Warrior Soul

Winterheart Guild had gathered. In fact, a guild was a hard thing to say - four people, believed to control seasons. Most people considered Autumn, Winter, Summer and Spring for a myth, for they were looking as anyone else.
Autumn was an old man in a long, blue robe. His beard and hair were waist-long. He always had a staff which most people thought for a stick to keep wolves away. In fact it was quite the opposite - with it, he always had two wolves following him. Guarding him, as if guarding a brother.
Winter was a beautiful woman in a light gray dress and long brown hair. She never spoke much and when she needed to say something, she said it more with her piercing blue stair than with words.
Spring was the most beautiful of all. A young woman, not more than thirty, wearing fairy dresses in gentle pink, white or blue shades. She had wonderful wings, butterfly-like, but visible just for the guilt.
Summer, dressed in bright yellow clothes, was radiating the might of fire. Long black hair was cascading down his shoulders almost ti the middle of his thigh.
It was time. The four felt that soon something important is going to happen. Something that would have a say on the events in the next few ages. Winter started first.

- They say the prophecy is true. More and more signs say that it will happen soon.
- Which of the many prophecies, Winter? - asked Spring, while fixing her dress.
Winter eyed her with her cold eyes. She turned away from the fire, back to every one and said quietly:
- "Somewhere within the darkest moors, between black cliffs like the Devil's teeth a child will be born, with a warrior heart. Son of the stars, of ice and flame, he will walk the earth. With pride in his step and an iron will and a mind sharp as a Demon blade."
- And we should worry about that because? - Summer said, while playing with a tiny ball sun rays.
Winter turned her stare to him.
- You know that in this land even the ice winds can lead to madness. It is important that he finds something to fight for that will keep him on the side of the Light.
She closed her mouth and sat on the ground, among the fallen leaves. Autumn stood up and started walking slowly around the fire.
- There is more of the prophecy. Winter didn't say it, probably never even heard it. Prophecies are always divided and given to different creatures. It would be harder to have the whole prophecy and use it for your well-being. "Deep within the shadows of the woods, among the beasts that dwell in the darkness, a child will be born - daughter of the Night and the rising moon. She will run like the wind and in her heart - the secret powers of her elders." She is the key to keep the boy. We have to make them meet.
- They are still not born - Spring noted.
- Not yet. But they will be soon. Winter, look after the boy. Spring, you take the girl. I and Summer are going to make sure we make the two warriors meet... no matter what the cost.

***

A woman, not more than twenty was standing on the edge of the cliffs. She was looking up to the stars, admiring the Northern Lights. She stroke her belly.
- Soon, my son, you will see the light of day. And then, Ilija, everyone will honor you.

***

Ilija was walking proudly in the village. Handsome young man, he was famous for his sharp mind. Women of every age and status thought him to be the most handsome man there ever was. Ilija was barely twenty, but did things about which even mighty warriors that came through the land never dreamed of. His will was tested many times and had never failed him. For twenty years Spring was looking over him, saving his life not once or twice, but doing it only when he was really in need. Most of the times he dealt with trouble himself.
He barely ever spoke. Sitting in the house's garden, sharpening his blade and practicing seemed much more appealing to him. Ilija wanted to master the sword perfectly, to feel it as a part of himself, from his arm and not like a weapon or a burden.

***

She was running in the forest. Only light came from the Northern Lights were. Running from the beasts. Her face was scratched. The child had to survive. She found a small cave and stopped there.
Years later Luna was running in the forest. Her clothes were scant, but not this, nor the cold was stopping her. She had to overtake the hind and kill it if she wanted food tonight. Luna mastered the blade perfectly, feeling it as part of herself. She was eighteen, but as a fighter she was no match for anybody. She had a warrior soul and her heart was caring the wisdom of her elders, though she didn't knew even her mother. Winter was pacing slowly after her, watching with her piercing eyes.

***

- It's done, Autumn. Just as you wanted it.
- Good. Now all that is left is to meet with one another, Winter.

***

News of a forthcoming war reached the small village quickly. Ilija was sharpening his blade. He was going to go to war. And win it. Because he had a warrior soul.
Luna was preparing for war as well. She had decided that even alone, she was going to win this war.

The guild was watching their lives. They knew that just now was the best time for the two to meet. Winter smiled at herself - Luna had turned into a stunningly beautiful, smart and quick-witted woman, which was fighting for her life all the time and was ready to have hers at whatever price. Winter knew the only thing missing in Luna's life were friends. Every one of Winterheart thought Ilija was going to become her friend. The two of them - the Son of the Stars and the Daughter of the Night, as they called them - were the ones to set the course of events from now on. They were going to face each other and after realizing they both had a warrior soul, they were going to become friends.

