by Nelson, JD
“Of course.” I said quickly, not even knowing if I could keep the promise.
“You can. If I have to keep my impossible promises to the faery, the least you can do is keep this one.”
“Is that what she was; I didn’t realize?” I admit I was hedging the conversation. I really wanted to talk to Kristian. I needed to give his family ring back. I didn’t feel right holding on to it now that I had no intention of marrying him.
“You can take care of that when I return with Katrine.”
I furrowed my brows. Why is it so insanely hard to block my mind?
“Because, you never practice.” He rubbed his thumb across my furrowed forehead. “Don’t fret. I won’t be gone too long.”
“I’ll try not to.” I pouted. “Whom did you want me to contact?”
“You are changing the subject…again, but I’ll overlook that for now. Try anyone of them.”
I closed my eyes and thought of Nils, Viggo, and Jakob as hard as I could. I reached Nils first and found his thoughts tightly sealed off. I found Jakob’s next, and his was much the same, but when I reached Viggo, he immediately let me in. Where are you? I thought at him.
Álfheim. Soren will know where. Is Cedric okay? He called and said to stay put. What’s going on?
We’ll fill you in, in a second. I thought, and then opened my eyes. “Álfheim.”
“I know where.” He held out his arms and we were gone in a blink.
Arriving in seconds, my first thought was that we were on a cliff, but a quick glance around proved otherwise. I was standing on an expensive Persian rug, in a house surely built on a mountainside. There was no window blocking the view of a huge castle complete with medieval style towers, and a surrounding village in the far off distance. It was picturesque, like what I’d always imagined Camelot would look like.
Soren unclasped his hand from mine and said, “I’ll return soon, one or two days, at most.”
I blanched. “You’re leaving already?”
“I have to. The human authorities must be called in to attend to the manor and the deceased before I search for Katrine.”
I sighed, remembering that we had yet to tell the others of Cedric’s demise.
He pushed his fingers into my hair and kissed me. “You’ll do fine. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I said, barely flinching as he shifted into his owl form and flew into the afternoon sun.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Viggo’s lightly accented voice remarked from behind me.
I had been sitting cross-legged on the carpet, absorbed with the view and my thoughts for the past few minutes. I hadn’t even thought about seeking the others out. The tears I’d been holding back since the burial sprung to my stinging eyes as I answered, “Yes.”
He wrapped his thickset arms around me, holding me against his chest until I couldn’t cry another tear. “Cedric didn’t make it, did he?” He asked softly into my hair.
“No.” I sniffed. “Katrine, she has allied with the doppelgänger. We arrived too late to save him—he was so badly injured. I buried him in his favorite part of the garden, with the faeries.”
Viggo pulled away, and looked at the castle again. “I figured as much when he didn’t return with you.” Seemingly lost in thought, he was silent for several moments. “This madness must end, Emelie. We lost a great friend today and I will not stand idly by while my loved ones are put to death, one by one. We must either kill this Freyr thing, or you must marry into Dark Elf royalty.” He glanced at me wistfully. “I wish I would have been chosen as your betrothed instead of my brother.”
“You and Jakob are Kristian’s brothers?” I was astonished. Why hadn’t they told me before?
“Yes, though sometimes, I don’t know how Kristian and I can be related. His arrogance and deceitful nature are not the only indications I have seen, to mark him as a psychopath. I do not trust him with you.”
“We are in agreement in that sentiment.”
As I observed him, I noticed that he was transfixed with one particular part the scenery. I looked in the direction he was staring and realized that I’d been there. It was the hill beside Kristian’s castle.
“Mine and Jakob’s castle too.” He added to my thought.
“Why didn’t you tell me this from the start?”
He smiled his usual cheerful grin. “Because I didn’t want to tarnish your good opinion of us by telling you that our baby brother was your intended.” He shook his head regretfully. “He is much altered.”
“Altered?”
“He is a servant of Odin.”
My stomach plummeted. “No.” Was there anything worse than my fiancée being a servant of someone who wanted me dead?
He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll make it through this. Soren will return soon and we will formulate a plan.”
“Okay.”
I glanced ahead toward the view and was startled when I began to feel drawn to the illusion. It was almost as if I needed to go there. “Is this what the castle looked like before the war?”
“Yes, when the light elves were a part of our lives, we were able to live as any other.”
“I had no idea.” Looking at the castle gave me a sense of foreboding.
“Emelie, what is it?” Viggo said worriedly.
“Nothing, I’m fine. Is there somewhere else we can go?”
“Of course,” he said, taking my hand and leading me into the next room.
When we walked in I saw Nils and Jakob were seated on opposite couches, leaning toward one another, most assuredly in a deep, silent conversation. I sat next to Jakob, and surprisingly he moved to sit closer to me.
“Emelie, if we cannot find a way around your engagement, you will be my sister, and no matter that you will be marrying the worst representation of our bloodline, I promise I will do my best to protect you. On this you have my honor.”
“As will I.” Nils echoed.
