Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Nora rose from her bed, stretching her arms out and bellowing out a deep yawn. Rubbing her head she got out of bed, threw some loose clothes on and stepped down the stairs into the kitchen. Reaching for the note on the fridge she realized that this seemed oddly familiar to her.

“You have been sleeping for 3 whole days Nora are you all right?” Fenrik came bounding up beside her and nudged her waist. Seeing the surprise in her eyes; he turned away in reminiscence of what happened before the passing of the last few days.

“I went to the academy and talked to Kael the morning after. I told him you may not be showing up for a couple days.” The wolf turned to her and something else stirred in his mind. “Do not worry human cub I did not mention anything about what happened or where we were. He did seem a little suspicious and worried though”

Nora calmed down a little bit and sat down on one of the oak chairs. “I was out for 3 days?” A jolt of nervousness coursed through her veins. “What about Aldred, Fenrik? What does he know?” She was caught in her own words.

“He knows nothing Nora; he took the last two days off taking care of you. He has been worried sick. Your head was very hot so I told him you fell down with the flu and passed out.” Fenrik laid his head on her lap. “You know he does love you? He may seem a little rough around the edges but he see’s you as his own daughter.” Fenrik tilted his head and deeply stared her down.

“I know he does, but he doesn’t have to have an attitude to his friends, the people of the village and to us. Just because he is a warrior-smith doesn’t mean that he needs to bring his ‘past battles’ with him”. Nora stared out the window with frustration.

Fenrik unlocked his gaze with her and sighed with a short chuckle. “You do realize he peeled himself away from the chief’s order, leaving himself two whole days behind schedule, don’t you?” Giving a smile of victory behind her back, Fenrik bounded to the hallway and up the stairs. Looking guiltily at the note; she got up and followed Fenrik upstairs to get dressed for the cold day it was outside.

Outside the people roaming the streets of the village were talking amongst each other in prophecy. Nora wondered what they were speaking of as the two walked towards Aldred’s shop. “Have you heard about the new star, Dimitri?” A villager ran up to another that was pulling from his garden. “What do you mean a new star? A star does not just grow out of the sky like cabbage!” The gardener turned back to his cabbage.

“A new star?” Nora was dumbstruck. “How can a star just appear out of no where? It is much too large.”

“You are right Nora. The villagers have been talking like this non-stop for the last few days. Ever since you fell unconscious.” Fenrik paused for a second wondering, but thought it highly ridiculous and continued on.

“You don’t think that I created that star, do you?” The words seemed to escape from Nora’s mouth without meaning them to.

“Come now human cub, what ridiculousness are you plotting?” Biting his lip as he said it, thinking how ridiculous the thought was… he thought back to the seal firing a beam of energy up into the sky as well as the fiery aura that surrounded his friend.

A loud chatter came from a large cluster of villagers that gathered around the town square. “Here, lets take our minds away from these ridiculous thoughts and see what is so exciting, shall we?” Fenrik pulled Nora towards the crowd, they pushed through the crowd a little so they could hear.

“The sky! Everyone look up at the sky, can you not see it?” The old woman pointed to the sky singling out a specific star in the sky.

“Come on grandma enough with this, your eyes are getting old! How would you tell the stars apart, you even mistook the sugar for salt this morning remember?” The crowd started to laugh at the excited elder bouncing around in front of them.

“Mock me while you can my grand child. That star was not there 3 nights ago! Ask any of the elders, we watch the stars daily.” The elder coughed. “The destiny child has been birthed along with this star. The star proves it!” The lady began coughing harder and her grandson took her by the hand and led her back home.

“You know, now that I look at it… that star does seem out of place” Nora intently and patiently tried to remember the nights she spent staring at the stars with her brother so many years ago. “I do not recall that star Fenrik! Do you think it could be true?”

“It’s been a long time since you and your brother sat and watched the stars, cub, come on Aldred is waiting for us.” Fenrik said as he watched her lower her gaze and pull out the note Aldred had left her. It read: ‘Nora, once you are feeling better I would really enjoy you stopping by the shop. Do not push yourself though! I will be here for the next three days working non-stop on these orders; I was… set back a little bit. I will be looking forward to your arrival. Love Aldred.’

“This was left for me this morning then?” At Fenrik’s nod she crumpled the paper into her pocket. “Let’s go then.” At that the two raced down the block towards the small building with smoke escaping its chimney-top. The building read: ‘Aldred’s Smithing and Wares.’

