NationStates Jolt Archive

Valdra's airplane settled down in Narich International Airport. Travel from the Children of Valkyrja to the Resurgent Dream was relatively rare so the exchange student had had to be routed through several other internation airports. It was a long flight but it was finally over.

Providing there was no cause for suspicion, customs was not a great hassle. They went briefly through her bags and had her walk through a metal detector. Nothing more invasive happened, though one person on her plane, a Menelmacari Elf, was randomly selected and subjected to a more thorough search.

The airport itself seemed to contain a great diversity of people. There were Elves and Kitsune and Nekos, as well as humans of every size, shape, and color. Almost everyone seemed to be dressed fairly casually, in modern, trendy clothes. Some were better dressed than others and some were more modest than others, though none were indecent.

When she walked out of the row of gates and into the waiting area, Valdra could see a muscular, redheaded man in his late fifties waiting with a sign with her name on it. The man was dressed in a red blazer, black slacks, a tie, and nice shoes and had a calm, quiet air about him.

Valdra stopped for a moment and hessitated hoping the man with her name card hadn't spotted her.

She stepped back into the shadows and tried to relax.
Needing to be seen to be doing something, other than cowering in a corner like a 16 year old who had never been out of her own country, (which she had to admit she was), she pulled her hairbrush out of her bag and began to brush her long blond hair.

The rythmic sweeps of the brush through her hair began to calm her and she began, as she had been trained, to take stock of her situation, desperately trying to remember what Brusca, the leader of the Valkyrja had told her.

Observe Valdra, watch and learn. A Valkyrja is not only devoted to the dead, they must care for the living as well. We are Odin's hand maidens and we do as we are bid and always in the best interests of our people.

She snorted to herself, well there weren't many of her people here, infact as far as she could tell there were none in the area with a drop of Norse blood running through their veins, apart from herself.

The panic began to rise again, why Brusca had chosen her and why she had insisted that she fly in an aircraft was beyond her, why she had been sent alone was even more confounding.
She was quite happy being with the Valkyrja and under their care and guidance, cloistered in their mountain home.

Realising that she had finished her braid and had no further reason to stand where she was, she sighed and after smoothing her robes, picked up her bags.

Fixing a smile on her face she raised herself up the her full hight and strode out of the shadows, towards the man holding her name card.

"Excuse me, but I am Valdra, I assume that you are waiting for me?"

"Yes, ma'am." the man answered, putting the sign away. "Let's go get your bags." He walked with her to the baggage pick-up and waited for her to point out her bags before picking them up for her. Here she received some comfort, perhaps, as there was at least one woman who was identifiably and clearly Norse, with hair like a golden dawn and eyes as blue as the sky.

The man took her bags and placed them in the back of a fine Pantocratorian car, holding the back door open for her to get in. He then got in the front and began to drive. It took only about ten minutes to get out of the city and start driving through wild fields, light woods, and fended in cattle pastures. They were clearly in open farm country.

Diversity also seemed to disappear as they left the city. Their weren't many people to be seen from the car but those who were had, without exception, white skin and red hair. After about half an hour, they pulled up in front of a large country manor in a neoclassical style. The man opened the door for the young Norse girl again and again he took her bags. As he began for the door, Valdra could hear the ringing of steel on steel coming from around the back.

She had breathed a sigh of relief as the car pulled out of the city and made it's way into the country side.
It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the hussle and bussle of towns and cities, but only to visit for a short while, not to live or even to stay for more than a few days.

And now, well now she was stood outside the most impressive building she had ever seen described as a house.
Looking up she admired it's grandeur and the way it imposed itself on the lanscape like some huge beast crouching in the fields waiting to pounce, it's blank eyes of glass staring and watching all.
Shielding her eyes she looked up to the roof tops, it was just a little larger than her homeland's longhouses.

He dawdling had allowed her escort to get far in front of her and when she looked back to him, he wasn't in sight. For a moment she wondered what she should do, then berated herself for being such a child and began to walk in the direction of the door.
Almost on the threshhold, her ears twitched at a familier noise. She listened carefully, tilting her head to one side in an attempt to work out where it was coming from, her skills as a huntress and warrior judgeing from somehwere behind the mansion.

She hessitated, to hear a familier sound in an unfamilier place intrigued her, but she should really follow her escort.
Then she remembered Brusca's words, Observe Valdra, watch and learn. Well, she would infact be doing as she had been told to do, wouldn't she?

Grinning she turned on her heals and made her way quietly towards the sound.

As she came around the back, she saw teo men in their early twenties fighting with swords. Both were clearly quite skilled, the metal clanging rapidly as they battled one another. They were both fair of skin, with red hair and muscular bodies. They didn't seem to notice the girl coming around.

A boy a few years younger than her was lying under a tree just above the young men, watching the fight.

She stood watching the men for a moment, obviously skilled and practiced in their art.
Even though their way of fighting wasn't hers, she was very impressed.

Catching the young man under the tree out of the corner of her eye, she turned to face him a smiled, then turned back to judge the swordsmen.

The boy smile, jumping up and running towards the young Norsewoman. "Are you Valdra?" he asked excitedly. "Father said you'd be coming!"

The two men put their swords away when they heard his voice, turning to make their way slowly towards the young woman. "Welcome to our home, Valdra." the taller one said. "I'm Gwydion and this is my brother, Owain." He then pointed to the younger boy. "And this is our little brother, Lewys. It's nice to have you here."

Slightly embarrassed at the sudden attention, Valdra blushes, but manages to recover her composure with a low bow.
Raising her head, she fixes her ice grey eye upon Gwydion and smiles.

"Gwydion.... Very pleased to meet you."

Her glance moves to each of his brothers.

"Owain... Lewy's..... and yes I am Valdra, you have a most unusual complexion and great family resemblence, tell me, if it is not prying, are you of celtic origin?"

Gwydion nodded. "Welsh, to be specific. However, you should be careful about questions like that. It isn't considered a polite topic of conversation in this country, really."

Owain shrugged a little. "I trust Evyn got your bags already or I would offer. Have you met mother and father yet or did you come directly around to the back?"

Lewys looked away when the older girl's intense eyes looked at him, smiling in an almost silly way. "You're going to be staying in Donna's old room. She's on exchange in Pantocratoria right now. I'll show you the way." Lewyn turned towards the sliding back door.

As Lewys and the exchange student moved towards the house, the older brothers took up their blades again and resumed practicing.

Valdra looks suitably chastised and drops her gaze, the perfect way to start off her stay, insulting those she is staying with. Though her curiosity bubbled on her tongue wanting to ask why this was a problem, she bit it back and instead mumbles an apology.

"I'm sorry if I have made a mistake. In our lands all are equal but that does not mean that we cannot be proud of our backgrounds and our heritage. Infact we embrace each others differences and fight to help keep them alive amongst us. I will mark your words and will not ask such a thing again."

She grinned at Lewy's coyness and willingly followed him towards the house, stopping and watching for a moment as the older two begin their sparring again.

Gwydion paused a moment. "It's not that we're not...it's just..." He looked off a minute. He didn't really know an answer to what the girl had said.

Lewys waited for her as she turned to watch Gwydion and Owain spar more. He then continued on into the house where a well-dressed man and woman were standing in a large living room. They had the same complexion and features as their three sons. The man smiled slightly to Valdra. "Welcome, Valdra. I'm Lloyd Evans and this is my wife Gwynedd. We'll be your host parents for the next nine months."

Gwynedd smiled warmly and offered her hand to the girl. "You're very welcome here, Valdra. We're proud to have the first exchange student from the Children of Valkyrja. I'm sorry that we don't know very much about your country. Is there anything we can do to help you settle in?"

"I had Evyn carry your things to your room." Lloyd said.

She nods formally to Lloyd and takes Gwynedd's hand squeezing it gently.

(This is obviously a patriarcal society) she mentaly notes.

"I thank you both for allowing me the pleasure of staying with you and your family and in such pleasant surroundings.
I have met your sons, they seem fine and handsome young men.
My homeland is so much different to that of yours, that I wouldn't know where to start, but I am sure I will have many questions to ask of you when they crop up and hope you will forgive me if they are asked too bluntly or I speak too candidly.It is the way of our people, but I will do my best not to offend."

"Feel perfectly free to ask anything you want. You are here to learn, after all." Gwynedd said. "In the meantime, Lewys, show Valdra to her room."

Lewys nodded. "Yes, ma'am." He led the girl to a large room with a four poster bed and a vanity dresser. There was also a television and a radio. Her bags had already been placed on the bed. "This is normally my older sister Donna's room, like I said. Anyway, I'll let you settle in for now. I'm sure Mother'll call you down when it's time for dinner, unless there was anything you wanted to ask or do before then."

The boy smiled a little. "By the way, the best channels for girl shows are channel seven and channel three. They're always showing that kind of thing. Channel six is the best international news station if you want to check up on what's going on at home or in the rest of the world."

Valdra looked around the room and nodded in agreement at Lewys' words.

"Thank you Lewys, but I think all I need now is a bit of rest after my travels, it's been a long journey by a method that I have never used and a quick nap will be most welcome."

She smiled at him as he left the room, but as he closed the door behind him, Valdra's smile turned to a look of dismay.
Though her life was good in the lands of the Valkyrja and modern technology was readily available, most of the Norse chose to lead a simpler way of life in the traditional long houses of their people.
Now that she was an Initiate, she lead an even simpler life with the Valkyrja in their mountain home.

Girl's channel's on the TV? By Odin's beard look at that bed! I'd get lost for a month is that! My father would go berserk at the sight of all this waste of space and resources and I bet Brusca would laugh her armour loose if she realised that I was going to have to deal with this!

She sat on the edge of the bed and grimaced at it's softness as it gave way to her weight. Sighing she turned to her bags and began to unpack.

She was left up there for about an hour or two, free to settle in. Of course, she was also free to go join the others if she wished. After some time, Gwynedd called the family down for dinner.

Not sure what to wear or how formal 'dinner' would be, Valdra decided it would be best to dress casually, but in her best and smartest outfit.

She had dressed in loose trousers and tunic and had braided her hair long before Gwynedd called, so scooted down the stairs almost immediately, stopping in the hallway only to look confusedly at the various doors.

