Vinland frowned when she woke up and found that she had grown half an inch. Kuma, now being able to walk, nuzzled her hand. "Let's get you so me food," she said to the bear, smiling as she brought him downstairs. Dagny paused when passing by her brother's door. "It doesn't make any sense. There's got to be a way to reverse it…" muttered her brother. She blinked and opened the door a slight crack, finding her brother speaking to himself.
"Lukas...Have you gotten any sleep?" she asked, frowning at the dark bags under her brother's eyes. "I'm fine Dagny," said Lukas without looking up, turning a page in the book he was reading. "I'm taking that as a no then," she said. "I'm fine," repeated Lukas. Dagny frowned and set Kuma in his lap, causing the two to blink. She huffed and went to the kitchen to do her best at making something edible.
Dagny came back and set a plate by him, smiling when she found Lukas petting Kuma as he read. "Bror, eat something, wash up, and get some sleep. I'll wake you up when Grandmother contacts us," she said. Lukas raised an eyebrow. "I said I was fine. Thanks for the food though," he said, being stubborn. Well two can play at that. She crossed her arms. "Do I have to tell Mathias and Berwald you're not taking care of yourself. Or Tino?" she asked. Lukas frowned and picked up the plate. "Fine," he said.
Dagny faintly smiled before sitting next to him. "Tak bror…" she said. Lukas blinked. "You're welcome, but for what?" he asked. "..For trying to help me. For caring so much," she said quietly. Lukas's face softened. "Well of course. I'm your big brother. You don't have to thank me. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you," he said. Dagny gently squeezed his knee. "I know you will," she said.
He smiles at her, ruffles her hair, and hands her the now-empty plate. "That was good Dagny. I'll get some sleep. I'm sure the others will be stopping by soon to talk to you. And don't worry about the townspeople. I already sent Berwald and Mathias to deal with them and also performed a spell so they wouldn't freak out too much. Wake me up if anything, and I mean anything," he said. She nods and picks up Kuma, leaving her older brother to get his much needed sleep.
Before she could even get to the kitchen, there was a knock on the door. She set Kuma on a chair before openning the door. "Hey! I came to see if you and Lukas were doing anything. I guess you're too old to play with bricks but I did bring some honey to experiment with! Also, Tino said that he was okay with you keeping the boots. They're old ones and he has a second pair he can use," he said.
"That's great. And I guess I don't mind playing with you for a little bit," she said, frowning slightly at the hurt face he had made when he thought he lost his building partner. His face brightened up. "Really!? I'll go get the block from your room!" he said before running upstairs. Dagny smiled and turned back to the meal she was attempting to cook for the other boys when they eventually showed up.
Aiyanna was making her fiftth knife that day when the rock she was carving into suddenly grew a mouth. She jumped and dropped it. "Well that's not a very nice way to greet your mother," huffed the rock. "I wasn't expecting you to just appear in the rock I'm trying to sharpen!" retorted Aiyanna, trying to get her heart to stop racing. "I'm sorry I dropped you though. It was my first reflex," she said.
"I understand dear. I have news for you," said Earth. "Could you please move out of the rock so I can continue working? The chief needs the knives by morning and I'm running behind," she said. "Of course dear," said Earth, switching to one of the rocks in Aiyanna's pile. "What's your news? Did something happen with one of the tribes? I haven't felt any different lately," she said.
"No, it's about Dagny and her siblings. They want to meet you," said Earth. Aiyanna squeezed the knife too hard, too upset to notice her hand start to bleed. "You told them about me? I told you to keep my existance hiden from them!" said Native America. "Darling, your hand is bleeding. And I have told you before, I love you. I love all of my children. But I will not favor one of them over another," said Earth plainly.
"Why did they want to see me? So they can give me the terms of my enslavement or subordination to them? Or so they could just cut the crap and conquer me?" Aiyanna growled, dropping the half-sharpened knife. The cuts on her hand instantly started healing. "They want to meet you peacefully because of Dagny. I had to tell them about you because I think you're the only person who might be able to help her," said Mother Earth.
Aiyanna blinked. "Help her? With what? She was perfectly fine last time I saw her and the weather hadn't been bad enough to affect any of her crops," she said. "The prophecy might be starting to rear its face or she might be on one of your old practice spots for when you were learing magic. She's in trouble. Her brother is trying to find a way to help her with magic, but his magic is foreign to this land," said Earth.
