... 7 years later

Halvar paced as Revna sat before him, her face bruised and bloodied from her most recent "adventure" in the city. One of the priestesses was patching her up. She frowned pulling away from the priestess slightly as she dabbed the cloth to her broken skin.

"Halvar?" She noted his concern, "What's wrong?"

He rolled his eyes, "I was worried about you. Then you end up in here after a bar fight? You weren't even drunk. Just riled up the whole bar. What's gotten into you lately?"

"I'm fine," she sighed as the priestess eyed her then quickly took her leave.

Halvar caught the glance from the priestess and shook his head. "No more lies, Revna. What is going on?"

She took a deep dreading breath and motioned for him to sit. He took the seat across from her and she looked away. She was fidgeting. She was never like this around anyone, especially not him.

"I'm pregnant," she stated. "And I'm leaving the temple."

His jaw dropped. He didn't believe what he was hearing. Then the events that led them to this room warped into view. Anger rose suddenly that he was not aware he could hold. "What were you thinking starting that fight today? You could have gotten seriously injured."

"I wasn't thinking," she stated. "That's why I need to leave. I can't stay trapped in this temple forever. I need adventure. I need..."

"I need you," Halvar's eyes were watering. "I won't be able to raise a child on my own. I..."

"I'm not asking you to," she stated plainly. "Rune and Thyra have offered to help raise the child in Ijos. We can all live..."

Halvar's face fell and his voice was cold, "I'm not leaving the temple." Revna's eyes widened. "I have obligations to the temple and to Skadi. I am not leaving."

"I'm not staying," Revna stated her eyes beginning to water.

"I cannot make you stay," he stated his eyes falling to the floor. "Is there anything that I could do to change your mind?" She shook her head and he nodded. He stood slowly, closing the distance between them in a few steps. "I am sorry." He placed his hand over her abdomen. "Be safe. Please." He turned to leave walking toward the door, and he didn't look back.

...

Revna groaned as the pain rippled through her abdomen. She had felt pain before but never like this. She muttered to herself curses in giant as Thyra tried to keep her comfortable. She glanced down at the most recent letter from Halvar. Tears welled up and dropped onto the page smearing the words written there.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Almost there, Revna." Thyra smiled. "This babe is moving quickly. Must be ready for a new adventure like their mother."

Revna watched as snow flurries fell beyond the window. It was early spring and still quite cold. The warmth of the fire kept the home nice and toasty. Revna paced between contractions the letter still tightly in her hand.

"Revna... why don't we let go of the letter for now?" Thyra tried. "It's no use to you or the baby to keep dwelling on it. Halvar will come if he wants to. He will come when he is ready."

"I don't want him to," she said sharply taking a deep breath. "I revoke the offer. I don't want him anywhere near here." She glanced at the letter and began to tear it apart. "I can raise this child myself. I don't need his help. I don't want his help."

"Revna, you are saying a lot of things right now that you may not mean." Thyra tried.

She turned with tears steaming down her cheeks. "I wish he was here, Thyra. But he's not. And he made it very clear that wants nothing to do with us. He made his choice."

"Choices can change," she tried.

"Halvar doesn't," she winced as her body began to bear down. She tried to breathe through the pain, her breath coming in short. "He made it clear that his duty is to the fucking temple."

A knock caught Thyra's attention and she rushed over cracking the door just enough to poke her head out. "Well, Halvar changed this time." As she turned her attention back to her friend. "He's at the tavern in town. You have a choice, Revna."

Revna shook her head, "Send him away." She had tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't want him anywhere near..." She groaned and the last words fell.

Thyra rushed back to her friend's side. "Revna, reconsider?" The woman shook her head as she took her friend's hand in hers gripping tightly. "Once the baby is born, I will have Rune send him away." Revna nodded in agreement.

...

Halvar sat at the small town tavern. The town was so small they barely had need for it. He glanced down the road toward the large property at the edge of the village. He could see smoke rising from its chimney. He shook his head as he placed his coin on the table and stood to leave.

Rune spotted the white cloak leaving the tavern and jogged to catch up to him. "Halvar!" The man turned his eyes heavy and face disheveled. "My friend!" Rune clapped his hands over Halvar's shoulders. "You have a daughter! Please come, If not for Revna, for the child, for you." Halvar's shoulders sagged. "I know that you may not like the situation now my friend, but you will regret not taking this chance someday."

"She doesn't want me here Rune," he stated. "I will not cross Revna."

"She was in pain," he argued, "she did not mean it."

"We both know that is not true. She meant what she said." He glanced over Rune's shoulder toward the manor in the distance. "Please, raise my daughter well. She needs to be with those that can love her."

Rune furrowed his brow, "My friend, what do you mean by that?"

Halvar didn't answer he just turned and made his way back toward the main road.

...

Halvar gazed at the picture in his hands. The birth announcement arrived just a day after he made it back to Mellanberg and he hadn't been able to think straight since. He was a father to a healthy baby girl. Rune had said in the letter that the child had his eyes. His rainbow geode eyes. He ran his thumbed over the picture again. He took a breath and placed the picture back in the journal along with Rune's letter. He hadn't heard from Revna in months. The only news he received was from Rune. The child was named Iskra, after his mother.

A year later he received another letter and a picture of the child he had never met. He smiled warmly as he gazed at the painting. Based on Rune's letter, the child was strong and walking well before her first birthday. She was happy, safe, and loved.