The Lost Tale

Aftermath

I cross through the doorway behind Alueh, walls opening to a large room- and as the door closes behind me it fades from view. Ove and Eluf look at me from across the entrance way we'd come through earlier- each of my friends holds a different grim expression. I'm sure mine matches theirs, each of us with our own distinct feelings of awkwardness as we meet in the center of the room.

Alueh, however, seems thrilled that we've all completed our tasks. His child-like shape bounces as he skips around us in circles. It's hard to imagine that someone so small could have impacted each of us in such a short time- and an odd way. "Well I'm guessing you can find what it is you're looking for- so use your tricks and you'll all be on your way." The voice he uses seems slightly higher than it was in the room I'd seen my mother in, the curious nature of his peaks an interest in me as my hands fumble in my pockets.

With the charm in hand and directing us upward, Alueh makes quick work of whisking us up the steps- through hallways and around corners. This place is huge on the inside- unlike it's limiting pillar shape from outside; it swallows us as we reach another floor. The walls around us are see-through, the material is warm against my hand as the charm levels off, now pulling us to the right.

A long hallway stretches before us made with the same material as the walls forming a floating bridge midair- it extends a ways before it opens to a room of similar style, but instead the surrounding walls seem frosted from the inside, like delicate snowflakes frozen to its sides. Silhouettes peek through it slightly, smudged images just hidden from sight.

Alueh sighs as we reach the archway allowing us inside, "Of course your hidden treasure would be here. I think I know what you're looking for now!" He ushers us in, the room expands around us wide, the floor is made of dark stone that contrasts the walls. In the center of the room a large yard sits with a garden, a few small animals frolic and my eyes lock onto the stunning being grazing in the center... Sleipnir.

I run ahead, the horse noticing me quickly- whinnying as he trots towards me. He looms over me and my smile widens as he nuzzles the side of my cheek. "Oh how I've missed you." I place my hand on his neck, and the mighty warhorse reminds me again that he is just a loving creature as I turn over my shoulder. "We definitely need Sleipnir- but that's not the item that brought us here."

Reaching into my bag I pull Odin's parchment paper out, handing it to Alueh. I point to the image of the pendant- the elve's eyes perk up at it. "I know where that is!" he moves quickly across the room and disappears into the grass. Soon he reappears, a box cupped in his hands as he hands it to Ove. "I found it- had this box made to keep it sealed until returned to it's true owner."

Opening his hands, Ove shows us the box; it is a lovely shade of blue stone, with a see through panel on the top showing off the pendant. It's more exuberant than the sloppily drawn image I'd been given, and I lean in to take a closer look. The double blade battle axe made in a uniquely dark metal sits along a thick chain that coils beneath the pendant where it lays in the box. The pendant itself is about the size of my palm, with letters inscribed along each blade- an ancient alphabet used for the gods to teach us. Asger calls them runes.

"Thank you for your help Alueh. You've been a uniquely hospitable host." I smile at the small elven man- his childlike features still catching me off guard as he nods curtly. The ceiling of the room we stand in opens up, the frosted surface revealing the sky beyond it.

"I'm guessing the horse will want to fly, you can either go with him- or I will let you out front..." Alueh's voice quiets slightly. "Though I'd recommend being careful if you leave with that on foot." He gestures to the box in Ove's hands. "Many of the residents here will be curious about what you've done here, what you could have gotten." His expression seems grim, darker than he has been.