One

"Aaernia!"

Aaernia's eyes flicked open. It was dark around her, but the sun, she knew, was rising. She sat up slowly, her stained tunic catching on the brambles that surrounded her and the great oak she had fallen asleep beneath. Looking around, she realized she was closer to the forest's edge than usual.

"Good job, Nia," she muttered to herself. "Safe from predators, but certain to come out with at least a few scratches." She rubbed her eyes and began to wonder how she'd gotten in without scratching herself. Looking up, she realized she must have swung over the brambles by way of a low branch. If only she could reach it again… Bracing herself, Aaernia leapt. Her hands hit the rough bark. For a moment she thought she'd lose her grip, and then she was hanging from the branch. She swung herself up and inched along the shaking limb. Clearing the thorn barrier, she dropped lightly to the ground and sprinted from the forest.

"Aaernia!" the old woman called again.

"I'm here, Nana," Aaernia said as she stepped from trees' shadows into the growing light.

"There you are, child. You certainly took your time coming out of there. Now come, we have lots to do today."

Aaernia yawned. "Nana, I was up most of the night. Can't I sleep?"

Nana took Aaernia by the arm and dragged her towards the village. "Not today, my dear. You know I've always objected to you going into that deplorable forest every night."

"I know, Nana, but I love the forest, and I feel most at home in it at night." She glared at the ground, adding in an irritated mutter, "And it's my job."

"I understand, my dear Nia, but there's lots to do in preparation for tomorrow."

"What's so special about tomorrow?"

"Aaernia, have you forgotten already? Tomorrow you go to Asgard!"

Nia sighed. "I had forgotten. I'm sorry, Nana. I was tracking this marvelous buck last night. In fact, I thought I'd lost it for a time, but then…"

"My, my, you sound just like your mother. Dagnija lived for the hunt."

Nia opened the door to the small hut she and Nana lived in. She followed the old woman inside and sat down.

"Tell me more about my mother, Nana."

Nana took a loaf of bread from the shelf and handed it to Aaernia. "She was a fine woman, your mother, always putting the needs of others above her own—except in battle of course. Dagnija was a fierce warrior, as fierce and determined as Folkvar, your father. Do you know what your parents' names mean?"

Nia nodded and swallowed a chunk of bread. "Folkvar means guard of the people and Dagnija means new day." She ripped off another piece. "Does my name have a meaning?"

"I don't know. I should think so, knowing your parents, but I've never come across it."

Nia finished the loaf and stood. "What do you want me to do first, Nana?"

Nana glanced at Nia and scowled. "That was the last loaf of bread, Nia. You know you're only supposed to eat half."

Nia grabbed the broom and began sweeping the dirt floor. "Sorry, Nana, but I was starving, and I didn't catch anything last night. I tell you what; the baker still owes me for the boar I brought him. I'll pick up some more bread and say his debt's paid off."

"Nia, please do consider the recent famine. The village is still struggling to recover."

"I know, Nana." Aaernia leaned the broom against the wall, grabbed her satchel, and hurried out. It had grown quite light, causing her to feel a bit uncomfortable. She hated being so visible. Even so, she walked slowly to the baker's hut.

Unndis, the baker's daughter, sat beside the door, weaving a basket. "Hello, Aaernia," she said, "come for more bread?"

Nia nodded and took a handful of herbs out of her sack. "Is this enough for a loaf?"

"Why, it's thyme! Aaernia, you found thyme! I'll get you two loaves."

Aaernia shook her head. "No, just one. This thyme hasn't got much flavor. But I do have a good grinding stone, if that will suffice for a second loaf."

Unndis took the thyme and the stone gratefully and returned with three loaves of bread. "Father said the third one's in thanks for the boar, and for a taste of home while you're in Asgard."

"Nana's told you, then?"

"Yes, she's told the whole village! Tell me, why is it you only go to Asgard for the first time now? After all, you were born there, and Fraya, your Nana, said your parents had lived there their entire lives."

Nia cocked her head. "Good question. I never thought to ask, but I will now. Goodbye."

Unndis waved as Nia walked away. "Goodbye, Aaernia!"

Instead of returning home, Aaernia went to the carpenter's. Langley sat on a chair, a whittling knife in one hand and a thick chunk of oak in the other. Aaernia tossed him a flint stone. He caught it without turning his attention from his work and set it on the table beside him. Aaernia pulled up a chair and began picking the wood shavings from his curly brown hair.

"You should really be more careful about where you sleep, Langley."

Langley leaned into her. "I'm a full two years older than you today, Night Life."

"I know, and your father would be proud of you. Your skill has far surpassed his. And you'll only be a year older than me again in three months. Unless you want to be technical," she added, grinning.

"We have our system. Let's stick to it. My father would agree to that, too."

Nia rested her head on Langley's shoulder. "You still miss him, don't you, Woodpecker?"

