Lezard's Triumph

Alicia's screams brought them running, Dallas hot on the heels of Lydia as they made their way through the house's rear corridor. Alicia's voice sounded again, and behind the cries of her voice Dallas could hear something else, faint sobbing. Even as they ran, Dallas urged his feet to move faster, time seeming to slow as they drew closer to the spare bedroom Lydia had appointed to the princess and her husband.

Naturally the door was locked, Lydia's hand rattling the knob as she tried to open the door. "Stand aside!" Dallas boldly ordered, his remaining hand lifting up, a fireball dancing on his fingertips. Lydia gave him a look, the blonde archer shaking her head no, even as she reached into her pants pocket. Impatiently Dallas watched, seeing a bronze key ring removed from her pocket.

A quick fumble through the selection of keys, Lydia finding the one needed to open the door. Dallas allowed his fire spell to disperse, smoke scenting his fingers as the door opened. The two cautiously peered inside, seeing Alicia clad in an overly large shirt, kneeling on the floor. She was hunched over, her hair falling forward to cover her face, hiding her expression from them. But they could hear her crying, the sobbing louder now.

"Alicia..." Lydia said, leaving the key ring to hang from the door's lock. Alicia let out a gasp, and looked up through the golden haze of her hair, streaks of tears on her cheeks. Lydia made a soft sound, walking towards the girl, sympathy on her face.

Dallas tore his eyes away from Alicia, casting a quick glance around the room. No sign of Rufus, confirming Dallas' fears. "He's gone, isn't he?" Dallas said, his voice loud in the room, intruding on the soft murmurs of solace Lydia was attempting to offer the sobbing girl.

"Dallas!" Lydia hissed, her fingers smoothing back Alicia's hair, trying to give it some semblance of order. Her look was reproachful, even as Alicia hiccuped and nodded her head.

"How did it happen?" Dallas asked, voice lower, the mage moving to kneel before the two ladies.

Alicia didn't question his lack of surprise, the hysterical girl eager to recount her story. "One moment we were holding each other...happy...laughing." Her voice wavered on each word, but she managed to get them out. "The next...it was strange. He stepped away from me, made a sound like I had never heard before. He...started to fade like a ghost...I could see through him!!

"Go on." Urged Dallas, sharing a knowing look with Lydia over Alicia's head.

"I tried to touch him, to hold onto him but I passed through him like he was air." Her blue eyes were brimming with tears once more, the princess finding the retelling painful. "He said something, said he didn't want to go...and then he was gone! GONE!!" Dallas opened his mouth to speak, but Alicia continued, staring through him. "I tried to use materialization to bring him back, but I couldn't sense anything, couldn't find a speck of his soul to get a focus on. It's like he...he ceased to exist!"

"Lydia..." Alicia turned to peer at the blonde woman, taking comfort from the arms around her. "What am I going to do without him?"

"Calm down." Advised Lydia.

"How can I be calm? Rufus is gone!" Alicia exclaimed, hysteria back in her voice. "After everything we went through to be together, how can it end this way?" She suddenly let out a high pitched wail, burying her face against Lydia's bosom, shoulders shaking as she sobbed. "It's not fair! It's not fair!" Over and over she repeated the phrase, Lydia looking helplessly at Dallas.

"Alicia..." Her pain was near unbearable, Dallas cringing back from the rawness of it in her voice. He had always thought he'd be elated to have Rufus out of the picture, never having thought to the pain it would cause Alicia. Seeing her now like this, he realized how selfish he had been, and it left him feeling ashamed.

"It's not fair!"

"Alicia listen to me..." She ignored him, the princess continuing to wail against the archer's chest. Dallas sighed, and reached for her shoulder, hauling her back, seeing the tears dripping down her face. "LISTEN!!" He said it more urgently, shaking her in attempt to jar her out of this moment of self crisis. "Rufus is not the only one missing. Arngrim is too. Do you understand?"

"Arngrim?" repeated Alicia dully, causing Dallas to realize the princess had been too caught up in her own distraught to even notice Arngrim's absence from the room.

"Yes, Arngrim!" nodded Dallas, still holding onto her shoulder, forcing her to stay focused on him. "We were in the kitchen, talking and eating, when he suddenly just vanished. He didn't get up and leave the room, he just faded away, much like your husband did."

