Ava woke to the sound of a battle horn outside of her window. It caused her to jump and fall out of bed. She let out a groan. "I've been here for a week...you'd think I'd be used to the horn by now." She muttered to herself as she stiffly rose and walked over to her wardrobe.
Her entire body ached and was covered in bruises. The first three days, they had worked with the wooden staffs, Ava still no closer to getting any better at it. The next three days, they had covered hand-to-hand combat, no weapons. Skuld had kept being Ava's personal tutor when everyone paired off.
There was a knock on her door just then. "Ava, are you ready?" Irene asked from the other side.
"Just a minute." Ava answered as she pulled on the last of her clothing. She then walked out of the door.
"You look wore out." Irene observed.
"Just a bit." Ava answered.
They then walked to the dining hall, where breakfast was awaiting them. Once they had finished the meal, Skuld rose to make an announcement. "Everyone get ready. We are going to go for some training out in the forest."
Ava finished her breakfast and then went to get ready just as the others did. They all then met outside the entrance to the castle. "Alright, this is going to be an endurance run." Skuld announced.
Ava felt her stomach sink and every muscle in her body give out a collective groan. How am I going to do this? Ava thought to herself.
"We are going to start the run from here, go through the fields and the forest, then we are going to run to the beach and then back here." Skuld explain.
So basically a loop around the island? Ava thought to herself. Maybe this won't be that bad. She tried thinking positively. That lasted until the run actually started and Ava's muscles were screaming at her. Ava felt her chest burning with every breath she took...and they hadn't even made it from the forest.
I...I am going to die. Ava thought to herself as she finally entered the forest, the last in the line. As she ran through the trees, she felt her head begin to swim. While she had run through the forest of Alfheim with Loki, this was completely different. This was hard work and she was having to run harder to try to keep up with everyone.
They reached a hill in the forest and began to run up it. Ava got about half way up, when her foot landed in a hole and she was tumbling backwards. She let out a scream as she fell and rolled down the hill. She came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, landing flat on her back, in a thorn bush with her right arm awkwardly and painfully behind her back.
Skuld and the others had stopped and turned to see what had happened. Skuld was instantly kneeling down at Ava's side. "Ava, are you alright?" She asked.
"I...uhg..." Ava managed to groan out.
"Come on ladies, we have to help our sister." Skuld said.
It was then that Ava felt several hands on her, helping her to get up off of the bush and sit up. As she sat up, Ava felt a severe pain in her right shoulder and she let out a cry of pain. "Her shoulder has been dislocated." Ava heard one of the Valkyries say. "And I would say her ankle is sprained rather severely."
"Ava." Skuld's voice said from right next to her.
"Yes?" Ava groaned, closing her eyes to the pain and dizziness she felt.
"We're going to have to pop your shoulder back in place...it's going to be rather painful." Skuld said, her tone taking one of motherly concern.
Ava felt them lying her back down, flat on the ground. Someone gripped her arm and placed their foot in her armpit. There was a quick motion and Ava felt her shoulder snapping painfully back into place. She cried out at the sudden pain and tears filled her eyes.
"Alright ladies, let's help Ava get back to the castle where we can treat her better and she can rest." Skuld ordered.
Ava liked the sound of the word rest. She then felt herself being pulled up into a standing position. Her arms were draped over the shoulders of two different people. Ava opened her eyes and looked around. Skuld and Irene were on either side of her while the rest of the Valkyries formed a supportive circle around them.
"You are not alone here." Skuld whispered to her.
Ava was carried back to the castle. She was cleaned up and given a fresh change of clothes, some more loose fitting comfortable clothes, no leather or metal. Her leg was wrapped and her arm was put in a sling. She was then taken back to her room where she could rest.
Ava slipped in and out of consciousness for the next few hours. Every time she would wake, she felt someone placing a cool cloth on her forehead, or bringing a cup of cool water to her lips, or tending to her aches and injuries, sometimes even just stroking her hair in a loving way.
