PART THREE
Chapter 4
Where they appeared was familiar and yet fairly new not only had this scenario altered things around them, but it had brought them to a entirely different time and place. She looked around at the people all around and she knew without a doubt where she was. The trouble was, she had not a clue where she would encounter him and these clothes? They were a little on the….rustic side, to say the least and she reached around to feel her hair and felt it braided intricately and as she looked at her self as best she could, she knew well enough who she was around. Why she was dressed as she was. It was a simple frock with a pelt wrapped around her shoulders. Warm, yes, but she didn't really want to think about how fresh it was. Not that she was one of those PETA people. Or a vegetarian. But being flung back in time…..to another reality that was real and yet not….she knew she needed to once more seek him out. And as she left the large room where dozens upon dozens were seated at long tables, some with other women, dancing and doing things she blushed at seeing all out there, she reached the room she knew was likely where she needed to be. Sure enough, there was a dais and there were three seated upon it, the center figure wearing a crown she recognized from the room back home Eric used as something of a shrine to his past, the crown he had fought to regain after it had been stolen…in the other reality. But here, in this reality, the crown remained on the head of Eric's father and as she saw the royal couple seated regally, dressed in a style she could only describe as Viking fancy dress, she turned to the far right, the third figure seated up there. Indeed, it was a familiar sight to her, seeing him sitting looking down on the crowds below. It was another thing entirely to see him dressed as he once did. His hair was long once again and she thought he looked incredibly…..tasty in his Viking wear, a sword strapped to his back, she noted as he got up, apparently having not noticed her. She saw his parents glance concernedly at him, speaking in a dialect she had only just started getting the hang of.
She pushed her way through the crowds of increasingly drunken Vikings and she felt a arm wrap around her, pulling her into a small room that was lit only by the moon streaming through the window. Hands were all over her and she smelled what she knew had to pass for alcohol in this time period. She felt clothing tear and hands go in places she would only ever let one other reach. Try as she might, her strength was not enough against this brick house of a man and she cursed the fact that in these realities, they had no powers or abilities. And just as she had been saved from a near violent assault like this once before, so came a rescuer. And she saw, even without his own talents, that Eric was one to fear even amongst his people. She gaped wide-eyed as he flung the man with one arm off of her and into the waiting arms of a couple who were very clearly guards who had come onto the scene.
He grabbed the drunk by the throat and proceeded to make what she knew was a deadly threat in his native tongue. The castle had fallen deadly silent as they watched their prince deal out his own brand of justice and Sookie knew he wanted to do worse to the man. But the threat had clearly registered, as the man was let go, scampering out of the castle as fast and granted, as haphazardly as possible in his drunken state of affairs. His hand on his sword, he flicked his hair out of his face and managed to take a good hard look at her, dressed in her slightly damaged dress.
"You were good." she said, awestruck at getting to see him in his original state of affairs, in his old stomping grounds doing that which he was best at. He stood before her looking very much like the prince that in reality he hadn't been able to become and yet here, that was very much what he was.
"You sound surprised." he replied, smirking that famous smirk of his, taking a look at her. No scrapes, no cuts, no damage. "Lucky this is just some virtual reality crap but that was way too real for my liking." he said. "At least no physical harm can happen but those clothes…I may need to help you change into something else." he said as he took her by the hand and took a moment to admire the rest of her. "You….you fit in surprisingly well."
"Well, the blonde hair helps, I guess. But I think I may be the only one with brown eyes." she said, looking around at the faces watching her stroll through the parting crowd with him, heads bowing in reverence. "Um…I am not used to getting the literal royal treatment…"
"It was….something I enjoyed for a time…but I got bored. I wanted to be my own person, not stuck to a throne. I was always rather rebellious….reluctant to take on what was my birthright. I suppose things worked out as they were meant to…but being here…I-he was stopped by a figure approaching him with his parents. She was familiar, very much so and she was a beauty, that was nothing that could be disputed. And the expectant looks on his parents' faces was enough to make the smug exterior melt away somewhat, making him ever so slightly take a few steps back as his parents made introductions. And as she struggled to translate the conversation, the three speaking in hurried and passionate tones, she got the jist of it and she surely didn't like it.
