Yngvild and the Forest of Dreams

Noren's Amulet

Alfinna found us asleep under one of the south-eastern trees. Noren and I were both exhausted and we'd picked the sunniest spot we could find to fall asleep, basking in the late summer sun.
'Yngvild!' She shook me awake. 'Yngvild!'
'What?' I didn't open my eyes.
'We've got to get him back.'
'Yes. Definitely. Am planning that.' I nodded.
'How did you get Noren out here?' Alfinna's tone was like she was talking to a small child.
'He walked.' I made big eyes at Alfinna and mimed walking with my fingers.
'He walked?' Alfinna's eyes half-lidded as she spoke.
'Yes. He walked.' I nodded my head in emphasis.
'So who helped you?' Alfinna stood back up, and planted her feet, her fists on her hips. Clearly she meant business.
'Malfin.'
Alfinna gave me a hard stare.
'Seriously. I prayed to Malfin to save Noren.'
She raised her left eyebrow. 'And that was enough to break a geas?'
'Not on its own. I had to make a sacrifice.'
'I see.' Alfinna crossed her arms. 'And what, exactly, did you sacrifice?'
'The thing I hold most dear. That was what Malfin asked of me.'
Noren stirred from his sleep, our voices must have woken him. Alfinna's jaw dropped as he stretched and yawned. I hugged him again, he'd saved me from some hard questions.

'My apologies, Yngvild, I never thought it was possible to break the geas. I've never known anyone to do it.' Alfinna pulled me to my feet and embraced me.
Noren used the tree to push himself upright, and joined our embrace. 'Yngvild has always been special, and she never gives up once she's set her mind to something.'
We stayed there for a few moments before Alfinna broke, 'we need to go tell the others.' She told hold of us both by the hand and tugged us away from the Temple. 'Come on.'

Alfinna lead us over the short cropped grass around the Temple. About two hundred yards across the open field the semi-circle of forest that formed an outer boundary for the Temple had a gap. This, it turned out, lead back in to another clearing with some huts in it. That's where everyone had gone overnight. When we got closer a combination of woodsmoke, the sizzle of bacon frying, and bread in an oven greeted us. I noticed one of the women milking a cow towards the back of the clearing, while a couple of others were attending to the cooking fire, and the food preparation.
Things stopped when they realised Noren was walking amongst us. A dark haired woman left the cooking and dashed into the closest hut, shouting for Alfarinn. Inibrakemi came out of one of the other huts and when she saw us, ran to meet us.
Noren stopped as Inibrakemi threw herself into him, hugging him and crying out to thank the gods that he was living. The other women I'd seen yesterday all came out too, shouting with joy about the miracle that had saved him, and hugging him, me, and each other. We swept round in a whirlwind of celebration.
Alfarinn came out and wept on the step. She held her arms out in benediction, and a path cleared for Noren to walk to her.
'Mother. I have missed you so.'
'Noren, my son, my beloved son. I am sorry I ever doubted you.'
Noren enveloped Alfarinn with his arms and held her tight to his chest. It struck me how much taller and wider he was than her. Noren striaghtened up and spun round, trailing Alfarinn's feet round in a circle as he lifted her. She laughed.

#

After a large breakfast of fresh bread, fried bacon, cheese, milk and eggs, and telling the story, with some of the details left out, the conversation turned to what we should do next.
'We're going back to Kronstadt. We've got a rendezvous in the Riggin Dale with some friends, and then we're meeting the Seagull off the West coast.'
'We need to initiate Noren before you go. Rojden will be able to track him if he isn't protected.' Alfarinn said.
'If Rojden can track him, do we need to move on quickly?'
'We're safe here, no man that isn't an initiate of Clewg can come here.'
'Are you sure about that?'
'Very. We've found the bodies of men that got lost when prospecting near here a few times over the years.'
'So the curse is real?'
'Very real. You heard the Clewg yourself via the birds. He still protects the Temple.'
'How far does it run?'
'I don't know. But far enough out. All the ones we've found have been a few miles distant from here.'
'That's good to know. But Rojden knows we're here, and I expect he'll be sending people to find us.'
'Do you have the amulet you made for Noren still?'
'I do, but it's a bit melted and unrecognisable.'
'Maybe you could craft it a bit while we make arrangements for Noren's initiation?'
'I think I've got an idea about that. Alfinna, could I borrow you to help me a bit please?'
'I'd be happy to help, Yngvild.' Alfinna said.