"I should have asked Lewys for a tour of the house instead of trying to hide away upstairs. Now where do I go?"

When she did make her way to the dining room, Valdra found everyone else dressed rather casually. Gwynedd was serving a simple enough dinner of pork chops, mashed potatoes, greens, and hot buttered apples. She smiled as Valdra showed up. "I hope you like this, Valdra. It's a recipe I got from my cousin down in Wintermore."

Relieved that she hadn't over done it with her dress, Valdra gladly sat down and took the plate of food she was offered.

"It looks wonderful, thank you."

She tucked into the food with relish, the plane journey had been long and tedious and to her the food inedible, which made this simple meal seem like a banquet fit for a king.

The rest of the family ate contentedly as well. Lloyd ventured "Would you like to tell us some about you homeland, young lady?"

Valdra look up mid chew, Lloyd had sounded just like her father.

"Errrrmmmmmmm, I'm not sure what to tell you Sir.
We live a reasonably quiet peaceful, low tech life.
Our power is generated by wind and water and fires are fuelled by waste from the forests.
We are decicated to the care of the land and Odin repays us with a bountiful crops, good hunting and an easy life."

"You're a hunter?" Gwynedd asked with interest.

"There's some pretty good hunting grounds around here." Gwydion said with a polite smile. "Owain and I could take you with us sometime. What do you usually hunt?"

Owain grinned. "I guess you'd rather use the bow than the rifle. It's been forever since we had a chance to go hunting with bow and arrow."

"Bow, crossbow, spear, axe, traps, knives."
She shrugs and smiles at Owain
"and I have been known to use the odd rifle when needed, we are taught from childhood how to use all weapons, it is part of our traditions."

She finnishes her mouthful of food and takes a drink.

"As for what do I hunt? Anything that can be used, fur, skin and meat."

Owain looked at her with some measure of surprise. "How old did you say you were?"

Lloyd gave a sharp look at his son but didn't say anything as he continued eating. Gwynedd smiled slightly. "Valdra isn't simply an average student from her nation. She's a high ranking initiate."

Valdra looked surprised and just a little confused that Gwynedd had thought of her in any way different than any else, she herself had never thought of it that way.

"I beg your pardon my lady, but we are all trained in this way. My choice to want to serve Odin and become an initiate of the Valkyrja does not make me special in any way more than my old friends who decided to be woodsmen or farmers or just wives and mothers.
It is the way of my people."

Owain looked visibly sceptical. He had been in the military and knew how rare such wide ranging weapon proficiency was even among people who devoted their entire lives to using weapons and learned no other occupation whatsoever. Gwydion just looked a little confused. Lewys looked at the girl admiringly.

Gwynedd nodded slightly to the young woman. "Of course. I am sorry for the mistake. It was what we were given to understand."

Lloyd nodded as well. "A lot of the confusion probably arose from the fact that your country only sent one exchange student. Most of the countries involves in the program send a few hundred or even a few thousand every year. The program representative I talked to when we sent Donna off told me that there were no less than six thousand Danaan students on exchange in other countries this year."

She thinks for a moment.
"Yes Sir I can see why it would seem that way and as we venture little away from our own homelands, well it seems even more so. But at least I don't see myself as any different, even though I feel honoured that Brusca of the Valkyrja believes I am the best to send."

She catches Owain's look out of the corner of her eye.
"Owain, I have no need to lie about the way in which I hunt and what tools I can use. Most probably before you had learned to eat with a spoon, my mother was teaching me how to use a skinning knife."

"I doubt that very much." Owain said coldly. The handsome, strong young man's gaze had turned from friendly to overtly hostile rather quickly. He didn't hide the fact that he considered her comment beyond insulting.

"Owain, calm down." Lloyd said firmly.

Gwynedd smiled nervously in the awkward pause. "So what do you think of the Resurgent Dream so far, Valdra? We do want to make you feel as at home and welcome as possible."

Valdra ignores Owain's indignation and replies levelly to her host.

"It is a puzzling place, so many people at the airport and of so many races and surely not all of them were visitors? Then we leave the turmoil of the city and in such a short time we are here among people obviously of the same race."

She turns for a moment to Owain, her face devoid of any malice and holds out her hands palm up. It was apparent from the old and new scars on her hands that she had indeed been using sharp tools and hunting for most of her life.
Then she turned back and continued.

"As for hospitality, I could not wish for better, I count myself lucky to be able to share your home and your handsome family with you."

She winks at Lewys.

Lloyd laughed slightly. "Actually, Valdra, that is very typical of most of the world. Normally, immigrants from other places cluster together in the large cities, especially the cities where they first arrive in the country, while the countryside remains relatively homogenous. It's not a perfect pattern. There are a few families in this neighborhood that are not Welsh or even European in origin and we have always found them as good neighbors as any other. However, most people in rural Shieldcrest share a race, a nationality, a language, and a religion."

Owain held his piece, obedient to his father. He still seemed rather unimpressed with the girl he had been told to regard as his sister for the next nine months, however.

Lewys looked away shyly and smiled back a little. She was so pretty! After taking a short while to collect himself, he winked back.

Gwynedd smiled. We're very glad to have you share it with us."

"Ah, I see and understand. We don't have many imigrants in our nation, however, when they do arrive, we ensure that they become part of us very quickly.
We do not force our culture upon them, but we encourage them to embrace our beliefs as we embrace there's. Our people are curious about other peoples ways and enjoy their festivals and intrigued with others religious practices.
Of course it is true that many do tend to remain in our cities and towns, no matter how hard we try to get them out amongst us and into our wonderful countryside."

She still feels Owain's disparaging look upon her and even though she tries to ignore it, she is becoming more uncomforatble, not quite sure why he has taken this stance.
To cover it up she grins at Lewy's as he winks back at her.

Lloyd nodded to that. "If you're curious, you could come to church with us if you wanted. If you'd rather not, that's fine as well."

"It's very boring." Gwydion chimed in, provoking a small laugh from Lewys.

"Gwydion!" Gwynedd chided him, a look of mock horror on her face. She then turned back to Valdra with a grin. "He's only joking."

After awhile, the family finished their meal. Lewys helped Gwynedd clear the table and do the dishes. Gwydion turned to Valdra. "I'm not sure what you wanted to do this afternoon. If you wanted to be alone in the woods, we could show you where they are or you could come to the training yard with Owain and me or you could stay around the house and let Lewys show you how the kids waste time these days." He gave a teasing smirk to his little brother who promptly stuck his tongue out. Gwydion turned back to the girl with a grin. "Or we could forget all of that and go into town."

"Of course I will come to church and see how you worship, it is part of what I am here for, as long as your church does not mind a 'non believer' in their midst? There is no point offending any when there is no offence intended."

She shoots a glance at Owain and continues.

"We don't have a special place in which to talk to Odin, as you do for your God, so it will be interesting to try and work out why there is a need."

She helps to clear the table then considers Gwydion's options, all appealed to her, even spending time with Lewys, though she did not feel the need to 'escape' to the woodland.

"I'm not sure Gwydion, what do you think a country 'bumpkin', ( I believe we are referred to?), like me needs to do on her first day in a strange country?"

"I think we should go into town." Gwydion said, smiling.

Valdra grins.

"Will I need to change? I must admit, the clothes I have brought don't seem to fit in with the enviroment I have found myself in."

She thinks for a moment.

"However, if there are shops there.....perhaps you would, if it didn't offend your manhood too much, help me find something more suitable? I assure you I am not the fussy type who will take all day about it.
Along with everything else that this town may provide of course."

She glances over to where Owain is standing and says quietly.
"Will sourpuss be coming with us?"

Gwydion laughed a little. "My manhood is quite secure, so I don't mind helping you pick things out in the least. I don't think Owain is much in the mood to come, however."

Lloyd walked over and offered Gwydion his credit card. "Just get her what she needs, ok?"

"Ok." Gwydion said, leading Valdra back out to the car and holding the door for her.

Valdra laughs at Gwydion's remarks and thanks Lloydd for the offer of paying for her, but refuses.

"It is most generous Sir, but I have my own and can pay for anything I should need. It is important for us that as guests we do not abuse hospitality, especially on the first day of such a long visit."

Bowing slightly to him, she makes her way out to the car climbing in before Gwydion.

Gwydion smiled as he drove. "Have any idea what you want yet?"

Valdra laughed

"You're joking aren't you? Though our clothing is made from modern day materials, we are still quite traditional in our outlook. After seeing all the different types of dress here, well......I have no idea.
Though they have to be comfortable and practical and I have my official special occasion robes with me, but ..... well I may need something else for less formal, formal occasions.
How on earth do these girls walk around in those high heals? They aren't exactly practical are they? Do they have a purpose?"

"To attract boys." Gwydion said simply. "You don't need high heels though. We can just get you a pair of sneakers or something."

He finally pulled up at the mall and got the door for her.

"How on earth can someone wobbling around on a pin point, then not be able to walk at a reasonable pace in fear of breaking their ankles, be a way of attracting boys?"

Shaking her head in disbelief Valdra gets out of the car and waites for Gwydion to lead the way.

"I have good strong boots for hunting and shoes and lighter boots for other times, hopefully they will sort of go with new clothes."

She looks at the entrance to the Mall and then at the size of the building.

"Good heavens and merciful Odin! This place isn't just one big clothes shop is it? We'll be hear for days!"

"No, no, there's all kinds of stores in here." Gwydion answered as he led the way inside. The mall was a large, three storied building with escalators and one elevator connecting the building. Along the walls of the first floor, where they found themselves, Valdra could see a pet store, a book store, a fashionable clothing store, a goth clothing store, an athletic shoe store, a jewelry shop, a watch shop, a key shop, a hobby store, a prank store, an Oriental themed store, an African themed store, a natural history store, and a few others.

The mall was swarming with hundreds of people. Most of them seemed to be of the same background as Gwydion and his family and a disproportionate number were teenage girls. They weren't all in high heels and short skirts. Some seemed to find sneakers and short shorts equally appealing. A few were dressed more modestly in jeans or long skirts. They were travelling in large groups, giggling and gossiping amongst themselves. There was some diversity in the mall, moreso than Valdra had seen moving through the neighborhood. Three or four black girls were walking on the other side of the mall. An elderly Chinese man was heading up the escalator.

