"The forest seemed to hold its breath as we awaited Iria's response, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant call of unseen creatures. Tension coiled tight within me, each heartbeat drumming a rhythm of uncertainty. Around me, my companions shifted restlessly, their eyes flickering nervously toward the shadowy depths where iria's voice had emanated.

I exchanged a glance with Björn, his expression mirroring my own apprehension. We had come too far to turn back now, but the price of passage through Iria's domain remained a mystery shrouded in foreboding.

As if sensing our collective unease, Gyða tightened her grip on her axe, her jaw set with determination. Elbereth tightened her grip on her sword ready to strike if needed.

Helgi stood tall beside her, his steely gaze fixed on the forest ahead, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us.

The air grew thick with anticipation, each passing moment stretching into an eternity as we braced ourselves for Iria's demands. Would it be a test of strength, a trial of wit, or something far more perilous?

The forest seemed to hold the answer in its ancient whispers, but for now, all we could do was wait and steel ourselves for the trials yet to come."

Iria’s voice cuts through the dense forest like a chilling wind, its eerie resonance sending shivers down our spines. Their words hang in the air, heavy with foreboding, as they declare the price for safe passage through their domain.

“The price to pay for a safe passage through my domain you have to face and defeat your worst nightmare.”

The silence that follows is deafening, broken only by the pounding of our hearts and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. As the weight of Iria's demand sinks in, a cacophony of gasps and murmurs erupts from me and my companions. Fear grips us like a vice, each of us grappling with the horrifying prospect of facing our worst nightmares. The air crackles with tension, our collective dread echoing through the forest like a primal scream, a stark contrast to the serene beauty that surrounds us.

 As Iria's voice pierced the air with its menacing tone, a chill swept through our bones, leaving us frozen in place. "You will have the night to prepare yourself for the nightmares you have to face in the morning," they declared, their words hanging ominously in the air like a shroud of impending doom.

 With heavy hearts and minds reeling from Iria's proclamation, we trudged to a nearby clearing, where we hastily set up camp for the night.

Anxiety gnawed at our insides as we sat in silence, the only sound the crackling of the campfire casting eerie shadows on the surrounding trees. The darkness seemed to press in on us from all sides, amplifying our fears and doubts.

Unable to bear the weight of my own apprehension any longer, I broke the suffocating silence. "We need to talk about tomorrow," I announced, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. "We need to lean on each other for support and share our fears. We're in this together, and together, we'll face whatever nightmares await us.":

"Björn, Gyða, and Helgi exchanged nods of agreement, acknowledging the importance of facing their fears together. However, Elbereth's dissenting voice cut through the night air, her stance unwavering. Despite Björn and Helgi's attempts to coax her into joining the discussion, Elbereth remained adamant, her resolve unyielding.

 With a frustrated sigh, Elbereth turned away from the group, her footsteps resolute as she walked further into the darkness. Meanwhile, Gyða, sensing the tension, made a split-second decision to follow Elbereth. With determined steps, she trailed after her, her presence a silent offering of support in the face of uncertainty."

(POV Gyða)

As I approach Elbereth, I find her perched on a rock near the tranquil surface of a small lake.

Her attempts to conceal her tears are futile, and I gently lay a comforting hand on her shoulder.

She averts her gaze, but I can see the pain etched into her features.

"You're not accustomed to discussing your hardships, are you?" I inquire softly, my voice laced with empathy.

Elbereth meets my gaze with a sad look, her voice carrying a tone heavy with sorrow.

"No, I've never been one to vocalize my suffering. I've always borne it in silence, unwilling to show any hint of weakness, especially as the leader of the royal guard.

 Being a female guard in itself is challenging enough."

 I meet Elbereth's gaze with understanding. "It must be incredibly exhausting," I acknowledge, my tone filled with empathy. "Would you like to talk about it?"

 I offer with a gentle smile. "Venting might provide some relief."

 Elbereth returns my smile with a hint of gratitude. "You're not going to let me suffer in peace, are you?" she remarks wryly.

