point for Odin. Where I would go to speak with him. A slash of cold sea breeze hit my body and made he huddle up more but it made me think. Why was I so pained to see Vili with another? He was not mine, nor did he know of my feelings. He did nothing wrong, and I ran from my life long friend, I could never expect him to wait for me as I slumber. He needs to find happiness, even if that happiness is not with me. I placed my thumping head onto my knees, this is unhealthy for a being who just awoke from a slumber.

What felt like hours later, I felt a presence approaching, I looked up to see a dragon approaching. The emerald eyes that were hooked on me indicated it was Keon, he must have felt my distress. The large red dragon flew above my and landed behind me. He was the only dragon with 4 legs, the rest of us had 2 hind legs and wings that acted as front legs. His large red body walked cautiously behind me, his large spikes clanged as he walked, a loud thud with each foot touching the ground. His loud breathing got louder as his head came up next to my body, in his mouth was a large black cape.

"Thank you" I murmured as I wrapped myself up in the black fur. Keon nudged me, what he thought softly, but resulted in knocking me over as if urging me to come home. I looked at the horizon, the sun was beginning to rise. I had been here all night. I stood up from the cold snow and Keon lowered his back for me to climb onto. I used his spikes as support as I positioned my self on his back.

"Alright, lets go." I said as Keon opened his large wings and jumped into the dusk sky. I held on tightly as the cold wind nearly flung me off his back, it had been sometime since I had done this. His powerful wings carried us through the air and towards the castle below us. As we approached, the large dome covering the flight deck began to open. I looked down in astonishment.

"Sigi really has out done herself." I said as Keon growl in response. His wings begun to slow us down as he came towards the flight deck. His strong legs braced out landing, he roared as we landed as if signalling our arrival. As I climbed down off his back I was meet with Koba and Ivarr.

"By Odin's beard we haven't been awake 24 hours and you go into hiding!" Koba said as he wrapped me into an embrace.

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you tell us you were going there?" Ivarr asked as he stood back cross armed. I was grateful for their concern, but I was beginning to get mad that they did not trust me.

"Have you all forgotten who commands this realm? Who rules with world? Who is the only beginning capable of controlling Anacalongon? I am a Queen, a ruler and I can do as I please. In the future, please restrain yourself from questioning me in front of my team." I said confidently as I made my way to the doors that lead inside. Everyone had their heads bowed as I walked past. I rarely used my dominance as power but sometimes people had to be reminded of who I was. Keon had completed his morph back and walked me to my chambers in silence.

"Thank you, Keon. I appreciate it." I said softly as I opened my door.

"Honestly, I had no idea you were gone. I probably would have left you if it wasn't for Vili." He said. My heart stopped at his name.

"Vili?" I asked.

"Vili came to me and said you left the cave in a hurry? You did not speak a word to him. He was concerned." Keon said softly. I remained quiet, nodding as I closed my door. I sighed once the door was closed, I had never felt like this. But I had never seen Keon with another woman. I placed my head against the door frame and closed my eyes.

"By the Gods I'm so stupid sometimes." I mumbled to myself.

"I can drink to that." Said a mans voice behind me. I swung around in a fluster, grabbing the sword from my dresser.

"Easy shield-maiden, it's only me." The voice said. Looking to the chair by the fire place was Vili. He stood and walked towards me. Vili was the tallest and broadest of the townsfolk, son of Earl Bereke. He was a very strong man full of muscle, a huge set of shoulders and arms strong enough to choke out the world serpent, Jörmungandr. He had black hair that was shaved around all sides with a comb over on top, a thick but short beard covered his face. His blue eyes were strong but always showed kindness. His amour showed that his arms were now covered in tattoos, a few new facial scars told of his battles. He had a strong Dane accent. He wore black leather amour with a large black fur cape, his massive battle axe was strapped to is back.

"Who let you in here?" I asked as I tried to calm my beating heart.

"I've had time to becoming acquaintances with the guards here. Nobody really wants to tell the Earls son to fuck off." He said with a mischievous grin as he walked closer. I stepped back only to be met with the door behind me. Vili sensed my distress.

"Freydis, why did you run from me?" Vili asked as he stood in front of me.

"Why are you here?" I asked him. Vili reached out and held both sides of my arms.

"Freya, why did you run?" He asked softly. My ruby eyes met his hazel ones as I looked up at him. A part of me wished so badly that I could be normal, normal enough to be his. I peeled my eyes from his.

"I didn't realise it was you." I lied.

"Bullshit, you knew it was me. Please, tell me the truth." He asked leaning down so he could look into my eyes. He knew me as well as my companions, they could tell when I lie just by looking into my eyes.

"I saw another woman in your arms, it hurt me. I kill what hurts me, so I ran." I said pulling myself from his embrace and walking towards my robes. Leaving him silent.

"Why did it hurt you?" He said still staring at where I once was.

"I don't know." I said after a moment of silence.

"Please don't lie, this is serious." He said quietly, turning to face me. I remained silent for a few moments.

"Vili this has been, wonderful. But I need to change and prepare for our trip to the new world. We can continue this after." I said confidently, trying to change the subject.

"Right, I'll see you on the flight deck." He said quickly, obviously hurt by my change of subject.

"Wait, are you going too?" I asked surprised.

"I command these legions and the assault on the Dark Knights, I will be on every trip you all." He said with a smirk.

"Get ready sunshine, this is going to be fun." Vili said as he through my white cape at me from last night. He lingered a smile at me before leaving. Vili and I often played games and toyed with each other. I laid my cape out on my bed when a small red rose fell from the cape with a scroll attached to it. I picked up the single rose and rolled out the note.

"I saw this and thought of you. This rose reflects your ruby eyes. Beautiful, elegant, full of love and desire. Fierce and firey, the woman of every mans dreams. V" I smiled at the small note. He started leaving me these notes before my last slumber, I kept every one of them. I made my way to the bath to clean myself for the day ahead. When I got up from my bath there were clothes laid out on my bed. They were extremely odd, I had never seen them before. I picked up a piece of clothing, it looked like string attached to a small triangle.

"How does one wear this..." I asked myself. As if on time, a hand maiden walked in.

"Good morning my Queen! Sigi asked me to assist you in dressing this morning. These are clothes she created from the 21st century. Its what everyone wears now." The lady said polity.

"Oh, seems fair. How does one wear this?" I asked holding up the string. The lady blushed instantly.

"My grace that is called a g string, it is wore as underwear." I dropped the item instantly, embarrassed. In all my time alive, I had never been with a man. I wanted to wait, I planned on saving myself for Vili.

"Now my grace, lets get you dressed and ready for the new world." The hand maiden said happily.