Servant of Jotunheim

Lagoon

A vivid dream invades my sleep once more that night while I sleep peacefully in the King's comforting embrace.

I hear a woman's screams, echoed from behind two large doors of ice when they open suddenly, with two female frost giants quickly running inside to aid her.

Inside the room, I see my pregnant mother on a bed with sweat dripping from her brow as she holds Surt's hand in an effort to comfort her.

He seems genuinely concerned as his red eyes are full of worry. One of the females lifts the sheet covering her up past her knees.

Surt: "You need to keep pushing, Azalea".

Azalea: "I am too scared. I cannot do this" she cries.

Surt: "You must be strong for the baby. She needs you".

She pushes as though her very life depended on it as the other female frost giant dabs the sweat from her forehead.

With one final push, she falls back and pants breathlessly when the room fills with the sounds of a babies cries, my cries.

Surt: "Azalea, she is here".

They pass me to my mother, already wrapped in a blanket and her eyes fill with tears of pure happiness as she looks upon my newborn face.

Azalea: "She is so small".

Surt: "You are fortunate he was not more skilled at sorcery, otherwise neither of you would have survived".

Azalea: "It does not matter now, none of it does. She is here and finally safe in my arms".

They both look at me and as I open my newborn eyes for the first time my mother gasps in surprise.

Azalea: "Her eyes?"

Surt: "They are the same colour as yours, princess. What will you name her?"

Azalea: "I wish to name her after my mother. Welcome to the world, Valanya" she places a delicate kiss on my head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wake from my sleep feeling unexpectedly content after my dream, stretching out my arms only to realise that I am alone in the bed yet again.

After I have bathed and dressed for the day, I go outside. Knowing that my mother is so close after all these years is a considerable temptation, but I must resist the urge to visit her until she is well enough.

I head in the opposite direction and soon run into Sara and Ruth, who quickly embrace me having heard of what occurred.

Ruth: "My gods, you are covered in bruises from that monster".

Sara: "We have been so worried about you".

Me: "It appears far worse than it is I can assure you. What are people saying?"

Ruth: "That the King of Svartalfheim attempted to take you from Asgard against your will".

Me: "Well that is indeed true".

Sara: "Is it also true that the King of Alfheim was injured while attempting to stop him?"

Me: "He was, yes. If it were not for his brave intervention that night then that beast would have defiled and killed me before anyone had noticed I was gone".

Ruth: "You must have been so afraid".

Me: "There are many more things I wish I could tell you right now, but I still need time".

Sara: "Of course, we completely understand. The King is currently in the throne room if you are searching for him".

Me: "I was just on my way there. I will see you both soon".