Chapter 20

The Elves

The elves were more than happy to accommodate the Valkyrie and her companions. When Silmeria requested a chance to rest and rejuvenate in their village, the leader, a slender, emerald-haired woman dressed in an elegant ivory dress, exclaimed, "Imagine! A chance to serve a goddess and her Einherjar! What fortune has fallen us this evening!"

The first order of business had been to see the local healer. The soft-spoken woman explained to Alicia that healing magic was great for battle, but it was like a bandage; some things needed a bit more care.

After their wounds had been tended, they were fed a hearty meal of grains and vegetables.

Once their bellies were full, they took a trip to the healing springs.

Steam rose from the hot spring. Wrapped in a soft plush towel, Alicia dipped a toe in, trying to stall the inevitable. Silmeria, on the other hand, threw off her towel and bared all as she waded into the spring as though she were going to war. Alicia responded by wrapping the towel a bit more tightly around her body. Silmeria closed her eyes and slipped into the water. After a moment of relaxing in the water, she opened an eye to see Alicia had finally put both feet into the water.

"You'd battle a powerful wizard with a vengeance, but you're afraid to expose your own body?"

Alicia balled her fists. "I'm not afraid! It's just hot!"

Silmeria raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie to me. It's not like I haven't seen it before. It was once my body, remember?"

Alicia yelped. "Stop it! I'm coming!" Slowly, she waded to her knees, taking great care to make sure the towel did not slip.

Silmeria let out an annoyed sigh as she hoisted herself up and marched at Alicia. "No!" protested the princess, knowing what was coming. "I'm coming! Really!" Silmeria grabbed Alicia's wrist and pulled the towel off of her body in one fell swoop.

Alicia screamed and dropped into the water, throwing her arms across her breasts. "You didn't need to do that!" she cried.

Silmeria snorted. "You have deep cuts and other injuries all over your body. Covering those injuries with a towel will hinder the healing process. It is just you and me here, there is no need for modesty."

Alicia mumbled an inaudible reply, walking in her squatting position as she followed Silmeria into the deeper water. Just below the surface, chairs had been fashioned out of rock and wood, so that anyone in the healing spring could just sit and relax as the vapors worked their magic.

After a few moments of silence, Silmeria spoke up. "Are you ready for this?"

Alicia tilted her head to the side. "For what?"

"Valhalla."

Alicia sighed. "Yes. There's really nothing left for me here on Midgard. I admit that I'm a little nervous…"

"Will you stay?" Silmeria interrupted.

"In Asgard? Can I even do that?" A horrible though crossed Alicia's mind. "Are you going to kill me and make me an Einherjar?" She gave Silmeria a look of disgust.

"No, I have no intentions of doing anything of the sort. But you are a human. Even with your status, I don't think the gods will let you stay as a human forever."

"Well then, what do you have in mind?"

Silmeria sat in silence as she contemplated the words she needed. "Would you become a Valkyrie?"

Alicia's eyes widened. "W-what? How would I even do that? Is that even allowed?"

"It is allowed if Rufus allows it."

Alicia dropped her head and stared into the water. "I guess – I guess I don't really know."

"You were supposed to be one anyway. Odin failed to join our souls, but if he had been successful, you surely would have been a Valkyrie." Silmeria sighed again. "Just consider it, Alicia." With those final words on the subject, she stood from her place in the hot spring and left the water.

Alicia stared at her hands. Me? A Valkyrie?

For the next few hours, Alicia remained lost in her thoughts, barely comprehending what Silmeria had just asked of her. She wrestled into her nightgown and robe, all the while thinking of what Rufus might say to her suggestion. She didn't even know if he would speak to her once she arrived, let alone allow her to stay as a Valkyrie. A soft knock at the door snapped her thoughts back to the present.

"Lezard wanted to see you," Arngrim announced.

"Oh, okay," she replied softly. She closed the door to her room, and saw the magician leaned up against the doorframe to his own room.

"Alicia, I would like to show you something," Lezard motioned for her to join him at the door. He kept the door closed just enough so that she could not see what he was hiding.

"Should I be worried?" she asked. "The last time you showed me something, you tried to kill me."

Lezard chuckled and pushed the door open. Alicia quickly covered her mouth with her hands to stifle the sound of her gasp. "Lezard..." she whispered.

A white shirt will bell-shaped sleeves, a brown vest lined with gold cord, and a short blue skirt lay spread out upon his bed. A headband sat on a blue-green piece of cloth next to the ensemble. It was the outfit that she had traveled in during her previous life.

"How did you...how can this be?" Alicia stammered.

"It's a spell," answered the magician. "I took some ordinary clothes and cast a spell so that they would have the same appearance as your old clothes. It's not perfect, but..."

"It is perfect," replied Alicia. "Why did you do this?"

Lezard reached a hand up to scratch the back of his head as a sheepish grin spread across his face. "I guess I thought Rufus would like to see you as he remembers you. Consider it my gift."

"Oh, Lezard... you have changed." Alicia threw her arms around the magician. "Thank you."

For the first time in weeks, Alicia had a restful night of sleep. Perhaps there was something special in the air, or perhaps it was the relief that their pursuer had been vanquished, but Alicia loved it.

