I don't own SVM or True Blood.

Once again, thank you to everyone who is following this fic and or reviewed. I just had a small idea for a fic, I didn't think it would garner this much of a response. This chapter also came out quite well, in my opinion. I hope it gives you a better understanding of Sookie and why she wants to be mortal/have a human life. I now have the rest of the story mapped out and I gotta tell you, it's a doozy. I hope I make the twists unpredictable as well as the romance. Also, Eric will be as devious as he usually is, especially since no one will tell him anything. ;)

With that being said, let's get on with the story and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me in a review.


It had been a few days since Sookie last saw Eric and she comfortably fell back into the monotony of human life. Getting her things from the back room of Merlotte's, Sookie said her goodbyes to Dawn, Sam, Arlene, and Lafayette. They had all become easy acquaintances and she considered them friends. Smiling at the thought of a Valkyrie having human friends, Sookie left the restaurant and headed towards her car. There was a slight breeze and she grew uneasy. The reason for her unease made itself known when Eric appeared, leaning casually on the driver's side of her car.

His size made her car seem smaller and somehow decrepit next to him and his red corvette. Of course he would have a lot of money, she thought. Almost all immortals did. Valkyrie were no exception although their wealth was in Valhalla.

"Why are you here Eric?" She stopped, leaving a few feet between them to give herself better control. Whenever he entered her personal bubble, she ended up staring at his lips and forgetting all of her good sense. A fact which Eric seemed too aware of.

"Don't pretend you're not happy to see me Sookie."

"Don't worry, I'm not." He chuckled. "I take it you killed Longshadow."

"Yes. He stole from me, the act couldn't go unpunished." She tried to muster some sort of human response but was unable to think of a convincing one. Eric stepped away from her car, and she berated herself for stiffening up. He wore a black leather jacket over a black wife beater shirt. As he stepped into the light of the parking lot lamp, she saw a familiar brown leather cord tucked away under his shirt. Drawn to it, her feet shuffled forward. Inches apart from him and both bathed in light, she pulled the end of his jacket away and hooked her finger under the braided leather.

Sookie tugged the pendent free from under his shirt and felt the cold metal, cooler from his lack of body heat. The pendent itself was no bigger than her thumb and made of copper. "A black raven in flight." She recognized it immediately. He was once again wearing Woden's favor which also meant Eric was wearing a favor of hers. She couldn't help but soften towards him, happy to see that he wore it again. "It's a symbol of Woden."

"Yes." His voice showed his obvious surprise that she knew of Norse mythology. His intense gaze was on her but she continued to stare at the necklace. "How do you know that?"

"It was an interesting subject in school. I loved the idea of a Valkyrie. They were female warriors and the children of gods. They were like Amazonians but better." She smiled nostalgically, thinking of her sisters. "The Valkyrie could start wars and choose the best warriors to go to Valhalla. Warriors knew to pray for them as they died. You believe in the Norse gods?" She looked up at him expectantly. She held her breath, praying he said yes.

"No." This had to have been another one of Godric's manipulations, just like when he got her to help Eric. She had given the necklace to Godric the night Eric rose as a vampire and she knew Eric kept it for more than 200 years. But in 1214 Eric renounced Woden and gave the necklace back to Godric. She had been disappointed, especially because she found out about it after Woden and Freya slept and during a vulnerable time for her. She had felt betrayed but when she saw it around his neck once again she hoped that it meant he changed his mind.

"I see. But you once believed in them?" At his nod, she released the necklace and let it fall back onto his chest. "Why did you stop?" Taking a step backward, all of her previous warmth was gone.

"Woden has never answered my prayers and he has never helped me. Gods don't exist."

"All gods gain power from tributes and prayers. Woden and Freya are no different."

"For a thousand years I've only asked him for one thing and he has never answered." There was only one thing he could be mentioning which meant he hadn't found the man who killed his family yet. She assumed that because he was a sheriff and Godric released him, the two vampires had found the one responsible. Again, disappointment churned inside of her. She thought back to how Eric looked when he was human, when he had been on the battlefield with blood splashed on his clothes, face, and hair. She remembered how he hoped to catch a glimpse of a wolf just so he could kill it. That was the Eric she admired and loved.

