A Rough Landing

Balar got to his feet unsteadily. Tiella lay face down on the cold ground and he reached down to roll her onto her back, laying her arms at her side and tidying her hair. As he brushed dirt from her cheek a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Truly I am sorry for your loss."

Balar looked up. The others were scattered around him in various states of disrepair. He noted that the Giant and the would be bounty hunter were missing. The rest of them had appeared on the shore of vast lake with a white tree growing from an isle on its distant centre. Cold mist moved along the shore and over the waters and looking up he saw the bleak frozen skies that could only belong to Niffelheim. They had not gone far then... they were not home.

"It is the well of Hvergelmir." the voice returned and Balar now saw its source. A stooped hooded figure sat nursing a fire near the waters edge. He poked the embers with a stick causing them to flair into life. At his side an unconscious Dwarf lay face down on the ground snoring. The stranger gave the Dwarf a poke with his stick.

"Wake up Dwarf we have company."