They heard the steps and then Sigrid, the sister of Hadvar appeared. “Hadvar, we’ve been so worried about you. What are you doing here and what happened to you? Your hurt, come on, you and your friend there standing in the shadows by the door. Have a seat at the table and I’ll bring you over some hot food and fresh bread to eat.”
Alvor had taken the center seat. Hadvar walked over and sat in the seat located near the outside wall, so she took the seat on the opposite side between his uncle Alvor and Hadvar. Sigrid was a quick study and when she came over to serve some hot bowls of stew and freshly cut garlic twisted bread she noticed first that it was a young lady, second she had slightly pointed ears and large eyes that were slightly slanted like an elf. “You’re Breton aren’t you?” She just said, “I suppose!”
Alvor looked at her and said, “What do you mean you suppose, don’t you know?” Hadvar spoke up then, “Easy you two, she’s been through a lot, we both have.” Sigrid fetched a hot pot of tea from over near the hearth of the fireplace and poured some steaming tea into cups. “She told Sigrid, that smells wonderful!” The young girl called out from over in the chair, “Mother and I make it from herbs and flowers we grow in our garden behind the house.”
The lights had reflected her face better as she picked up the hot tea and took a sip. Sigrid asked, “Hadvar, she’s not a soldier, Are you and her, you know…” “Sister, no! She’s a friend. In fact I wouldn’t be here if not for her. Saved my life several times today!” Both Alvor and Sigrid replied as one, “Really! But she’s not even a soldier how could that be?” “It’s a story, you better grab a chair and have a seat with us.”
Sigrid fetched another chair and sat it next to her husband on the side closer to her then her brother. “Okay Hadvar, why don’t you tell us what happened? Why all the secrecy?” “Well you know I’ve been assigned to General Tullius.” “Yes, but what are you doing here instead of in Solitude the capital?”
“General Tullius had received word from the Thalmor that Ulfric and some Stormcloaks had passed the border into Cyrodiil down near Darkwater Crossing. So we all went there and sat a trap for when they came back over. That is, if they came back the same way they had left. Sigrid said, “Ulfric, really the Jarl of Windhelm! What were they doing over in Cyrodiil?” Hadvar said, “We don’t know but they came back and there was a skirmished, but General Tullius had everything well planned out and those that were not injured or killed were captured, including two others.”
Alvor asked, “What two others? You mean someone else was coming across the border and caught up in that mess?” “Yes, one was a horse thief from Rorikstead, the other was my friend here, she got a nasty knock on the back of her head.
Knocked her out cold.” Sigrid looked at her and said, “Well we’ll get you cleaned up after dinner downstairs. I have some herbal medicines and bandages I can see what I can do to help get that cleaned up.” “She quietly replied, “Thank you Sigrid, your so kind.”
Alvor said, “Okay so what happened next Hadvar? “ We took all the prisoners, tied them up and put them into the wagons we had waiting. Ulfric had his mouth bound too, General Tullius orders.” When we arrived in Helgen, there were some high ranking Thalmor officials waiting there.
General Tullius went over to speak with them as the wagons rolled into the central courtyard of the old Fort and town near the inn. General Tullius came and spoke with the captain of those troops stations there in Helgen. She order them unloaded and to fetch the headsmen.”
Sigrid exclaimed, “What why the headsmen, you mean they were going to cut off all their heads, even your friend here?” Hadvar looked uncomfortable and she had tears beginning to well up in the ducks of her eyes having to remember all of this again was hard.
Alvor asked, “Why didn’t Tullius take them to Solitude so they could stand trial there?” I think it must have been because of the Thalmor. They wanted a quick resolution to all of this. Especially, after what Ulfric did to Jarl Elisif’s husband.”
She spoke up then, “Hadvar, what did Ulfric do?” Alvor replied, “It is said he walked into the blue palace in Solitude, the capital of Skyrim and challenged High King Torygg to a dual. There was no request for counsel. Torygg was obliged to honor his request. It is Nordic tradition. The room was cleared and the two faced off. Both drew their large two-handed great swords. High King Torygg never had a chance though.”
“Why?” she asked. “Ulfric used the voice, the Thuum against the High King and blew him across the railing and he fell dead to the floor below. That did not go well for Ulfric, and he had to run for his life. The whole palace had come awake and was moving to help Elisif. They also began a search to find Ulfric to punish him for what he did. “
She asked then, “What is the Thuum?” Hadvar replied, “In the old Nordic pantheon it said that there are men who are blessed by Akatosh, the first Aedra and father of time with the gift to speak as the dragons do and to use the same language as them. It provides the dragons with powerful abilities. Much like we saw in Helgen.”