Despite her cool exterior Valdra is taken aback at the shear size of the shopping area and her mouth drops open.
She side steps as one of the gaggles of girls cluck and giggle their way past her, giving her a disparaging look, which she seems not to notice as she is still looking at the variety of places.

"Talk about all your eggs in one basket! You could live in this place and never step out of it again!"

Her mouth curls into a beaming smile.

"Where do we start then? I think I want to see it all!"

Gwydion smiled at her a little. "Well, you want clothes so we shouldn't go there first. We'd have to carry them around all day. Maybe we could start at the book store?"

"Yes ok, though I may want to buy books as well, especially if there are local history books. I might as well learn about the place I'm in and is that a natural history place? ......Yes..that one there..... I would be interested in seeing what the flora and fauna is like here to compare it. Then of course htere's those other shops, they look interesting and there's probably more upstairs that I'd like to look at too.....Oh come on! Lets start somewhere....."

In her excitement and wish to see everything, she grabs his hand and almost pulls him towards the book shop.

Gwydion laughed lightly at her enthusiasm and allowed himself to be pulled into the bookstore, where a local history section was fairly easy to identify. There were any number of titles available, including:

The Polynesian Era by Evyn Lloyd. A history of the indiginous people of the Resurgent Dream.

Colonial Days by Lewys Roberts. A history of European and Indian settlement in the Resurgent Dream and the early wars between kingdoms.

The Unsustainable Endeavor by Lee Thrace. A very critical history of the Danaan space program from its tentative start to its peak of wide-spread Danaan space exploration to its recent near abandonment.

To Make Men Free by Aaron Gold. A detailed history of the recent war in Marlund.

Valdra runs her fingers along the spines of the books looking intently at the titles then selecting one and scanning through it, either passing it to Gwydion, or placing it carefuly back on the shelves.

Finally, she selects The Polynesian Era and Colonial Days, putting her other choices back in their place.

"These will do for now,they will be a good start so that I can understand more recent events better. I think I'll have to find a libruary, there's much to read.

Now where is the childrens section?
You can learn a lot about a people by what they allow their children to read and how they teach them."

Following Gwydion around the book shop, she pauses for a moment.

"Oh and I had better see what people of my age group are reading and being told at their lessons."

Gwydion led her over to the children's books. Most of them were collections of folk and fairy tales and of nursery rhymes.

She leafed through two or three of the folk tale books and waggled one of them at Gwydion.

"Did you know that most folktales are very similar no matter where they originate? There are many many similarities often only the names are different."

She reaches over and picks up a large book of nursery rhymes

"And that nursery rhymes are infact based on bardic stories often about king queens and rulers? This can often tell us what has happened in the past, though they have been severely watered down."

She takes the books that Gwydion is holding for her and looks for somewhere to pay as she fishes her card out of her pocket.

"Right, lets pay for these and go get something to drink if you don't mind? Book shops always make me feel thirsty, I think it's the dry atmosphere."

"Sure thing." Gwydion said with a slight smile. "You do know this isn't a test or anything, right? You're free to relax."

Valdra looks up from the book at him.

"Hummm? Oh yes, I know, I'm just excited that there is so much information on the things that I need to know and it's all here in this one huge building!"

She stops for a moment, thinking.

"You know, you're right this is my first day, I should be relaxing and I've got nine months to do what I have to do here."

They reach the counter and she pays for the books, handing over her card.

"Tell you what, you take me to the places you normally go when you come here, after I buy you a coffee OK?"

The cashier hands Valdra her card back and a bag of books.
Valdra hessitates, looking at the card.

"Well actually, I have no currency, so I will let you treat me this time...."

Gwydion laughed good-naturedly. "Valdra, you can say you're typical of where you come from all you want, but I'm still rather confident you're exceptional among any people." He patted her shoulder in a friendly way as he moved towards a coffee shop in one corner of the mall. He nodded and waved at a few girls he passed. Some of them winked or blew him kisses.

"What do you want?" he asked as the two of them stepped into the coffee shop. "They have just about everything here, Frappucinnos, Lattes, regular coffee, chocolate..."

The young woman behind the counter smiled broadly as they stepped into the store. "Good afternoon and welcome to Cup O' Joy. My name's Irene. What can I get for you two today? Our daily house blend is Breakfast and our special today is the Chocoblend Frappuccino, one of our specialties." Irene kept the same grin on her face as she moved towards the cash register, ready to take their orders.

Valdra looked at Irene, then towards Gwydion and back again at Irene. She smiled, sighed and shrugged.

"I believe I have no other option but to accept the offer of a house speciality and sample one of your Chocoblend Frappuccinos'"

As Irene began to prepare the drink, she leaned towards Gwydion and mumbled.
"Whatever ever in Hel's name that is"

Gwydion shrugged. "I honestly haven't the slightest idea." He then turned back to Irene. "I'll have a regular coffee, tall, black."

Gwydion paid and they both soon had their drinks. Valdra's was a coffee-based mixture blended with ice and chocolate chips and topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. It was almost more like a milkshake than a cup of coffee.

Gwydion looked with faint curiosity at Valdra's drink. "So how is it? I never get anything fancy when I come here, just actual coffee."

Valdra takes a sip, it's bitter sweetness a little strange, but then she takes a longer drink form the glass.

"Errrrrr......not bad at all, want to try?"

She offers the glass to him, wiping a spot of cream off the end of her nose as she does so.

He took a sip, smiling again, before handing it back to the girl. "I guess it's alright."

Nonetheless, Gwydion moved happily back to his own cup of coffee. "Are you sure you want to go where I usually go? It's not all that interesting." He finished his coffee and threw the cup away, ready to head for wherever she wanted.

"Look if you were in the middle of a deep forest, in my homeland and had no idea where you were or what was behind the next tree, would you try and choose what to do, or suggest that I lead the way?"

She follows, with her eyes, two girls who acknowledge Gwydion as they pass by.

"You certainly seem popular with the young women around here....."

She keeps a perfectly straight face, but the twinkle in her eye gives away the fact that she is joking.

"Obviously you have something about you that I fail to see...."

Gwydion smirked back at the girl. "Well, you must not be so observent as you seem if you fail to see something so obvious."

He took her around the mall, touring what must be his usual places. He showed her around the hobby shop and the blade shop before heading up towards the food court. Making the rounds, Gwydion picked up some free samples of sesame chicken before picking up ice cream cones for both of them.

He then headed into a video rental store, browsing the aisles. "Is there anything you'd like to see, Valdra? Here's one about ancient Rome. People around here tend to love stories of ancient Rome. We were the Roman Britons after all, a long long time ago." He turned, looking at what was next to it. "Or we could get something about Elves. Do they have many Elves where you come from?" He picked up the two videos, looking at one and then the other.

She pulled a face feigning suprise.
"Oh come Gwydion, you aren't that ugly, don't be so bashful! I'm sure even someone as poorly equiped as yourself will find some poor girl sooner or later."
Laughing she stands and follows him off down through the shops.

Valdra took great interest in the places they visited, especially in the weapons and knives in the blade shop. She lingered inspecting them in detail, shrugging at some and calling them 'mere apple pealers' and admiring the craftsmanship and metals of others.

Finding themselves in the video shop, Valdra looks at his selection.

"Pah Romans, they tried to get to greedy and tried to impose themselves upon too many too quickly. Our people have populated most of the world, not by beating the populace into submission, but by intergating and learning and adapting, there are few places where the Norse influences have not touched.

Now elves are slightly different, they too have their influences in many places, not excluding my homelands. But alas, many nations now see them as an ancient 'novelty' or much worse a figment of their ancestors imagination. They do right to keep themselves for the most part to themselves......."

She stops herself and shakes her head.

"Look there I go again, thinking on matters other than enjoying myself and insulting your nation by my remarks about a people that you obviously feel are a role model, I'm sorry,"

Gwydion just laughed at her comments. Men who grew up being as handsome as he was managed to evade the insecurities a lot of others his age had regarding their appearance. Gwydion just smiled that oh so dashing smile and kept moving.

He did roll his eyes a little at her comments. "I had forgotten how peaceful and loving the Norse invasions of Wales and Ireland were. We can probably find a movie about that too. Still better than the Saxons I guess."

"You have a lot to learn about Elves if you think they keep to themselves. There's Elves in dozens if not hundreds of predominantly human nations. Knootoss had an Elven Prime Minister. Elves play key roles in the globalized economy. There's a couple Elves who live around here, actually."

Valdra laughs,
"Well the North Eastern coast was far better attended to and for the most we colonised peacefully, a lot of what is written is mere propaganda. I have yet to see a horned helmet........or semi naked men raping and pillaging through the countryside."

She pauses thinking on his last comment.

"Granted there are those who do not behave as Elfen kind normally do, but I would wager that there are far more hidden than in the open.

But we are talking too deeply again.....come, find me some clothes that are more suited to this place, the looks I am getting from your lady friends are beginning to wear on my temper."

"There are dozens of billions in the open, Valdra." Gwydion said wearily. "I doubt they're that atypical."

"I think that you could learn a lot better if you stopped assuming you know everything already." His tone was still friendly but it was clear the same air of self-righteousness and superiority that had alienated Owain so much and so thoroughly was beginning to wear on Gwydion too.

He bought both movies and then continued on towards the clothing shop. "Now, let's get you some clothes to wear."

Valdra looked confused, at first she wasn't sure what he meant.
Sensing the resentment in his thinly vieled comments, she held her tongue and just nodded slightly.

She was, after all speaking as she always did.
The way of her people was to be direct and matter of fact and she failed to see what she was doing wrong.

She sighed and rubbed her forhead, thinking on what Gwydion had said while he paid for his videos.
Obviously these people had a different way of discussing things. Her race had been around since time had begun, since it's conception and their knowledge was great, but perhaps things were moving too quickly for them to keep up with it all now.
Perhaps that was why the Valkyrja had decided to send her, not only to learn for her people, but to learn for herself as well?

