Keon and I sat in the craft as we flew home, the pain we felt was still very much there but we had now controlled it, we had been flying for 45 minutes now. When the companions were all connected, we shared deep pain and wounds together, a price we paid for connection. Once we learned there was no ambush or attack against us, an attack on our companions in the realm was the only reason why we would have felt such pain. Most of the warriors sat in silence, some sharpened their axes and others made quiet speeches to the Gods. Nobody had heard from the Realm in days, we were all uneasy about what we were going to find in the Realm.
"We're approaching the barrier. Return to your seats and fasten your belt." The pilot instructed, most of us hadn't moved since the craft took off. As we headed towards the barrier my heart beat quickened and felt as if it were in my throat, my body felt numb, I didn't know what to expect as we entered the Realm. With a sudden shake and bang, we entered to Realm. Everyone feel quiet as we flew threw the air of the Realm.
"My Grace, you need to see this." The pilot said, I ripped my belt off from the wall as I got up in a hurry, my body cried in pain but I ignored it. As I got to the front of the craft to the window I saw my Kingdom, I let out a breath of relief until I saw the smoke coming from the village. My heart quickened.
"Drop the door." I said, the pilot looked confused.
"But, my grace?" The pilot said.
"DROP THE DOOR!" I yelled as I walked towards the back of the craft were the door was.
"Strap in!" I yelled as confused eyes looked at me from everywhere. The back door begun to drop and a strong wind filled the craft.
"Freydis!" Keon yelled as he tried to stand.
"Stay, get everyone you can to safety as soon as you land!" I shouted. As soon as the back door opened, I ran down it and jumped out of the craft and into the cold air. Air whizzed past my face as I fell quickly. Anger begun to consume my body as I shifted into my beast. The pain I once felt fuelled my body into a rage as my Dragon surfaced, my growing body spun in the air before being caught in the wind by my wings. I flew quick and strong, under the craft and past it. My eyes were focused on the large heat signature at the bottom of the castle, fire. Random heat signatures were running from the flames, people where escaping. I quickly scanned the air for Koba, Ivarr or Rokii, nobody was seen. I let out a roar in anguish and anger, by the Gods I was going to kill whoever had done this. I dipped my body quickly towards the ocean near by, flying just over the surface. I opened my large jaw and caught large amounts of water in my jaw and throat before turning swiftly and heading back towards the growing flames. As I neared the fire in the long house I sprayed tones of water on the house, killing the fire that once burned it, my large body hovered over the building as my wings kept me in the air.
"Freydis!" Screamed a ladies voice, my large head turned and focused on the heat signature. By the scent I knew it was Lady Bereke. Where is Earl Bereke? I seized the thrusts of my wings and fell to the earth in a thud as I looked at Astrid.
"He's inside! He's hurt!" She screamed, I begun to shift quickly into my human form once again. The ground was soggy and full of black ash, once I had shifted I ran towards the collapsing building. Warriors had already begun trying to shift and move broken beams that covered our way in. I reached the beam, grabbed it and threw it. My body was strong but I concealed my strength often. I ripped through the building as I cleared a path.
"BEREKE!" I yelled as I entered the building. I focused, my hearing noticed a slow beating heart in the furthest end of the long house, their chambers. I ran for the chambers, jumping over beams and puddles of sea water. I tore the door down to their chambers to find Earl Bereke in the corner of their chambers, a black sword shoved through his lower abdomen and a pool of blood. I froze when I saw him, his eyes slowly opened and he turned his head to see me.
"Freydis..." He said weakly, I raced towards him as I looked over his body. My heart felt as if it was drumming but I couldn't breathe.
"I'm going to take you to Ivarr and Koba, they will save you." I said as I scoped up Earl Bereke and begun walking out with his weak body. I listened carefully to his heart beat as I walked, it was slowing. This was impossible, we were all immortal, I didn't understand. I got outside and placed him down on a soft hay stack that was somehow undamaged during the fire.
"Freydis..." He said as he took my hand.
"Get me my Companions!" I shouted as I looked at the warriors around us.
"Freydis, please..." He said, placing his weak hand on my shoulder as I leaned down next to him. I looked down at him.
