Northern Passion

The Fog Before the Storm

In Lindisfarne, two women on vacation from their homes in Wessex were chatting about the weather. Something about how the sky looked awfully dark, as if Woden was punishing them.

"Nonsense, Edith. You worry too much." Aldgyth put her basket down. "The Gods can't punish us for enjoying a vacation in a holy place."

"I suppose you're right," Edith said, now pacing the dirt roads. "But, I can't help to feel an eerie presence lurking nearby."

Aldgyth shook her head and laughed a bit.

"Edith, my friend, you are delusional!" Ald pointed out to the sea. "As you can clearly see, there is nothing out there forever. It's a long way until any other sort of landmass, so I've been told."

"So you've been told." Edith scoffed.

Edith stopped pacing and sat down near the basket, on a stump of an Alder tree that was freshly cut. She raised her chin in her hands and looked up at her friend.

"Do you ever wonder, Ald, if there is ever something closer than we imagined? I get this strange feeling that whatever may be out there is on this way."

Ald laughed, and threw her head back, before quickly gathering herself. She patted Edith on the back.

"Edith, your imagination is too wild for your own good," Ald said with a smile. "But perhaps, that must be why we make such a good pair. You worry and I keep us grounded."

Before Edith could respond, the sound of distant chanting from the foggy waves caught their attention. Edith stood and Ald stumbled slightly.

"Ald, do you hear that?" Edith said, reaching out to her friend.

"Perhaps, maybe it's the monks?" Ald said, trying to keep the smile on her face.

"No, this is nothing like any prayer we have heard. It's unrecognizable."

The smile on Ald's face slowly dropped and she stumbled back, reaching to Edith, almost pulling on her. "Edith, we need to run. Now"

Ald and Edith took off, running back to the nearest village, ready to warn the people of the impending doom, a doom that neither of the girls knew for certain.