Name The Unnamed [Mysa]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

On the shores of the Bay of Fridheim.

Rocking gently on the lapping waters, rides a small fishing boat tied to the jetty. Around the hull small flashes of silver light bounced off the scales of tiny fish, no bigger then an inch, feeding on what water creatures they could find. Théo pulled off his boots tired the laces together and threw them at his pack sitting on the stoney shore before he rolled up his trouser legs. He waded out to the boat, unceremoniously threw the pack and boots in the boat before he began to check the sail and sheets.

The night before he had spent with his family in their new home father had built with his own hands, Mysa had been there with them but they did not have a chance to properly catch up. She had been very introspective the whole night, although greeted everyone with her smile, there was something behind her eyes that worried Théo. He could not leave Midvinter to return to the Iron Empire without knowing what was going on in her head. He had not known of her recent past.

It would be good for them both to get away for a while, to reconnect as they had not seen each other in some time. His duty to the Empire keeping him away and his new found position weighted heavy on his young shoulders. Like father, he relished it though. "Hey!", he suddenly shouted as one of the tiny fish took a nip at his feet in the water, and by the Gods the water was cold as ice. Even in the summer months of this fair planet.

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg1t56JucE4​

 

[Lief]

The Shores of Fridheim​

Midvinter​

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx4Hjq6KwO0​

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You say you wander your own land​

But when I think about it I don't see how you can​

You're aching, you're breaking, and I can see the pain in your eyes​

​

So much had happened since the two wayward adventurers had last been together for more than a few moments. The Battle for Thainbroek had seen the siblings back to back against foes far more deadly than either could possibly understand, with the Gods of their land by their side. In many ways they had still been little more than children during that time, with illusions about the Galaxy, the staunch belief that Good would always triumph over Evil.

But that wasn't the case, was it?

They had been forced to grow up so quickly since that time. She had not seen Belawir of the Lady Doe since the battle, she felt forsaken by the Gods as Thrand was struck down, as Joon tore apart everything she had come to know, as the Alchemical Fiend tore at her sanity. She felt lost among the people who had saved her, who had given her place and purpose. The wide eyed child had been replaced by a far more cynical young woman, and just one look at her brother was all she needed to see the change in him too.

Then again, he even looked older. When had that shaggy beard come into play?

Stepping down along the decline which led to sandy shores, Mysa inhaled a salty breath of air and sighed. One hand lifted to the frir at her throat, a gift from her mother, and she simply clutched it for several moments. There would be no repeat of the deadly Temple, she would not be forced to press a distress beacon for hours on end if anything went awry. This was her home, these were her people.

She could never be afraid on Midvinter. Not truly.

"Maybe they're mad at you for the time you wore their guts in your hair" she smirked, watching Théo's struggles with the fishies while pushing her insecurities deep down within herself. "Careful they don't eat your toe, probably looks like a worm to them."

Leaning down she unlaced her own boots, attached them to her pack by their laces, and flung it over her shoulder to join him within the shallows. Both hands pushed against the edge of the boat, two sets of hands could make better work of it than one after all, while she admired the view. How dearly she had missed her home, there really was nowhere quite like it in all the Galaxy.

Felix was back home with Gideon, no doubt trying to sly a few bites of his breakfast when the poor man wasn't looking. He claimed to have trained him out of it, but Mysa knew better. Her frir cub was ever the handful.

[member='Théodred Heavenshield']

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

And so here was another one. Sisters that seemed to have discovered a new found wit, Theo smirked. "You are late, and if you don't hurry up we will miss the tide". All of a sudden Theo scooped up Mysa in his arms lifting her out of the water and made to throw her into it, but he did not release her instead he placed her in the boat with all her stuff. After which, he leaped in himself, "If I recall correctly, it was you that was covered in it".

What did not happen often in those days of youth was his show of affection, things had changed greatly since then as his arms wrapped around his sister engulfing her in his embrace. A gentle kiss was placed atop her head and he held her for some time before releasing her to look into her pretty face. "I have missed you greatly Wriggles, I do love you". It had been way too long since he told her such.

He lifted his gaze to the sail that once flapped idly but suddenly filled as the wind shifted only to billow and pull against the moorings. "The wind favours us, that take advantage of it. Have you sailed before?". He asked while throwing the ropes that secured the boat to the water and immediately the small boat began to move out into the bay. Today was designed to be one of leisure, to spend some time with Mysa alone and catch up on what they had both been doing over the time spent apart. They would make for the mouth of the bay and into the Great Maw and hug the coastline until they desired to stop.