Aiyanna frowned, seeming to have lost her hostility. "What's wrong with the child?" she asked. "That's just it. She's a child no longer. It appears that after every contact she's made with you that she's gotten older. Her brothers say that they haven't seen anything like it. They want to talk to you and see if you have any idea about what's going or how to prevent it from getting worse," said Earth.
"How much older is she? She's not an old woman is she?" asked Aiyanna, her eyes widening. "No, she's about fifteen in human years. Wait, sixteen now. She grew a half inch last night. But she wasn't even in her teens when she went to bed last night. The jumps in aging have been increasing with every jump. Her brother is afraid that a few more jumps would be enough to kill her," said Earth.
"If this is some how related to me, why would they want me to come and meet with her again? Is she not coming?" asked Aiyanna, frowning. "She's coming...She's willing to risk the chance in order to make introductions between you and her family. She think it's linked to the prophecy, not you," said Earth. Aiyanna sighed. "I'll go, but only because the child needs help… and only if they agree to a peaceful meeting with no weapons," she said.
"They have already asked me if I could arrange and enforce that. When do you want the meeting?" asked Earth. Aiyanna glanced at the knives she still had to make. "Tonight," she said, figuring her chief would respect her decision when he found out what was going on. "That sounds perfect. I'll let them know. We will be waiting at the clearing east of here at the crack of dusk," she said.
Aiyanna nodded, watching as her mother's face disappeared from the stone. She sighed. Dagny must have been in big trouble if she told her brothers about her. As much as Aiyanna despised the foreigners, she felt bad that her brothers had somehow dragged her into this whole mess. This situation had nothing to do with her, she was just an innocent bystander.
Dagny and Mathias where building a castle when a face appeared on the bricks, making Mathias screech and knock down the west tower. Dagny tried not to laugh, pursing her lips together in an attempt to copy Lukas's mask of indifference. "Sorry dear, I didn't mean to startle you...Am I covered in honey?" she asked, the golden liquid dripping over where her nose was. Dagny couldn't help it, she started giggling.
Lukas came rushing out of his room. "Did Mathias embarrass himself?" he asked, sounding almost eager to see it. "N-No! I never embarrass myself! I was...just telling Dagny an awesome joke!" said Mathias. "Dear, I don't think anyone is going to believe that. Your jokes aren't that good," said Earth, causing Dagny to start giggling again. Lukas smirked, using a finger to catch the drop of honey on his grandmother's nose.
Mathia just rolled his eyes and gave them a good natured grin. "So I'm guessing that you heard back from Native America then?" he asked. Earth nodded, the bricks clacking against each other as she did. "Yes, she agrees to a peaceful meeting to try to figure out a way to help Dagny. She seems truly concerned about what is happening. We're meeting in the clearing west of here, between her home and yours. It'll be at dusk," said Earth.
"Okay, that sounds fine and all...but why are you getting so involved here. I know you haven't spoken to us in a while, ever really, and you can't get involved with our messes….but why are you helping us?" asked Lukas, eyebrow raised. "Oh look at the time. You know, I have a cow in Egypt to go feed. See you at dusk," said Earth, disappearing. They stared for a second before Mathias shrugged.
"Maybe she puts that much focus into everything. It's gotta be pretty boring to just kinda roam around without talking to anyone," he said. Lukas blinked. "What makes you think that?" he asked. "Well she is going to personally feed a cow in Egypt. Obviously she feels pretty lonely," said Mathias. Dagny and Lukas promptly facepalmed. "Right...Well...We'll ask again tonight when Aiyanna is there. Maybe that could give us an idea why," said Dagny.
Lukas nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Mathias, go tell Finland and Sweden. Dagny...Actually, Dagny you go tell the others. Mathias, you can clean up this mess you made on my floor. Why did you think that using honey was a good idea?" asked Lukas. "Anything's worth trying! Just watch, one day I'm going to make a building block that will bring everyone to their knees!" said Mathias, jokingly adding an evil laugh. Lukas smirked. "You? You're practically a puppy in human form," he said.
