4 am

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

It was only going to be for a night, maybe two, the exact span she wasn’t quiet sure of yet. The only thing she did know was that she had to be somewhere else, at least for the night. That much was certain.

To be going somewhere that she didn’t know De’Ryanna was taking her time and stood looking at herself in the mirror she had in her room. Though she always dressed, showered, and did her hair looking in the mirror was something she kept to a minimum but she did it now to check her eyes. They looked a puffy to her and because it wasn’t anything that could be ‘healed’-because it didn’t come from physical damage - there was nothing her healing abilities could do about it. The ball of her hands pushes against her eyes in what was considered the attempt at smoothing any unseemly marks. Didn’t work. The puffy eyes were a reality for the moment. She sniffled and then drew in a long shaky breath as she tipped her head back and pressed her hands to her eyes. It wasn’t going to get the better of her again. It wasn’t. It wasn’t.

Bringing her left hand down the palm flattened against the mirror and pushed as she turned away. It was another time of her telling herself that she doesn’t like mirrors. Looking at yourself - really looking at yourself- was something bothersome to her and with how she was feeling, she didn’t like what she saw.

She moved to the small dresser on the left side of her bed and bent down to open the bottom drawer. Pushing aside a few things she took out the silver chain that Benjamin had given her that day on the steps. It looked the same as when he gave it to her and she didn’t feel anything special about it as it rested in her hands. She knew what he said it would do and she didn’t doubt it. The silver chain felt as heavy now as it did then even if she knew the weight was only a figment of her imagination. If she was going to leave her rooms, and the inn, for longer than the time of an errand she felt that she should have it with her and she didn’t really know why – or if she did she wasn’t entertaining the thought. Circling the chain about the waist of her long gray skirt she fastened it together with a small blue clip. The item was created to be tied together and therefore had no connecting holes and circles.

There was a small bag on the bed, flat and of brown leather, hardly anything in there at all but then again she didn’t require much. De’Ryanna shouldered it and then went to get her silver-gray cloak from off the hook by the door. She tied it about her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head enough that the shadow from it would cover her eyes. The lights were on in the hallway and if any where about she didn’t want her eyes easily seen.

It was just after 4am in the morning and she exited her room. Closing the door behind her the plan was to exit and leave from the Inn. Breakfast, and other duties, could be handled without her.

[The Odinson]

It was Four in the A.M, and while that meant that even Asgard was at rest by and large. The lights filling the homes of his people had died out several hours ago. Sleep came easy to most, their king, that was another story all together. The Odinson did not often sleep. When one shared the body with a man who slept regularly, one did not often wish to spend his time in the throes of sleep.

Thor stood in the watchtower of Asgard. Normally this is where his oldest and dearest friend would stand, keeping watch over the people of Asgard, insuring the safety of her people. Heimdal was the watcher of the nine worlds and the gatekeeper of Asgard. with his absence, his duties has fallen to others. The Thunderer, and the Guardsman that stand at her gates have been keeping with his duties.

This was not the place that Thor often fancied himself being, but there where several of his people that wandered the earth below hidden away in mortal bodies. This was the only place that Thor could properly watch upon those below. Heimdal he was not, but he could still help those who needed it.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

De'Ryanna started down the hallway of the Second Floor and just before she reached the steps she paused. She had no intention of delaying her departure purposefully but something was pulling at her and she couldn't simply walk down the stairs without doing something first. So she turned around and made her way to room 210. She didn't knock, she didn't open the door, she only pressed her first two fingers of her right hand against the woodwork.

When Tobias left those months ago she found a note under her door, but if she stayed to write a note then there was more chance of someone seeing her leave. Grabbing the Source she channeled a small weave a Spirit into the door to catch her words: "I'll be back." When he opened the door the message would be delivered. Only when he opened the door.

She felt slightly better having done that. Another thought crossed her mind, but she pushed it aside with a shake of her head and hurried back to the steps. Keeping the hood lowered on her head she went from Second Floor to First and First to Main. Once one that level she casted a quick look around before leaving out the front door.

It closed softly and De'Ryanna started on her way down the road.

[The Odinson]

Thor Odinson watched all, well as much as he could. Unlike his friend he could not see all of the nine worlds. he could see only the one before him, and only in small bits at a time.

He would be lying if he said that his attention was not spent on the place that Donald called home a bit more then the others he was to watch upon. that was the home of not only his human counterpart, but one of his Valkyries. and another that he had promised the protection of Asgard.

puzzlement came upon his features when he saw one among those numbers sneaking away at the long hours of the morning. Puzzlement was enough to bring the Odinson from his place in the watchtower stepping forward and allowing gravity to carry him down to the world below him. and on his way down, the mighty Mjolnir was pulled from its place at his back and flung ahead to control his decent, making his landing on the ground behind De'Ryanna silent.

