Valkyrie in the Making - The Fire

She realized her mistake once she entered the hut. She wouldn't be able to carry the lamp and the rest at the same time. She would have to do it in the dark.

He flew off her shoulder and perched at the head of the small bed in the corner of the room. The light from the lamp barely illuminated the unmoving form. She put the lamp down on the floor and walked over to the bed, she looked down at her mother.

Suddenly she seemed small, Mother had always seemed so big, even after she rose to a height higher than hers. After all the months of sickness and pain Mother always seemed bigger than her, but not now, now she was alone, left to take care of the rest.

She looked at him, he looked at her, egging her on.

"Caw"

"I will. I must." she replied.

With a heavy sigh she went to the opposite corner of the room and grabbed the large, heavy fur that had hung in the corner for years. She could see the small bits of dust and dirt fly off of it in the small streams of light. Uncontrollably she brought the pelt to her nose and breathed in. She liked to imagine she could still smell him on it, like a forgotten spring or incense at a long past holiday ritual.

"I still miss you" She says into the pelt. "Now you may be together forever, drinking from the enternal cup. May your trip be safe."

She placed the pelt on the floor next to the bed, he nodded in approval. She put her arms under her mothers upper back and knees and lifted her, she seemed so light and heavy at the same time. Placed her on the fur, he nodded in approval. She wrapped her up in the pelt, no wonder she had saved it, this must have been what she wanted, she thought. He swaked quietly.

Dragging her mother to the hole was less ceremonious. It was dark, she could barely see and the ground was bumpy. He hopped along behind the whole way. Once she got to where she remembered the hole was she picked her mother along with the pelt up and placed her on the wood and kindling. She turned and went back into the hut. He stayed behind keeping watch.

She quickly grabbed the lamp once she was inside and walked back out. Once there she was not quite sure what to do. He flew up on her shoulder again and pressed his forehead to her cheek.

"I love you, may your journey be blessed, I will remember all you taught me. Drink deep of his cup."

With that she threw the lamp onto the wood, kindling, fur and body. It exploded. She stood and watched as it began to burn and felt relief pass over her. She sat next to it, to wait it out until it was done. As the hours passed she began to see through the fire to the mountain ranges behind it, focusing on the future and considering what to do with it. There were so many possiblities, so many more than just a day ago. Just as her mother had told her, with the dark, comes the light.

He had jumped off her shoulders hours ago and settled in for the wait. She looked at him and asked, "Will you follow me where I go?"

His bright look gave her the answer.

"I will call you Muninn, I think."

He cawed, apparently that was correct.

"My name is Briggita." She said as the fire began to go out of focus.

In honor of the light returning after the dark and always seeing the brightness in our lives. Blessed Be.