***

Ilija was fighting tireless. Months had rolled since he went to war. Thousands of people were killed or mortally wounded. Hundreds known faces were looking at him with their empty dim stare after every fight. People he was fighting with side by side minutes ago. Every night he thanked Ukko for sparing his life and every morning he started with a pray to him. He believed that the North Star was going to keep him and lead him home.

Luna was one of the few women that went to war and men often laughed for her expense that she couldn't even lift the sword. Mocks were quickly ended after her blade ended set on someone's neck seconds later. The only thing that stopped Luna from killing them was that people were few, they could not endure the cold and most of them were untrained.

***

Flat white field. Luna took a good look at it. She say the army on the other end - big men, some on horses with swords and clubs. She looked at the people behind her - most were farmer boys, with scared stares, that could barely lift the sword. She sighed thinking it was going to be a hard battle. She faced her people and tried to lift their spirits.

A few hours later the field was red with the spilled blood. Bodies all over. Luna's hair was stuck on her back and forehead. She was still fighting. Surrounded by four men, each of them at least twice her size. Ilija was watching with interest a few yards from them. He couldn't believe that there was someone on this earth that mastered the sword even as half as good as he did, and Luna was doing it more than perfectly - every step perfectly measured, every move accurate. Ilija was amazed. Two men were already on the ground breathless. Ilija smiled. He had to try her out himself. She seemed not much older than him, but her skills were astounding. Luna twisted her blade and it went in the third's heart. The fourth attacked her, but she was quicker, pulling her sword out of the dead man and piercing his belly. He fell on the snow. His surprised stare at her.

Luna smiled and threw aside a lock of hair from her eyes and sighed victoriously. Ilija looked at the blade in his hand. Looking at Luna, he decided the time was right to test her.
- So... you think you can kill four of my best men just like that and walk away? - he sounded annoyed - Prepare to pay for it, bitch!
Luna turned around and looked Ilija.
- And you obviously think you can call me a bitch and walk away. Son of a bitch!
She jumped towards him. Their swords dancing a deathly dance. They were attacking fiercly and sparks set off the squeaking blades. Ilija drove her attacks away with ease and even let himself smile ironically while warding off an attack that would have taken his head off.
- Is that all you can? - he smiled and a moment later a narrow red cut appeared on his cheek. Just then, he realized that the battle was going to be even. She was really good with the blade, he should be more careful with her. He had underestimated her...
Luna was not waiting time paying attention to his lines. She had learned long ago that the battle was not a competition and she was trying to kill him before he killed her. He was a serious opponent, warding off every attack, even foreseeing her next step. She was doing the same, but it didn't lead her to the so wanted victory. If the battle was prolonged, they were going to get tired, and a tired warrior made mistakes easily while trying to end it faster.
- So you're trying to kill me? - she said while warding off his attack.
- Not exactly. But your skills got my attention. I didn't believe that...
He looked at his arm - a new cut appeared, a little above his wrist. He looked at Luna and she smiled at him.
- That someone mastered the sword better than you?
- Exactly. - he stood up and attacked again.
- Obviously there is. - she hit his hand with the blade and he dropped his. Her sword was set on his throat. - Now do you believe it?
- No.
He took her by the leg and pulled her down. Luna fell, but the sword was still in her hand. For a second Ilija bent and had his. Luna hit his leg with the handle of her sword. Ilija fell to his knees. His blade millimetres away from her throat, her blade - millimetres away from his.
- Who will win?
- Warrior soul.
- What?
- You have a warrior soul. Few are the people who have one, even fewer are the women with one.
- I was born under the Northern Lights and all my life I have hardened my soul and will...
- ...to be the best. I did the same. I never believed there was someone that could fight half as good as I can.
- Neither did I.

Ilija smiled and took his sword down. Luna did the same, but she was still ready to ward off an attack from him.
- Maybe we met for a reason.
- The North Star tells us the war is not right.
- So with ending our fight we end the war?
- This one, yes. But there are a thousand more we have to fight. We have warrior souls and in this dark we must find our own way. And though we know that the winding path will lead us to the grave, we will go on. We still have battles left to fight. We must keep our pride until the end of our time.
He looked her head to toe.
- So we are going to look for that path from now on?
Luna nodded. She got up and held out her hand to him.
- Luna
- Ilija. - he took her hand and stood up as well. She was barely reaching his shoulder in height and he wondered how could she master the sword.

***

Autumn was watching the two warriors.
- Warrior soul blazes through the land of frost and snow. Their pagan hearts and flesh built to endure the cold. With a warrior soul unto death against all foes they will fight. They are born under the Northern Lights...

14.03.2007 - 20.03.2007
Replica & Rand