A Father's Love [Solo]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

Aboard the Seren Heritage
Space [Tingel Arm]

*knock, knock*

"Nina? Are you in he--" His words stopped in their tracks as soon as Thurion laid eyes upon the tiny shape of little Nina Vi'dreya slumped over her desk inside her room aboard the Seren Heritage, breathing gently through her somewhat open mouth. The mere sight of this made his heart melt, for she had not expressed any signs of exhaustion since last he saw her, which was at dinnertime earlier that evening. Now here she lay, face against her block of papers and a blue crayon still clutched within her soft hand, sleeping so peacefully without a care in the world.

Thurion moved closer, tiptoeing so as not to wake the child up, and brushed the back of his hand against her fluffy cheek. He then leaned in closer to the 4-year-old, very carefully pulling her by the shoulders up and away from the drawing she'd made before lifting her up into his arms, cradling her against his bossom. She let out soft murmurs as he carried her to her bed and proceeded to tuck her in nice and tight, just how she liked it. A lone finger ran through her white locks of hair before planting a gentle kiss-of-goodnight onto the girl's forehead. As Thurion was about to leave the room, he couldn't do so without glancing at the picture she'd drawn before falling asleep on top of it. It was a picture of him and Nina holding hands, with the trembling writing of a small child spelling the word 'Daddy & Me' across the top of the drawing. It made him smile, seeing her dedication to him even though he was not in fact her father. Even so, he could think of another word for what she was to him but 'daughter'.

Leaving her room and turning off the lights, Heavenshield felt rather tired himself and so made his way to his own room, right next to Nina's. The room had looked the same throughout his many years of owning this vessel, without any changes in furniture or feel. Interior decoration was not something he'd ever get into, so he was fine with it either way. Kicking his boots off his feet and throwing his shirt onto the floor next to them, he crawled into bed and pulled the covers over himself as he buried his head against the soft pillow. Night was calling, but before he closed his eyes and drifted off, he managed a whisper in the form of: "Goodnight, Master Asha. I love you..." With that exhaustion took over and forced his eyes shut and his mouth closed.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

Sleeping soundly in her bed, Nina Vi'dreya was having a dream. She dreamt of a land made of white, with high mountains and frozen trees surrounding the plateu she was stood upon. Her father was there at her side, but... something was wrong. He was wounded, his pace reduced to a limping mess, supporting his weight on what appeared to be a cane of sorts. He fell to the ground, but wouldn't allow himself rest as more of the white kept creeping up on the two from behind. It was hunting them, wishing harm upon them. There was little she could do to stop what was happening; she was small and couldn't help her guardian in any way. In time, the white took hold of them and swallowed them whole.

A loud crash interrupted her dream, as red lights began to flash out in the hall. More loud noises followed, and the ship began to quake ferociously. Nina flung out of her bed, dressed only in her nightgown as she opened her bedroom door and looked around in utter confusion with frightened eyes. Where was her father? He couldn't possibly still be asleep by now, she thought as she instead made her way to the bridge rather than look for him in his own quarters. The Seren Heritage was not the largest ship out there, obviously, but it sure seemed that way to the little girl who had to navigate the many hallways until she came upon the short staircase leading up to the bridge. Before she could climb even the first step, however, a man darted down towards her and swooped her off her feet into his arms.

Thurion had awoken when the first salvo had hit them. Pirates. Mercenaries. He could tell by the custom-painted exterior of their ship as they closed in on them and fired a full broadside on the Seren Heritage. Whatever their buisness was with him and Nina, it had brought them all the way out to the Tingel Arm to find them. Had there been issued a bounty on his head since the fall of Coruscant? For now, none of that mattered. He had to protect his baby girl from harm by any means necessary. He was about to take her to one of the escape pods, but another barrage made the hallway leading to where they were located made sure to block their approach as the ceiling gave way and caved in right infront of them. There was nowhere to go but back onto the bridge and try to get away through whatever means. The Seren Heritage was far from a warship, but he would do what he could to get themselves out of their situation.

Still holding Nina close to his chest, Thurion back down in the Captain's chair with her clutching the fabrics of his shirt until her tiny knuckles turned white. From there she could see the other ship currently shooting at them. A steady stream of lasers pounded their hull continuously. Thurion took the helm as he began to steer away from their attackers, instead aiming at the closest planet in evading further damage until they could make an emergency landing on whatever planet it was. Nina's breathing was panicked, short breaths, as if hyperventilating. The notion of her feeling so lost made her father even more distraught at what was going on, yet he had to focus on managing the ship for now. The atmosphere of the planet before them got ever closer, just as the other ship fired upon them anew. This time the barrage damaged their engines, and even took out lifesupport across the ship. By diverting power from any non-critical systems Thurion managed to keep up lifesupport on the bridge, if only for a limited time. By the time it would shut off for good, they'd already hit the surface of the planet.

Now in the atmosphere, the ship began to catch fire as it plummeted from atop the sky with very little in terms of control. They were spinning rapidly as the ground closed in on them, leaving poor Nina disoriented and sobbing into her father's warm chest. He'd kept a hand against her head to keep her close, and if necessary protect her head should their landing not as smooth as he'd hoped. At least the other ship seemed to have written them off as dead already, and did not decide to follow them down into the atmosphere. With only a couple kilometres left before they'd hit the ground, Thurion had done all that he could to improve their chances. He now looked down into Nina's blue eyes, so afraid and full of tears, before planting a hasty kiss onto her forehead. Pulling her in for a hug, he kept a tight grip on her tiny shape as he began to hum aloud. He cradled her in his arms just as his facade was torn away and he began to shed tears as well. All he could do now was sit there and brace for impact. Nina, for the first time in her life, managed a small yelp of distress just before everything came to a devastating crescendo.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

​

Flashing images appeared before his closed eyes, as if he was watching a holo-vid and his eyelids were the screens. Images of his past haunting him; images of Thyrian's death, as well as the death of Asha. His two most grievous failures in life, and now he was given a third. He slowly came to, opening his eyes as he wearily gazed upon the utter devastation of his own vessel, with large pieces of it lying scattered across the snow-covered crashsite. Much of it was engulfed in flames still, and very little of it was easy to make out what function it used to serve. It was all just a complete mess; a huge wreckage breaking the otherwise flawless white surroundings. It didn't even dawn on him that he'd been thrown over a dozen metres when the crash occurred, much less that he was currently resting his back against a tree.