A few hours later, they gathered in Lukas's living room. He handed Berwald the spellbook this time, not wanting to hear Mathias whine about having to carry it two excursions in a row. "Everyone got what they need?" asked Mathias. "I have my list of questions!" said Tino, waving around a piece of parchment. "I have the supplies!" said Mathias. Berwald simply nodded and Dagny quietly shrugged on Lukas's old coat.
"Now to march off into the night...dusk. Any clue where we're going?" asked Mathias. "She said it was in a clearing west of us," said Lukas. "But there's like ten or fifteen clearings in that direction…" said Dagny pointedly. "Then I guess we just walk into the woods! Let's go!" said Mathias, marching off towards the woods. Dagny glanced at the other Nordics, whom just shrugged and followed Denmark.
"It's going to get dark soon...Do you really think it's a safe idea to just go walking in the woods with no real idea of where we're going?" asked Tino hesitantly. Mathias started to open his mouth to answer when all the branches near them started pointing in one direction. They all jumped, minus Lukas. "I'm guessing that's the direction we should be going in," said Lukas. "..Probably...Thanks Grandma!" said Mathias, recovering quickly and continuing on his way.
Before they could take a step further, vines swung down from the trees and began patting them down, sneaking into their clothes. Tino and Mathias let out manly yelps. Berwald made a face, trying not to swat at the vines. "No weapons. You're good to go," said the wind, starting and stopping briefly.
Lukas pulled the vines out of his coat. "Thanks. A warning next time would have been appreciated," he said flatly. "I just got felt up by our grandma," shuddered Mathias. A branch whacked the back of his head. "Don't take things out of context young man. Keep it up and I'm decreasing your protion of the harvest this month," came their grandmother's voice. Mathias rubbed the back of his head. "Y-Yes ma'am," he said.
"No go on you lot. It's going to get dark soon. Don't want you guys getting lost or hurt. Or attracting the wrong kind of crowd. Get going," said Earth, vines gently pushing them in the right direction. Dagny stumbled before following her brothers. "...Okay, what should we and shouldn't we do?" asked Mathias. "Be careful not to joke too much...she doesn't seem to be the joking type. Be respectful. And remember her way of doing things is different from ours," said Dagny.
"Right. So...treat her like one of the other country's bosses?" he asked. Lukas and Berwald nodded. "That sounds about right," said Tino cheerfully. They got quiet when they saw a light at the end of the tunnel of trees. There was a woman already seated by some fallen logs, tending to the fire. She looked up, frowning slightly at the four men. "Where's Dagny? How much older has she gotten?" she asked.
Dagny took a step forward. "I-I think I'm about sixteen in human years…." she said hesitantly. Aiyanna's eyes widened as she took in the girl. "...This is...alarming. I've never seen one of my child-I've never seen another personification grow so much in such a little amount of time without an accompanying boost in their land. Has your town grown in population or prosperity?" asked Aiyanna.
Dagny shook her head. "The opposite...Some of my settlers got sick…" she said. Aiyanna frowns. "Have you been showing any signs of sickness?" she asked, ignoring the males. Dagny shook her head. "It hasn't been bad enough to affect me yet. I haven't seen any correlation between them getting sick and my growth spurts. And our crops are adequate. I think it's related to the prophecy," she said.
Aiyanna frowned. "You do?" she asked, dropping her hand from the child's forehead. "What is the the propehcy about? How does it put you and Dagny together?" asked Lukas. Aiyanna frowned. "I don't know," lied Aiyanna, "But it doesn't have anything to do with Dagny. It shouldn't be affecting her, not like this," she muttered. Mathias took a step forward. "Dagny knew the gist of it but didn't know the exact wording. It could help us out if we knew what it was," he said.
Aiyanna frowned but eventually gave in, sighing. "Gather around the fire. I'm about to summon one of my spirits. Do not interfere with the chanting. Earth can verify that the spirit will bring us no harm. It is hear tell us of what's going on, nothing more nothing less. Don't pester it for questions and follow my lead. If we make it angry, it can find a way to make life miserable for us for a time," she said.
Dagny went to the fire and sat down next to Aiyanna, glancing at her brothers who had hesitated. "I've seen her do it before. It's cool. They won't hurt us. Will it be the Snake again Aiyanna?" she asked. Aiyanna shook her head. "No. I believe today will be the Elk. He is gentle and will be more patient with the newcomers. Now, please allow me to concentrate," she said, pulling out her pouches of dust.