What was that phrase that she had heard people say on her travels here?
Ah yes perhaps it was time for her to learn to chill and to try and not annoy people further.

She took a deep breath as they walked out of the shop and answered him in the most even and jovial way she could.

"Well you'll be happy to know that I have NO preconceptions or opinions on this. On the matter of suitable clothing for your homelands I am completely and utterly in your hands."

Gwydion nodded, picking out some fashionable but modest clothing for Valdra as he spoke. "My hands are pretty inept at this. I'm a warrior, a hunter, and a woodsman from birth, as my father is and his father before him and his father before him. I'm not a women's fashion consultant."

"By the way, so is my brother. Well, Owain anyway. Lewys wantsa to be a storiawr That's why he got so upset with you. You'll find people in this area don't like the suggestion that they're out of touch with nature just because they also have access to the modern world. Unlike the people up in Narich, we try to keep our traditions while adapting to the times as well." He patted her lightly on the shoulder, heading for the register. He was by far the handsomest of the three brothers and the girl at the counter seemed to notice, giggling slightly.

Gwydion turned back to the young exchange student. "As for Elves, modern Elves are...a lot different than you'd think. You should visit Menelmacar sometime."

Valdra looks at the clothes he has chosen amnd shrugs, by this time she is beginning to feel just alittle uncomfortable and instead of feeling that she has caused insult is beginning to feel that she is the one who is being looked down upon.

"Your brother got upset at me because I said he was out of touch with nature ?
No, your brother got upset with me because I stated the plain truth that I was able to use many weapons to hunt with.
Whats wrong?
Is the fact that a female and one of my age could be brought up to use weapons and could possibly be better than you older males?
I will take your comments that I may not know everything in the world and I will bite my tongue when you hide those remarks behind an ill formed mask of a smile, but I will not be insulted by you infering that I am exagerating about what I can do."

"I'm trying to help you here." Gwydion said, his good-nature starting to wear thin. "That's not what you said. You know perfectly well that's not what you said. If you intend to go around insulting everyone you encounter..." He shook his head a little. It was fairly clear that he, who was trying very hard to be kind and understanding to her, was also losing respect for this young woman who had been praised as exemplary by her own people and yet had not learned how to respect others.

"That's everywhere I go in the mall. I guess we should go home now." He walked her back to the car and got the door for her, driving silently for most of the way home.

After he arrived and helped her carry his clothes inside, he and Owain were soon swordfighting in the backyard again, moving with impeccable speed and skill, while Lewys watched admiringly.

Of course, Valdra had never heard anyone use the phrase chill here.

Valdra sat on her bed trying to work out what she had actually said that had made now both of the older brothers alianate her.

She had only said what she knew to be the truth and had been so excited about discussing things with someone other than her own people.

She thought back to what she had said before Owain had become agressive.
She had told him that she was profficient at most types of weapons when she hunted, that was the truth.
She had told him that she was using a skinning knife at a very early age, that was also true.
She had shown him the many scars on her hands from the use of such weapons and tools, they were an unmistakable fact.
How had any of that caused offence? How had that accused him of knowing less than she? How on earth had it said that he "was not one with nature"?

Sighing she continued to herself.
Then there was Gwydion, what did she do their?
Yes she had been 'overly scholarly' in the book shop and she realised she had been lecturing him on things that he probably knew already, but had she insulted him?
Then, well she had brushed off the influences of the Romans, but had realised and had apologised for that.
And the elfen races.
Well those that she knew personally were secretive and kept to themselves.
Those in the countries of her region and a few others that the valkyrja had dealt with were also very isolated by choice, much preferring to be with thier own people and not among the other races.
So again, instead of attacking her why hadn't He asked her about why she felt that way.

She lay back on the overly soft bed trying to think her way around all of this, for a moment she thought of trying to ask Lewys about all of this, but decided not to incase she angered him in some way as well.

It had been a long day and she had been travelling for a long time, she allowed her heavy eye lids to close and was soon asleep.

Valdra was awakened well before dawn the next morning by the sound of an Elven voice speaking in Sindarin about the Menelmacari Stock Exchange. She found that someone, probably Gwynedd, had come in a tucked her snugly into bed while she was asleep. She also saw Lewyn sticking his head in shyly. "Hey, Valdra? Are you up? Father and I are going fishing this morning, if you want to come." He sounded a little worried about her, although he didn't actually say anything about her poor start with his older brothers.

Through the now open door, Valdra could smell eggs and bacon cooking, as well as freshly squeezed oranges. Breakfast was evidently being prepared. She could hear Lloyd complaining from the kitchen. "My stock is down today. It's probably the merging of the Menelmacari and C'tani crowns. People are scared about the new environment. I'll call Bernie. Maybe we should shift something to some of the Knootian companies. Knootoss is an economic powerhouse these days."

Gwynedd could be heard laughing. "Well, I always like to keep my money closer to home, love. You know that."

A little dazed and slightly confused as she relaised she was still fully dressed, it took Valdra a few moments to realsie what Lewys had asked him.
Then when she had, she smiled and shook her head.

"Thank you for the offer Lewys, but I think I'll just spend the day in and around the house, I seem to be rather tired after all the excitement of yesterdays journey, perhaps next time?"

When he had left, she quickly undressed and showered, wrapped in a towel she undid her hair and brushed it vigorously.
Still slightly annoyed and confused about the previous days events she tried to brush them out of her head as she untangled her long hair, scouling at herself in the mirror as she did so.

She hessitated as she chose her clothes, the new ones, stilled bagged and tagged lay where she had put them the previous evening, but instead she chose a long loose fitting dark blue chemise and pulled it over her head.
If everyone was going to react to her as the two brothers had, well there was little point in trying to fit in, she was proud of who she was and no longer cared to try and hide amongst them.

Leaving her room, she made her way down to the kitchen to see if she could help with breakfast.

Over the next week, things went on much as normal at the house. Owain and Gwydion were always out fighting or hunting or fishing. Lewys was always at his studies. Lloyd worked most of the day. Gwynedd cooked.

Lloyd and Gwynedd were very solicitous of Valdra, getting her whatever she wanted to feel more comfortable and at home to make her feel welcome. Gwydion remained perfectly polite around her, always treating her with unfailing kindness and courtesy. However, he made no new attempt to get to know her better, remembering how she'd reacted the first time he'd tried to help her. Owain avoided her altogether. He clearly hadn't forgiven her for insulting him the first time she'd even spoken to him.

Apart from offering to help with the household duties and being pleasant when spoken to Valdra kept herself to herself.
She spent most of her time either reading in her room or wandering the grounds of the house alone.
She was becoming increasingly home sick and missed the company of her friends and the Valkyrja, so for the third night running, she dressed and went into the gardens after everyone had retired to bed.
She had found the perfect tree, thick and lush and sturdy, it was the perfect place just to sit and watch the night sky and wait for the dawn to arrive.

She headed straight for it and deftly climbed up untli she found the fork in the branches that gave her the best view out over the country side and settled herself, leaning against the rough bark of it's trunk.
The night was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and just the slightest of nip in the air.
She looked up at the moon, almost full now, soon the sisterhood, lycanthropes in her region and most trusted friends, would be celebrating it's fullness with thier howls of worship. She smiled at the thought and then turning her attention to the stars began to mentally map out each of their possitions.

Gwynedd stood silently at the back window of the house, watching the young girl sitting out under the tree. Tears were streaming quietly down her face, glistening in the moonlight. One soft hand was resting quietly on the table and the other hung loosely at her side.The light inside was off and she left her presence unannounced.

Lloyd had already retired for the night. Gwynedd had gone with him at the time and he likely was unaware his wife had arisen and gone back downstairs. Owain had gone hunting that day and had not yet come back. Gwydion had not gone with him. The handsome young man had not joined his brother in his outdoor activities for the last several days being rather silent and withdrawn. After dinner that evening, he had retired to his room and had not come out since. A light in his window indicated he wasn't sleeping either. Lewys had spent most of the day in the library before finally heading off to sleep. He, too, still had his light on and the sound of a television could faintly be heard in the hallway outside his room.

Sat high up in the branches, her legs dangling as she looks up at the sky, watching as the moon pales giving way to the dawn.

Her time that night had been spent not just concentrating on the stars and their positions, but whether she should return home and face the fact that she had failed.

The birds increased their pre-dawn chirpings to full song as they welcomed the new day, puffing out their feathers and stretching their wings in preperation for another day of feeding and fighting amongst themselves, as they struggle to gain territory.

Valdra smiled sadly to herself, as she looked over at the house, noticing that there were lights on and assuming that the family had begun to wake. It seemed that the only thing they had in common was that they too were early risers.
Perhaps she was a cuckoo in thier nest?
Possibly they were as uncomfortable with her being there as she felt being with them? She sighed, trying to decide what to do, what was for the best. One thing was for sure, her three nights spent gazing into the sky had made her resolve that she was no longer going to mope and isolate herself.
It was not the way of her people to do so, they faced their problems and at least attempted to solve them and for better or worse that was wht she would do.
She was going to try one more time, then, if it did not work, she could admit defeat and still hold her head up high.

Stretching the chill out of her back and limbs, Valdra twisted and made her way back to the ground, dropping the last ten or so feet with ease.
Brushing herself down, straightening her tunic and fixing a smile on her face, she makes her way back to the house, determined to begin breakfast before the house manages to get themselves down to the kitchen.

Gwynedd pulled away from the window as Valdra came back in and started on breakfast, pretending that was what she had been doing all along. "Good morning, Valdra."

Valdra is surprised to hear Gwynedd's voice as she walked into the kitchen.

She switches the light on, but makes no comment as to why she was there in the semi darkness, or that appeared to have been crying.

"Oh! Good morning, I thought I was the first up. I've errrrr......been for an early morning walk, the gardens are lovley to see as the dawn touches them.
Can I help you with breakfast?"

"You certainly may." Gwynedd said with a small smile. "I was making pancakes this morning. Do you like pancakes, Valdra?"

Valdra smiles as she goes to the cupboard and begins to get out the things needed to make pancakes.

"Yes I do, I like them very much."

