Chapter 1
Chaos broke out everywhere. People scrambled every which way, looking for an escape route from the monsters who had just invaded. Guards fought against the intruders, but they got what they came for. They reached the end of the bridge, her screaming and crying for anyone to come save her. The little one was draped over a hulking shoulder, white energy surging around her, while another youngster stared in horror and grief from a distance, held behind guards and his Highness. For a moment, they locked tearful eyes. The next moment, she and the monsters were gone, but not before a weapon was sent flying in the same direction, disappearing with them. Silence. The young one pushed his way through the guards and looked on, hoping for her to come back. She never did. It was discovered that while the monsters had attempted to take her, the weapon sent flying after them had knocked her out of their grasp. This, however, would also be her doom. She disappeared among the cosmos, a loss of the most grievous sort. She was no more. Many hearts broke that day, but none more so than that of the young onlooker, who had just lost his closest friend.
~
“Asved, we can’t just leave her! Look at her, she’s bruised and beaten, she needs help.”
“Estrid, we can’t support another mouth, you know this.”
“We can’t just leave her here to die! She’s obviously been out here a while, she must have been abandoned. Asved, please, she needs us. She’s just a little child, how much could she eat?”
A man sighed and paused for a moment, before scooping up the little girl in his arms. She was cold to the touch, but alive. He bundled her up before they began walking again. What on earth had happened here? Who would leave a helpless little girl bruised and unconscious in the dead of winter, alone in the woods?
The couple carried the child to their home, a secluded farm in the forests of Norway. Thankfully they had medical supplies waiting for them at their home. They walked for an hour or so before reaching their home. They carried her inside and placed her on a mat near a burning fireplace, covering her with fur to keep her warm. As they went to seek out their medical supplies, a small face poked out from around the corner. Her long brown hair fell messily into her face as she looked in at the stranger in her home. She inched closer and closer, attempting to see this new person up close. The sleeping stranger had long, unruley auburn curls that fell every which way. Her face was plastered with freckles, though many were obstructed by the bruises and cuts that she had. She appeared to be around eight years old and was dressed in a beautiful gown. It was the most beautiful dress the little girl had ever seen. The dress was silky to the touch and was a deep midnight blue. Just as the little girl touched the dress, she recoiled her hand quickly.
Slowly, the stranger began to stir. The little girl stepped back in surprise and a tad bit of fear. She gazed at the stranger, whose eyes began to open. The little girl let out a small gasp. The stranger had the most piercing blue eyes that seemed to just gaze right into her soul.
Immediately the stranger’s eyes widened and her face contorted with fear. She jumped up and away from the person in front of her, tears welling in her eyes. The little girl quickly yelled, “Mother!! M-mother!” She ran to the doorway, where her parents came running. They glanced at her before switching their gaze to the young one across the room, huddled near the fire in fear. Estrid cleared her throat and slowly stepped forward.
“H-hello, little one. Are you alright?” The little girl pulled her furs closer to her, beginning to let the tears spill. “Oh! Please don’t cry!” Estrid said, gently making her way over to the trembling stranger. “We’re just trying to help you…” She wore a smile that bore warmth into the room.
“Mother, who is she?” The brown haired child spoke. Estrid turned to face her daughter.
“We don’t know, my dear. We found her alone in the woods,” she explained. She turned back to the little girl near the fire. “Could you tell us who you are? Where did you come from? Where is your family?” The little girl looked as if she was trying to think, before her face scrunched up and more tears began to fall.
“I.. I don’t k-know..” She was crying harder and hiccuping at this point. “I can’t re-remember…”
Estrid looked at her husband with sadness in her eyes. He looked at her for a moment before sighing. He finally nodded to his wife, her lips forming a smile. She turned back to the small child before her.
