We had spent two days at the mountain temple. The second day after our marriage we took our last breakfast with the Silverash sisters and Kjerr. Consulting with Ensia in regard with our decision for the hike, and the finer details of climbing that certain mountain along with equipment preparation. She would remain with Enya for a few days more before she would depart herself, and soon we took our farewells.

  When we first arrived in the village at the base of the holy mountain we were pleasantly surprised at the amount of amenities present. There were a variety of many useful shops, as well as a centre for renting snowmobiles, off-road ATV's, buggies, SUV's. Seems the benefits of industry in Kjerag were being finally felt, to my own convenience as well. Even if all these useful amenities were mostly bunched near and around the train station outside the village. The villagers probably still being a bit too weary of letting the spoils and temptations of the outside world reside too close to their holier places.

  I rented the most reliable SUV. Then we perused a survival store for all the necessary equipment and extra rations we might have needed. After which we were well on our way as the morning grew old. The path was mostly straight, barely undulating between some hills and valleys. Wide open plains with forests far and near was what mostly came to keep our sight company. The clouds were well blanketing the sky today, giving everything a calm but cold bluish tint. Provence admired the sight. Until she grew bored and started perusing the network on her tablet.

  Our SUV had its antenna deployed. Nowadays, there were more than enough relay stations scattered throughout strategic points in this nation to cover the entirety of Kjerag. The communication network technology adapted from the outside was well implemented here. Kjerag was truly a country in all it's right. Where one could communicate from one end to the other unlike the rest of Terra.

  It reminded me of one of the things we took for granted back in my time. Before communication became less and less reliable. At first starting with local and then entire regional blackouts as the war grew more desperate. Eating at man and all his achievements in the fires of ruination.

  I had to hand it to Enciodes, he did an impressive job of uplifting his country. Modernizing it while keeping the growth in some sort of balance. From that I could surmise that he truly cared for these lands. Considered it his home despite all the voices that might have said otherwise.

  I drove ahead, bringing up the mental map in my head with the one displayed on my personal device attached to the board of the car. We would make a stop at the last village in the area, not too far away from the mountain in question. Sleeping over the night at a local inn of simple rusticity, finding fresh energy in the next morning for the task ahead.

  It was almost five in the morning when we woke, embarking in our SUV once again. As groggy as we might have been before dousing it with a mug of coffee it was a necessary decision. We would have to start our hiking early in the day in order to have a chance of arriving at the cabin before nightfall. A matter which almost demanded we arrive while still having the light of the day on our side. Considering the last few hundred meters we would have to climb a vertical cliff. And doing so during the night would have been tantamount to near suicide. And neither was camping on it's sharp angled slopes an option either.

  We parked the SUV besides a certain jagged, and slightly sloped rock that I knew would give some protection to our transport. Just in case an avalanche decided to rumble around while we'd be away from it. To probably very few would the concern of an avalanche pop in their mind. For at the foot of the mountain we were amidst a rich green foliage of conifers, summer flowers, and seasonal weeds. Looking up towards the mountain though, a sharp eye and a sharp mind could very well deduce that there was still enough snow up there to bury all this green heaven we were at.

  -''Doesn't look so daunting from here, except for that bottleneck near the top.'' Observed Provence.

  -I have confidence in our strength.

  Ensia had foretold me that there was no way around but climbing it, yet even at this far distance something seemed a bit off about that last part. Despite taking a look through my binoculars, I was still non the wiser. The sun was already reflected off the giant snow canvas upon the mountain. Making it difficult to distinguish anything clearly. We would have to get closer to come to a conclusion.

  Thus, we started our hike through this green paradise. Passing by Kjerag's summer splendour in full. Blooming flowers and ripe berries were all at our feet. The nature around us imbued the air with a sweet scent that lifted our spirits. And the air was full of the songs of birds, and of bee's, and wildlife. Busy to make most of this abundant season while it still lasted.

  There was no trail up the mountain, seldom visited as it was. Thus, we would have to make our own. Our start of the journey was picturesque, and the slopes of the mountain's feet were easy going for their beginning. There were plenty of streams to refill our canteens, and we made a stop at just one that seemed to stand out among all that we met so far.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  A sheer mighty cliff with a wide stream washing down its near vertical slopes. Near hidden within a background of lively green pines which freshness wafted in the air. Serene in the audible music it produced and imposing in its simple, natural beauty. Seeming almost eternal in nature. The wind was tranquil, and the weather was balmy.

  Provence had taken a small pause here and there to take plenty of pics for memories. If anything it was a perfect occasion to take a picnic and relax all day right in that spot if we had any mind for it. But our sights were set higher than that, as foolish as it may have seemed from other perspectives.

  We had a long way ahead of us considering how wide the Warden was. And with a height not negligible at little over four thousand seven hundred meters. The snow started to appear at about a third of our way, and the slopes were getting more difficult. The peak itself was playing hide-and-seek between gatherings of clouds, or obstructing denivelations in the high hills. At half of the way the snow was truly blanketing everything before us.