“Thank you, so much.” I said, getting misty-eyed. “You don’t know how much I appreciate this.”
After their declarations, I sat staring at the fireplace for some time. I just couldn’t seem to shake the image of the beautifully lit castle from my mind. I knew there was something important about it, but my Norn abilities weren’t sharpened enough to tell me what I supposed to see.
“Viggo?”
“Yes, little one?”
I smiled at the familiar endearment. “Can you tell me why the castle is no longer in the sun?”
“It’s very simple. After the light elves departed, we weren’t able to acquire any blood allowing us to see the sun, so we had a spell cast to protect us.”
I cringed, and thought of my first meeting with Kristian. I hadn’t realized until this moment that it was huge deal that I had given him my blood.
Jakob instantly read my thoughts. “Emelie, please tell me you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry, Jakob. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“That is so hot, Emelie.” Nils declared, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Viggo rolled his eyes. “Keep it in your pants, Nils. Emelie, don’t sweat this. It shouldn’t be in his system much longer, you aren’t a full-blooded elf.”
I sighed in relief. “Good.”
Nils stood. “Well now that that’s settled, how about some breakfast?” He held his hand out to me and I took it. “You should know Em,” he said with a wink, “I’ve had nothing but compliments on my sausage.”
“Nice Nils, very gentlemanly.” I was starting to think that my eyes were going to get stuck in the rolled back position permanently.
After our breakfast (which was really dinner), Jakob and I sat down in the living room to practice shielding. Needless to say, he was not as patient as Soren was while teaching me—he was never patient.
I think that the vein starting popping out of his forehead when he practically screamed, “Emelie, you will not be given the luxury of time when you face Katrine and the doppelgänger, or
Thor, or even Odin himself!” Who would have thought a fifth consecutive failure would push someone to the edge like that?
After two more failures, he really lost his cool. “You are the most infuriating female I’ve ever met! Are you even trying?”
“No,” I said testily. “Because I like having someone invade my thoughts and then proceed to yell at me for only having my magic for a millisecond!”
Smiling nastily, he said, “I wouldn’t have to if you would politely pull your head out of your ass and get serious.”
I was dumbfounded. I’d never been spoken to like that in my life. “I think—”
Jakob interrupted me. “Don’t bother. I can pick your thoughts out of your head. You think I’m an asshole.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And you think I should go fuck myself.”
“I never said that!”
“You didn’t have to. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about your love life?”
It was hopeless. He knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from thinking of the times Soren and I were together. I was completely humiliated.
“Never mind, I see everything that I need to see. My brother’s subordinates will easily pick whatever they need from your mind, and I would bet my inheritance that Kristian wouldn’t appreciate what you’ve been doing behind his back.”
“No, I know he wouldn’t.” I could see how conflicted Jakob was. It must be hard for him to see his brother’s soon-to-be wife in love with one of his best friends.
“Yes, it is.”
“I can’t control who I love Jakob, he’s my true mate.”
“How well I know that. I have heard your name from Soren’s lips tens of thousands of times. I just do not know whom I pity more out of the three of you. Now, let’s not get sidetracked. Your only problem is that you lack focus and self-control, what will I have to extract from your mind before you use your magic to block me?”
I felt sheer panic in hearing his words. No way was he getting back in. As soon as I felt his intention to invade my mind, I struck back, pushing my magic throughout me until it provided an armor of sorts. It was almost too easy to deflect him this time. I could feel his efforts, but I was much too strong for him to penetrate. I’d finally figured it out. I just had to stop over-thinking it and let the magic do its thing.
“Very good, Emelie. That must be one hell of a secret you’re keeping.” Nils said from behind us.
“Thanks, now, can I go watch Viggo play the Xbox?”
Jakob laughed. “You may. You’ve earned it.”
I was reading a few days later when Soren returned. I rose from the couch and walked to the doorway as soon as I felt his signature.
Viggo looked up from his game. “What’s up, Em?”
“Soren is here.”
He shrugged. “I don’t think so.”
His familiar scent assaulted me once I was on the other side of the door. “Where are you?”
His voice came from a shadowed corner unlit by the candle in the center of the room. “I am here.” He stepped out into the candlelight and gazed out at the castle. “It really is beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and so are you. I’ve missed you terribly.” I answered.
A disbelieving look crossed his features. “Have you?”
This wasn’t exactly the happy reunion I’d been expecting. He seemed oddly detached. Something was definitely different between us. “Yes, you’re acting strangely, what’s wrong?”
“I cannot hear you thoughts.” He admitted.
I grinned. “I know. I’ve been practicing with Jakob.”
His congratulatory smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I thought I’d be happier when you were properly prepared, but I miss experiencing your excitement when you see me.”
I dropped the block instantly, and revealed to him how I’d like to show him just how happy I was that he’d returned.
Nils opened the door a moment later. “And they tell me to keep it in my pants. Damn, Em.”
“Manners, wolf.” Soren growled.
“Yeah, yeah. So, what’s the word in Midgard?”
