The End is Only the Beginning

[Nikoleta]

994 AD - Wicklow, Ireland

Two horses trotted down the cobblestone path towards their destination. The two riders were women of high affluence, one taller then the other. Her hair was long and brown, braided tightly. She wore a splendid leather tunic that fit snugly and a pair of matching braes. Black boots and cloak kept her warm against the chilly Irish air.

"I smell rain coming," she said and glanced up towards the ever familiar Irish grey sky. "Course, it always rains in this bloody country."

[Fiona]

:: The younger Immortal wore similar garb, and a silver torque around her neck ::

"You have no blood." Fiona teased as the first few drops began to fall. She stuck out her tongue to catch one.

[Nikoleta]

"I cannot help it if I'm used to a far warmer climate then you, my dear." She smiled at Fiona's child like behavior and tightened her hood.

They passed a small farmstead and the woman of the land waved in greeting. Nikoleta returned it in kind. "Hello, Agatha!"

The Immortal looked to her companion, "We're probably only an hour's ride out."

[Fiona]

:: The rain started to pour, and Fiona opted to follow Nikoleta's lead toward the farmstead. They'd be soaked like rats before reaching the Inn ::

[Nikoleta]

Steering her horse closer to the old woman, Nikoleta raised her voice over the pounding rain. "Do you mind us staying for a bit? We'll be off when the rain let's up."

"Oh absolutely no', deary!" Agatha beckoned them inside. "I've got ah nice pot o' tea brewin' on th' fire."

"Thank you, kindly." She hopped off her steed, boots splashing into the already muddy ground, and tied Samantha to the post. "Be good," she whispered into the horse's ear and went inside.

[Fiona]

:: Fiona lingered with the horses, talking to them before catching up with Nikoleta and their host. There were also cooking smells inside that made her nose wiggle ::

[Nikoleta]

Agatha took off her brown shawl to tie up her salt and pepper hair properly for her guests. "Ronan's out makin' sure none of our stock git away."

Her eyes twinkled at the sight of Fiona. "Ah!! Fancy sumtin' ta eat lass?"

Nikoleta shook off her cloak and hung it up properly before taking a chair at the table. The cottage was small but cozy. Blankets woven from sheep fur covered the chairs to help keep the bite of the frost off.

[Fiona]

"Aye, please." she replied, stepping out of her boots and hanging up her cloak. She had to admit it was far nicer by the fire ::

[Nikoleta]

Agatha dished up three plates full of soda bread, scalloped potoatoes, and fresh lamb. And to wash it down, some ale. "There ya dearies. Eat up! Drink up!"

Nikoleta broke some bread and rose it thankfully. "As always, you are far too kind to us."

"Tis not ah problem. After ye took out our brigand problems, me n' Ronan are in yer debts."

[Fiona]

:: Fiona thanked Agatha heartily and went straight for the lamb first ::

[Nikoleta]

Lunch was warm and filled their bellies. The ale was sipped gingerly only because there was much travel ahead still, but the conversation was welcomed, especially when Ronan came to join in.

But with a crash of lightning, the front door began to pound with furious knocks.

"AGATHA!!! RONAN!!! OPEN UP QUICK!!!" More thunderous knocks to mirror the storm. "TH' NORSE!!! HURRY!!! OPEN UP!!!"

"What th' devil?" Agatha turned several sheets whiter and opened the door. "Patty?" She escorted a quick frightened, and wet, Patrick inside the cottage. The young lad was terrible with fright. "Wha's this talk about Norsemen?"

"They're in Wicklow! By ships! About three large warships! They're sackin' th' city an' talk is dere comin' this way. Ah had ta warn ye!!!"

[Fiona]

:: Fiona hurried over to her boots. She looked towards Niki with dread in her eyes as she pulled them on ::

[Nikoleta]

Agatha was visibly shaken by the news. Ronan hugged his wife close and whispered some encouraging remarks.

Patty sat down by the fire, still shaking in fright and cold as the two Immortals quickly dressed. "Is there family near here?" asked Nikoleta as she swung the scabbard over her shoulder.

