Work Text:
Part 1
Reynir woke up with a strange feeling. Was somebody calling his name?
He sat up on the bed, looked around and rubbed his eyes. Where was everybody? The cabin was empty!
"Hello? Anybody?" He raised his voice and tried again in terrible Swedish, and then in even worse Finnish. No answer. Something was wrong, but how? Onni had guaranteed they were safe in the Lehto! Sure, excluding those damned mosquitoes, but otherwise safe! What could’ve made his friends get up in the middle of the night? And why was it so cold? They were in the middle of Summer and...
"Reynir! Come on! We need your help!"
It was Mikkel, calling from outside! Of course he would go help. "I'm going! I'm going!" he yelled as loud as possible.
Reynir was astonished when he looked down at himself. His clothes had been replaced by a curious pair of green overalls, and boots! But he would never sleep with those on! And those weren't even his boots! Reynir was starting to suspect it was all some kind of practical joke the gang was playing on him. But how could they have changed him without waking him up...
"Come on Reynir! We’re all waiting for you!"
This time it was Sigrun calling. They were all in on the joke! He looked at the mirror and saw he was also wearing a ridiculous shirt with white and red horizontal stripes. Where did they find that? The laughable costume even included a yellow belt that matched the overalls' buttons! Of course they would all mock him as soon as he left the cabin! It wasn't right! "Why? What have I done to deserve this?" He muttered.
"Reynir! Please!"
Mikkel again! Reynir checked his hair, concerned they may have done something to his precious braid. He was relieved to see that it was untouched, but relief was soon replaced by incredulity when he noticed something pointy parting his hair. Carefully he felt it. "What the..."
"Last call Reynir! We have to move!"
At the moment he couldn't care less. His ears! Those pointy things were his ears! Both perfectly attached to his head, just as usual, but now they were much longer!
Now he knew! Magic! Someone cast a spell on him! And since he couldn't see Lalli doing it there was only one possibility!
Reynir opened the cabin's door sharply and stepped out, blaring loudly. "Onni! What have I done to you to..." But suddenly he was at a loss for words, because just ahead Onni stood looking at him, wearing a copy of his costume and also sporting a pair of pointy ears!
...
"Come! We have work to do and you’re delaying everything." Onni was complaining but also smiling! Reynir couldn't recall ever seeing a smile on him... and he took his hand! So strange!
Onni pulled him around the cabin to one of the strangest scenes he’d ever seen. All of his friends were there, but they were... different. There was a sleigh over the snow and... Wait! Snow? But they were close to midsummer! He looked down and found his boots well inside a thick snow cover!
Reynir looked back at his friends. Emil and Lalli were also dressed in foolish clothes like him and Onni, and were carrying some brightly coloured boxes towards the sleigh.
The sleigh was an intense red with golden decorations and runners. Mikkel was seated on it, and Sigrun was close. Both wore strange winter coats, also in red, with matching caps and details in white. They didn't seem, however, to have pointy ears like the rest of the gang.
He also noticed Kitty perched on Mikkel's cap. The cat, at least, looked unchanged.
There was one large reindeer harnessed to the sleigh, and it was, like everything else, strange... It took him a little while to understand. It was Tuuri! How had she changed from bird to reindeer? Could she do it?
"Hi Reynir!" she spoke with a joyful voice. He managed to wave back.
"Take this side, let's move!" Onni had taken him close to a large pile of coloured boxes piled over the snow and gestured towards a large one.
"You want me to carry this?"
"Of course! We’ve got to load the sleigh. We can't let Lalli and Emil do all the work, can we?"
They lifted the box, plus a few smaller ones on top of it, and followed the others.
"Careful... oh NO!!!"
Reynir turned fast, just in time to see Emil let their own large box tilt to one side, dropping several smaller boxes to the ground, and one on his feet. From the opposite side came a loud SLAP, and Reynir turned back to find Onni with one eye closed and a painful expression.
"Why does everyone always hit my eye?! Careful with that braid! You want me to emulate that one-eyed god of yours?"
"Oops! Sorry! Don't be mad at me!"
"All right, all right! No problem. Just be careful next time." Onni said, opening a large smile. There was definitely something very wrong going on.
...
They finished loading the sleigh, that somehow carried much more than its size would indicate. Sigrun took the seat beside Mikkel. "C’mon boys, climb in the back! We have a long night ahead of us!"