"When one leaves in the darkness of night alone, it stands to reason one is vexxed... "his voice was soft but powerful,words where for no one aside from herself."...would you care for assistance in creating greater distance between yourself and this place?"

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

"I'm use to being alone." Came the first words of her reply to Thor who was behind her and they came rather quickly. De'Ryanna stopped walking and was merely standing there; fingers of her right hand tapping against her thigh in order to hone down any shaking in her voice. Sometimes it worked and other times it didn't. This was also why she was in no hurry to turn around. Her hood was still down and the sky was still dark as the dawn hadn't risen yet but she was not sure of how keen the god's eyesight was, if it was sharp enough to see through the shadows of her hood.

As a slight compromise she gave a partial turn so she wasn't looking straight on and she wasn't showing him her back either. This served to further conceal her face. So she thought. "Whether vexed or otherwise," swallowing down her words and her chin tipping lower she looked to the direction she had been heading. She was going to say something else about being alone but thought better of it and kept it to herself.

"I'm not, I'm not running away from anything this time. And I'm not. . . letting anything go." She was referring to the last time she saw him and he had told her that things wanted are worth fighting for.

"I don't know where I'm going."

Her voice was going to betray her and it's the reason why she turned back around and went silent for a moment before her head picked back up. "I only thought to get away. See where it lead me." How could she accept his offer of travel when she didn't know where to travel to? Then again that could be the perfect reason to accept it. When a person didn't know where they were going, anywhere could do.

[Connor]

"I will never get used to this sleeping at night garbage." Connor was muttering quietly to himself as he pulled on a light cotton t-shirt and headed for the front door. There were horses to feed and water, and pelts to be brushed. He had the feeling that De'Ryanna would have his hide if he got lazy, so he was going to get an early start.

As he left the inn's front door, he smelled her. It was as if she had just passed this way. Oh well, he reasoned, she won't be able to complain if I was looking for her. Maybe I can come up with a lame excuse for it. Turning from the previous path, he wandered off in the direction of her scent.

Before too long, he had caught sight of her, speaking to a large blonde man. Was that battle armor? And...a warhammer? He had no idea who this stranger was, but what was wrong with getting a closer look? After all, he knew how to be stealthy, and he was already downwind of them both. Stepping behind a blind of undergrowth not too far from the beaten path, he closed in on their location, careful of where he placed his feet.

As he grew closer, he could hear their conversation in snippets. She was going somewhere, but she didn't know where she was going? Hm. This could be a bad thing to be spying on. She would probably jump him for having the nerve to eavesdrop, but hey, he didn't mind. Their fight, if one called it that, was the first decent scrap he had been in since he had come here. So, he waited. The wind would shift eventually, and she would be able to smell him and know who he was. Then, he would see what mood this early morning found her in.

[The Odinson]

Thor Odinson had spent the span of hundreds of lifetimes dealing with foes far sneakier and dangerous then a werewolf who thought himself silent. The Thunder god turned his head slightly piercing blue eyes falling in the direction of the young man trying very hard not to be noticed.

The god of Mischief and Chaos had to plan a few days ahead in order to try her hardest to get the jump on Thor. Ignorance of his identity was the only thing this young man had going for him. He said nothing of the man's presence but his attention returned to De'Ryanna.

"I can join in your feelings of being surrounded by people and still being alone.I'm going to join you join this early morning. Perhaps I might provide helpful insight into what it is that has you in such a state... Perhaps I might help you gain the direction you are seeking." The Thunderer stepped up beside her, walking along with her. She was his Valkyrie and as such he did not want to see her pained as she was... not to mention the man attempting to follow them HE was incredibly protective of his people. they where an endangered species. he had to be.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

She wasn't expecting Thor to accompany her and then again she was. De'Ryanna didn't know him to be a man to simply walk away from those who were in distress. There was no verbal complaint from her when he said that he was coming with her, though in the moment that he stepped besides her she turned her head to the side and lowered it.

That was when the wind shifted and she caught the slight scent of another. Connor. Was he following her? She didn't doubt that he was able to smell her, but could he also pick up on her present state the same way he was able to pick up qualities of that persons clothing in the stables? Unsure of how she felt about the possibility of him knowing she had been crying, Ryanna turned quickly back around. Her hands reached up to pull more on her hood. Could the Thunder god see under her hood?

"Why is it then, that when people are use to being alone, they hurt when they've been cast out by a person they hardly know?" Poising this question to him as they slowly walked. "Logically, they shouldn't care." But she did care, even though she tried to convince herself that she didn't.

Her arms wrapped around herself from under the cloak she wore. "I'm really not as heartless as some tend to think." The last statement of hers was nearly a whisper, like it was said more to herself than another. For a moment she shut her eyes as she took in a deep breath. She may be host to a powerful force but she was still a teenager.

