Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the show or books. Though I do own any original characters I make for this story. This statement holds true for this chapter and any upcoming ones I publish here.

AN: This story is rated M for a reason. There may be triggers in this story that could bother some readers. Please be warned.

If you would like to write recommendations, thoughts or critiques, any and all are welcomed.

Chapter One

Death is but a doorway to new life
We live today
We shall live again
In many forms shall we return

-John L. Balderston

"Just stay on the path, she said. It's easy to find, she said." Rayen deadpans and blew her auburn locks out of her face and glasses. "I call bullshit."

It had been a few hours and she had thoroughly lost herself in this blasted forest. She knew she doesn't have the best sense of direction but damn it! Seriously, it shouldn't take this long to get to the edge of the forest!

"Okay. Pit stop it is before I lose my temper." She shrugs off her backpack, unclips her water bottle and takes a few sips.

After surveying the glade she found herself in, she sat down on the soft grass next to a large white poplar tree. The sun hadn't yet reached its zenith and she was already exhausted. Surprisingly, the day wasn't hot for summer but she would count her blessings. She didn't need to tack on heat stroke to her current list of problems. Rayen grabbed a granola bar from an outer pocket of the pack and proceeded to munch on it.

Now you might wonder how she got herself in this situation, yes?

Well, Rayen's luck could only be described as sporadic at best. Oh no, it would be to easy for a Yew to have a slow and steady stream of it. Instead it tended to be the hit-and-run variety and last struck a few years ago when she was driving. Boy was she grateful when the huge truck missed her car by inches after it sped through a red light. Subconsciously, she knew that enough time had passed and had recharged her luck to be useful once more.

Here's how the Yew family's infamous luck struck yet again in the most unpredictable fashion by being saved by old granny Chailleach.

—

"What an absolutely rotten day," Rayen sighed as she slid down to a crouch against her locker. It started off all perfect as those picturesque summer days tended to. The bugs buzzing, the birds chirping and the frogs croaking. The weather was clear and a slight breeze brushed against the trees. Overall, it should have been the perfect end to a perfect day.

Sadly, Rayen's days rarely were good, more often than not they were depressing and soul wrenching. She was not only a nurse, which was hard enough, but an ICU speciality on top of it. She and her teammates routinely stood between life and death itself for their patients. Like any job, some days were better than others and they won their battles. They could revive a patient's heart or take the breathing tube out and hear them take their first breath again.

Other days were worse and they tasted bitter defeat. Sometimes a patient came in too late and their organs had started to fail or their heart had been stopped for too long before being revived. That was when the nurses provided comfort to the patient as they passed. It was never easy for her team, trying to be a supportive pillar for the patient and their family during difficult times. Nonetheless, it was a privilege to help as much as they could.

Today happened to be one of the aforementioned heartbreaking days. She received a patient that had already died, brought back twice and lost it again while she had him. The feeling of cracking the old man's ribs as she did CPR and called for help lingered in her mind. The family's wailes echoed in her ears as Rayen coaxed her breathing through repetitive ins and outs to keep herself from breaking down in the employee lounge.

Rayen forced herself up from the floor and mechanically grabbed her work bag and gear. She needed to get outside. Away from this place, away from her memories, just away. She charged her way through the hospital's hallways and sped down the stairs. A swift push against the exit door and she was free.

Rayen breathed the summer air deep into her lungs and let a small smile grace her face. Her Nan had loved these days the most. The beautiful sunsets and fresh air, always the possibility of a evening thunderstorm.

Her name was odd she knew, but she was named after her Nan, her grandmother. Most of her family was Nordic on her Father's side. Her grandmother had been a local healer in the remote hills. Once she became elderly and needed help taking care of herself, Dad convinced her to come Stateside.

Nan had lived with the small family of four and helped look after Rayen and her older brother, Bjorn. During their younger years, Nan tried to teach her grandchildren the craft but Bjorn would rather play with his friends than stay inside and listen to 'old lady talk'. So, Nan taught her granddaughter as much as she could remember without the live examples to grease the old noggin's wheels.

