Spring was a marvelous time in Asgard. Though known for its mild winters, the spring was the crown upon the head of the seasons. For the last few days the snow from the winter had begun to melt as spring flowers and weeds began to pop up through the rolling hill of white. This was a time of celebration, every spring a grand feast filled with festivities was planned, and it was called Sigrblót. It was the festival that marked the beginning of spring, and with that the beginning of the campaign season. But Asgardians were not like the humans who worshipped them, where for the humans campaigns would mean setting sail and raiding nearby villages on nearby islands. No, for Asgardians the campaigns were more political in nature, though these sometimes lead to battles.
"Now let's see," Frigga spoke as she looked over the long list of to dos she had organized and written down. "We have received the shipment of mead, I would think a hundred barrels would be enough, but just in case we should have fifty more in the cellar just in case. The caskets of wine have been tapped and aired. Flower arrangements?" she paused to look up, at least twenty servants were putting together various types of flowers. "Yes that seems to be in order. Now Loki I see you trying to skulk off, to either cause mischief or hide away in the library. But I do need your help."
"I wasn't planning anything of the sort," Loki spoke stepping away from the wall he has been slowly moving along to stay out of the way, and also to try to cross the room unnoticed. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the festivals, but he often felt that they were too extravagant and he was often bored to tears counting how many tankards of mead his brother Thor could drink.
"Of course not dear, though this time around could you not replace yourself with a servant to escape the feast. I'm sure that dear fellow from Yule enjoyed the feast, but I would prefer that you stay for this one, there will be many important people," Frigga spoke as she picked up a separate list to hand to Loki.
"And this is different from any other holiday?" Loki asked his eyes scanning the list; they were mostly simple tasks, things for servants to do. Though he could understand that his mother wanted him to feel more like a part of the preparations, he was not too keen on running to the pantry and counting cheese wheels or inspecting the guest quarters. He made a note pass these tasks to the nearest servant he saw, and then escape to the library.
Frigga paused a moment as she picked up a pale pink lilac and a deep purple columbine and rolled the two between her fingers. "This is a very special festival."
"Well, that doesn't really give a reason why," Loki said only to be waved off by his mother. He let out a sigh before heading out of the feasting hall. He rubbed his temples; perhaps he would gain a headache and be allowed to leave the festivities early. When he was younger he would manage to disappear before the second course. Frigga had become wise to what he was doing and ensured that he stayed with the rest of the family during festivals. He pouted a bit as he walked down the long hallways that led out to the courtyards.
"Ah brother!" a voice boomed not soon after Loki had stepped out of the palace. His Brother Thor's wide, open face grinned at Loki. It appeared that Thor was in the middle of helping set up rows of tables for the guests that could not fit in the mead hall. "I would ask if you have come to help with these tables, but the sour look upon your face make me believe that you are going off to hide somewhere until mother fishes you out to grace us with your presence."
"Yes, mother has pointed out such a thing though with less of a joking air," Loki said crinkling his nose. Was everyone going to point out his disinterest in such festivities today?
"Do not look so sour Loki, I was only joking," Thor said patting his brother on his back with enough force unbalance Loki a little bit. "Uh, sorry about that as well. These festivals are not so bad, we eat, we drink, and be merry, what more could you ask for?"
"Brother, I believe that there is more to life than stuffing one's face, playing drinking games with the common rabble and making small talk about the weather to those who have been placed beside me during the feast," Loki spoke dryly, but Thor paid no attention to his tone and laughed.
"Well don't go about making another you with magic, mother is onto that trick," he said before he picked up one of the solid wood long tables and carried it away. Loki watched his brother for a few minutes before growing tired of the servants fluttering around him and giving him looks of impatience for his lack of contribution to the table moving. Loki then made his way to the gardens, only to find it filled with many guests who had made their appearance too early. He continued on his way, his mood darkening as he visited his favorite hiding spots one by one only to find them occupied by servants, guests, and luggage.
Nothing like a little mischief to keep his mind off of the irritation from people intruding on his personal space, a missing glove here, a misplaced necklace there, the pocket watch being move into another room. Ah, this would create quite a stir by the end of the week. A petty prank for his own amusement, but it was better than nothing. He wondered how his father would react if he hollowed out the giant festival cake, that would be a surprise. Loki let out a chuckle as he walked across the front lawn of the palace. The look on his father's face cutting a cake that was only shaped icing would be amusing.
Loki stopped in mid-step, his thoughts of pranks interrupted by the sound of a horn. It sounded like it was coming from the Bifrost. Normally, he would not have been curious of someone blowing a horn to announce their arrival, but this sound was different. It did not sound like the normal horn that was used in battle. It was a low, musical sound, which for some reason made him feel at ease, as if he was wrapped in the arms of his mother. Then there was the sound of hooves striking the hard surface of the rainbow road. As they drew near Loki lifted an eyebrow was that the sound of voices, female voices at that.