[The Odinson]

Thor walked along side her. he could indeed see her face hidden behind her hood, but only in the moment that she looked over. when she pulled it down more and looked ahead her face was hidden from him as it was all others. While they walked, The Might Mjolnir was lifted and slid into its place at his back, underneath the flowing red cape that trailed behind him.

"My Life as a young man, I lived as any prince would. surrounded by people who loved and adored me. Rather, they said they did. I was still alone." He paused in his speaking to look up at the sky, Asgard was above them, you couldn't see it. but it was there. "Yet when My Father shunned me as an adult I swelled with rage. and lashed out... when logically i should have accepted his opinion as my king... Logic does not guide us in times of stress De'Ryanna... it is our hearts that direct our actions in those times."

Eyes back down to the woman he was walking with. "I never saw you as heartless... you are a driven woman, who is careful with her passions. Such is part of the reason I chose you to become one of my Valkyries.... Who is it that labels you as such?"

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

In the conversation she was learning about him. She didn't know how he grew up and that information was certainly interesting to her for she enjoyed finding things in common with other people. In a way it helped her to feel not as isolated and in the topic of being surrounded by so-called 'fake' friends, she understood it well. It wasn't her call to speak and so as he spoke she stayed quiet, her arms down and fingertips brushing the ends of the silver chain that was about her waist.

De'Ryanna nodded slowly. "I can count you among the few who think better of me." It was a small list of people. "It must be my attitude. I'm not overly friendly. Perhaps it makes people like my father think that I'm cold." Both of them had father's that shunned them for some reason or another.

"I don't understand him and he doesn't think that I try when i do. I do try, but I can't be the daughter he wants." She said those words with a quick sniffle and she sucked her teeth. "I didn't think that I would...feel the way I do when he said not to call him Father."

She wished that what Thor had said was wrong, the bit about logic not guiding in times of stress, but she knew that he was probably right. When she was stressed it was often hard for her to make since out of anything. Why would now be any different.

[The Odinson]

"Where you truly a cold hearted person De'Ryanna, I would not have give you the mantle of Valkyrie... You like the wise Lenneth knows the benefit of keeping a cool head in most situations."He looked over once again over at her. watching her as they walked."You are not unfriendly... simply careful upon who you bestow the gift of your friendship." He'd seen her interact with people before. he was after all supposed to watch his people away from home.

"It is not uncommon for people, who are slaves to their own impulses to envy those who have greater control." What she said about her father wanting her to be a certain way rang true with Thor as well, Thor and perhaps his sister Loki. As it was, Loki could not help who she was. did not mean Odin did not try to change her. "You are a young lady of age, It is no longer your fathers duty to instruct you what you are to be... It is a parents duty at that time, to support what you have grown to become" That was a lesson that Odin himself learned after banishing Thor to the world below. and without his son's stubbornness and strength of character to do what's right. his kingdom became threatened. and he released Thor from his bonds.

"It is only natural to be upset at a request such as that... Perhaps, it is for the best... as it will give your father time to think upon what has happened... and may perhaps strengthen him as a man.All men, still have lessons to learn."

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

"I don't know how to talk to him," she confessed with a bit of a sigh. "I treat him as only I know him to be. A man. That's what he is when he's not busy being a ... beast." The word that came before it she kept in check and did not vocalize, part of her told her better than that. There were a lot of things she wanted to say about the man who was (is?) her Father but perhaps they should wait for another time. A time when she was able to see him again, though she hardly knew when, or if, that opportunity would come around. He did say for her to seek him out and right now doing so was the furthest thing from her mind.

The walk was doing her well as she could feel herself calming. Where they were walking was towards the beach that was not very far from the Inn. As they went in that direction the sound of the water hitting against the rocks and shoreline was obvious. The air would be cooler there and maybe that was another reason why her feet were guiding her in that direction. "He doesn't know me and after the conversation we had I do not know if I even want to try change that."

Her head turned downwards and she watched what her hands were staying busy with. "Perhaps this is for the best," a temporary pause in her walk. "Perhaps it is because then he could go back to being what he was before: a silent collection of thoughts - real or otherwise - in my head."

She continued towards the water. "Some things are better left that way. In fantasy." As a young girl she had taken the stories her Mother would tell about Gawain's absence and put them into her own imaginings about where he was and how he would be when he arrived.