He was unable to move his body for the time being, no matter how hard he tried; he had to find Nina. Where was she? He'd held her in his arms just a minute ago, but now she was gone! "N-... Nina!" he cried out with little force, barely loud enough to make it to the wreckage before him. Again he tried to move from his sitting position, but the tree wouldn't let him go. Upon examining his torso, he quickly found the cause of his immobilised state; a large branch had pierced his abdomen, poking out of his stomach just enough for him to see his blood upon it. There was no pain - no, shock had overridden his pain receptors for now, leaving him only able to stare at his grievous injury. "N-Nina!" he tried again, this time able to strain his lungs to carry his voice a bit further. Still no reply. How could she - she was a mute!

There were undoubtadly several wounds he'd received in the crash: the most severe was without equal the branch piercing through his abdomen, but he'd also sustained a crippling blow to his right leg, as well as a deep cut on his left arm, further limiting his ability to move or do anything of worth from where he was seated. He would try to draw upon the Force for healing, but doing so would require far more energy and focus than what he could afford in his current state. "Nina..." he sighed, hanging his head in grief over the situation. The mere thought of her having been crushed by the debris of his ship or that she'd succumbed to the freezing temperature of their whereabouts was devastating to imagine. "Asha... help me", he pleaded softly while looking up to the skies above. Perhaps begging his angel for help would be to no avail, but it seemed only divine intervention could help him now, anyway.

The hours went by, although to him they felt like an eternity. His wounds had him immobilised against the tree, and the thick curtain of snow falling from the skies had all but covered him up. His lips had turned blue from the immense cold, and he no longer could feel his nose, his ears, or any of his extremities such as fingers and toes. His voice could not even manage another cry for help; his lips wouldn't move, and even if they did his voice would've been raspy and strained. All hopes for rescue were dashed by the approaching darkness, and Nina was still nowhere to be found. The howling of wild animals echoed faintly in the distance; by nighttime they would find him and tear him to pieces, most likely, and there would be nothing he could do about it. By all accounts little Nina had already become a victim of the beasts of the night. His will to survive was completely shattered, and was now welcoming his impending doom at the hands of sharp teeth and claws.

Footsteps coming from behind him. The dark of the night was lit up by a solemn torch. A commanding voice made muffled noises to his numb ears. "You're a long way from home, boy."

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Spoiler

Darkness took him. There was no way of knowing whether he was dead or if just his eyes were closed, not until he could feel the warmth of the thick furs covering his broken body coupled with the light of the fireplace. A small hand was placed against his forehead, just as a soft voice was heard within his mind. "Thurion... please, wake up!" Two weary eyelids began to move at the bidding of the voice. The light of the world around him blinding him at first, but when his eyes were able to discern shapes from his blurred vision, he managed a faint smile as he raised a hand to caress a soft cheek. "My baby girl... you're alive!" he whispered as a lone tear ran down his cheek.

Nina smiled back at him like only a small child could, her cheeks puffing up as her lips stretched across her face. She immidiately stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him as best she could, resting her head against his chest. She could feel his heart beat ever stronger with each second, each beat sending a wave of joy throughout her gentle shape. "I love you, daddy", she spoke into his mind as she nuzzled against him. "I love you too, sweetheart", Thurion replied in similar fashion, stroking her white hair. "She's a strong girl, that one. You're lucky she found me when she did; neither of you would've lasted through the night." A rough voice spoke aloud from the opposite side of the room, the same voice he'd heard speak to him before his blackout. Nina allowed her embrace of her father to cease so that Thurion could get a glance at the large man who had saved them both from certain death.

The man was huge, even in comparison to himself, with broad shoulders and large hands. Judging by his stoic stature, this man was incredibly muscular and thick-skinned. Long yet surprisingly wellkept hair of greying colour framed his face, with a pair of grimlooking eyes of a faint blue colour meeting Thurion's weary gaze. The man raised a hand. "Do not try to speak just yet. You're still weak, but the girl insisted that I let her wake you up to see that you were okay. I kept telling her you would be fine, but she didn't seem to understand any of my words. Maybe my Galactic Basic isn't as good as it once was..." he shrugged, moving to tend to the fire, as well as the large cauldron sitting atop it. Something was cooking within it, and in Thurion's state, whatever it was smelled fantastic. He could only keep his head tilted up for so long to look at the stranger, instead dropping it back against the pillow and let Nina tend to him. "Nina... how did you...?" he spoke telepathically to the girl. She took some time to gather her thoughts before replying. "He saved me. He saved us both", he said, looking back at the man tending the fire. "Help me up, sweetie."

His daughter grabbed hold of his free hand a started tugging at it, and her small amount of strength was all Thurion needed to manage a sitting position in the bed. For some reason there was no pain at all, despite the severe wounds he'd received from the crash. Upon examining his abdomen where the treebranch had pierced him, he was surprised to see that the wound was still very much there, and yet he felt no pain when there should be plenty. "Th-thank you, S-sir..." he managed, warranting the attention of his saviour. The man turned his head, not expecting his 'patient' to speak so soon. "Heh, you're a tough one, lad. Most of your kind would still be like a stiff corpse by now, unmoving and non-responsive." He kept a steady stir of the contents within the large cauldron. "I bet you're wondering 'how come there's no pain'? Well, don't get too comfortable; your wounds are far from healed. There are lots of herbs in these woods to nullify the pain, though."