The man—no vampire before her wasn't the same Eric she fell for. Though Sookie was technically not a Valkyrie anymore, she still loved her sisters and thought of them often. Though she wasn't really related to Adele, Sookie loved the old woman just the same. Eric gave up in his quest. He had moved on from his human family and even had progeny. With his long hair, he might have looked like the same Eiríkr but he wasn't. In a way, she felt betrayed once again. He turned his back on his family, Woden, and even her while she looked after him and gave him the necklace in the hopes that her sisters would see that vampires were worthy.

Sookie now realized she was not only wrong but her sisters were right.

She could tell she had confused him but she didn't care about that. He raised his hand, handing her the brown envelop he held and changed the subject before her mood could grow worse. "I would like to offer you a job, Sookie."

"Sorry, I already have a job." She was even wearing her uniform.

"You wouldn't have to quit. You would only have to work when I am in need of your…gift."

"In case you didn't get the message before, I don't want to get involved with the vampire world. I just want to live my life as a human, grow old, maybe get married and have a few kids. Things that wouldn't be possible if I were your personal telepath."

"Sooner or later other people will realize what you can do. Vampires would be after you simply for the way you smell to them. You may think you're human but you're much more than that."

"Oh yeah, then what am I?" Sookie crossed her arms in front of her chest defiantly.

But she had to fight the urge to gasp or shudder when he leveled his stare at her, his blue eyes darkening dangerously. "I don't know."

She handed his envelop back to him. "Well, my grandmother and I are pretty damn sure I'm human."

"Godric seems to know what you are but he refuses to tell me." She brushed past him on her way to her car. "Which is interesting because it means someone swore him to secrecy." The words froze her in her tracks. She felt him lean down to speak into her ear, causing her to stiffen. "You can lie to me if you want, Sookie but I will find out." He inhaled deeply. "And when I do, you will be mine."

Then he was gone, in his car, giving her a short wave and a grin before backing out of the parking lot. Releasing a breath she had been holding, Sookie entered her car and began driving home. While driving, she couldn't help but think about her past.

1556 Asgard

Raising her sword just in time, she blocked a blow that would have cut her in two. Gritting her teeth against the pain and the shockwaves, Sanngriðr used her speed to get around the giant attacking her and took his head, splattering herself with his blood. Sounds of battle and the shrieks of Valkyrie could be heard from all around as Sanngriðr and her sisters protected Valhalla and their parents slumbering unaware inside.

The battle had been going on for weeks and the fatigue was enough to slow even the strongest of them. The war itself started a little after 1503, after their enemies heard of Asgard's vulnerability. It had been going on ever since, in multiple realms but it was the first time the fight had reached Asgard. The Valkyrie were not only fighting for their lives and for their home but also for their parents' lives and the warriors who resided in Valhalla. Though the Vikings in Valhalla were eager to fight, her sisters forbade it. The Vikings were Woden's to command they had said and they couldn't afford it if Ragnarok ever came.

When Freya and Woden chose to sleep to conserve energy, the Valkyrie knew that their enemies would launch an attack. They had been arrogant; thinking the few thousand of them would be enough against an army. They now knew they had been wrong to think so. The giants were all nearly 7 feet tall and while they were slow compared to the more lithe forms of the Valkyrie, their numbers were greater than they had expected. As such, the Valkyrie were steadily losing their own numbers. Sanngriðr didn't want to admit it but it was possible they could lose the war.

Suddenly Sanngriðr lost her sword as it was shattered by a hard blow. The shards deflected off of her shield and breastplate and she lost her footing. Falling backward, she lifted her shield to deflect more blows, abandoning what was left of her sword, she scrambled back. Seeing one of her sister's spears a few feet away, she pushed the giant's sword away with her shield and dove for the weapon.

With the spear now firmly in her grasp, she ducked and lunged for the giant's heart. He sagged against her, bringing her down with him with his considerable weight. Breathing heavily, she drew the spear out and stood just in time to take a barrage of arrows to her breastplate. Sanngriðr was knocked to her back as pain exploded on her chest. She looked down in disbelief as her own blood began to coat her breastplate and then raised her eyes to see her attacker. A new wave of giants had appeared.

