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The Heart of Winter
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The grizzled Rune priest led the expecting woman through the winding hallways of the Fang towards the main audience chamber, the walls lined with heavy tapestries detailing past battles and glories, suits of archaic armour, and oddly, specimens hardy plants from various planets in the Imperium.
On turning another corner the odd pair entered a hallway with a huge carved door and approached.
The heavy door boomed as the Marine struck it thrice with one fist, and it slowly ground open.
"Lady Thora?" the man blinked at the unexpected sight of Fenris' statuesque queen beside her daughter.
Thora laughed, sound echoing off the walls, "Ira got all 'cryptic seer' again," she said her face full of wry amusement, making the rune priest smirk behind his beard before noting, "Even for her divining the future is tricky."
Ulfhild chuckled, "So she has grumbled, many a time."
Thora's eyes where piercing as they looked at the woman, "So, you are our Fenris' mother-to-be?"
"S-so they say, my lady," stammered the wide-eyed brunette.
Thora's fierce look softened into a maternal smile, "None of that," she rose and rested a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder, leading her to a seat Ulfhild had set out, "We're going to be family now, aren't we?"
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Varda squawked indignantly, arms and legs flailing, as a large hand hauled her out of a snow-bank she had burrowed herself in.
"HEY!" she protested.
Ulfhild fixed her with a stern look, "It worries your mother when you do that."
The blonde girl glowered, "But she knows it won't hurt me," a credible whine entering her voice.
The older red-head brushed off the clinging snow with muted growl of exasperation, "Oh, she knows, but knowing its different from understanding."
Mismatched eyes looked at her with confusion.
"You'll understand when you are older," added Ulfhild with a mock growly look, setting the young girl on the ground, "now let's go home."
Varda smiled, wide and toothsome, "Only if you catch me!" she cried before diving into another snow bank.
"VARDA!
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