 I shake my head firmly. "No, definitely not," I assure her. "Facing your fears tomorrow will only be harder if you're not willing to talk about them."

Elbereth give me a soft smile” is it okey to talk about it with you only?”

I answer yeah of course.

 Elbereth spoke with a soft trembling tone given my position as the leader among the royal guard and my tendency to suffer in silence, my worst nightmare involves failing to protect those under my care, especially my fellow guards or the people of Silverwood Haven. My failure could result in devastating consequences, such as the loss of lives or the destruction of my village. It also involves me facing a situation where i am unable to uphold my duty as a leader, feeling powerless to make a difference when I am in the face of danger. This nightmare would directly challenge me sense of strength, competence, and responsibility, which are crucial aspects of my identity as a leader and guardian.

 I give her a soft smile and lean in for a hug without thinking she is shocked at first but then she squeezes me tightly and start to cry, I tighten my grip around her and start tearing up myself. Her hug is warm but heavy her tears and suffering start a storm in my heart. I can’t imagine what she is going through as a royal guard and guardian and not having anyone to talk to or share her burden and hardship with it is heartbreaking but from now on, I am always going to be there for her no matter what.

 After some time Elbereth slowly let's go of my hug and gives me a soft, grateful look. Her eyes sparkling in the starry skies, her beauty shining in the moonlight before I notice my cheeks turning red, I am getting flustered I quickly look away trying to calm myself down,  so out of stupidity I drag Elbereth by the hand and pull her in the lake with me, her laughter echoed in my mind and she splashes a big wave towards me I raise my hand up and stop the splash in mid-air Elbereth awed in surprise. Our eyes meet, and in that moment, I feel a connection like never before. The tension between us dissipates, replaced by a sense of warmth and understanding. As we laugh and play in the water, the moonlight dancing on the surface of the lake, I realize how much I enjoy being with Elbereth. There's a lightness in my heart, a feeling of joy that I haven't felt in a long time. It's as if she's brought a new energy into my life, filling it with hope and happiness. In that moment, I know that my feelings for Elbereth run deeper than friendship. We climb up out of the water together and I use my powers to get all the water out of our clothes and then we walk together back to the group.

(POV Cordelia)

We hear footsteps come towards us from Gyða and Elbereth the two of them looking relieved Elbereth come towards us and apologies for her behavior earlier, she explains her reasoning and we look at her with understanding and invite them to sit down with us by the fire so the others can talk about their worst nightmares. Helgi decides to go first his rugged features illuminated by the flickering flames. The shadows dance across his weathered face, accentuating the lines of worry etched into his brow. His piercing blue eyes, normally filled with stoic resolve, betray a hint of vulnerability as he prepares to share his deepest fear.

As he begins to speak, his voice is tinged with raw emotion, each word heavy with the weight of his anguish. His hands tremble slightly as he gestures, a tangible reflection of the turmoil raging within him. “Before I met you guys, I was living in a small village called Midgard.

 My worst nightmare is an overwhelming sense of failure. I was the protector of the village and well known by our worst enemies I fought them off every time until the leader of our enemies threatened to take my family’s life if I didn’t go with them willingly to suffer the consequences of my actions, I was imprisoned and I wasn’t supposed to stay to long but while I was imprisoned I got betrayed by them, they went after my village. I desperately tried to save my family and friends from harm, but I couldn’t do much from inside of a cell, so I had to sufferer in silence with the echoing screaming of my friends and family. The sounds of their cries for help echo in my ears, fueling my anguish and despair. The firelight casts an eerie glow on his features, casting long shadows that seem to mirror the darkness of his fears.

With each passing moment, Helgi's narrative grows more vivid and haunting, painting a harrowing picture of his worst nightmare. His words are punctuated by pauses, as if he struggles to find the strength to articulate the depths of his pain. The flames cast flickering shadows across his face, heightening the sense of unease that hangs in the air.

As he recounts the imagined scenario of his loved ones in peril, his voice wavers with emotion. The crackling of the fire provides a haunting backdrop to his tale, the flames casting eerie shadows that seem to dance to the rhythm of his words. The atmosphere grows heavy with tension, the weight of Helgi's fear palpable in the air.