"You... you drugged me?" Thurion mumbled in confusion. "If that's what you wanna call it, then yes - I 'drugged' you", the stranger spoke while grabbing a wooden bowl to pour the stew into, after which he rose to his feet, towering above the seated Jedi Master. "Here." He extended the bowl to his 'patient' before pouring another bowl to hand to the little girl. Without second-guessing what he was doing, Thurion drowed himself in its contents, utterly relishing the taste of warm food. Only when about half of it remained did he halt his assault on the stew, glancing over Nina who carefully sipped from the bowl like a well-mannered house guest. "Sorry", he whispered for her ears only, even though she wouldn't understand him. She giggled in response at his carnivorous comsuption of his bowl before resuming her careful sips. "It's good. What is it?" he asked the large man.

"Frir testicles", the man casually replied.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

The following week was spent resting and healing at the stranger's cottage located in the middle of the woods at the side of a huge mountain, overlooking the far-reaching valley below. Tiny dots representing whole villages could barely be discerned from the high altitude, which made Thurion question why this man chose to remain secluded from the others. It also made him somewhat wary of the true intentions of his generous host; very few he'd met in his life would so readily offer up his only home as shelter for another, and a complete stranger at that. Nina seemed happy enough, though; she'd play out in the snow, making snow angels and building snowmen - even doing her best at starting a snowball fight between her and their host, but in return he would seldom do more other than scoff and turn the other way. He did not seem very good with children, that one. Had Thurion been healed up properly by now, he'd indulge his daughter in a snowball fight without second thought. Her happiness made all the difference to him.

Much of the time the Jedi spent in meditation so as to allow the Force to repair the damage done to his body, although even a master gets restless from doing nothing but sitting around all day long. One week would have to be enough - after that, they were moving out. He'd learned this planet was called Midvinter, and her people the Valkyri, but little else. Somewhere on this rugged planet there had to be a city or a town with a space port of sorts; he could see the occasional ship arriving and leaving at seemingly random. They were all different in design, however, which led him to believe that these people had no ships of their own; the humble abode with no advanced or even common technology whatsoever further added to this theory. Nothing wrong with not relying on technology to do your work for you - quite the opposite, actually, as it is most worthy of respect in this day and age to manage without - but it did make things difficult in leaving the planet, alternatively send word to the Levantine Sanctum calling for aid. Even so, they had to do something.

It was nighttime, and Nina was soundly asleep, all covered up in cosy furs to offer her maximum comfort. This left Thurion and the stranger time to talk, man to man for once. Not once since their arrival had the two changed had a real conversation, which made him figured the man was not used to company. There were no chairs in the small hut, except for a wooden bench made out of a split tree trunk resting on a pair of stumps to keep it from rocking back and forth. The man was already seated, staring deep into the fireplace as if in a trance, not noticing when Thurion decided to join him by sitting down beside him on the bench. "The little one is asleep", he said with hushed voice so that Nina wouldn't wake up. "She's really liking it here, you know." Attempting to get the attention of the man next to him, he was given little else than a grunt in return. At least the man was acknowledging his existence.

"You never told us your name, friend", Thurion stated. "You never gave me yours", a reply was muttered, followed by a deep sigh. "Thrand is my name. Now, common courtesy dictates that you tell me yours in return", the man continued. Finally snapping out of his trance-like gaze, the man identified as Thrand turned his head to look at the one beside him, expecting a reply. "Thurion." At first Thrand seemed to freeze in place right there and then. Eyes widened and teeth bit his lower lip, as if in complete shock or disbelief. "Thurion... th-that's... a good, strong name. It suits you..." The odd behaviour did not pass the Jedi by unnoticed, who furrowed his brows in response. "Are you quite alright, Sir? You look like you've just seen a ghost." Thrand had indeed shifted into a somewhat paler skintone since the name 'Thurion' was uttered. Many thoughts seemed to race through his mind at once, rendering him speechless for some time. "I... it's nothing. Tomorrow I will guide you to Tháinbroek. You cannot stay here. And don't call me 'sir'."

"Have I offended you? I apologise", Thurion said, looking away into the flames Thrand had found so interesting until now. While doing so, the Valkyr beside him couldn't take his eyes off the young man, examining every inch of his profile; his nose, his lips, his cheekbones, eyes, ears, chin. Even his golden blonde hair seemed of vast interest to him. Thurion acted like he didn't notice the man's constant staring, even though he could clearly hear him whisper to himself: "Golden hair, just like..." Eventually Thrand turned his gaze away from Thurion and looked ahead of him into the fire once more, much like his guest. "You just remind me of someone, is all. You wish to find a way off this world, do you not? To return from whence you came?" Thurion nodded. "Aye, we do. As much as you've taken care of us both, we do not belong here; we have a life outside of these snowy mountains and dense woods, and we're both eager to return to our home. Just get us onto one of those ships and we'll be set." This time Thrand nodded. "Agreed." As he spoke, Thurion stood up and headed off to bed. "But know this:" he continued. "The wilderness is a merciless mistress, and it will take a full day to reach Tháinbroek without the tiny one. With her in tow, it'll take twice as long. We leave in the morning."

"We'll be ready. Both of us."

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Spoiler

They set out early the next morning, all three of them. The sun had barely awoken, and neither had little Nina; she was still half-asleep when they left the small wooden cottage, and was happily piggy-backing on Thurion until she felt strong and awake enough to walk by herself. For the trip, Thrand had given him and Nina a set of thick furs, warm enough to withstand the worst of snowstorms and freezing temperatures. What they were made of was something either of them had ever laid eyes on. "The Älk", Thrand told them. "Huge beasts used as cattle by my people for their thick furs and delicious meat. It is deemed a respectable profession to be herding Älks, since they are so crucial to their survival", he added. "One of those creatures will feed an entire household for a month."