Rayen's childhood became anything but normal after that. Her grandmother would teach her the medicinal arts after her schoolwork was complete. She'd be quizzed on the plants Nan had growing in her garden, listing the benefits and risks of each. As she progressed, Nan continued to provide further intricate teachings about, tinctures, salves and, toward the end, even poisons. Rayen soaked it all up like a sponge, passed Nan's tests with flying colors and, unsurprisingly, became interested in the medical field.

In their whispered conversations, Nan told her how proud she was that her granddaughter following in her footsteps, albeit slightly different. Rayen confessed everything to her: how she wanted to be a nurse, how she dreamed of working with Doctors Without Borders, and helping as much as she could. Nan quickly became secretive after that, hiding away in her room for hours, and always smiled when Rayen asked why. She said it was something she'd understand when she was older.

After years of studying and relentlessly pursuing her dream, Rayen obtained her nursing degree and passed her boards. Her family threw a small graduation party where she received her Nan's presents. Rayen adored the charms that Nan bequeathed to her, but loved the journals she gave to her later that night. They were the one secret Nan had kept from Rayen's whole life. Shortly after that wonderful moment, Nan passed and her room now lacked the wonderful warmth it once had.

Her mother and father had worked tirelessly in their jobs and were finally able to enjoy their life in retirement. Now they traipsed around the world, traveling from one country to the next. Bjorn had moved out of state with his new wife. She never put up with his antics and called him out when he needed it, but supported him in all his ventures. He was doing well in the cyber security sector, which everyone needed in this day and age.

Rayen tried to let out the tension from the day in a large sigh and worked the knots out of her shoulders. She determined that today would be a good day to travel to the neighborhood park. She needed some time with nature to sort out her feelings from her shift. She marched over to the small car and shoved her bag into the back seat. A quick flick of the front door, a buckled seat belt, a twist of her wrist and she was off.

As she drove, her mind wandered from work to the empty house and back. She doesn't really want to go back and house sit. It was lonely to be the only person in a large house since everyone was out of the state. She cues up her phone from the Bluetooth function in her car and texts two of her friends. Maybe they would like to hang out at the town's watering hole tonight for a few drinks. As she approached the park, a large doe darted in front of her little sedan. Startled and scared, Rayen swerved the car's steering wheel and ran into the embankment. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was intense pain in her head and the seat belt tightening on her chest.

—

Rayen felt as if she was drifting, buoyant as if she was in the water. It was safe, sheltering but precarious. The ominous possibility of plunging under if you weren't careful lurked in the background. Her mind was oddly idle, a rare state for her, and her body numb. She had no energy to expend, no monumental care, just the feeling of bone deep tiredness. And so, she let herself drift to and fro in the currents. Eventually, it lulled her idle mind to sleep.

The crackling snap next to her and the soft murmur of voices far away half woke her. It was muffled as if cotton was stuffed in her ears. The the familiar tang of salves, the convoluted mixture of herbs and spices, and earthiness of smoke waifed in the air. She could feel the warmth of a soft flame, scratchy sticks prodding her back, and the tightness of her skin.

Rayen curled her fingers and the joints felt stiff from disuse and dehydration. She gathered up her strength and pushed it to her core, levering up her torso from the rough cloth underneath. Eyes open to see where she was but quickly snapped shut when the bright light stung them. Rayen cradled her head in her hands and let out a weak moan. She felt like she had the worse hangover. From the splitting headache, to the joint stiffness and a mouth as dry as the desert.

Rayen hadn't felt like this since the one horrible experience with alcohol in college. She caved in when her friends and roommate urged her to try a few drinks. She knew she would be a lightweight, as she rarely ever drank, but not that much of one. She paid for the oversight the next morning by praising the porcelain throne. She vowed to herself to never drink that much ever again. Another groan slipped from her lips as she cracked her fingers to take a peek at the outside world and her eyes gradually adjusted.

Next to her bedding was the best sight in the world, a mug and a full pitcher of water. She grabbed both, filled the mug and greedily drank as much as she could. The light fruity taste gave her a shock causing her to sputter as the liquid went down the wrong pipe but quickly righted itself.

After a brief debate on whether or not she should continue to drink the odd concoction, she shrugged. She already had a mouthful and it shouldn't harm her much to have more. A couple mugs of the cool liquid later, the desert in her mouth was quenched and she focused on her surroundings.