“Little one,” she said, kneeling and lifting the child’s chin, “why don’t you stay here with us until we can figure things out for you.” The child looked at the people around her, uncertain, until she finally nodded. Estrid smiled. “Why, how rude have we been, let us introduce ourselves. My name is Estrid. My husband’s name is Asved, and this,” she moved to give the little girl room to see, “is our daughter, Thora.” Thora seemed to be no more than six years old, with stick straight brown hair that reached her waist. Thora stepped closer to the little girl and slowly asked,
“What is your name?” The little girl shifted, trying to think as hard as she could for anything about herself, but grumbled in frustration.
“I… I don’t know my name. I don’t remember.” She spoke sadly, sniffling gently. Thora placed a hand on her face, the little girl inhaling softly as she did, surprised at the gesture.
“Then I will call you…” she stopped to ponder for a moment, before deciding, “…Sigrid.”
“Thora,” Estrid spoke up, “we should let her decide what she wants to be addressed by.”
“No, Sigrid is good…” the little girl quietly chimed in. Estrid looked at Thora for a moment, before softly smiling.
“Alright, Sigrid it is.” She stood up and dusted off her skirt. She offered a hand to Sigrid, who hesitantly grasped it. “Why don’t we get you dressed in something a little warmer, then we’ll get you something to eat.” Sigrid smiled and wiped her eyes. Asved watched them walk away before Thora reached up and grabbed his hand. He gazed down at his daughter, who simply asked, “Do I have a sister now?” He chuckled after a moment, then looked back at where his wife had walked off.
“I suppose you do, little one.”
~
Years had passed, and Thora had gotten older. She was now twelve years old, and old enough to help on the farm. Her sister Sigrid followed her every move. She helped when she could, played as often as possible, and grew to be best friends with Thora. It was ironic, what with Sigrid being older, yet Thora did the leading for most everything. Sigrid loved her younger sister, and looked up to her greatly. The pair became inseparable, following each other anywhere and everywhere.
However, the family soon came to realize that Sigrid was different from the rest of them. Aside from being stronger than a fourteen year old should be, Sigrid possessed some sort of magic. When Sigrid got mad, or excited, or had a crying fit, she would glow white, energy pulsing over her body and eventually culminating to a deadly beam. There was one occasion where Sigrid got so upset her eyes turned a piercing, glowing white and she threw her hands down at her side, which sent a shockwave of energy down to the ground, blasting two holes in the floor.
The family had no way to explain their daughter’s peculiarities, but decided it would be best for her to stay away from others. Who knew what could happen if she got upset in public. Although the family didn’t go to town often, whenever they did they left Sigrid home with Estrid. Thora would often join her father on trips to town, being absent for a few days at a time. The closest town was a day’s walk to the east, meaning trips to civilization were scarce. But they preferred the solitude of the forest anyhow, and ultimately decided it would be best for Sigrid if they stayed away from the public. Sigrid was always jealous of Thora for being able to journey past the farm, but her sister would always make it up to her by bringing her home a treat.
As the years passed, everyone seemed to age except Sigrid. Once she hit around twenty-one years old, she didn’t seem to get any older. Eventually, Estrid turned seventy, her family aging alongside her, but Sigrid was left looking a young twenty-one years of age. No one could explain why, but they already knew that Sigrid wasn’t normal. Estrid used to call her “a gift from the gods.”
After her seventy-eighth birthday, Estrid fell ill. Her husband had already passed away years before, and now it seemed it was time for her to join him.
“Soon, I will greet Odin and walk with him to where my husband resides.” Her voice was raspy, and she seemed to struggle to get her words out. She didn’t have much time. She laid in bed, each hand grasping one of her daughters’. She gazed at them lovingly before speaking to each. “Thora, take your sister into town and teach her all she needs to know to live.”
“But, mother…” Thora wanted to object, knowing her sister’s abilities. Estrid held a hand up, cutting her off.
“She will most likely outlive you, just as she did your father and I. She needs to know how to live and support herself. As for you, dear Thora, live a fulfilling life. Perhaps you find someone to love one day, or you find love in a purpose. Never forget to let yourself be happy. You deserve it, my dear. You have lived long enough to let yourself enjoy life.” Thora simply nodded.
