Facing Time

Chapter IX

Magnus-
I explain my plan to them both as we wait for me to be discharged. It is told simply, however the actions will not be so simply done.
The nurse enters the room with a clipboard.
"I'll be honest. I'm surprised you are leaving so soon. In any case, you are free to leave after signing this paperwork."
I am handed a clipboard and pen. She then busies herself with taking out the IV. 
"Im sorry, but I have to ask. Are you the guy who showed up randomly around places dressed like a Viking with like, bloody weapons and armor?"
I glance quickly to Allison, who is now lulling little Destiny to sleep. She clearly doesn't know how to answer. I look back politely at he nurse.
"Yes, I am the same person." A wide smile crosses her face.
"I knew it! Can I please get a picture with you?" I am stunned by her request. I'm famous? I look over to Connor and he winks.
Sometimes it's really nice to have a personal PR person to keep people from finding out the truth.
"Uh, yeah! Sure!"
The woman quickly pulls out her phone and leans close to me. I smile. The smile came naturally.
Flash.
She pulls away and takes back the signed papers.
"Stay out of trouble." She leaves before I can reply. Allison stands up.
"Come on, babe. Let's bring you back home."

When I enter the new apartment, I feel my stomach drop. Tears fill my eyes.
The walls were wooden, the floors a dark oak wood with carpets that appeared to be dirt brown. The furniture is a mix of modern and Nordic. Allison made our home reflect both sides of my life. Our lives.
I continue further in to find that the kitchen has a nice stone island with lighter wooden cabinets. The bathrooms are strictly modern. The walls are a dark brown with a very light cream for the trim.

The bedrooms feel cozy with their warm colors pairing with the dark wood.
I walk into a room across the hall from ours. On the door is a painted sign that read my daughters name with flowers around it.
"This... this is perfect. Thank you." I pull her against me. I hold her in my arms as I place a soft kiss on her head.
"I love you." I hold her even tighter.
"I love you too."

The next day, I slip on my armor and shield. It's time to go back into battle one last time.
Allison wanted to come, but I decided that someone should stay home and take care of Destiny. Allison agreed quickly, then helped me get ready. She must know how valuable life is.

"So, you're just going to make him disappear?" Connor asks as he hands me a vial with morphine. How he got it so fast, I am not sure. I only asked for it last night.
"I must think he is dead, Uncle. That is the reason I did everything I did. If I had not thought him dead, I would have searched for him instead of trying to fix things."
Connor nods slowly. When Alli is finished rebraiding my hair, I take a step back.
"I will be back soon. With both of my parents."

I concentrate on the battle. I envision myself near my father. When I open my eyes, I am standing near the back of the right flank. I see myself fighting off enemies a few yards away.

I jump into battle, just like before. I remain close to my father, but do not draw attention to myself. I finally make it to my father.
"Hey Dad." His eyes snap to mine.
"Magnus?" He looks over at the past me and watches me take down the Christian army. "How are you doing this?" I fight off a high ranking soldier before turning back to him.
"I am from the future. It's complicated. I need you to do exactly as I say okay?"
Eric takes in all of the information. He frowns when I say that he is about to encounter death.
"I will find you to the west. Meet me at the alter." Eric nods quickly and we separate. I slip the vial of morphine into my dads hand. It should keep him going long enough for me to take care of the wound.

