Escaping Darkness

Out of the Dark, Into the Deep

Boron didn't know which way was up, he struggled against the force of the waterfall. He managed to find his way away from the pounding water, his face inching above the crest of a wave, just before it dragged him back down. He clawed at the water in desperation, the incoming tide threatening to smash him against the cliffside.

He felt himself sinking, his arms flailing in the surrounding deep when he felt a peculiar force envelope him and begin lifting him to the surface as if the water itself was guiding him. Finally, his face broke the water, hit by a cold blast of air and his burning lungs gulped it down gratefully, spazzing as they rejected the invading droplets. Yet he hardly noticed as his head whipped around and his eyes searched the waves in desperation for Frayja and the others. Three of them were up, but Boron didn't see the rest.

"Freyja!!!" He yelled around him, his voice cracking in the frigid moisture, echoing off of the dark jagged stone cliff. "Freyja!!" His throat ached with the force of his yells, and then he saw her burst through the water, gasping and coughing, but alive. He struggled to her, urging his clumsy arms to move him faster in the water that he was so unfamiliar with. "Are you alright?" He asked her, struggling to keep his head above water, his voice full of concern.

"I th-think so." She chattered. She smiled weakly at him, and he returned it before looking around for the others. All of their heads were now popping up, and they bobbed in the rolling waves, but this did not ease his panic. Dwarves didn't swim, and unless there was another miracle, he was sure they would all drown.

As he thought this, he noticed the same strange presence in the water surrounding him beneath the waves, keeping him, and apparently the others afloat. This force swept them into a current that pulled them away from the jagged cliff face. They drifted further and further out to sea. It wasn't long before Boron's limbs felt like frozen lead, and he thought to himself, This is it. He turned to Freyja whose lips were now tinged blue and collected his courage.

"Freyja, I don't think we're going to make it through this, and I have to tell you something." He said, her eyes locked onto his and he knew that she would understand. Just before his words could leave his mouth however, Rangvaldr yelled.

"Look!" he exclaimed, splashing in excitement, causing his deep fiery red hair to flap about him and sprinkle glittering drops everywhere.

They all followed his gaze and saw a ship approaching them quickly. It was a plain wooden frigate, its sales tied up against the wind. Boron thought he could hear the crew shouting to each other, and he was sure they had spotted the miners. He and the rest of them began yelling and shouting, splashing and doing everything they could to ensure that the ship came to their aid.

After several agonizingly long moments, it was finally close enough for the crew to throw them all lines and they began to pull them on deck. Boron gripped the rope tightly, and wrapped his arm around Freyja's waist, holding her firmly to him as they were lifted from the water. When they fell onto the deck of the ship, Boron's heart sank. This was a pirate ship, and he was sure that they would kill the miners if they had nothing to offer.

"Who is in charge of you lot?" came a raspy voice from behind Boron, and he turned to see a HarFúinn man, a Natiōn as they called themselves, who must have been several thousand years old. His black hair had streaks of grey in it and his dark eyes had slight crows feet.

"That would be me," Boron said warily, mustering his courage, preparing for the oncoming unpleasantness. The man looked him up and down.

"What's your name?" He asked sharply.

"Boron," he replied shortly

"And what will you give me and my crew in return for saving your lives?" The HarFúinn asked coldly. Boron looked around at the ship, and at the sopping miners.

"Would you be needing new crew members?" Boron asked slowly. He saw the shock in his fellows' eyes, but it was swiftly followed by approval. He knew that none of them ever wished to return to that mine.

The HarFúinn scrutinized him for a moment, and Boron thought he saw the slightest smile pull at the corner of his mouth.

"Have you any skills of good use, half hand?" He inquired, his voice colored with slight amusement and intrigue. Boron clenched his jaw at the ancient insult, but he held back his anger.

"We are all hard workers, capable of any task set before us. Several of my people are learned in smithing and others in combat. We have all been working in hard labor throughout our lives, and are fully capable."

There came another pause as the HarFúinn searched their faces, weighing something in his mind.

"Yes, I believe we could use you all. Tandry! See to it that these Brevís get dried and fed and then set them to work." The HarFúinn replied before turning back to him. "Don't disappoint me Boron, or you will wish I had left all of you for the Krakens."

"We won't, sir." Boron replied confidently before he and the others followed the HarFúinn named Tandry. He knew that they could do anything after what they had just been through.

"Boron?" Freyja said quietly as they led the rest of the miners below deck.

"Yes?" He asked

"What did you need to tell me?" She asked, her eyes locked onto his again. Boron smiled and without thinking what might happen, he kissed her. It was blissful as she kissed him back, and he knew that she felt the same way. They broke apart and smiled at each other before continuing with their fellows into a wonderfully unpredictable future together.

                                    

                                                                             The End

                                                      Boron and His Crew will Return