Alvor then asked, “What do you mean much like you saw in Helgen?” Hadvar began again, “They lined up everyone for the block, they didn’t seem to care about a fair trial at all. The first Stormcloak soldier was taken to the block, and the headsmen did their work. Then they called the thief, but he ran and was killed, shot by archers as he tried to escape.
Then my friend here was up next. Except before the headmen could do anything an incredibly large black dragon fell out of the sky and landed on a nearby tower. He looked directly at her, as if he knew something about her.”
Alvor looked at his nephew and said, “A dragon, don’t be ridiculous, I mean they haven’t been seen since the first era and the end of the Dragon Wars! Are you sure you’re not drunk or something Hadvar?” Sigrid responded to her husband, “Alvor! Give Hadvar a chance to finish his story.
Something happened, I mean look at the two of them.” There were tears now dripping down her cheeks and Dorthe stood up seeing her distress and came over and wrapped her arms around her.
“You’ll be okay now, don’t worry. My father and mother will protect you.” She reached out and hugged her back and said, “Thank you, I needed that hug!” Hadvar then began again, “The dragon raised its head and spoke something in a strange language. The Skies began to boil and turn red like blood. Then huge fire balls rained down on Helgen destroying everything they hit. I remember seeing one hit the inn, it blew it apart like it was nothing and fire was everywhere.”
He paused a moment looking at his distressed friend then continued, “She and I got separated then, it was mass confusion and there were dead and injured people lying everywhere. Somehow she had made it to the inn and through the burning wreckage to come out where I was, trying to save as many towns people as I could.
The dragon struck again, it seemed to be everywhere at once. I told her to follow me, to say close if she wanted to stay alive. We made our way across the open way to a central wall that ran along the back side of what had been homes but now were nothing but splintered wood.”
Sigrid looked at her and said, “You poor thing, what happened next!” The dragon landed with a large thump above us on the wall. It destroyed some more buildings across the way, then it looked down directly at her, it was speaking to her in its language. She was as white as snow and just knelt there holding her head with both hands, lost as if in some sort of trance with the dragon.”
Whatever it said to her I don’t know. Anyway, we made our way into the fort. Over and over again she saved my life as we fought our way down through the fort and into a cavern. “What how could that be Hadvar, I mean she is only half your height and size. “ I know but we don’t know anything about her. I mean she can move faster than the wind itself.” Sigrid looked over at her then back at her brother and said, “Really, how?”
“I can’t speak of it all now, but when we finally got outside through a large underground cavern that runs under the fort, we saw the black dragon rise from smoldering ashes of what had been Helgen.” He said, there something about her. When we walked a little bit down the road away from Helgen we saw the great black dragon fly towards the barrow.”
We stopped to get a break, and I asked her if she remember anything at all. Hadvar grinned then and said, “She yelled at me and said, ‘What don’t you understand. I don’t remember anything, not who I am, where I came from, why I was crossing the border, I can’t even remember my name!”
Then something strange happened, she fell to the ground and dug her fingers into the dark rich soils up there. Roots began to twist and leaves to gather. A scroll magically formed and it wrote a ballad of sorts for her. A riddle to be followed to help her discover who she is.” Sigrid said, “Alvor, that’s Elder Blood stuff, you know the old stories and songs of the druids and those that existed before us.”
Then, she cried out, “Please no more, I can’t and she swooned and fell to the floor. Dorthe called to her mother, “She’s bleeding mother, her back, you need to help her.” They all got up and came to her. Hadvar told them, “You have no idea of what this girl been through, but I don’t know what is causing that!”
Sigrid said, “Come on boys we need to get her downstairs, Dorthe get Camellia, tell her there’s a young, injured lady here at our home. That she is seriously injured. Have her bring some salves, potions, and bandages from their store? They can charge it to our account there. Then see if you can get Gerdur. I’ll need help to save her. “
They were able to get her downstairs. Sigrid had them remove the blankets and spread several furs over the bed. Lay her down on her side. Camellia showed up first with the supplies in hand. She noticed Hadvar and saw the burns, cuts, and bruises on them both. “What happened to you two and who is she?” Gerdur show up then, saw Hadvar too and then her. Sigrid called out, okay boys you’ll have to go upstairs while we work on her.”