Gwynedd smiled as she began to cook. "What kind of pancakes do you like? I can put anything you want in them: Strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, buttermilk, anything you want."

When Valdra turned her back to get the ingredients, Gwynedd tried to wipe the tears from her face. She mixed the pancake batter relatively swiftly and began cooking and flipping the pancakes.

The other members of the familt seemed to still be asleep or to have gone to sleep at this point. Valdra couldn't hear voices or movement except for her and Gwynedd.

"Oh any type of fruit really, I'm not fussy, whatever comes out first"

Valdra turned back to her with plates in her hand and looks at her concerned.

"Gwynedd, I am sorry, I was not going to say anything, but you are obviously upset. Please, is there anything I can do to help?"

Gwynedd nodded. "Blueberry it is then. It's my own personal favorite."She quickly set to work on the batter. It wasn'tong before the smell of blueberry pancakes was filling the house.

The woman turned to Valdra and shook her head. "I'll be fine, Valdra. Thank you for asking me, though. I appreciate the consideration. I rather think that I'm going to like having you as a daughter for the next nine months."

After a few minutes, the males began to enter the kitchen, seemingly drawn by the smell. Lewys came in first, walking quietly and taking his seat. Gwydion followed soon afterwords. "That smells great. Thanks, Mother!"

"Thank Valdra too. She helped." Gwynedd corrected him.

"Thank you both, ladies." Gwydion grinned at them before plopping down at the table. Owain and Lloyd followed a few moments later.

Valdra stayed quiet for the rest of the meal, speaking when spoken to and as politely as she could.

After the meal was finished and she had helped clear things away, she excused herself and went back to her room.
She sat for a while, then, picking up one of the books she had bought, she made her way into the gardens, climbing back up the tree and into 'her' spot high up into the canopy.

The rest of the family went about their business. Valdra didn't see anything of anyone as long as she stayed hidden up in her tree.

It was late mid afternoon before hunger drove Valdra to leave her perch and head off into the kitchen once more.
It seemed that the whole family had been content to go there seperate ways that day.
She opened the fridge and began rummaging to see if she could find something to grab quickly.

Gwynedd was sitting in the kitchen when Valdra walked in, reading a book at the table. She still looked rather upset though she smiled weakly when the girl walked in. "Did you have a nice day, Valdra?" she asked the girl.

She closed her book and set it down. "Lloyd's still at work. Gwydion went hunting. Owain...I'm not sure...he's not here though. Lewys is at the library. That just leaves you and me today."

The older woman rose from her seat and walked over to where Valdra was looking around for a snack. "You missed lunch. We weren't sure where you were and I didn't think you wanted to be disturbed anyway. You've kept to yourself a lot over the last week. I would be happy to make you something if you liked though. Or we could always order Chinese or Pantocratorian. There's one place in town which makes the best roast peacock in all of Shieldcrest, I swear. Lewys can't get enough of it, although the others aren't so fond."

Valdra jumped a little at Gwynedd's voice.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't notice you were there and no it's fine, I can get some cold meats and some cheeses out, with some of that whole grain bread.
But I am certainly going to have to try peacock another time."

She took out the containers, then began slicing herself a chunk of bread.

" I wasn't very hungry earlier and got myself engrossed in a book, I was in the gardens, if ever you need me you only have to shout and I'll hear you."

She pauses for a moment and looks at the older woman.

"Gwynedd, you are very upset about something, is it me? Have I upset you also? I seem to have managed it with your sons and still don't know...well I'm not sure.....what I have done, so I am sure that I could easily upset the rest of your family."

Gwynedd shook her head. "No...Well, I'm not upset with you. I'm worried about you though. I'm supposed to treat you like I treat my own daughter for the year that you're here and I take that very seriously. You seem upset and I don't know what I can do to help. I feel like I'm failing to make you feel at home."

She smiled weakly once more. "I know you got off to a bad start with the boys. That doesn't mean you have to avoid everyone for the rest of the year or worry too much about the possibility of accidentally offending someone to spend time with the family."

She continued, beckoning for Valdra to sit next to her. "Owain is like a lot of warriors. He takes offense easily. He wasn't trying to offend you. He thinks you were trying to offend him. He wants to stop fighting as much as you do; he's just too stubborn to make the first move. And Owain was never offended with you at all. He was just trying to advise you about Owain and doesn't understand why you seemed to pull away."

She smiled and started to rise for the cupboard. "Let me make you a sandwich or something, Valdra. I insist."

Valdra sighs.

"Owain looked down on me and insulted not only me but my family and my people. In trying to belittle me he was saying that he didn't believe I was as I had said and that I could not use the tools of my people. I too am a warrior, I was born into a family of warriors, who are from a Nation of warriors, who have been fighting since the day that Odin and his brothers brought us forth from the giants bones.
Gwydion thinks that I am some know it all, simply because I was eagre to dicuss things with him, things that I know and things that I want to know."

She stands and gets herself a glass of water, pausing to take a long drink.

"I don't want to cause all of this strife, I don't want to make you feel as though you have failed, because in reality it is I who has done that, I have failed and am failing"

Gwynedd proceeded to make Valdra a sandwich. "No, he doesn't, Valdra. He thinks very highly of you. And no one doubts your ability as a warrior. Owain doubted that your whole nation was like that because he found it hard to believe that an entire population could be as impressive as you, because he thought that you would be the cream of the crop anywhere."

"About the Elves thing...maybe Elves in your part of the world are different than the ones we've known. We'd actually all be interested to here about what things are like where you come from. I think, statistically, the largest Elf nations in the world might be the kind Gwydion was talking about...but that's not the point." She shook her head a little.

"Valdra, I think there was just a misunderstanding. You're here to overcome those and learn from them and learn about other people. I'm asking you to put it behind you and start spending time with the family outside of just meal time and to talk more during meals. If you put it behind you, you have my word of honor that I'll make sure the boys do too. Does that sound fair?" She placed the roast beef sandwich she had just made in front of Valdra.

Valdra sat looking at the sandwich in front of her, thinking on what she had heard. Eventually she look up and spoke.

"Yes I will try, I will try because you have taken me into your family and I am making everyone, including yourself unhappy. I don't want that, so where do you think I should start with your sons and how can I stop them from being insulted again?"

"Go hunting with them." Gwynedd said easily enough. "It's something all three of you enjoy doing after all. You'll need to go soon or wait until next weekend, however. School starts on Monday."

She paused, giving more thought to the second part of the question. "I think you should just try and relax and open up, Valdra. You wind up accidentally offending people when you get defensive. You're a very impressive young woman but you don't have to impress anyone here at home or to prove yourself to anyone. You'll always be welcome here no matter what you say or do, even if the boys haven't shown you that very well over the last week."

She sat down across from the young Norse girl, fixing herself a sandwich as well. "So tell me what the Elves are like where you come from. They sound very different from the ones around here. Are they Quendi or Tel-Quessar or some other race of Elves entirely? I don't really know anything about Elves besides what I've seen in movies."

Valdra sighs and picks up her sandwich.

"I will do my best, I really am not trying to impress, I simply just state the truth of the matter, but I will try and think before I act."

She bites her sandwich, chewing with relish, having not realised how hungry she infact was.

"As for the elves that I know of? Well, they are certainly not as Gwydion sees.

They call themselves the Arael, but we know them as Wood Elves.
They came to our lands long ago to live in our forests and to shelter away from the outside world.
They are very emotional people, relying more on their instincts than on their wisdom, though they have much of that also. They are very independent and enjoy hunting.
Humans and even other elves are often seen as intruders by them into their forest homes, it takes a long time to get accepted by a clan of wood elves, but once you are, you are assured of a friend for life.
They are nomadic, only settling down in wooden huts or tents in old age. Their encampments are very hard to find for most people and when they travel further no trace of their presence is usually left.
The Arael are creatures of the forest and only skilled rangers equal them with their knowledge about nature and the woods.

This is why they blend in with us so well, our peoples are very similar, even in looks, some say we decend from them, others that our people and theirs have just found that the same way works."

She realises that as she has been talking, that she had eaten her food and looks down at the empty plate.

"Do you have any of that delicious cake you made?.....If you have, I would really love a piece."

"Hmmm...very interesting." Gwynedd commented. "Those aren't very much like the Elves I've heard about at all. I learned something new today."

She stood up, going to look in the freezer. She got the cake out and cut Valdra a piece, putting it in front of the girl. "There you go, sweetie."

Gwynedd sat down again, going back to work on her sandwich. "How tall are these Arael? Are their ears pointed? Are there very many of them? Are they Odinists like you?" She questioned the girl curiously, leaning forward with honest interest as she awaited Valdra's answer.

"I don't know much about the Elves Gwydion and Lloyd deal with but I know they have space colonies and stock markets and things like that. Very different but then differences are what make us grow, aren't they?" She smiled warmly, maternally, at Valdra. "I hope you're feeling better about staying here."

"The Wood elves are short for elves, mostly under six foot.
They have dark blond hair and usually brown or green eyes and bronzed/brown skins and yes pointed ears.
I believe that the first who came to our lands thought that we were some sort of elfen race, because of our hieght and blond hair. They are still fascinated by our blue eyes and see it as a good omen if one of their kind has them, but it's a little disconcerting when you have half a dozen of them staring into your own eyes like they have been hypnotised.

They aren't Odinists, they don't actually have gods or godesses, they more sort of worship, (if that's the right word?), the land and care for it as though it is a child to be nurtured.
But again, our lesser deities are based upon natural forces, so we can accept and understand them easily and without question. "

She gets up to grab a fork for her cake, resisting the temptation to just pick it up and take a huge bite.

"I don't think anyone actually knows how many are amongst us, but there is room for them in our forests and they are reasonably friendly when they are 'disturbed', which is not often even though we all use the same forests and woodlands."

She smiles at Gwynedd.

"And it is good to talk about something without being made ot feel that I am doing something wrong."

Gwynedd smiled softly at her. "You haven't been doing anything wrong." She paused a moment. "You've been telling me a lot. Do you have anything you want to know about?"

"I have lots to ask about, but before I do that I think I need to get back on a better footing with your sons."