"Your brothers... The companions... They let the Knights through our boards, their swords are laced... Purple." He said as he coughed up blood, I hushed him from speaking. My breathing was harsh and short, this couldn't be true. I placed my hands above his chest and focused, maybe my healing hands could work on him too. Tears streamed down my face as nothing happened, Earl Bereke reached up and grabbed my hands and held them as he smiled lightly. As the crowd parted ways, Vili and Astrid barged their way through. All of our eyes met before they saw the man in my arms.
"No!" Lady Bereke screamed as Vili ran and fell to his knees as he grabbed his father, he looked at the dying man in his arms.
"Wha... WHAT HAPPENED?!" Vili yelled as he looked around, warriors stood back sensing his rage.
"The Companions let the Knights through the border." I said, looking down at Earl Bereke who still held my hand. I stood up and allowed Astrid to take my place, I put his hand on hers as his body weakened. I looked at Vili who had nothing but rage and pain in his eyes.
"The Companions? You were all supposed to protect us!" He shouted at me, his eyes begun filling with tears. His words hurt my heart as it pinched in pain. Earl Bereke reached his one weak hand up to Vili's rough beard covered face. Vili looked down at his father.
"Its okay..." Earl Bereke whispered, Astrid weaped loudly at his side as he slowly turned his head towards his wife, she placed his hand on her cheek as she smiled and cried. I turned my head towards the sky and closed my eyes, listening to the slowing beat of Earl Bereks heart. His arms dropped as his beat ended, the last breath leaving his body. Vili screamed out in agony as his mother cried and bellowed. I opened my eyes as salty tears leaked down my face, Vili stood in a rage and looked at me.
"This, THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" He screamed at me, his words full of hate and anger. I stood there and listened to his words. He looked at me as he shook his head and knelt down and hugged his mother. I sensed all eyes fall onto me for guidance or for a reaction for Vili's out burst. I looked at Earl Bereke, a man who offered me so much guidance and support, we had known each other since the begin when I offered them all immortality to live and fight by my side. He now closed his eyes forever, my promise of immortality failing them all. I looked at Earl Bereke's body as I walked back towards it, swinging my favourite battle axe off my back. Vili stood to stop me from nearing his fathers body, I stared him down, I knew he was in pain but he would not stop me. I walked past him and placed the axe onto his chest, gently grabbing his hands and placing them around the battle axe.
"Earl Bereke, I grant you safe passage into the halls of Valhalla. May you feast and rain with your fallen brothers and warriors tonight and fight along side Odin in the final brother. You cared for this Kingdom with everything you had, eventually sacrificing your life for it. I swear that I will avenge your death, even if I follow them through to the after life to do so." I said as I placed my hand on his chest. I felt the familiar ghostly presence form around Earl Bereke's body, the Valkryies had come to take him to the mighty halls. I stood back and watched as his soul left his body and was carried to the skies. I stepped back again and walked off towards the fields, I was going to hunt and kill every last one of the Knights. Rage and hurt filled my body as I begun to run, running out of the Kingdom and towards the cliff faces into the ocean. As I reached the edge, I leaped off and fell towards the water, shifting before reaching the water. My wings carried my body high and fast across the water, I let out a roar that was laced in pain and agony as I flew towards the mountains in the north. I heard the distant call of Keon in my mind, a lost and pleading emotion as he wanted me to return. I wasn't going to return, not until every last one of the Knights were gone and my Companions were brought home and punished for what they had done.
After a short fly, I located the mouth in the cliff face, the one Vili and I found when we killed the first small army in our borders. As I landed and shifted, I made my way up to the cliff face slowly. Keeping my senses heightened, they Knights could be anywhere, they would have returned to the North after the attack. As I entered the cave I noticed it was left completely untouched as it was last time, it would be my home until the knights were dealt with. I walked over to the barrels in the back of the cave and begun taking out the cooking utensil, placing them by the fire. I grabbed out the old furs and blankets, spreading them out by the other side of the fire place. Grabbing some of the old cut up logs in the corner of the cave, I place them into the fire place. I sat there for 2 minutes before sparks started and a fire begun. I sat back onto the furs I had laid out and looked at the fire, I was going to need to hunt and scavenge if I was going to stay here. I was one battle axe down and no hunting bow, shifting to hunt was not an option, the kill would be mauled by the time it was returned here.
I laid my head back onto my arms as my mind ran, I could return home until the Knights were dead and my companions were brought home. What happened, should never of happened. Because of us, our borders were penetrated and Earl Bereke lost his life. I was going to do whatever it takes, to restore peace in my Kingdom.