The others ran to the sleigh, and Reynir followed "wait, there's no way for us to fit together with all those boxes..." But upon entering the sleigh he found there was plenty of space! Somehow it was much bigger on the inside.
"Tuuri, your turn!" Mikkel spoke, holding the reins. They lurched forward as the sleigh accelerated fast and Sigrun, raising her arms, squeaked happily. "Yeeeeah!"
All the others cheered, but Reynir was terribly frightened. He’d never moved so fast in his life, that was sure. Just when he was resuming breathing something even stranger happened. One moment they were sliding over the snow, and the next they were moving up, away from the ground!
Panicking, he looked around at his friends, but no one showed any distress, as if flying in a sleigh was a common thing.
Reynir was speechless as they smoothly rose above the pines into a beautiful, starry sky. Suppressing his fears, he managed to look down and saw the island becoming smaller and smaller, just a dark patch over the lake’s surface, illuminated by the full Moon's reflection.
"It's all so beautiful and peaceful here!" said Emil, putting one arm over Lalli's back and the other over Onni's.
"But guys, we're flying! Since when is that normal and peaceful?"
"No need to worry, friend." Onni answered, smiling (how could he be smiling all the time?) "Sometimes I'm a bird, remember? Flying is perfectly safe."
Looking forward Reynir saw another island over the lake, growing fast as they closed in on it. But this one had a large house with many windows, all lit from the inside.
Soon they landed, stopping near a large pine covered with bright, colourful balls and sparking lights. Reynir was astonished! He had never seen something like that. And how could they have electricity here in the middle of the Silent World?
...
Reynir found the inside even more impressive. There was a very large living room, illuminated by several electric lamps and heated by an enormous fireplace. Everything looked brand new and clean, from the floor to the many colourful decorations, including a tree that replicated the big one outside. They placed the gifts next to it, and soon several children came running from one of the many doors. He wasn't sure, but there were ten or eleven, all between the ages of six and what... thirteen? And there were clear familiar similarities.
Their clothes were so gay, colourful and with plenty of winter motifs! Snowflakes, reindeers and figures clothed like Mikkel and Sigrun, some even dressed ridiculously like him! The kids were laughing and seemed delighted by their presence, touching and hugging them. Mikkel and Sigrun were, for some reason, the centre of all attentions.
Somehow Sigrun had a list in her hands, and as she called each child Mikkel would point to a box. He, Lalli, Emil or Onni would give the gift to Mikkel while the selected child sat on his lap. He asked if the children behaved well, and when each one confirmed it, gave the selected gift as a reward.
There were many wonderful gifts, including some that Reynir had only seen in museums, like a miniature train with the accompanying set of rails, or a magical car that somehow responded to the commands of a little black box without anyone touching it!
There was also a large table on one side, covered with food, candies, cakes and juices. He tasted some and they were all delicious. While Reynir wondered who had made all those things one child came talk to him, smiling.
"Are you Reynir?" The girl looked twelve, and had perfect clothes, teeth... Even her hair was perfectly held in a short braid, not one strand out of place. Reynir knew very well how hard it was to arrange such a flawless braid.
"Yes I am. How do you and your friends know our names?"
"I... don't... I just know! Doesn't everybody know your names?" She took Reynir's braid in her delicate hands. "I love your braid! It's so long and beautiful! You are a lucky girl!"
"Ah... Thanks, but I'm a boy. And who might you be?"
"I'm... Samy! Yes, Samy! I’ve never seen a boy with such a long braid! Come, we are playing hairdresser with Emil! I got a fantastic set, it even has a working hair drier!" And before Reynir could ask what a hair drier was she was pulling him across the room to one corner, where Emil used a chair and a mirror to set up an improvised beauty salon.
Clearly none of those children needed hair care, yet Emil was obviously delighted! And he wasn't alone. Everybody was happy, safe, smiling and laughing... He should feel the same, but why did he feel uneasy?
...
After what felt like hours the children started to grow bored with their gifts. Samy and a few others decided to play hide and seek, and invited Reynir to join them. Poor lads, they didn't know that he was Brúardalur's uncontested hide and seek champion! On the first round he was the seeker, and even without knowing the house he soon got all but Samy, that was smart enough to hide in the main room behind Mikkel, just a few steps from base.