Theo took position on the tiller, his other hand pulling the sheet to hold the mast, if Mysa had not experience in sailing, she was about learn.

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAbx5kgCJo​

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I wish I could be the perfect daughter...​

"I had to tend to Felix" she said, pulling a face as they worked together to get the boat the final few feet. Without warning he plucked her from the surf and tossed her alongside her belongings into the boat. With a gasp she shook her head at him, and could not help but laugh. "I think both of us were well and truly covered in fish stink that day..." A small sigh as she looked away, "What happened to those days?"

She leaned into his embrace and allowed herself just a moment of comforting respite. "I have missed you too, brother" she whispered, "more than you could possibly understand." Being without her partner in crime had been tough, especially with the disappearance of Darien heavy on her heart, and the loss of Thrand, and the faces which had been etched into her mind. "Never doubt that I love you too, even if you are a pain at times."

Unable to allow herself to get too comfortable she sat upright and stuck her tongue out at him. Then talk turned serious.

"I've driven sleds, I'm mushed frir, but never have I had cause to sail..." Her expression became somewhat apologetic, yet another thing she failed at. Hopefully she could learn quickly, though, she did not want to hold up this mini-expedition of theirs! She set their belongings to one side, securing them down so that they would not end up over the edge if a high wave caught them, before looking to her brother.

"What can I do?"

[member='Théodred Heavenshield']

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Bending over to secure the loose oars under the plank seating, Théo lifted his head to look up at the tell tale, "We have the wind so heading out will be easy enough, getting back? .. well we will worry about that later. Take the rudder Mysa, the only way to learn how to sail is to sail. Keep the sail full and see that piece of cloth up on the top of the mast .. that will indicate wind change and direction". He shot her first lesson in instruction. Once the oars were secured he grabbed the sheet to tie it off securing the mainsail in place. The only sail.

Once his work was complete, Théo found a nice comfortable place in the boat rested his legs on the seat opposite leaned back with her arms behind his head and closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. A smile slowly formed on his lips as one eye opened to see what Mysa was doing. If anything was going to take her mind off things for a while, this would be it.

"What do you mean, 'what happened to those days', honestly you can be so morose sometimes. We may not be children anymore, but we can still have our adventures, I would not miss spending time with you for anything". She was right they did not have the freedom to do so at will anymore, but surely they could find time from... time to time. With what was happening in theirs lives, this time spent was important.

He lacked the knowledge of what she had been through, yet there was a sense of sorrow about her that he had never felt before. "How is that boyfriend of yours? whats his name? Crowsfeet?, .. Crowshead? Crowsarse? oh wait... Crowseye, that's it right". Fully expecting something wet and soggy to hit him in the face, Théo sat up to take action if needed, but the biggest silliest grin looked back at her.

"What say you take us out of the bay and into the Maw, let me know when we approach the reef, the fishermen tell me it is dangerous", he added looking pass her to the mouth, but they are far from it at present. He leaned forward with elbows on knees hands clasped before him, he studied his sisters face as she was distracted with her captaining the boat. "Where have you been?", he asked suddenly, something was up with her and he wanted to know. If something plagued her, or if someone hurt her .. he wanted to know.

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[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

Swiftly did her crash course in sailing begin; She moved across the rocking boat, toward where he pointed, and took hold of the rudder. While she did not know if it was wise letting her oversee their direction, she knew that there was no way she would have successfully tied off the mainsail. It wasn't as if she had ever had cause to tie many knots before, especially not nautical ones.

Lifting her gaze she focused on the small piece of cloth he mentioned, seeing which way the wind was pulling it, and nodded. "Got it." Well, she didn't really, this was confusing to her, but she would try her best regardless. The boat pulled away from the shore once the wind caught the sail, and Mysa focused on directing it away from the worst of the shallows.

"It was easier when we were younger" she said, with a distracted tone. Between the rudder, the topsail, and the very real threat of running into rock or ground, she was well and truly forced to focus on sailing above all else. "The Galaxy didn't seem quite so dark as it does now." But he was right, nothing was stopping them from finding time to explore, to adventure. Perhaps they would find cause to work together, too. She knew Théodred did not walk alongside the Silvers these days, but that didn't mean he wasn't a Jedi at heart.

