Chereads / Ashes: The Awakening / Chapter 7 - Chapter Seven

Chapter 7 - Chapter Seven

As I walked towards my chambers, I stopped by a large glass window to admire the view and to brood. The sun was setting over the city, creating a bright orange reflection across the many buildings. My mind was racing as too who would of betrayed me. Whoever it was, have a goal worth more than their own life. Betrayal cost them everything. Their tittle, their position beside me, their name and their life. Betrayal once proven, was death. I took a deep breath and let out a sigh, I was sad to be leaving the new world so soon but excited to be going home. I wanted to consult with the Gods and to find out who had betrayed me.

"Its so pretty here right?" Said a quirky woman's voice behind me. I turned slightly to see Fiona making her way towards me. Great.

"It's lovely, yes." I said as I turned back to face the view.

"I always wanted to see this world, I love the realm but this place. I could live here in these towers." She said happily as she joined me by my side. Of course she was slightly taller than me.

"Its nice, but its nothing like home. The air is clean and fresh, I know the faces of my people, I can be myself and fly the skies of my realm in peace." I said quickly. Fiona seemed like a lovely person, but I could not find it in my heart to like her. She had what I could not, she had been in the embrace of Vili in our cave. She laughed softly at my statement.

"Yes nothing would beat flying, feeling the wind flow past your body. I am jealous." She said looking over at me. I smiled softly.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you so short compared to the other companions?" She asked. I placed a hand to my forehead, I had never wanted to leave a conversation this quickly before.

"I am the descendant and creation of Odin, the greatest power does not always need to be contained by the biggest host. He created me in his own image, an image of a being so powerful that I was able to underestimated them all. I contain the greatest power this universe has ever seen, I am the greatest power this universe will ever see." I said, my voice laced with dominance as I spoke. I felt her aurora change as she begun to crumbled under my gaze and authority. Another gift from Odin, the power of dominance. I didn't use it often, only when it was necessary.

"I have the knowledge of the gods ad trice the power of one. You would be wise to remember who you are trying to belittle next time you speak." I said, my voice again destroying her once happy confident aurora. She honestly seemed lovely but she truly did not choose her words wisely.

"I... I'm so sorry your Grace, I was only trying to learn." She said as she stared at the ground.

"Fiona I believe its best you return to your chambers." Said a mans voice, Ivarr's voice. She quickly bowed as she almost ran to her room.

"I don't think I've ever seen you so mad at one person. Any particular reason why?" Ivarr asked as he stood beside me admiring the view.

"She asked very prying questions, I wasn't in the mood for it." I said quickly.

"Hmm, that is true but there is more to the story..." He said.

"She lay with Vili, you saw them in your cave together. It is jealously." He said with a slight hint of surprise. I hated how they knew me so well.

"What of it, I am allowed to feel things too." I said quietly.

"You're entitled to it Freya, to love and feel. Everyone who knows you and Vili, know the bond and strength you share when you are together. The Battle of Midgard? You and Vili fought like rabid dogs. Vili the Berserker and Freydis the Frightening. You both make a tremendous team." Ivarr said, I smiled at remembering our battles together. We shared much glory together, many songs and drink.

"We do, but I don't think we could ever be more than what we share now." I said, my voice full of sorrow.

"What is stopping you Freya?"

"Its an oath we swore to Odin, we cannot go against his word with no consequences. And Vili, I don't think he wants the same as I."

"And what makes you say that?" Ivarr asked curiously. My heart sank reminiscing on the day that passed long ago.

"After we defeated the last plague and returned home, Vili and I celebrated our glory in the cave. We drank, sang stupid songs and danced into the night. I remember us sitting by the entrance watching the sun rise, he had me wrapped in his fur cape. It was bliss. I don't recall if it was the drink or my stupidity but when I looked up at him, his eyes were already focused on me. An urge to kiss him took over, but when I leaned in his eyes filled with sorrow and he turned away. Pulling me into an embrace." I said. The memory was hard to speak about, I never once told my companions about my encounter with Vili. We both stood in silence momentarily.

"Did you ever think that he didn't want to act on his own feelings because you were going into slumber the next day? Vili knows the cost of loving a God, we could never hold or touch another woman again. We slept for decades, Freya. Expecting him to spend a day with you then centuries without is difficult." Ivarr said, his wisdom peaking through.

"Damn you and your smart mind." I said to him with a smile. He smiled back and embraced me in a quick hug.