The heat came from her right in a stone hearth and the rough fabric was a piece of linen covering hay that served as her bed. She spied a few bits of straw in her auburn side bangs and proceeded to untangle herself from the offending foliage. She found a few pieces of straw stuck to her forearms in a greenish paste. Investigating, she brought up her arm and took a sniff. It took a few moments but her mind placed the slightly sweet scent as aloe.

Rolling her shoulders, her gaze swept through the hut, taking in the strings of drying herbs and the jars filled with salves and tonics. There was a simple wooden bed in the opposite corner with sheets tossed in disarray. The floor was made of pounded earth and cool to the graze of her hand. Overall, it looked like a small abode that her Nan described for her old cottage.

A shuffling gait caught Rayen's attention as an old woman entered the abode. She had wild gray hair with pale wrinkled skin. Her gnarled and arthritic hands carried small clay pots, probably filled with other herbs or medicines to be used at a later point. Her slight frame wore a fresh gray linen robe with a white layer beneath. A small gentle smile graced her thin lips before she went to store her herbs in the cabinet near the workstation.

She proceeded to free a hand and lifted one finger towards Rayen. Ah the universal gesture for patience. Rayen nodded, she would be respectful towards her apparent host. The elderly woman continued with her chores, readying the supplies for tonics and tinctures on the station.

The old woman grabbed dried herbs from her cabinet, three from the highest shelf and two from the bottom. She mixed it to the large pot sitting on the desk. She added golden liquid from a large clay jar on the workstation and then a splash from another pitcher near the fire pit. Rayen could hear the woman muttering under her breath, but it was indistinct and the lady seemed thoroughly engrossed in her work.

Rayen shifted on the bed, sending the crinkly sound throughout the hut. The noise cut through the quiet room and the woman snapped her head towards its origin. Rayen winced at the steely gray gaze and huddled back into the linen blanket. The elder's quick movements and lack of conversation were slowly making Rayen nervous. She let a tentative smile slip and licked her chapped lips.

The elder tutted at Rayen and ladled two mugs full of her concoction. The gnarled hands thrust one towards her and motioned for Rayen to drink. The elder sat down on the workstation's sole chair and let out a relieved sigh while she sipped her tincture.

"Are you sure I can have this?," Rayen questioned. She was hesitant to take something from a stranger, but it seemed that this woman had been taking care of her. Plus she was already sipping away at her own mug. Rayen couldn't remember how she had gotten here and she could only deduce that the woman hulled her out of her wrecked car. "Thank you for taking care of me, ma'am."

The woman flapped her hand at Rayen and nodded. She gestured with own mug toward Rayen's and curled her lips into another smile, showing white teeth. Rayen eyed her mug and, with a heavy sigh, chugged its contents. A shiver crawled its way up her spine and she forced herself to swallow the bitter drink. She coughed to cover up the automatic gag reflex. The woman let out a short laugh and nodded her head, "It isn't the most pleasant of drinks but it helps with the recovery of the body and mind."

Rayen let out a rueful grin, "My Nan used to make concoctions and tinctures. In my experience the helpful ones were never great tasting." Rayen fidgeted with the mug's handle and passed it between her hands. She glanced back up at the woman and asked, "Where are we? The last I remember, I was in my car on the way to the park and hitting a huge tree. I mean, I'm not ungrateful that I'm not dead. Just really confused."

"We are in the forest near there. It took some effort to get you back to my hut, but I managed to get Morty to help. It wasn't as difficult after that." The woman took another swig from her mug and relaxed into her chair. "Morty is a neighbor of sorts and a dear friend. Always willing to help out and lend a hand. Gifted me most of the herbs you see behind me. He was kind enough to escort me to a nearby glade to hunt for a few wild herbs when I found you."

Rayen looked surprised. "I didn't know that the county let people live so close to the parks." Realizing her social faux pas, she quickly tacked on, "Ah! Not that it really matters given the situation! I'm just thankful for your help!"

"No offense taken where none was intended. Be careful next time, Morty or I won't be there to help. Once we reached my cabin, I placed some salve on your forearms and calves. I needed to cut away part of your pants to get to the burns. Morty says that the engine caught fire after you hit the rowen tree. There wasn't much left of your trousers once we got you from the wreckage, mind you." The old woman shrugged. "We salvaged as much as we safely could.