Dimly, she heard the shrieks and footfalls as her nearest sister leaped in front of her to help. Sanngriðr was too weak to rise and in too much pain to do anything else. Every breath she took slid the arrows deeper, she would die in a few minutes. Without thought, she called lightning to her and disappeared from the battlefield.

When she reappeared somewhere in Europe still on her back, Sanngriðr could see the heavy full moon and the stars. She had transported herself to the necklace she had given Eiríkr just to see him once more before she died. It was idiotic, she knew, especially since it would alert others to their existence but she didn't care. All she wanted before she died was to look upon his face.

Valkyrie could heal from almost all wounds except for a beheading and if their heart was destroyed. Right now, the breaths she took brought the arrows dangerously close to her heart. So much so that she was afraid to pull them out without help.

Her view was disturbed by Godric, who had knelt beside her with concern written all over his face. Though he wasn't the one she wished to see, seeing him with her in her last moments made her smile weakly.

"Where…is Eiríkr?" though it pained her to speak, she did her best, whispering the words but certain Godric could hear her. Blood trailed from the corner of her lips and she fought the urge to cough violently.

"What happened to you?"

"War…Dying. Eiríkr?" Dying. At least she was dying with a friend at her side.

"He's hunting. I'm going to pull them out." Godric turned his attention to her chest to do it but she didn't want the futile effort.

"Don't. Heart…dying."

She heard what sounded like a growl coming from Godric before he shoved his wrist to her lips.

"Drink." He commanded her and she realized he was offering her his blood. She wasn't even sure vampire blood could heal a Valkyrie. She shook her head weakly, not wanting to accept the blood and instead resigned to die. She had lived almost a thousand years, dying now from a wound in battle was an honorable way to go she thought.

"No. Good that he isn't…here. Still punished." Sanngriðr believed fate refused to let them meet. Her blood loss too great, she lost consciousness.

When she awoke from the blissful darkness, Godric was beside her and the four arrows had been pulled out.

"How are you feeling?" She turned to Godric, who had taken her into what appeared to be a shed. He was sitting against the wall while she was on top a bed of straw. She rose to her feet and felt her chest through her bloodstained shirt. Her wounds had healed perfectly, leaving behind not even a faint scar. Her breastplate was on the floor and she could clearly see the punctures the arrows had left behind. She had been very close to death, the closest she had ever come.

"Better." But worried. Her sisters would still be fighting, even now but at least her fatigue and pain were gone. Godric was even older than her and the power of his blood was coursing through her like nothing she had ever experienced before. The Valkyrie took sustenance from a collective force but since Woden was asleep, they had gotten noticeably weaker. Sanngriðr suspected it was because they also took in the prayers of the warriors who sought strength from the Valkyrie. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Just a few hours." Relieved to hear not much time had passed, she planned on going back to the battle.

The seconds ticked by as Sanngriðr recalled the events that led her to Godric. But she hadn't been trying to get to Godric.

"Why are you in possession of the necklace?"

"Eiríkr returned it to me a few centuries ago." It hurt her to hear it like it was a physical blow to her chest. It was because of humans like Eiríkr, who turned their backs on Woden and Freya that she and her sisters were at war. It was because of the humans that she and her sisters were fighting in a war they might lose.

"I see. Thank you Godric, but I must go." She leaned down to pick up her breastplate when Godric stopped her hand with his, in front of her almost instantly.

"You said you were in a war. Who are you at war with?"

"Godric, you are a friend and I am thankful but there are things that I cannot tell you. At least not yet." Lifting the plate over her head, she felt the welcome weight and took a deep breath. It was forbidden for Godric to even know of the existence of Valkyrie. After the vampires had all but wiped out the Faeries, the Valkyrie agreed never to give other beings knowledge of their existence. The Valkyrie would have nothing to do with the supernatural world on earth.

"You almost died and you're going back?"

"My sisters need me. I shall return to you when the fighting is over. I shall explain everything then." She couldn't tell him what it would mean if she didn't return to him. But she couldn't run from her duties and her sisters. "Please look after Eiríkr." In a flash, she was gone and back on the field.

