Hope Comes From Within (Thor/ Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina) [One Shot]

[Stimpak Medic]

One Shot: Hope Comes From Within

It was a mild autumn when the copper leaves fell from the maples under the orange sky that stretched as far as one could see. The sun was fading into the background, and a soft wind tugged at the hair and clothes of all passers by. Occasionally one such leaf would get stuck to a wall or someone's clothes, having to be removed with a hasty comment of dismay from the man or woman who did so.

One such leaf blew from the main square in the town over the inclined shingle roofs of the shops and homes before settling into the white hair of a small girl who sat alone on a wooden bench in the local park. She didn't remove it, for her mind was far away in the world of sadness and sorrow.

Small crystalline tears fell from her eyes and left streaks down her pale face as she sobbed quietly as to not disturb the young children that were playing and making merry in a courtyard nearby. Some of her tears fell into her tied locks that rested against her shoulders and were lost in their whiteness.

Her head was hung, and her black cloak was wrapped tightly around her for what little passing comfort it could offer a traveler like her.

Her amethyst eyes were tightly closed as her small body occasionally shuddered as she silently wept, alone and unaided. Such was the fate of a traveler, always alone in the end of the day. She was beginning to come to accept it. After all she had experienced up unto this point, she had begun to realize that the life of Nikke could not have been such as the fairy tales she had read in her childhood presented, and she certainly was not that magnificent witch.

She had gone back in time in order to help save the friend of the young woman who hired her, only to see the unraveling of the whole narrative she thought was true. Death and destruction seemed to cling to her like an unfortunate disease. This time was no different.

The young lady she was beginning to consider a friend was forced to kill the girl she had sought to save. Her mind shattered, and her history proven false.

Terror and shock had gripped her mind in their burning, searing claws, and she was unable to do anything in the face of the vicious killer the girl was soon to become. She was stuck to the ground, as if transmuted to cold stone, unmoving and unthinking. The only thing distinguishing her from a lifeless statue was the quivering of her eyes and mouth, stuck in a cascading silent scream of horror.

Her mother and father were completely right. She was not a hero, nor could she think herself one at any time.

Suddenly the air turned cold around her, and she shivered in this frozen world. In reality, the temperature had not changed, and this was all a sinister trick of her mind, but to her it was all too real.

The tears fell more, and all light seemed to dim significantly. She had never felt so cold. So alone before.

This was the truth of the world, and she was beginning to feel she wasn't ready. No, she never was ready. She was still a foolish child despite her age.

She lowered her head more, and her purple pointed witches hat blew off her head in the breeze before landing at the far end of the bench, stuck against the black metal armrest.

"I'm sorry" She murmured towards the young lady she had left alone in that home to face the reality of losing one who was once her deeply cherished best friend.

Her tears continued to fall, and the cold began to become overwhelming. Her body shivered in the phantasmal chill, and she reached out as if to grab someone who was not there. She had reached out to her mother and father, yet it would be impossible for them to grasp her small oh so fragile hand.

Slowly, as if recognizing the absurdity of her actions, she lowered her hand into her lap where she just looked down at. Her tears stopped falling, replaced by quiet sniffles. Everything was dark and cold, and there was no warmth to be found in her solitude.

Such indeed was the fate of a lone wanderer such as herself. Always coming close to others, but remaining at a distance that was uncrossable.

She sighed, and took a deep breath that she slowly released afterwards.

Then, she felt a pleasant warmth encompass her followed by a soft placid golden light to her right.

Creak.

The wood of the bench seemed to strain heavily as if something incredibly heavy sat down upon it, pushing the lumber to it's limit.

"Go away, phantom. I won't be tricked again" She said dejectedly, weakly raising her arm to block out the light. The cruel twisting dagger of false hope dug far deeper than the cold bitterness of sorrow did in her young soul, and she would not be fooled by such fleeting feelings again.