"There was a bag that was singed, a blue quilt blanket, and a few books. The rest of it we weren't able to get out before the fire became to much of a risk. We did the best we could." She gestured to behind Rayen.

Rayen twisted her back and saw that some of her items were indeed there. She was so lucky that they managed to get her Nan's journals and the blanket Nan and mother made for one of Rayen's birthdays. Her hands trembled as they brushed over her precious items. "They mean the world to me. Thank you so much."

"It was easier to get those out then you, to be honest. It was a hard thing to do with these old bones. If I may ask, why are they so important to you?" She asks as she stood from her chair. She grabbed a new kettle from her workstation, streams in water from her large pitcher and placed it near the fire. She snatched a jar from her cabinet and shuffled toward Rayen. "Could you open this please? It's a bit hard for my old hands now-a-days."

Rayen leans forward and grabs the jar. With a quick twist and a unintentional whiff of its contents, she handed it back to the woman. It was a pleasant fruity smell mixed with an undertone of earthiness. A culinarily herb? She hands back the lid and container and asks, "Fruits and culinary herbs?"

The old woman taps her nose with one hand and grabs the jar with the other. "Good sense of smell deary. Indeed, they are. It's part of my morning tincture and very similar to the water you drank earlier. The ale is made by Lasair, another neighbor, and the fruit and herbs were brought by Morty."

She turned toward the kettle and adds a few pinches. "I'm not able to travel as much as I used too. So Morty restocks my supplies and brings me new ingredients from his travels. He goes to many different places with his position as a guide, so he is exposed to more of these things than I am."

Rayen nodded and winced from the stiffness and pain from her legs. A quick glance showed that her shins had already developed blisters and that they were covered in the same aloe paste as her arms. Luckily, it wasn't terribly extensive but still uncomfortable. Her arms were better off with just being singed and wouldn't need much care. Her body had the generalized ache from head to toe probably from the snap against the seatbelt.

Sighing, she grabs the pitcher of water near her makeshift bed and pours herself another drink. She wasn't able to do much about the all over ache but the water would help with the stiffness and the headache. Burns were terrible at causing dehydration as the injured skin let the bodies' water slowly leak out.

Rayen sipped on her mug while she watched the old lady set about preparing for the next day. The elder aligned each jar on her workstation and laid out a new outfit. She eyed Rayen and made a decisive nod of her head, "You don't have much in way of clothes anymore, what hasn't been cut off has been burnt. I have a few outfits here that I wore back in my youth. You'll have to make due though, they are a bit old fashioned by your customs." She proceeded to the chest at the end of her bed and rooted in its contents.

Rayen let a relieved sigh escape and smiled at the woman's back. She was dreading having to make her way home in clothes that were basically scraps. She could feel the linen cloth through the holes in her scrub pants and top. She basically had enough of her clothes left to cover the bare essentials but that was it.

She was a modest girl who preferred to wear light pants and skirts in the summer than cut off shorts that showed her bum or light linen shirts instead of clingy fabrics. It would make her very uncomfortable and she would prefer to wear any other clothes over these remnants. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate all your help. If you could show me the outfit, I'll happily wear it."

The old woman harrumphed as she shook out the dress away from the fire. Indeed, it was old fashioned, but it would help with Rayen's sense of modesty. It was a gown, like the ones from the renaissance fairs Rayen had gone to before. It was a forest green dress showcasing a contrasting trim of Celtic design on a warm golden background and a black flowing lines. The trim lined the upper bodice, the bottom edges, and wrapped around both upper arms.

A smaller trim of the same design trailed along the arms from the wraps to the hands with gold buttons to close the edges. There were tan ribbons along the ribs of the dress to cinch it together. Overall it was a beautiful gown.

The older woman smiled at Rayen's awe. "It was something I made for myself to wear when I was much younger. I was going to gift it to my granddaughter, but she wouldn't mind you having it instead. You need it more than she will." She reaches back into the chest and scoured for more items, fishing out a thin metal belt and a white chemise to complete the set. "She is a sweet young girl, only seen seven summers. Even if she wanted it, it would be years until she grew enough to wear it."