They began their ascent of the mountain range before them, with Thrand assuring them that Tháinbroek would be on the other side. They would have to go straight across, as going around would take too long, and there were fewer predators roaming the mountain tops than there were down in the valleys below. The first day passed by smoothly, and they set up camp as darkness came creeping in, about half-way up without any incident. Thrand remained seclusive, hardly speaking a word since that night when he'd learned of Thurion's name. It puzzled him somewhat to see such a strong and capable man seem so... broken on the inside. Like the shattered glass of a mirror, with some of the pieces missing upon its destruction. Perhaps he would learn more of this Valkyr during their journey together. Nina had managed the day pretty well all things considered, and she was sleeping soundly in Thurion's cradling arms as they huddled around the small campfire in silence, listening to the howling winds on the outside.

When morning came, the weather was no as kind as it had been the previous day; a perpetual curtain of snow as far as the eye could see in every direction, blurring out any discernable objects in the distance, including the mountaintop they were ascending. To Thrand, this type of weather was to be expected, but to Thurion, and above all little Nina, it served as a rude awakening that this planet was engulfed in everlasting snow and ice, even during the 'hotter' part of the year. Of course, Valkyri years were not as Galactic Standard Years just to complicate things. Neither were the hours; the days were longer and the nights were darker than anything either of the two had experienced before. As the party got ever closer to the top, the weather intensified and the snowstorm grew in strength, making it hard to see even three feet ahead of them. Nina was trembling from head to toe, despite every inch of the girl being wrapped in thick furs and carried by her father, who was surprised to find himself adjusting to the cold rather well. But Nina's health was all he could think about at the time, and it was dwindling.

"Thrand! We need to go back! She's not gonna make it!" he yelled through the roaring winds, catching their guide's attention. "We can't stop now, boy! We only have one more day before we reach the top of the mountain, and after that it's downhill until we reach Tháinbroek!" he shouted back without looking over his shoulder. "Nina won't make it another day if the weather keeps this up! She's too cold and too weak! We're turning back!" That set Thrand off, as he halted in his tracks, turned around and paced towards Thurion. "I said I would get you off this planet, and I meant it! We can't stop just because the girl is a bit chilly! My people can wander naked through this kind of weather without so much as a hair standing up on their body!" This in turn ticked Thurion off, who retorted with resentment in his voice. "She is not your people! I am not your people! This is not our home! Say what you will about that, but don't you think that I will let your stubbornness get in the way of my baby girl's well-being!" The defiance in the boy's eyes was enough to bring Thrand to a halt his rage, instead going for a more subdued: "No. You are not one of mine."

Against his better judgement, Thrand agreed to a change of course; the weather would only be getting worse the higher they'd get, meaning they would have to get to lower altitudes. Though it would take them another full week to reach their destination, using the valley and walking through the mountains rather than over them would mean less exposure to snowstorms, but it would put them at greater risk when it came to the wildlife; the tundras were often hunting grounds for all sorts of predators, with the Frir being the prime example in terms of sheer ruthlessness and bloodlust. Thurion had been explained the risks, and he was willing to take them; there was no doubt that Nina would not survive going across, but going around at least provided her with a chance at survival, however slim. They set up camp a few hundred feet up the mountainside so as to not attract as much attention; fires often times caught the eye of wild beasts in the night, after all.

While Nina was asleep, Thrand confronted Thurion outside their tent.
"You listen to me, boy: when we get to Tháinbroek and I get you onto one of those ships, I don't ever want to see you again. I don't want you to set foot on my planet ever again. When this is over, we're through. For good, you hear?"
"Stop calling me a boy, old man! I am too old to be called such!"
"Oh, don't make me laugh! What are you, 20-25 years old? By Valkyri counting that doesn't even make you old enough to swing a sword."
"I've told you - stop comparing us to your people! We're not! Is my caring for Nina such an alien concept? Do fathers on this world not care about their children?"
That last sentence struck Thrand like the end of a sword, yet he did not allow it to surface.
"You know nothing, Thurion Heavenshield. Nothing."
With that the conversation was over, and they both returned to their tents with similarly hot tempers.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

The following day was a gloomy one; there were no rays of sunlight able to pierce the heavy coulds above, creating a dreary grey tone across the vast tundra they were traversing. While not one to usually hold a grudge, Thurion had not even looked Thrand's way since their arguing the night before, merely letting the huge man lead on while he and Nina followed. For once Nina was able to walk on her own on the crisp ice covered with a fine layer of snow, which meant no slipping and sliding around unless one wanted to. This was of course much to Nina's amusement, who would occasionally grab hold of Thurion's furs and slide along behind him, using him like a sledge would a horse or some other beast of burden. It brought a smile to her face, and to Thurion her behaviour acted as a sign that things would turn out for the better, despite it all. He thought of Kida - his beloved Kitty. He had to return to her, just as much as he had to keep Nina safe. They were his family. His only family.

Two more days were spent much like the last one; wandering the massive tundra with little else to do than walk, walk, and walk some more. During this time Thrand kept grunting that they would've reach Tháinbroek by now had they stayed their initial course. Thurion paid him no mind; Nina was happy and well, which was all he cared about at this point. But their grievances would have to wait 'til later. "Thrand! The ground is shaking! What's going on?" he called out to their guide. Indeed the ground was shaking, and the old Valkyr knew all too well what caused the tremors. "Get the girl to safety, lad! Go - now--!" His words were interrupted by a deafening crash as huge teeth appeared from beneath the ice-covered ground. Without really bothering to look behind him, Thurion had grabbed Nina and put her on his back as he did what Thrand had told him. From behind him he could hear the unsheathing of a sword along with a defiant battle cry.

With a literally earth-shattering kaboom the ground split open and a serpentine body sprung out of the hole. Such a beast was unheard of, even with all the worlds Thurion had visited; it was covered in thick scales and armed with sharp fangs. The size made it look slow at first glance, but this was far from the case. It easily outmaneuvered the Valkyr warrior who put up a fight like no other. The sword Thrand carried was almost as impressive in size as the man wielding it, with a broad double-edged blade. It must've weighed more than twice that of a normal-sized blade, yet the man swung it like with impressive skills. Thrand kept his guard up constantly, always wary of an incoming attack. He knew how to deal with these serpents, although last time he was over half a century younger and full of vigor.