When dawn came and roused her, Alicia could hardly contain her joy. Despite the new opportunity to relax and rest, Silmeria insisted that they press onward to Asgard. Alicia was absolutely thrilled at this news. She was finally on her way to see Rufus!

Alicia wasted no time in throwing on her old traveler's clothing. She briefly stopped to admire herself in a mirror. She frowned at the reflection. Despite the rest she had gotten the night before, dark circles remained under her eyes, which had slightly sunken in. Her image gave the appearance of someone in desperate need of sleep and food. A thought crossed her mind about how awful she must have appeared before receiving the healing magic of the elves.

Even this little setback could not spoil her mood. She would get rest at her final destination in Asgard. Rufus had seen her during her travels before…surely he would not be appalled by her less-than-gorgeous appearance.

Alicia trotted out of her bungalow, humming softly. Silmeria was conversing with the elven leader while Arngrim and Lezard seemed to be engaged deep conversation. Noticing the former princess' presence, Silmeria motioned for the elf to follow her in Alicia's direction.

As the woman approached, Alicia bowed deeply. "Thank you so much for everything you've done," she stated.

The woman smiled. "It has been our pleasure. It is not often that we have the opportunity to serve humans."

"The gates of Bifrost are not far from here. We will take our leave. Please take care. Your generosity will not be forgotten." Silmeria noticed that the two men were still lost in their own conversation. "Lezard and Arngrim, it is time we are off."

"Right," grunted Arngrim. "Let's go."

Lezard seemed a bit reluctant to follow, but did not linger.

It was nice to travel without fear of attack. The quartet seemed more lighthearted and the journey to the huge boulder that guarded the gate seemed short. The towering rock had not changed at all since Alicia's last visit. Out of sheer curiosity, she touched the rock as though it would give way to her. The firmness of it seemed to mock her, reminding her all too well of the fact that she could not pass in her human state.

Arngrim cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "This is where I will have to take my leave," he announced. "I will not be accompanying you to Asgard."

"What?!" cried Alicia. "But Arngrim, you've worked so hard to come this far! Why would you leave us now?"

"If I were to leave Midgard, we'd have a repeat of history. Don't forget, I'm the guardian of the Dragon Orb." He raised a heavy arm to gently pat the sack slung over his shoulder.

Alicia's heart sank at the sight of the sack. She had completely forgotten about Arngrim's duty. That sack had been so common-looking that she had forced the thought of the Orb being inside it to the back of her mind.

"But…"

"There's no way to change his mind," interjected Lezard. "I have already tried."

Alicia looked at the ground. Arngrim laughed. "Don't fret, little princess. I've been a noble Einherjar, and my lord will be pleased to know that I've kept his Valkyrie and his friend safe."

"Halt!" shouted a firm voice from the trees. Three armor-clad men ran out of the trees, weapons drawn and ready to attack.

"Ah good, the Aesir have not forsaken their post," stated Silmeria with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Lady Silmeria!" The leader lowered his weapon as his eyes moved to Alicia. "And Lady Alicia!" Immediately, the guards lowered their weapons and dropped to one knee.

Alicia's eyes widened at the sight of the guards kneeling to them. It felt very strange to see them showing her a sign of respect when the last time she was here, they had tried to kill her.

"Is Heimdall nearby? I need to speak with him."

"I will summon him right away Lady Silmeria." The head guard stood and ran right away. His companions followed.

"That was strange," whispered Alicia. "Why would they kneel to me?"

Silmeria smiled mischievously. "The Aesir may be arrogant, but when a human saved their world, they were served a bit of humble pie." The Valkyrie's look softened as her eyes met Alicia's. "To them, you are a god. Your connection to Rufus also raises your status."

Alicia blushed. "Oh," she whispered softly.

"Lady Silmeria Valkyrie! It has been too long," boomed a voice that approached from the trees.

"Indeed it has, Heimdall."

"Lady Alicia! Our meeting this time is much more congenial."

Alicia nodded in reply.

Heimdall's eyes narrowed at the sight of Lezard. He pointed an accusatory finger, "and for what reason does this scum desecrate the sacred land of the elves?"

Silmeria cast a sideways glance at the magician. "That is why we are here. Alicia and I have brought his human reincarnation to be delivered to Lord Rufus himself. Surely our lord deserves retribution for the havoc this man has wreaked upon our lands." Lezard stiffened and took a step back against the rock. "The problem is that he and Alicia are human, and we need to get through the gate."

"I will lift the spell at the entrance so that they may pass."

Alicia's jaw dropped. "It's just a spell?"

Heimdall nodded. "But a powerful one which only I can lift." He raised his right arm and muttered a short phrase. The image of the rock swirled and showed the entrance to the cavern. "Go quickly, for I cannot keep the gate open for long."

"Thank you. Let's go." Silmeria grabbed Lezard by the hand and dragged him into the cavern. Alicia followed, but paused to take one last look at Arngrim.

The warrior had a broad grin across his face and waved a heavy arm at her.

The trio silently ran through the cave. The damp rock walls and the chill in the air created a place in which none of them wanted to be for long.

A brilliant light came into view, indicating that they were nearing the exit of the cave. Alicia's sharp intake of breath startled Lezard.

"It's as beautiful as I remember," she whispered.

A/N: Yay! I got another chapter out this week. I am aiming to have the complete story uploaded by the end of the year. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!