"Come, let us rest. I'm eager for this liquid to begin working. Its exhausting me." Ivarr said as he walked with me to our chambers. As we reached our rooms, I stopped and asked Ivarr a question.

"Ivarr, have you noticed it's taking longer than usually for our senses to come back fully? I've noticed strange out bursts of sparks when touching but nothing more. I don't even feel connected to Anacalongon, its usually happened by now."

"Now that you mention it yes, it is taking longer. I haven't felt my abilities come back yet. I'm sure its nothing, we just need some rest." Ivarr said as he gave me a hug and headed towards his chambers. I hope Ivarr is right, if we cannot connect with our inner beasts, we won't be able to connect with each other. During our peak connection we can speak telepathically and fight at our absolute peak. If we don't connect soon, it's going to be difficult later on when things start becoming more dangerous. I walked into my chambers, there were candles lit in each room, a sense of comfort. A note was on the table by the candles.

'The idea of turning lights on would have confused you, I know you too well. I dropped by to light some candles for you my rose. I'll be by to collect you tomorrow to take you back to the realm. V'

Vili, I wonder how he got a key to my chambers? The man worked in mysterious ways. I headed to my bed to find something to wear to sleep. I searched every draw to only find a very thin, white dress. The material was smooth like the bed material, making it feel irresistible. I removed my clothes and slipped into my night gown, the gown was basically see through. I feel as if this is something one would wear for their lover, but it made me feel good. I slid into my bed, curling up into a small ball.

As I tried to drift into a slumber, I begun to think of who could have betrayed me. It consumed my thoughts now. I had to rule our Rokii, as much as my intuition told me it was he I had to trust the instincts of my companions. Before I knew it my mind feel blank and I fell into a deep sleep.

The cold harsh breeze of the mountains cooled my scales, my strong wings thrusted me through and over the mountain tops. My eye sight was powerful, sensing the heat signatures of the creatures that wondered the woods below the mountains. The smell of ocean breeze and woodland filled my large nostrils, the oceans were a good 50kms from where I flew but I could sense them as if I were swimming in the water. I felt Anacalongon in my mind, my inner beast was at peace and calm. I had never felt it in such a way. As I circled the mountain tops and headed towards the meeting island in the ocean, a sensation on my back pricked my attention.

"Calm, Freya. Anacalongon accepted me, we one." The voice said, it was Vili. My inner beast accepted him, that meant that he was my love, my mate, the one my dragon chose. And, Vili chose me! All seemed perfect until I noticed smoke and black skies around my castle, my companions took to the air surrounding the castle. In an instant I begun flying towards the smoke, something wasn't right. My companions set alight to the castle and grounds around it, they were destroying our home. My once peaceful dragon was now fueled with rage. My wings begun thundering through the skies as if powered by Thor himself. I let out my thundering roar to signal my arrival. As I reached the castle, the small village was in ashes, the villagers ran and screamed from the crumbling castle. Warriors laid dead on the ground, others had taken a black shine to their body, the Dark Knights had come. I circled the grounds and headed up, but as I did I was knocked back by Keon. After regaining my mind, my wings caught the breeze and I flew up once again.

"Freya look out!" Vili yelled as I saw Ivarr flying full strength towards me, I dodged his attack narrowly. I looked back as he circled around, his pitch black eyes locked on mine. As I reached the top of the castle I landed allowing Vili to jump off and for me to shift.

"Whats going on!?" I screamed as my companions continued to destroy my realm. I watched in disbelief as they ran mayhem around my world, I turned to see Vili battling Dark Knights. His battle axe wounding our enemies, I picked up two axes and threw them at an enemy behind him, he looked over at me with a smile. And then disbelief.

"Freydis NO!" He screamed, as I tried to turn, a sharp excruciating pain erupted in my chest. I froze, slowly looking down at the sword poking out of my chest, laced with a purple liquid. I turned slowly to see Rokii smiling down at me.

"Brother.." I said as my mind fell blank once again.

I was awoken abruptly by Keon who was sitting beside me chanting my name.

"Freya wake up!" He yelled as I came to.

"Wha... Whats happening?" I asked as I sat up, realising we were no longer in my chambers. We were on the roof of a building.

"Where are we?" I asked as I sat up quickly, concerned of what has happened. I grabbed Keon's face, looking into his eyes. Confirming they were green. I let out a sigh of relief.

"It's okay Freydis, I'm here for you. You're alright." Keon said as he rubbed my shoulder. I finally noticed my pounding heart and my sweating. Did I have a bad night walk?

