Chapter One- Nicko's Promise

Snorri Snorrelssen sat with Nicko Heap on Snake Slipway, five hundred years away from their Time.

"So…is Jenna okay now?" Nicko asked. He could not hide the concern in his voice.

"She's safe," Snorri replied. "Etheldredda and her Aie-Aie fell in the BoneFyre. It's all over."

But Snorri knew it was far from over for her and Nicko. They were still stuck in a different Time. Nicko and Snorri now knew that Marcellus Pye was on their side, though. He would open the Great Doors of Time for them. After all, it couldn't take that long to make a new Keye since he gave Septimus his. First thing first, though. They had to find him.

"Snorri, I can't thank you enough for saving Jenna," said Nicko, his head down.

Snorri looked at Nicko and smiled. "Nicko,"—his name tasted sweet on her tongue—"you came back for me. It's the least I could do." She shrugged casually. "I guess we're even now."

Nicko felt butterflies flutter inside his stomach. He knew Snorri thought he was brave for leaving Jenna and Septimus to find her, but he knew that he wasn't brave at all. He was scared. What if they couldn't make it back to their Time? What if they couldn't find Marcellus? What if they were stuck there forever?

Knowing Snorri was waiting for some sort of reply, Nicko cleared his throat and said, "So what now?" He immediately regretted saying this as he saw Snorri's face fall.

"I don't know," said Snorri. "You said Marcellus let Jenna and Septimus through, right?" Nicko nodded. "Then I guess we should find him…pronto."

Nicko did not reply. He ran his fingers through his straw-colored hair, as he often did when he was deep in thought. "Maybe we should rest first."

Snorri was skeptical. Anyone could spot them and get suspicious. She didn't feel safe without Ullr by her side. Nicko was a bit of a comfort, but his presence also made her feel uneasy. She didn't want to think about why either, at least not at that moment.

Nicko saw the fear in Snorri's eyes. He put a hand on her shoulder, making both of their stomachs do a backflip. "Do you want to find a safer place first?"

Snorri nodded. She stood up and rubbed her eyes. Seeing through Ullr's eyes made them a little sore, or perhaps she was just tired.

"Where to?" she asked Nicko as he stood up beside her.

"Well, just down there"—he pointed to their left—"is where Rupert Gringe's boathouse is in our Time. He always tells me about how the boathouse was built where an abandoned warehouse used to be." Nicko felt a speck of optimism growing in his heart. "Maybe a warehouse is there in this Time."

Snorri, not wanting to be a pessimist, merely muttered, "Maybe." Nevertheless, she followed Nicko as he led the way to where, they hoped, a warehouse was. Less than five minutes later, Nicko and Snorri stood before a dilapidated warehouse.

Outside, the warehouse was covered in white paint that was chipped and peeling. There was no door, only a doorway that led into darkness. The windows were shattered. Besides the few rats inside, the warehouse was abandoned. Even though it was run-down, smelly, and clearly a rat's breeding heaven, the warehouse was a stroke of luck and a sense of hope for Snorri and Nicko.

Nicko was the first to walk into the warehouse. Snorri followed closely behind. They could see nothing, but as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they got a good look around the interior of the warehouse.

The air was cold and smelled of rat poo. They stood on rough cobblestone. Every now and then, the long nails of rats could be heard scurrying across the stone. Piles of broken glass, junk, and rat poo covered the floor. With each step they took, Snorri and Nicko crushed the rats' leftover food.

"Welcome home," Nicko said sarcastically.

Snorri didn't reply. She shivered. The warehouse was the last place she wanted to call home, and she didn't appreciate Nicko's sarcasm at a serious time.

At that moment, Snorri thought of her own home. She remembered her mother. She and her mother had gotten into a quarrel before Snorri ran away and set sail for the Traders' Market at the Castle. Her mother never wanted her to go. Snorri couldn't help but think that perhaps her mother was right. If she didn't go, she wouldn't have gotten herself into this mess, but then she glanced at Nicko. Maybe Mother was wrong, she thought.

Nicko kneeled down and used his hands to swipe away the piles of junk.

