The small child ran through the streets her bare feet hitting the cold stone as she ran from the market. Three towns guard chased after her breaking into formation through the plaza of the Nine Mothers. The young girl saw the open temple door and rushed inside her heart pounding. 

Suddenly, a strong arm lifted her by the collar of her shirt and turned her to face him. "Again, Revna?" The man hissed. "What were you nabbing this time?" She looked away sheepishly. "Pockets. Now." He stated as he set her on the ground. 

She turned to run, and he lifted her off the ground again, "Lille venn..." the girl fought hard against the man. "Strong. That's good. Revna, we are not going to hurt you."

At the word we, she stopped fighting and sagged in his arms. She turned to see the High Priestess from Mountain's Rest standing beside him. "We will take it from here Captain Leifr," she sighed. 

"I am more than happy to escort her back to her home, Priestess Rullstene." He stated, then noted the sadness that crept across the priestess' face. 

"This is her home, Captain." The priestess took Revna's hand in hers and offered a smile that didn't quite reach her rainbow geode eyes. "Come now søta listen to the captain and empty your pockets." 

She reluctantly emptied her pockets revealing a small raven figurine. The priestess sighed and muttered under her breath in primordial as she took the figurine from the child and handed it to the Captain of the Guard. 

"I'm sorry," the girl muttered as she ran further into the temple. She turned the corner and sat just out of sight but not out of earshot. 

"Iskra," Captain Leifr started, "I didn't know she was one of your charges. Her mother..."

"Disappeared about a month ago leaving Revna on the front steps of the temple," the priestess sighed. "She is too young to process this type of emotion."

There was a brief moment of silence and then Revna heard the Captain set his shield against the nearby bench. "Would an extra set of eyes help keep things in check? I think my son Rune would be willing to help with the children here. He is always looking for ways to help around the house and in town. I'll send him by first thing in the morning."

"I would never turn down help, Captain." Iskra sighed, "Your son isn't much older than most of the children here? Halvar is the same age isn't he?" 

"Rune is very responsible, Iskra." He stated proudly. "He may be young but he has the heart of a future Captain of the Guard." 

Iskra laughed, "Alright Fell." Her laughter echoed through the empty temple. "Halvar needs a friend anyway."

...

Revna watched as the older boys played with the wooden swords. Her arms were drenched with soapy water as she scrubbed the stone courtyard. Her punishment for sneaking out of the temple yet again. She sighed as she threw the wet brush into the bucket, the water splashing up toward her face. 

"Hey Revna!" Rune called from the grassy clearing. "You and Halvar would probably be a better match up!" He giggled as Halvar smacked his back. 

"Are you calling me a girl?" Halvar had taken offense to the statement. 

Revna sighed, "Maybe I would be!" She yelled back. 

"I would win any day!" Halvar argued as his friend laughed beside him. 

"Let's see it then," Rune smirked as he tossed his wooden sword to the girl and she caught it perfectly. "Take your positions!" Revna copied the stance she had seen the older boy take time and time again.  "On my mark..." Halvar looked flustered as he took his usual position. "Go!"

Revna struck quick, noting Halvar's distraction. She went for his weak spot that she had seen Rune abuse time and time again. She struck true and the younger boy yelped in surprise. She turned striking again and again. Halvar barely had a chance to get his defenses up. He went to strike but was blocked once, then twice. Rune stepped back in awe as he watch the young girl demolish his friend. The movements were graceful and quick. She had been practicing, there was no doubt about that. 

"How long should I let this go on for?" Rune jumped at the sound of his father's voice. "Iskra will be a nightmare if her son is injured." 

"He can handle himself," Rune stated with a grimace as the younger boy took another direct hit causing him to stumble backward. "Revna is just handling better."

"Hmm," he sighed. "I think we should get her in the junior training program."

"I'm not so sure about that," both Rune and the Captain jumped at the sound of Iskra's voice. "She's going easy on him. She thinks she'll get in trouble if he gets hurt." She rested against the cobblestone fence. "He doesn't want to hurt her either."

"She obviously has the upper hand," Rune stated.

Iskra shook her head, "Halvar has been told never to use his offensive magics against you two."  Rune and Fell turned. Rune a look of confusion and Fell a look of curiosity.

"That's not fair," Rune stated. "He should be able to..."

"His magic can do much more harm than those wooden swords," Fell stated a small smile playing at his lips. "Halvar! Let go of some of that magic! She can take it!"

Iskra shook her head knowing her son well enough, but she realized she missed judged as a shard of ice flung forward hitting Revna in the shoulder and then exploded on impact. Revna stumbled backward but remained standing, her shoulder now a bloody mess. 

Halvar was cursing in primordial as Revna went to swing once more. "Stop!" A booming voice caught the three children and two other adults by surprise. "No more of this nonsense!" Halvar dropped his sword instantly as Revna's grip tightened on hers. "Girl, do not test me." The man had dark black hair and green eyes. 

"High Priest Rullstene," Fell stated as he placed a hand on Rune's shoulder. "The children were practicing their abilities under the watchful eyes of myself and the High Priestess." 

