One morning, I woke up and layed in bed leisurely (alright, lazily) and wondered what it would be like if I woke up somewhere else, as someone else. It inspired a story that's surprised me, being the only love story I've ever written. (It didn't start out that way.) This one, well, it's just fun. I like Anna and Oleifr, and this story is easy to write, so I write it when I take a break from everything else. This part is somewhere around chapter 3, but I think you can catch enough to know what's happened thus far.

He opened the door, and Bera entered the room with a cheerful smile. Are these people forever smiling? It's barely even sunrise! Anna thought to herself. But despite her attempt at irritation, she couldn't help but be pleased to see Bera. At least the woman wasn't threatening to throttle her, unlike her present company. Vile brews she could deal with. Idiotic men were something else entirely.

"I don't suppose you've got any coffee in that bag of yours, do you?" Bera's blank stare was answer enough. "Oh well, wishful thinking, I guess. Coffee would be heavenly right now." Better than that disgusting concoction you gave me yesterday. What was in that thing? She shuddered involuntarily. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Bera, but the drink you made didn't do a bit of good." Anna turned slightly green remembering the fuzzy things floating in the cup of "tea" she had been forced to drink in an effort to "cure" her. Please let that bag be empty this time, she prayed to herself.

Bera merely smiled, and settled into the seat across from Anna. "I am not surprised, truth be told." She reached into the satchel, and Anna gulped loudly. "I have cast the lots, and they tell me this sickness is beyond the power of simple herbs and roots." Anna let out an audible sigh at that. "Instead, I have carved this amulet with healing runes for you to wear near your heart, but please don't mention it to Father Phineus. His lectures seem to be getting longer and longer these days." She gave an exasperated sigh at the mention of the clergyman, and handed the necklace to the other woman.

Anna warily took the piece of jewelry from Bera's outstretched hand and studied the carving on the flat pale disc. "Is this bone?" she asked.

Bera nodded and pointed to the symbols that had been etched into the white surface. "See, here is the rune, ansuz, this means divine breath, to show you the order of your life. And there, that is kenaz, for clarity and understanding. This is perdhro, the most powerful rune for you, for memory and problem solving."

Well, I could use all the help I can get in that area, thought Anna. She let Bera tie the leather thong around her neck and she tucked it into the collar of her gown. Maybe it will do something for this headache, too. The throbbing pain had plagued Anna since the beginning of this whole mess, and it was getting worse. She rubbed her temples absently. Bera noticed, and announced, "Up. Out of this bed. A clear mind begins with a clean body. You need a bath." She wrinkled her nose. "Or perhaps that is you, Oleifr." Anna snorted back a laugh, and Oleifr glared menacingly at the healer. Undaunted, Bera shoved him towards the door with orders to retrieve water. He looked grumpily at the two women, opened his mouth to say something, then thought the better of it. He stomped across the cabin, grabbed a warm cloak and leather boots and left muttering something about stubborn wenches, or was that witches?

Smiling to herself, Bera removed a large basin from it's peg on the wall and placed it before the fire. Oleifr returned shortly with a huge wooden barrel of water, lifting it with an ease that surprised Anna. Without a word, he left, and Bera filled the iron cauldron and placed it back on the hearth to warm, humming merrily to herself. She added rosehips to the water and soon the room was filled with the inviting scent. As Bera worked, Anna took the opportunity to explore her surroundings. It was cozy, which puzzled her. It didn't seem to match the man, who was decidedly uncozy. Each item in the room was practical and useful, yet beautifully carved and created. Functional pieces were also artistic, and the craftmanship of these simple things rivaled art she'd seen in galleries. Tapestries hung on the walls, eloborate and colorful, and she wondered where they came from, and who made them, and mostly, who hung them. A woman? She dismissed her curiosity on the matter. It certainly made no difference to her.

Her fingers traced the elegant carving on a wooden trunk, following the interlocking patterns with awe. I bet he made this. She stumbled in surprise at the thought. No, not that oaf, she told herself. He couldn't make a... a... pancake! She laughed. I never was very good at analogies.

Bera summoned her to the bronze tub, and slipped out of the room quietly, much to Anna's relief. In the short twenty-four hours she had been here, she'd been poked and prodded and generally ogled by enough strangers. She was in no mood for an audience now. Anna eagerly sank into the steaming water, and submerged herself up to her ears. Her thoughts soon turned to her bizarre beginning in this strange place. As she soaked, she examined and discarded a million different theories about her appearance yesterday morning in what could only be described as a Viking village.

The only logical conclusion was that she had gone absolutely, certifiably, nuts. I'm probably wandering through the neighborhood in my nightgown right this very moment. She looked down. At least, I hope I'm in my nightgown.

She sighed. Either way, I think I'm in trouble.