Estrid then turned her head weakly to Sigrid and smiled as best she could. “My dear child. I thank the gods every day for sending you to us. You are different and unique. Do be wary of those around you and your powers. Do try to keep them hidden, it is better should people remain unaware. Humanity can be very kind, but they can also be very greedy and demanding. They will do whatever it takes for what they want. Keep yourself a mystery, but don’t be afraid to do what you need to to live.” Sigrid nodded, tears in her eyes. “I may never know where you came from or what you are, but know you will always be my daughter.” Sigrid smiled sadly as Estrid once again grasped each of the girls’ hands. “My dear girls, know I have found peace and am ready to join your father. Remember how much I love you, and never forget what I have told you this day.” Both girls nodded. Estrid gave their hands one final squeeze before releasing completely.
Estrid was gone.
~
For many, many years, Sigrid was alone.
After the death of her mother, Thora taught her to live. Luckily her family had taught her most things already, but Thora was there to fill in the holes and make sure she could do it on her own. Sigrid learned better to farm, to mend wounds, to cook, and everything else she would need to survive. She finally was able to journey to town and meet other people, although she didn’t do this often. Making a habit of showing herself would surely prove to be problematic if villagers could recognize her throughout time.
Thora eventually passed away, leaving Sigrid to wonder just how much longer she would last. She still appeared young, now looking only twenty-two, despite being on earth for around seventy years. She had no clue as to why she aged so differently than her family. What exactly was she that left her growing up so differently than her loved ones?
Apparently she would be around for a lot longer than she anticipated. Decades flew by, then century after century. Sigrid spent most of her time alone on the farm, keeping herself alive. She did occasionally go into town, but tended to avoid it. She didn’t like getting to know people. After having to watch those around her pass on while she was left behind, she decided it would be best to seclude herself and live alone for however long she would live. She didn’t know how to explain her youth to those who continued to age, and it broke her heart to see so many pass on. Mostly her interaction came from the farm animals that fed her. But even then, they continued to pass.
She never told a soul about her abilities, and no one saw her often enough to acknowledge her age. Well, there was one exception to this, and that was the town medic, Doctor McLoughlin. He had a bit of a run in with her after the centuries had passed, and had discovered her secret. Luckily for Sigrid, he was a wise and caring man, who did everything he could to keep her safe and happy. She would go to see him every month, and he would provide her with anything she needed. He had come to Norway after spending most of his life and career in Scotland. Despite his old age, he had become her only friend. On one day, after mourning the anniversary of her mother’s passing, she thought it wise to confide in her friend on her disheveled and broken state of mind.
“Doctor, I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
He looked at her, confused. “And what would that be, dear?” Sigrid sighed and explained.
“When will my time come? I’ve been around for centuries, watching time and those around me pass away. How much longer must I endure heart ache? That’s why my only friend is you, Doctor. I can’t bear to let myself get close to anyone. I can’t stand having to lose someone else. And still, I’ll have to face losing you one day.” The Doctor looked at her for a moment, then grabbed her hand.
“My dear, life will continue to pass whether we like it or not. You cannot spend your life alone on that farm, refusing to get close to anyone. I know the heart ache is hard for you, but wouldn’t you rather live and endure the sadness than spend your life alone?” She sighed.
“I suppose.” She had spent the majority of her life alone. Perhaps her friend had a point. He gave her hand a squeeze and took a deep breath, about to confess.
“Sigrid, listen to me. I am not going to be on this earth much longer. I cannot spend what little of my life is left in this tiny village. I have plans to cross the globe and journey to America. Why don’t you come with me?” Sigrid looked at him, wide eyed.
“Come… with you? I don’t know if I can…” she said as she looked down.
“Sigrid, it is your choice, but I don’t want you living the same life you always have. You must go and live, not just survive.”
“But, my powers-“
“We will keep hidden,” He interrupted. “And we will find a way for you to live, even after I am gone.” She looked down at her lap for a moment, before speaking.
“When do we leave?”