Once upstairs, Sigrid said, “Give me a knife so I can cut these stiches on this armor she’s wearing. Gerdur gave her the knife then she carefully cut the stiches holding the back together. Sigrid said, help me get her out of this armor. The carefully slipped it off and then Sigrid called out, “Hadvar come to the top of the stairs.”
She heard him then he called out and to her, “What’s wrong Sigrid?” “Then he heard all three ladies gasp and Camellia said, “Oh, by the divines, who did this to her. She’s bleeding out everywhere.” Sigrid called out to Hadvar, Why is this girl covered with whip scars all across her shoulders and down her back. It looks like someone tried to beat her to death. She’s bleeding from them. They are angry, who would do this to her?”
“Hadvar you know anything about this?” “No, she never said anything although I remember seeing some scars on her when she dug her hands into the earth up near Helgen.” Sigrid asked Gerdur, can you get us some hot water from the hearth. We need to get a mixture of these healing herbs and salves mixed so we can get this bleeding to stop.”
It was two hours later and Sigrid came upstairs. “I think she’ll be okay, but she’s lost a lot of blood. Alvor, you and I will have to camp up here tonight, just like old times when we were younger.” Hadvar asked, “Is it okay if I set up some bedding at the foot of her bed just in case she wakes up in the night. Someone needs to stay close by.”
Sigrid asked again, “Are you sure you and her, you know?” “No, she’s a friend. Like I said she save my life several times over. I owe her Sigrid.” Gerdur and Camellia then asked, “Okay can someone tell us what happened to the two of you?”
Hadvar replied, “The short of it is Helgen has been leveled, completely destroyed by a dragon. We may be the only two survivors from there.” Gerdur and Camellia replied, “What a dragon has returned and destroyed Helgen!” Yes, but I am sorry, I am exhausted and need some sleep. Gerdur said, I am going to tell Hod I am staying with you just in case she needs our help.
You know we need to get word to the Jarl in Whiterun. How are we supposed to defend ourselves against a dragon?” Sigrid said, Okay once your back we’ll clear the room as much as possible and set up some bedding for everyone in case she needs attention again during the night.”
Camellia what do you want to do? Camellia replied, “Let me let my brother know what we’re doing. I’ll stay here too to help out. “ Sigrid said, “Thank you Camellia.” Hadvar go on downstairs and clean up. Get some sleep. You look like you could really use it.” Sigrid then said, try not to wake her. We can hear more about this tomorrow after breakfast.”
Hadvar had cleaned up quietly then set some bedding down at the footboard of the bed, He came over before lying down and gently rubbed the wavy hair away from her face. She briefly opened her eyes and said, “Hadvar, I knew it was you. How did someone so kind get caught up in this mess? I am so sorry Hadvar for all the trouble I’ve caused you.” Tears were rolling down her cheeks. He took a nearby cloth and cleaned them from her cheeks. “It’s okay, we’ll figure this out, this mystery of who you are together!”
She closed her eyes again and had drifted off into sleep. He watched her for a few minutes then laid down to sleep himself. The next morning Hadvar woke up to a soft voice, “Hadvar, are you there? I am thirsty, please get me something. He got up and went upstairs. Everyone was just beginning to stir awake. “Everyone, she’s awake and wants something to drink. Sigrid and the other ladies woke up quickly. She grabbed a water bottle from inside a cooling chamber Alvor had built for them.
“Let’s go ladies!” Sigrid, Gerdur and Camellia all went downstairs. Sigrid allowed the girl to sip small portions. Sigrid pointed to her back to have the other two check her out. Gerdur smiled and said, “Better. Camellia can you come and help her while I get the bathing chamber ready for her.” The young, injured girl said, “That’s a pretty name Camellia.” Camellia thanked her but then said nothing else after hearing the stories about her not knowing who she was, what her name was.
Sigrid appeared again and asked her, “You think you can make it to the bathing chamber. I have everything ready for you. I’ll have Dorthe come down and wait outside for when you’re done. Then we’ll help you upstairs and we can have some breakfast together. “ She nodded she would be okay. They slowly helped her to sit up. Then they helped her to the bathing chamber.
Once inside Sigrid said, “ I’ll leave you to relax. Just call out when you’re ready to come out. Alvor and I will get some new clothing for you to wear.” She slipped into the warm waters and found a place where she could gently lean her back against it and just let the oils and soap soak into her.
