Chapter 39

Noora

The witches of Oy Frossen were made out of nature, their entire being reflected by the grooves in the bark of the trees, their hair the gentle breeze of the wind, their skin the healthy earth of the land. It was what they drew their power from, nature was their sole ally, though the agreement between them did not come without a price. There was never magic without a sacrifice, one could not imagine what awful things a powerful being would do if there were not dire consequences to their actions.

Contrary to the beliefs of many mortals, witches were not that different from them. They bled when they were injured, they cried when they were sad, and they believed in a God, an Elysium, and Hel. Noora always imagined Hel as a cold place, everything frozen by the calculated sins people transpired. To her surprise, Hel was rather warm and cosy. Her eyes fluttered for a moment, her vision blurry as she only made out the warm light surrounding her. It took her a few moments until her pupils could focus properly, and rather than a cold, icy landscape a whimsical room shined back at her. The yellow wallpaper was woven with intricate flower designs, a ridiculously large chandelier dangling from the ceiling, and stucco surrounded it like a witch circle. The candlelight cast a soft glow all around, a few lone plants sitting on the wooden windowsill to her left.

She slowly looked down at herself to realise she was enclosed by an enormous bed, the comforter tucked neatly under her sides and feet so she would not grow cold.

Suddenly, a blaring pain erupted from her calf as she tried to move out of the tangled sheets and a groan scraped past her lips. Moving her lips only made her aware of the split parting them, a moment later a coppery taste slid past her tongue. If this was not Hel it came far too close to it.

Turning her head, a reflection glared past her, the sunlight diving through the windows of the west wall and dancing across the blade of a sword. The telling ruby in the pommel characterised the sword she beheaded Nidghorr with, though it was rid of the iquor that was sticking to its metal.

How many days had passed? Or was it merely hours ago that she faced the monster with a fearless face while unearthly fear poisoned her mind?

“She finally awakens,” a voice murmured and Noora turned her head towards the other side to see a person looming in front of the windows. Their face was in shadows due to the sun reflecting around their body like a halo. The person slowly stepped forward and revealed golden curls surrounded by the sun, a gentle face that was marred by dark circles under viridescent eyes, hollow cheeks, and pale skin. Nikolai’s dry lips spread into a small smile as she focused her gaze on him. Her bed suddenly got disrupted by an earthquake and she sat up in surprise groaning when a furry, white ball attacked her.

A cold, wet tongue drove over her left cheek and she tried to push Spike away, crying out in mid-motion at using her left arm. Spike moved back on the bed in concern, letting out a small wail as if he was the one who was in pain. “Attack me again and I will reconsider keeping you,” she snapped at the wolf.

“Glad to see you in such great spirits.” Nikolai interrupted her glaring contest with Spike, whose one eye had grown large and pitiful, his muzzle hanging downward. The prince moved forward to get the wolf off her bed. “Why would I not be in great spirits? I almost died because of you, that’s just a pleasure I like to repeat over and over.”

“For me?” Nikolai raised his brows, one hand stroking Spike behind its ears.“Never mind, how do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been dragged through the woods, skated over a lake with defective skates, attacked by a chained-up sea monster, and almost have been the dinner of an ancient creature that is known to reside and gnaw at a world tree, chewing the corpses of bastards.”

Nikolai blinked at her, his hands forgotten the stroking, making the wolf look up at him with a pleading eye. Spike yowled slightly as Nikolai walked closer to Noora, only now she could see the disheveled state of his clothes. One button of his shirt missed a hole, making it sit crooked, the bottom carelessly pushed into his trousers. Somehow Noora was the one who went through a deathly trial and he still looked worse than her.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

Noora shook her head, trying to readjust herself against the headboard without inflicting any more pain, though her ribs were hurting with every breath anyway. Nikolai rushed forward to help her adjust the pillows, she dismissed him.

“I can do this myself.”

He raised his hands in surrender and stepped back again, watching her slowly drag herself backward until she was resting awkwardly against the headboard. She closed her eyes in exhaustion, just for a moment. Nikolai disrupted the peaceful silence invading her and almost dragging her back to sleep. “What do you mean, defective skates?”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. “The blades from my skates came loose while skating over the lake, I barely made it to the designated hole that I had to dive into.”