After several hours, Ava woke up. She saw Skuld sitting in a chair at her bedside. "How are you feeling, Ava?" She asked.
"Better...I think." Ava answered. "Have...have you been personally caring for me?"
Skuld smiled. "Of course. I like to make sure all of my warriors are well."
"I'm not much of a warrior." Ava replied. "Getting taken down by a hill."
"You have to give yourself more credit." Skuld replied. "You're doing quite well."
Ava slowly began to sit up. Skuld moved to help her. "Thank you." Ava said.
"You're welcome. Do you need more water?" Skuld asked.
Ava shook her head. "No, thank you."
"What's on your mind?" Skuld inquired, able to tell that there was something bothering her.
Ava felt the tears begin to form in her eyes and spill over her cheeks. "Can I go home?" She asked.
"Why?" Skuld asked.
"I...I am not cut out for this." Ava answered. "And I miss my home. I miss Loki and Frigga and Thor and Eira. I miss my family...and I am no warrior."
"I know you miss them, Ava." Skuld replied. "But you will get to go home, but the time is not yet right for you."
"Why did you choose me, Skuld?" Ava asked. "I am not meant to be a warrior. I am weak and pathetic. This last week has proven that, especially today. I mean look at me."
"I am looking at you." Skuld replied.
"Do you not see how weak and pathetic I am? How worthless I am? I am not a warrior." Ava replied.
"You are not weak or pathetic." Skuld replied. "You are a very strong and capable woman. I know all you endured from your father. It takes a strong person to endure that pain for years and still have hope."
"You still haven't told me...why you chose me." Ava replied. "I mean, we have so many capable warriors on Asgard...and I am not one. Why did you choose me?"
"I chose you for that reason." Skuld replied. "Do you think I have always been this strong warrior queen? I haven't. I grew up in a situation much like yours. My mother died when I was a child. My father was cruel and abusive to me. I was so happy when I married and moved out of my father's house, thinking I had found my salvation...however my husband didn't turn out to be as kind and winderful as yours."
"You mean...he was just as terrible as your father?" Ava asked.
Skuld nodded. "Yes...but then I became pregnant and he seemed much better. He started treating me more kindly knowing that I carried our child...and I actually began to fall in love with him and things were working out...then our village was attacked. My husband was killed and I lost the child."
"I am sorry...I never knew." Ava replied.
"Thank you." Skuld replied. "But like you, I had no confidence in myself...but then I had nothing left to lose, so it didn't matter to me anymore. I wanted revenge for everything I had lost. So, I learned to fight anything anyone would teach me. I ended up finding a master who taught me everything that I know now, along with much more. She taught me that revenge wasn't the answer and gave me a new purpose in life."
"What was that purpose?" Ava asked.
"To help other women in similar situations such as myself. To help other women gain confidence and strength in themselves." Skuld explained. "To help them see the fire they have burning inside and bring it out...and you Ava...you have a very bright fire, but you haven't learned how to let it burn yet."
"I doubt that." Ava replied.
"Ava, that is why I have chosen you." Skuld replied. "I see within you what you cannot see in yourself. You have a fire within you. It is only but a spark now, but if you will allow me to teach you, we will kindle that fire."
"Do...do you really believe I can do this?" Ava asked.
Skuld nodded. "I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't." She answered. "And remember you are not alone. While I know you miss your family, while you are here, come to think of us as your family. We are your sisters here. We are here to help you."
Ava couldn't believe what she was hearing. Skuld had just given her her life story and was saying that she wanted to help her.
"I bet you, that I can even help you unlock a power you didn't even know you had." Skuld added.
"What power?" Ava asked.
Skuld smiled. "Will you stay and allow me to teach you and help you?"
Ava debated for a few moments. Everything Skuld was saying sounded so nice. "Okay."
A grin tugged at the corners of Skuld's lips. "Good."
