Recommended track: "Requiem for the Gods" by Michiru Yamane.
Disclaimer: I do not own the elements nor the character Naga from Intelligent System's Fire Emblem series. I am not profiting from this endeavor and this story is meant for the entertainment of its readers. All the characters (with the exception of Naga), setting, and maps belong to me.
Aggersbug Fortress, Three years after the initial battle of the Hero's war began.
"How are the men?" Leo inquired his lieutenant with hard amber eyes.
"Many are wounded, and a sense of bleakness pervades them. They believe that the end draws near, but only a few have deserted." The Lieutenant replied standing at attention in his muddied armor.
"Commander... what are your orders?" asked the soldier. The moon, a full sphere, casted light on Leo as he stared out from his position at the high point of the Aggersbug. There was a slight breeze in the air and groans of pain came from the barracks. The stone and height of the mighty stronghold made it an easy to defend position, however it would take more to repel a supernatural army than advantageous conditions.
"Many sacrifices have been made, and yet that will not enough. More will come to pass. I wonder if the gods think this a bloody spectacle?" Leo briefly paused and shook his head.
"Sir..."
"Lieutenant, relay this to the men: I can not ask anymore of ye nor do I have heart to. Those who wish to stay may stay and those who wish to flee may flee. My friends and comrades in arms shall stay here. We will hold this ground to the last of our life-water" he commanded.
The Lieutenant nodded and walked into the main building to relate what Leo had told him, while another figure emerged from the dark hall. The man walked up to Leo.
"Hello, my friend. What a bewitching sight the moon is on this night." The man said staring at the veil of night in admiration.
"Indeed Voelsung. But here we are, at the end of days. Mankind about to be extinguished and the great powers do naught but watch, amusing themselves with our suffering." Leo bitterly remarked.
"Leo, I'm sure the Gods have their reasons. We must persevere. We can not build a future with a commander devoid of hope, or a vision. Please, join me, Narmer, Lagertha, and Baldr in prayer. It will surely placate your mind, and gift one us the wisdom to endure these troubled times. The three of them are already in the sanctum waiting for you anyway." Voelsung asked with a weak smile.
"Very well" Leo said and the two strolled silently through the grey stone halls to a sanctum inside the mighty fortress.
Voelsung mused as he walked with his friend, Gods, the fates of all rests here in Aggersbug. We can't hold for long.
Voelsung chuckled,
"O the irony. Just three years ago man was spread wide and far and but now, here we are. Driven into a corner of the continent like livestock set upon by wolves. Before this war started, we were all in constant skirmishes between the city states. Who could fathom the calamity we call Fafnir?" Voelsung said.
"I think it, in part, is reward for our constant wars. Fools we all were until the dragon and his army appeared and sacked Byydr."
"The great powers can not all be so harsh. Goddess Eir is known for her great mercies on many. And Vili, he taught the first of men the crafts."
"Yet here is Fafnir. Retribution for our follies."
"Indeed. Even with such a threat it took a few moons for the fighting to stop. But heed what I am about to say: If not for the terrible beast I would not have met you, nor the others. This wouldn't all be for naught." Voelsung remarked in a warm smile. Leo's countenance remained stoic.
The two friends then happened on the heavy, wooden sanctum doors. They pulled the metal handles to reveal a room. The room had a stone altar altar, some simple benches lining the walls, murals, and tapestries. There was an oculus in the room which let moonlight shine down in front of the Altar to bath the priest in its light. This accented his attire of elaborate white robes trimmed with gold in it's blue light. Scattered around the room were candles giving the room a dim light in addition to rays from the white orb in the sky.
"Ah many salutations Leo. Sit and I shall lead our prayer" said Baldr, the priest, in an even, serene voice
Voelsung took his seat with an to an exotically robed, tan man to this left and Leo took the seat to Voelsung's right. Sitting down, Leo's mind began to drift. He stared off into a mural depicting Loktyr's children pursuing deities of day and night. Their fangs seemed to almost enclose Sigleif and Gullveig. The irony of the mural made a huff escape him before Baldr began the his prayer:
"Blessings unto we who are Yngvi's children, by the grace and power of Woedin the Wise and the Mercy of Eir, through the endless cycles of Sigleif and and Gullveig's chariots. Guide us! Guide us to a land meadows and pasture, to a land where we may not live in fear for Locktyr's designs. We who have kept thy customs foremost in our minds. Never will Eir turn us away. Never will the Wise Father nor Mother of the Night's wisdom fail us. If it pleases ye hosts of the ever green field, Vangr, grant us thy protections!" Baldr said, the ardor in his voice rising as he spoke the prayer. The other four warriors followed in unison after the priest.