She must had slipped off to sleep again as Dorthe was outside calling out to her. “Breakfast is almost ready. I have a towel and robe ready for you, and they have some new clothes for you to put on.” Dorthe open the door and handed her the towel. Then she said, “There’s a robe sitting on a hook right outside the door. I am going to go upstairs. Just call out if you need help with anything.”
She slipped out and put on the robe. She saw some new underclothing spread out on the bed, she also saw some armor there. Light weight it looked and made with careful craftsmanship. “Did Alvor,” she wondered.
Then she dressed and before going upstairs called out, can someone help me get this armor closed on the back? Sigrid came downstairs and helped her. She was incredibly careful considering her injuries.
She asked then, “Sigrid, where did this come from, its beautiful and so well made.” Sigrid said, “well, there’s a story behind it, but I need to let Alvor speak of that when he feels it’s the right time. Come on, let’s go upstairs, everything is ready for breakfast including some more fresh herbal tea.”
The ladies welcomed her to the table. Sigrid said, “This is Gerdur, she and her husband Hod own the mill here. Camellia is the sister of Lucan. Together they own and run the local general trading store. Both came last night to help me get you better. “ She said to them both, “Thank you all, I am so sorry all that happened last night. “ Sigrid said, if you don’t mind I would like to thank Mara for blessings for all of you before we eat.”
Sigrid slightly bowed her head, “Mother Mara, mother of all, divine guide of marriage and children, we thank you this day for your blessings, and most of all for bringing us all together to help this young lady. May you come to know her and love her as all of us do. May your blessings be with her always and everyone gather here together.”
Suddenly, a ball of light formed above them. Then a voice spoke, “She is already known to us. She proceeds us. Her mother has set her journey in place; our blessings already are with you. Find your way, find your heart, find out who you are.”
Then it was gone and everyone was staring at her, and she lowered her head being humbled. Sigrid then asked, “Who are you anyway? That has never happened before. It is not recorded anywhere that the divines would come and what does that mean? “She is already known to us. She proceeds us!”
She got up and ran outside with tears streaking from her eyes. Dorthe got up and cried out, “That was mean, don’t you see how much you hurt her. She doesn’t know anything about any of this. Leave her alone!” Dorthe ran out the door and found her outside with her head cradled in her hands softly weeping to herself.
Dorthe came and wrapped her arms around her. “It’s okay, I understand, I know my name but who I will be as I grow older, I have no idea!” She reached out and hugged Dorthe and said, “How is it that you always know when I need a hug the most?”
Hadvar came out and sat beside her. “Please come back in, they didn’t mean any harm by it, they were just surprised, that’s all.” “Oh Hadvar, maybe I should leave, I don’t want all of you to get dragged into whatever this is.” “I am already or have you forgotten? They are already as they were with you when you needed them most last night!” Please come in and let’s have breakfast and tea. Then we can sit and talk about what we should do next.”
She came back in and sat down. The food was ready as well as the tea. Sigrid said, “Let’s eat shall we!” They all ate and caught up on small talk about the town, places they had been in the past, plans Sigrid had for her gardens behind their home.
Then Alvor spoke and said, “All of us here want to help you. We understand from speaking with Hadvar last night that something happened once you were out of Helgen and a scroll was given to you. A kind of ballad that would guide you on a journey to discover who you are. What your name might be!” Sigrid said, “If it’s okay with you, we would like to fetch Sven and let him sit with us and hear what this ballad says. He was professionally trained at the Bard’s College in Solitude and might understand something about it.”
She replied, “Under one condition someone has to explain to him that what I know is little, that all of this is new to me too! If you agree to that then yes, please bring him here. “ Camellia got up and excused herself while she went to get Sven. He came and they placed another seat at the table.
I understand from what Camillia told me, you have been given some type of divine ballad that is supposed to provide guidance to help you discover something about yourself and what you name might be.” Sven then said, “I am professionally trained not just as a bard, but in all the ancient lore, songs, ballads, and other ancient literature that is held in the Bards College in Solitude. I would like to help you, but I will need to hear it first. Can you read it to us?”
She pulled the parchment from her bag she had with her and she unrolled it. Sparks formed along its edges as it was unrolled. The energy from it was absorbed into her fingertips. “Does that hurt, what we just saw that scroll do when you unrolled it?” “What, no Sven! I mean I just feel a slight tingle.”