Lukas glanced at a tree with Earth's face on it. "Don't worry dear. I know exactly what she's doing. If she was going to do anything that might be dangerous, that powder would be in the wind right now. I won't let anyone try anything. If someone does try something, I can assure you that I will make it very unplesant for them. So would the Spirit if you guys don't be respectful of it," said Mother Earth seriously.
Mathias gulped and and sat down next to the others, far away from the fire. Lukas sat next to Dagny, looking comfortable with the fire and the idea of what they were trying to do. Tino and Berwald sat down, not looking very interested in what was going on. Tino was observing Aiyanna and Berwald was rubbing his hands together, waiting for the magic to finish happening to say or do anything.
Aiyanna nodded her thanks for the quiet before beginning to mutter under her breath, sprinkling the various powdered rocks into the fire. After a few minutes, tongues of flames suddenly spat up, forming antlers. Eventually, the flames gave way to the image of an elk made out of smoke. The elk looked around. "What do you seek?" he asked, bowing his head slightly.
"Spirit, we ask for the prophecy once told to myself and Vinland. We seek enlightenment regarding it," said Aiyanna. Lukas's eyes widened. He had never seen magic like this before. It seemed impossible. This must have been what the others have felt when they saw him play around with his spells. The elk nodded. "So shall it be," he said before touching the fire with his antlers. Sparks flew up and started taking the shape of words:
'The death of the vine forces fates to interwine.
Fear brings the end; Not to become friends.
The death of a mother brings the birth of brothers.
A fate inversed that cannot be reversed.
The ending of a beginning'
Lukas's eyes widened when he read the first lines. "N-Nei...This can't be happening…" he said. Dagny swallowed and looked at her feet. She knew she was going to die. Her body already felt like it didn't belong to her. It was only a matter of time before she looked like her brother's grandmother. "I'm sorry boy, but this is what happens when fear is allowed to rule our minds," said the Elk.
Aiyanna frowned. "Who is the one you claim to be afraid here? Whose fear decides what happens?" she asked, sounding almost as if she was challenging the Elk. "Aren't you all here for one reason? You're all afraid. I fear that may not bound you together the way you need to be. For one thing alone has the power to turn that fear not into a glue but into a knife. It will eventually be your downfall," said the Elk.
Aiyanna glanced at the others. Berwald and Lukas were scowling, Tino looked confused, and Mathias looked bored. "I'm sure we'd be fine. You might not know this, but where we're from we're fearsome warriors called Vikings! I'm sure we can handle it!" he said when he noticed Aiyanna look at him. Dagny sighed, knowing what Elk was going to say. It was starting to get more and more obvious what her fate was. She wished she'll die of old age.
The Elk nods at Dagny. "She already has accepted her faith. Let that be the only thing that comforts you after all of this is done," he said, the lighting getting dark. "Could you please tell us what you mean by what you said earlier, about fear not being enough?" asked Aiyanna, trying to be patient. Being around the Nordics was making her uncomfortable. She knew they were watching her closely to get a better idea of how to handle her.
"Pride," said the Elk simply. They all blinked. "What?" asked Mathias, staring at the spirit. "Your pride blinds you as to what is really going on. It fuels your stubbornness. It makes you refuse to do what is right or to look beyond yourself for answers. It forces you to extremes. It will bring about death," said the Elk patiently. Aiyanna frowns. "What about that 'death of a mother' part? What mother do you speak of?" she asks.
"You know that I am not to speak of specifics. But worry not, your mother is safe for a few years more. But the mother is present here," said the Elk. Before Aiyanna could start asking another question, Lukas raised his hand, earning a nod from the Elk. "Speak Norway," he said. Lukas blinked but nodded. "We had a question earlier about Grandmother Earth's involvment. She is not allowed to get involved with her decendants' problems, correct?" he asked.
"That is correct-" The Elk glared at the branch about to smack Lukas. "Earth, you know better than this. If you do not wish to be honest, I shall be. Yes. She is not to get involved in most cases. But this case is not like most cases. Aiyanna was not to meet you until later in life. We were expecting the arrival of foreigners in the fourteen hundreds, not in this day in age. Dagny was meant to be older when that happened and act as a mediator between the foreigners and Aiyanna's," said the Elk.
Reviews appreciated! How many people will I decide to slaughter or spare before the story is over? Find out...Eventually!