"Aye, young lady. That you wont. Come. Tell me what ails you, and perhaps this old man can help assuage your fears a little" A powerful deep man's voice resounded from the light next to her. His accent was unrecognizable, but there was knowledge and wisdom in that voice. She felt the warmth begin to soften the pain she was feeling, and she looked up to see a giant of a man relaxing on the bench next to her. He was a giant of a man easily two heads taller than your average man, perhaps more sitting next to her. He was clad in a brown cloak that hid almost all of his clothes, but the hood was down, revealing a face that seemed to be chiseled from stories of valiant knights and powerful warriors. His skin was light and healthy, and his eyes were a bright ice blue. His long golden hair was falling over his shoulders, and he had a soft smile on his face as he looked at her.

He felt warm and inviting, as if everything in the universe was meaningless in front of him, and everything would go right if he was there. It was a sense of safety she hadn't felt since she was a child in her parent's arms.

She sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand before asking a question in a meek voice, for she was still recovering her bearings.

"Who are you?" She managed to squeak out before sniffling again.

"A man. A king. A God. All titles of mine, but It matters little in this moment young lady, for your sorrow has reached me. Even if all we do is sit on this tiny bench and look out at the sky, your sorrow has indeed been heard by Thor" He said softly, and he put his large hand on her shoulder gently, patting it softly as to comfort her.

"What?" She could only blankly ask, confused at this giant of a man's words. Her tears drying against her face.

A God? A king? A man? Was this man insane? Yet those questions seemed to melt away in the soft golden light and his warm smile.

"Aye, but let us not dwell on positions of times long past. The cry of your soul hath rang out across the realms for comfort, for answers, and I hath arrived in response. So when you be ready, do speak on what troubles your quivering heart" He said, giving her all the time she needed.

Utterly baffled and confused, Elaina could only look down at the dirt road in front of them in silence. Perhaps she could share her feeling with him, and perhaps, just perhaps this strange giant of a man could help her come to terms with her fading heart.

The two sat silently for several minutes before Elania spoke again.

"I watched someone close to me kill their best friend" Elaina spoke softly, barely enough to be heard above the autumn breeze, and the giant man stayed silent.

"She had gone back in time to save her, but it turned out she was the one who had done evil deeds" Elaina sobbed into her hands, her tears returning to her amethyst eyes.

"And...And she had to kill her. I was terrified" She said, her face buried deep in her hands. Her words only broken by sobs.

"Aye, that indeed weighs heavily upon your heart. To watch such events hath scarred your psyche, but there beith light in your future. Carry it with you, and hold that pain close. For there beith no greater teacher than loss" The man said, removing his hand from her shoulder.

He sat and looked at the setting sun over the rooftops.

"I feel lost...What do I do?" Elaina asked, opening her heart to the man.

"Any path I could choose for you would pale in comparison to the one you would tread with your own heart and feet. Follow your heart earnestly and honestly, and you will never lose the road you travel upon" The man said, giving her an understanding and compassionate look.

Elaina looked down at the ground and thought deeply for several more minutes. This man was right in his words, no matter how vaguely he put them. She could not look to others for a road. That would only end with her being used to fulfill other people's plans.

She had to no longer be just a traveler, but a trailblazer. Instead of following the wind, she would follow her heart, even if it brought her to places she would not usually go.

"You're right" She said to the giant man next to her, and he smiled, raising his hand up to her face, and plucking the leaf that had gotten caught in her hair off before responding to her.

"Thank not me, but your heart. I did nothing but guide you to a conclusion you had lingering already within your heart. Now young miss Elaina, it is time for me to travel the nine realms again, and you to begin your journey once more" He said, giving her once more a warm smile.

"Go with the knowledge that you have received the blessing of Thor the All-Father and rejoice on your travels" He said, giving her a soft pat on the head before fading away into nothingness, leaving behind a lingering warmth in her heart.

She felt something cold around her neck, and looked down to see a silver necklace with a silver small hammer embedded with a green emerald in it's head.

Then she smiled, her fear and sorrow receding to a level she could handle on her own now.

It seemed the universe wasn't as bleak and cold as she originally thought.

"Thank you, mister Thor" She whispered into the wind before getting up, retrieving her hat, and walking down the street towards her next adventure with renewed hope.