The Lost Tale

Managing Expectations

The night passes quietly, the moon hovers over the cavern and calls of nocturnal birds sound for us to rest. I hear footsteps occasionally as I sleep, Asgers I assume, and in the next hours warmth pours in with sunlight pouring from the opening in the ceiling. Ove and Eluf aren't here when I wake up, Asger hands me something to eat- I oblige by eating the stale loaf before pulling the chain from a pouch from my boot.

"How do I use it?" My voice came out bleak- though part of me burns with the excitement of adventure. A silence hangs between us for a few moments and Asger sighs as if he's about to answer when we hear footsteps approaching.

"So you two have some real explanation for us now right?" Ove comes into sight as his voice sounds, Eluf follows close behind looking uncomfortable. They both look at me with what I can only guess is mistrust; and Asger and I share a glance before I let out a loud sigh, stepping towards them.

"Odin has misplaced a few important items, and he wants me to go get them." I talk plainly- trying to control my tone while ignoring the loud pumping of my heart in my chest. "The first thing I need to find is his horse. If you both want to help me I would really, really appreciate it... Plus I'm sure Odin would be willing to reward you."

Ove and Eluf are both plain faced in mutual thought as they look between Asger and I before glancing at the pendant in my palm. "What's that got to do with the whole thing?" Eluf points at the caged crystal hanging loosely at my fingers, and I clench them reflexively.

"Asger had someone from the other side help us- and she gave us this." I hold it up to them, fighting myself to keep talking. "He's about to tell me what to do with it." They both look from the trinket to Asger and back to me before we all land on the skeleton man.

"She said it would lead you to what you focus on- but that's all she actually told me about it. Either way now we know that Sleipner is on Midgard; which means you can find him in the other realm while the three of us prepare for the real quest." Asger speaks zealously as he paces the dirt floor. I nod, and I gaze at the trinket curiously.

"So how are we expected to help?" Eluf's voice sounds unsure as he crosses his thick arms across his chest defensively. Ove beside him glances briefly at me- but turns to Asger as the older man clears his throat noisily.

"You'll be travelling through the worlds of Yggdrasil with Iona- once she gets the horse anyway. For now you'll travel to the village and gather more supplies." His creaking voice answering Eluf's question- and wiping the pale boys face even whiter.

I step in, my palms up in the air, "You guys have no responsibility in this- and the choice to help is completely yours." With the guys silent and watching me carefully I sigh; utter frustration showing in my face. "Maybe you guys just stay here and think about it a while? I won't feel any way about you if you leave- but I'd like to at least think you considered it."

They nod, but don't meet my gaze as they move to the side- and with my opening I take leave, the sound of my boots hitting the ground the only sound I can hear. Asger calls after me though he knows I won't stop yet- I'm a runner- a flyer- and right now I just need to feel the air. I run for several minutes- the forest is my welcome escape from my truth.

I run out of breath, my hands rest forcefully against the tops of my legs and my shoulders shake as I inhale deeply. I take a seat against a decent sized boulder- the birds above cawing at me as they flutter through the branches. I take the trinket from the pouch I'd kept it in, the crystal showing in an almost clear purple, I wonder if it can really find anything I look for.

As I sit I grow more curious, and soon I hand the chain around my pointer finger, the charm at the end coming to a still as I watch it. I take a few moments to breathe- focusing first on what I wanted to find; a task difficult to do when overthinking. I try to focus on finding my bow, though the only thing I truly want is a sense of comfort in my distress, I knew if it worked that the charm would lead me back towards the cavern.

After a few moments the charm began to circle forcefully, pulling the chain at my fingertips with a surprising effort. I follow, my mind still clearly focused on finding my bow. The woods swallow me entirely and the shadows take me as I make my way.

I start to feel a relaxation as I let the pendant lead me back through the forest- the cavern looming in the distance now allowing her a sigh of relief. "Thank you" I whisper as the force ebbs away, and I approach the entrance as the sun begins to set- a dark pink in the sky above.

The three men sit around the fire, Asger the only one without a stern expression as I walk in- my legs ache slightly from my venture, but I push it aside as Ove pulls me aside. His hair falls against his face messily as he looks to me- dark eyes digging into me for a few moments. "I'm going to help you- Eluf will too." He seems to study my face; looking for a signal of something.

"You're both great friends to me." I respond warmly, though below my gratitude a sting of guilt resides in my heart. What if I am the reason my friends will die? "I hope I don't let you down." I kick at the floor in slight frustration.

"You could never let me down." Ove's voice catches me off guard- a different tenderness within it as he looks lingeringly at me before turning and walking away. As he returns to Eluf's side he leaves me stunned and notably wide eyed. I shake my head, a burn in my cheeks making me turn to one side.

Asger and I make a plan for me to search for Sleipner, now that we know we are close he thinks it's best that I project into the other realm to get a more expansive view of the world around us. "The horse could be anywhere- so it makes more sense to find out where you're headed before you really leave."

I nod in agreement, "You're right; plus I think I might be figuring this thing out" I hold the chain in my hands again, it sets against my skin still cool to touch. "I used it earlier to find my way back here." Eluf snorts quietly to himself, though no one pays him mind.

I glance sideways at Eluf, the once familiar face seeming distanced and distrusting as we talk. Ove hits him lightly on the forearm and gives me a supportive nod; Asger nods too- for different reasons. "Good, that means you should be able to get this job done rather quick- yeah?"

Nervousness settles into my system, "Yeah", the skin on my arms crawls as I shake the negative thoughts to the back of my mind. I look to the trinket between my fingers. Absentmindedly I fidget it back and forth between my hands. "I guess I'm going to get some rest- tomorrow morning starts a long day."

I settle into my furs, a fire already built keeping the cavern walls lit as shadows cast along it dance as if they were alive. I close my eyes, and with every ounce of my being beg for sleep to take me away.