I woke to find the house empty, and there was no trace of anyone in sight. I lay in bed and blinked my eyes as I stretched and swung my legs out of bed. As I open my bedroom door, I see that I am in the hall of my home in Avalon.
As instinct takes over, I make my way to the throne room, and I find my great grandfather Arthur and my great grandmother Guinevere sitting side by side on the thrones that now belong to Eric and me in the mortal realm. I also see my Gran standing beside Guinivere holding her hand.
She has to be my Gran, but she is young and beautiful. Just like in the pictures, I saw of her in her youth. I ran with tears in my eyes, and we embraced as she met me halfway. "Oh Gran, we miss you so much," I say as tears fall from my eyes. I look behind her to see Arthur and Guinivere smiling as they watch our exchange.
"I said that we would be watching over you, and we have," Gran says to me sternly. "You have trouble coming to you my heart, and you need to prepare yourself," she explains to me with urgency.
"What trouble?" I ask in confusion as I see Guinivere walk toward me. As she reaches to take my hand, I see flashes of a handsome dark-haired man, and I know immediately that this is Lancelot from the memories that flicker through her mind. I watch as Lancelot seduces my great grandmother through witchcraft and the heartbreak that both she and Arthur suffer as a result. When she finishes showing me, I have tears in my eyes.
"You are the same as me?" I ask in bewilderment as she smiles. "Beware of dark-haired strangers that would steal you from your Viking or steal your Viking from you, dear heart," she says with kindness as she strokes my cheek.
"You have many powers, just as my mentor predicted, but you have yet to reach your destiny," she tells me as I stare at her in confusion. "Merlin was your mentor too?" I ask as she nods with a smile.
"Have you ever wondered why the other fallen agreed to train you, dear heart?" she asks as Arthur approaches and sits with us. I nod my head a little as I wait for her to continue.
"At the beginning, when the Almighty created the earth and the heavens, there was a great discord among the celestials," she explains as Arthur nods. "There was jealousy over mankind," she explains. "Celestials, which are known to humanity as Angels, were jealous of men and the right to choose his or her path," she explains as I listen.
"When the first war began, and those that rebelled against God the father, were rejected from the heavens, there was a great impact on the earth as they landed," she continued. "This would be what killed the great dinosaur species from the earth," she explains.
"As we watched with The Father from above, we saw the devastation and destruction that the fallen were wreaking on humanity on earth," she continued as I listened carefully.
"The deities that you know were sent to earth to protect mankind from those that were banished from the heavens," she explains as I listen.
"So, when they were sent by God to protect mankind, they were worshipped as gods by humanity because of the power they have," I say as she smiles and shares a look with Arthur.
"Yes, dear heart," they were," she continues.
"Some are unable to return home because they began to believe what mankind thought and embraced a lie," she tells me as I nod in understanding.
"You are different," she explains as I arch my brow in confusion.
"Your soul is celestial, and you were born into the PenDragon line that was sent here by Michael, the Commander of the Lord's army, to fight the evil of this world," she explains as I look at everyone with confusion.
"I was sent here?" I ask as they nod.
"Mankind is at a crossroads, and God sent you by his messenger Gabrielle, and that is why darkness is drawn to you, dear heart," she explains.
"Like a moth to a flame," Gran says as she holds my hand.
"You have the destiny to protect humanity from the evils of the fallen," Arthur explains.
"Oh, is that all?" I finally say with sarcasm, and I see a smile threaten Arthurs's face.
"Morgana soon approaches," Arthur tells me with all humor gone. "She will try to defeat you as she did before, so be vigilant," he explains as I nod.
"You have the blessings of your ancestors," they say as they lay hands on my head, and I feel a glow settle over my body.
"The children in your womb will be protected," Guinivere explains as Gran interrupts.
"Aryk and Arya need to come back NOW, do you hear me Sookie?" Gran demands as I startle at her tone.
"You have the chance to right that wrong, so don't let me down," she explains in a harsh tone.
"If they are needed to fight, then how do I right that wrong?" I ask in exasperation.
"Your Viking is a daywalker now, so he can travel to the Fae lands with you to watch his children grow," Arthur explains with a smirk.
"As your bonded mate, he is welcome, and the Fae laws are absolute," he explains as Gran smiles.
"You have to go now," they say as one. "Your mate grows impatient," Gran tells me with a smile as I roll my eyes.
"He stays that way," I grumble as they all laugh and fade from reality.
I wake to a very serious Viking sitting beside the bed, tapping his fingers together.
I kiss his lips and pop to the vault where the cluviel dor is hidden and pop back in an instant.
