Coming out of the portal, Asger tightens his hold on Beathag cautiously, as he picks up speed. Her voice reaches his ears as she yells over the wind and his dragon eyes turn to her for a moment. “Asger, I will help you if I can. I am not strong like Ylva, but my magic is calming like my mother’s. If she comes to us, maybe I can help give you a slight edge.”
He turns his head chuffing at her. They like this girl, she is strong and kind. She smiles, as his breath blows her hair back. Turning his eyes back to the sky, he scans the horizon, unsure of the threat Ylva poses. They reach the valley in a few short hours. He takes them on a meandering path, hoping to get close enough to Ylva that she would sense them. Landing, he gently sets Beathag down. She steadies herself as she regards at the already destroyed farmhouse. “My sister was furious,” Beathag notes, pride resonating in her voice.
Surveying the valley, he would have to agree Morrigan had indeed been in a rage. Trees are bent, not broken. Every tree bowed toward the center of the valley; a true testament of the force of Morrigan’s whirling storm. The small farm house is in pieces around the field, but things are gradually returning to life throughout the valley. Soon, if it is left alone, it will thrive once more, nature trying to erase evidence of the horrible torture that took place. Turning his enormous muzzle to her, he waits for her command. Tears are streaming silently down her cheeks. Wishing to ease her torment, he wraps his long tail around her in comfort; reminding her that she is not alone. Her hand rubs against his scales unconsciously, as she loses herself in her nightmare. They stand like this for hours as the sun moves across the sky, her replaying the atrocities that befell her and him guarding her until she is ready. Finally, the tears stop and she draws in a shaky breath. Her body begins to vibrate with her fury. As her anger builds, beating at him, she commands, “It is time, Asger. Burn it to ash!”
His tail unfurls and he moves away from her, still watching for danger as he launches into the sky. Her white, blonde hair flies around her face from the force of his wings beating. He makes a circle around the valley, scanning the distance for enemies. Finding none, he dives, roaring as he makes his approach. Fire streams from his mammoth mouth, so hot Beathag thinks she might be blistered by it. She does not shy away though, she lets it burn away her shame. Asger circles the valley, his fire burning everything, so hot it kills the fertile soil, knowing it will never grow another living thing. All who come here will witness only destruction. They will know their fate if they make the mistake of harming one of the Tuatha. As he finally lands beside her, there are fresh tears on Beathag’s face, but he can sense something else.
He hears a new strength in her voice as she speaks, “Thank you, my friend. This is the start,” she draws a breath, looking around. “I’m not sure if you feel it or not, but she is coming.”
Asger swivels his head, looking for Ylva. Not seeing her, he studies Beathag for clues. Her magic enters his mind and she understands his question. ‘She is not close, but she has felt you and she is closing in. She is searching. I can feel the beast that has claimed her, it fears you because of the hold you have on both Ylva and herself. Fears that you will help others cage her again, locking her away in the cave forever.’
She stumbles back as if pushed. Gasping, her eyes widen in fear, “We must go, NOW! You are not ready for this fight yet.” Trusting her instincts, he picks her up and launches into the sky, furiously beating his wings, he turns to the portal. He roars out with a cry, hoping it will alert Morrigan.
‘Call your mother, Beathag, call her now,’ his voice is urgent in her mind.
In an instant, both Danu and Morrigan connect to them, their apprehension coming through the link. On the Isle, Danu looks to Morrigan, worry is etched on her face, “Mother, open a portal closer to them, they will not make it. She is closing on them too quickly.”
Seconds later, they are flying through the shimmering barrier between the worlds, and as they do, Danu works to close it. Asger hears a shrieking scream of anger and frustration push through the veil; a beastly howl for the loss of its prey. Landing near the gardens, he shifts in seconds; it is getting easier and faster. Hands on his knees, he pants, not only from exertion but also from apprehension. His dragon is also worried, physically he discerns he can best her but now that he has felt her magic, unease fills him.
The four stand looking at each other. Beathag with a look of sympathy on her face. Morrigan is the first to speak; her voice shaking with worry, “It has progressed faster than I thought. Too many things hurt her in such a short period of time, including the guilt over her father. It is all causing her not to fight; she has let the beast loose. She is choosing to drift away.”
She turns to her mother, her entire being crying out for help. Danu swiftly pulls her into her arms. Looking at Asger over her daughter's head, she ponders, “We will reach her. We just have to figure out exactly how.”
The three women turn to go, Beathag grabs his hand, squeezing it tightly before stepping away. Asger stays behind. Looking around, he realizes they came through onto the emerald green, rolling hill behind the gardens. He often comes here, looking out over the vastness of this world, ribbons of light often sparkling in the sky. Seeing them in the sky now, he realizes that he has seen them bleeding through into the night sky in his world. Beautiful ribbons of colored lights in the darkened skies, his people have long believed they were proof of the gods, and he now realizes how accurate they were in their beliefs. It makes him wonder at the thinness of the barrier. Ylva is smart, she will figure out a way to get here on her own, even with Danu locking the portal closed. Sitting, he runs his fingers through the thick grass, reminding him of an abundant fur hide, so much softer here than on the other side.
‘Well, dragon. Any ideas?’ Sighing, he rubs his brow in frustration at the situation. The dragon considers him, as he lays in his cave, Asger getting the impression he does have an idea but does not want to share. So he sits, pondering his options. The sun is long gone when lightning lights up the sky. Startled, Asger scans around; it does not storm here.