"Aye, about ah three hour ride south there's me Uncle," said Ronan.

"Ride as fast as you can there in case they do make their way down here. Patty!"

The boy jolted at the sound of his name and stared wide eyed at Nikoleta. "Ye... yes Ma'am?"

"You need to ride hard and fast to Arklow. We've just come from there and the small brigade should still be there. You must reach them and send word!" She pulled him closer and forced their eyes to meet. "I make no promises. Wicklow may be lost, but we have to catch those bastards before they pillage the East Coast further. Do you understand?"

Patty nodded, "Ah ... aye. Ah'll do me best, Ma'am."

Nikoleta's smile was encouraging and Patty felt some courage rising to the surface, "I don't doubt it. Now go."

"Take Cassie." Ronan threw the reigns to the boy. "She's th' fastest horse we got. We'll take th' one ye came in on."

Patty raced out the door and saddled up and by the time the Immortals had made it outside, the thundering hoofs of Cassie had already taking him far down the road past eye sight.

"Please be careful lasses. We dun wan' ta see ye hurt," called Agatha, her voice barely audible over the rain.

"Don't worry about us." Nikoleta mounted her horse and steaded Samantha. Ever her trusted steed sensed trouble. "You get to your Uncle and to safety."

[Fiona]

:: Fiona hopped onto Isabelle's saddle and followed Nikoleta, huddling tightly against the wind as they rode to the rescue ::

[Nikoleta]

They rode in silence, but their minds were heavy with worry. Not just for the sake of the town, but for a very special girl that lived in Wicklow.

She was a petite young woman of long brown hair and charming eyes that could easily convince you that she was a simple peasant girl. But there was a fire that burned inside her. She was headstrong, impudent at times to her elders, but that was because she felt that life had more to offer her. Often she raced the boys, showing them that girls could be just as fast and agile as them; often winning too, which produced a lashing or two. She tended to the family horses as she was raised to do, but hat gave her pleasure.

She was Brigid Cassidy, and she was Immortal. She just didn't know it yet, but Nikoleta feared that today that truth might be discovered.

Smoke billowed above the tree lines and shouts were feint on the wind. Howls of pillaging stung Nikoleta's ears. She hated how certain Viking Clans furthered their conquests by raping and stealing from cities that had little chance of resistance. It was cowardly.

One mile out and now they could see the fires. Nikoleta seethed with rage and Samantha reared onto her hind legs before carrying her master towards the city ...

[Brigid Cassidy]

IN THE VILLAGE

:: Brigid fought wildly for the lives of her family, but the sheer numbers and savagery of the Raiders was too great. She was taken roughly in a sea of grasping hands, beaten and stripped. Time became hazy as she stared weeping into one sneering face after another. Her innocence taken away by Viking lust. Her yelps faded as she died, and still they enjoyed her until her body grew cold. The men still lingered inside the dwelling, one of them laying drunk on top of her as the others took possessions ::

[Fiona]

:: They reached the edge of the village, just as a young boy fell before them with an axe in his head. His murderer leered at them and gave a shout to alert his comrades. Fresh meat had just arrived ::

[Nikoleta]

Five other Vikings turned their heads and leered, scooping up their weapons and were readying for attack. The odds against them, the women had two weapons on their side. Horses and drunk pillagers.

She pulled out her German broadsword and the Vikings laughed. They thought it funny seeing a woman carrying a sword and thinking she knew how to use it.

Snapping the reigns, Nikoleta cried out a mighty battle cry and closed the distance. Their mirth was silence by one as a large oaf of a Viking looked surprised. His eyes bulged out in horror as his head fell backwards. Beheaded, the rest of his body fell to its knees before toppling over.

Nikoleta turned Samantha around and proudly held her bloodied sword up high for all of them to see.