As he reaches the climax of his narrative, the fire burns brightly, casting a warm glow that bathes his face in a flickering light. We stay silent until me and Björn lay our hands on his shoulders I lay my head on his left shoulder his voice is soft, and he says “thank you for listening. 

 Björn decided to be next his expression grave as he prepares to share his deepest fear with them.

 With a heavy sigh, Björn begins to recount the haunting memory that haunts him to this day.

 His voice is tinged with sorrow as he describes the chilling events of his past, each word weighed down by the weight of his trauma.

 As he speaks, “ I was raised in a small cold community my father was the king of the village but he wasn’t much of a father to me,  my mom Fönn was murder by my uncle Klaki, I was 5 years old when I witnessed my mother’s murder and I tried to help but I was too weak after my mother death my  father became cold hearted toward me blaming me for my mother’s death”.

I look into Björn blue eyes. I hug him his hug is heavy but warm and safe, his body is tens and his heartbeat is fast but as I tighten my grip around him, his heart slows down and within minutes his heartbeat is normal. He tightens his grip around me laying his head on my shoulder I slowly feel his body calm down, after some time he let’s go and I walk back to my place around the campfire, the heavy air is slowly getting lighter.

Gyða is next in sharing her worst nightmare, her hands clasped tightly together as she gathers the courage to share her deepest fear with her companions. 

 Her voice is soft but tinged with an underlying sense of dread as she recounts the nightmare that haunts her.

” I am the daughter of Bára, she was the queen of Vatnshelli my dad was a deadbeat and she didn’t want him to be a part of my life growing up. In Vatnshelli we are healers we heal everyone that passes through our village our if healers are needed anywhere, we are called to help”.

“My worst fear Is to finds myself surrounded by injured and suffering villagers, their desperate cries for help echoing in my ears. Despite my best efforts, I am unable to heal their wounds or ease their pain. Every spell I cast fails to bring relief, and the villagers' condition only worsens with each passing moment. The weight of their suffering bears down on me, crushing my spirit and leaving me feeling utterly helpless”.

As she shares her fear with her companions, Gyða's hands tremble slightly, her heart heavy with the burden of her nightmare. But even in the face of her deepest fear, she finds strength in the support of her friends, knowing that they will stand by her side no matter what challenges lie ahead.

I look at Gyða with a heavy heart, my care for these people is so strong that I hate to see them suffer like this, but I share my support by taking her hand and squeezing it tightly and then give her a soft smile.

I am next and I am terrified I take a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the ground as I gather my thoughts.

The flickering firelight casts dancing shadows across my face, accentuating the furrow of my brow and the slight tremor in my voice.

"It's hard to put into words," I begin, my tone hesitant yet resolute. "But my worst nightmare... it's like being trapped in a never-ending cycle of failure and abandonment."

"I've faced rejection and isolation before," I continue, my voice barely above a whisper. "The fear of losing the people I care about, of being unable to protect them... it's overwhelming."

I pause, my hands trembling slightly as I struggles to articulate the depths of my fear.

"In my nightmare, I'm powerless," I confess, my voice thick with emotion. "I try to save them, to be there for them... but no matter what I do, I always fail. And in the end, I'm left alone, abandoned and broken."

 My words hang in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on my chest as I finally meet the gaze of my companions, my eyes shining with unshed tears. "I never want to feel that way again," I whispers, my voice trembling with raw emotion. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you all, to keep you safe from harm.

Because... because I can't bear to lose anyone else."

We all stand up and start a group embrace it is a moment of shared vulnerability and strength, as we embrace each other tightly, united in our determination to face our fears and overcome the trials ahead. The warmth of the embrace envelops us, driving away the chill of uncertainty and filling us with a renewed sense of purpose. In each other's arms, we find solace and strength, ready to confront whatever challenges the morning brings. With a final squeeze, we break apart, our resolve strengthened by the bond we share.