'Kay, so this fic's got a lot of references from Norse mythology. Yes, the age of Vikings. Just so you know, the names I will use for some characters are German and according to history, a bit of Northern Germany, just under Denmark, was also a part of the Vikings' old domain. In fact, if you put the German language and most of the Scandinavian languages side by side, you'd see some similarities in them.
Some terminologies before we get started:
Aesir - the group of Norse gods associated with war and the sky. They are usually violent.
Vanir - the group of Norse gods associated with fertility and the earth. They described to be peaceful.
Valkyrja/Valkyries - in Norse mythology, winged women of war who bring worthy warriors to the great hall Valhalla. They work under Odin, the King of the Norse gods.
And yes, Thor is originally a redhead, not blonde like Marvel's Thor. ;)
Hope you enjoy!
It was…weird.
She was hanging out with her sweet yet quirky boyfriend in their favorite restaurant on a rare off-day for the both of them. He told her a lame joke that he laughed at afterwards and she squeezed his hand to let him know that she was still listening. Then, as she watched him laugh out loud, a deep, masculine chuckle replaced his vibrant one, the lower timbre of it echoing in her mind.
She blinked even though she couldn't.
And before her, her boyfriend was replaced by a taller, more muscular man. His long hair reached the small of his back and was a fiery red, the color of anger and true passion. His eyes unwrinkled as his laughter died down, revealing them to be the richest shade of blue she had ever seen.
'Like sapphires…'
He turned fully to her, a warm smile gracing his handsome features and she could tell that she had met him before, in a place and time long forgotten.
'…who…?'
"Celty, my love? Celty!"
The Dullahan shook her helmet-head at the call and when she laid non-existent eyes on her sitting partner, it was her boyfriend again.
"Celty, are you okay?" Shinra asked, sounding worried and scared. "You just kept staring at me back there. I was seriously freaked out."
His words sinking in, her dainty hands scrambled for her PDA.
[I'm fine, Shinra. I just got a bit distracted there. I had a lot in my mind.]
"Is that so, my love?" The young doctor questioned then sighed. "Celty, we're here to relax and bond together. We haven't done so in quite a while with our jobs. Plus, our off-days are really rare, especially the ones we have at the same time. Why don't we spend a day like this one together and to its fullest?"
Celty paused then nodded sheepishly, scratching the side of her helmet in embarrassment. She had nothing to say at Shinra's words since she definitely knew he was right. As if on cue, a rack full of sushi was set right in front of them on their table.
"Here is order, young man. Come dine again at Russian Sushi, yes?"
"Thanks, Simon! We will!" Shinra laughed and nudged at his girl with an elbow. "Let's eat, Celty, my love!"
[You idiot. I don't have a mouth.]
The rest of the day resulted in Celty forgetting what the man she had seen in her mind's eye looked like. All she remembered of him were his fiery red hair and rich, sapphire blue eyes.
The earth had been scorched bare by a ravenous fire that had long died down, the red tongues having licked and eaten the stone cottages down to their foundations. The air smelled of blood and tears and roasted human meat, the scent of death.
She looked around in sadness. The once lively village had been reduced to desolate ashes by plunder and fire. On the simple dirt path where children once played were charred bodies void of life, their murderers having been of the merciless lot. The ravaged land was silent, now only a graveyard for those it had once been a home to.
But there was an infant's wail and she was reminded that all was not truly lost.
"By Valhalla, get that hideous mongrel away from me!"
The babe in her arms only yowled louder at the angry, baritone voice. She did her best to hush the wailing and whispered soft words to it.
Him. It was a boy.
"Oh shush, you ignorant fool. Can you not see that it is but a youngling? It cannot hurt you. Yet."
From the sniveling infant, she raised her aqua blue eyes to the two armored men she accompanied. The elder had graying, braided hair and a vast beard, an eyepatch over his scarred right eye. The younger was a muscular adult whose nimbus gray eyes radiated sheer fury and annoyance, his shoulder-length crimson hair completing his expression.
"But, Father," the latter seethed, crimson eyebrows furrowing further, "that mixed blood, that mutt – "
"Is your son, Thor. Whether you will it or not," his father, Odin, cut in, obviously displeased. "Had you not wanted another child of your own, you would not chase after his mother – "
"That wench was a hag, I tell you! She captivated me with eyes as blue as the calm sea – "
"It was your loins thinking, Thor! I can tell that you had your gaze on her body, not her eyes!"
Their argument sent the babe bawling again and she tore her gaze away to focus on the poor thing. But this time, her hushing and rocking gave little comfort and she felt the plumes of her wings ruffle up in confusion.
"My dear, it is plain to see that his crying is leaving you restless," Odin spoke as he approached her. "May I see the child?"
She looked up at him with uneasiness in her eyes before she nodded reluctantly. Slowly, she stretched out her arms, presenting the infant to him, and she had to stop herself from frowning when the Sky God took the bundle of rags and flailing limbs from her.
Odin lifted the babe up to his eye level, his one coal black eye observing him with a hint of curiosity. The little one's bawls gradually ceased, leaving him sniffing and hiccupping. When he noticed the strange man holding him, he stopped completely and his big, blue eyes widened in wonder.
As blue as sapphires.
"My, my," the elder god chuckled, "have I finally caught your interest, young one?"
As if in response, the infant gurgled and began to reach out at the wrinkled face before him. His tiny hands grabbed at Odin's beard and with a giggle, he yanked at what few strands he had in his hold.
Hard.
Thor and the winged woman jumped when they heard Odin yelp. The babe only giggled harder.
"Father, what is wrong? Did that mongrel do anything to you?"