Talk turned to Gideon, and she smiled and nudged her brother's foot with her own. Damn protective brothers, always nosing around in their sisters business, and making jokes out of things. She contemplated spraying him with water, but thought better of it. It was a cold day, last thing he needed now was to get sick.

"He's doing well..." She trailed off for a moment, before frowning and shaking her head, "He was interested in technology from beyond Midvinter, and in my absence he brought some home with him... His Father didn't like that." She sighed ever so slightly. "Cast him out, his poor Mother looked distraught when I saw them."

Was it Mysa's fault, for showing him a glimpse of what else lay within the Galaxy? Perhaps. But it was up to the Old Crowe to figure out what was more important to him, Valkyri Pride or his relationship with his Son.

"Into the Maw?" that sounded both exciting and scary all at the same time. She shifted her gaze out away from the bay they were within, before nodding firmly. Glancing back up to the topsail, she gauged the best route from the trailing of the cloth and moved the rudder just a fraction. Again her eyes scoured the water in search of rocks hiding beneath the waves, and the elusive reef Théo mentioned.

She became distracted, however, by the sudden question. It wasn't the words but the way they were spoken that had her flinching, and unable to meet her brother's eyes. "What do you mean where have I been?" she asked, though deep down she knew entirely what he was getting at. She had been absent for quite some time, and not by choice. Her return had been very quiet, hushed up almost, to give her time to heal. Almost by instinct she lifted a hand and rubbed the back of her neck, scars still remained all over but it was the small ones which lay there which hurt the most.

"Do we have to talk about this now? The day is beautiful, Brother, and..." She trailed off as the words stuck in her throat. She looked away from his general vicinity and focused instead on the water. And I'm not ready to talk about it.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He leaned back placing both hands on his knees before pushing off the seat to stand. The small boat rocked with the shift of weight but Théo reached up the mainsail taking hold of the sheet that had come loose to tie it off again, all the while he keep his eye on Mysa. Her reaction to his question enough to tell him something was wrong, it also told him she is reluctant to speak of it. "Fine. We shall speak later on this, but I want to know", he said finally turning back to the task at hand. "But at some point you will have to tell me cause I will not give up on it".

It was a clipping wind, the small fishing boat cut through the water with ease and soon they would reach the mouth of the bay and beyond that was the reef. Already he could see the white water breaking over the shallow reef, it seemed to cut right across the mouth, but the fisherman had worded him up to navigate around it. "Here let me take the rudder, we approach the reef", he said moving to her and taking over for a little while. "Keep your eyes on the water, let me know if we get too close to the rocks". After all two sets of eyes are better then one.

"I am sorry to hear about Crowseye, Mysa. I hope his father comes round eventually. The Valkyri are a stubborn lot". Lord knows they both knew that for fact.

The boat tacked to port, skirting along the reef until they would find clear water once more, Théo looked over the side as his hand commanded the rudder and he could see the rocks just below the surface. The water is churning here, coming off the reef and the current running in their favour for the present. It would take them a good part of thirty minutes to navigate it. "I don't with agree you Mysa, our childhood although protected was not without it darkest hours", he said not taking his eyes off the waters. Now it was his turn to be introspective. And she would know what he meant, the loss of their beloved grandpapa would always haunt them both. "We did not have the ability to do anything about it, we had nothing". For all his yelling at his mother and father, they could not save him either, Thrand's injuries were beyond anyone's help. Théo knew this now of course.

"But we do now", he looked at her direct in the eyes, a hardened look of determination to never let something life that happen again. At least, he hoped.

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

So now she was frustrating her brother.

Can you do nothing right? Why must you ruin everything you come into contact with? Everything you do... Perhaps it really would be best if you simply disappeared. It's selfish of you to remain around when you bring such bad luck.

She dismissed such fallacious thoughts as quickly as they came. This was no time for her to be so fatalistic. Luck wasn't something that worked that way, it was her ridiculous viewpoint that was skewing everything to seem that way. Perhaps once she was out of this dip she would go back to her happy self.

Shuffling to one side she allowed her brother to claim the rudder, while her eyes cut through the water somewhat effortlessly. That was one of the benefits of her people, their eyes were rarely deceptive to them.

"I hope his Lady Wife can talk him around" she said, the Lady Crowseye seemed desperate to have her youngest son back beneath their roof. Not that Gideon seemed likely to return to their home even if their relationship was repaired. His home had truly began to take shape, so much so that Mysa was surprised and curious as to where he got all his otherworldly technology.

