Good Morning Smár Einn!
Thank you to Mel and Jill!
.: Þrír Tigir ok Sjau :.
Several days have passed, and there is still no land in sight. Sometimes, the crew rows, sometimes the wind guides us. I don't know who is leading this expedition, or how they are navigating, but the longer it takes, the more I worry. Will we ever see land again?
The endless blue and silver is starting to mess with my mind. During the day, I can mostly ignore the frantic tone of my thoughts, but at night, my dreams haunt me.
I stir on our bench, waking with a frantic heart. Katla is curled into my body, and she barely stirs as I sit up. The next bench over, Rúna and Hugi are curled up together with Foli at her back. I look down at sweet Katla, making sure she is secure between Tove's body and my bedroll before I get up, heading for the edge of the ship. Most everyone is asleep, spread out on benches around the ship, though a few stay awake to watch our progress.
They ignore me, knowing by now my restlessness at night.
I don't know what the dreams are of. They leave my mind as soon as I wake, but I'm left feeling unsettled and anxious each time.
I settle by the prow of the ship, gazing out at the crystalline black water. The surface is lightly choppy, the wind strong enough to keep us moving but light enough not to disrupt most of the water.
I can see the reflection of the almost full moon, fractured on the ocean surface, like spilled silver. I want to reach out and scoop it up.
The rocking of the boat is hypnotic, pulling me into a trance as I stare at the glittering water.
He's sitting beside me in the grass, his silver eyes catching the moonlight… He stares at me, eyes flashing warnings with starlight.
I blink, shifting in my seat and frown. I try to shake the thoughts from my mind. I let out a long yawn, leaning against the bench I'm curled up on and settling down lower to keep gazing out at the water, even as I start to drift to sleep.
His eyes are moonlight, as he leans over me. The weight of his body is heavy as he sinks over me… "What devious spells have you cast upon me, Little Witch?"
Bone white teeth flash through utter darkness, the cold choking me, freezing my lungs, my heart, my blood… "Bend to me, Pet. We will trade secrets."
Visions of blood pouring out of lily-white skin… scaly fingers reaching from black waters… ebony wings against white snow… stars pouring out sorrow as they sing laments…
"Welcome home, child. We have been waiting ever so long for you…"
I feel the frigid water close in around me, choking me, and when I wake, it's with a gasp, sucking in air so sharp I'm almost screaming.
"Smár Einn," Edvard says, coming to my side, his face etched with worry. I look up at him, and for a moment, his eyes are silver and he is shining like the sun.
"Edward, you have a beard," I say, my voice thin. "When did you grow a beard?" My fingers lift to his face to feel the rough, foreign texture.
He shakes his head gently out of my grasp.
"Smár Einn, I do not understand these words. Speak to me in my tongue," he begs softly.
Slowly, the stars dim above us, and Edvard's eyes turn dark as they should be at night.
I blink, shaking the last remnants of memories clinging to my mind as I try to regain myself. "It was a dream," I tell him, my voice stiff as I struggle to speak his language. "A bad dream."
He stares at me warily, but I wave him off, climbing to my feet. I glance once more out at the sea, and for a terrible moment, I get trapped in my gaze, like I'm waiting for something to emerge and drag me to the depths.
There is something watching me.
It's a horrific thought, and I force myself to blink and look away. I glance at Edvard, who is obviously concerned, and I give him as much of a smile as I can.
"I'm going to return to sleep," I say softly. "Goodnight."
I move around him before he can say anything else, making my way back to the bench where Katla is still peacefully slumbering. I stretch out beside her, and she curls into my side, her small hands grabbing the ends of my hair. I smile at her and will the innocence on her face to me bring me true, proper rest.