She then read the whole Ballard slowly, with emphasis where it was needed. Sven had been taking notes as she read it on a parchment using ink and pen Sigrid had given him. She looked at them all, each person stayed silent. “Sven is that a tear on your cheek?” “He touched his cheek, “So it is, well, that was a touching ballad. Do you understand the keys that are in it?”
“Maybe one. When Hadvar and I stopped to rest up near the standing stones. At one point, I had stood up and stepped between all three stones so I could study them better.” Sven asked, “What happened?” She looked at Hadvar and he nodded it was okay to trust him.” They began to hum, not just one, but all three of them at once, the ground began to rumble. It scared me so I told, Hadvar to come along.”
“How do you believe it was related?” ‘She walks a path where shadows hum with ancient, unspoken themes.’ Yes, don’t you see? Each of these stanzas contain keys to unlocking some mystery. You are meant to discover it, but you have to earn you way to that knowledge!” Sven paused a moment, “The college is full of ancient ballads, those thought to be most closely related to the divines are all like this. Some have never been figured out so remain a mystery to this day.”
“Really, the college has something like that?” Sven replied, “Yes, the really old rare scrolls and tomes are kept in a special room protected by spells and such that some of the mages in Solitude have helped us with to allow us to use them as part of the Bardic training, but they never leave that room.” She told Sven, “I would love to see that someday!”
She then asked, “So what do you think are the keys from each verse?” “I made some notes and this is what I believe, that is not to say there is not more, but these are certainly keys!”
“The first of it means, one who is rooted in passion and love”
Her name is not a label, but a call,
A symphony of why she burns, why she falls, why she dares to call.
Rooted in love’s unyielding soil, she grows through storms and scars,
A tree whose roots are woven with the threads of every star above.
“This one speaks that you are more than just a name, your essence, your being is rooted in the time before creation, before he beginning of our world of Nirn. It even mentions ‘she grows through storms and scars! The storms are your…” He paused a moment, “Please don’t take this wrong but your emotions and the scars are those that you wear on your very skin.”
She laughed, looked over at Hadvar, “Is it really that bad, I mean I don’t mean to be scary, it just kind of happens!” Hadvar chuckled, “Well, you have to admit. It is like the rising rumble of thunder and then the crack of lightning when it happens.”
Sven said, “Exactly, this ballad as most do are just metaphors of real-life things or events.”
“In Resilience not a shield, but a dance!”
Resilience is not a just a shield, but a dance,
A flicker in the dark that refuses to be erased,
She bends, she breaks, she bends again,
For in her bones, the echoes of a thousand suns remains.
“This one speaks of the importance of you being willing to create a dance of all the adversity you will face. But it is two-fold in that it also speaks of a hidden strength. This one is important as it says, ‘For in her bones, lies the echoes of a thousand suns.’
She replied, “That is scary! A thousand suns. I mean what do they think I am?” Sven then continued without responding to her question.
“Not all has been told, from resilience and love is the little fire born.”
This fire is not a roar, but as whisper in your chest,
A spark that turns to flame when love’s truth is confessed.
It was born before the first word of The First Elder Scroll Exist,
A secret kept in the marrow of the old, you must be bold to learn who you are.
Sven looked at her a long time. He then said, “This one in particular has multiple meanings hidden in its verse.” She exclaimed, “What does that mean? Multiple meanings of what?” Sven continued, “ It speaks of a fire that is within, the need to ignite the spark of love, but then it speaks of a birth that happened before the first Word of The First Elder Scroll existed.
That is Elder Blood stuff and the second time it is reference, so it now rises in importance. Finally, it speaks of your need to be bold to learn the secret that is buried somewhere deep within you.”
Sven paused, “This is some crazy stuff here. I mean, this is like ancient lore, like from the first of those mere humans who interacted with the divines.” She asked Sven, “Can you give me an example?” Sven replied, “Well, one I fell in love with were the seventy-seven inflexible doctrines of Saint Alessia.
All of them were like poetry or mini ballads. However, each was a mandate as to how the new empire was to govern itself. Incredible stuff there, scholars will be debating those for the rest of time, likely.”
Then Sven said let’s continue then we can talk more if you want,
“You are she that is reborn and transformed though its birth, beginning before the dawn.”
You die each night, only to rise anew at the first break of light,
A phoenix stitched from fragments of your own dark night.