After I explain what happened in my dream, which is called Astro projection or traveling, he begins to perk up. "We have to word our wish just right for it to work, but if it does work, then you will be there to watch them grow up," I say as he wraps his arms around me and happiness bombards me through the bond.
"Before we do this, we will need to meet with everyone," I explain. I feel Eric calling to his children as I call to Jason and summon Merlin. Niall and Uncle Dillon pop inside our living room at the same time that we do.
"Call our trusted guards and council members," I say as Jason nods in confusion, and moments later, everyone is present.
"I have visited with my great grandparents as well as my Gran," I explain as eyes widen.
"Eric and I will be leaving for two weeks so that I can return to the Fae realm," I explain as Niall's eyebrows arch.
"I was instructed to do this by Arthur himself so that Eric may witness Aryk and Arya grow and be the father to them that he was meant to be," I explain.
"While I am away, I will also give birth to this child or children that I carry," I continue. "Since Eric is my mate as well as a daywalker, he will be fine in our realm," I say as Niall nods his head.
"Who will rule when you are not here?" Jason asks as I look to Merlin.
"Merlin and Karin will be in charge of the estate while we are gone," I explain as Jason looks confused.
"You and Pam will be joining us because, in my absence, you are the last PenDragon in this realm, and we should stick together, Jase," I say as he nods. Pam looks thoughtful as she cuts her eyes to Jason.
She is still pissed off about her upcoming Tinkerbelle.
"When do we depart?" she asks me in true Pamela Ravenscroft fashion. Pure boredom.
"As soon as we wish Aryk and Arya back with the cluviel dor," Eric tells her, and I see Lucien watching with hope from the corner.
"As the child of my husband and your king Karin has authority in Eric's absence," I say as all nod to Karin in acceptance. "As godfather to Sookie, Merlin has authority in her stead," Eric explains as all nod to Merlin in approval.
"Two weeks here is nothing, but for us, it will be a much longer trip," I explain as everyone is already aware. "I would like Niall to accompany us and Uncle Dillon to help with keeping the peace at Valhalla, but that is to be a choice that they make themselves," I continue.
"Merlin, you know my plans for the estate and the protections that must be in place," I say as he nods. "Yes, we have purchased the land, and the wall has expanded to include the entire estate," he informs me as I smile with approval. "The entire estate of Valhalla is now three thousand acres total," he tells me as I gasp in surprise.
"The Romans have built a hotel for themselves on the estate for when they visit," he tells me with an eye roll. "The Greeks and the Asgardians have done the same," he explains. "The Egyptians have also built a dwelling, and I took the liberty of mapping out a spot for the Sumerians when they arrive," he continues as I nod.
"They are friends, and I wish them to be comfortable," I say as Merlin agrees.
"Besides, who would dare to attack us with so many celestials in residence," I say as an afterthought and notice eyebrows raise at my statement.
"When we return, I would like for the estate to be running smoothly and efficiently," Eric tells our people as they agree to do the best that they can.
"I want a Christian church built near the graveyard," I tell Merlin as Jason nods his head in agreement.
"Make sure that the packs have shelter on this estate in the event of war as well," I say as an afterthought.
"Do you feel that war is near?" Eric asks in interest.
"I learned from many great men that we always should be prepared for anything, but most of all, we learned that from our Gran," I say as Jason grabs my hand and smiles.
"Are you ready?" I ask Eric as he nods. I project the words to say and the deep feelings behind our wish as we hold the cluviel dor in our hands and wish for our babies Arya Adele Northman and Aryk Jason Northman to return to us with such longing that we both have tears gliding down our cheeks.
Blinding green light fills the room, and in our arms, we hold our son and daughter. I see Aryk in his father's arms, smiling brightly at Eric, and I look down in my arms as I see Arya's beautiful face smiling at me.
"They are so beautiful," Eric tells me in awe, but his eyes never leave the faces of our children.
In our happiness, I feel Arya's attention drift to Lucien, and I feel her interest in the stranger. I see him watching with hope as I smile at him. He is beside us in an instant.
My tiny little daughter reaches her small hand toward her fated and grips his finger tightly as he begins to weep bloody tears. I hear her voice in my mind.
"MINE," she thinks very loudly as I laugh. I see Eric and Lucien look at me with questioning gazes. "She has declared you hers and rather loudly, Lucien, so I believe that you have nothing to worry about as far as her fierceness," I say proudly.
"She takes after her father," I say with a chuckle as Eric beams with happiness. "You will see her again in two weeks, my friend, and she will be the Arya you love once again," I say with a laugh.