The next round came soon, however as Reynir ran to find a good hiding place he spotted an older person going upstairs. They had agreed that the game would use only the ground floor, but Reynir couldn't resist following that man. Maybe he could give some explanations about that strange night.
He reached a long corridor with many doors, just in time to see the man going through a door at the end. Reynir waited for him to close the door and followed, walking as fast and silently as possible. That uneasiness was back, and stronger this time.
Reynir entered the room, but the man wasn't there. It was a large bedroom, beautifully decorated, and one half-opened door in the opposite wall showed a private bathroom. Everything looked brand new and dustless, and the room was heated, however, a shudder shook his body.
Reynir felt... watched. Yes, as if someone was just behind him!
He turned around, but there was no one to be seen. On the bed he saw a gift box already open, with a black rectangle inside. It was one of those communication devices used in the Old World, but this one was not only brand new but also working! Reynir touched it and the picture changed! So vivid and colourful! No wonder people loved those things.
Then he felt it again. "Who's there?" he asked, eyes searching every corner. "Show yourself!" Reynir turned again to face the bed. No one, but the room was becoming cold, and the lights seemed to dim... Was that a stain on the wall? Right over the bed? So strange in this perfectly clean room. He came closer and tried to touch it.
Suddenly the lights went out, leaving only the soft moonlight that came from the large window. The room was covered in dust and mold, the curtains in rags, the paint flaking from the wall... and to his horror he saw there were bones and a skull over the bed, and that the stain was really a shadow, a man-shaped shadow like the ones in Denmark. Reynir was looking at it when the shadow abruptly opened its fiery eyes.
Part 2
Reynir recoiled, terrified, until his back hit the wall. "No! That can't be! You're gone! Anne took you away!"
He blinked, and the lights were back. The room was clean and perfect again, except for the barely visible stain on the wall. Reynir left as fast as he could, just to find the same young man standing on the corridor. He was thin and tall, with a gaunt face, dark hair, and plain dark clothes. So similar, he noticed, to the shadow.
"Who or what are you?" Reynir shouted. "What is this place?" The man remained silent, but the light flickered, and to Reynir's astonishment, they were back at the main room.
"Got you Reynir!" one of the kids said, running back to the game base. At that moment, however, Reynir couldn't care less. He only had eyes for the strange man. "So, are you going to talk, or not?"
The dark figure nodded and in a flash they were in a corner of the room, siting on some comfy armchairs. "Y... you... want... talk." It wasn't a question. He sounded as someone who had trouble remembering each word.
"Who are you? Are you a ghost?" This seemed to intrigue the man. It took him some time to answer.
"I am... your host... My name... is... it starts with... p... Some things are... harder to... remember... than others. Has... been a long... time... since I... talked to... someone."
He took a glass of juice from a table that wasn't there just a moment before and sipped it. "How you... know? How you... see me?" He was already speaking better.
"I'm a mage and it looks like I'm pretty good at seeing spirits. So, what's all this about? How are we here? What's this party?"
"Why, this is... Christmas, can't you see?" noticing the lack of understanding on Reynir's face he sighed. "So you don't... know what it is. How much... time passed?"
"You mean, since the Rash? We are on year 91."
"So no more Christmas at the end of the... year? Can't say I'm... surprised... Are there many... survivors? Did you find a way to... beat the Rash?"
Reynir already decided that the less the man knew the better. "There are some survivors, but not many. And no, we didn't beat it. However, some are immune, and there are a few safe places. We don't celebrate that Christmas you mentioned, although we still have a party at the end of the year. It's called Yule."
"I recall that name... So, back to... pagan stuff... The rest of the World, is it... still full of... infected?" He moved closer. "Tell me more."
"Look, P, ghost or whatever, I won't tell you a thing until I get some explanations!"
The man stared intensely, and Reynir got a glimpse of the shadow's fiery look, but then he relaxed back into the armchair. "Fine... Why not? We have... all the time."
"First, back to my question. Where we are, and what's happening?"
"You are in my... dream. My Christmas dream."
"How? Why?"
"I don't... know how I do it. I just dream. As to why... don't you see? Now we have a... perfect party, and we are all... safe, forever!"
"Safe forever? I don't understand."