"Nina", Thurion spoke into her mind as he put her down. "Thrand is in trouble. He needs my help." She looked up at him, touching his face with a hand. "But Thurion... you're hurt! You can't fight in your state!" she pleaded with him. "Don't worry, little one; I'll come back to you. Pinky-swear?" He held out his pinky finger towards the girl who reluctantly did the same, wrapping it around his. "P-pinky-swear." Her eyes were full of terror, not only at what was happening, but at what might happen. Her fears did not pass her father by unnoticed, who pulled her in for a firm hug. "I will always love you, little one - no matter what. Stay here and keep out of harm's way." She nodded quietly as Thurion kissed her forehead before turning around to join the fray. Nina did as she was told and took cover behind a large rock formation, effectively keeping anything larger than a squirrel from reaching her as she sat on a cold slab of stone, eventually shifting her stance into fetal position.

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Spoiler

Slippery bastard, as they often times were. The massive serpent would hardly ever stay still as it slithered about from one place to the next with incredible speed; they would often attempt to out-maneuver its prey before strangling it with its body and then devour it whole. Luckily for him, Thrand knew well the dance of the Hrothwûrm. He swung his sword deliberately and without error in his form, yet it would not penetrate the worm's thick scales enough to leave a mark, much less damage it. Loud hisses escaped its great maw, enough to make the bones shiver involuntarily. To Thrand it just made him want to cut out its tongue in annoyance.

"Thrand!" came a yell from behind him. He didn't need to look around to know who shouted. "I told you to get away from here! Where's that girl of yours?" he replied without ever offering Thurion a glance. As the Jedi caught up with the Valkyri warrior, a small part of him wished he'd rather done what the old man had told him to. "She's safe for the moment! Now, tell me how to kill this thing!" The boy's bravery was unquestionable, that much was clear, but still his words made Thrand think him crazy. "What, are you gonna argue him to death, boy? You don't even carry a weapon!" Showed how much the old man knew. Of course, he'd never told him he was a Jedi.

Reaching for his lightsaber adorned with the piece of cloth torn from his old master's robes, Thurion ignited it and allowed it to cast its blue shine over the sparkling ice around his feet. The sudden burst of light made Thrand almost jump, but he soon came to the stunning realisation. He'd seen such a weapon before, and in the hands of one he loved. A Jedi. "Go for the eyes, boy! I'll keep distracting it!" With a quick nod Thurion leapt into the air, landing perfectly onto the serpent's large head, more comprised of teeth than anything else. Its scales proved easy to grab onto, although the rapid movements of the Hrothwûrm made anything more difficult than it at first appeared.

Amassing all of his great Valkyri strength, Thrand in one swing struck at the serpent's tail, managing to split a good metre from the tip of it. While roaring in pain, the beast was far from conquered by such a wound, and with Thurion still hanging on for his life atop its head the mighty Hrothwûrm snapped its tail at the defiant warrior bravely standing his ground. Without any means of withstanding such a sudden attack, Thrand was thrown through the air several feet, landing hard against the cold ground with more than a little pain shown in his face. The maneuver had played its part, however, as this gave Thurion enough time to find his footing among the thick scales and with the hiss of an activating lightsaber he plunged the beam of light down into the skull of the creature.

Roaring in pain, the great serpent twisted and turned his body in rapid movements, squirming as the insides of his skull were disintegrated in a split-second. Thurion rolled off the creature's back and down onto the ground, panting heavily. The amount of concentration required to simply hold on for his dear life had been immense, and had he failed in doing what he just did he would have been unable to carry on fighting for much longer. Gathering his strength for a final strike, the Jedi Master stepped towards the squirming serpent and raised the blue blade to the skies above. His head bent as if in prayer, Thurion sliced the head clean off from its body, thus making sure it would not return to attack them a second time. Black blood was everywhere, squirting from its decapitated parts as they lay on the ground, their warmth creating a thin curtain of steam quickly dissipating as it left the flesh.

"Thrand!" he yelled as he ran over to where the huge man lay, unmoving and bleeding upon the ground. A large piece of the Hrothwûrm's scales had come off when it struck him, planting itself into his abdomen. His ribs were in poor condition, with most of them shattered. Pulse was weak and he was losing a lot of blood. "Thrand, speak to me! Stay with me!" Unable to tilt his head up to look at the blonde Jedi, the old man could only stare up into the darkening clouds above as he mumbled a weary reply. "Th...urion... Will you f-forgive m-me...?" Attempting to stop the bleeding as best he could without bandages or anything in the form of medical equipment, Thurion could only listen to a dying man's last words. A puzzled face combined with a frown settled upon his face. "Forgive you? For what? Why would I have to forgive you?" The old warrior could not hold back the trembling tears running down his face in silence. "I-I should have done m-more... I c-could have done more..." Reaching up to the young man's face, he settled the palm of his hand against his cheek.

"I am so proud of you... my son..."

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

The Valkyri warrior lay upon the cold ground gasping for air, and Thurion could feel his lifesigns fading. But his mind was left struggling to understand the man's final words. "Wha... 'son'? Why would you call me...?" Shocked beyond measure, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped in realisation. Tears welled in the corner of his eyes as he shook his head in defiance. This couldn't be true. His father was dead - he died alongside his mother. That's what Thyrian had told him growing up. Had he lied? No. Thyrian wouldn't do that. Maybe... he didn't know, either? There was no response to his confusion, as Thrand was not long for this world. To him the world was darkening, until a light was seen in the distance. Odiir had sent his loyal angels to take him to Beornskald. He was being summoned to feast among the bravest heroes of his people for an eternity, until the world would be brought to ruin and they would battle alongside the gods one last time. He was ready.