Through the gates thundered horses, large elegant beasts whose golden coats shimmered in the sunlight, so bright that Loki thought that they were made of precious metals. Behind them they pulled black and white chariots. The chariots had low rounded fronts and their backs flared back and split apart at each side with what looked like feathers. These chariots were designed to carry only a few passengers, and each of these passengers were tall, stately women dressed on armor. Behind the carriages were horses of many types each being ridden by more women in armor. Finally, in the back of this odd parade were women riding the backs of giant swans. The giant fowl would occasionally squawk and flap their large wings.
No this was impossible; these women were never seen outside the battlefield and Valhalla. They kept to themselves, guiding the dead to either Valhalla or Fólkvangr. They were known for being fierce warriors, each of them either chosen at a young age to be trained others coming from long lines of these fighting women. Though Valhalla was part of Asgard it was positioned on the other side of the world. These women did not care for the politics of Asgard or the other realms. Yes, they served Odin and Freya, they had their own sets of rules and codes they followed that no one could deter them from. Loki could not recall a time when the Valkyrie's had ventured out to the palace.
"Ah, I see that the Valkyrie's have arrived," a voice spoke behind him as a hand clapped his shoulder. Loki turned slightly to look at his father, Odin.
"I did not realize they were invited?" he half asked Odin.
"Ha! The Valkyrie's are always invited, they just choose not to attend, not that I take offense and not that they mean offense," Odin said as the Valkyrie's drew their chariots, horses and swans into a large circle in the courtyard. "I can't imagine why they've chosen this festival of this year to attend. But you can never know with them, and we'll never know why."
With that Odin walked forward to the largest chariot. A tall woman wearing armor of gold and silver was stepping down from the chariot. She took off her winged helmet to reveal long black hair with wide streaks of gray and blue eyes that peered at Odin, sizing him up with a steely gaze. Slowly her lips curved into a smile. Another woman, climbed off of the chariot. She was as fair as the other woman was dark, her gold hair was shorn short and several feathers of hawks had been attached to her head. Her smile came much easier and it was brighter than the dark woman's.
"Odin it has been a very long time," the blond woman spoke nodding her head to the Allfather.
"Aye, it has Skögul and Göndul, I see that your numbers have grown since I have last seen you," Odin spoke and nodded back to the two women.
"Yes, we have taken this moment of somewhat peace to take more women to train and gain in number," Göndul spoke her smile disappearing.
"I hope that you have not come here to just to give your usual ominous warnings Göndul," Odin said his voice grave.
"Nonsense, Odin, since when have we ever given you any sort of warning of things to come?" Skögul laughed shaking her head. "No, many of our warriors are of an age to bare children, so we have come to your festival to drink and be Merry with the rest of the nine realms."
"Unless you feel that we are imposing and you have no room," Göndul spoke a little sharply as she folded her hands over her chest.
"No, no, there is always plenty of room for Valkyries anywhere in Asgard," Odin spoke quickly waving a hand to a nearby servant, "Ah, I think the south wing is still free, gather up some help and take the Valkyries up to their quarters."
There was a flurry of movement as the Valkyries stepped, slide, and jumped off of their chariots and steeds. Baskets and trunks were unloaded from some of the chariots and carried inside the palace. Loki watched as one of the Valkyries ascended from an odd looking horse. Where most of the woman who had rode horse seemed to prefer large, long legged breeds of horses, this woman was riding what seemed to be more like a pony. The horse could barely be called a horse in side. It had a thick trunk, neck, and legs. Its coat was honey colored, but one of the most interesting features of the horse was its mane. Its mane appeared to be bi-colored, the inner most part of it was black and the out layers were light yellow. The mane had been cut in a way that between the two colors they formed the shape of a row of hearts down the horse's neck.
The rider of such a creature was following behind a servant and was leading the horse and several others to the palace stables. The rider was wearing silver plated armor with light blue accents; Loki assumed that they were to show rank or lineage. On her arm she held a shield but he could not see any other weapon on her person. Her helm did not have the traditional wings that most of the Valkyrie had on the sides, instead she had on each side of her helm groupings of stars of different shapes that came off of the helm like the wings. The rider turned her head as she walked past Loki to look at him. Her gray eyes stared right through him, unnerving him slightly, he had heard of such women who could read men's thoughts. She then smiled at him and continued on her way to the stables.
"Come Loki, your mother has been looking for you, no doubt she has more tasks for us to finish before the feast tonight," Odin spoke and guided Loki back into the palace.