A low table materialized in front of them, with a large screen over it. Reynir had seen those before... Maybe in Reykjavik? He noticed that Onni was close, playing with some kids, but they seemed unaware of their conversation.
Suddenly a picture of the house appeared on the device. There was sunlight, and no decorations. Then a boat was arriving at a small pier. The people inside didn't seem happy, but rather broken, and exhausted.
...
"We were... very rich, back then. My family owned this house, and the whole island. Me, my parents, sisters, brothers, uncles and... cousins, we managed to... reunite here, after all the... madness."
"Hard times, I suppose."
The image changed, showing crowded streets where people fought and threw things at each other. There was smoke, fire, and gunshots.
"You have no... idea. The World didn't end with a... whimper. Everything went mad! Nobody knew for sure what was happening. Governments and... co... communications no longer worked. There were... rumours about war, cures for the disease, prophets, monsters eating people... and many... even believed it was all lies, part of some great... conspiracy to... scare people and rule the World. Everybody just wanted to run away and find a safe place. There were mortal fights over food, water... and people were hoarding all they could, from medicines to toilet paper!"
The images changed as he spoke. A group running towards a plane, ant then, seen from above, a very large city in flames.
"We held this island as a safe place. My... crazy uncle... can't recall his name... he always believed something like the Rash could happen, so we had... pro...provisions. We arranged our Christmas party just as planned previously, months before the Rash." He pointed at the fireplace, where Mikkel and the others still entertained the children.
"We’d even hired some people to play Santa and his elves, dressed like you and your friends... Of course by then we knew they would never come. Even if sometimes we heard distant... shots and explosions, we were... grateful for being away from all the madness, and did our best to hide any fears and doubts from the kids.
One day my uncle managed to make... radio contact with some friends in... Denmark. They told him about some new medicine, and were... confident that this one would work. Uncle offered for them to stay here if they could bring it to us."
Now the screen showed one man in rags, bleeding and limping. He carried a metallic suitcase. "All the adults went to the... airport to protect their... ar... arrival, and I stayed to care for the children. But my father was the only one to return. Before dying he made me... swear that I would take care of the kids."
Now the man's dark clothes seemed even darker, and his face looked older, and deeply sad.
"And you believed that taking that new medicine would protect you from the Rash."
"Sure. I gave it to the children after... dinner. They became... sleepy, but seemed fine, and I tucked each one in bed with a kiss. Then I took it too. And we never had our Christmas party."
...
Reynir felt sorry for the man. Such weight on his shoulders. However, he needed to know more.
"So, none of you awakened again."
He nodded.
"What happened then?"
"I’d always had vivid dreams, and since the Rash they were becoming stronger, but also stranger. I found myself able to walk into other's dreams. There was also a strange ocean where it’s always night..."
"Wait, I know that! I've been there! So you are a mage."
"Mage? Maybe, if you say so... Then I found the children, dreaming too, but alone and frightened. So I took them all to my dream, where they... We could be together, safe from any harm." Reynir felt a deep sadness washing over him, and the lights in the room dimmed a bit.
"I took me a long time to... understand why the dream never ended... That we died, and were abandoned. I've never been a... believer, but why would those pure little souls be left in this... awful place? I don't think there's any God around, at least no... merciful one."
"But..."
"I confirmed it when, at some point, I managed to look at... reality outside the dream. I watched the dust on our bones, saw monsters roaming at night across Joensuu's streets... I couldn't watch further, it was all so sad..."
"You thought there were no survivors"
"Yes, until you people came!" He smiled, and the lights came back to normal. "Now we have company, and I can save you."
"Save? Us?"
"Yes, here you are safe. We can all live here, forever! We will be good friends, you will see!"
"No! If we never wake up we will die too! We need to go!"
"Look how happy the children and your friends are. Isn't that better than a life of fear and struggle? You will be safe, always young and healthy. I can change the clothes if you wish, and if you don't like the pointed ears..."
"I don't care about the ears! We have our lives to live! We are on a mission, and after that there will be other things to..."
"And other fights, and even if you survive it all you will get old and die. Pointless!"
"Look, there's more! We found others like you before, that took that medicine, and they found a path to the afterlife."
"Oh! Pray tell! Where's that path?"
"I don't know! It was Anne. She showed them the path."
"Well, then unless this Anne comes here to convince me, you stay."
And he was gone.
...