But Thurion was not so quick to let go of the old man just yet, as he was horrified at learning the ever approaching truth that this man was indeed his father. "No! Father! Don't leave me! Not again! Never again!" his cries echoed, reverting him back to that of a small boy. His tears knew no bounds as they poured down his cheeks and he kept caressing his father's face and hair in pure despair. Without his knowledge, Nina had re-emerged from her hiding spot and was now standing beside him, still wrapped in the thick furs from earlier. Knowing her father was in a devastated condition, she could only offer him a kind gesture in the form of her tiny hand meeting his warm and flustered cheek. He couldn't speak in the state he was in, but he didn't have to; Nina could feel his pain long before touching him, and so she too didn't say anything.

No. Not again. Never again. These three phrases repeated in Thurion's mind as he wiped the tears from his cheeks, determination settling across his face. Removing the gloves from his hands, he placed them both onto Thrand's lifeless face. He called upon the Force to lend him the power to heal this man. No matter what it took, or how long it would take, he would save this man. He owed him that. "Please, Asha... mother... help me!" he cried out, begging his guardian spirit for further strength. Whether she answered or not, he could not tell, but there was still a chance - that much he knew. His breath calmed itself, he found his centre and began humming. Nina watch in utter fascination at what happened next: Sinew and flesh was being repaired; bones were set and heart started pumping. A loud and sudden gasp for air flung the fallen warrior upwards as if struck by a jolt of electricity, into the arms of the one who he called 'son'.

So came their first embrace as father and son, both holding onto eachother as if the other would fall through the planet's core if they didn't. "Father...!" he whispered. "Son...!" he got in return. "I could see it... the afterlife; Beornskald...!" The sight had been too beautiful to fully leave his mind, but for now he was far from aching to go back; he had his son, finally - alive and well. Still weak from his wounds, he lay back down onto the frozen ground, almost passing out from exhaustion. A mere few seconds after, his son joined by on the ground, the two lying next to eachother looking up towards the parting clouds as the sun broke through and cast a heavenly light upon them. Panting heavily, Thurion had passed too much of his strength unto his dying father, as he could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness just as Nina started hugging his hand. "Nina... watch over Thrand. I need to... lay down for a while." For how long he could not say, but if Thrand was to come to before he did, Nina would have to make sure he wouldn't over-exert himself. They both needed rest. Nina frowned and let out a tiny whimper as she nuzzled in between the two men, effectively connecting all three of them.

They were all part of one family, now.

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Spoiler

So it had come full circle; a son had brought life to his father, just as he had given life to his son. The poetry was not lost on either of them as they huddled around the fire that night, having slain the mighty Hrothwûrm earlier that same day - a feat only a handful had managed to accomplish and lived to tell the tale. There were no more ill words shared between father and son, for they had found eachother and fought together like the bravest of warriors. With Nina in his lap, Thurion sat beside his father Thrand, and he felt like he was a boy once again doing what normal kids did with their fathers. "Dad... why did you leave? What happened to mom?" Thrand's tending of the fire ceased as he turned to his son, his visage becoming that of a sad, old man.

"Your mother, she... was everything to me. I came to Pelagon looking to escape my past following my banishment from my homeplanet." He gestured to the cold winter's night, making it clear that this was indeed his homeplanet. "No-one had ever seen one of my people before - I daresay I was the first to have ever left Midvinter at the time - and so I was alone, a freak subject to ridicule by the masses. 'Caveman', they called me", he chuckled. "But when I was at my worst, there she was, full of angelic beauty and grace. Her eyes were blue like the skies at noon, and her hair shining gold like the midday sun. She was the most beautiful being I have ever seen. Her touch caused my heart to melt every time, and her smile brought comfort to the soul. She was my only friend, and that friendship soon turned into love. We married in the spring, and a year later we had our first child: Thyrian..."

Hearing his father speak his brother's name somehow caused terrible memories of his demise to surface, yet he was determined to let his father finish his tale. "He took care of me, father. He was the finest older brother anyone could ask for. You would've been proud of him." Thrand nodded. "The next five years passed without worry or sadness, but that all changed, eventually. We were about to receive a second child, and our joy couldn't be greater, but there were... complications during childbirth; fever had struck her hard by the time she went into labour. We were given two choices: either we remove the child from the womb before things turned for the worse, or..." His voice started to tremble. "Or we let her go through with it. I chose the first, she chose the latter. Ultimately, it was her decision. The birth drained her of her lifeforce, and when it was over she only whispered a name before leaving this world, and me: 'Thurion'."

He looked to his son, who's face had turned grim at learning of his mother's death. "She died because of..." Before he could finish he was met by a large hand settling upon his shoulder. "No, son. She died because of the fever. She lived long enough to see you enter the world. She had no regrets about what happened, and she knew it would be worth it just to see her baby boy look down at her from her husband's bossom just before she died. What finer picture is there to take with you into the afterlife?" he said, to which Thurion wrapped his arms around little Nina sitting in his lap, unaware of the conversation taking place as she practised building a tiny snowman in front of her. "Her death devastated me, as you might imagine. Every night I was terrified of finding the bed so big, too big for one person to sleep in. Every meal I tasted couldn't live up to her cooking. And whenever I would look at the two of you... I saw her. I couldn't take it anymore; I told your brother I was leaving for work, and then never returned. I left Pelagon and returned here, having no other place to go to. I hid away in the mountains, away from my own people, away from all responsibilities, and away from myself."

"And now I show up and remind you of your failure", Thurion spoke, now fully understanding the man beside him and why he was being so abrasive at first. He planted a kiss into Nina's hair before tilting his entire body to lean against his father's imposing frame. "I forgive you, dad. I forgive you", he said as his forehead rested upon Thrand's shoulder. His son's words brought closure to a long, sad chapter of his life, and he could feel his spirit slowly being repaired. It was as if he was a broken mirror and he was being pieced together, and he found himself smiling. "That girl of yours... she doesn't resemble you much", he spoke with curiosity. "She's not of my blood", Thurion replied. "I found her wandering the streets of a planet called 'Umbara' - you ever heard of Umbara?" he asked his father, who just shook his head. "Well, she was alone with no place to call home, and then she got into trouble with some ruffians. I saved her and promised her I would look after her should she choose to come with me. We bonded, and eventually I adopted her. She's my daughter by law, now." Thrand looked over at the little girl and chuckled. "I'm a grandfather?" he uttered softly just as Nina met his gaze, eyes going wide in surprise and amazement.

