They made their way slowly onward, carefully picking their way between the marshy bogs and treacherous pits. They didn't stop until late that night. Fira was still in front, humming to herself softly.

"Here we are," Gwaine called from where he was in the middle of the group.

The company looked around. A small grove of leafy trees was somewhat out of place in the dreary landscape surrounding them. Leon dismounted and led his horse forward under the branches. The others followed suite and soon began rolling out their cots, while Fira made a small fire and began to heat up some dried meat.

After dinner they set up watches. Fira, Elyan, and Leon would take the first shift. They initially had protested against Fira joining the watch as she had been in the late shift the night before, but she insisted upon it. Fira had some things to think about and she figured she might as well be helpful while doing that.

There was a strangely large boulder in the center of the trees which, set upon a little hill, reached almost to the treetops, some ten feet above the ground. Fira climbed the rock and sat atop it. The sky was already black and stars were out.

Suddenly she heard the flapping of wings and before she realized what was happening, she felt something slam into her back, sending her flying forward off the rock and onto the ground. She blacked out after this.

Leon and Elyan, hearing the screeches of the wyvern, immediately shouted to the others. Leon saw Fira lying motionless on the ground and ran over to her, stabbing upwards at a wyvern that was coming in to attack her.

Elyan and Gwaine took on another one and the rest of the company was just as busy. Left and right there seemed to be wyverns, so that by the time the fight was over, seven or eight carcasses littered the ground and blood was everywhere. Sir Elyan had a twisted ankle, Gwaine had a bruised arm, and Galahad had a large but mild cut down the side of his left arm.

Leon was examining Fira. She had claw marks on her back and a small cut on her forehead from where she hit the ground. Gwaine came over with the medicine bag and began treating her wounds. Fortunately they weren't serious. She'd be bruised for a while but that was about it.

Sir Tor was wrapping up Elyan's ankle with a large bandage. The latter hissed in pain as the wrap was tightened. Galahad was being helped by Gareth and Gaheris. Morholt was pulling at his sword, trying to unstick it from a particularly large wyvern's body.

"You know, a good crossbow would work best against these things," Morholt grumbled, "Knock em right out."

"Yeah," Leon nodded, "if only we had brought one."

"The rest of you get some sleep," Gwaine grunted as he stood up, "I'll keep watch since I need to stay with Fira."

Leon agreed and the others went to bed. Gaheris however couldn't sleep. Instead he shuffled out to where his half-brother was sitting, silently staring at the night sky.

"Gwaine," he nodded quietly, sitting next to him, a bit away.

Gwaine looked at Gaheris in surprise, "You should get some sleep, Gaheris."

Gaheris glared at him, "I'm not a child anymore, Gwaine. I know my limits."

"Maybe you should stop acting like one then," Gwaine snapped quietly.

They both quietly stared straight ahead, neither sure what to say. They went on like this for a long while before Gaheris sighed and got up. He went back to sleep.

Gwaine heard a groan from behind him. Quickly he stood and turned around. Fira was blinking, trying to see.

"Well looks who's awake," Gwaine whispered, scooting over to her.

"I feel like I've been scratched by a giant cat," she moaned.

Gwaine chuckled, "Close. Guess again?"

"Wyverns," Fira groaned, sitting up.

"You might want to say that spell on your wounds that you always use."

"Good idea," she nodded, "Bíde séocnes."

Gwaine smiled, "What does that even mean?"

"Halt sickness. Was anyone else injured?"

"Galahad and Elyan, but neither seriously."

She nodded wearily.

"Go back to sleep. Someone will wake you in the morning. You need to rest," Gwaine insisted.

Fira didn't protest, instead just lying back and closing her eyes. She was tired, definitely, and relished the chance to sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, her back was already feeling better. She stood up and stretched, eager to see to the others. Before breakfast she made sure she had seen to both Elyan and Galahad.

"We should reach the edge of the Perilous Lands by midday today. What's the first kingdom we'll come across," Gwaine asked.

"That would be Alfheim, ruled by Queen Freyja," Tor said.

Morholt added, "It's a nice, little kingdom. We shouldn't have any trouble there. I suggest we visit the castle though and see what aid she can give us."

"It'll be just in time for us to restock our supplies," Leon agreed.

"Yes, our provisions are almost out. We need new food," Galahad agreed, "This meal was practically the last of it."

"There is a small town close to the border. We should be able to pick up some food there," Tor advised them.

"Think," Morholt said excitedly, "by nightfall we could very possibly be sleeping in beds!"

With that though they set off. Everyone was eager to leave these barren wastes and reach more fertile, prosperous, inhabited lands. Tor and Morholt described Alfheim as a luscious, green country with flowering trees and many bright streams. And when midday approached, they did indeed find it as such. The border was a very large river, and Tor and Morholt led the company northwards up the river. They reached a bridge, guarded by two men.

"Halt! You've reached the border of Alfheim!"

"We wish to cross into your land. We have come far and are out of food. Please, let us enter," Tor begged.

The two guards talked for a moment before nodding, "Very well. The capitol city is straight along the road. At the third junction turn right and head up until you hit it. The town of Vanheim is at the second junction."

"Thank you, good sirs," Leon nodded to them as the company passed, "We wish only for peaceful interaction with your people."

"As do itself. The road was a dusty dirt path that was surrounded on all sides by beautiful green grass for as far as the eye could see. In the distance to their right was a range of mountains, tall and majestic. Slight rolling hills decorated the country side.

"I suggest we stop at Vanheim for today," Gwaine said as he offered his two cents.

"I agree," Tor nodded.

"Very well. Vanheim it is. Tomorrow we will make our way to Alfheim itself," Leon agreed.

They passed the first junction that ran to the left and an hour later came upon the junction they were looking for. A sign post pointed towards Vanheim and the company turned to continue on. They were starving and were relieved when the wooden walls of a city came I to view.

They dismounted upon approaching the gate and were allowed in without much trouble. A citizen pointed the way to the inn, which thankfully was rather large and spacious. They got three rooms and bunked in pairs or triplets. Percival, Gwaine, and Fira were together, Galahad, Gareth, and Gaheris were together, Tor and Morholt bunked together, and Leon and Elyan were together.

They went downstairs to where the common area was and ordered some food for dinner. They hadn't eaten since breakfast and they were starving. There were a few other small groups in the room, each chatting themselves up. They relished the peace.

"Let's turn in for the night," Leon told them, "I want to be up and out of here by ten o'clock tomorrow. Whoever is up early, come find me so I can give you money to go shopping for food."

They said goodnight and everyone went to their separate chambers. Fira told Percival and Gwaine to turn around while she changed and they did so, telling her to do the same for them. The company simply hadn't had enough money to waste on more rooms when it could be spent on food.