[Fiona]

:: Nikoleta's action stayed them in awe, but only for a moment. It swiftly turned to outrage, and they charged. Isabelle reared as one of the Vikings grabbed for her reigns, and Fiona brought her short sword down, stabbing him the face ::

[Nikoleta]

Three broke away from the group, running at her and frothing at the mouth. Nikoleta charged at them, her large blade arcing down and clanging against a Viking axe. The momentum knocked him off his feet and Samantha reared up, smashing her hoofs into his chest, caving it in.

Quickly she swung the blade up, blocking an attack from her left flank and kicked the Viking away. The other one, the most sober of the three, leaped into the air and tackled Nikoleta off the horse ...

[Fiona]

:: Fiona dismounted to help her companion, ducking a grab from one man as she landed in a cat's crouch. She stabbed again, catching him in the belly and hopping away as he fell ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta rolled to her feet in time to parry an attack from a heavily spiked club aimed for her head. Unfortunately, she was off balanced and fell on her back. To remove the oaf off of her person, she kneed him in the groin and scrambled to her feet.

The Viking howled in pain and dropped to his knees. Nikoleta was more then happy to silence him by running her sword through his chest.

[Fiona]

:: Fiona popped up to smile at Nikoleta, just in time to get bonked on the head by the last viking ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta rolled her eyes. Fiona always had a way of getting herself knocked out or dead in the middle of a fight.

She disarmed the Viking, weapon and hand, with a slash of the blade. The Viking narrowed his eyes and yelped like a little girl when he saw the gush of blood spewing forth.

He took a long hard look at Nikoleta who was poised to strike and realized suddenly he was very alone in this fight. He ran off, the only smart move he ever made in his life. He just better hope to not be caught, because his allies would flog him to death for being a coward.

Nikoleta sheathed her weapon and with hands on hips, shook her head over Fiona. "Bloody fool." She grabbed an arm and dragged the younger Immortal to the well. She dump her friend against the stone side and retrieved a bucket of water, which was dumped unceremoniously over her friend's head.

[Fiona]

:: Fiona's eyes snapped open as she sputtered ::

"IIIEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeegluglugluglug!!!"

[Nikoleta]

"Come on. Get up." Nikoleta was all business and whistled for Samantha. "The Cassidy cottage isn't too far."

Her horse trotted forward and she hopped into the saddle. "No time to waste!"

They rode off quickly, hoping to save the girl a horrible first death, but dread filled the Immortal's heart.

[Fiona]

:: The dread took full hold as the number of bodies littering the ground increased. Ahead of them, the cottages were being burned. The one containing Brigid's family lit up in the gloom as they reached it ::

[Nikoleta]

"NO!" She seethed through her teeth and frantically looked around for any survivors. Dead horses littered the ground, as did members of the Cassidy family. Nikoleta saw Edan dead from a blow to the head, Keira was bent over a haystack, bloodied and dead from being violated. Lucy, Brigid's younger sister, was no where to be seen. The gods only knew what they had done with her.

Eventually, her eyes fell upon a still form just outside the barn. Her heart sank as she got closer. It was Brigid. Her body was badly beaten and Nikoleta was sure there were a few broken bones. Like her mother, the Vikings had their way with Brigid. It made her sick seeing this.

She slipped off the horse and down to the ground knowing they were too late, but hope placed Nikoleta's ear against Brigid's lips; yet no air was felt. An ear to her chest; yet no thump was heard. She was dead. Taking off her cloak, she covered Brigid and gently straightened out her hair.

Hoof falls of Fiona's steed came up from behind and the Immortal felt a pair of curious eyes over her shoulder. "We're too late." She hefted Brigid up and lifted her into Fiona's waiting arms. "She's gone."

[Fiona]

:: Fiona looked sadly at the dead girl as she helped set her on the saddle ::

"I don't see any survivors."

:: A tear formed in her eye ::

[Nikoleta]

"Neither do I," she agreed coldly. The ground was slashed and burned, everything was ablaze and every body that the eye could see lain still. "Arklow will make sure the dead are properly buried."

She mounted her horse and spoke softly, "There's nothing else we can do now."

