Author's Note- Well, here it is, folks. ^^ My first Seventh Tower fanfic. Hmm… I know the coupling of Crow/Malen is pretty much unheard of, but I've taken a great liking to it. ^_^ Don't ask me how, I just think Crow needs someone… and Ta/Milla is the obvious coupling, so I thought, 'What about Malen?' And, poof! Crow/Malen was born. ^^ Hope you enjoy.
Copyright- I don't own Seventh Tower or its characters. They belong to Garth Nix, whom I worship.
Return to Aenir
Chapter One- Way to Aenir
"Malen! Where are you going?"
The young Crone stopped dead in her tracks. "I am going to the Emperor's residence, Sangel,"
"Ah," replied the one who had spoken. Sangel was also a Crone, but a much older Crone than Malen. She smiled lightly, her eyes sparkling. "Milla has already left to visit that boy… I assume you wish to accompany her?"
Malen looked at her through pale blue eyes. She was about to respond and say, 'No, that's not what I wanted to do,' but she decided against it. Saying something like that would only lead to more questions, and Malen couldn't afford that. Not with what she planned to do, at least.
"Yes," Malen replied humbly, bowing her head slightly. "I wish to visit Tal and the others."
"Very well then," Sangel nodded, smiling knowingly. "Please return in time for the ceremonies tonight… the Chosen are holding a banquet in honor of our return,"
Malen nodded, hardly hearing any of it. She was far too set on her task at hand and what it would require.
She darted out the door and down the hall, much less dignified than a Crone should be.
The Icecarls had returned to the Castle after a circling, as they had promised they would. The Chosen of the Castle had welcomed them, overjoyed. The aforementioned celebration had been scheduled immediately, and the Icecarls had taken temporary residence inside the Castle.
Malen's plan would not work if the banquet did not take place.
Dashing down the halls of the Red Tower, Malen looked around, making sure nobody was about.
There wasn't a soul in sight. Malen thanked the Crone for that.
She ducked into a storage room, which was basically empty, save for a few boxes and brooms…
Taking a deep breath, Malen pulled a treasure from her pocket- a glowing stone, about the size of her fist…
It was a Sunstone.
Malen had taken it from the Icecarl ship that morning while everyone else was entering the Castle. With everyone else on their way off the ship, it had been simple.
With the Sunstone, she could enter Aenir. Which was, of course, forbidden.
Not wasting a moment, Malen propped herself against the wall behind the boxes. If anyone entered the storage room, which was unlikely, she wouldn't be seen. Gripping the Sunstone tightly in her shaking hands, Malen closed her eyes.
She remembered exactly how Ebbitt had taken her into Aenir after the battle atop the Violet Tower. She'd been terrified then, and could hardly follow Ebbitt's words, but strangely, she remembered them exactly now.
She raised the Sunstone and began to recite the Way to Aenir. At the same time, the stone flashed with the colors that would begin the transfer. The hues poured over her, and she felt them course through her body, warm and somehow welcoming…
To complete the transfer, Malen fixed the image of the Old Khamsoul's spire in her mind. It was there that she would emerge in Aenir.
~*~
End Note- Whee! ^_^ Well, that's chapter one. Sorry it's so short… it will get more interesting from here. Review? Please? 0_0