"What are you doing?" Snorri asked.

"Clearing the floor," replied Nicko annoyingly. "Where else are we going to sleep? On the junk?"

Snorri, her temper growing because of Nicko's remark, shook her head in an attempt to calm down. Pull yourself together, she thought. Don't get angry. "I need some air." She walked outside and sat down.

She hated this place, this Time, this situation. She wanted to be back on her boat, Alfrún, with Ullr. She closed her eyes and imagined everything away. You just had to jump into that Glass after Nicko, didn't you?

A/N- hello everyone. this is my first fan fic EVER! your opinion means SO much 2 me. please REVIEW!

"Snorri?"

Nicko sat next to her, but Snorri ignored him. She wanted to be alone at that particular moment. She was afraid that he would spark her temper again. She didn't want to look weak or hurt or vicious in front of him. Nicko thinking wrongly of her would be terrible.

"I'm sorry, Snorri," he said. "What's wrong?"

"Everything is wrong." Snorri opened her eyes. "My being here in this Time is wrong."

"Everything will be right soon," Nicko said softly. "I know that you're scared." He hesitated before saying, "I'm scared too."

He put his arm around her. Snorri let him, but she did not let him see her blush.

At that moment, Snorri and Nicko connected. Snorri could see Nicko's weakness, and he could see hers. Nicko's fears were Snorri's fears, and hers were his. It was a magical moment with no real Magyk involved.

"I'll protect you," Nicko said quietly. "Together, we'll find a way back home." He lifted her chin, and their eyes met. "We'll make it back together."

"Do you promise?" Snorri asked as she fought back rising tears.

Nicko whispered softly, "I promise." He let his hand fall from her chin. "Now, come on." He helped her stand up. "I think I saw some stairs. Maybe upstairs will be cleaner and comfier than that rat breeding ground."

Nicko held Snorri's hand as they went back into the warehouse. Just like Nicko said, a flight of stairs, hidden by the darkness, was off to their left. As Snorri walked up the stairs, her mind was racing.

Nicko is so handsome and nice and sweet, she thought. We can't be together here, though. Wait! Snap out of it, Snorri! He doesn't even like you that way. Then why is he holding my hand? Stop it! He knows you're scared that's why. Oh, I hate this!

Snorri snapped out of her thoughts. Nicko was speaking to her.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Nicko flashed a crooked grin. "I asked if this was better."

Snorri looked around the room.

The floor was wooden and much less rough than the cobblestone downstairs. There were no rats in sight, which came as a surprise to Snorri. Also as a surprise to Snorri, a dirty mattress was set on the far 

side of the room. Boxes were as far as the eye could see. From looking at the boxes close by, Snorri saw that they were filled high with rope, hooks, broken glass, and just complete junk.

Snorri grinned. "It's much, much better."

"Good, I'm glad you like it," Nicko said. He let go of her hand and gestured to the mattress. "You can sleep there. I'll sleep on the floor."

Snorri's expression sharpened. "What? No! We can share the mattress." Snorri realized what she said too late. She blushed at her foolishness.

Nicko politely took no notice of what Snorri said. "I'll sleep on the floor," he repeated.

"Are you sure?" Snorri asked, choosing her words more carefully. "I don't want you to have to sleep on the floor because you're a gentleman."

"I'll be fine," Nicko insisted as he blushed. "Besides, if you're really worried about me sleeping on the floor, we'll just alternate." He tried to insinuate that they would alternate each night. He didn't want to say that they would be there tomorrow. It would just break their spirits.

"Okay," Snorri said with uncertainty. She lay down on the mattress. It was surprisingly soft, and it didn't take her long to find a comfortable position. She watched as Nicko lay down on the floor beside her. He grinned as if to say, "You see? It's not so bad."

"Tomorrow we'll start searching for Marcellus," Nicko stated. He voice softened as he said, "Good night, Snorri."

"Good night, Nicko." Snorri yawned and closed her eyes. "I'll see you in the morning."

AUTHORS NOTE: thanx so much for reading. this is my first fan fic EVER. that pretty much means your opinion means EVERYTHING to me. please REVIEW!