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"Captain Leifr," he sighed, "I appreciate your..." he glanced over the man, "help. This is a place of worship, not a training ground. Halvar, you know better."

"Sorry, father..." the boy stated his rainbow eyes locked on the ground in front of him. 

Revna furrowed her brows standing her ground, refusing to release the wooden sword in her hand. She glanced at the boy next to her and his eyes darted toward her then back to the ground. Revna took a few deep breaths and released the sword, her head bowing slightly. "Sorry, sir." She muttered softly. 

...

Revna sat with her head bowed in the temple proper. She was in the middle of her daily prayers when she heard the soft "sneaky" footsteps come up behind her. She rolled her eyes as Halvar and Rune jumped behind her and yelled. 

"Oh, so scary," she sighed as she made a quick glance to see two priestesses giggling in the corner of the room. 

"How do you always know?" Rune grumbled. "Halvar said he used his magics to make us quieter."

"You two and the idea of quiet, oxymoron." She stated as she stood Halvar chuckled as Rune gaped. "What? I think everyone in here would have known that you two were coming."

"My mother sent us to get you," Halvar stated with a smirk. "It was Rune's idea to try to startle you." 

"Nuh-uh!" Rune glared at his friend, "This was all your idea. Trying to set me up I see...You afraid of the wrath of Revna? I'm not..." He took a steading breath and stood tall.

Revna smirked, "What is this wrath of Revna you speak of?" 

Rune's eyes widened and he stammered, "Y-you know...when you get angry..."

"My mother is waiting for you," Halvar stated effectively saving his friend from sticking his foot further into his mouth. "She is in the grand study."

She eyed her friends causing them to shift uncomfortably. "We'll talk more later." She pushed past the two boys and made her way toward the grand study. 

As she approached the door she could hear soft speech just beyond. She slowed and stood just beyond the door to see if she could hear what the adults in the next room were discussing. 

"Iskra, I agree with you," the high priest's voice was calm. "She needs the additional training. But this is a place of worship, not..."

"Destin," she started. "You know as well as I do that we need to be prepared for what is to come. It is not a coincidence that Revna is here. The prophecy is..."

"Not about her," the man sighed. "We've been over this many times Iskra. That prophecy has to be tied to another. It could be young Thyra for all we know."

The voices hushed and Revna pressed her ear to the door, "The prophecy is about a young girl with the heart of a warrior...There is no better fit than Revna. She is strong willed, she would fight for..."

 "Herself," he stated. "She is a child, Iskra. She fights for herself, for her own survival. This child is not who the prophecy is about. She can't be."

Iskra groaned, "You are not still stuck on the idea that the girl is supposed to be from our family line? Halvar is and will be our only child, Destin."

"What if this prophecy is further than we think?" He was moving notes across his desk. "What if...Iskra, what if it is you? Not you now...but what if..."

She laughed, "You are sounding like a crazed man." Her laughter rang through the hall. "I am no warrior."

"But you are strong willed," he countered. "You would fight to the death to protect this temple. How is that not the heart of a warrior? Just because you are not actively training to fight, doesn't mean that..."

Revna stepped away from the door quietly and made her way back down the hall. She then made her steps loud and echoey as she approached the door once more. 

"Ahh, Revna!" Iskra smiled warmly, the man offered a small smile as well. "We have a proposition for you." She glanced back toward the man and he nodded. "A young girl about your age arrived at the temple earlier today. She is in need of a tour of the temple and surrounding areas. Would you be willing to accompany her?"

Revna furrowed her brow, but nodded. "The surrounding areas as well?" 

Destin nodded, "Just to The Plaza of the Nine Mothers. The girl will be acting as messenger between the temple and the city central." 

Revna nodded, "I am done with my training for today. Should I go now?"

Iskra and Destin glanced at each other. "How has your training been going, Revna?" Iskra asked and Destin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

"Fine," she stated. "Captain Leifr says I have the heart of a warrior." She smiled as she caught the look Iskra gave the high priest. "What is the new girl's name?"

"Thyra," Destin smiled.

... A few years later

Revna grimaced as she stepped up to the temple proper, she had been gone for weeks and it was her first night back in Mellanberg. Her ribs ached from the beating she had taken just a few days ago on her way back into town. Her hand held her side as she used her weight to open the temple door. 

She was surprised to see the High Priest in the main hall, his hair disheveled and his face grim. When he saw her step into the room he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. She glanced around the room looking for Iskra. The older woman was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes landed on Halvar kneeling at the altar, his shoulders shaking. She noted the others in the room, Rune and a very pregnant Thyra, no sign of the Captain of the Guard, a few of the other priests and priestesses.

"Welcome back, Revna." Destin stated and Halvar's movement stopped. "We are so happy to see that you made it home."

"Where's High Priestess?" She asked grimacing as her ribs cracked. "Where's Captain Leifr?"

