Chapter twenty-three
Matt
Rise
Matt stared on. There shrouded in shadows was a wolf and a human. But he couldn't make out any features on either of them. He could only tell by the sallowest.
A few seconds pasted and neither figure moved.
What happened to them?!
" Matt? " Reyna asked taking to his side her eyes staying true to the figures. "Have you ever seen this before Reyna? Could this be a trick to the eye?" Matt asked curiously. Reyna shrugged. "None that I have ever preformed. If I had to go out on a limb here, I'd say they were frozen in time by shadows."
"Do you think we'll be safe in approaching them?" Matt asked. "I will assume as much. They haven't moved for the last few minutes." Reyna replied. "Right then, everyone fan out, and for the love of the gods don't move until I give the order to. Do I make myself clear? Baldwin! "
Baldwin jumped and snapped to attention. "Yes sir I understand sir!"
Matt shook his head with pity. "Just go." Matt said pointing to the other side of the clearing. Baldwin quickly scampered off to catch up with Ray, and Owen. Matt, Reyna, and Helen circled the other side until they were in a large circle around the figures. Matt nodded his head to signal Helen and Baldwin to approach slowly.
The two pieces I have that can't be killed, one that's already dead and one who can only die if coming into contact with holly.
Both approached with contusion. Both stopped within mere meters between them.
Matt kept his gaze locked on the figures. Would they move? That really was the question at hand wasn't it. Matt flinched as he thought he saw the flicker of movement. Was it a trick of the light that had played a trick to his eyes or not?
"Keep your weapons drawn and ready if they make a move. " Matt commanded. Everyone held firm. Where they ready for what was to come? Would Fenrir keep his word to Laurie? Would he not? Or did the spell fail? All the answers stood unmoving before him under blackness. Matt turned to Reyna. Watch my back Reyna, I'm going to get in closer to see what is going on." Reyna gave him a look that said "be careful please. "
Matt wordlessly gave her a hopefully nod that said that he understood. Matt slowly walked forward to join Baldwin and Helen. He stopped by their sides. It was easier at this distance to make out the figures.
"Fen." Matt said breathlessly as the figure stood unmoving. "So that would mean. " Matt continued. "Not necessarily Thorsen." Helen said braking in. Matt and Baldwin looked at her. "What do you mean by 'not necessarily'."
"This is one of my powers. But not something found in my theory's, myths or legend. This power is given to me by the author herself." Helen said. "Author? What craziness are you talking about Helen?" Matt asked confused. "Nothing it's unimportant. Now about that power. Laurie most likely used it the last second, just to make sure that she could freeze Fenrir in time to insure that he can't escape his prison again. But using the spell on herself means that she herself is trapped with Fenrir. Fen however will be free in an hour."
Matt looked at the wolf. Laurie sacrificed herself to stop Fenrir and to save her brother. But for what meaning? Owen approached. "Is Laurie?"
Matt was hesitant to want to answer his question. Just like they would do the same if it had been Reyna in that state. "She sacrificed herself to save Fen and stop Fenrir." Matt said in a strong manner. Owen looked down at the ground. Matt could see his eye under his blue hair. He was crying. Matt's heart stopped when he heard growling from behind him. He whipped his head around and came face to face with a snarling wolf. Matt didn't move. The back wolf circled him threateningly. It lunged and grabbed what it could of Matt's shirt before wrestling him to the ground and pinning him. All the while Matt never fought back.
"It's okay, it's really me, Fen. " Matt said up to the wolf. The wolf gave Matt a shocked expression and moved away letting Matt sit up. Fen slowly shifted into human form. His body was abused and wounded heavily. "Matt?" Fen asked in a raspy voice. Matt nodded.
"B-b-but how? Wait, where is my sister?!" Fen asked looking around frantically until his eyes fell on the wolf in the black crystal. "No," Fen breathed. "Laurie I told you to stay out of it!" Fen snapped harshly going up to the wolf.
"And just when do you think I listen to you, brother? " came a voice from behind. Everyone turned to see Laurie coming out of a portal. "Did everyone really think I was dumb enough to seal myself with Fenrir in the end?"
No one answered. "Yeah that's what I thought. I mean really. I had one chance to get in close proximity to Fenrir and it gave me a long enough opening to grab Fen when Fenrir released his chains to try and grab me. I threw him out and patrolled myself just as I completed the spell to seal Fenrir. If I can't kill him I needed him frozen in time."
Reyna approached. "It was still a risky move all the same Laurie, if he had grabbed you you wouldn't be here right now!"
Laurie snarled. "At least I did something useful for once instead of being the stupid-" Fen hugged her tightly. "Relax Laurie. You saved me didn't you. We shouldn't be fighting we should be happy to be all together again, right?" Fen asked as he pulled away from Laurie.
