Tuckered Out
Rowan decided that the second level shouldn't be so different from the first and she then had to think just what bonus package do the souls in the upper levels get that the others don't. The idea sounded pretty good, but now she wasn't sure what the grand reward was for living an empathetic life. She could always ask Gadreel for his opinion. Yes, she was relying a lot on him, but he really enjoyed getting a second chance, even if it was from someone he just met a while ago. And she really enjoyed having him around. Oh, not like that; she had Crowley for that, but Gadreel was kind and gentle. If the other angels weren't like him, she didn't want to meet them, especially not those that mistreated him.
She stepped out of the elevator and, once again, it was like her blood chased the darkness away, revealing cobblestone floors this time, with gray brick stone walls, once again creating archways along the corridors. The lobby of elevators was the same as above, a stone wall to the right and miles of corridors and archways to the left. She spilled more blood to make the whole place shift, bring the correct room to the soul so they wouldn't have to wander throughout the whole level. The sky above was blue with clouds and a warm sun. Apart from the cobble stones, the two first levels looked the same.
Rowan stood in place, looking at what she had created, and not really knowing what else to do. She had ideas for the new Helheim, but when it came to the little details, it seemed a little overwhelming. This was the realm of the dead, it had to look wonderful!
"Milady?" Bjarni asked, seeming to sense Rowan's hesitation. Now her stress had increased significantly.
"Okay, you know when Death asked me if I had made any plans and I said that I just went with how I felt?" Rowan asked her Draugar, glancing at them with a little uncertainty in her eyes. "Well, I don't think that was a good idea." She added with a little nervous smile. Not only that, but her breathing was a little too fast. Rowan looked slightly drained and stressed. Her Draugar knew they had to help calm her down or else all they'd have are two levels of Helheim.
"Oh, you're doing great." Raganhar said, approaching and, for the first time ever, placed a reassuring hand on her forearm. Her Draugar had never been physical because that had been disrespectful. However, everything was different, which Rowan liked. There was a calming ease that washed over her as she let his words sink in. She was doing great; she just recreated Helheim with Death, made two channels to the two parts of the Underworld and the entrance. Now, she created the first two levels. She did a lot and was still standing, a little drained, but ready to keep working.
Bjarni seemed nervous about the physical contact, but when she saw Rowan smiling, she relaxed. Their Lady of the dead has indeed changed, allowing for everything to change, which was nice.
"Yeah, whatever details can be added later, things can always be changed before the souls arrive." Rowan said, exhaling her stress. She couldn't let these little details bother her. She had to stay calm and focus. "I'm over thinking it." Rowan added and her Draugar came around her to reassure her. Bjarni threw her arms around Rowan in a little hug, and then stood back with a smile.
As Rowan looked at them, she couldn't help but think that they didn't act like demons. She looked into their eyes and saw the black smoke of their demon essence, but something was different. She wasn't sure what seemed so different. In that moment, she remembered what they had told her; that maybe she could reverse their demonic condition. Was that slowly taking place? She couldn't tell and when they began arching their eyebrows at her, noticing how she was staring, she brushed it off and smiled.
"I'm going to call this level Heart." Rowan said and glanced at the archways that began glowing, portals to memories or to wishful thinking were ready to be used. "For those that have good intentions, that try to do well in their lives. It's not to say that trying isn't good enough. Maybe the first two levels can receive bonus packages." She added, thinking out loud and getting support from her Draugar as if she was addressing them.
"You know we're here to help." Agmundr had said and she nodded, knowing that that was a reminder. "And maybe a bonus package isn't needed." He added and she nodded again, thinking that maybe the souls would simply be happy to be with their loved ones.
"Maybe just favorite foods, TV shows, hobbies, things they never got to do in their life like drive a Ferrari." Raganhar said and Rowan smiled, looking at him with a glimmer in her eyes.
"What would I do without you three?" she asked them and they gave her dark grins.
"Have a panic attack." Agmundr replied, making Rowan laugh.
"Stand in front of a wall, saying you can't make Helheim." Bjarni added and Rowan smirked.
"Struggle over little details." Raganhar concluded and she glanced at them, shaking her head. Yeah, her Draugar have changed; maybe being sarcastic had to do with the fact they were demons, but she loved them all the same.
"Thanks for reminding me." she replied and cut her palm, blooding the wall of the elevator lobby. There was charred lines beginning to spread, spelling out the word Heart, as designs of hearts and banners appeared, like an old painting.
Then, she punched the down arrow of the elevator. It was time to work on the third level where things were going to be a little different.
"You're just stressed out." Bjarni said, standing next to Rowan with a little smile. "It hasn't even been a full week since meeting Jormungand and remembering that you're Hel. And you have so much work to do. It's a lot to take in, even for a Goddess." She added, comforting Rowan by letting her know that they understood. Not only that, but it helped Rowan to remember that she wasn't allowing herself to slowly ease back into her good old Hel self.
They walked into the elevator, pressing the number three button, listening to the calming instrumental music filling the void that was the silence in between them. When the door opened, it was the same view; darkness that seemed to never end. The Draugar glanced over at Rowan and she seemed tired; like she was beginning to get overwhelmed again.