As the prayer finished, Baldr was about to begin his sermon when a bright orb appeared illuminating the sanctum and blinding the five. They shielded their eyes from the intense light, which glowed an intense yellow-green. After a few moments the light coalesced into the form of a bright-faced woman. The clothes the woman wore were like what none had seen before. Layers of thin pale pink cloth was wrapped around her waist and upper body, almost blending in the the dress she wore. The woman's shoulders were bare save the impossibly long, greensand hair that was draped over them and a crown sat on her head. The crown was gold and had what appeared to be fangs pointing downward in an array around her head. It was a moving sight. The display had shocked the group and they were speechless.
The woman spoke: "I am Naga, a messenger sent from the Gods. Your burdens and trials are great and we have heard your prayers. The cries of despair and pain will be no more. I come to bring gifts to repel Fafnir." The onlookers immediately stood up and kneeled before the messenger from the Gods.
"Divine Naga, what gifts have you come to present us with?" Lagertha questioned.
"Stand chosen ones." Naga commanded and all stood to face her.
"Two gifts I shall bring. Holy artifacts forged on Vili's anvil alongside the tomes written by Woedin and Gullveig. The second is my flesh. I shall carve out my still beating heart and place it on a platter. Each of ye five are to partake in it as it quivers on the plate." Naga replied.
"Surely you do not suggest such a thing! To commit a heinous deed in this holy place my lady!" Voelsung exclaimed, clearly uncomfortable with the prospect of a suicide and consumption of divine being.
"Quiet! She knows her place and her duty that has been ordained to her. You may have reservations but we serve the people before ourselves. Partake for that which you took oath to do in your power, Voelsung!" Narmer shouted clearly frustrated by Voelsung's hesitation.
"Do not be sad. If my sacrifice can save mankind I will gladly offer my body to deliver ye from the Dragon." Naga said in a beautiful, soothing voice. The goddess walked forward to Leo and materialized a thick, heavy, intricately decorated tome.
"To you, Leo, Gleipnir, a tome of freezing wind to bind Fafnir in place" Naga said handing the book to Leo.
"I and my descendants shall always remember your sacrifice" Leo replied wistfully.
Naga turned and walked to the shield maiden, Lagertha.
"To you, Lagertha, Balmung, a sword of light. It is lighter than silk and stronger than steel to pierce Fafnir's heart with." Naga said presenting Lagertha with a sword that appeared in her hands. The sword was beautifully inlaid with various metals and runes.
"A shame I can not hope to repay this favour Naga." Lagertha remarked softly, knowing that the woman before her would soon be a corpse. Naga smiled and began to softly hum as she walked. Though she did not sing the song enchanted its listeners, especially Voelsung.
"To you, Narmer, Surtr, the all consuming flame, to char Fafnir's flesh with." Naga said as she passed a great, leather bound tome to Narmer.
"It is with great honor that I and my friends here accept these tokens of kindness" Narmer reciprocated in a solemn manner.
Naga resumed humming as she approached Baldr before giving him his gift.
"To you, Baldr, Gjallarhor, the embodiment of Mathni's power. This tome was created by sealing Mathni's hammer onto parchment creating this tome" Naga laid out as she gave
"I must voice my unease with consuming your heart, but what has been ordained will be done as directed" Baldr said mentally preparing himself for the deed to be done next.
Tension in the room built as Naga approached the youngest of the five, Voelsung. He couldn't bear to look at the woman whose heart he and his friends were about to consume out of guilt and simply stared off to the side with a troubled expression.
"Dear child, I appreciate the kindness of your soul and I beseech you to accept this heartfelt gift of mine: Tyrfing. A sword I forged myself from the purest flame on Vili's anvil and this" Naga said procuring a burnished copper-red amulet and tying it round Voelsung's neck before beginning to kneel.
"Consider it a memento if you will, kind hearted one."
"I can not have you kneel before me it is I who should kneel before you." Voelsung said kneeling.
Naga then kneeled to the same level and put the sword Tyrfing and putting the sword still sheathed in his hands. Voelsung continued to frown, still struggling with his conscience.
Naga paced about, grabbing a silver platter and placing it in the center of the stone altar.
She stabbed her right hand into her chest to where her acorn-drum beated. With pain, she quickly ripped it out and placed it onto the now bloodied platter before collapsing.
The heroes, even Voelsung, walked with grim determination to the platter, Naga's heart still quivering. They tore at the raw organ, bloodying their mouths. When the taste of Naga's blood and flesh touched their tongues the five heroes gained newfound wisdom and abilities. Each was able to understand the speech of birds and learnt new magicks to close wounds, loose fetters, and renew strength.
This event became known as Miracle at Aggersbug or Naga's Descent. With holy power and divine blood flowing in each of their veins, the heroes rode out from Aggersbug. The war's tide turned. The unholy legions beaten back, culminating with the final showdown between The Five and Fafnir. Narmer, Baldr, Leo, Lagertha, and Voelsung prevailed allowing peace to return to the land.
I have maps illustrating Midland linked on my profile, for reference. Many thanks to all who lent me a hand in the editting process. This piece would not have been possible without the support I got from others around me.