  -''There it is!'' Provence shouted eagerly.

  In a moment of clear sight we would see the mountain top. It looked so discouragingly far away even this far as we had made it.

  -''Yeah, it's close.'' I said matter-of-factly.

  -Hah! How confident of you my undaunted mate!

  We made fewer stops along the way to drink and eat. Always making sure to use rations from her backpack instead of mine. It was because I knew the hardest part was yet to come. And in doing so I would make sure to make her own load lighter, even by a bit.

  The evening caught up as we had covered two thirds of the way already. The clouds were now close, and misty. Giving off a mesmerizing deep blue colour as they flew around. Not far away we could notice shades of vivid pink as the clouds caught occasional rays of the sun. Looking back we could see the vast landscape of the lower planes, stretching as far as the eye could see inside of Kjerag. A sight that we would soon lose as we continued our ascent. The mantle of clouds slowly but surely closing behind us.

  As we passed the four thousand meter mark the effects of the air thinning that came with the high altitude were making themselves felt. The altitude started to hit my lupa. She was tough, a well travelled messenger, and a survivor in her own right. She endured it valiantly, but I could well notice the strain in her breath. All while I was barely affected if at all. My gift regulated my blood cells, helping them carry extra oxygen as much as I needed.

  Finally emerging over the blanket of blue we took a break on a small, levelled ridge. Around us we gazed upon the smooth layers of clouds stretching like the smoothest ocean stopped in time. More importantly we could finally examine the bottleneck which we would have to overcome. To our surprise there was an unexpected change, a massive one. Part of the bottleneck before us had collapsed. Presenting us with a still perilous looking but hikeable slope. Which in contrast was a few levels less in danger than if we were forced to climb it as we had expected.

  -''Looks like we were cut some slack, directly off the mountain itself.'' I said with hint of satisfaction.

  -''Yeah, it's a fortunate turn of events.'' Replied Provence. Unable to not notice the strain in her voice as she breathed in much more deeply than usual.

  -Here, let me reconfigure your load a bit.

  I went to her backpack, detaching a few external pouches off the main pack. As well as pulling out a few provisions and making them fit only with great effort into mine.

  -You didn't need to do that.

  -I did it anyway, now give it no more mind. Are you ready to head out?

  -Yes, thank you.

  The new way up was hikeable, yes. But it was so God damn steep that even I suppressed a few grunts. I made my lupa follow in my wake. With a cable attached to both of us just in case the worst scenario would have happened.

  The more we closed in to the end it seemed that her energy was disappearing with every breath. Bidding her to take small breaks, deep breaths. Making sure of every step she took. Safety was our priority now, not speed. We were advancing at a steady pace as the sun was setting fast behind our backs, far in the west. While the danger of climbing in the dark was no more I still didn't fancy hiking with no natural light. It would have still presented a danger I would have rather avoided all together.

  Nonetheless, my worries were dispelled as we garnered the energy that expectation brought. Taking the last steps before setting our feet on the small plateau at the mountain top. And as we did so the last rays of light had beckoned us to our destination before finally disappearing at the edge of the world.

  -We made it Cassiel!

  The mountain lodge in question looked like a modern hull of an aircraft! We took a few minutes of deserved rest before this impressive refuge. It was almost like a long rectangle but slightly sloped, and with round, smooth angled edges. It boasted attached solar panels and a swirly windmill for electricity. It had a cylinder tank attached above it as well as an atmospheric water collector. Later as I would find out, the slightly angled shape of the roof was in purpose made to collect water into a certain sink in the lowest corner of it. The hull seemed unblemished by time. Pristine in a paint of non-reflective white. As we climbed the few steps on the small platform that took towards the entrance we stopped.

  -''Looks at this.'' I gestured to the sight in front of us that seemed out of this world.

  The day was truly gone. Yet high up before us were two full moons, accompanied by a myriad of lively and glinting mass of stars like never before. Seas of great clouds garnered far as the eye could see. Active, moving, swirling. And deep from within them emerged great eruptions of silent and breathtaking light. The twin moons stood spectacle, weakly illuminating all in their pale shades while the great eruptions of light continued like a strange but imposing show of nature from within the clouds.

  Two eruptions lightened the clouds brightly almost at once, and at that moment I closed my hand around my lupa's waist.

  -''This is incredible. I have never seen something so beautiful as this.'' Provence said, awe-inspired at the spectacle before us.

  I couldn't resist any longer, and I turned her towards me. She looked at me curiously, and then, knowingly.

  I wrapped my arms around her, and I kissed her warmly. Feeling her grasp me as if with renewed strength that she never knew she still had left. Tired as we were we nevertheless remained there, tightly entangled onto each other before the great spectacle of nature.

  For moments like these were special. Worth enduring the time and the elements to gaze at, and to live in.