Valdra grins
"Are they all going to be back for dinner or will I have to go and hunt them?"

"They should be back in a couple of hours." Gwynedd said. "What would you like to do until then?"

"Perhaps you could show me how to make this fantasic cake and possibly tell me about your life and what you do, perhaps even what women do in this nation? Your roles seem so different to that of ours."

Gwynedd nodded, starting to make another cake and showing Valdra what she was doing step by step. "Well...correct me if I'm wrong but I get the impression there's a set of skills in your nation that all women learn. They learn to hunt, to fight, to make their kill into food, to serve the Aesir...is that right? If not, I meant no offense and it was an honest mistake."

Whether Valdra found her right or wrong, she continued. "Well, it's not at all like that here. Industrialization also involves a great deal of specialization and different women do different things. Some women prefer to stay at home and take care of their children, like I do. Some women are nurses or schoolteachers or accountants or scientists or politicians. The Prime Minister, Minerva Karamanlis, is a woman. Some women go into the armed forces. Some women work in factories or sew or write for the newspapers or write novels. Some women are ministers or nuns. There's really no what women do so much as there is a great variety of things that different women do, almost as many different things as there are different women."

Valdra waites until Gwynedd has finished.

"Well we really are only here to aid the Valkyrja serve Odin, the Aesir are a different matter, but yes I see your point.
Women specialise in my homeland too, we do what we find we are best at pretty much as your people do.

Why did you choose as you have?"

Gwynedd looked slightly confused for a moment, though she didn't say anything. "I thought the boys would turn out better if they were raised by their mother than by nurses and babysitters and day care workers. Family is more important to me than anything else in the world." She smiled broadly at Valdra. "I guess I must sound horribly boring to you, no?"

"No, not boring"
Valdra answered simply.
"It is as it should be, family must always come first, you have bred the next generation of your kind. Have you done a good job of raising your family?"

"That's not the kind of thing you should ask people, Valdra." Gwynedd chided mildly. "There's no right answer people can give."

Valdra looked down for a moment.

"I'm sorry, perhaps I should have said have you done your best to raise your family and are you proud of them?"

"Then the answer would be yes." Gwynedd said with a genuine smile.

"Then you have performed your duties well and your choice was a good one. If you are proud fo your sons then I must try harder and make you proud that you have had me in your home also.
I will ask them to take me hunting tonight, if they are going and do my best to become friends."

Valdra began to clear away the things they had used for the cake.

"I am a little worried about this school thing.
We don't have that sort of education system in our country, we are educated in small groups then go off to what you would probably term a University, to further our education in our chosen field.
As an initiate I now spend my time with the Valkyrja, learning their ways and researching our histories. I'm not sure how I am going to fit in with a school full of strangers all doing different things, it is a little daunting."

"You can make me proud by being yourself." Gwynedd said, smiling as the girl cleaned up the dishes.

Gwynedd nodded as Valdra spoke about school. "It might well be hard for you. I'm sure that you'll do well if you put your heart into it though. The kids will like you once they get to know you."

Valdra sighed.

"I really hope so, it is bad enough having two huffing at you, but a whole class? Is it a really big school? Do you know any who will be there? What on earth do I do when I get there? I don't even know where the school is!"

"Well, we're going to take you, Valdra. You don't have to know where it is." Gwynedd answered her. "In the whole school, there's about a thousand people. Lewys will be at the same school but not the same grade so you probably won't have many classes together, if any at all. He can, however, show you around."

"When you get there, you go to your homeroom. They'll let us know which one it is beforehand. The instructor there will go over all sorts of rules and policies with you before dismissing you to your classes. Essentially, you just follow the schedule you'll be given. If you can't find a room, you can always ask people for directions. I'm sure they'd be happy to help." Gwynedd continued.

"There's an open field in front of the school. You can eat your lunch there if you wish and catch some air. I know you don't like staying inside for such long periods."

Valdra listened carefully to what Gwynedd was telling her, but she may have been speaking a foreign language for all she could understand of it.
Homeroom? Being dismissed to classes?

However, she smiled and nodded.

"Well, if Lewys is going to be there, then I am sure I am in safe hands and I think I'll soon find out where the libruary is!"

She laughs

"I'll even drag him away from his books long enough to share that fresh air with me and eat some lunch......
Still a thousand people seems an awful lot!"

Gwynedd just smiled. "I'm sure you'll adjust. It's not really all that many once you get used to them. It isn't as though you'll all be in the same room or anything."

She smiles and shrugs.

"Well I really am going to have to if I'm going to make it through this year....."

Valdra looks at the time.

"It's getting late, I suppose we need to start dinner now?
They say that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach, so I think I will try my best and help you cook a dinner worthy of your men folk."

Gwynedd grinned. "Why don't you make something from your homeland? I'm sure everyone would love it!"

Valdra thinks for a moment.
"Well it's too late for this evening, but I could do that at the weekend, especially if I can get to go hunting"

She grins.

"I doubt any would deny that my sauces for game were not good.....unless they are vegetarian of course!
But I am afraid that they take some time to prepare, so we couldn't just dash it off for this evening."

Gwynedd nodded. "You can go hunting with the boys tomorrow and cook the day after. You start school the day after that. Meanwhile, we can make some pigeon pie." Gwynedd went to work cooking, instructing Valdra in helping her.

Lloyd was the first home, walking straight into the kitchen from the front door. "Good evening. How are the two prettiest ladies in Shieldcrest?"

"Just making dinner." Gwynedd answered. "Valdra's cooking in two days. She's going to make us something from back in her home country."

Lloyd nodded slightly. "That does sound delightful. Did you see the news today? Grand Duchess Morgan is going to the North Atlantic negotiations."

"Really?" Gwynedd sounded rather surprised. She then turned to Valdra. "Have people been paying attention to this situation among your people or should we catch you up?"

Valdra looked up when Lloyd entered and blushed a little at his compliment, wiping a smut of flour off her face.

"The Valkyrja, under the guidance of Odin, deal with all international matters, our people prefer to keep their minds to their own business.
But I am in your country now, so what matters effect it, effects me. Please, tell me why it is so surprising that a Grand Duchess should involve herself in these matters."

"Well, she hasn't involved herself." Lloyd explained. "The High King has involved her. Who knows why? It's a matter for diplomats. We elected a government for a reason, after all. The Foreign Ministry should handle it."

"I'm sure His Majesty has his reasons, dear." Gwynedd chided. She then turned to Valdra. "The Grand Duchy of Saxmere wants to secede from the Confederation of Sovereign States. Everyone wants to recognize them except the Knootians who are making trouble."

"That's all Knootians do." Lloyd commented. "Spying, treacherous, atheistic, honorless....Nevermind. What will you be making in two days Valdra?"

"Sometimes it takes a reprisentataive of the head of a Nation to step in as well as the diplomats, perhaps this is why the King has sent the Duchess, as his representative?
Brusca often sends one of the other Valkyrja top other nations on diplomatic missions, but when it comes down to it, if there are problems, then she also goes."

She pauses for a moment trying to measure her words.

"These Knootians do indeed seem to be a problem, but not all of their nation must be the same. When you call them Atheistic, do you mean that they follow no Deity at all?"

Lloyd nodded. "Most of them don't. In fact, they consider religious people, people who worship one or more dieties, to be second class citizens. It's acceptable to publically attack someone or suggest that they shouldn't be allowed to hold public office just because they serve a diety. They'd probably write your people off as barbarians."

"Lloyd!" Gwynedd snapped.

"Well, we don't think that here, of course, but I'm just telling her what Knootians are like." He shrugged, not thinking he's said anything offensive. "In fact, Valdra, did you know some of them, instead of any diety, literally worship human greed?"

Gwynedd nodded somberely. "And we're allied with these people for some reason. I don't know what Lacau was thinking."

Lloyd shrugged. "Well, Llewellyn's in the government now. Maybe we can lose them. Anyway, Valdra, you'll learn more about how the Danaan government works in school, but we elected Prime Minister Karamanlis to handle this kind of thing. She's our nations leader. The king is just our ruler."

Valdra smiles.

"Gwynedd, the United Nations calls us a corrupt dictatorship, so being termed as barbarians is a very mild slite, even if Lloyd had meant it to be his opinion.
But we don't care about what others think, we know what we are. We are proud of our herritage and of how we live, how others see us is not our concern.

These so named Allies seem to be a burdon, hopefully the situation will be resolved soon.
You see sometimes, the simple way of being lead is better.
The Valkyrja trust a nation and they allow them to join us, they have favourable dealings with another region and they become our allies. They are our most trusted, in life as well as death and Odin's hand maidens, so why doubt their judgement?"

"They trust another region?" Lloyd asked in slight confusion. "Not other countries?"

Gwynedd laughed a little. "Yes, well...no one really cares about the UN any more. Their attempts to legislate for individual countries have cost them all international credibility."

Valdra looked confused.

"But of course the Valkyrja have allied themselves with other countries and those within our region have done so too, though even then they look to the Valkyrja to ensure that they are safe and cared for.
The Valkyrja will also shelter others within their boundaries until they find their feet or are able to sort their problems out, then if they wish, they may leave or stay.
They visit many countries and there have been marriages between some which strengthen us even more.

Our Region has a strong alliance with another region who can provide us with that which our region lacks and that is modern weaponry and a fighting force to go with it. All of that regions countries have pledged to aid us and we them, should there be a need. In fact one who is sister of the Valkyrja resides within that region."

She turns to Gwynedd.

"I have tried to understand why the United Nations still try to impose their rules upon others, we have few in our region who are members and that is for political reasons only, they are rarely active within the organisation."

Lloyd nodded a little. "Maybe you should explain how people in your country think about regional matters to Gwynedd and me. It sounds as though it is very different to how such matters are thought of here."

Gwynedd nodded. "Well, fortunately the United Nations doesn't bother you if you're not a member."

Valdra thought for a while trying to put a complicated matter into reasonably simple terms, then thinking about it she realised that it wasn't complicated at all.