Matt walked over to the two and smiled. He playfully punched Fen 's arm. "Ah?! What was that for?!" Fen mumbled rubbing his arm. "For getting yourself kidnapped. And this," Matt said pulling him into a hug. "Is for coming back."
Fen sighed his head swinging back and forth. "I'll never understand you Thorsen." He looked at each of the descendants and to his aunt. "Thank you, for all of this, how did the battle go?" Fen asked.
"Laurie was successful however, my Grandfather got away and the apocalypse has begun." Matt said. The words tasted bitter in his mouth. Matt prepared himself for Fen to make fun of him for losing however what he was met with was nothing of the sort.
"Oh, that's unfortunate. No matter...this isn't the worst thing that could have happened. I assume that you wounded him?" Fen said. Matt just stared down at Fen in pure shock.
Who are you and what have you done to the old Fen Brekke?
"Yes," Matt said. "However, I took heavy damage in our combat, Reyna was healing my wounds but they still need to be checked over. As for Laurie her wounds should be checked as well, as well as your own."
Fen nodded. "Let's return to Blackwell. It's cold."
Nobody disagreed. Laurie opened a portal to Blackwell. Laurie, Fen, and Matt all looked back at Fenrir sealed in the black crystal. Before everyone stepped through the portal back home.
Matt walked out of the portal. Hildar and her Valkyries were waiting for them. They had dismounted their steeds and were looking over them. "Hildar." Matt said as he saw her. "Son of Thor you are back, where did you run off to?" Hildar asked him. " To find Laurie. We got Fen back to." Matt said. Hildar's attention snapped from her horse to Matt upon hearing the news.
Fen came over with a smug grin on his face. "What, did you miss me?" He asked. Hildar gave him a glare. "You're far to cocky Fenrir."
Fen snarled and tried to throw himself at Hildar if not for Matt holding him back. "Don't ever fucken call me that! I am not Fenrir! I am Fen and only Fen! Do you understand!"
Hildar brushed it off. "You can't hide who you are Fen you will always be Fenrir no matter what you do. Stand and face your demon, don't go about acting carelessly, expeally in my presence."
"Let me go Matt! Let me teach this Bitch some manners!" Fen snapped tugging away at Matt's grip. Matt winced when Fen sank his teeth into his arm. "Fen, relax buddy, you losing your shit over this is just, well… dumb. All it is is a bunch of bullshit. Just ignore her. You're back now and that's all that matters, right? You said it yourself." Matt said through clenched teeth.
Fen went still and for a few short seconds Matt could have sworn that he was holding a rage doll instead of a real person.
Fen looked back at Matt with an apologetic look in his eyes. "Sorry, I just... to soon. Still stings."
Matt nodded his head in understanding. "Yes, I know. You and Laurie should go meet up with your pack, the others and I can handle things around here." Fen nodded. "Right, see you later then." Fen said as he ran off to join Laurie.
Matt looked back at Hildar. "Why would you talk like that to Fen?! He's back to being himself!" Hildar shook her head. "That matters not son of Thor. He is still of Fenrir 's blood. This does not change who he is loyal to and that loyalty is not to this team."
Matt clenched his fists. "You're wrong Hildar. Fen would never pledge his loyalty to the wrong side!"
" Do you not remember the last time. Fen lead the monsters into battle." She said. "Not by choice! My Grandfather made Skull seek out Fen to become alpha. Fen had no choice but to defeat Skull in order to save himself and us. As soon as Fen got the chance, when tides turned he and his pack fought alongside us in the fight. So don't tell me that Fen is a traitor because he's not!" Matt spat harshly. He turned away from the Valkyrie. "If we need you we'll call for you. Until then, get out of my sights."
Matt didn't stay to hear her reply. His blood boiled in his veins. How could Hildar say that about Fen?! He's had my back more times than I can count. Our friendship has only gotten stronger since we went off on our first quest to find the Descendants of the North. All she's done is give me riddles and given me a hard time.
"Don't let it get to you love."
Matt looked up to his right and saw Reyna standing by him. "She's probably just being curious. She is thinking that exact same thing about me. None of us know if my gift from Freya is what will keep my dark side under control. That's all that is going on. We know Fen, and if we see the signs we can approach it on our own but right now it's to soon to be sure. Just relax and enjoy your mini victory with the rest of us. What do you say Matt." Reyna asked.
Matt slowly smirked. "You're right as usual. Let's go."
A/N: The rise. Very short chapter but I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with this story because writers block. I know what I'm doing for chapter twenty-four but after that we shall see. Until then thanks and see you next chapter.