Nikolai crossed his arms, skepticism marred his features.

“That had to be an accident.”

Noora huffed a laugh. “Did your people find Kekoa? He was infected by rabies or something similar since he attacked me in the forest. He would not let go, he was determined to murder me even if it meant losing the tournament.”

By the look on his face, this was no surprise to the prince. “Do you think it was him who ′manipulated′ your skates?”

“Why are you saying ‘manipulated’ like that?” she snapped, slowly growing angry at the skeptical look on his face. Why would she lie about something as irrelevant as this?

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” she growled, “you’re saying it like you don’t believe me.”

He raised both his brows and Spike grew wary beside him. “That must be a misconception on your side, I just wanted to know if you think it was Kekoa who tampered with your skates.”

Noora tried to take a deep breath, her face contorting into a grimace at the pain in her sides. This was not worth fighting over. “Forget about the skates. What is more important is that you send me deliberately into a cave that was guarded by an ancient mystic being who almost killed me.” This time he was bound to believe her as she had proof in the form of the dragon’s head.

“How could I know there was a dragon residing in the mountain?” He sounded exasperated, throwing his hands in the air.

“I told you! I told you about something being in those mountains, you laughed me off!”

“Because it was a myth! Your words were based on ridiculous storytelling and not actual facts.”

“The tooth, who retrieved it knew there was a dragon,” she pressed.

“It only served as a bargain to switch with a weapon. It's a coincidence.”

Noora violently threw the comforter off her body. “What are you doing?” Nikolai asked her, alarmed. “What does it look like? I am leaving.” She threw her legs over the side of the bed and clenched her teeth as she pushed off the mattress with great force. Before she could even take a first step, searing pain shot through her leg and made her tip forward. Nikolai caught her swiftly with his arms, her chin colliding with his chest. She groaned, her teeth clacking and sending a shiver down her spine. After a moment of surprise, she quickly scrabbled backward, though the prince would not let go of her.

“Let me go!” she protested. “Are you completely mental, you are severely injured, you cannot just get up and strut along the halls.”

“I do not strut, I…hobble.” Nikolai’s lips twitched but he continued to stare down at her, patronising her. She started to push at his chest again but his grip on her was secure, something dark moving in his eyes.

“Sit back down on the bed and I will let go of you. I will not condone you getting any more hurt than you already are.” She glared up at him and his posh sentences, she would like to do nothing more than wrap her hands around his delicate throat and squeeze until that superior look would finally vanish from his face.

“Stop being so stubborn and sit. down ,” he ground out and exerted a light pressure so she would move back. Despite her wanting to be as far away from him as possible she listened. She decided not to protest since he was looking at her like a disappointed mentor. And maybe because her vision started to swirl in front of her again.

She stumbled back on the bed, grimacing when another stab of pain shot through her body. Nikolai’s brows drew together and he gripped her hips in surprise, moving her backward until her back rested against the pillows. The bed dipped as he put one knee on the mattress and Noora’s eyes widened in alarm as he drew close to her.

“What…are you doing?” The words stumbled past her lips. His hand dove behind her and adjusted the pillows behind her back, his face hovering right in front of her, offering her an extensive picture of his iris. On closer inspection, his eyes were not just jade coloured, a soft golden ring danced across the outer range, the same colour Tyra’s irises were. Noora turned her head as he adjusted the pillows in such a way that her hips shifted and the pain in her broken ribs and arm subsided slightly.

The prince moved back, raising a brow. “Better?”

She nodded despite her annoyance.

“I apologise for seeming like I do not believe you...” He clenched his jaw slightly as if the words he was speaking next were hurting him. “Because I do. Believe you. I want you to tell me what happened in detail but that is a matter we can discuss later. Someone is wanting to see you and I believe if I wait any longer, she will barrel straight through that door.”

Spike yapped happily at Nikolai’s words and Noora’s head turned towards the gilded door, separating her sleeping chamber from the palas.