"You... you were all there, destroying our home. Eyes as black as Hel, Dark Knights killed our warriors and consumed other. The village was gone, the screaming." I said as I struggled to speak of what I saw.

"It's okay Freya, calm down." Keon said as he embraced my shivering body. Sensing the distress Ivarr, Koba and soon after Vili joined us on the roof. As everyone knelt beside me I continued my story.

"You were all attacking me, trying to knock us from the skies. I landed in the dome, some of our attackers were in there. We killed them, shortly after I was stabbed by a purple coated sword. The same liquid Sigi gave us. I turned to be faced with Rokii, the man who wielded the blade." I said, my companions all exchanged looks of concern.

"Night walks can be vivid Freya, it was your first rest after the slumber. We'll take you back inside so you can rest some more." Keon said as he lifted me to my feet, Vili covered me in his large fur cape. He brought it with him it seems.

"How did I end up on the roof?" I asked puzzled.

"You were going to jump and shift, your night walk gave you enough trouble that you were going to fight whatever it was." Keon said.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from the descendant of Odin though." Keon joked. I smiled as I slowly walked back inside, the small rocks on the ground stabbed into my delicate feet. Before I could walk any further, Vili had swept me up into his arms bridal style. He walked past my stunned companions and down a flight of stairs.

"I can walk now Vili, thank you." I said struggling against his hold.

"You're already here, now settle, we are nearly at your chambers." Vili said abruptly as he carried me into my room. He placed me down into my bed, he stood up taking a deep breath.

"Vili, what troubles your mind?" I asked, sensing his stress.

"I should of been here to protect you and sooth your night terrors." He said quickly.

"Its okay, you were rest..." I begun to say, but as a breeze rolled through my chambers I got a new smell of Vili that was not his own. Fiona's, he laid with Fiona on this night! My body stiffened, my mind flooded with emotions.

"Freya." Vili said as he sense my sudden change in emotion.

"Please Vili, no. By the Gods no." I said as I placed my head into the palms of my hands.

"Freya don't shut me out." Vili said as he tried to reach out and touch my arm. I reacted and hit his arm away rising to my feet.

"I can't do this, I cannot have you by my side if you are going to lay with out woman. I cannot do it!" I said as I shoved my way past Vili.

"I don't understand how this is a problem Freya, why are you so upset?" He asked, a tone rising in his voice. I fell silent, I had never fought like this with him before.

"Freydis speak with me, do not ignore me." He said as he approached me.

"Do NOT come near me." I threatened, I felt the brown temporary look drain from my eye sand become red.

"You don't scare me." He said as he walked forward, trying to embrace me again.

"NO!" I yelled, stopping him in his traces. My voice lathered in dominace.

"I will not, I cannot have this anymore. I have grown too fond of you. You haunt me in my night walks, my slumbers you were all I saw. I saw in my last night terror that Anacalongon had accepted you and you flew the skies of our home with me." I said, my heart throbbing and throat burning as I yelled.

"I dreamt that you had chosen me." I whispered.

"But that cannot be, no matter how much I dream it, how much I pray for it. I cannot be. You cannot commit to me, I don't expect you too." I said as I turned to face him, his eyes were fixed on me. Stunned like a frightened deer.

"But, I bid you happiness in the future. I bid you find a wife who loves you more than herself. More than me." I said as I walked towards him, stopping a few feet in front of him.

"I want you to go, go back to Fiona and make her happy. My mind will clear in time, and my feelings with it. I should have accepted your answer the night at the caves. But I filled myself with false promises." I said, watching as Vili stood shocked in my chambers. I took him fur cap off my body and flung it around him, pinning it at the front. His blue eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn't recognise. I placed my hands on his chest and felt his too, drumming heart beat.

"Go Vili, I will see you in the dusk." I said as I departed from him and walking towards my bed. He slowly begun to walk towards my door frame.

"I never denied your love Freya, I didn't return it because I couldn't bare going centuries without you by my side. If I kissed you that night, I would have never of let you go into that slumber. I suffered, greatly when you slumbered. I always wondered what we could have been. What we would of been in your slumber did not separate us. What we might have been to each other. But I always believed you did not feel the same way, but I was wrong. " He said facing the door way. He turned back his blue eyes on mine, the longer black hair on top of his head was messy, his body almost didn't fit through the door frame.

"We were both, so terribly wrong." He said, his eyes saddened.