"Arngrim is gone too?" Alicia said, her fears and sadness making her slow witted for the moment. Dallas nodded, watching an array of emotions cross Alicia's face. "Why? Why is this happening?!"

"They are einherjar are they not?" Lydia spoke up, and Alicia turned to peer at the archer. At the princess' nod, the blonde continued. "What's more, they have not been released from their status...for all intents and purpose they still exist to serve Asgard, serve the Gods."

"What are you saying?" Dallas wanted to know, seeing hope and understanding blossoming in Alicia's eyes.

"They've been called back." Breathed out Alicia, her tears drying up as this realization dawned on her. "Back to Asgard, back to Valhalla."

"Yes." Lydia nodded. "The Gods have the power to call back all einherjar not bound to a Valkyrie. They have little use for it in times of peace, but should there be a war..."

"You think Rufus and Arngrim have been called back because the Gods need soldiers?" demanded Dallas, knowing his face must show the shock he felt at hearing the news.

Lydia nodded, and Alicia spoke. "They could very well be preparing to fight against Lezard...or even go after the elves in an attempt to take the Forest of Spirits for their own. The Gods are always warring against someone or other...and without a Valkyrie they'd need every soldier they could get."

Dallas sighed. "Wonderful. We now think we know what is the reason behind our two comrade's disappearance. And it is almost as bad as what we had originally feared happened to them."

"No..." Alicia shook her head, not quite managing a smile. "It's better this way. Don't you see Dallas? It means Rufus is still out there somewhere, alive and well. Arngrim too!" She hastily added the beserker's name, not wanting to forget about the warrior.

"Yes...but...what now?" Dallas wanted to know. "What do we do with this information?"

"Why it's simple Dallas." Alicia told him, shaking his hand off her shoulder, and rising to stand. "We go get them back." Dallas eyes' widened in shock, and he looked at Lydia who was nodding in approval.

"You're kidding." He said weakly, seeing the determination on Alicia's face.

"No, not at all." Alicia walked over to where her sword lie, bending to pick the weapon up. "I'd face anything and anyone to get Rufus and Arngrim back where they belong." She began doing a few practice feints in the air, battling with an invisible opponent.

"But...how we will get there?" Dallas asked, his practical voice intruding on her private thoughts. "No human can reach Asgard, not until we die." A lame attempt at laughter then, trying to joke it off. "You don't intend that we...die to save our friends..." Alicia paused to stare at him, her face grave and serious.

"I'm not asking you to." Alicia said, sword now at her side, limp in her hand. "But if that is what is needed of ME to do..."

"No princess! You can't be serious!" Dallas exclaimed, leaping to his feet. He rushed towards her, panic in his eyes. "I will not allow you to kill yourself!" His good hand

grabbed at her shoulder, Alicia looking away from him.

"I'm not going to kill myself..."

"Good!" Dallas breathed out a sigh, relieved.

"Yet." Alicia said, her words chilling him to the bone. "However, options are limited on how to get my husband back. And we don't have anymore ghoul powder to use to sneak through Bifrost."

Dallas let go of her, taking a step back. "I could prepare the potion...though it'll take months..."

"I am not yet prepared to wait months to reunite with my husband." Alicia told him. "No...I think it's time I visit an old friend to see what advice he can give me."

"Friend what friend?!" asked Dallas, confused.

"You mean to visit the vampire, don't you?" Lydia asked, expression serious.

"Vampire?! Oh no..." Dallas' eyes widened in realization. "Not him, not..."

"Brahms" Alicia said simply.

"The Undead King..." Lydia smiled, remembering the ally that had joined their party just before her release. "If anyone will know of another route to take to Asgard it will be him."

"Yes." Nodded Alicia.

"And just how do you intend to find him?" demanded Dallas. "Do you expect to fight through legions of vampires to reach him?"

"If I have too." Alicia replied, blue eyes showing her determination.

"You'll not do it alone." Lydia said, taking Alicia's hand. "I will accompany you. My arrows will be yours to command."

"Thank you Lydia. But you need not do this." Protested Alicia, even as Lydia squeezed her hand in promise.

"I know." She smiled. "I give my help freely. It is my desire to see you reunited with your love and your friend."

"This is madness, you know that don't you?" Dallas muttered, looking back and forth between the two blonde's faces. They merely stared at him, not wavering in their intent. It made him sigh, and shrug his shoulders, before adding his hand on top of theirs. "But I'll come along too. Heavens only know what trouble you two may get into on your own, and my magic may make a difference in a few fights."