"And... I know. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but... It felt differently. You know? Like there was hope." Something she was sorely lacking these days. "Now all I feel is emptiness... I don't feel like myself anymore, Brother." She could not meet his gaze any longer, and so she looked back to the water and kept her eyes peeled for the reef, for rocks, for anything which might hinder them.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"There is always hope Mysa", he turned to look at his sister and although her eyes were fixed in the depths of the waters, he could see by her countenance that there was more behind her words than the longing for the old days of their youth. "Even in our darkest hours", he whispered to her not even wanting the fishes to hear. She was not that far from him, tis a small boat at the end of the day, and reached out to her pulling her closer as his arm went around her shoulders. He placed a loving gentle kiss to the side of her head in her long white hair and remained there for a moment.

"Why do you feel such emptiness? you still look like the young girl that I have grown to love as sister". He pulled back to look into her face and although a smile grew on his lips, there was much concern in his blue eyes akin to his fathers. They could be just as penetrating as his as well, as if looking deep down into the soul and into the darkest places of ones being.

The waters around them had become clearer and calm, they had passed the dangers of the reef and Théo turned the boat toward the open water of the Maw. He moved along the seat and handed Mysa the rudder once more, as his eyes lifted from her face to the mainsail, "What happened", he asked "Tell me", his gaze lowered and this time he would not let it rest. "How am I to help you if I don't know what happened to you". It had to be something of horror for her to be so.. closed to him.

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[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

For a time she said little. She fell into his embrace as he pulled her close with an arm around her shoulder, she listened to the water as it hit the hull of their creaking boat, she heard the words of her darling brother, and somehow managed to find enough resolve to meet his gaze when he stared at her in questioning.

It felt like she was staring at Thurion again, the way she had back in the Temple of Terror, where blood stained every imaginable surface, and his was the only face of reprieve from the demons who had stalked her through the halls. He had always been a serene force in her eyes, the man who had adopted her without true cause, who had raised her in the absence of her parents, and who even to this day remained a guardian and rolemodel. And truthfully her brother was beginning to take on the same traits.

They had been through thick and thin together, Fishbrain and Wriggles, if she could not trust her adventurous and loyal brother, then who?

She took the rudder when the time came and used it as an excuse to turn her focus away from him to the waters once more. His question hung in the air, and she mulled the answer over on her tongue for what felt like an eternity.

And then, with a voice that spoke of the most ultimate defeat, she sighed and began to speak in whispered tone.

"It was... Horrible. Truly, that word does it no justice." She could feel his eyes upon her, but refused to look his way. It was easier like this, as though she were speaking to naught save her own shadow, a thing which had witnessed all, which knew it all already. "I was taken from our home by someone I thought I could trust, forced onto some foreign ship and smuggled into the territory of those I deem my enemies."

Maybe that was a strong word, but the Sith were certainly her antithesis. They fought for all she fought against, and the alchemical fiend had only solidified their place at the end of her spectrum, far from where she sought to be.

"I managed to escape, I followed the call of a Jedi Master in the hopes that my captor would not find me, she'd come looking for me if I went back to Midvinter... And with a Master? I had to be safe..." For a moment Mysa shuddered, tearing her eyes from the water to stare at her feet. How wrong she had been.

"But he wasn't there, at least... He wasn't alive..." The image of Master Fer'u lay within a body of his own blood, dragged by an arm and mutilated almost beyond recognition flashed before her eyes, and she shook her head to try and remove the memory from her mind. Her eyes began to tear up, and she dropped her head into her hands. "I don't want to think about it, Brother. All that blood, and the younglings..."

It was an experience which would remain with her for the rest of her life, whenever she closed her eyes, whenever she looked at a child, or saw bloodshed, or found herself trapped within darkness, it would return to her, and she knew it.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

His eyes had been fixed on her face as she spoke of the events he knew nothing of, gone was the boyish look he would always find for her and in it's place nothing but stoic stern concern. "Younglings?", he asked never sure he wanted her to add the details, he mostly guessed that already. "Who was this person that took you .. what had they done to gain your trust in the first place". Had Mysa been betrayed by a friend? or tricked into believing she had one. Either way it mattered little now, betrayal had been replaced with fear and sadness in his sister.

The leaned forward and raked his fingers through his long curly black hair, why is it always the younglings? He knew the answer well enough, the younglings are the future of the Jedi, younglings are the future of life. Sith are dead to life. Whoever took Mysa must be powerful and or cunning to have tricked her so. He understood her current state now, no doubt blaming herself for it.