"No, not at all, my stupid son. But…"
The elder god turned to the younger slightly, giving Thor a good vantage point of the infant. The little one was still giggling and in his chubby hands where long, silvery strands.
"…he truly does have your strength."
"Impossible!" the Thunder God exclaimed. "That…half-human monstrosity inherited my great, otherworldly power?"
"It seems most likely," Odin said as he gave the babe a light pat on his head, "he may even have the strength to wield Mjolnir once he matures – "
"No! I will not have MY weapon handled by mortal hands!"
"Thor, he is your son – "
"I DO NOT ACCEPT HIM AS SUCH!"
At the younger's bellow, a sliver of lighting streaked the sky as gray clouds rolled in, thunder booming their entrance. The winged woman flinched at the sudden change in weather.
"That…thing you hold in your hands is a monstrosity that does not deserve to live any longer! What if he matures and wishes to wield my mighty hammer? Will you grant it, Father? What if his pride rules him and he uses Mjolnir to obliterate us gods?"
"The only pride I see here is YOURS!"
Thunder clapped again and there was another lightning streak.
"You stupid, selfish child! I ought to strip you of your power!" Odin snarled, fully facing his son. "And what if this youngling can wield Mjolnir? Is not that hammer made only for those who possess both great strength and a pure heart? It has blinded you, Thor. You have become attached to the power of that hammer so much so that you do not wish for others worthier than you to wield it. You have become an avaricious, self-centered brute! You are no worse than that accursed dragon Fafnir!"
The Thunder God took a step back, his father's words seemingly hitting him physically. Odin saw the hurt in those nimbus gray eyes before pure rage settled in, the sky growling louder than before. Thor then turned his back on them and began to walk away.
"My son, wait – "
The lightning bolt that suddenly struck the ground in front of him stopped the elder god from reaching out. Instinctively, he jumped back with his arms wrapping around the infant in defense. When the bolt retreated to the clouds, his hot-tempered son was gone and he felt guilt fill his core.
"My son…"
A giggle brought him out of his regret. He looked down and unfurled his arms slightly, revealing the energetic babe. The little one went on giggling as he pointed at the still angry sky with a stout finger. Lightning flashed again, but instead of cowering in fear, he clapped happily as his wide, sapphire blue eyes drank in the phenomenon.
Odin felt his own one eye widen as well.
"This child…he does not fear the Thunderer's wrath…"
A small smile found its way to his lips.
"Truly are you your father's son. You will be a figure of bravery and greatness one day. I sense it. And yet…"
His eyebrows knitted together.
"Eir, come."
The winged woman was by his side immediately.
"Yes, my King?"
"My dear…" the Sky God trailed off then sighed. "Eir, I will appoint you to a task truly difficult in nature."
"…may I ask what it is?"
"The Thunderer's Spawn…he may be so, but his own father refuses to recognize so palpable a truth. He will have no guardian to guide him. I myself wish to serve as such for the child, but with my status…"
Another sigh, this one heavier than the last. Eir stepped closer, wanting to relieve her lord, but she stopped when she was presented with a giggling, blue-eyed wonder.
"Eir, you are one of my finest Valkyrja," Odin went one, fully facing her. "Your skill with the spear rivals that of Brunhild's and you have a most compassionate heart. And with those factors in mind, I entrust you with my grandchild."
"My King – "
"You must listen, my dear. Should this boy be raised in the company of the Aesir, he will become violent and, as I fear, conceited like his father. Among the Vanir, he will know only peace and be useless with a blade. Yet both paths lead him to a distance from the humanity which he is a half of, the human life he so deserves. You, a Valkyrja who walks among both Gods and Men, are best suited to be this gifted one's guardian and teacher. Plunder has taken his mother and Ego his father. He has nowhere else to go."
The winged woman was silent as she merely stared at her lord.
"I beg of you, Eir. I speak to you not as King of the Gods and Head of Valhalla, but as this beautiful, most treasured child's grandfather."
At her lord's plea, Eir snapped out of her trance. Blinking, she let her aqua blue gaze fall to the babe and seeing those sapphire blue eyes so full of innocence and awe, something in her melted.
"My King…" she had a hard time tearing away her gaze from the infant to look into the Sky God's coal black eye, "…I…I accept this task. I will…care for this child as if he were my own."
For the third time, Odin sighed. But this one sounded lighter, as if a great weight was removed from his back.
"You have my eternal gratitude, my dear. My grandchild will truly be in good hands."
Nodding, Eir held out her arms, ready receive the embodiment of her task. With a final, tender pat on the bald head, Odin handed the babe to her, the action free and smoothed out with trust.
"You have my blessing, Eir," he stated, his usually gruff voice now soft in tone. "You will live here in Midgard and can return to Valhalla whenever you will it. Take good care of my grandchild so that one day, he will become a warrior so mighty, even the Thunderer will pale in his presence."
"Of course, my King. I will raise him into a truly worthy warrior."
"That, I have no doubt."
A gust of wind blew past them, the ashes and silt in it making Eir cover her and the babe's eyes with her black-feathered wings. When it ceased, she blinked and found only herself standing on the scorched ground. A screech directed her to the clearing sky where she spotted an eagle flying away from them. A slight whine from her embrace had her look down.
Now it was her turn to sigh, hers full of amazement.
Somewhere in the moment, the infant had fallen fast asleep. His breathing even and calm, she could hear his faint snores and with the small twitch of his hand, she wondered what he was dreaming about. Her gaze traveled to his pudgy face and even with those lowered eyelids, she still remembered the little one's orbs, the very windows of his soul, to be a bright and lively sapphire blue…
…she found herself wondering what color his hair would be.
"You need a name, gifted one. A name that truly suits you."
She smiled and caressed his cheek.
"Fried."