Reynir needed to talk to Onni. If he could be awakened they would find, together, a way out of that nightmare.
He saw Mikkel playing with two kids on a small kitchen set, with Kitty still perched on his head. Meanwhile Sigrun and two smaller kids inserted miniature knifes in a small... barrel? With a little toy man inside. Suddenly the toy popped-up in the air, and they all laughed.
Lalli was in a corner, but swiftly dismissed Reynir’s attempts to talk as he showed an older girl how a coloured cube worked.
Emil was too occupied trying to bankrupt some kids on Monopoly, as he said. Reynir, of course, had no idea of what "bankrupt" and "monopoly" meant...
Tuuri, as he expected, was playing cards. She remained translucent, but returned to her human shape. Seeing Tuuri like this undermined Reynir's resolve. He liked her so much, and never managed to express how devastated he was by her death. For a moment he wondered how it would be if she... If they had a second chance.
She was holding the deck in her delicate hand. "Rey, come! Play with us! We're starting a new game!"
"L... Later, thanks! I'll go outside for a short walk."
"Fine, but don't take long. I bet it's very cold!"
Outside, next to the big decorated tree, Onni was busy teaching three kids how to use a bow to shoot arrows at a round target that stood a few meters away. It never occurred to Reynir that Onni enjoyed being with kids so much.
"Onni, we need to talk!" Reynir tried to stop him, and since he wouldn't give him any attention he grabbed and shook him. "This is all a dream! I need your help! We must find a way to wake the others and get out!"
"What, they also serve alcohol in that table? This is no dream! I know the dreamworld way better than you! This is reality, and a fine one. Now go bother Lalli! The kids want to learn with the best archer around!"
Reynir insisted and begged but Onni simply wouldn't listen. After much insistence Reynir gave up and walked away. Soon he found a path that ended in the small pier, where their host seemingly was waiting for him.
"Trying to... escape, Reynir? I really don't know if I can... retain you here. But your friends, as you saw, are happy and want to stay."
"They don't! They are ensnared by your illusion! If you showed them reality they would leave the next moment!"
"Maybe, but aren't you in some mission in a land filled with perils? What if one, or several of you dies tomorrow in the claws of some beast? Letting you go would be... irresponsible."
"You vowed to protect your children, not us!"
"I won't let... anyone else die out there. I already lost the souls of my parents. I searched and searched and couldn't find them."
"Because they found their way! Somehow. they found the path to... beyond, whatever it is."
"No, I don't believe there's any path to some beautiful afterlife, Reynir. There's just this, and annihilation, and unless you, or your friend Anne, convince me otherwise, I won't let anybody else go."
And, again, Reynir was alone.
...
Reynir sat on the pier, staring at the water. He didn't know what to do. Try to reach the Lehto and wake up his friends? Considering what Lalli told him about that time when he was trapped inside Emil's mind that trick probably wouldn't work.
He could try to find help elsewhere, maybe even reach the seagulls mage, but had no desire to leave the others in the hands of their so called host.
He could also play the game and remain at the house for a while. It could be good, and maybe after some time he would find a way to wake up Onni. But what if he liked it too much? Would he still wish, or be able, to leave?
Reynir remained lost in his thoughts until he heard soft footsteps approaching. Out there in the open he feared that some dangerous creature would find him appetizing and was ready to run when he saw that it was a dog. As it arrived Reynir recognized, with great joy, his Fylgja.
"Hello! It's so good to see you! Where have you been?"
The dog wagged its tail and came closer. Reynir stroked its head lightly, and it licked his hand.
Then he had an idea. "Hey, do you remember Anne? That kind lady we met in a church? The one that helped us with the ghosts?"
The dog stopped licking and looked at Reynir. "Do you think you could help me find her? If she could talk to this ghost... Maybe she could show him, and the children, the way, as she did before. Can you? Do you know where she is?"
The dog remained silent, looking at him intensely.
"Oh, why am I talking to you? Of course you don't know! But finding her is the best idea I’ve had so far. Would you come with me? Help me find the way?"
The dog cocked its head a bit and kept looking.
Reynir gave up waiting for an answer and readied himself. Maybe he should warn the others that he would be gone for a while...
"Reynir, you have no idea what you're asking, do you?"
"What! You do speak, after all!"