[De'Ryanna Aybara]

"And that Young De'Ryanna is all that one could ask of you. To see that which stands before you as what it is you see. May it be man... or beast. A man, is only a man until he proves himself more. One can not demand to be seen as more... such can only be earned." Thor was no Wiseman, but let it not be said that he couldn’t offer some choice nuggets of information sometimes. " I too grew up hearing stories of my father's past deeds... they where great, and many. Perhaps you might ask Lenneth to share several with you, when next you converse with her." of course Thor was assuming that She did converse with Lenneth as he last recommended. “Unfortunately.... It is rather impossible to leave such things in fantasy in Asgard, as we are a people who celebrate deeds done."

She turned to him with a bit of a smile. "I'm not much of a girl for fantasy, Thor, but I do enjoy a dream here and there. I like the Asgard way, of deeds done." Pausing to think about what he said and about Lenneth as well. "I think that may be part of the problem. My Father... It's said that he's done all these things and from that he's suppose to have all this…respect from me and others." Ryanna slightly spoke with her hands, they made slow movements in front of her to elaborate her point about 'all these things.'. "But Wasn't there for them. I don't know them. Am I suppose to just hand over respect because of what was even if the present doesn't give it credit?"

Thor returned her smile. it was good she was smiling again, at least he thought so. What she said about her father needing all of this respect was not a surprise to him. such was an absolutely common phenomenon even amongst the gods of Asgard or Olympus. Though he did offer a shake of his head. "a man of so many great feats, should not seek validation in those feats done in the past, but seek validation in the feats he's yet to commit. Yes, in Asgard we celebrate great deeds done by our people... but it is not to elevate one individual over all others... It is to remind us all of what we are... we are a people of action, and through those actions... we have done many great things... through that, we as a people continue to strive to do great things. to serve our cause, fulfill the duties we where born to fulfill."

It's not that Ryanna hated her father or anything like that. They were only two different type of people and the types did not seem to get along. "My brother and sister can celebrate and praise all that he's done in the past. I will not hold anything against him, but I don't see a need for him either. I can get that type of treatment from elsewhere." She paused, just as they were at the start of the beach. "I'll be just fine and will find my own way in the things that I was born to fulfill. I have those with me who I would take." Even if none of them were people that she went to during this apparent time of stress.

And Thor did not get that she hated her father, nor did he suggest that she hate him. he was merely saying that she shouldn’t let anyone force her opinion on any subject. when they reached the beach Thor smiled, he was rather fond of the beach Asgard really didn’t have them, well ever." You need not be alone in finding your way. If you have those you would take, then you should take them... " Thor would never enter battle alone, not when he knew there where people he would want to take in with him, provided they where willing to fight at his side.

"I should. And I know that I should. I've never much had a thing for people." She wasn't sure if that made any sense. If she didn't say it then she would admit that it made no sense and she wasn't even offering up an explanation. "Soon…very soon, I'm going to let someone into the part that is me and it is a bit scary. But like you said, if there are those to take, then you should take them. So I'm going to try, even if I'm not very good at talking about things like others."

"Knowing that action should be taken is the first step to taking it." it sounded cheesy, hell even Thor thought it sounded cheesy but it didn’t stop it from being true. "Whomsoever is granted such should find themselves extraordinarily privileged... I imagine though, that you are more comfortable speaking around some then you are with others..." he was implying that she always seemed rather candid with him.

And she was, that's because of the relationship she had with Donald and Thor with Lenneth. There was no point in trying to be sly and closed lip to a man when the two of you were partners in a way. "I don't have to be open with everyone. I don't have to be accepted by everyone. As long as there are some who accept me and what I do, then that's what counts." the affirmation was for her benefit, hoping it would help. "Thank you, Thor. Even though i didn't wish to burden you."

"I do not mean to infer that you should be open with everyone, nor seek their acceptance... They are fools errands. For there will always be someone with an opinion opposite your own." Thor would reach an arm up and offer De'Ryanna a pat to her shoulder offering it a reassuring squeeze." De'Ryanna, Do not think that you burden me... you are a sister of Asgard seeing a sister through her trying time is never a burden... any child of Asgard would gladly stand in my place."

Though she tried to repress it a small flinch arose when he touched her. It was habit and she wondered if that habit would still remain even after she was bonded. Perhaps.. but eventually it would fade. Ryanna stayed still for a moment before her hand reached up and patted his own that was on her shoulder. "If it's all the same to you, I believe I'll stay here for a while and look at the water." Maybe the turning waves will help turn my thoughts, but that was the bit she didn't say out loud.

"Very well... Be well Valkyrie.... know that i will be at your service should you require my aid." he offered her a smiled before removing his hammer from its palce at his back. giving it a right fling into the air and allowing ti to carry his body into the sky above. and back to his home.

De'Ryanna watched him leave and visibly sighed when he left, looking up at the spot where he vanished log after he was gone. She folded her legs and she sank down to the ground, right at the start of the sand. Perhaps she would stay here, she thought she would for a while. At the end, she was feeling a bit better.

- the end

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