“The human authorities have ruled the explosion accidental. We lost eighteen of the staff—Cedric, four maids, eight gardeners, and five in the stables. I think they tried to stop the doppelgänger and Katrine from entering the house. Everything is a total loss.”
“Did you locate them?”
He focused on the castle in the distance. “There.”
I gasped. “No.”
Nils chuckled. “This husband is sounding better and better.”
I shot daggers at him. “Shut it, wolf.”
“Wow, already with the bridezilla stuff?”
That was it; it was time to take the dog out. I took off my shoe and threw it at his head as hard as I could. He caught it easily and gave me a look that screamed ‘Game on.’
“I have to say Em, I’m usually a panty kind of guy, but if you’re into a foot fetish thing, I’ll play. I like kinky females.” He walked out the door laughing, still holding my shoe.
I did not want to think about what shudder-inducing practices my footwear was about to go through. “Nils, give me my shoe back!” I yelled, but he didn’t return. To Soren I said, “The male is unbalanced.”
“I did warn you.” He reminded me.
“That you did.”
Viggo yelled from inside the opened door. “Is that you, Soren?”
“It is.” His eyes flashed to me. “Emelie, can you leave us?”
“What?”
His face was empty of emotion. “I need to speak to Viggo privately.”
Since when had he ever excluded me from any conversation? “Okay.”
As I was walking to my room, Jakob appeared from nowhere. “Follow me.”
I was confused. “What the hell is going on?”
He led me into his bedroom and gestured for me to sit. “I was going to ask you.”
“I don’t know. He was seemed far away, and he didn’t even kiss me hello. I think he’s distancing himself from me.”
“Honestly, I’d be more worried if he didn’t start to distance himself. You don’t have much time left.”
“I’m not ready to let him go.”
“This war must end. It’s better for him to do it this way. It will ease his pain.”
“It doesn’t ease mine.”
“It will, in time.”
I scoffed. “How would you even know, Jakob?”
Annoyed, he said, “Do you really think that in over five thousand years I haven’t had my share of heartbreak?”
Ashamed of my petulant behavior, I tried to backtrack by saying, “No, of course not. I’m just upset.”
“As we’ve all been upset at one time or another, Emelie. Eternal life is not always the gift it would appear to be.”
“No, it isn’t.” I agreed.
He was silent for so long after that that I started to worry. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, it’s just that I think I’ve thought of something that could be of great importance in your marriage. I must leave you.”
I sat alone in his chamber for a great while, just thinking. I couldn’t imagine what Jakob would find that would make that much of a difference. Knowing Jakob it was probably his grandmother’s wedding dress. He had never opposed my marrying his brother as the others had.
“You’ll be happy to know that his grandmother was buried in her wedding dress.” My own grandmother said from beside me.
I yelped and jumped halfway across the room at the surprise of her voice. “You have to start making a noise when you arrive. You scared the life out of me.” My heartbeat was a constant drum roll in my chest.
She was chagrined. “I’m sorry, dear one. I just knew that you had need of me.”
“You did? I thought I was blocking.”
“You are, but I’m your grandmother, if you need me, I’ll know.”
I couldn’t hold it in another second. “I think it’s
over between Soren and me.”
“Yes, I think so.”
Tears sprung to my eyes. “I thought I’d think of a way before it was too late.”
She wrapped me in a hug. “Emelie, yours is not an ideal position to be in, but in time you will be happy, that I can promise you.”
“That will never happen without Soren.”
She pulled away and looked at me seriously. “I know that you love Soren, and that you’d give anything right now to solve this between you two, but you can’t ever become desperate enough to use your magic to accomplish it. You must take care that your desires, even the ones of revenge you preserve for Freyr’s doppelgänger, do not come to fruition. You are a Norn—anything or anyone will bend to your whims, if you want it bad enough.”
“So, I’m supposed to just forget the love of my life, and quietly marry Kristian—an elf that has a room full of whores and an allegiance with Odin?”
“The very one. Your life may feel like an unfair game, but you will play it with the hand you’ve been dealt. No cheating.”
No, there would be no cheating. I’d thought that maybe I’d be able to change my own Fate, but I now knew, that was never the answer. Taking your life into your own hands is foolish. I didn’t want to end up like my mother. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I promise I will do what’s right.”
She took my hands in hers. “I’m proud of you.”
A bittersweet smile crossed my lips. “Well, at least something good came out of this.”
She pursed her lips. “How many days do you have left?”
“Just two more.”
“Then I suggest you contact Kristian right away and arrange to have your things moved to the castle. Make sure you stand your own ground with everything. Do not bend on anything that could possibly tempt you to use your magic to change it. Make sure you request a private ceremony for the wedding. That way you’ll survive your wedding night. You have to avoid being an easy target for the doppelgänger. He will try to kill you before the truce can be struck.”
“I’m scared.”
“I think you’re well up for this challenge. I have faith that you will do everything in your power to do what is right for both elven worlds. You are my granddaughter, after all.”