"I spoke to you before, remember? It's just that you left me with no words, asking me to guide you to meet Anne. Do you realize that she's not in this World anymore?"
"Hum... Are you trying to say that you can guide me there, but it's too far away? Or that it's too dangerous? Anyway I don't care. I must try!"
"Sneaking through the dark land between Worlds is not to be taken lightly, Reynir Árnason. Dangerous? It's the most dangerous thing I can think of. Few tried, very few succeeded."
"I said I don't care. Let's go! If it's a long journey we have to start now, or it may be too late when we come back."
"Sometimes I wish you didn’t have such a brave and valorous heart. It will be as you desire. Don't worry about time, tough. It is... relative. One that ventures into those regions will feel as if a month went by, but it would be just an hour for those awake, or a day here. That's how long you will wait. If I haven't came back by this time, tomorrow, then I will not come back at all."
"Wait here? But I want to go. They are my friends!"
"True, and noble. Nevertheless, I shall go alone." And the dog ran quickly across the placid lake, leaving Reynir before he could say anything more.
Part 3
Reynir decided that he should spend the following hours the best he could. Not only would it prevent him from going mad counting every minute, but it would also lead their host to believe his offer was being pondered, perhaps even accepted.
Therefore he played, joked, pranked, drank and ate all that he was able to. They even made jokes with each other's pointed ears. And Tuuri declared them officially cute and charming!
At some point they were all dancing to some Finnish music called Humppa1, played by two of the older kids. Onni, Lalli and Tuuri already knew the dance, while Reynir, Emil and Sigrun's awkward attempts had a hilarious effect on the audience. Yet Reynir and the others didn't care. They were just having fun.
Nobody laughed at Mikkel, though, because the fourth non-Finnish guest danced flawlessly.
"So, you never told me that you have been to Finland before." Sigrun probed after she tried, and hilariously failed, to follow him.
He replied with a smile. "A long story. I'll tell you one day."
Later they asked for some relaxing music, and were soon dancing slowly, close to each other. All but Onni, who was in the kitchen with some of the kids to make cakes.
Mikkel kept dancing perfectly with a much surprised Sigrun. Emil and Lalli were fine too, except for Emil occasionally stepping on Lalli's feet, and Reynir tried his best with Tuuri. They were happy and relaxed, and by the third dance they were surprised to see Mikkel and Sigrun kissing, soon followed by Emil and Lalli.
Tuuri smiled and looked into Reynir's eyes. "Shouldn't we... dance to their tune?"
Before he could think on an answer she was pulling him, and the next moment they were kissing. Her mouth had a peculiar freshness, as if she had just chewed mint and drank cold water from a mountain spring. It was, however, a brief kiss, because soon Onni and the kids entered the room, loudly announcing their just-baked-still-hot cakes.
They separated, still holding hands, and Reynir could swear her translucent cheeks had a delicate shade of pink.
...
They spent the rest of the day together, and what a great day it was!
Now a part of him longed for nothing but remaining in that blissful place, in the company of Tuuri, his friends and those wonderful children. The real word seemed a distant bad dream that he would happily forget.
However, each look through Tuuri's body was a strong reminder that their lives weren't lines on some short story, played on that dreamy island. They were parts of a greater narrative, and it was Reynir's responsibility to find a way back to where they belonged.
After dinner it was time to return to the pier, and wait. Their host soon joined him, a faint smile on his face. "Glad to see you still with us, Reynir. Already changed your mind?"
He came closer, and a shudder rocked Reynir's body. "Do I feel love in the air, Reynir? I could... surely hear it this afternoon. Your friends Emil and Lalli were... discreet, but I had to block all sounds coming from Mikkel and Sigrun's room for the sake of the children." His smile became a bit more noticeable. "You and Tuuri also seem to be getting along just fine..."
"Stop! Just stop! Let us go, please!" Reynir turned away from the lake and followed the path towards the big decorated tree, but soon the man was back walking by his side.
"Are you sure Reynir? When you and your friends are enjoying your time here so much? Even Onni, who has no pair, is happy. He seems to have a special affinity with the kids, have you noticed? They love him! Did you taste his cake? It was deli..."
A powerful light shone over them, interrupting his speech. It grew even more intense, and Reynir had to close his eyes. When he managed to open them again there was a woman by the tree, with a dog in her arms.