[Fiona]

:: Fiona lingered a moment before mounting her horse. She sang softly in gaelic. A prayer for the dead ::

[Nikoleta]

After Fiona was done singing, Nikoleta allowed another moment to pass in silence to honor the deceased before speaking. "We'll head to my keep in Ashford. Hopefully we'll get there before she wakes."

[Fiona]

[AT THE KEEP]

:: Fiona held vigil over Brigid as she lay motionless on a cot. The poor girl had been raped to death, and the abuse of her body healed slowly ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta brought in two steaming mugs of hot tea and offered one to Fiona. "Any change?"

The staff of MacBrehon Keep were on a constant vigil in case the Norse came looking for vengeance. However unlikely, the Immortal didn't want to take any chances.

[Fiona]

:: Fiona shook her head ::

"It will be some time before she revives."

:: She took the offered cup ::

[Nikoleta]

"True, but one never knows after the first death." Nikoleta pulled up a chair next to Fiona and the two of them sat quietly over the still form of Brigid.

"Are you still certain you want to train her?" She said after their cups were half drained. "You know I'm more then willing."

The moment she had set eyes on Brigid, she knew she wanted to train the girl when the buzz rang softly inside her mind. The girl was a firecracker and be a challenge to train once the doors to the world swung open for her after the Immortal was awakened within her.

[Fiona]

:: Fiona looked at her intently ::

"My dream led us to her. I need to."

[Nikoleta]

She shook her head, "I've a feeling this one won't be like the others you took on. It won't be easy."

[Fiona]

:: Fiona looked down at Brigid as she spoke ::

"It was never easy, not for any of us."

[Nikoleta]

"You know what I mean." She stood up and kissed Fiona's head softly like a mother would. "I trust you. I just hope she learns from your mistakes."

Nikoleta departed to get some rest. She would take the next shift.

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid was trapped in a nightmare as she floated between life and death. The fire, the leering faces, the pain of her violation. Her eyes snapped open and she rose up, sobbing as she called out for her Father ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta kept warm by the fire, writing in her journal and would occasionally glimpse up to check on Brigid. She was still sleeping soundly. But then the nightmares came. She began to toss in her sleep and whimpered.

She set aside her plume and went to her side just in time for Brigid to awaken in terror.

"Shhh," Nikoleta made sure for Brigid to see her first before cupping the girl's cheek. It was hot with tears. "You're safe now."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: She calmed, only slightly, as her eyes searched frantically for the faces of her family ::

[Nikoleta]

This part was never easy. All to often throughout her long centuries, Nikoleta had to be the bearer of such terrible news that loved ones had perished.

"Brigid?" she called gently to get her attention. Her eyes lingered around the room a few moments longer before finally looking at Nikoleta. "I wish there was more we could do but ..." She trailed off, her eyes growing wet with much sadness , "... we were too late. Most of the village was sacked. Your family ... we could not save them."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: The young girl's grief broke like a dam, and she clung to Nikoleta as she wailed ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta held Brigid tightly in her arms without saying anything else. She nuzzled her cheek against the girl's hair and rocked her soothingly. The Immortal's heart broke with such sorrow and a few tears were shed in shared grief.

Fiona and Nikoleta might have not known the Cassidy's for very long, but they were always kind to them. In fact, it was Brigid's excellent ability to couple horses with masters that landed the two Immortals their current steeds. The price charged was most fair, but with the added coin lain in the hands of her father, the two of them were always welcomed into their home when passing through ...

[Fiona]

:: Fiona was struck with grief too, as she prepared a bath for Brigid. The anguish made her ache. She wiped her eyes though, before returning to the room ::

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta felt Fiona's approach, which meant that Brigid would as well. Now that she was one of them, the girl would feel the presence of an Immortal for the rest of her life.

She looked down at Brigid and studied her reaction in order to response appropriately.

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid looked spooked as she felt the buzz in her head, and she peered up at Fiona. She looked at both of them in confusion ::

"I ... I died."

