Playing With Fire (EDITING)

Is it Heaven?

My first sensation was a pounding migraine and overall soreness. But the mattress beneath me was as soft as fresh snow and the air around me was rustled by a gentle breeze. When I opened my eyes, I was immediately aware of golden light bathing every surface but emanating from no where; it was just...everywhere.

The room was massive with a vaulted ceiling and plenty of tall windows set into high, Gothic style arches. The gossamer curtains billowed in the slightest of breezes that carried traces of honey and mountain air. Lush red rugs carpeted the gleaming floors and deep mahogany wood furniture graced the corners of the room.

I groaned and rolled my head over to see the rest of the room but the bed was against a wall so I pushed myself up against the plush pillows. My bloody, battle worn clothing had been removed and I wore a plain, satin nightgown. The thin straps left my arms bare but the air was pleasantly warm- maybe seventy or eighty degrees? It was....heavenly.

Was I dead?

I pinched myself and squeezed my eyes shut, but the scene refused to change. I threw off the blankets and swung my bare feet to the smooth, cool floor. Before I stood, I paused to listen. Silence. Even the breeze was silent. But I could hear myself so I wasn't deaf, so what was going on?

When I rose slowly to my feet, my right leg caused me to collapse to the mattress again, gasping. When I gently pulled the nightgown up, snowy white bandages were revealed, wrapped tightly around my leg from mid thigh to above my knee. So the battle on the cliff had happened. But where was I?

When I gritted my teeth and used the backboard as a crutch, I managed to haul myself to the nearest window and lean heavily on the sill of thick stone blocks. What I saw shocked me. It was almost as beautiful as Prince Edward Island on June first. Almost as beautiful as the sunset from the middle of the ocean. Almost as beautiful as earth. But this was clearly not earth.

Amethyst mountains crowned the horizon against a frosty blue sky. The mountains shrank into rolling emerald hills and a crystal lake spanned a portion of the panorama. People milled far below and faint music drifted to my sharpened ears. The scene was breathtaking and the whole place felt peaceful.

When a gentle cough announced the presence of another being in the room, I slowly changed my grip on the sill to face the open room. A young woman with black hair plaited down her back and tied with a golden string stood in the center of the room, staring at the floor with her hands clasped behind her.

"Where am I?" I asked her.

Her head snapped up and she locked a pair of doe-brown eyes on me. "You are in Asgard, in the palace of Odin Allfather."

"Asgard?" I stared at her, filled with unbelief.

She nodded politely. "I've been sent to welcome you to our realm. My name is Raelynne, m'lady," she said, dropping into an elegant curtsy.

I waved my hand at the formalities. "You don't need to do that. I'm not anyone special or important that you need to bow." Then I remembered to give her my name, though she probably already knew. "I'm Lyrica."

She smiled and began another curtsy but caught herself and straightened, smoothing her green silk skirts instead. "I- I was told you were injured. Is there anything I can do for you?" she offered.

"Some painkillers? And lunch?" I added when my stomach tried to add its request.

She nodded. "Of course. Is that all?"

I nodded and waited for her to leave before sinking to the floor. I had to bite back a moan as I stretched my injured leg in front of me. As the throbbing set in, I leaned my head against the wall and shut my eyes. For all the peace and beauty in Asgard, I was in a heck of a lot of pain.

While I waited for Raelynne to return, the minutes seemed an eternity, but when she stepped into the room again, the time alone had been far too short. She didn't speak as she handed me a tray as black as ebony bearing a plate with mild, not-so-messy fair including a heel of bread that was still warm, a bowl of stew, and a plum. A tall mug of water was passed to me as well.

"The medicine is in the food and water," she explained.

"Thank you," I told her sincerely.

She smiled and left, closing the door gently on her way out. I had barely stomached half the food on the tray before my eyelids began drooping and I felt my brain shutting down. Either I was more exhausted than I thought, or one of the drugs in the meal was a sedative; it wasn't long before I rested my head on the pillow and fell asleep.

When the pain brought me to wakefulness, I rolled to my uninjured side and allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room. I shifted position to glimpse out the window across me and was surprised to see two moons drifting lazily across a star-speckled sky. Quiet harp music floated through the palace from an unknown source and I found myself quietly humming along to the simple tune.

I must have drifted off to sleep again because when I woke, the room was blanketed in the velvety greyness of first light. The mountains were bathed in the coral pink hue of dawn that reflected off the lake and lit the air. Hanging just above the snow-capped peaks was the mellow orange sun.

The medication must have been working because I was able to perch on the thick, polished stone blocks. The sun wasn't rising too quickly, so I felt no rush, letting my eyes close and letting my other senses take control. Using only my balance, I brought my feet up to the window sill as well and rested my elbows on my raised knees, pivoting my face to let the breeze caress my skin. With my left hand, I reached behind me and found the end of my braid, pulling it over my shoulder and twiddling with the end.

When the door opened, I just assumed it would be Raelynne so I didn't turn to check. But after many minutes, there was no sound. I was enjoying my position too much to break the silence, so I let it be and closed my eyes again. When a male voice cleared their throat, my head snapped around and I took a sharp inhale of breath.

Steve stood fifteen feet from the bed with his eyes locked cautiously on my position in the window. "I came to check on you," he began, sounding uncomfortable. "You weren't contemplating jumping, were you?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Just enjoying my view." When I swung my legs back into the room and faced Steve, his face reddened and he averted his eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked, confused. Then I remembered the satiny nightgown.

I saw his Adam's apple move as he swallowed before extending his arm toward me. In his hand was a brown silk kimono. "The girl...um, Rayna I think... wanted me to bring this to you."

"Raelynne. But thank you," I responded, padding silently toward him and slipping the kimono from his fingers. I watched his face with an amused smirk as he stared away from me. When I'd slipped my arms into the sleeves and belted the sash around my waist, I stepped up to Steve and hugged him, wrapping my arms around his torso from the front.

He stiffened in surprise before hugging me in return and holding me at arms' length. "What was that for?" he asked.

"A thank you," I replied.

"For what?"

"Being old-fashioned." I limped back to the window and sat on the sill, massaging my leg. Steve watched me, stunned but nodding after a minute.

"If you're alright, then I should probably go," he muttered. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"What?" I stopped him. "What's in a few hours?"

"You...might not be going," he stammered. "They would have told you already if you were. But...your leg."

"It's alright," I told him. "I don't really feel like going anywhere. The room's nice."

He nodded before smiling and leaving. At the door, he turned and said, "Whether I see you in a few hours or not, I'll see you tonight."

I nodded once and watched him leave before sinking to the ground and fighting the pain that had accumulated with my movement.