Nora stopped for a minute and realised what she had heard those three days ago. “What is it Nora?” The wolf looked frustrated at her stalling. “I heard my brother speak to me that day, right before I passed out.” Gathering her thoughts, she continued. “There was this darkness inside my mind, Fenrik, no matter where I ran or what I did it would not disappear. When it was finally gone, I opened my eyes and everything was encased in those bright blue flames. After that I remember being engulfed by what felt like complete power… then I heard a voice; my brothers voice. I knew it was his, I would recognize it anywhere!” She stood there panting and took in a deep breath.

“A memory perhaps? Something may have triggered a memory inside you and heard his voice from then.” Fenrik stared at her in disbelief. “I mean you were searching deep within your inner conscience to find who you really are, right? That may have caused you to look back at a time long ago.” Fenrik sat down and awaited her reply intrigued by the thought.

“But I could hear it so clearly, he sounded much older too. Not like he did back then. His voice sounded like my father’s, sounded so grown up.” She fell her face into her palms. “I just know he was calling to me, he is trying to reach me I could tell.” Nora paced away from the shop, turning into a sprint.

“Nora, come back!” Fenrik growled and raced after her, soon catching up. “Where are you going, cub? We are going to see Aldred are we not?” Fenrik growled and tried to cut her off by blocking her path.

“I need to know, Fenrik! My brother may be in trouble. I am going to the secret place to practice and contact him again.” She continued to run. Fenrik stopped, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stop her now. She was in “that mood” again. He pondered silently while slowly catching up to her.

Standing atop the seal again; Nora concentrated the way she did that one day trying to reach into herself, searching to find her brother’s voice somewhere lying there in wait. Standing for an hour, Fenrik began to feel restless as his head laid on his paws. “Vern… Vern! I know you can hear me, I heard you, why will you not answer me.” Nora began feeling impatience and she curled her fists.

“True intentions are found and gained through strong emotions that dwell within you, sister.” A voice echoed deep in her mind. “You are only able to reach me if in that moment you are using the emotions that are strong within your heart, emotions that truly want to speak with me. Sister… Nora, how have you been?” Nora’s heart rose! She was talking to her brother again.
“Where are you Vern? How are you speaking to me? Does this mean you truly did not fall in battle that day? Ha hah ha, I always knew you were alive. I knew that you out of all people could not be taken down by those men!” When Nora said these words there was a brief silence within her head.

“I am not alive Nora.” The words abruptly came to her, like a hammer on steel. “I am in the ‘Court of Infinite Dark’ Nora… I am in hell.” Vern’s voice became more depressing as he continued. “I did fall by the hand of the Redemplar’s leader, Hjorn. I fell at his hand… after I had betrayed our village, Nora; I was the one who led them to our village.” Nora could not believe what she was hearing; she wanted her brother to be in front of her so she could hug him and tell him it was not his fault.

“The curse of the Redemplar has been placed upon me Nora, I, a Templar have betrayed. This is my punishment for what I have done. I and the rest of the redemplars are cursed to ransack the country of Faede, ridding its lands of the ‘holy warriors’ to redeem our souls.” The voice grew into a soft whisper. “I am not a murderer Nora, this I will not be able to do. If I do not follow the order of the Redemplars, I will be eternally burned in the flames of hell.

“I will not let that happen to you! You are a good man! Going against the Templar code or not, you had no choice!” Nora’s eyes filled with tears as she opened her eyes and began to run. “I should have let them take my life; the whole village would be fine if I just died there. Now… I am a monster”

“NO! You are not going to be tortured for eternity, Vern! Now that I know you are alive I am finally happy, for once in so many years I have something to look forward to…” Nora thinned her eyes as she stepped up to the cliff edge staring over the ocean of mountains and mist. “It is time.”

“I’m going to get you back Vern! I am not losing the only family I have left!” Staring into the distance strength was growing in her gut. The cold breeze swept her hair back, flowing like a torrent.

She could feel Vern listening to her thoughts. “You are the destiny child Nora, that star was created that day when I spoke to you. That star is birthed off of your aura. A part of your soul dwells within it. It will protect you. Destiny chose you for some reason Nora, as much as I want you to be safe within the village; I know that your heart will lead you to where you truly need to go. I will not stand up against it.” The echo faded and Vern was out of her head.

“What is the matter Nora? Are you alright?” The large wolf saw her smile and tears flowing down her cheeks. “We are going Fenrik; it is finally time for us to leave.” Nora sniffed and wiped her tears away with a laugh.

“Go where, cub?”

“... To hell.”