The arthritic hands held up the chemise and offered it to Rayen, "This here is an under dress of sorts. You wear this under the gown to keep the top layer from becoming dirty from touching your skin. If you'd like, wear this tonight and we can place the gown on tomorrow morning before you head off."

The gray hair went everywhere as the older woman shook her head. "It's past dusk and there isn't much in the way of light to get to the next town. You can sleep the night in the extra bed if you want." Her hands gestured to the bed Rayen awoke from. "Or brave the outdoors to travel tonight."

The older woman returned to her chair and let out a deep sigh. "I'm going to have my tincture for my aches and head to bed. We'll place a few more logs on the fire before we sleep to keep us warm for most of the night. If we are lucky there'll be a few embers still burning in the morning for an easy fire."

Rayen nodded her understanding. She doesn't want to walk to town by herself in the dark, especially when she won't have a flashlight or cellphone to call for help. She picks up the thin chemise and rubs it between two of her fingers. It was made from soft fabric and would hold more body heat then the tattered remains of her scrubs. "Would you have bandages that I could wrap my legs with? That way I don't stain your clothes?"

The old woman nodded and shuffled her way to the workstation. A quick tug on one of the three drawers produced two rolls of the requested item. The lady passed them to Rayen and shifted towards her bed. With a turn of her back, Rayen strips to her skivvies, mindful of her burns, and takes a cleanish part of her scrubs, rubs off the aloe ointment on her arms and gives herself a quick rub down with water from the pitcher near her bed. It really wouldn't do to dirty the clothes the lovely woman was letting her use.

Gooseflesh spread and the shivers started to take over, Rayen rushed to wrap the bandages around her calves ensuring the green paste stayed close to her skin, tugged the chemise on and crouched by the fire. It was cold dang it! She reached behind her without looking, trying to find the quilt without leaving to warmth of the fire for even a moment.

A few unsuccessful attempts later, she finally managed to snag the quilt and wrapped herself in its embrace. The movement caused the smell of smoke to rise from the blanket and she knew she would have to wash it once she reached home. During her little foray, the elderly woman had drunk the last of her nighttime tincture and settled in bed.

Rayen was staring when she heard a large snore erupt from the tiny woman and auburn haired nurse snorted. She doesn't know if she would sleep well with a stranger in the room.

She let her mind wonder from one topic to the next. How much will it cost to get another vehicle, how her insurance was going to skyrocket, to the upcoming journey, on foot mind you, to the nearest town. Rayen sighed and determined that she was dry enough to settled back down on her bed. She knew she needed to sleep, that wounds heal better when one rests, that she was as safe as she could be in this hut, that this woman helped care for her when she couldn't care for herself, but having the woman give so much and not mention a cost worried Rayen.

Now don't get her wrong. Humans can be giving, caring and kind, but she hasn't experienced much of that. In her short life, she has learned that nothing, absolutely nothing, is ever free except love from parents or siblings. Everyone asks for something, either a phone number, an opinion or time filling out a survey. They're small things, sure, but it still wasn't free. She was pessimistic by nature and optimistic by choice.

She'll try to trust this woman and do what she could to give back, but take it all with a grain of salt. She let out a long sigh, leaned back against the wall of the hut and forced herself to settle in a doze.

—

Rayen woke to the cold slithering into her bundle of warmth. She found herself curled on the straw bed and wrapped tightly in her blanket. Her foot had fallen out of the bundle and the thin sock didn't provide protection against the chill in the air. Once her glasses, a bit broken but still useful, were properly placed, her blurry eyes adjusted to the dim light and found that the fire had dwindled down to embers.

She spied the small stack of wood on the ground which wasn't far from hearth. Grumbling to herself, she didn't want to leave the warmth of her nest, she dragged the quilt and her sleep heavy body to the pile. She placed a few large pieces on top of the grate and some tinder near the embers. With stirrings from the metal poker and a few puffs of air, the twigs and logs caught fire. Heat and light slowly permeated the room.

