Disclaimer:The characters and ideas used in this story do not belong to me.

A/N: As always, thanks to the reviewers! There'll be no lemon; I decided to keep this at a PG-13 rating. Enjoy and review please!

Chapter four: Dreams and decisions

Siegfried, running, a look of terror upon his face. Something chasing him. Something transparent. It cannot be seen but he looks at it with such peril. He runs from it with such fear. It cannot be defeated by swords. His sword lying on the ground. Awake with glee. Awake and anticipating. Siegfried running faster, yet slowing down all the same. The knight stopping. Waiting. Overtook by his unseen foe.

Siegfried, gone. Vanished. Still air. The sword, gone. Vanished. Still air.

Pyrrha and Patroklos playing in the village. Sun shining. The happiness of children shines. Running along. Playing a game. The game has stopped. The curiosity of children peaks. Something lying on the ground. Glowing. Evil. Shards. A small hand reaches out to touch one.

Alight with a sickening fervor.

Pyrrha, lying, dead. Patroklos, clutching the shard. Looking at his sister. Glaring at his sister. Unknowing to what he has done. Only a boy. Only a child. No experience with death. It has begun.

Sophitia sat up in bed abruptly. Sweat poured off of her body in copious amounts. She looked around the room taking in the peaceful silence. Rothion was lying next to her still sound asleep. Sophitia marveled what her husband could sleep through.

There were important things to be considered. The dream. Sophitia climbed out of bed and went into her children's room. Pyrrha, the younger of the two was fast asleep clutching the doll that Rothion had made for her when she was born. Patroklos was also asleep but was tossing around the bed as he did every night. Satisfied that her children were safe Sophitia headed outside where she often found solitude to sort out her thoughts.

Her family's cottage was located on the highest peak of the village. Sophitia had remained there, never feeling desire to leave the hometown she loved so dearly. Not feeling any desire after Siegfried had left, never looking back.

Although Sophitia was thinking it over, she knew immediately what she had to do. Many similar dreams had been haunting her concerning Siegfried but never had she dreamed of her children obtaining the soul edge. She had been confident in the fact that she had destroyed it those years ago.

Nobody had known of her leaving. She had been haunted by dreams and callings and had decided to hunt down that which was causing her so much grief. That had been a year after she had met Siegfried.

Sophitia now worried for him. A girl who held firm beliefs of her gods, she always trusted dreams. The first time she had been right to trust them. And she would do so again. Another journey. She knew she must leave quietly. She felt that time was a factor and could be wasted trying to explain to Rothion where she was headed.

She headed back to the house and quietly gathered what she would need. Traveling with a light load was crucial if she wanted to move swiftly. She was about to leave when she stopped at the door. Turning to look at her husband, her gaze was soft. She loved her husband but never in the way she had wanted to. Never had she felt the passion she had felt with her few short-lived moments with Siegfried. Moving to the bed, she kissed Rothion gently on the forehead.

Making her way down the stairs and to the door she was stopped by a voice behind her. She cursed inwardly upon recognizing her sisters voice. Only Cassandra had suspected her previous journey although Sophitia had never told her outright. Cassandra had always been curious even as a child.

"Where are you headed off to at this hour?" Cassandra asked, voice slightly accusatory.

"I must leave. And it must be now."Sophitia replied, feeling her exasperation rise.

"I am going with you."

"I don't have time for this Cassandra!"

"You can explain to me as we travel. I am going with you."Cassandra looked set.

Sophitia let out a groan of frustration. The last thing she wanted to do was to put her sister in danger. Yet Cassandra was a skilled fighter and would make good company. Sophitia wasn't ready for an argument that would waste precious minutes.

"You may come. You must be quick and you must know that we will have to fight." Sophitia said.

Her sister nodded. "I will be mere seconds."

Cassandra was back and prepared shortly after, dressed in similar wear to Sophitia and clutching her weapon. Sophitia smiled at her gratefully, wanting to express her gratitude. Recognizing her sister's loyalty, she knew then that it was necessary that she explain to Cassandra all that she had kept from her over the years. Sophitia knew her sister would ask questions as it was in her curious nature.

The two left and headed out the village soon after. Sophitia was trying to decide where they should start. On her first journey she often dreamed of the place. So far she didn't have many leads. The decision had been made to follow in Siegfried's path as she knew it was linked. But where would Siegfried be now? It had been so long ago and he had left no trace of where he was going. 'It will come to me.' She thought to herself.

"What route will we take?" Cassandra asked her, speaking for the first time since their departure.

"We will head toward the boats leaving Athens. We will decide what to do from there." Sophitia replied.

"You do not know our destination?" Cassandra looked surprised.

"I will know soon." She replied again, hoping to direct Cassandra off of the topic.

Her sister stopped attempting to converse and the two fell, once again, into an awkward silence. Sophitia knew that Cassandra was bursting with questions and would not hesitate for long to getting into asking them.

The two continued their trudge until the darkness threatened to blanket them. They stopped and forged a makeshift camp. Sophitia built a fire and they sat down watching the glowing embers as neither were yet ready for sleep. Cassandra served to break the silence again.

"What is it we hunt for sister?" She asked, clearly unable to hold in the question any longer.

Sophitia heaved a great sigh. She knew now was the time that she stopped keeping secrets. Stop holding back all that she had been through and all that she wished had been different.

"The lost shards of the soul edge." Sophitia started.

"Soul edge?"

"Do you remember all those years ago when I left?" Sophitia asked her.

Cassandra nodded. "I do."

"Dreams of the evil sword filled my head for many months before I left. Somehow I knew that this sword was my enemy. Everything that it would destroy would destroy me too."

"What did you foresee it destroying?" Her sister asked curiously.

"Four years ago when I was twenty-one, A man came to our village. His name was Siegfried Schtauffen. He looked to be a knight of some sorts and his leg was badly wounded." Sophitia told her, remembering the moment clearly.

"Why did no one else know of this?"

"He asked me to be kept a secret and that I help him. I healed his leg with the best of my knowledge." Sophitia said.

"There's more." Cassandra stated.

"Yes." Sophitia nodded. "I love Rothion very much. But that day Siegfried made me feel as I've never felt before. They are feelings I cannot even begin to describe. He . . . he kissed me."

"What then happened?"

"He left. He told me he loved me. I was dreaming of him being haunted. Somehow I always knew it was that sword and I wanted to help him"

"Your dreams of this have been reawakened?" Cassandra asked; Her gaze was serious.

Sophitia nodded again.

"This time they are worse. I dream of Siegfried being chased by and evil force. He is scared Cassandra. But I also dream of Pyrrha and Patroklos being taken by the remaining shards. That is why I must destroy it." Sophitia finished.

"What happens if you save Siegfried?" Cassandra asked carefully.

"I firmly believe that Siegfried is the one I must be with. I never wished pain on Rothion but I was selfish and thought I would lose the memories if I married him." Sophitia muttered in a low voice.

"Do not call yourself down. I believe you have made the right decisions. By marrying Rothion you have two beautiful children whom you love." Cassandra laid a hand on Sophitia's shoulder.

"You're right. I must save them. I owe it to them and to Siegfried."

Sophitia's determination was restored. Cassandra had helped her realize the purpose of her quest. Her children. Her love.

"In your dreams . . . " Cassandra started, then trailed off.

"Yes?"

"What do you see of Siegfried?" Her sister finished.

"He is trapped. Trapped inside of a place that causes him great peril. He is calling out to me Cassandra. I must save him."

I forgot the name of Cassandra's weapon for this chapter. Does anyone know it? As always, review please! :):):)