Epiphany

Chapter one

I hear the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. They are bare, why are they bare?
I have walked this path in these exact woods a hundred times before so why now have I decided to walk barefoot,
Before I can think further about it I hear running water. A stream perhaps, or a creek.
but there is no stream nor creek here, I follow the dirt path that leads me to a waterfall.
I run towards the water's edge, my white and pink nightdress flowing behind me in the wind. I stop suddenly when I see that the water is a shimmering gold at its border, When I near the strange water I reach down and touch the golden substance, and suddenly I realise that I do not remember how or when I entered the forest, I remember then that I am still barefoot.
It instals an odd sense of fear in me that I cannot quite place. It is a strange feeling, one that is akin to a child who has done wrong and is afraid of her parents finding out. But I have done no wrong, and I am no child. So why am I suddenly afraid? I close my eyes to gather my bearings, although when I open my eyes again I am falling down a dark hole that seemingly has no end, and with it, any feeling of fear has flown away.
“Alora” someone is saying my name, but I am alone. So blissfully alone and falling.

“Alora, miss it's time to wake up now” The sun is shining through my windows and right in my eyes When I finally come around, I turn and see my maid standing at the end of my bed with her hands clasped behind her back, her hair is pulled into a tight bun at the nape of her neck.
“Another bad dream miss” Her eyes are warm and concerned although her body language says otherwise.
“In fact, Ingrid this one was rather pleasant.” I stretch my arms above my head as I sit up in my bed. I take in the room, knowing that this shall be the last morning spent here for the next three months.
“Get up now miss, or else it'll be your mother storming through the door” she jests while striding to my closet drawing out a gown, laying it on a cushioned chair.

It had taken me almost an hour to get ready for the day's affairs. I had packed three trunks of my belongings for when we leave after breakfast. I sat at the table in silence, my mother at one end of the table and my father at the opposing. My two older brothers are married now with wives and families of their own, I miss them terribly. Henrick is the oldest and with that comes the burden of becoming king of Vanaheim,
He was always more stern to me rather than Magnus. I had always presumed it was because he had thought he was better than myself, in retrospect, it was most likely from the pressure that his father had placed upon him at such a young age. Magnus is merely a year younger than him, although he was always closer to me, Magnus and I would ride horseback in the woods surrounding the castle for hours. but that is all distant memories now. It has been almost one hundred and fifty years since I have seen them. Staring at my plate,
my mother clears her throat and starts “Alora, darling have you packed for Asgard or shall we drag your entire wardrobe”
I look up to see her staring at me as if it is an actual question. ludicrous, she is full of ludicrous. “Yes mother, I have indeed packed everything I shall need for precisely three months, unless it turns out that I shall be staying longer” I snapped. I should've held my tongue, I just know I should've.
“If the treaty goes as planned daughter, you will marry one of the princes with a smile as we have discussed before” she speaks as if the matter is settled. In her eyes it is I suppose, I just pray to the norns that whichever prince decides to wed me that he is kind.
“That is quite enough of that, Now Alora when we get to Asgard perhaps they will loan you a steed so you could go riding” Father lightens the mood as he often does, even if he is sweeping the problem under the rug.
“Perhaps” I smile softly at him. He's trying, although it doesn't change the situation. He's still trying to make me comfortable with the thought of Asgard, not that I hate the thought of such a place. It is said that Asgard is beautiful, but it is not Vanaheim. Therefore it is not home, nor will it ever be.
“May I be excused, I'd like to go to the gardens before we leave” I stand from the table and wait for Father to say I can go. Instead, he just nods, I take my leave and make my way to the gardens.
I walk through the small courtyard and sit on a small bench that is nestled between the rose bushes that Mother and I had grown. I look up to the sky and suck in a deep breath, I feel the air around me. stirring, swaying almost. as if it is trying to tell me something, I close my eyes to try and focus. on what exactly I do not know…
“draumr” is said no louder than a whisper, but to me, it was as if someone was crying out.
My eyes shoot open, I frantically look around for the source of the voice. but I am alone,
“Your Highness, I'm sorry to disturb you” A young maid comes around the corner,
“That's quite alright,” I say without looking at her. still shaken by the voice,
“The carriage is here miss,” she says quickly, waiting for me to follow her. so I leave the bench and strange voice, knowing that if I don't she'll be in far worse trouble than I will.