Aelfheim – page 29
by AndyOH! from on (#4457C)
Elves and more elves.
One moment Hans was looking at Seidr, the next he was standing in a large room built of timbers, lit by an orange glow.
This getting yanked here and there was becoming annoying.
The exit was guarded by several warriors, elven warriors, female elven warriors.
Their armor was made up of horizontal, overlapping strips running across the chest and down the shoulder. A skirt of vertical linked plates, simple helm, greaves and bracers of the same material completed the ensemble. It was all painted in mottled earth tones.
Hans turned to look behind him. A brazier, full of coals, was the only light source. Opposite the brazier, stood Gni, wearing a blue kimono this time, but with almost the same Celtic patterning as before.
Gni broke the silence. "Welcome to my hall, Friend Madison."
Hans scowled. "I wasn't expecting to get here so soon. Am I your dog then, Your Highness? To come and go at your command?"
He drew his sword. "You'll find chaining me a difficult prospect, I assure you."
He heard other blades hiss as they were drawn. Gni waved dismissively and Hans heard them sent back home.
It was the exact gesture Seidr had used on Gni. That thought was replaced by a fierce itch down his spine as he wondered if maybe one or two hadn't been put away.
Gni smiled indulgently and held her hands wide, almost welcoming. "You are under Seidr's influence yet, Friend Madison. I assure you. I have your best interests, and hers, at heart in removing you from her side."
Hans' sword dipped. "Like you did when you tricked me into coming to this world in the first place?"
Gni's right hand went to her breast bone. "Tricked? I asked your help and showed you your reward. You entered of your own free will."
Hans held his right index finger up accusingly. "I got sucked in and dumped at the feet of the Fenris Wolf."
Gni stepped around her brazier, close to Hans. She sounded sincere enough. "Intent is what matters. If you didn't want to cross, it wouldn't have taken you. I apologize for putting you there directly, but had Loki any warning of your presence, you would have had no chance. You succeeded wonderfully, as I knew you would. It is that witch's interference that nearly got you killed."
Hans put his hand to his brow. This wasn't going to be fun. "She. . . Be that as it may, I've done you your service."
Gni placed a hand on Hans' chest. "You have done me great service indeed, but I require more of you. You must help me defeat Loki and free my land of his minions."