"Our region has thirteen Countries within it's boarders and of that thriteen ten of those are of traditional Nordic Decent.
Even the Lycanthrope Sisterhood, Werewolves of a sort, trace their ancestry back to the time when the Gods were stronger and the old religions were young. So they have a strong bond with Fenris Hoard, Wolfen and Grendel's Lair who are Berserkers by nature and tradition.
Of the other three, two came with the Valkyrja when they formed the place we now live and they are welcomed and treated with the same respect and dignity.
The other asked for aid and shelter and was given a safe and secure home amongst us.
All of the Nordic Nations look to the Valkyrja for guidance and leadership, so while they have their own leaders and governments or heads of state, the Valkyrja are taken into concideration.
If there is a problem , we act as one and solve it together.

The region we are allied with has a founder who is of Nordic decent. He values our values as do others in their region and we know that we can trust him and his regions nations to help us it there is a problem we are unable to handle.
Infact he has one within his Region who is as important to us as the Valkyrja are and he ensures that she is kept safe and is well looked after as she does for him."

Lloyd nodded. "That's very good to know, Valdra, but I was asking something a little bit more fundamental. We want to know about how you think of the concept of a region. In the Resurgent Dream, the idea of our region having allies would literally make no sense. We want to know what a region is to you that it can have things like allies and leaders in the first place."

"Then it is simple, we see our region as a village, each family has it's home and the Valkyrja is the head of the village, who looks after our interests and speaks for us.
Some regions we also see as a village, as they act in the same way as we do, as one looking after each other, so we make friends with the whole. Some regions do not, but it doesn't stop us popping over to that village to visit the odd friends home and lending them a hand when they are in need of it."

"Interesting." Lloyd said, seeming rather thoughtful. He sat down and looked out the window, reflective.

"You said there were two nations in your region which weren't Norse?" Gwynedd inquired.

"Three actually, that have no apparent Norse herritage."

Although Valdra didn't mind being asked these questions she was becoming increasingly puzzled by them.

Gwynedd nodded. "I was asking what sort of heritage they do have. What drew them to such a Norse oriented community? I would love to hear more."

"I can't really answer that fully, they were with us from the founding of our region, they liked us and asked to join us when we broke away from another place.
That place had many types of Nation within their region and we had made friends with many of them, the two who are in question wanted to leave with us.
At least that is what is said in the history of our home, I am too young to have beenn there at that time.
They are modern humans, of course there is obviously some Norse in their blood, but not noticeable.
Their modern aproach to life somehow compliments our more traditional ways.

Other nations now join us for different reasons, some because they are of Norse decent, some because thay have need of the company and safety we can offer, even if it is for a short time, we welcome them and relish their different aproach to life."

Lloyd nodded slightly. "Interesting."

Lewys got home around this time, heading for the kitchen. As soon as he arrived, he handed Valdra a bouquet of flowers with a card saying simply 'Welcome'. "I thought you might like them."

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help Lloyd, perhaps you should speak to the Valkyrja, they would be much better at explaining the reasons, I have a lot of studying to do before I reach the stage where I would be concidered knowledgeable on the matter."

Hearing the door, she turns as Lewys enters.

"AWWWWWWWW......Lewys! I don't know what to say, no-one has ever given me flowers before!"

She inspects the flowers and smiles as she reads the card.

"Thank you, I'll press some of them to keep and the others I will put in a vase so that we can all enjoy them."

She leans over and hugs him, then plants a kiss firmly on his cheek.

Lewys hugged her back and grinned. "Are you sure? That sounds very surprising. Beautiful women should be given flowers on a regular basis."

"Thank you, Lewys. That was very nice of you." Gwynedd said. "Valdra was just telling us about the part of the world she's from. It's very different from Tareldanore."

"Can you imagine if all the nations of Tareldanore were allied?" Lloyd asked.

"Well..." Gwynedd drifted off for a moment, considering it. "I don't think I would like it very much at all, not with some of our neighbors."

Valdra laughs at Lewys.
"With charm like that, you should have a string of girls following you!"

She begins to arrange the flowers in a vase while the family continue the discussion.

"I sorry, but I must ask you this, if your neighbours are so despicable and you have so much trouble, why does your nation tolerate it?
Of course we have disagreements and frustrations, but that is natural, we cannot be of the same mind or we would just be boring.
However, if the Valkyrja had such a problem and harmony was being destroyed then steps would be taken to resolve the problem.
If, when all else failed, that could not be done, they would simply be asked to leave.
There is enough trouble in the world in which we live in, without those close to us behaving in such a way."

"How would they leave?" Lloyd and Gwynedd both asked in a very incredulous tone of voice. They were just staring at Valdra, incredibly confused now.

Lewys sighed slightly. "Valdra, it's a continent, not an alliance. Countries are here because here is where they're physically located on the Earth's surface. They never came here and they never will leave here. They only move when the Earth's tectonic plates move. It's geography, not politics."

Valdra looks totally confused and sighs.

"There's a lot to learn here, a lot. I hope that the Valkyrja have chosen the right person to do it......"

She continues to arrange the flowers, that done, she turns back.

"But I'll not learn it in one day and there's dinner to cook."

"Well..." Gwynedd said. "...you don't need to feel under pressure to learn everything. You're supposed to learn by immersion. Besides, the Valkyrja have choosen a brave, determined, intelligent, beautiful, polite young lady. I don't see how they could have done any better."

"Yes....yes I know, I have plenty of time"

Valdra begins preparing the vegetables.
"I only hope I can take it all in and make enough sense of it in the end?"

She looks at the clock.
"What time are we eating? I think thses pies are ready for the oven now."

"In another hour." Gwynedd said. "You boys go watch television or something while Valdra and I cook."

Lloyd and Lewys wandered off, the television soon coming on in the other room. After a few moments, they could hear Owain and Gwydion coming in. Gwynedd finished making dinner with Valdra's help.

Valdra became quieter when the two older boys returned, but as they sat down to dinner she made herself smile and tried her best to be pleasant to them, not mentioning anything contentious in her conversations.

Gwydion smiled at Valdra as they all made small talk. "Father said you taught him a lot of new things today. Your culture is very interesting, ma'am."

"No more interesting as yours is to me really, we are both very different in out outlooks, though as far as I can see, neither of us in wrong, just different."

As Gwydion had actually spoken to her first, she siezed the opertunity to keep the conversation open.

"What have you been doing today? I have spent my time in a favourite spot in the garden and then talking to your mother. Oh and learning how to cook that fantastic cake that she makes."

He smiled warmly. "You do seem to like the garden a lot. I was up at the church actually. Owain and I are going hunting tomorrow though. Do you want to come?"

Valdra looked mildly suprised.
"What at your church all day? Was there some need to pray all that time?"

She realises that she may be prying, those who spent that time in devotion to Odin usually had something serious to atone for, so she quickly changes the subject.

"Errrrr...yes I would like to come hunting, what type of game is there around her and what weapons do you recomend I use?"

Gwydion smiled. "Oh, there's deer, hare, fox, pheasant, gryffon..."

"What do you need for the meal Sunday night?" Gwynedd asked.

"I was hoping for boar, but vennison will do fine, will we be woodland hunting or grassland?"

Valdra pauses foe a moment, trying to measure her tone so as not to sound offencive.

"If you don't mind, I would rather not hunt gryphon, it would be against our ethos to hunt mystical animals of any kind."

"We will be woodland hunting." Gwydion said. "And deer will be fine. We don't need to hunt gryffon or those bizarre gryffon dogs."

"Gryffon.....dogs....."

Valdra nodded but made no further comment on the matter.

"Then I shall use my crossbow if that is permissable? Or shotgun perhaps, my long bow doesn't do well in woodland and I prefer a quick clean kill."

Gwydion smiled. "It's been years since I used a crossbow but...can't hurt to get back into practice."

"How about some modern bows?" Owain asked. "They're about the size of short bows, easy to use, with the range and force you get with a long bow."

"They do work in the woods." Gwydion conceded. "It's up to Valdra."

"I think, as we are hunting, I would rather use something that I am used to, I don't want there to be suffering because I am innept with a weapon, so I'll stick to the crossbow.
Though I'd love to try a short bow, though I don't think that I'd give up the long bow ever, it is becoming a lost skill even among our people.
Perhaps I could borrow one and do some target practice sometime?"

"Crossbows it is then." Gwydion said with a grin as he continued eating.

Valdra grinned back.

"Of course we don't all need to use the same weapons, it's not a contest or anything.
When are we going, dawn, dusk or night? I will have to dress accordingly."

Valdra laughs at what she has just said.

"And no, before anyone says, I will not be wearing an evening gown if it's to be at night!"

The family laughed, although none of them would have thought to say anything on those lines if Valdra hadn't. "At dawn." Gwydion answered.

Valdra smiled.

"My favourite time of day for almost everything. Well, after dinner, I think I'll spend some time assembling and checking my crossbow and bolts, it seems an age now since I hunted."

Owain smiled. "Really? I'd assumed you did it often back home. What does normally fill your days of the recent past?"

He paused a moment, considering. "If it isn't prying, of course."

Valdra grinned.

"Why I hunted almost every day at home, which is why it feels as though I have not hunted in an age as I have done none here.
As for my days spent at home?
They are mostly spent in study, there is a lot to be learned if I am to become Valkyrja and helping out where needed.
This may be tending to the war horses that roam the land, or anyone who needs help, from villagers to the Valkyrja.I had just finnished helping to build a new longhouse before I came here, most of us can turn our hands at most any type of work."

Lloyd nodded slightly. "A loss of self-sufficiency is one of the downsides to an industrial society. It would be not just rare but impossible for someone to learn all the tasks that go on every day in the Resurgent Dream."

"It must be very nice." Gwynedd said whistfully, smiling broadly at Valdra.

"Yes, that is very apparent, there are so many different parts to your society, so it is reasonable for people to specialise in one only.
We rty to be self sufficient, so only use and produce what we need and what is needed by others in our region, so trade with them.
Perhaps your selves should come and stay with us in a hunting lodge for a few weeks?"

"That sounds lovely." Gwydion said with a broad smile.

"Then when you have your next holiday, you must allow me to take you there."

Valdra stands and begins to collect the dishes.

