Disclaimer: Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Charlaine Harris. I do not own this story!

Chapter 4

Niall's Point of View.

I turned and walked over to the one window in the Viking's open spaced area and gazed out, looking across the castle's grounds before I began to explain the Prophecy.

"The Prophecy stated that the last of the female of my family's line will bring great things to both parties, mine and Sookie's world as well as the various communities within our world. It's said that the woman will be powerful and that her instincts are strong. She'll suffer in the early years of life but if she chooses her path wisely then she will be rewarded." He paused.

"That explains nothing Prince, just cryptic riddles of sorts." The Viking snapped.

"Don't interupt me Viking, as I said before, I can't give away too much detail, as it could change the path of the future."

Silence greeted him, so he continued.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, the last female of my family line that's survived is Sookie. She's seen more than she should in her short lifetime, compared to my own. My son Fintan, Sookie's grandfather, tried his best to protect his family. He tried to protect her from her destiny, a life he didn't want her to have. You see, it wasn't that Fintan didn't want me in Sookie's life – he did – but he knew the dangers that would follow. He didn't want Sookie or her gifts to get mixed up on the path that would follow her to her destiny. He wanted her to have a sheltered life in the countryside and live like any other normal person, but Sookie was born to do more than live an ordinary life." He took a deep breath and turned to face the three of them who were looking at him with rapt attention.

"Sookie," he said, meeting her gaze. "When you were born, Fintan was supposed to bring you to my world to raise you and prepare you for the prophecy and what was to come. He was supposed to guide you and teach you how to control your gifts as you grow. Instead, he chose to ignore the prophecy and keep you safe and sheltered and unaware of the world around you that one day you would be thrust into, like when our visitor first moved in next door to you."

"So, I wouldn't have had to go through what I went through if my grandfather had just listened to the prophecy thing?" she asked him, looking a little hurt. He didn't blame her. He smiled sadly and sighed.

"I'm not going to lie to you Sookie, but yes. You would have had a different upbringing and been tutored at my palace with your cousins and other family members that you haven't had a chance to meet. Perhaps your grandmother would still be alive too and things would have happened differently… it's impossible to know."

"Then why am I here; what has me being sent here to Eric's time got to do with this Prophecy?"

"I'm glad you asked me that question, dear one. When you first met Eric, how did you feel?"

"I wanted to slap him in the face and wipe that smug smirk off it, but at the same time I wanted to, to-" She blushed, from head to toe. The Viking looked amused, as did his brother.

"Wanted to do what to me, Princess?"

Sookie turned and looked at Eric who currently wore a familiar smirk and leer on his face.

"You know what I mean grandfather?" Sookie asked, ignoring Eric's question, earning a chuckle from Eric's brother.

Niall just nodded, looking amused at the exchange between the three.

"I understood perfectly, dear. We've all been there, there's no need to be shy about it, but I'd rather not know the details, as you're my granddaughter."

"Likewise," Sookie mumbled, blushing even further at what her grandfather was implying.

"Back to the prophecy, Sookie, you were destined to be his. You weren't supposed to meet him the way you did; you were supposed to meet him in an entirely different light. I'm guessing the time-portal got activated because now is your chance to see the Viking's true nature - not the Viking as you know him in your time. I have estimated that you have six months here. In that time, you are free to get acquainted with each other. This is your chance to get to know the real him. I'm guessing you completed it?" he asked her, knowing that she'd know what he meant. He was surprised that the two Viking brothers had remained mostly silent throughout his talk.

"Yes."

Niall nodded.

"How is he?" She asked weakly.

"Kicking up a storm, but not for long." Niall said.

"What do you mean 'not for long'?"

"Sookie, when I return, things will be different. When you return in six months, you will not have met the fool that moved in next to you. You will not have to deal with all the politics and things in the way you did. You and I will not have met and you your cousin will be alive. Please just trust me and take this chance you've been given to start fresh." He saw the look of worry on her face.

"What do you mean? I don't understand."

Niall walked over to her and cupped her face in his hands, ignoring the Viking's growl.

"Granddaughter, you have been given a magnificent gift - a once in a lifetime chance - to go back in time and return to a time when your grandmother will still be alive, the murders in your village didn't happen, and when you meet the cold ones it will be in a different light. The gods and goddesses have blessed you with this opportunity; take it and use it wisely, child. We will meet, I am unsure of when, in relation to when you return. I must warn you, that when you return you may not remember everything. To start anew, you must erase the old."

He watched as Sookie frowned again, trying to process everything he's told her.

"My time is running out dear one, I can feel myself slowly start being pulled backwards, back to my time. Sookie, please use these six months wisely and get to know your Viking, let him in, let him love you the way you deserve to be loved. You'll find many things different, but embrace the chance at a new start in life; embrace it, and in six months when you return to your world, people will act as if nothing has changed. You'll have your job at the bar, you'll have life the way it was before you met the cold ones." He paused. "Promise me granddaughter."

Sookie had hold of his wrists in a tight grip. "I promise, but I don't understand," she whispered.

"In time, you will, I promise. It's for the greater good this way." He moved his cupped hands away from her cheeks and kissed each and pulled her into a tight hug, inhaling her scent, blood of his blood, before he faded away.

So how much of that did you all understand? Or was Niall being his usual cryptic fairy self again?