Rayen peered into the retreating darkness and saw that the larger bed was still occupied. She took the few quiet steps towards the door and attempted to see where the sun or moon was in the sky. Light was just starting to bleed into the dark expanse. She'd ave to leave once the sun was higher as the travel back to town might take while, plus she wanted to speak with her insurance as soon as possible.

She went back into the hut and sat on her bed.

Rayen's empty stomach began to protest but she ignored it for now. She let her mind wool gather before dealing with the trials of the day. She liked to be prepared and knew she had breakfast bars hidden inside her tan backpack. They say fate favors the prepared and all, so it was something to scarf down before the day began. If you were running late you might not be able to eat a good breakfast before work.

After a few minutes, she was brought back to the present by the rustling on the other side of the room. The old lady was stretching and cracking her back. It was a startlingly loud against the quiet morning and had Rayen wincing. It reminded her of all the times she had to set her brother's dislocated shoulder from his various fights from school. Those were the few times she could use her Nan's teachings without having to tell her parents. She got goodies from her brother for doing it too.

The woman hobbled from the bed and peered over the room. "Thank you for starting the fire. It's lovely to wake to a warm room." Her voice was hoarse from sleep and cracked a bit as she spoke, "I don't typically have a meal in the morning. It's busy with chores and getting ready for patients. And you need to get prepared to make the trek towards the nearest town."

The elder handed the thick gown to Rayen and gestured to her to start dressing. "Let me know if you need help. I'm going to bring in a few more logs and another pitcher of water."

Rayen nodded and looked down at the gown. She was amazed at the softness of the thick cotton. Not wanting the older woman to see her failed attempts, the auburn nurse waited until she left and slips on the outer layer after some fuss. She tied the side ribbons into bows, that tightened the gown snug around her waist, and started to button the sides on both arms. As she tugged the outer gown here and there, the medicine lady returned with her pitcher full and two logs held against her side with her other arm. The woman smiled, "It looks good on you deary. The coloring compliments your hair wonderfully."

It was true. The auburn locks were a vivid contrast to the dark green gown. The trim showed off her pale skin and the gown curved gently over her curvy form. The small metal belt hung loosely on her hips and accentuated her waist. The heart shaped bodice showed off the five charms on a golden necklace that rested on her creamy skin. She was petite in stature barely reaching five-three, but the gown complimented her figure. The young woman's face flushed at the lady's compliment.

As she looked up and down her form she noticed her tennis shoes, they made the whole ensemble look off. "Thank you for everything. The gown. Saving my stuff, heck, saving my life. Just thank you." She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "Is there something I can do for you or get you in return? I should be able to come back here easily once I get a rental car."

The older woman smiled and nodded her head, "If you wouldn't mind, would you hand this to the head of the Stark family?" She rooted through her workstation and came up with a parcel. It looked thick with an old fashioned red wax seal closing the opening to the package. "I was going to have Morty make a special trip to deliver it to them. Since you are heading to town, would you mind giving it to them yourself?"

Rayen's eyes widen in surprise. That is all she needs from her? "Certainly! I can easily do that for you!"

She took the parcel and placed it in the organized portion of her backpack. Before closing it, she found one of the hidden compartments and dragged out a chocolate breakfast bar. She was surprised to find her large exercise jug in the bottom of the bag. She took it out and replaced it with the folded up quilt. "Before I head out, may I get some water for the journey?"

The woman nodded and waved her hand towards the desk. "Take the water from the left pitcher. It has similar concoction as yesterday, flavored with apples and pomegranates." The jug was quickly filled with the cold water and sealed. One of the buckles was used to secure it to the backpack and she hiked it up over her shoulders.

It felt a bit odd wearing a gown while carrying a backpack, but she wasn't going to look into a gifted horses' mouth so to speak. "Is there anything you want me to tell them when I give them your package?"

The elderly woman let a grin stretch over her mouth, "Tell them that it is from Chailleach. They will know who I am. Enjoy your journey as much as I think you will. Just stay on Morty's path, it's fairly easy to follow." She flapped her hands once more, shooing her out of the hut.

"Thank you?" Rayen replies keeping her face clear of confusion and smiles at the woman. "Once I'm able too, I'll bring the gown back and check on you. Please let me know if there's anything more I can do to help. It's the least I could do for someone that saved me." With that, she steps through the archway and began her trek back home.