[Nikoleta]

"Yes," she answered softly and stroked a lock of Brigid's hair and allowed her to piece it together. "You did."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: She leapt off the cot, looking herself over for marks. There were none ::

"How can it be???"

[Nikoleta]

"Even the oldest and wisest of us do not know, Brigid." Nikoleta did not move from her place on the bed. "You will never age from this day forward and live forever. You are Immortal."

Her eyes drifted to Fiona. "Just like Fiona and I."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: She shivered where she stood, and rubbed her arms. Fiona nodded, and quietly led her to her bath ::

[Nikoleta]

She stayed behind and returned to her journal. Brigid needed some time to herself and a warm bath was just the thing. When she was ready, the girl was ready to talk, she would find Nikoleta in the same room finishing the entry in her journal.

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid returned wrapped in a blanket, clean and refreshed from her bath. Fiona had curled up like a cat under the furs and was lost in the land of dreams. Drawing closer, Brigid looked down at the journal in curiosity. She could neither read nor write ::

"What are you doing?"

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta smiled in spite of herself, "I'm keeping a journal. This is just one book of many I've written."

She slid it over so Brigid could see, knowing full well that the girl could not read. "Here. Look."

With a finger, Nikoleta pointed out the letters of Brigid's name. "This is what your name looks like in script."

The girl peered down in further curiosity. "I could teach you to read and write if you wish."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid smiled awkwardly before it fell into a frown ::

"Fiona told me about what we are."

:: She was still daunted, and confused ::

[Nikoleta]

"Ah," she tapped at the page. "I wasn't sure what you two talked about if anything. Here ..."

Nikoleta stood up and offered Brigid a seat, "I can clarify things for you."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid sat down ::

"She said I'll need a sword."

[Nikoleta]

"Yes. Do you know why?" she asked and sat down across from Brigid.

[Brigid Cassidy]

"She said others like us will come for me."

:: She looked both frightened and angry at that fact ::

[Nikoleta]

"Yes. That is quite true." Nikoleta understood how Brigid felt. The time of her first death, it was during the Peloponnesian war. She was angered by her death and wanted vengeance for the obliteration of her entire family. Hearing that others would come for her furthered that hate. But it also scared her. Here she was given a second chance at life and it could easily be taken away.

"Not all Immortals are like us. Fiona and I only fight when we must and search for others like you, Brigid." She smiled warmly, her eyes sparkled ageless and comforting. "Those that are Immortal and do not yet know it. We teach them who they are and offer them shelter, teach them to survive the time of the Game."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: She bowed her head, as if she were praying. Then she looked up at Nikoleta ::

"Teach me. Please."

[Nikoleta]

"I ..." For once Nikoleta was speechless. She had promised Fiona that she could train the girl.

She had to say something. Those big brown eyes full of hope were hanging on every word. "... Did Fiona not offer herself as a teacher?"

[Brigid Cassidy]

"She did, but she left it up to me to choose."

[Nikoleta]

She leaned back in her chair, licking her lips in thought. "And you would rather choose me?"

[Brigid Cassidy]

"I know she was hoping otherwise, but I feel as she does. She looks to you for strength, and wisdom."

[Nikoleta]

Nikoleta was touched by Brigid's words. Humbled by the girl sincerity, it made her eyes glisten with appreciation. "If that is what you wish, then I will teach you."

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid gave a brief smile, looking at the journal again ::

"Thank you."

[Nikoleta]

She pat the girl's hair, her eyes wide with encouragement. Nikoleta saw the eager look on Brigid's face. "Think you are up for a lesson or two on reading?"

[Brigid Cassidy]

:: Brigid smiled, comforted by the encouragement ::

"I'd like that."

[Nikoleta]

What started as a few lessons, turned into a lengthy evening of memorizing the alphabet and sounding out simple words from Nikoleta's diary. It helped to ease the poor girl's mind from the horrible atrocities committed against her, and the elder Immortal was glad she could be of some comfort.

What few hours remained in the night should be devoted to that continued peace.