Destin looked down solemnly, for the first time Revna saw genuine sadness on the man's face. "While you were gone, there was an illness that swept through the town." Revna shook her head. "Captain Leifr and Iskra are gone." 

Revna felt her knees buckling below her. Halvar was there in an instant, catching her as she slumped to the floor. She couldn't catch her breath as panic rose. Halvar knelt beside her trying to get her to look at him, but she couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes, those rainbow geode eyes. 

"Revna," Halvar's voice was soft. "You need healing...let me heal you." She pushed him away as her tears turned to sobs and cries of pain. "Please..." tears were building in his own eyes. She reached her hand out and took his squeezing tightly. He nodded in understanding as a cure wounds washed over her. 

She felt his magic wash over her. The familiar warmth filled her and memories swirled in her mind. The sensation was so similar to when Iskra had healed her as a child. She leaned into the young man as her sobs continued. She didn't notice Thyra and Rune make their way over to the pair. Rune resting a reassuring hand on Halvar's shoulder while Thyra reached out to Revna.

...

Revna's eyes shot open. She was lying on the mat, her breathing ragged. From the mat she could see Rune chuckling as he stepped off the platform. Thyra was standing at the bottom of the steps, a small infant in her arms. Then there was Halvar, his hands glowing with a soft seafoam green light.

"Easy now," he stated his voice warm. "That should do it." She gasped as her ribs popped back into place. "Sorry about that..." He rubbed the back of his head and she noted the amethyst gems near his temples and his eyes. He extended his arm to help her up. She didn't take it as she stood. He let the arm fall and nodded slowly. 

"Halvar! Stop flirting and get over here!" Rune shouted from the ground. "Revna, ready for round two?" 

"She's barely stable," Halvar argued as Revna's size increased dramatically. 

"Then make me more stable," she shot back. "Yes, I'm ready."

"Gods above..." Halvar muttered to himself as he sent a healing word her way and leapt off the platform. 

She was distracted. Her eyes kept glancing toward Halvar. She shook her head trying to clear her mind and focus on the sparing lesson with Rune. She failed miserably. Once again her eyes shot open and she was gazing at his. The rainbow geodes sucked her in and she felt warmth run over her as he healed her once more. 

"We need to stop meeting like this," he chuckled.

"Breakfast?" She asked quietly. 

So quietly in fact that he thought he misheard her. "Really?" She nodded slowly. "Of course." 

"Meet me at The Plaza of the Nine Mothers tomorrow at dawn," she said quickly as she stood. "Breakfast is on me."

The next morning came quickly and Revna sat waiting for the young man well before their meeting time. The air was chilled and snow littered the ground. She smiled brightly when she saw the young man making his way down the far side of a path. He seemed to be ignoring the trail through the snow and making his own. 

He returned the smile, "I love the sound of crunching snow beneath my feet." His eyes were bright. "You know that fresh snow makes a completely different sound than snow that has been walked on already. And packed snow is different than..." Revna's lips had locked with his and his eyes widened quickly. 

She pulled back a smile on her face, "I hope that wasn't too forward, but I didn't want to waste time if you didn't think the same way..." He pulled her chin up and their lips met once more.

"I think the same way," he smiled warmly as they broke apart. 

...

"Why don't we let the lovebirds blow off some steam?" Rune chuckled as he stepped off the platform. "Revna, Halvar? Take your positions in the sparing ring."

Halvar gave Rune a disapproving glare as Revna stood with a smile, "Should I go easy on him?" She chuckled. 

Rune shook his head, "No need Revna, he'll surprise you." She took her position on the far side of the ring and motioned for Halvar to join her. "First one down, buys dinner!"

Reluctantly he stood to his feet, "I really am more of the healing type..." he sighed dramatically. "Not much of a fighter. And I honestly don't think that..." Smack! The wind knocked out of him as the hilt of Revna's longsword hit him square in the chest. Then a crack as the sword came around against his left side. "Well..." He turned his attention to her and cast cone of cold on her. He frowned when he realized it didn't do nearly as much damage as he was expecting. 

She smirked and gave him a wink as she grew to about 8 feet tall. She towered over him. She pulled her sword back and struck again, this time he dodged out of the way but not fast enough for her second strike. He stumbled backward, but held his ground. He turned and cast blight. Again the damage was not as great as he had thought it would be. He prepared for the blow and it struck. Then again to his right side. 

"Enough!" A voice boomed from the ground below the platform. The two stopped immediately, Revna dropping her weapon to the platform. "Rune, explain. Immediately!" 

Rune ran his hand through his hair a small awkward smile as he tried to talk his way out of the trouble he was about to be in. Revna smirked, glancing at Halvar he had an equally bemused grin. Rune may be their friend, but with how much shit he put the two of them through it was fun to see him get his ass handed to him on occasion. 

"Revna, Halvar!" The priest yelled. "Go clean up. Then I want the temple grounds to be spotless." 

"Wait, what?" Revna frowned. 

"Spotless," the man sighed as he walked away.

They begrudgingly followed the high priest's directions and began making their way to the courtyard to clean. Rune did not follow.