"Although they will have more of Eric's characteristics than before because this time they will have him to influence them in life and he will also help to train them," I say as I feel Eric's pride through the bond.
"When the two weeks are up, we will return," I inform everyone as they nod and bow.
"Pam," I say as I see my friend look up at me.
"I know that you never wanted to be a mother, but your daughters will be beautiful, and you had so much fun playing dress-up with Arya," I say as her face changes slightly.
"Daughters?" she says in question.
"Yes, twin girls," I tell her as Jason frowns. "You can play dress-up with your daughters and train them to be as fierce as you are," I explain as she thinks about what I have said. "You can even spend Jason's money instead of Eric's because he is the father of the teacup Tinker belles," I say with a laugh as I hear Jason groan and I feel Eric's glee through our blood bond.
"The children that you carry are Brigant heirs and well as PenDragon," I tell her in hopes that she understands. "You will also have a son," I say as her nose crunches slightly, and Jason perks up. "These will be the only children that you will have," I say because I cannot see her having more than these three children with Jason.
"I am to have these teacup children, and that is all?" she asks in determination. "As far as I can see, that is all," I assure her as she settles in her seat and glares at Jason.
"This does not change anything," she informs my brother as he smiles at her, and I suddenly feel grossed out. "Don't worry about packing because I can pop whatever we need there," I say as Pam begins to pout.
"I want a supe hospital built while I am gone and a home for Amy Ludwig and her family," I say to Merlin as he nods. "Make sure she is included and give her whatever she needs," I instruct as Karin nods in agreement.
"Morgana will be coming for me as soon as I return, and with her will be your son," I say to Niall as his eyes widen. "He has aligned himself with that creature," Niall bellows in outrage.
"He has no idea that the PenDragon is also Sookie Stackhouse," I say as I explain my visions. "I have many names, and he only knows that they come for the PenDragon," I tell everyone.
"He has hopes of seeing his blood while they are so near to the Queen of Avalon," I say with malice. "I want him in iron cuffs as soon as Morgana is destroyed," I say to Merlin as he nods. I can see the anger burning in his eyes as he looks at Aryk and Arya sleeping in our arms.
"I will handle him personally, my Queen and King," he says with such sincerity, and I am thankful for my friend.
As the meeting is over, I hear a knock on the door to the war room. This room has a replica of my great grandfather's round table from Avalon. The doors open, and Apollo the Sun deity walks in with Horus, Zeus, Jupiter, Ra, Shamash the Sumerian sun deity as well as Freyr the Norse sun deity.
"We would like to offer daywalker status to any night creatures that vow fealty to you and your bloodline," they explain as I sit in shock.
I nod my head and say thank you quietly as I think. "Could you do this when I return with my children in two weeks?" I ask as they nod with smiles.
"We will all stay and protect this haven for you, and we have had much fun after so many millennia apart," Horus tells me as they all laugh together.
"You all have houses here now and are welcome at any time," I say as I thank them for the protection.
"Could you please have talks with your fertility ladies?" I say with emphasis, and I notice they all drop eyes to the floor.
"We all played a part," I hear Appollo say without apology.
"Why?" I ask in disbelief.
"The PenDragon line was almost extinct, and that line was sent by Michael himself on the orders of the Almighty," he explains. "Your line must go on and become stronger to fight the evils of this world, Aslynn PenDragon," Odin says from the back of the room.
"Well, with Jason and Pam having three children, as well as Aryk and Arya back, not to mention this child, I think the line is thriving," I say as they cringe.
"WHAT?" I demand as soon as I notice the cringe when I say, child. I can feel Eric's curiosity as he takes Arya in his arms with Aryk and walks smartly out of the room with the rising of my temper.
"You will have more than one child," they inform me as my eyebrow arches in question, and my eyes widen in suppressed rage.
"More twins?" I ask in disbelief, and I notice that none will look me in the eyes.
"You will have four children," they say, and my ass hits a chair seat as disbelief clouds my emotions.
"Two girls and two boys," they continue as I listen in shock. "Powerful and strong," I hear them say as I sit in shock.
"This home was to be a gift from all of us to pay homage to your line. To your children and your destiny," they say as I sit in shock.
"Do I have to birth them all out like a litter of fucking puppies?" I demand as they back away.
"No, this was unexpected, but we will talk to Hathor, Freya, Venus, and Aphrodite so that such a thing does not happen again," they offer in surrender.
"Leave me," I say as they leave quickly.
I watch Eric walk back into the room with our children. I can tell he has heard every word. "Four new children, Sookie?" he asks in disbelief.
I nodded and burst into tears as he kneels at my feet, holding Aryk and Arya, not knowing how to comfort me.