The young woman in between the royal couple was bold, brazen even, as she first bowed at Eric and then took his hand in hers. She spoke reverently and so fast that there was no way for even Sookie to follow. But the face of the woman was the crappy icing on the cake. It was clear what this was and she was swept aside by a crowd that ushered the couple away and up to the dais. This was no ordinary party, it was some kind of ceremony and it looked, to her chagrin, that her Viking, in this reality was very much betrothed here. And though she knew this wasn't real, it was for her, the shock of it all was real. And from across the room, her eyes met his and everything was a blur as well attired figures performed what she guessed was the ceremony itself and her gut felt wrecked as she watched the two kiss, the woman all but forcing herself on him and though it was clear he looked less than happy, she found Gemly beside her.
"This isn't exactly a good time." she muttered to him as she watched helplessly as the couple were escorted away, no doubt to a bedroom.
"This wasn't meant to be entirely lighthearted. I wanted the two of you to also understand how things could have been different and not necessarily for the better of either of you. This isn't entirely false either. If he and his family had been left alone by Edgington and his wolves, this was what his life would have been. That redhead he is with, she would have been his for decades and they would have had several children. And he would have, eventually, taken the throne he had resisted for so long. But he also would have perished in a terrible battle for this place, for their lands here. And that time, there would be no Godric to turn him. He would have perished with his equally mortally wounded fighters at his side…and though his bloodline would have gone one….it wouldn't have thrived as it has in the timeline you know and live in."
She pondered this as she shuddered to think at what was happening behind closed doors. "I think I have had enough of this existence…." she stalked off towards the door she had seen him enter but was blocked by a pair of tall blondes that nearly rivaled her own. Nearly. They tried to get her to leave, rough hands starting to grab at her. But even with no powers, she had two knees that worked quite well and considering that the pair were clad in leather but little else….she took one, then two separate shots to a region she knew would fall any guy. And as they winced, she raced down the hall and to the room beyond and though she saw one figure in bed, the red head that looked almost insulted, she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw him, back to the woman, both looking as if they had had a serious argument. He saw her in the doorway and managed a tight but tense smile.
"You didn't think I would go along with things that easily, did you?" he asked as the redhead glowered at the intrusion, ranting in her native tongue and both of them knew it wasn't anything complimentary. He led her out into the hall, closing the door to drown out the angry shouts from the young woman who was disappointed and angry to say the least at being spurned. He kissed her gently and pulled back, seeing the haunted look in her eyes and as she explained what Gemly had said to her, that this had nearly been reality, for the most part for him, he seemed as troubled. "I couldn't….I wouldn't…." he frowned again. "Truth be told, I felt something when I saw her….an attraction I think but….." he trailed off, almost embarrassed to admit this to her. "imagining myself living another life….and to actually be in another life….."
"I know…this has been eye opening. Not all fun and games but…I think we learned something from all this….what could have been, what we have…what we need to stop taking for granted." she paused. "I can safely say I ever expected the night to turn into this. And it was hard to stomach at times but….not terrible either. You looked good as a suburban dad…"
He cringed, to her amusement. "Good thing you didn't get any photos of that. Pam would have a field day with that."
But she was clever and reminded him of her abilities, that she could conjur anything from her mind that she had ever seen. And after promising that that would remain secret, unless he did something that ticked her off, she grinned wickedly. "Or maybe I could just show her anyway. For funsies."
The room turned dark around them and back they appeared in the shop where Gemly was waiting patiently. "You can try other scenarios of you so chose but I suspect you've both had enough fu n for the night. I hope it was illuminating?" he queried as Sookie checked to see if her power was intact again and as she lit her hands up and disappeared that light, she looked relieved, just as he did, back in his leathers, fanged once more and just…looking more in his element than he had in any of the scenarios they had been put into
"Granted, the suburban scenario was a touch of a stretch and more fanciful…." Gemly said with a slow start, looking thoughtful. "But as far as the, shall we call it, old school place you were at, I do hope you learned something from the experience."
"I learned I have jealousy issues a bit. " said Sookie dryly as she thought briefly to the redhead that could have been the one he had ended up with instead. Turning to her Viking, she asked him if he remembered her.
"I remember meeting her but apparently she was who was intended for me. But fate being as it is….well, things didn't turn out that way. Things turned out far better."
That being said, Sookie looked a touch furtive. "Imagine if either of those realities were real for us. I can't imagine my life being any other way now. It wasn't long ago I wanted a normal life free from supes….and I never thought….well…you know." she looked red-faced, almost embarrassed at the past decisions she had made in her life. Choices she felt stupid about even years later. And though she knew he had long since forgiven her, saying he had made mistakes himself, she still….well, she didn't know what else to say. And she didn't need to say anything as she felt his hand take hers. They had that connection, silent understanding.