"I will always miss him," Langley breathed, blowing shavings off the wood he was working on. "Do you remember the day he finally convinced us to get along?"

"Yes."

"He said we were like siblings, always fighting about everything, and that meant that we were also like best friends, because though siblings fight, they're also best friends. So he told us to act like siblings. And we did." Langley always told you everything you knew when he was only half absorbed in his work.

"Mm-hm. And we still squabble, but tamely." Nia was happy to go along with it. "Am I right, big brother?"

"That you are, little sister." Langley stared at the wood in his hand for a moment longer, set it down, and got up. "Now, it's time for business. Did you bring me the yew you promised?"

Aaernia stood and set her satchel down. "It's in the shed, along with some salted meat."

"Good. Here is your pendant." He handed her a small wooden wheel attached to a leather string. Carved on its face was a depiction of the forest, centered with a full moon rising. Hiding among the trees and bushes were all kinds of woodland creatures; wolves, rabbits, birds, and even a stag and his doe. Around the rim was carved an intricate knot without beginning or end. A Celtic knot, Langley called it. He claimed it originated from a group of people living outside the forest.

"Langley, it's beautiful," she breathed. "You've truly outdone yourself this time."

"I knew you'd like it, Night Life. I hope it reminds you of why you love the night so much. And the forest."

Nia threw her arms around him. "Oh, Langley, it does. I can't thank you enough. It will be you and the forest I miss most when I'm gone."

"You will tell me about Asgard when you get back, won't you?"

Nia squeezed Langley tighter. "Of course I will."

Ж

Aaernia stared at the few stars still dwindling in the pre-dawn sky. It would be the last time she would see those stars for three nights. Nana called to her from inside the hut. Nia sighed, got to her feet, and picked up the blanket she'd been lying on. Nana had forbidden her to get dirty again after her meticulous efforts to make Nia 'presentable' the day before. She ignored Nana's scolding as she sat at the table and began picking at one of the loaves of bread she'd brought back yesterday.

"Aaernia, put some proper clothes on. You'll not be going to Asgard in rags."

Nia stopped picking at the bread. "Nana, why have I not visited Asgard until now?"

Nana's reply was quick; thoughtless and almost rehearsed. "Because when your mother went to fight beside your father she left you in my care, and she wanted you to remain in my care. She instructed me to protect you, and said that she only wanted me to take you to Asgard when I thought you old enough. In my eyes, you will always be the little child Dagnija entrusted to me, but now Odin requests your presence for the banquet in honor of Prince Thor. It is time I put my own feelings aside and see the truth. You have grown into a fine young woman, Aaernia, and it is time you go to Asgard."

Nia nodded slowly. "But why does the Allfather want me in particular?"

"Because you are the daughter of his closest friend and most faithful captain." Nana put a hand on her hip. "And you're finally old enough for him to steal from under my nose."

Nia smiled and hugged her old caretaker. "What can I wear, Nana? I haven't got anything in even moderately good condition."

Nana pried herself loose from Aaernia and took the nibbled bread. "What about that leather outfit you believe I don't know about?"

Nia started. "Y-you know about that?"

"Of course I do. Under your cot is a terrible hiding place. Now put it on, it's a nice costume."

"It's armor," Nia muttered as she lifted her cot. She'd made the armor herself, and she was very proud of it. She'd worked on it for months, stressing over every detail. She'd even traded for the finest leather attainable from the forest traders.

Nana went outside to let Aaernia change. When she returned she regarded the girl with a critical eye. "This will suffice. The, uh, armor, is very well made. The majority of the stitches are even, and they're all the right tension. I knew you'd put effort into it. Now I truly see how much."

Aaernia held her head high. Nana was complimenting her craftsmanship, something that she hadn't done in years. She ran a loving hand over the leather. It was varying shades of brown, and though at first glance it appeared simple, it was edged with intricate knots and braids, adding just the right amount of adornment. It wasn't skin tight, but it had molded quite well to her body.

Nana packed the two loaves of bread and opened the rickety door. "Come, it's time to go."

Nia grabbed her satchel, put on her pendant, and followed Nana outside. She looked up. Only one star still hung in the sky. It twinkled gaily, as though it were saying goodbye. Aaernia smiled, and turned her attention to the path ahead.

"Here we are."

They were just outside the village, close to the lake. Aaernia was about to set her bag down but Nana shook her head.

"Stand beside me. The gatekeeper of Asgard will open the Bifrost and we will travel through it."

"The Bifrost…?" Nia began. She was suddenly wrenched into a multicolored funnel, pulled forward at unimaginable speed. Just as suddenly, she was standing on firm ground again in the grandest, richest place she had ever seen. Her mouth fell open. She took a step, faltered, and Nana caught her. A tall, dark skinned Asgardian in magnificent gold armor set his gaze on them. Nia's jaw snapped shut.

"Welcome," the man said, his deep, wise voice rumbling through the chamber, "to Asgard."