"Thank you Dallas." Alicia smiled at him, and he found himself fighting to remain stoic, not wanting to smile back. "You will be a great help."

"Right." He said gruffly, feeling embarrassed. He pulled back his hand, and stepped away from the two women. "Well, I think the first thing we need to do is get ready for a long journey. Start packing supplies, getting weapons ready that sort of thing."

"Right." Nodded Lydia. "I'll help you. We need to pack well for this trip."

"What can I do to help?" Alicia asked, wringing her hands together in nervous excitement. She took a step to follow them out the door, seeming to forget her half dressed state.

"Just get dressed." Lydia said with a kind smile. "Afterwards you can help me gather up the medicinal herbs."

"Okay." Alicia said, nodding her head in agreement. She was still holding her hands together, almost as though clasped in prayer, when Dallas closed the door.

--

He had been screaming when he arrived in Valhalla, Rufus voice echoing throughout the cavernous room he found himself in. People, both Gods and einherjar alike had turned to peer at him in amusement, a hint of crimson coming to his cheeks as the half elf realized he was the only one who had reacted in that manner.

"Sorry." He muttered sheepishly, uncomfortable with the stares. "Took me by surprise."

The looks lingered for a few minutes more, Rufus inching through the crowd, trying to lose himself amongst the people. Even if he hadn't screamed, he would still have felt self conscious, feeling that with his green hair he stuck out like a sore thumb. It was more than just his hair color though, Rufus realized, grateful for it's length which helped to hide his ears. The heavy beads he wove into his mane kept the green strands in place over his ears, hiding their length and general pointedness.

The fact that he was shirtless didn't seem to matter to these people, indeed there was many a bare chested warrior wandering about, with only a few strips of leather in place to hold onto their weapons. Swords, spears, axes, bows, they ran the gambit in a variety of weapons, the einherjar arming themselves to the teeth, making Rufus woefully aware of his lack of bow and arrow. He felt defenseless, and he hoped it didn't show in the way he moved, Rufus looking for a place to settle, wanting to sit back and assess his situation.

He pulled up against a statue of an armored female, a stone carving representing a Valkyrie, her face stern, lips open in a silent battle cry. She watched over the proceedings, Rufus leaning against the pedestal she rested on, hiding in her shadow. He knew where he was, there was no mistaking the room, knowing no mortal hands capable of crafting a building that was so immense in size. Never mind the grand state of it's furnishings, the gold crafted into the walls, and the polished silver embellishments that gleamed.

If the wealth and size weren't dead give aways, Rufus would have known he was in Asgard, known he was in the hall of Valhalla by the fact that he had been here before. It seemed like a lifetime had happened since last he was here, running through the corridors, fighting both God and einherjar, even a dragon or two. There had been no time to admire the lavish surroundings, no time to be awestruck, he had been focused on the task at hand.

How he and Alicia had wandered through these very corridors, this very room, trying to locate the Dragon Orb and Brahms. Valhalla could almost be compared to an endless maze of rooms, it had taken several days for them to get through it all. How ironic for Rufus to find himself here again, when he had hoped to never set eyes on the beauty of the shining realm again.

With a sigh, he tore himself away from his private musings, watching the people around him. The einherjar outnumbered the Gods, indeed there was only one or two over seeing these soldiers. They were stationed by a table in front of open doors, and from this vantage point Rufus could make out the weapons the room held. A line of the warriors wove it's way through the room, the einherjar without weapons patiently waiting their turn to get their arms assigned to them.

The others were milling about, talking in terse, low tones, or practicing with each other, a last minute attempt to hone their skills. Rufus frowned, wondering what was going on, wondering why so many einherjar were gathered here. He could come up with only one answer, and that was a war was eminent.

With a shake of his head, beads clacking together, Rufus took a step backwards, intent on fleeing the room. If need be, he'd steal a weapon, and sneak his way to Bifrost. He'd fight any and all opponents, desperate to reach Midgard, and reunite with Alicia. He took another step back, and bumped into a broad chest, freezing instantly.

"Hey." A gruff voice said, hand landing on his shoulder.