1956 France

Sanngriðr watched the battle with a detached expression on her face. She had seen countless fights and wars, enough to last even an immortal lifetime. She had even been in a few herself. Woden and Freya had named her well. Her name meant very violent or very cruel and she was both when she fought. Her style was hard and fast, picking the weaknesses or vital points of her enemies.

After her parents went to sleep to conserve their energy, their enemies started a war with the Valkyrie. Sanngriðr and her sisters had won but not without cost. She had lost many of her sisters during the decades of war. The war against the giants had gone on for 160 years. After the war ended in the year 1670, Sanngriðr and her sisters began hunting down the remaining giants and other enemies of Woden and Freya. The rest of the time was spent rebuilding Asgard and strengthening themselves against another attack. It was agreed by all Valkyrie that the next time war broke out, the warriors in Valhalla would be used in order to protect their parents. It was also agreed to continue taking the fiercest warriors to Valhalla even though they didn't worship Woden or Freya. Sanngriðr had been in charge of scouring the human battlefields for worthy warriors but over the years she found she hated the advancement of technology. A warrior and a soldier were completely different. Wielding a sword, spear, axe, and shield demonstrated strength and fortitude. Shooting a cannon or gun or throwing a bomb; it was cheapening the act of war and simply increasing the amount of dead sons and fathers.

Now that there was peace once more in Valhalla and her parents were well protected, she grew tired of the bloodshed and yearned for something more, a peaceful life.

The only thing that kept her going was Eiríkr and Godric. She hadn't seen them since the early 1700's but she knew that they were both alive. Sensing that Godric was somewhere in the states and growing bored with the way the battle before her was progressing, Sanngriðr left the battlefield in a brilliant strike of lightning.

Reappearing in the next instant in a new setting, she looked around to regain her bearings. The woods were dense enough that she didn't have to worry about prying eyes or humans accidentally running into her. Sanngriðr waited patiently for nightfall knowing that Godric would always come to her without fail, something that she saw as a positive aspect of having his blood in her.

Predictably Godric appeared just minutes after sunset a few feet away from her. He still looked the same, albeit much cleaner than she remembered. She couldn't help but smile. "It's always a pleasure to see you again, Godric." Godric was the only one she spoke Old Norse to and it always felt refreshing, as though time did not erode everything.

"What brings you to Dallas?"Dallas. She didn't even know where that was.

"I just wanted to know how things were. It's been more than two centuries."

"Yes, a lot's changed since then." Sanngriðr found some quiet while speaking with Godric, mostly because she felt they confided in each other. "I've become a sheriff here."

"Sheriff?"

"It's a position of power amongst vampires."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you." Something was wrong. Sanngriðr frowned slightly, her brows creasing in suspicion. Godric was less talkative than usual. There was something Godric didn't want to tell her and suddenly she thought the worst.

"Is everything okay?"

"…yes." She didn't quite believe him. Closing the distance between them, Sanngriðr placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What don't you want to tell me?" There was a long pause and the dread she felt earlier multiplied. "Godric?"

"I've released Eric." Eric, Eiríkr. That wasn't surprising; Eric was now a thousand years old and if Godric released Eric, it meant their search for whoever controlled the werewolves was over. But that piece of information wasn't what Godric was refusing to tell her.

"He's also become a maker." Sanngriðr didn't know what to say to that and she could see why Godric was apprehensive about telling her. After taking Godric's blood she had found out that he could sense where she was and even her emotions. Right now, Godric would be sensing a multitude of emotion. At least Eric finally found his revenge and gained some peace after working so hard to avenge his family. Eric was moving on. Sanngriðr was…happy for him but it was a bittersweet feeling.

Sanngriðr could only muster a sad smile. "I see." She didn't know what she had been hoping for. Was she really so naïve that she thought she could be with him once he proved himself?

But wasn't this what she was waiting for? Now that Eric and Godric had moved on and their search for vengeance was over, Sanngriðr could move on as well. She had been feeling the pull of oblivion for so long and she was so weary. While there was no way for a Valkyrie to commit suicide, she could obtain a human body for herself thereby making her mortal. Sanngriðr had thought about it for years.

"Sanngriðr?" Snapping out of her melancholy, she realized Godric was looking at her in concern, no doubt mistaking her emotions for something worse.

"Yes? Oh, I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that I've chosen to become mortal." His eyes widened, no doubt surprised.

