Ferðin út ljósin (Journey beyond the lights)

Chapter 1

Emil was entranced by the northern lights. He could sit there for hours staring out that little window, just watching the aurora borealis. The way the colours silently danced in the sky, all of them holding hands as they moved. Sometimes they would mix together and make different colours, then soon separate once again.

He would have never been able to predict the fact those lights would cause so much change in his life. How could he? He was only six when it happened. Just a small child that would sneak out of bed after he was put there, for nothing besides going to that window to watch the lights.

"Come on Emil, time for bed." The monotone voice spoke. Emil looked up from the drawing he had been working on. It didn't look good, but Emil felt proud of it nonetheless. It was the best thing he ever drew. Except, it wasn't finished yet.

"Can't I finish my picture first?" Emil asked. He looked up at the Norwegian with his best puppy dog eyes. Usually his puppy dog eyes would work, just not when it came to bedtime.

"Emil, you know that's not going to work." Lukas said and Emil pouted a bit. He really wanted to finish his picture. He was so close to being done.

"Awe, come on Norge. He's close to being done. It's not going to take him that long." Matthias spoke from across the table. He had been watching Emil draw and was very impressed by the six year old's work.

Lukas glared at Matthias. "You're not helping." He said before turning back to Emil. He paused for a moment, before saying, "You can finish, but just this once."

Emil smiled proudly and turned back to the paper. He quickly finished his drawing. Once he was done he showed it to Lukas who nodded in approval. He liked the picture.

Matthias came over to look at it. "That's great, Icey!" Matthias said and scooped Emil up into his arms. "To the fridge, so we can put the masterpiece on it!"

Emil couldn't help but let out a giggle at the way Matthias was acting. It always made him laugh. It made him laugh just as it made Lukas annoyed. Although Emil suspected Lukas faked his annoyance most of the time.

Matthias paused as soon as his eyes landed on the fridge. There was next to no place to put Emil's picture. But then Matthias started to push everything out of the way, clearing a spot for Emil's work. As he did so he said, "Make way for the masterpiece."

Once Matthias cleared a spot big enough that he considered worthy, he picked up a magnet and handed it to Emil. He was going to let Emil put it on the fridge. Emil smiled lightly as he did so. He hardly ever got to put his own work on the fridge, most of the time because he couldn't reach where he wanted to put it.

"Perfect!" Matthias declared once the picture was up. Lukas then came into the kitchen, silently reminding them both it was now past Emil's bedtime. Matthias gave Lukas a grin before walking past him and to the stairs, bringing Emil to bed.

"Don't pay Norge any attention when he's cranky, okay?" Matthias said in a joking manner as he tucked Emil into bed. Back then, Emil had no idea that Matthias knew Lukas was standing by the door to his room. But thinking back on it, he was sure Matthias had known. "Oh wait, he's cranky all the time."

Emil couldn't help but laugh at that. The fact that his brother was standing listening to the words Matthias was spewing made it unbearably funny to Emil. Although he tried to hide his laugh, in which he failed at. He knew that by him laughing it would give away the fact Lukas was there.

Matthias turned and grinned at Lukas. He did his best job to act innocent. He even threw in a whistle. He knew he was caught, he was just putting on a show for Emil. And it worked, the Icelander laughed more as Matthias did so.

"Den, you're not helping." Lukas said. Matthias' face turned into fake sadness. He put his hand over his heart and looked at Emil.

"What do you mean I'm not helping? All I want to do is help put him to sleep." Matthias said melodramatically. It just made Emil laugh more. He couldn't help it. Even with how much he tried not to. Matthias was just hilarious in the six year old's opinion.

"Get out." Lukas said as Emil's laughter finally started to calm down. Matthias pouted and looked at Emil. He got up to leave but before he did, he leaned over towards Emil.

"Told you he was cranky." Matthias said and ruffled Emil's hair. He wished him a goodnight before leaving the room. Probably not wanting to risk pushing Lukas' patience further.

As Matthias left Tino and Berwald both came in wished Emil a goodnight, like they did every night. They were in and out, simple. Lukas sighed slightly once they were gone. He wished Emil a good nights sleep and gave him a hug. Then just like the rest of them, he was gone.

Emil lied there for a few minutes. Waiting a bit before he would crawl out of bed and go to the window. The curtains were closed so Emil couldn't look out the window from his bed. And not wanting to be caught, he kept the curtains closed. He would go and hide behind them as he watched the lights.

When he was sure it was safe, he climbed out of bed. As quiet as he could, he made his way to the window. Stepping where he knew the floor wouldn't creek. Then quickly ducking behind the curtains.

But the only thing was, Emil found himself staring out at nothing but the dark night. Yes, the stars were out and they looked pretty. But where was the aurora borealis? Emil didn't understand, it always came at night. Out of the millions of times he's gotten out of bed to watch it, why was it missing now?

Emil didn't like it. Not one bit. He wanted the lights to come back. But what if they were lost?

Emil dreaded the idea of the northern lights being lost. He needed to find them. Help them find their way back. If he didn't, who would?

So he quietly left his room, and made his way down the stairs. He could hear Tino and Matthias talking in the living room. He was pretty sure Lukas and Berwald were in there as well. So he made sure to be silent. He didn't need to get in trouble. If one noticed him, they all did.

Emil got his coat from the closet and slipped it on. He struggled to zip it up at first but succeeded with it in the end. Then he grabbed his boots and pulled them on. He made sure to also grab his hat since Lukas always got mad at him when he left the house without it.

He headed to the door and opened it slowly. He tiptoed out of the house and onto the snowy porch. He then closed the door as quickly and quietly as he could. Creeping along the porch and down the stairs.

Once he was down the stairs he was pretty sure he was safe. He started to make his way through the snow. Having to lift his legs high so he could get his foot up and over the snow just so he could take the next step. But even with how hard it was, he continued on, going to find where the northern lights had gone.