The dawn is not an end, but a mirror,
A reflection of your old self ends, and then it shows you begin again.
“Okay you’re going to go nuts over this one. It states that you are in fact reborn, transformed from whoever you were before. That might account for you not remembering anything, including what these nice ladies here told me about all the scars on your back. I mean who could forget that? It is even more convincing when it says it is a mirror of your old self when it ends, and then a new you begins.”
She said nothing this time and asked Sven to continue.
“It Is Of The Elder Blood, spoken before the First World of Dawn.”
Your blood is not of this world, but a legacy etched in time,
A covenant between the mortal and the divine,
The Elder Blood remembers what the scrolls cannot tell,
That love is not a choice, but a call that heals and kills.
Sven reads from his notes, then he exclaimed, “You need to get some help, this one is right out there, no allegory hides its meaning.” She asked, “What do you mean Sven?” He pauses then looks around the room and says it clearly states, ‘It is of the Elder Blood, third time this is stated, spoken before the First World of Dawn.”
Sven pauses for effect then continues, “ That is referring to our world of Nirn. The one in which we mere mortals exist.” Sven takes a sip of some ale then says listen to this, ‘a legacy etched in time, a covenant between mortal and the divine. Then a warning which is strange after all of those proclamations. ‘Love is not a choice, but a call that heals and kills.”
Sven breathed in then said, “I guess it could be referring to love that heals when you fall in love with someone but love that kills would be a broken heart maybe. There are lots of ballads about those tragic endings because of them.”
Sven then said, “The last verses are important too! Listen to this!”
“Daughter your name is your journey, they are one in the same.”
So wonder, may you seek, may you unravel the thread,
For in the journey, you’ll find the who you were meant to be,
A name is not given, but earned through fire, through love, through pain,
A name what whispers: “You are the root. You are the rain.”
Sven said, “This is the final one and the last part is the most profound as it states that your name whispers ‘You are the root, You are the rain.’” She asked, “What does that mean?” Sven said, “I think its pointing at some type of trinity. “
Sven then continued, “Think about it! It refers to The Elder Scrolls. I met a Moth Priest once who was visiting Solitude. They, the Moth Priest spend their whole lives studying the meaning of the ever-changing text of those things. He told me that The Elder Scrolls provide insight into past, present, and future.
Sven thought a moment, “He said they are like a river always flowing, always changing as if each Scroll is a living, breathing thing. One final thing, it says that your name was meant to be. That is prophetic stuff there!”
She looked around the room, “Any thoughts people? You’ve all been so silent, and I am beginning to drown in all this stuff about Elder Blood, Being Reborn, Transformed, Related to some Covenant between mortals and the divines!” She stood up then and said, “ I am going for a walk since no one is talking. “
Hadvar jumped up then and said, “Please don’t do that! I mean we know nothing about what all of this means outside of Sven’s interpretation of it. “ She looked around the room, and she sensed that they were hiding things from her. She turned and walked out the house and went storming off towards the bridge where the river flowed deep.
Alvor asked Sven then, “Do you think she is some sort of incarnation of the covenants of old?” Sven said, “There’s no way to be sure right now, I mean it all speculation and analysis based on what we know. But, if we believe what Hadvar told us of what happened when this scroll was created, she is not like the rest of us!”
Sven saw the confusion in Alvor’s face then said, “ Let me give you all something to consider, when was the last time any of you reached into the soil and had the earth twist its roots into a scroll and then had the fireflies in the night skies write out a ballad? Think on that, I don’t have the answers but there are lots of things pointing that way right now!”
She found her way to the middle of the bridge; she leaned into the railing and watched the water flowing down stream and then over some rocks to tumble down towards the city of Whiterun. She closed her eyes and listened to the breeze twist its way through the leaves of the hardwoods and willows that reached their fingers into the flowing waters.
She lost herself within the quiet places of the flowing water, the soft breezes, the splash of a jumping fish trying to touch the sky. She began to cry and softly whispered, “Oh mother who were you, who was I? What does all this mean? I just want to be like the rest of them, why can’t I just live a normal life, fall in love, get married, and have children like Dorthe that come and give me hugs to remind me of what’s real in life.”
She heard only silence, then she simply walked away and made her way across the bridge, continuing to walk up the path towards the old watch tower. The air was growing colder, a wolf appeared but when it saw her it ran off whining. She was becoming as numb as the cold winds blowing down from the mountain tops.