"Why? Why would you possibly want to become human?"

"Godric, I was born in 619. I've taken countless warriors to Valhalla, witnessed more bloodshed and wars than even you. Woden and Freya sleep and have been for 400 years now and I fear they will never wake. My sisters and I have defeated their enemies and kept the peace for 70 years. Now I hear that you and Eric have moved on. I don't need to watch over him anymore. It is time for me to move on as well."

She was grateful Godric hadn't interrupted her. "But to be mortal would mean you would meet the true death."

Sanngriðr simply nodded. "I've seen many deaths and I've heard many different thoughts as they perished. Some hold regret for things they haven't done yet, some take solace in going to Valhalla and some wish they could see their wives and children before they die. I never thought I would seek the same things. There are many things I wish to experience before I die. I want to know what it's like to dream, to love, to see my children grow up, and the feel of a man's touch. I've lived a thousand years doing the same thing. I want something different." The truth was Sanngriðr wouldn't want to live until the end of time if it meant being a Valkyrie for all that time.

Godric appeared pained, and he no doubt wanted to argue with her. But she knew he wouldn't. "You've been a true friend to me, Sanngriðr."

She smiled peacefully, relieved to hear his acceptance of her decision. "I've been thinking this for a long time and I promise this won't be the last time we see each other." Sanngriðr patted his shoulder before taking a step back and looking towards the sky. She was gone in the next instant.


Watching his club with unveiled disinterest, Eric thought back on his meeting with Sookie. Bored with what was happening in the club, he stood up from his throne on the main stage and made his way to his office. His interest in Sookie was beginning to affect his day to day life. The file Pam had given him about the 'human' woman seemed incomplete. He had her birth record, work record, social security number, and even information on her bank account but there was no record of her parents. When he brought up information on her grandfather, it said that he was a beloved husband but there was no mention of him being a father or grandfather.

Something about Sookie Stackhouse's life didn't add up and it just served to make Eric more curious. For one so young, she had many secrets and they all seemed to be tied to Godric, another fact that made Eric both curious and enraged. His maker had never mentioned her before which Eric found suspicious, especially if the two were as close as they appeared. Eric thought back to a few weeks ago when Godric had made an unexpected visit to Louisiana. It was when Godric had given him back the necklace, the one that Sookie took great interest in earlier tonight. More questions arose in Eric's mind.

During the few days he hadn't seen her, Eric had gone out of his way to go to Bon Temps and interview her friends and family. They had given him largely the same answers as what Pam could dig up. Sookie was a hardworking, sweet girl who lived with her grandmother. But her friends were unable to give him information on how they first met or how they came to know each other. Sam Merlotte, her boss and a disgusting shifter hadn't even been able to give Eric a description of her interview.

Sookie's grandmother had been more helpful, but her answers were predictable. Memories of Sookie's birth, changing her diaper, high school graduation, but there was no mention of her parents or how they died. Eric knew for certain that Sookie wasn't human but she was also not a witch. Sookie didn't have the stench of a witch, shifter, werewolf, or any other being he had come across in his long life. She was something much more.

Just remembering the way she smelled and the fire she held, the defiance and strength she showed him was enough to make him want to see her again and drag her to a bed. Actually, any hard surface would do.

Eric Northman was fast becoming obsessed. After a few minutes to his thoughts, Eric realized he had forgotten to call Godric and inform him of the results of Sookie's help. After a few rings, Godric picked up.

"Hello my child."

"Hello Godric. I'm calling to let you know Sookie Stackhouse was a tremendous help. Thank you for pointing me in her direction."

"As I knew she would be. I hope you two are getting along."

Eric chuckled. "She kneed me in the stomach before leaving Fangtasia and she turned down my job offer tonight."

Eric could hear the laughter in Godric's voice and he couldn't help but smile to know that his maker was well. "That does sound like something she would do. Sookie is very…wary of the supernatural."

"I don't believe she's completely human. I'm not sure what she is but everyone I asked about her parents can't remember them or have no detailed memories of her childhood."

"Eric, Sookie is distrustful and secretive by nature because she has loved ones she wants to protect. I can understand your interest but she won't take kindly to you digging into her past when she so obviously doesn't want you to."