"Is this why you withdrew from .. us all?", he did not really need an answer all he needed was to hold her again, let her know he was here and would sit in silence if that is what she wanted. And so he did, moving close to her again and simply pulling her close to him by the waist.

"There is nothing I can say is there .. to make this better for you". He finally spoke again. What does one say? there are no words, but as mother would say, 'there is always hope'.

Anger began to build up inside him, the pain of his sister becoming unbearable to conceive and suddenly a long list of expletives, all aided at the sith, fell from his mouth and he would not apologise for them. The only thing this achieve would be release of some of the anger. There was nothing he could say right now, it was too raw for her, but in time, he would help her better than he can now. "You can't stay here .. on Midvinter .. not now. Not for now ..", he turned to her in all seriousness, she needed to get away for a while, to get away from Midvinter on her own terms and clear her mind or home would never be home again. "Come with to Ilum, for a while".

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[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

She swallowed for a moment, feeling her chest tighten at the memory.

"I don't think they were alive" she managed to breathe, clenching her jaw in anger, "They were mutilated, frenzied, like wild animals, they reminded me of the Vinterbound... They tore him apart, Théo, the Master, and the other children..." Blood had lined the floor, most of it had come from the tipped cauldron but a lot of it was from them, from him. "And nobody came. I called for them, I used my beacon, but nobody came. And they were in pain, and..." And I did what I had to do.

She shuffled in her seat for a moment, as the subject of Joon rose into the air. What had Joon done to warrant her trust? "I was stupid and naive and I thought I could help her, the woman who took me from our home." She would not be making that mistake again, she had always been too trusting. No more.

When he pulled her close she leaned against him and managed to draw a little strength from him, from his words, from his comfort, mostly from his anger which bubbled beneath the surface. But was he angry with her? "I felt... Feel... ashamed, for what I did. But they wouldn't stop, Théo, I tried, I really did..."

Mention came of leaving again, and for a moment she stiffened. She had only just returned home after months away, how could she leave it again? But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that perhaps Midvinter was not the safest place for her right now. Perhaps her being here put it at risk, too... Joon did not like her mother, she didn't need much more of an excuse to attack.

"Ilum?" she whispered, "What is on Ilum, Brother?"

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

The words began to tumble from her lips, from her mind that she had so keenly locked away from the all until now. He just listened for the moment, placing the pieces of the event together, what had happened to her and what she had to do. No one came to her aid, she had not the strength in ability to help them all and had to do something in order to end their suffering. She was alone what choice did she have?

What would he have done faced with the same situation .. probably the same thing. Taking someone's life, even that of the enemy, takes a part of your soul with it. Taking the lives of good people, young people that have their lives and potential yet to come .. soul destroying. Maybe she had been too trusting, naive and stupid as she put it, but Théo did think this of Mysa. Mysa is a kind and gentle soul, her heart filled with the need and want to help others with little thought of herself. A Jedi. One does not have to wear the robes to be this, it is the Jedi Way that makes the Jedi not the clothes. "You .. you did the right thing", he turned his head and rested his chin on the top of her head and looked out across the churning waters of the Maw.

"And sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do. Especially when it is completely opposite to your nature, to what you wanted to do to help them. They would only suffered more pain and torture". And no doubt she would have ended up dead because of it. What more could he say? the only thing Théo had to offer her was his comfort and understanding as best he could. "Never be ashamed of doing the right thing. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It was beyond brave what you did, not many people would have the fortitude to do it. But in death you saved them", he moved back and lifted her face until he could look her in the eyes once more. "Remove the idea that we, that I is angry with you, if this is what you think, or feel. We simply don't have the right to be", he smiled softly.

It was now that he noticed the weather had turned. Théo looked up to the skies and see the darkened rolling clouds above them and he knew that a storm was about the break. A strong one. He stood up and made sure the sail was secured to the mast, the sheets tight and he asked by to turn about so they could head back to Fridheim, it would be too little to late. "Me", he grinned back at her as he answered her question of Ilum. "And the Iron Legion, with the Empire. We are stationed out of Ilum, to protect the Jedi ruins and the crystal caves for the most part".

"I don't want you to be here on Midvinter, not now. You need to get away for a while, return home when you are .. ready. And if you want bring that boyfriend of yours with you, if you can't do without him".

