“As the champions awaken worlds collude and collide.”

The Storyteller's first true vision

Georgia woke in her bed a strangled cry on her lips. It had all been a nightmare the sort of bad dream just like how she suffered after her parents death in the car crash. The one she shouldn't have survived and yet here she was. Awake with such a heavy thudding beat in her heart she might not keep that status for long.

Her limbs were still heavy, so heavy moving took all her energy and she had little of that left to give. She felt so hungry, ravenous like she could devour a feast yet usually when she was stressed she would eat like a bird, a very small bird. All her effort managed to do was lift her head from her soft pillow.

"My Queen."

Hell, was she still dreaming? Was she awake? She didn't know, didn't understand. She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms and then looked to where the voice had drifted from. There was no one near her bed.

"You must return to slumber. They need your anchor to bring them home. You are the key, rest my Queen."

She wanted no she needed food and yet it was like the sandman was pulling at her until sleep took over again and the weight settled in again. Her dreams were filled with heavy fog again but rather than bright and vivid it was thick, gray and had an acrid smell. Like her nostrils and taste buds were coated with tar, burning tar.

"I am an anchor, I must keep them safe." The words entered her mind. "I must follow the rules but I must win. I am not the key but a piece of the puzzle."

Then she saw it, something that made her heart soar even though everything was so weighted. She saw her parents happy and waving at her.

"Mum. Dad." She whispered.

"We are proud of you Poppop."

A small smile crossed her lips as she tugged a rope attached to her, it was getting too long she knew if it were too long she couldn't keep hold. She didn't know how she knew that but it was a truth she was sure of in her mind and she trusted it.

When she looked back to find her parents they were gone but now she saw her disapproving grandparents at their son's graveside. They ignored her, she was only six and dressed appropriately for a funeral her face was blotchy with tears. She had been too far away to hear their hushed conversation that day.

"We have to protect her." Her grandfather spoke so kindly, so gently.

"They got too close this time." Her grandmother agreed.

"I don't like it sweetheart but cruelty is the only way. If she has ties to us they will find her and she is too precious." Her grandfather spoke like he was going to continue but she had to start pulling in all the ropes and they disappeared as she tugged in 7, the shimmering strings, they were pretty she liked her strings.

She pulled at them one at a time. They didn't move easily. Each one took great effort. She could almost hear an old sea shanty in her ears like she was heaving in her catch but this wasn't a catch, she understood now she was bringing back her friends. She needed her friends and everyone needed them all. She didn't quite know how she knew but understanding was seeping in as if knowledge was her unlikely friend.

Once each string was in and she hoped, because right now hope that what she knew was correct was the only thing she had she dripped in sweat and her body ached. It was as if she had nothing else left to give but she would keep the strings close until they woke, she would keep them safe even if she hurt.

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"My Queen." The voice spoke to her again. "You have done your duty this time you can wake up."

"I can?" She asked as water pooled in her eyes and started to streak her face. Why was she crying? "Will you explain?"

"You know and understand. You all do. I cannot enter your domain right now. None of you are strong enough but you will be. You must be."

She pushed herself off the bed and rested legs dangling, a glass of orange juice was sat on her bedside table with a note.

/Drink my Queen. Then meet with your friends. You need to talk to continue with your travels. Her and there and everywhere./

What in the living hell was happening? Oh she knew and yet she didn't want to acknowledge, but she drank the juice left for her. It was sweet and tart and chilled and perfect. How had it been sitting there for hours but it was still perfect?

Once she had slid her feet into soft, well worn slippers she padded her way to the bathroom she needed to be fully dressed and everything in place to meet her friends. She wanted her armour in place. She had no clue if she was a queen like this stranger had said but queens were fierce and graceful right. She could do that.

When she stepped into the common room she didn't know what she would face but it wasn't all her friends ashen faced, disheveled and quiet. They didn't do quiet.

"Georgia you're finally here." Louisa said her voice cracked as she thumbed through sketches and words. Settling on the one she was after she prodded at the paper it had words scribbled in haste. Georgia studied the words for a moment.

"They are true are they not?" Georgia tilted her head in question. "Your words, your vision?"

"I know but seriously like what in the living hell is happening?"

"I think we're all screwed." David replied with a tightness on his lips. His Welsh was up, he was like her he tried to hide his accent but it generally slipped when he was angry.

"That I agree on mate." Aiden's voice seemed a calm easy drawl though he was definitely trying to hide the obvious tension in his body.

The sharp rat-a-tat-tat at the door made them all jump. Alex almost ran to the door to open it. Mrs Hodge, their house mother was standing there with two bags that seemed to be at breaking point.

"You didn't make it down to dinner or breakfast and I thought you must be starving and thirsty." The first bag was full with wrapped sandwiches and a big box obviously full of hashbrowns, the second bag had different cans of pop and chocolate bars with a homemade cake balance on the top in a round tin with a clear lid.

"You are a saint, Mrs Hodge." Alex replied their accent was its best clipped English. They were putting everything out on their big dining table, quietly and efficiently knowing which seat needed what so when everyone sat down they all had access to their favourites.

"No, dear not a saint but I know how you all can get caught up in your studies and whatnot. I'll keep your fridge and snack draw stocked up, don't you all worry."

She left without another word as they were devouring the sandwiches before they'd even sat down.

"I can't believe how hungry I am." Louisa mumbled between bites of food, her accent slipping from Canadian to French back to Canadian as she continued. "So that happened last night."

"That did happen and it scared the hell out of me." Wisdom said through a satisfied sigh as she almost inhaled a hashbrown.

"You." Lisa gestured towards Georgia. She worked hard to hide her northern accent too. "You kept us anchored and made sure we got back. We could have floated away and yet we didn't."

Georgia nodded before glancing around at everyone. Graham wasn't eating. His colour was still not great she frowned leaving her own food and drink and opened a can of his favourite pop placing it in his hand. She lifted it to his mouth and only when he started to drink did she speak. "Thank you."

He stuttered his words as he spoke.

"The countdown began many days ago, I can't go backwards but I can slow things. It hurts, it's tiring but I don't think there is another way." She took his drink from him and handed him a sandwich.

"I think we all understand but you need to fuel your body and mind. If we are to win you my friend will give us the time to learn, to progress and become what is needed."

"If every second becomes an hour, a day, a year, a century then we have time." He said as he placed his hand over his heart. Obvious strain etched in the lines on his face that seemed to have appeared overnight.

"We won't waste your precious gift Graham. Now eat. I do mean everyone eats. I don't know what is coming but I do know it's not going to be easy or kind."

Georgia sat back down and they didn't talk again until they finished all their feast.