Hours pass before I see my father crawling out of the bushes. All around us are makeshift Alters that Loki had made so we could sacrifice to the gods after the battle. Too bad we never used them. The funeral was larger than our spirit to revel in victory.
"They call you Fenrir." By the look on my fathers face I can tell he is proud. He definitely has taken the morphine.
He collapses against a tree out of exhaustion. Blood stains his clothes. There is a large gash in his side. He gives me a bitter laugh.
"Can't beat fate, aye?" I rush to apply a tourniquet and stitch his wound up. I am able to cleanse and close the wound. I feel a weird surge of energy as I touch the wound. My hand glows slightly.
"What the fuck?" I take my hand away from his right side. The skin begins healing. It is painfully slow, but it is healing at a more rapid rate than normal.
"Since when can you do that?" I shake my head dumbfounded. It was an accident.
"I do not know." I pause for a moment. I must let him go. He must survive alone for awhile. "Father, I will be seeing you again soon. Go to Wessex. Hide in the wild. I will come when it is okay for you to return."
He slaps me on the back before pulling me into a hug.
"I will see you then." I transport about a year into the future. Right after I left my Mother for what I thought would be forever. I walk through the woods out-skirting Wessex.
I do not know how I knew where he would be, however as I walk toward a hidden clearing, I know he is there.

"Move and you're dead." The blade appears at my throat. He turns to face me, and immediately drops his blade. "Magnus! My boy it's been too long. Can I return yet? Is it time?"
"Tsk,tsk,tsk... always about time with you..." I tease as I put a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go."

Eric-
I had waited for what felt like a decade to see my beloved Estrid once again. I find myself growing nervous. They all mourned me. I am supposed to be dead. Yet here I am watching the settlement below.
"This feels unnatural." I confide in my son.
"Father, you were taken too soon. There is much you have yet to experience."
I take a deep breath.
I am here Estrid.

Eric-
"Let's go. We gotta pick up Mom." We begin walking toward the old house. I can hear her sobbing clearly. It's been weeks since I said goodbye. She assumed I was dead after that. I mean, technically I was.
"Mother?" I call out and immediately Estrid comes running. She freezes when she sees Eric. Her eyes continue to water.
"Eric... is that really you?" She reaches out a hand to touch him. In response my father takes her hand and holds it against his face.
"In the flesh." I watch with a grin as Estrid pulls him into a long kiss. I can tell after that, he does not want to let her go.
"There is one other person I would like you to meet." I take both of their hands and transport us back into modern day. Allison stands at the sudden intrusion. Connor stares at my dad.
"It worked... you were dead! Now you're...not!"
He pulls my dad into a tight hug.
"Technically speaking, I was never dead. Perhaps in an alternate reality I was, but Magnus made sure I survived."
Alli rushes to my side with Destiny in her arms.
"So it's over? Everything is back to normal?" I give her a soft smile as I caress her cheek.
"It will never truly be over. There may be others who have mastered time travel. I feel it is my duty to make sure nothing like this happens again."
Allison shoves me playfully.
"Oh stop. You can take the night off." I laugh and look to see her smiling.
"Perhaps you're right."
With a smile, I sit down on the couch with the rest of my family and recount the details of my journey.

"It is sad that no one will know of what you did." Allison says as she leans into me. My arms automatically wrap around her.
"No one can know what happened. That's okay. I've got everything I need."
And just like that, after many trials and tribulations, I have made it home. Safe and sound.
~*~

Floki-
"Floki, you need to lay off the mushrooms." Ragnar says laughing.
"I do not deceive you, Ragnar! I saw him! I saw Fenrir being chained by Magnus son of Erik! Ragnarök has been delayed. I also have reason to believe that Erik is alive." Ragnar shakes his head with a stern look.
"Floki, you adventure in your mind far too often. Erik is in Valhalla. He was slain. We have been over this."
"I don't believe that Ragnar." I spin around gracelessly to find the man that owns the intrusive voice. When I see his half shaved head, scarred face, long blonde beard, and bright blue eyes, I bolt to my feet in awe.
"Hello, Floki." A giggle escapes me. Ragnar stands in disbelief.
"Erik son of Tyr. Welcome home."

End of Book 3.

~*~A note from the author ~*~

Thank you all for reading the "Fighting Time" series!! I hope you enjoyed every bit of it! It took quite some time to write, but I am definitely proud!! Wouldn't have done it without my amazing readers!!
That's all for now!
Iris Sims... signing off!