Rufus' eyes widened slightly, and he turned, trying to keep his wildly beating heart from leaping out his chest. He didn't recognize the man who had snuck up on him, and he openly stared at the red haired human, whose face and chest wore many scars from his time on the battlefield.

"What are you doing skulking about without a weapon?" The man demanded, frowning at Rufus.

"Uh..." Rufus winced, hating how he stumbled over his words. "I was just about to go get one..." It ended with a question mark, Rufus smiling lamely at the man.

"Really?" demanded the redhead. "Sure you weren't planning to run away?" He glowered at Rufus, his hand tightening on the half elf's arm. "I hate deserters...think they're the worse kind of scum to be found during times of war."

"Really, I'm not a deserter." Protested Rufus, wishing the man wasn't holding onto his arm so tightly. "I...I'm just..."

"Just what?" demanded the warrior suspiciously.

"Richtor!" A voice suddenly called out, jerking both Rufus and the warrior's attention to the side. Rufus' eyes widened in recognition at the very welcome, and familiar sight of a tall, musclebound warrior in light blue leather. "I'm so glad I found you."

"Ar..." But the warrior was cutting him off, preventing him from saying his name. "Richtor..." The man said with an intense glance at Rufus, causing the half elf to realize it was he who he referred to with that name.

"You know him?" demanded the redhead, not relaxing his hold on Rufus.

"Oh yes, it's my best buddy Richtor." A wide grin there, the warrior in blue slapping Rufus hard across the back. "Been looking everywhere for him since arriving here in Valhalla. Wouldn't trust anyone else to watch my back."

"I see. Well, then...Richtor...I'll let you off with a warning this time. But...I will be watching you. Do not disappoint." At last Rufus was free, and the hand on his back guided him to do a half bow to the redhead.

"We won't, Lord Tyr."

Rufus waited until the warrior had dragged him away from the man identified as Tyr. "Richtor?!" He hissed in a low whisper, casting a nervous look over his shoulder.

"Hey relax...You don't think your name is well known among the Asagradians that if I called you by your true name, they wouldn't put two and two together? Especially with that green hair of yours?"

"Oh...right..." Rufus sighed, then smiled. "It's good to see you Arngrim."

"Yeah, good to see you too." Arngrim grinned. "Hell of a ride getting here though."

"Yeah." Agreed Rufus with a sigh. "But why are we here? What's going on? And why was Lord Tyr a mortal?!"

"I found some things out." Arngrim said, weaving them through the crowd. "Lezard is in charge of this party we've been invited too."

"Lezard?"! Rufus whispered, his voice a horrified hiss. "He's here?"

"Yeah." Arngrim nodded, making a disgusted face. "Seems the little twerp has declared himself King of the Gods."

"Great."

"What's more, he's declared war on the remaining Gods who have decided to oppose him. That's where we come in." continued Arngrim. "All the einherjar have been summoned back to Valhalla to prepare for the war..."

"If he thinks I am going to fight for him, he's got another thing coming." Rufus groused, clenching his hands into fists.

"Relax." Arngrim advised him. "I don't intend to lift my sword for his cause either. However...we got to pretend."

"Pretend?"

Arngrim laughed at the confused look on Rufus' face. "That's right. Only until we can get away. Lezard doesn't even know we're alive, let alone here. We just need to bide our time, and try to get back to Midgard. And to do that...we need weapons." Arngrim guided Rufus to join the line leading to the weapons cache.

"Right." Rufus nodded, having noted Arngrim already had a large sword strapped to his back. He wanted to ask Arngrim what the plan was to escape, but standing this close to the other warriors, he dare not ask. Instead he stood next to Arngrim, watching as the warrior easily made conversation with the men and women around them. Arngrim was a wonder to behold, quickly ferreting out new information about the upcoming war.

Being put on the battlefield sounded like it would work to their advantage, the fighting set to take place right before the rainbow bridge which led to Bifrost. Rufus shared a private smile with Arngrim, wondering how much luckier they could get when suddenly a loud ringing shook the hall. All conversation ceased to a dull murmur, einherjar looking around, startled as the ringing happened again.

"Gjallarhorn." Arngrim said knowledgeably.

"Heimdall's horn?" Rufus shouted to be heard over the ringing, fighting not to clamp his hands over his ears.

"Yes." Arngrim nodded.

"What's this mean?" Rufus wanted to know, seeing the deadly serious look in Arngrim's eyes.

"It means, my friend, war has begun."