"I think tonight has been a evening to remember and I truly hope neither of you were upset terribly by what you experienced. I would have shown you more but…..my magi is nearly done and so is my life. Before I pass on I would wish upon you one last gift." he focused his magic into a single ball of light, brighter than any she had seen any faerie conjure and she felt the life, the light within it. Potent magic, to be sure. And when the light was gone, there was a polished, smooth orb in his hand, milky white and with iridescent colors within it. "Only able to be used by yourself, Sookie, this will give you the chance to do one of two things otherwise impossible. Or you can dispatch the light, giving all your loved ones a touch of faerie protection that will never fade. Not to say no one can ever be harmed again, but it will help keep you all under a more cloaked profile. And your already fast healing abilities…well, they will be even faster. Or you can make one or two other choices." Oh, this should be good, Sookie thought to herself, bracing for what was to be said next.
Chapter 5
"Can we choose to just leave?" a weary Eric asked, not caring if he sounded rude, as this evening had been a little hard for him, more difficult that he cared to admit. This experience had left more of an impression on him than he thought possible and it was….unsettling. And upsetting. There was much he could give her but thinking back on seeing her with the kids? And the fact that he had truly, actually had had inclinations towards the redhead that he had known before a long time ago? That he was closing himself off from her detecting the guilt he bore was only temporary. She looked at him funny and the pained expression told her all she needed to know. And when she put her hands on his face, allowing herself to delve into his thoughts, he waited for the reaction. She didn't seem angry, as she left his thoughts, her magic being able to see even into his mind.
"This had to be hard for you….confusing even. To have a taste of the live you almost hat. Could have had…."
"Which brings me to what I was saying about that which I gave you." Gemly was looking increasingly tired, weak. "There are two other options you have for that object. You can choose to take one of the scenarios that you just experienced and make them a reality-though you would be the replacement for the red head, I promise you that, Sookie-or you can use that object in your hand and unmake him." the old faerie looked meaningfully at her. "Your chance to have what I know you sorely want still and yet can not. And my magic can't duplicate what transpired before, how you two were able to have Aurora. The only thing I can do is take away that which you became. Permanently."
The couple looked at one another in shock. They knew there were certainly pros and cons to that particular option and as she cupped the orb in her hand, she knew she could only ever do one thing. Instinct guided her as she took the orb and sharing a glance with him, they both knew she was about to act. Smashing the stone on the ground, sparks of light exploded outward, touching the two of them and racing off into the night where their friends, their family would also be granted the protection, which Gemly said would be invisible once outside the confines of this building and also one would be the wiser that they were being touched by magic.
Gemly looked unsurprised by her decision and walked over to her and wiped the tear from her cheek. "You made a good decision and I understand it was not easy…but you took what you learned tonight and used it to make that choice. You knew how difficult it would be to keep another child safe and deep down, as much as you would love to have another, that your lives are constantly being interrupted. Loved ones have died. But deep down, you know the life you live now is the one you were meant to have. That your family is fine just the way it is." he paused. "Can I ask if that hit's the nail on the head?"
The two looked at each other a moment and she replied. "I would be lying if I said I didn't want to expand the family. But we live in trying times and…." her voice cracked and she couldn't bear to speak the true depths of the truth that she and him felt. They did, in fact want more to their family. But they were choosing not to risk it and of course, neither wanted to live the scenarios that they had just ventured into. Still, the pain that was there was something that would linger in them both.
"I wish I could give you everything. But….we have much to be thankful for, namely Aurora and I refuse to think that this is the end of this talk. Impossible is not in my vocabulary and I know it isn't in yours either." Eric turned to Gemly. "But I suppose I should thank you for giving your energies to help protect our loved ones more…it is….appreciated.
Smiling, the faerie closed his eyes as death approached. "Be well and live your lives to the fullest. Love much and laugh often. Even life can be too short for immortals." and with that, he dissolved into sparkling dust, a warm wind scatting the remains around and they saw the building shift around them, reverting into a abandoned structure. Neither said anything as they returned home, having much still to reflect on and to ponder. They were the epitome of impossible, he thought to himself as he drove home, her head resting on his shoulder and it was almost instant that she fell asleep, leaving him lost in thoughts of what was, what is and what could be. And he found himself feeling better than he had in some time, though there was no erasing the still lingering guilt that he could give her everything save for the one thing he knew she wanted. Thinking back on the road they had taken that brought them together though, he knew nothing was, in fact, impossible.
THE END
Author's Note-stay tuned for a return to the story arc I started in Strange Bedfellows. The stories will be titled Baby Steps and Labor Intensive respectively. Coming soon!