Reynir ran there as fast as he could. He saw that his Fylgja had been through a hard time. It was much thinner, had many bruises and its fur was missing in some spots.
"Hello Reynir." The woman said in a soft voice. She was wearing the same clothes from the last time.
"Anne! You came! It's so good to see you!" He came closer, a bit worried, and caressed the dog's head, getting a few licks back. "What happened?"
"You are very lucky for having such a brave and strong guardian. Most wouldn't have survived, however this one just needs some time to heal."
"I wanted to help, to go with him, but..."
"Welcome! Anne, I presume. I'm your host. Please make yourself comfortable."
Anne wasn't exactly enchanted by the soft talk. "Host, you say. Nevertheless, from what I've heard you act like a captor."
"They are all safe and happy. Even Reynir is enjoying his time here." The man replied, putting a hand over Reynir's shoulder and winking mischievously at him.
"The beauty of an illusion doesn't turn it into reality, young man." Anne put the dog gently on the ground. "Please, come with me. I can show you the path, as I did to many before."
She extended an open hand to him. "Aren't you tired? I was so tired of being trapped in this World, knowing that my place was elsewhere. Aren't you tired of this charade?"
"Tired... Yes, I'm so tired... I'm really tired of you people telling fairy tales about some paradise beyond the clouds!" Now Reynir could see clearly the fiery look on those eyes.
"So there's a benevolent God up above, ready to embrace our souls? Yet He let this World, His creation, turn into Hell? All that suffering... of countless people, of innocent children! How can that be understood? How?" Now he was yelling. "No, it's all a lie, I tell you. All a big fat lie!"
...
They all stood silent for a while. Then Anne sighed. "You want to understand? I hope one day you can. I wish I could! We're just grains of sand on a beach where waves come and go, ruled by the balance of forces much greater than anything our imagination can encompass." She opened her arms wide. "This, this whole World, is under a bigger wave, but we can be sure that in time it will recede. It's a tough time, but we must do our best, and never let hope die."
"Beautiful speech, madam, but I'm not impressed. Hope died in this place a long time ago."
"Yet you created this Christmas scenery, a celebration of hope! Yes, hope! Why do you think our ancestors celebrated in the darkest of the days? They believed it was the end of a cycle, and the beginning of a new one where they hoped, beyond all their doubts and fears, that things would be better. That's the essence of hope. As once a poetess wrote2."
"Hope" is the thing with feathers --
That perches in the soul --
And sings the tune without the words --
And never stops -- at all --
And sweetest -- in the Gale -- is heard --
And sore must be the storm --
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm --
I've heard it in the chillest land --
And on the strangest Sea --
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb -- of Me.
There was silence after Anne finished, and Reynir carefully observed their captor, waiting for some reaction.
The man began to clap. "Beautiful! I must write it down somewhere, or maybe put it on the wall." He said sarcastically. "I'm still not convinced, old lady."
"But we are."
Reynir looked around. They were all so entertained by the conversation that he hadn’t noticed all the others gather around them. They were surrounded by all the children, with his friends behind.
Their host clearly wasn't expecting it. "What? What are you doing here? This is an... adult talk about important things! Go back! Play with your new friends!"
An older kid stepped forward. "We know what's happening, and we won't be fooled anymore."
"But how..." He stopped as his eyes found Onni behind the kids. Reynir could see anger turning into hate in those fiery eyes, that started to glow. The man's fists closed and a huge rock materialized in the air right above Onni. It started to fall.
Reynir didn't had time to shout a warning before the rock was suddenly replaced by a thousand colourful butterflies. "This is our dream too, and you won't hurt anyone."
Then a girl spoke. Samy, Reynir recalled. "Don't blame Onni. We, the older ones, already suspected that something was amiss. We would find the truth soon."
"All I wanted was to protect you!"
"We know." Said the boy. "And we are grateful for that. But now is the time to choose. We have been offered a chance to move forward, and we want to take it."
"You believe in those fairy tales because you are just children. You are safer here, with me."
Samy walked to Anne and held her hand. "Sorry, brother, but we already made our choice."
Anne touched a branch with her other hand.
The tree was engulfed by a pillar of light that raised up in the sky, illuminating everything as if it were day. Up above it created an impressive display of northern lights, more intense than anything Reynir ever witnessed before.
The children started to walk towards the light.
