Valkyrie In The Making - Circumspect

Through the cloudiness that had overtaken her senses, she could feel herself being carried upwards. The jarring motions caused her stomach to churn unpleasantly.

Soon she was in a dark room, being placed gently on a mattress of stiff straw. She opened her eyes to see Vali's face hovering above hers.

"Where am I?" She asked.

"In my quarters, you need some rest, I fear you may have overdone it in the tavern." He replied as he walked towards a small table in the corner of the room that held a pitcher and some glasses. "Sleep, I will wake you in the morning, we can discuss the journey then."

"No. I need to leave." She said, sitting up slowly. "I shouldn't be in this room with you." She stood, steadying herself against the spinning motion of the room by leaning against the wall.

"Look, you are in no shape to travel tonight, here, drink some of this, it will help." He said, as he handed her a glass of clear liquid.

"What is this?" She asked, as she smelled the scentless liquid.

"Water, it will help." He said as he pushed the glass up to her lips, taking hold of her around the waist.

She let the cool liquid flow down her throat, coughing as she finished, shocked by the bitter taste that followed the initial sweetness of the drink.

"There, isn't that better?" He asked, stroking her hair with his free hand. "You will sleep well now, I will make arrangements for our departure in the morning while you sleep."

Her head began to buzz, her eyelids became heavy and she slurred out the words "That didn't taste like water." as she was placed back on the bed and her vision went black.

She saw herself in the clearing of a great forest, standing naked in front of a large bonfire. She could see dark faces staring at her from just beyond the tree, she was fearful of them.

"Take no notice of them, they won't harm you, Young One." A booming voice said from behind her.

She turned to see the large man that she had seen in the fire, he was also naked, standing with a sword in one hand and a long curling horn in the other.

"Who are they?" She asked.

"You will soon find out. But they are not to be feared, there are others, close to you that are more cause for concern. But, you will learn that on your own." He said, as he came close to her. She felt warmth radiating from his body and a sense of calm and safety flowed over her. Something she had not felt in a long time.

"Keep on your path, trust in the mind, do not take any more mistletoe, and leave the city as fast as possible. We will find each other then, but be sure that the shifter is not with you when we meet. Take care Young One, I look forward to our journeys."

With that he lifted her in his arms, kissed her gently, first on the forehead, then on both cheeks and once on her mouth, breathing sweet earthiness into her lungs, causing her whole body to shake. Her put her in the center on the fire and the heat washed over her like the loving arms of her family. Then all went black and she opened her eyes to a room lit with early morning sunshine, torn to bits by a chaos she was suddenly aware she had no part in.