'Loved ones'. Why did Eric think Godric wasn't referring to her friends or grandmother? Sookie was an only child and from what Adele Stackhouse told him, her father and mother were as well, meaning that Sookie's only living relative was Adele. It wasn't as though he would harm anyone close to Sookie, so why did it matter? If only Eric could ask Godric directly and get an answer in return.

"You know a lot about her." An unneeded statement but it filled Eric with an inexplicable jealousy, targeted at both Godric and Sookie.

"I've known her almost her whole life." Eric got a very odd feeling coming from Godric which just confused him more. If Eric didn't know any better, he would have thought Godric sounded nostalgic.

"Godric, I just have one more question."

"Don't sound so serious Eric, Sookie and I have never been more than just friends." Eric was more relieved than he should have been at Godric's words. He could tell Sookie wasn't very experienced, especially since she blushed so prettily and reacted so naturally but he also wanted to make sure. "I'll give you another piece of advice. Sookie likes gifts, no matter how small or big. She'll hate being in your debt but she also can't refuse a gift. It's just in her nature." The small click Eric heard signaled Godric hanging up on him.

Again, Eric received more questions than answers but at least now he had a different approach and a different plan.


A week after Sookie turned down Eric's job offer, she found a small parcel addressed to her. Confused as to what it might be, she turned it over for a return address or a sender but there was nothing else written on the box. Throwing the other mail on the kitchen table, she sat down and tore the brown paper away, revealing a light blue Tiffany's box. When she lifted the lid, a beautiful pearl bracelet rested inside.

She was instantly elated, but the feeling didn't last long when she realized there were two white gold charms with the letters E and N. Sookie got a sinking sensation she knew who the bracelet was from. Sliding the bracelet out, she saw a card stuck to the bottom and opened it.

The handwriting was neat and far better than any male's she'd ever seen.

A small present to show my appreciation.

~Eric

Just as she thought, he put his initials on her bracelet! The gall! He was trying to brand her. Sookie crumbled the card in her hand and looked at the bracelet again. Even if he did have good taste, she wasn't going to wear his initials around like she was some sort of possession. Placing the bracelet back in the box, she searched for a paper, pen, and an envelope.

My initials are S.S. Your generous gift is being returned to you Mr. E.N. I believe it will go well with your leather jacket. Also, I'm not 90, it's jewels or nothing.

~Sookie Stackhouse

The last part was a lie of course, but Sookie felt like goading him. She wondered if he would buy her jewels. Doubtful, his little obsession with her would fade but if he wanted to give her presents of jewelry, who was she to refuse them? As long as they didn't have his initials on them, she was still a Valkyrie at heart. It had even hurt her a little to give back the pearl bracelet but she couldn't let him think she accepted his claim on her.

Since she had a little time before her shift at Merlotte's, Sookie drove to Fangtasia and left the bracelet with Ginger. Normally, she wouldn't have been that curt and rude but she was still angry at Eric.

The following day, Sookie found a bigger box in her mailbox. When she opened it, the same bracelet was inside along with a necklace. She was mesmerized almost instantly. Eric had sent her a pear shaped ruby necklace a small diamond above it. Sookie had to use all of her willpower to tear her gaze away from the glittering jewel and read the card underneath.

It is my wish that you wear the bracelet someday. The necklace is a token of my apology and I hope you will reconsider my job offer.

~Eric

Why did it feel as though she walked right into Eric's hands? Unable to help herself, Sookie clasped the necklace around her neck. The ruby rested in the valley of her breasts, something Eric no doubt planned as well. Her gaze fell to the bracelet. How presumptuous of him. Taking it up to her room, she placed the bracelet in her woefully empty jewelry box. Sookie kept it only because she couldn't bear to give it back to Eric another time and if she got jewelry by playing by his rules, it wasn't all that bad she reasoned. Sookie was too enamored by the necklace that she didn't pay attention to the first part of Eric's letter.


I don't think Sookie has a chance. Questions, comments, and reviews are greatly appreciated! Thank you for your continued support! The next part will be the start of season 2. So, Adele is still alive and since there is no Jason or Bill, Eric doesn't torture anyone. Also, I'm keeping the haircut for Eric.