I saw bodies strewn on the ground around me. Actually, not around me. There was a circle of clear floor where I stood, it seemed to be the only area not destroyed. The downed bodies were my guard. No, Asher's guard. The blank, dead stare of Eris stared back at me from the ground as blood leaked slowly from the corner of his mouth. I had liked Eris. A few feet beside him, in what might be two separate pieces, was Domnal. Three of the bodies were burned beyond identification. Near the back wall, I saw Cleve, his form intact but lifeless nonetheless. I wondered if Dunn was among them, and Aren.
And then I saw Anvil, kneeling in what I feared was injury. It was not. He was saluting me silently. I found a smile for him. I continued scanning the room and bristled for a moment when I saw a fairy, but it was Ruby. My Ruby. She seemed to be smoldering, I nearly shook my head in disbelief but resisted. Rhys and Rider watched me from behind her, their robes in tatters, and I nodded my respect. Sitting proud in front of them were my old friends, Finn and Keaton. I smiled at their knowing eyes, trimmed in a beautiful silver fur. And there was the handsome Steed, clearly staggered as he stared back at me. I gave him a quick wink before I searched for who else had been left standing. Grey. Yes, he was undamaged. And beside me, though a few paces back, I found Chevelle's eyes scrutinizing me.
Chevelle. I knew him in both sets of memories. And now I was tied to him.
I quickly looked away and found Asher, still lying in the arms of the human. I took a step forward and she gave a little whimper as she jerked a hand over to protect her stomach. I sighed. All the time I had spent wishing to get my memory back, I had known. Somewhere, in the mess of my mind, I'd understood that acquiring the magic and memories would not automatically release me from the difficulties of my life. That was the third thing I’d been certain of.
But I wasn't Freya anymore. I was Elfreda, Lord of the North.