"I'm afraid that you will now have to endure my first attempt at a cake, but it's OK, I'll make coffee to go with it and hope that it's strong enough to wash away the taste."

She makes her way to the kitchen balancing the heavy pile of plates as she does so.

"I'm sure it will be delicious." Lewys said with a grin.

"Cake's always delicious." Owain added teasingly.

"Well it is when your mother cooks it anyway......"

She continues to make her way into the kitchen.

"And speaking of mothers, is one or more of her sons going to help clear the table or must she get up and do it?"

Owain quickly cleared the table. "Yes, ma'am, Miss Valdra. I'll do it."

The following morning Valdra is up two hours before dawn.
She has dressed herself in deer skin trousers and light wieght hunting tunic, the belt at her waist has a large sheathed hunting knife attached to it.

She puts on coffee and sits at the table checking her bolts, running each flight through practiced fingers. After disguarding a couple, she picks up her crossbow and starts to re-check that it is strung and assembled correctly.

Owain and Gwydion came in with their crossbows already ready. They had prepared in their rooms. "Are you ready, Valdra?" Gwydion asked.

"I've been ready for hours!"

Valdra grinned as she clipped her bolt quiver to her belt and slung her crossbow over her shoulder.

"Lead the way gentlemen"

The two boys walked out behind the house, heading into the wooded area. They kept walking for about an hour until they were well away from the settled area. They and Valdra hunted for many hours. Game was moderate in quantity.

Disreguarding most of the deer she had seen, Valdra continued to search for the one she was looking for.
Though she nodded and made short quiet comments to the two young men with her, she mostly kept quiet and to herself.
Then the perfect buck came in sight.
Not a huge stag that you would expect her to go for, she had allowed those and the females to pass her by, but a reasonably sized, just mature male, perfect she judged for the family to have several meals from.

Breathing gently, she crouched a little lower in the ferns of the woodland floor and loaded a bolt onto the already primed crossbow. She took a few moments to watch the deer's movements, it grazed happily and without sings of worry on the thick clump of ferns in front of it.
Valdra checked around making sure that neither Owain nor Gwydion were about to stumble accidently into her line of fire, then raising her crossbow to her shoulder, she aimed, held her breath and fired.

Owain smiled as he came up beside Valdra. "Good one, Valdra. That'll make a nice meal or three." He put a hand on her shoulder briefly, grinning down at her.

"Well, I didn't want to take too much, but too little would also be a waste.This way we can use what we need for tonight and hang the rest to mature. I'll show you how we cure skins as well if you want?

They walked over to the deer, Valdra leant over it and turned it's head.
The bolt had almost travelled straight through it's neck, severing it's main artury and collapsing it's airways with it's force.

She nods with satisfaction, happy that she has made a good clean kill.

"How about you and Gwydion, had any luck?"

"Well, I got one anyway." Owain said with a slight smirk. "I haven't seen Gwydion in about twenty minutes. He likely got one too, though. We'll use yours for our own food and share the other two with the neighbors. How's that sound?"

"Perfect, it's always good to share any kill, sort of evens the balance.
Talking of sharing, is it allowed for me to gut this carcass here? We always leave the innerds for the corvids and the other scavengers, sort of making sure that nothing is wasted."

"Sure. Go right ahead." Owain answered.

Valdra was obviously relieved, that part of the hunt and the sharing of the kill was very important in the way in which she lived her life.

She pulled a rope from a pouch she wore at her hip and deftly tied the deer's hing legs together.
Finding a stout branch, she threw the other end over and hauled the carcass up off the ground.
Pulling out her hunting knife she proceded to gut the deer, very apparent to any who watched that she was very used to doing so.

Owain watched with a small smile. "I can see why Lewys likes you so much."

Valdra paused, wiping her hands unceremoniously on the thigh her trousers.

"Oh? I wasn't aware that Lewys liked me.
Well he's always been really pleasant, but what interest would gutting an animal have to an interlectual like your younger brother?"

"It's beautiful women that are of interest to my younger brother." Owain said with a slight chuckle.

Valdra rubbed her nose, leaving a smudge of blood behind from her hand and stared at Owain in disbelief.

"Beautiful women? Then he's not exactly in the right place is he?"

She leans over and wipes her blade on the grass.

"I know he gave me flowers, but....well....he's young......"

Owain just smirked in a rather amused fashion, not commenting further. He went to gut his own horse and soon he and Gwydion appeared once more with a goodly amount of venison. "Shall we?" Gwydion asked.

Valdra stared after Owain a bemused look on her face, which turned to a smile as Gwydian appeared.

Throwing her crossbow over one shoulder and heaving the deer carcass onto the other, not even caring that her clothes would soon be caked in blood, she followed Gwydian through the woods.

"Your brother says some of the strangest things, I wonder where they come from sometimes.... He seems to think that Lewys has some sort of crush on me, utter rubish of course....."

"Of course." Gwydion said with a small smirk. "Very few thirteen year old boys develop crushes on pretty girls near them after all." He laughed slightly at his own joke.

"Oh come on! He probably just thinks of me as a sister!"

Valdra pushes him playfully in the back.

"Why would he think of me as anything else adn now I'm pretty am I?"

She snorts, pretending to be indignant.

"At least Owain lied calling me beautiful, he's got style, much more than some-one else we know, not so far away."

Gwydion laughed louder as she shoved him. "Owain's not a liar, Valdra. You know you're pretty. Lewys has certainly noticed it." He patted her in the shoulder as they walked.

Valdra huffs.

"To be honest I have never thought of it, I am just as I am.....not ugly, not beautiful, just .... well .... me"

"Right. Beautiful." Gwydion said with the same playful smirk.

"OOOOOOOOO......."

Valdra is so intent on trying to swat Gwydion around the back of the head, thet she doesn't see the hoop of briars at her feet. Her snagged foot halts her causing her already off balanced body to sprawl head first, into the thorn laden thicket.
She realised that she was heading for a collision with a tree, but the weight of the deer on her back gave her no chance to save herself, all she could do is turn her head slightly to shield her eyes form a low branch.

With a sickening thump, her head hit the trunk.

When Valdra came to, she was lying in her bed and Gwynedd was pressing a warm cloth to her bumped head. There was still throbbing pain. "Are you alright, sweetie?" Gwynedd asked. "You took a pretty nasty fall, the boys say."

Valdra whinced with pain, her head thumping.

"My fault, I was too busy trying to clip Gwydion for some silly remark he made to watch where I was putting my feet."

She put her hand up to her temple and felt the lump.

"Ouch!......saw the tree but couldn't stop myself in time.....How did I get back here and how long have I been out?"

"Gwydion carried you." Gwynedd said. "Owain brought back your kill. They had to abandon the other two deer to get you here in a hurry but they made sure to bring yours."

Valdra sighed and rested her head back on the pillows.

"I really good at making first impressions aren't I?"

"Don't worry about it, sweetie." Gwynedd said.

"Well, bump on my head or not I am going to make dinner........well going to make dinner for tomorow now I am afraid, it needs to be cooked long and slow."

Despite her eyes still being a little blurry, Valdra throws the covers off and sits on the side of the bed.

"And that vennison won't clean itself"

Gwynedd gently but firmly guided Valdra back into bed. "The boys already took care of it. You're going to rest for awhile. Is there anything I can get you?"

Valdra sighs.

"No, nothing thank you"

She gives Gwynedd a weak and apologetical smile.

"I have had worse you know, this is just a bump on my head. My bruised ego is far worse.
I wanted to prove that I wasn't just some 'pretty girl' who couldn't even tie her own shoe laces. Instead I end up getting carried back here like some baby, cause a load of fuss and will probably have your sons agreeing amongst themselves, that I'm only good for looking at."

Gwynedd laughed slightly, gently running a hand through Valdra's hair. "No one meant you were inept. Just because you're beautiful doesn't mean you're not also competent."

"Oh it's just that, well it may be that I'm in a house full of men..... At home I am just me, I've never really though of my looks and I don't consider myself beautiful, I'm just me......"

She sighs.

"Everything I do turns out not right, everything I say seems to be either suprising or insulting and now I'm told that your youngest has a crush on me and that I am beautiful!"

"Well, there's nothing wrong with that." Gwynedd said softly. "You're still adjusting to some things but you're worrying too much. You can relax with us, you know?"

"Thats the trouble Gwynedd, everytime I do relax and try to be myself something happens. This is so different from home that I don't know which way to turn. There doesn't seem to be any common denominator here, we even hunted differently."

She shakes her head and shrugs, then pushing her hair back with her hand she smiles a little.

"I supose this is why I am here.....to learn that things are very different in the outside world and so much more confusing into the bargain."

Gwynedd laughed softly. "I'm sure we'd be just as confused in your country."

"Possibly, guests there are given a lodge, all that they would need for their visit and a host if they wish it. Then they are left to do as they wish.......Yes I see what you mean......it is certainly different to what you have here."

She smiles at Gwynedd.

"Thank you, you always seem to make it better.
Can I at least get up and go into the garden and get some fresh air?
I promise I won't do any thing, I'll just sit."

"Certainly." Gwynedd answered. "Do you mind if I go with you?"

Valdra grinned.

"I would love it! I'll even show you my hiding place, your sons would be suprised if they knew, it's in that tree that Lewys likes sitting under......."

She gets up and pads out of the room bare footed.

Gwynedd followed her. "And they have no idea?"

Valdra grinned, her eyes twinkling.

"None that I know of and I'm sure they wouldn't have made such a huge show of not knowing where I was when they have come to find me."

They walk over to the tree and stopping far enough away for Gwynedd to see, but near enough for Valdra to point it out easier, she shows the forked branch where she sits high up in the canopy.

"I didn't choose it because it was easy to spy on them. I chose it because it is safe, well sheltered and has the most fantastic view over the gardens and country side. It's also an easy climb up there, I'm suprised that they haven't used it before now."

"They really have no need for a hiding place." Gwynedd said. "Not since they were very little, anyway."

"Oh it's not just the hiding, it's the view and the climbing. It's amaizing what you can see from there......"

She smiles at Gwynned, thinking for a moment.

"When was the last time you climbed a tree?"

"Years ago." Gwynedd answered. "Do you want me to join you?"