He reached out and grabbed hold of the tiny one, putting her into his own lap with no objections from Thurion. For what seemed like hours the two just sat staring at eachother without anyone saying anything. Eventually Nina touched Thrand's hand and carefully spoke into his mind. "A-are you my granddaddy?" Her words didn't frighten him, even as they entered his mind directly without her opening her mouth. He'd seen stranger things in life, and this girl was near the bottom of his list. "It seems like I am, little snowflake", he nodded. "Hello, grandad!" she spoke again before nuzzling into his chest, smiling wide at the news. His huge hands caressed her fragile shape, like a tree trunk versus a twig. He looked over at Thurion, who'd just been observing the two bonding. "I can get used to this." He was greeted by a smile. "So can I, dad."

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Spoiler

The following day they didn't break camp until noon; both father and son were severely weakened from their fight against the Hrothwûrm, and they needed to summon what strength the two still retained just pack their things and set off at a sauntering tempo. For once little Nina didn't have to be carried to keep up, and could even manage to outrun them both should the need arise. Most of the day passed them by unnoticed, but their progress was slow. Even so, the need for either to leave the other's presence had all but been eliminated due to the recent reunification between father and son, as well as grandfather and granddaughter. Thrand had given his word, nevertheless, and so he would see to it that his son and granddaughter returned to their home safely. They had lives to pursuit outside of Midvinter, and he could rest easy knowing what his dear son had turned into and what path he had chosen. He wished he could come with him, but he feared returning to this planet of his a second time could prove difficult; he was still an exile by all accounts, and chances were that if anyone learned of his existence and whereabouts there would be a bounty on his head. No, he had to stay hidden the way he best knew how to, if not for himself then for his son.

Darkness creeped up upon the three, at which time they'd actually made their way across the glacier and arrived at the outskirts of a small village, even at their slow pace. His father advised them not to get too close to the houses and hutts, as the less people knew about them being here the better. "This is the village of Jagged Edge. It is an insignificantly tiny spot on the map, but well-kept and organised nevertheless. The people here have it rougher than most, what with the wildlife and desolate location", he pointed to the ground. "Nowhere to grow crops, you see. They have to rely on the skill of their hunters and the generosity of nearby villages with more favourable conditions for farming. Trade-routes are immensely important to Jagged Edge that they are maintained." As much as their bodies ached for a warm bed and a nice meal, they would have to make do with setting up camp outside the village tonight. Being their first contact with any sort of culture or other people in general, this was a hard thing to do, but safety comes first.

Morning arrived, and the party said their farewells to Jagged Edge as it disappeared from their sights and they entered a woodland area. Thurion and Nina had been warned that getting lost in here was easy, so it was important that they didn't get separated. According to Thrand, they would reach Tháinbroek in two days' time by his calculations. "These woods are not like anything I've ever experienced before. There are no birds singing... no sound at all, come to think of it", Thurion said as they wandered the narrow path. "Thrand, do you think--" He was hushed before he could continue. "You're right, it is too quiet. This is not natural - something foul is at work here", his father whispered. "Nina, come here - climb up on my shoulders", Thurion gestured to Nina as he kneeled down for her to climb up along his back and straddle his shoulders. "Follow me. Quickly." Their strides increased both in length and haste as Thrand led him and Nina to the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley far below them. "It is as I feared..." the old Valkyr spoke as they gazed down into the depths, shrouded in shadow save for a multitude of what appeared to be lanterns of blue light. "What is that down there?" Thurion asked as he met his father's troubled eyes. "Those are something far older and more dangerous than any amount of Hrothwûrms, son: Vinterbound."

"Vinterbound?" he inquired with puzzled face. "Fallen warriors not permitted to enter Beornskald - the afterlife. They are the undead from ages past as well as the present, bent on destroying Midvinter and its people. After that... only the Gods can tell." Looking closer, Thurion could make out some of the walking corpses and see that the lights were in fact coming from the creatures themselves; eyes, nose, mouth were all emitting the blue shine, which led him to believe it was what sustained them. "That canyon... where does it lead?" Thrand turned his head to look at the direction they were going and pondered for a moment. "It leads South, which'll eventually take them to... Tháinbroek!" Eyes gone wide at the realisation, he got up on his feet and looked like he was about to challenge the horde of undead all by himself. "Thrand, get back here! You were the one who told us to stick together in the first place!" Thurion hissed at him, getting up on his feet as well. "I can't just let them waltz right into Tháinbroek unchallenged and without hinderance! That's my home, we're talking about, and I'll be thrice-damned by all the Gods if I do not try to stop them however possible!"

"And what about us, Thrand? What about me and Nina? Do we lose you so soon after having found you? Do I lose my father a second time?" he spoke softly, distressed over the possibility of losing his only living relative yet again. "I won't let you go down there and face those monsters. I won't." Thrand looked like he was about to buckle under his words, but the moment didn't last long as Thurion was tossed aside by his father just as an arrow hit the ground where he had stood. It seemed their little argument had not passed the horde by unnoticed, and even now a large group of them had begun to make their way up to them while the vast majority marched onward to their destination. "Thurion, you alright?" his father yelled as he pulled his son back onto his feet. A nod was sent his way as a response, to which he shouted: "Run, son! Run as fast as you can!" They set off, Nina still on her father's shoulders looking back at the undead warriors appearing in ever increasing numbers behind them.

 

[Thrand Hearthfire]

Spoiler

Run through the dense forest they did, with hollow men and skeletal warriors encroaching on them from all sides. It was as if they spawned from the earth itself around their feet, which very well might've been the case. The farther they ran, it was as if the woods became even denser with each step. Soon there wasn't even any snow left on the ground as the lush crowns kept it from touching the green mosses below, which proved to be just as difficult to set foot in as the snow. Even so, it was a nice change of scenery from the otherwise white landscape. Eventually father and son realised running was pointless, as their stamina was ending quickly and should they press on they would soon be overwhelmed by the undead at their heels. They had to make a stand, and this grove seemed better than anywhere else. Thurion found a hiding spot for Nina; a hollow tree trunk where she could crawl in and remain unseen. Hopefully these Vinterbound did not have a good sense of smell.