"Brother, please, come with us."
"No!" A wall appeared in their way, just to be turned into a cloud of dandelions, easily dispersed by the soft breeze.
The man fell to his knees, the fiery glow in his eyes extinguished. "No, don't go! Don't leave me!"
Reynir's anger against the man was fast replaced by pity. "Go with them! Don't be a fool. You are slowly fading, can't you see? You already can't remember your own name! If you stay you will vanish someday, or go mad! Just go with your family!"
"No! They can go if they want, but I'll stay!"
One by one the children were disappearing into the light, until the only one left was Samy. She kneeled in front of the man. "Brother, please come. I don't want to go without you."
He just shook his head. She embraced him and pointed to the light. "Look, all the others are gone. Please, Peter, come with me!"
A moment passed, and then he looked at her. "P... Peter?"
"Yes, silly! That's your name! Do you really want to stay and forget about everything, even about me?"
He put his arms around the girl and sobbed. Nobody spoke, and a tear rolled down Reynir's face.
After a few minutes Peter rose and took Samy's hand. As they approached the column of light Anne patted Peter's shoulder lightly, smiling. "I promise you won't regret your choice."
Before the final step Peter stopped and looked back. "Reynir, Onni, I'm so sorry. All I wanted was to protect you. You have my..." And he looked to Anne. "Hopefully eternal gratitude, and I wish at least you enjoyed this Christmas."
...
Reynir woke up with a strange feeling. Was somebody calling his name?
He sat up on the bed, looked around and rubbed his eyes. Where was everybody? The cabin was empty!
"Reynir! Come on!"
It was Mikkel, calling from outside! He dressed as fast as he could and ran, leaving the cabin. It's a clear and warm day. His friend was finishing packing. "Come, let's eat. Then we have some bears to hunt."
While they were eating everybody was commenting about some strange dreams. They only had faint memories of random moments. Those memories were fading fast, but everybody agreed they were strange, albeit pleasant ones.
While the others made their final preparations Reynir managed to be alone with Onni. "So, do you remember this night's... dream, or not?"
"Of course I remember everything. We could’ve been trapped in there forever. But you and your friend Anne did well, and we were lucky that the children were able to understand the situation."
"But from when were you aware?"
"Since you slapped me with your braid. That really hurt, and somehow the pain awakened my senses."
"But you didn’t tell me anything until the end!"
"Our so called "host" was listening to everything! So I did my part, waiting for an opportunity. It arrived when he got... distracted by your romantic adventures. When I finally sensed that he wasn't listening I was able to make my move and talk to the older children."
"I see. I'm glad we're out of it."
"Just prey to your gods that I'm always around to save you and the rest of the flock. Now, about you and Tuuri..."
"I know, I know. She's here just for a while."
"Good that you understand. Oh, and beware, you owe me a slap! And I intend to collect it as soon as I can."
...
Later Reynir sat in the small boat on their way to Joensuu, enjoying the beautiful landscape while Mikkel rowed and complained about the disappearance of his last bottle of rum. Sadly for him nobody seemed to care about that, their conversations alternating between the previous night's strange dreams and the excellence of those cookies that Mikkel served on the breakfast. Sigrun really wanted to find out how he managed to hide them since Iceland3.
Reynir was silent, thinking about all that happened and trying to make sure the good moments remained alive in his memory, when he saw Tuuri, in her bird form, land on his hand.
"Reynir, did you also have strange dreams last night?"
He wondered what she could remember. "Yes, very strange. What do you recall?"
"It's all clouded, but I have this curious memory of dancing with you! But we never danced! First it was fast, a Humpaa, and later some slow tune."
"And is that all you remember?"
"I remember that it was all good, very good, and that I really enjoyed being with you. And you, how was your dream?"
"Ah... Mine? Well, I can't remember much... But you were there, and we had a lot of fun!"
"We always had fun together, right? I mean... when we weren't in mortal danger." She seemed sad.
"Hey, don't be sad. Who knows what awaits us? Maybe we will have some more chances to be together."
"Yes, you're right. I thought my story had already ended and look where I am!"
Reynir touched her head gently, and she chirped with joy.
Then she flew to his shoulder, gave him a soft peck and, to his surprise, began singing something in Finnish.
Reynir was only able to recognize one word, toivoa.
Hope.
The End