“Come in,” the prince called and the door creaked open. Noora looked up to see who was going to step inside, though she needed to tip her head down a few inches to see Lulva and Josephine entering the room. Something immediately lifted off of Noora’s body as she watched the red curls of Freckles bounce as she made her way towards the side of her body. Her hands were knotted into each other as she threw Noora a cautious look. Josephine did not hold back and bounced on the bed. “Josephine! Careful,” Nikolai chided his sister who threw him a look. “She is not made out of glass, Kai.”

“She is severely injured, so just…be careful.” He looked away when Noora glanced at him, surprised by his concerned tone.

She crawled forward and smiled at Noora who gave her a small smile. The little princess nudged herself onto her good side and rested her blonde head against Noora’s chest.

“I am glad you are all right.” Her arms wound around Noora’s body carefully.

She looked over to Lulva and gestured with her hand to get on the bed on her other side. Lulva approached slowly and got on the bed, however she refrained from touching her. Noora knew what terrified feelings had to go through the younger girl’s mind. To see someone, you consider your protector defeated and realise that they are indeed not invincible and much too humane is humbling.

“I could do with a hug right now,” Noora admitted and at the soft tone she watched Lulva’s eyes tear up before she threw herself at her. Noora groaned in pain, making the smaller girl draw back, however, Noora drew her injured arm around her, despite the burning sensation pulling at her skin, to ensure she stayed where she was. Noora drew her nose into her red mane and inhaled the soft citrus scent, her body relaxing even more into the pillows.

“They said you were hurt so bad, Noora, that you almost died,” Lulva sobbed.

Something tugged at Noora’s insides hearing the desperation a girl her age should never be burdened to carry. She squeezed her fragile body closer, her eyes meeting Nikolai’s over her shoulder, his form swimming lightly with unshed tears. She cleared her throat and let Lulva move back a bit, conjuring a smile.

“You know how the crown is, always so stupidly dramatic. No offense.” She rolled her eyes, looking at Josephine who grinned up at her. “None taken. Nikolai almost wanted to tear down the whole kingdom to make sure you were safe and sound.”

Noora looked at the prince whose cheeks were inflamed crimson in a matter of seconds. He cleared his throat, crossing his arms on his bed. “Well, I think my duties are met. I will come back later to bring you dinner and will ask the healer to produce some crutches for you to walk again.” With that he left the room quickly, Spike staring after him, though decided to stay, curling up at the foot of Noora’s bed.

“Huh,” she breathed before focusing back on Lulva. “How come everyone is talking about my injuries instead of the fact that I killed an almighty dragon?”

She lifted her good hand and swiped at the tears of the girl. “Did you see its head and big aquamarine scales?” She tried to lure her out of her cocoon. Lulva nodded slightly, the tears still streaming down silently her round cheeks. “That was impressive, wasn’t it?” Both the girls nodded. Noora nodded over to the blade “And that sword? Cut through the dragon like it was butter.”

Josephine got up and nodded.

“That is not just any sword, it is Dainslief! The sword is believed to be infused with magic, whenever it was drawn it could not be sheathed again until its enemy was slain to the death. Noora you were chosen to be the wielder of Dainslief because you are worthy to do so.” Josephine’s eyes shined with respect as she recounted the tale. At the risk of sounding like Nikolai, it was only a story about an ancient sword, though, at the curious look on Lulva’s face, she stayed quiet. Anything to keep Lulva from crying was in her favour.

“Is that true?” Lulva asked. Noora gave a half-shrug and a nod. “I would always believe what Josephine says, she is the wisest out of her siblings.”

At that, the girl beamed. “Should I tell you the tale of how Dainslief was produced and how the mighty king used it to slay all his enemies?” She dropped to sit on her calves and looked expectantly at Lulva and Noora.

The former snuggled into Noora’s side and nodded.

“There once was a Burgundian warrior called Hagen from Tronje…” Josephine dove into the story as Noora began winding her fingers through Lulva’s soft hair. Spike began slightly snoring at the foot of the bed, his body rising with every inhale. With the warm light shining through the windows, the familiar scent of Lulva wafting around, and Josephine’s whispered storytelling, Noora drifted off again, her injuries still burning but it felt like it was just a little bit less. Now that her sister was with her.