Her two guardians readied themselves, standing side-by-side before the approaching horde. There was a sort of serenity about the two, as if these were their final hours and they were at peace with themselves. "If this turns sour, I want you to take the girl and run, lad. Do not wait for me, promise me that. I'll hold them off long enough that you're given a headstart." The younger regarded the elder and spoke. "Do not be so quick to embrace death, Thrand, for there is much left for us both to see and do in the world. No need to yield to death's cold just yet." The old man chuckled. "Truly you do not know what awaits at the other side, then: the Gods and heroes of our past will greet us in boisterous song and with the pouring of mead and carving of meat. Beornskald awaits!" With his last words he met the first of the unlucky to stand in the way of his mighty blade, easily as big as a man. The Vinterbound warrior was cloven right down the middle just before the Valkyr sounded the battlecry and charged the rest head-on with sword held aloft his head. There was frenzy and berseker fury in his blows, rending the putrid flesh from his foes and splitting skulls and bones. "Odiir!"

The Jedi opted for a far more conserved fighting-style, picking them off one-by-one rather than be in the middle of it all. His lightsaber snap-hissed alive and cast its azure shine upon the world around him, lighting up the dark night. The undead surrounded the calm and collected Jedi Master, believing to have the upper-hand. Not so, as Thurion grabbed hold of one through the use of the Force and proceeded to throw the corpse into the others with enough force to cause their bones to rattle as they fell apart upon impact. After his little display of his 'space magic', he joined the fray by going close-range with lightsaber in hand. His foes fell easily to his blade, as weapons of ancient design were useless against the power of a pure light slicing their crude swords and axes apart before doing the same to their living corpses. Despite his great advantage, they were seemingly endless and he was but one, and they also seemed aware of it. They kept coming, and no matter how often he would strike at them they were determined to come for him. In the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Thrand hacking away at them, although he too faced the same problem of his foes using sheer numbers to their advantage.

One mistaken move left him open to attack, and Thurion was struck with immense force to the ground by a blunt intstrument, possibly a mace. When he recovered, his weapon was nowhere to be found as it had been tossed aside in the blow. He blasted the surrounding enemies away with a surge of the Force, throwing them into trees and rocks. Despite his best efforts, he could not find his Jedi weapon. He had to find something to fend off the Vinterbound with. Unfortunately he did not leave any of their weapons intact, and was left scrounging. A tiny yelp was heard from where Nina was hiding, to which he turned in fear of her having been discovered. That was not the case, fortunately, but she did point to a small rock formation she had been observing from her small opening. A sword's hilt was resting atop it, and upon further investigation the blade itself had been sheathed into the pedestal of stone. Using all of his might he pulled the sword from it, feeling it's weight in his hands. It was something he had never experienced before; the weight and feel of steel in his hands as opposed to the almost non-existant weight of a lightsaber. It would have to suffice for the moment, in either case.

Rejoining the fray with his newly aquired weapon he charged the enemy, having to rely on his instincts rather than any duelling form he'd been taught, as the heaviness of the blade hindered his movements considerably. The impact of steel versus flesh and bone was something he'd never get used to, he felt at that moment. He fought his way to Thrand, who was on the defence. Back to back they stood their ground, working together like a piece of well-oiled machinery as the undead gradually decreased in numbers. Finally the last Vinterbound fell to the sword, with the remaining backing off into the shadows and disappearing. "They're giving up?" the younger asked, fully expecting them to finish the job whatever it took. "No. Vinterbound never stray too far from the bulk of their army, which means that they are rejoining the others. It also means they are well on their way to Tháinbroek by now", Thrand spoke in between heavy breaths. His eyes settled to the direction of his city, and he looked like he was about to set out immidiately just before he instead slumped backwards and sat down in the soft mosses, with Thurion following suit shortly after.

"That was far too close for my liking", Thurion said as he looked around him for his lightsaber. Still it eluded him. Odd. "I see you found yourself a real weapon, boy", Thrand chuckled as he gestured to the newfound sword. It had rusted in more than a few places, and the blade itself was damaged and chipped. This had been the last hurrah for this seemingly ancient weapon. "Let me see that..." Thrand squinted to make out the small inscriptions across the hilt, and what he found astounded him. "Son, do you realise what this is?" He looked to Thurion, who just shrugged unassumingly. "This used to be a weapon of legend, one the heroes of our stories would wield! My father would read to me about them and how they rode into glorious battle carrying this sword! It wears the same markings as described in the tales!" His excitement seemed unquenchable. "Ah, but what has time done to you, old friend..." he continued while attempting to remove what rust he could, but to little success. "If it means that much to your people, Thrand, then keep it." Father regarded his son for a moment. "No. This weapon chose you - defended you from harm", he said handing it over to his son. "And you forget: you are my people now, Thurion."

He threw an arm around his son's shoulders in celebration, but the moment was short-lived as it was interrupted by the snap-hiss of a lightsaber. It came from behind their backs, and immidiately the two turned around in shock. What they found was Thurion's lightsaber piercing the still living torso of one of the creatures that had attacked them, and the one wielding it was none other than the little white-haired girl of his. Her blue eyes looked over at the two grown-ups, wide in fear of her having done something wrong. She felt she had, since she knew this thing was no toy and that it belonged to her father. "Nina..." he spoke softly as he jumped up and picked her off the ground and into his bossom. She started weeping into his shoulder while he hushed her with his voice. "Shh, it's alright, baby girl. You did good, you did good." He kissed her forehead before rubbing his nose against hers, which was their sign of letting the other know all was well. It did however put a somewhat depressing thought in the back of Thurion's head: she was getting old enough to train.