Forlorn Valkyrie

by: bloodysword99

Chapter 1: Missing Piece

Seasons change quickly around the Jarlshold since they return from their dangerous journey of the land of dreams, the land of eternal winter, the land of the snow-walkers at the world's end.

And just like the fast flow of change, everything was different since the curse of the horrible Gudrun was lifted.

Wulgar, the just and humorous Jarl, finally took Signi's hand in marriage and now the Jarlshold has a queen.

Everyone thought it would be Jessa but she claimed he was too soft for the likes of her. Skapti laughed at the statement and Brochael roared in agreement.

Speaking of the skald, Skapti had made songs of their epic journey and all the people they have encountered. His lyrics and poems were the sensation not just within the hold but throughout.

While Brochael had become a great asset of Wulgar's forces, he also managed to be an even more overprotective guardian and father figure for Kari.

Hakon was having a good life as always. He had his new named sword, Dream-breaker, and a respected subject of Wulgar. He was a free man and he was content of it. All he needs was a woman to share it with. The offer was given to Jessa but she declined it kindly. Though, Hakon still had hopes and insisted on waiting.

As for Kari, he was welcomed a hero, like the rest of them and given honour as a first official sorcerer of the Jarlshold. Though he had done so much and given such a great position in the hall, people still stared and gawked at him which he had grown used to.

Jessa returned to her farm, Horolfstead, at some point but her heart wasn't there anymore. She felt she was needed somewhere else. Thorkil, her cousin, was left to care for the farm and promised her to send her share of the profits.

She retreated to the Jarlshould in search for a new purpose. Jessa was now one of the heads of Wulgar's hall and Signi's adviser. She had spent good times with all her friends, companions and fellow people in the hold. Skapti kept teasing Hakon of his feelings for her and they would all share laughs and smiles, even Kari was happy. Yet, why did she feel like there was something missing? A gap that she wanted so desperately to fill.

Once in the woods just outside of the hold, she went to clear her mind and do some fighting with her daggers.

"A lady of such fine calibre." A voice said.

Jessa turned to the tree shadows and saw the snow-walker skulking about with 2 of his trusty ravens at each shoulder.

With a relief sigh, she smiled at the sorcerer and hid her daggers.

"You startled me." She said calmly.

Staring at the snow-walker, she noticed the seasons were kind to him. He looked more mature now. Broad shoulders, Jessa had thought once before. She wouldn't admit out laud he was actually charming but she knew Kari could at least feel her thoughts.

"May I sit with you?" He asked suddenly. Jessa didn't mind and sat under the shades of a safe tree.

Ravens retreated at the tree tops as Kari settled down near her. Both saying nothing and just stared at the blue sky.

"What are you thinking?" He asked almost making her laugh.

"Can't you reach into my mind and find out?" She humoured but she knew he could actually do that with his power.

"I can. But that would be rude." When did he grown a humour of his own? Jessa thought.

She sat there in silence with the snow-walker with a smile still lingering in her face.

She wanted to answer yet she didn't have any.

It was a thing she struggled with over the seasons. What was she thinking? What really bothered her? Why did she feel so incomplete? Peace was there and she's having a great life. What is missing?

"I don't know, Kari." Jessa simply answered.

"I don't believe that." He placed a calming hand on Jessa's.

His touch felt cold to others yet to her the cold was like a shiver of awakening. It reminded her why she lived and what she lived for.

A pale and frosty hand enveloped hers, when did his hand grow? She thought again. Was she so distracted the she hadn't taken notice.

She places her stare at him. When did he get to tall and lean?

No eyes looked back at her gaze at the snow-walker but she knew Kari could see her as plain as day.

Jessa didn't know what to do or think at this point. She felt like a spell bounded her…to him.

She just gave in and leaned on Kari tiredly.

The sorcerer wasn't at shocked maybe startled a bit but he let her do as she pleased.

Beautiful stray locks fell on her face and Kari brushed them away gently as if they were her tears.

Jessa never felt safer than in his touch.

Was this the missing piece of her puzzled existence?

Making sure, she gazed up at him and smiled.

Jessa wanted to make sure that Kari was…that piece.

Not even the great snow-walker could foresee what she just did.

Lips presses gently on his pale ones.

Her eyes closed and Kari's were colourless yet widen at the unexpected.

She parted slowly and almost sadly.

Never again did she have eye contact even as she apologized and ran.

"Jessa, what's wrong?" Wulgar asked as she passed by him.

He would have sworn tears filled her eyes.

Brocheal and Skapti caught a glimpse of her as well as she retreated to her room. They met Wulgar's worried gaze and they felt uneasy as well.

Crying her eyes out in her own quarters, she held a hand to her chest and clawed it. The pain of her nails couldn't overtake the force in her throbbing heart.

"I-It's him…" She admitted miserably.

Kari was her missing piece. He was her fill of the gap in her.

Tears streamed down her stunning face, mix of emotion swirled about in her head.

Joy was one of course.

But Misery conquered.

She felt tormented because she knew he wouldn't want her.

She was pretty, that was a fact yet it wasn't her beauty that stopped him. It was her mortality. It was the life Jessa might have when both are together.

Not a life for a mortal, Jessa thought. She realized this all too quickly.

No matter how she desired him, he would never accept her because…she wasn't at his level.

She wasn't strong enough to embrace the danger and sorcery Kari had and will live through.

She wasn't suitable to be with him because…she was nothing more than a weak mortal girl.