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

The stormclouds which had begun to gather overhead caught her eye, and as her brother spoke to her she fell into a deep silence. A weight had been taken from her shoulders, the very fact that her brother did not look to her with disgust vanquishing some of her fears.

What had she done to deserve a family such as this? The Heavenshields had chosen her when she had been forsaken, left in torment on Aurum, sent to Midvinter on her mother's deathbed, and brought to Tabaqui where a family awaited her. She could recall the day that Théodred's pink little face came into the world, though he had grown far more than she had since then. How strange it was to find that those who had adopted her into their home had been blood family all along?

Sometimes the Force truly did work in mysterious ways.

"I love you, Brother" was all she said when the time came for her to once again speak. Though her heart felt heavy the fierce winds from beyond the shore braced her and rejuvenated her mind, bringing it forth from the pit it had formed for itself.

She watched as her brother moved to tighten the sails, while Mysa kept watch over the water and directed the ship somewhat with the rudder. She was no great sailor, but more of this and she could learn to be at least... adequate. The clouds overhead worried her but she trusted her brother to know what was happening, to know these waters.

"I will come with you, to Ilum. I will meet with these Iron Men and their crystals, I knew that returning to Midvinter so soon was a bad idea but... This place is my home. It will always be my home."

Would Gideon want to come? She'd given him a taste of the greater Galaxy and from the sounds of things he had discovered more of it on his own. Ilum would agree with him, from what she had heard of the frigid world, and perhaps they could find other worlds, worlds of water, or forests, of deserts... Could Valkyri survive in deserts?

She'd have to ask her Uncle.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

"I love you too sister".

He understood very well just how much this planet means to the family, all of them. It gets in your blood, even if not born here, it was home to him as well as always would be. He had been first of the family to have been born of ice and this was something that would never be missed on him, he felt the importance of it not just from a personal level but with lore of the family. This did not mean that others like Mysa born elsewhere had no claim, the ice had got to her blood the day she had arrived on Midvinter, probably more so then Nina. "Midvinter is forever home", he agreed with her a slight smile moving his lips but there was more to concern them both now.

Their small boat lurched awkwardly almost capsizing with a sudden gust of wind from the east rolling down from the mountains. Theo threw his body to the side and pushed against the starboard to right the boat once more. No matter what Mysa would do with the rudder, they spun out of control and the wind grew stronger and forcefully. The sail full raced them across the choppy waters, spraying them both as the bow of the boat crashed into the swell. One such wave threw Theo off his feet and he landed hard on the bottom of the boat.

The sound of the sail unable to hold the capacity of the wind ripped away from the mast partly and scrambling to his feet, Theo pulled it down before more damage to it would render it useless. It was the safer thing to do anyway ..

The wind the current of the Maw took them out and further then expected and turned their direction north. No longer with control of the boat they just had to sit and ride out the storm but the Gods of Midvinter were not in a kind mood today, the storm grew black harsh unforgiving .. a solid reminder that it is Midvinter that owns them, never the other way round. "Mysa quickly come lay in the bottom of the boat", he yelled at her over the howling wind and totally soaked to the skin. All around them Theo could only see walls of dark water and the small boat floating on it like a cork. All deeds of the past, present or future mattered little now, names of Heavenshield, Hearthfire Snowstrider did not amount to any worth, they are in a fight for their lives.

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

As the ship lurched, Mysa could only hold on for dear life, trying in vain to keep the rudder on track; the storm had other ideas, of course, perhaps a more experienced sailor would have been able to rough it out but she was a complete novice, and Théodred could only do so much on his own. The wind whipped at her hair, threw salty droplets of water over the ships edge to drench them both, and tossed them like ragdolls about the tiny deck.

In that moment her past actions did not matter. Ilum did not matter. Joon did not matter. A fierce need to protect her brother fired into action, and realizing that the rudder was doing very little she relinquished her hold of it in an attempt to seek him out. The spray was so bad that she could barely see two inches in front of herself.

Were the Gods angry with them? Had they been forsaken out here in the waters which bordered their home?

She saw him just ahead, frantically fighting with the sail which had come loose. Her movements were counteracted at every turn, the lurching of the ship threatening to throw her overboard, and when he instructed her to lie at the bottom of the boat she was not so stupid or proud as to do otherwise. Curled up against the soaked deck, she once again sought him with her gaze.

"Brother" she called out, as another wave struck the side of the boat. Was this the end?

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]