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growing."
    "I will," I said, nodding my weird nod again.
    Frigga approached the bed with a goblet and laughed out loud when I grimaced at the sight of it. "No, dear child. This is Mead. Now that Eir is done, you can drink it and get some rest."
    Both goddesses turned me over and propped me up against a bunch of silk pillows. Frigga handed the goblet over and I had to force myself to slow down, force myself not to gulp the heady, delicious, sweet brew down in one swallow only because I wanted it to last as long as possible.
    At last, I handed the empty goblet over to a smiling Frigga. I slid down, resting on my side, as Eir pulled the covers over me and said, "Get some sleep. For now, rest is the best thing for you."
    My lids drooped and my breathing evened out. At the edge of delicious sleep, I barely heard the goddesses’ conversation. But the one thing I did get quite clearly were Frigga's words .
    "I can only pray that Mimir was wrong. Odin would never let anything happen to Bryn, but if the prophecy is true then will we even have a choice? Will Bryn even have a choice in her own destiny no matter how destructive it may be?"
     
    ***
     

Chapter 6
     
    I awoke to white. White pillows, white curtains, white bed. All tinged with a hint of gold. I blinked a few times, my eyes dry and gritty, until it all came slowly back to me. Eir and Frigga, the prophecy and my wings.
    Or rather my lack of wings.
    The mattress sank as Frigga sat beside me, and I faced her with a grateful smile. "Are you feeling better, Brynhildr?" Frigga asked, her voice edged with concern.
    I nodded, wriggling slightly within the covers. I felt exceedingly more uncomfortable knowing I'd been asleep in Frigga's bed for who knew how long. I pushed myself up to a sitting position and Frigga leaned forward, helping to prop a bunch of pillows behind me. I blushed, and although I didn't want her to keep helping me like I was a child, I was grateful she cared enough to do so.
    "How does your back feel?" The goddess’s face tightened with concern as she asked.
    "It . . . actually feels much better. The pain has gone entirely. There's just a little tightness in the muscles," I said, raising and dropping my shoulders to test the muscles in my upper back.
    "I am glad."
    "How long was I out?"
    "Five hours, maybe six."
    "The pain has receded quite a bit," I said, a little surprised and a lot relieved.
    "Eir applied a medicine to the raw nerve ends. She said it would help the healing and stop the pain faster. I am happy it is working."
    "I never got to thank the Lady Eir," I said, looking around the room, half hopeful I might see her there.
    "Do not worry. I am certain you will get an opportunity to meet with Eir again soon. Do not forget her instructions to go to her and have your wounds checked." Frigga tried to inject a modicum of sternness into her voice, but failed when she smiled at me.
    "Yes, my lady. I won't forget," I answered meekly and made to throw the covers off. I wanted to get going now that the whole procedure was over. Almost nothing had really changed for me. I still had no wings, but at least I felt much better in terms of the pain. Then I recalled the words of the conversation between Frigga and Eir.
    Mimir's prophecy.
    "My lady, before I fell asleep, I heard you mention a prophecy made by Mimir."
    Frigga stared at me, her face pale and shocked. I guess I hadn’t been meant to hear that particular conversation. She recovered quickly enough, her features resettling and color returning to her cheeks. "If you wish to find out about the prophecy, you must speak to Odin. I am afraid I cannot reveal any of Mimir's prediction to you, my child. It is not my place."
    "But I heard you say something about my destructive destiny." I wasn't ready to back down.
    "I'm sorry, Brynhildr. I cannot talk with you about the prophecy." Frigga shook her head and I knew that was the end of it. "You must speak to the All-Father. I am sure he will tell you what you need to