She extended her hands, looking at her already healing palms. Her hands trembled slightly and Bjarni took her hands, holding them with a tender touch and smile.
"Why don't you take a break, Milady?" Agmundr asked with concern in his voice. Rowan exhaled, seriously debating it. "We can get things started in the office if you'd like." He added and she quickly nodded; as long as she continued doing something useful.
Rowan pressed the M button, watching the doors close. Bjarni released her hands, but looped her arm with hers instead.
"You should sit down and relax, Milady. Anything you want, we'll get it for you." She said and when the elevator doors opened to the main floor, they stepped out, Bjarni still with her arm looped with Rowan's, walking at a slower pace.
At that moment, Gadreel's door opened and he looked at her with a deepening expression of concern.
"Rowan, are you alright?" he asked and she nodded, but she looked tired. "Perhaps you should rest in my apartment." he said and she nodded, as if anything sounded good at the moment.
Bjarni guided Rowan into Gadreel's penthouse as he kept the door opened for them. He then showed Bjarni to his bedroom and turned on the light. It was a beautifully large room, filled with comfortable furnishings.
"Wow, I think Gadreel got the best deal here." Bjarni said, getting Rowan to smile weakly. Gadreel helped Bjarni get Rowan onto his king sized bed, laying weakly on the teal colored bedspread. Gadreel took a soft white throw blanket from one of his chairs in front of another flat television screen and placed it over Rowan, bringing down one of his plush pillows and placing it under her head.
Bjarni sat on the edge of the bed, placing her hand on Rowan's arm. She was already drifting off into sleep.
"What happened?" Gadreel asked in a whisper as to not wake Rowan up.
"The second level inundated her. You know, she remembers she's Hel and then everything just hits her. We show up, her brother finds her, Death proposes that she rebuild Helheim, pressuring her with the Veil trapped souls and those in Heaven. He pressures her with a way to get in between Metatron and the Angel tablet and she builds Helheim alone. It hasn't even been a week!" Bjarni said with agitation in her voice and her eyes. She cared deeply for Rowan and watching her work herself to exhaustion angered her because no one was giving her the chance to ease back into who she used to be.
When Bjarni glanced up at Gadreel, she knew that his deep scowl had nothing to do with the pressures on Rowan.
"What?" she asked him and he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Death wants her to defeat Metatron, open Heaven and somehow convince the angels to do what, transfer the souls to Helheim?" he asked and Bjarni nodded, realizing that he didn't know about what Rowan was supposed to do with Metatron.
"I'm sure she would have asked for your help." Bjarni said, certain of that fact.
"I'm not upset that she didn't tell me. I'm upset that it has to be her responsibility." Gadreel replied, glancing down at her as if the tables had turned and she was the one unfairly given a job to do on her own, which was true.
"It should be Castiel." Bjarni replied, but that wasn't what Gadreel meant either as he glanced back at her. "Rowan," she added, calling her by name for the first time, which felt somewhat disrespectful even if she knew her Lady of the dead would be alright with it. "Rowan, has already figured that she can get the angels to sign the souls over in exchange for defeating Metatron and opening Heaven." She concluded as Gadreel simply stared at her, listening.
"I realize that she's the only one powerful enough to solve these problems." He said and Bjarni stood up, placing a hand on her even if it felt weird to be nice with an angel.
"She's not alone. She has us, Crowley, the Winchesters and her brother." She said and Gadreel gave a slight nod as if he knew that. Rowan didn't want him to feel like he was alone, but there she was, shouldering the responsibility alone even if everyone around her was there to help.
"I will not let her confront Metatron on her own." Gadreel said and Bjarni smiled at him, at how much conviction was in his voice. He hadn't known Rowan for very long and he was already very loyal to her, because she was the first to show him kindness. "I have a list on my coffee table. If Rowan wakes before I return, show it to her. I'll be speaking with the Winchesters and Castiel if I can." He added and she nodded, watching him leave the bedroom, then the apartment.
Bjarni glanced down at the peacefully sleeping Lady of the dead, smiling as she tucked her hair out of her face. Rowan treated everyone with compassion and respect and she knew that when she'd need others, they would all be there for her.
Raganhar stepped in quietly, glancing at Rowan with concern. Bjarni looked up and grinned at him.
"She's not a child, you don't have to walk on the tips of your toes." She said and he waved her off; he was just careful not to make noise. He approached and adjusted the blanket as to cover her neck. "She's sleeping. I don't think she can make Helheim in two days, not without killing herself." Bjarni added with a worried look in her eyes. Raganhar frowned at her, knowing that it wouldn't kill Rowan, but it would drain her faster than she could rest.
"If it takes longer, Death can take a hike. He's going to have to accept that the souls will have to wait." He said and Bjarni nodded her head in agreement. Rowan was the most important thing, not those souls. "Do we take turns watching over her?" he asked and Bjarni shot him a grin. "There's nothing else to do." he concluded and she smiled.
"Yes there is. Go get some computers, laptops, iPads and printers." She ordered and he frowned at her.
"I don't take orders from you." He replied and she gave a dark playful scowl.
"Our Lady of Helheim would want that." Bjarni replied and he smiled, shaking his head. He left the room, leaving her to watch over Rowan while he went off to work in their office space, which would please Rowan.