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Arngrim held his hands up in surrender for the third time. Aelia had him pinned, her spear at his throat.
"Want to try again?"
Arngrim scowled. "You win…this time," he said gruffly. She smiled and let him up. Mystina snorted. Jelanda laughed, and stood up, brushed her dress off, and returned to his side. He patted her head. "What're you laughing at?"
"You," she said, "getting your butt kicked by a girl."
Aelia smiled proudly. "He never could beat me. Seven-hundred and fifty years haven't changed a thing." She stuck her spear in the ground and lay down in the grass, staring at the clouds. A gentle breeze blew through the valley, and weeping lily pollen drifted through the air. Arngrim took a seat next to her. Mystina sat down in his lap; she looked up at Jelanda and smirked. Jelanda scowled.
"Something the matter, princess?" Mystina asked.
"You bet something's wrong!" Jelanda snapped. "I demand that you remove yourself from his lap!"
Aelia sighed as the two got into an argument. I wonder if I should feel bad for him. She rolled over and lay on her stomach, toying with a blade of grass. One of the girls tripped over her legs. She looked over her shoulder. It was Mystina. Jelanda had plopped down regally in Arngrim's lap, smoothing her dress out. Arngrim rubbed his forehead.
Aelia shook her head and laughed. "Having fun yet?"
"Of course," he said. "I have so many beautiful girls trying to sit in my lap."
Jelanda turned around and smacked him.
"What was that for?" he demanded.
"I ought to be the only girl you consider beautiful, you dog!"
"But Jelanda—"
"Be silent before you make me angrier," she said, leaning her head against his chest and smiling smugly at Mystina. Mystina stood, making a point of letting her underpants show. Aelia rolled her eyes. Jelanda growled.
"Jealous, Princess? I don't blame you." She took a deep breath, flaunting her breasts. "Too bad you hadn't hit puberty when—"
"How dare you say such things! You don't know what I've been through!" Jelanda fumed.
"Your lack of shape tells me all I need to know."
"It obviously tells you nothing! I shouldn't even be speaking about such private things with the likes of you!"
"Well then, you weren't very far along, were you?"
Jelanda turned red.
"Alright, now, stop. He's not worth all this trouble," Aelia said. She winked at Arngrim. He shook his head.
She was silenced as the air in front of them rippled. Aelia sighed. Freya. The goddess had a habit of showing up whenever any of the Einherjar started having too much fun.
"You two!" Freya snapped. "That is not how a warrior of Asgard ought to conduct themselves!"
"Lady Freya, she started it!" Jelanda cried.
"I most certainly did not, you spoiled-rotten little—"
"Silence!" she ordered. Jelanda and Arngrim stood.
"I was behaving myself," Mystina insisted.
"I did not ask you," Freya snapped. She looked down at the lounging Aelia. "You are Aelia?"
"Yes, Lady Freya."
"You will come with me."
"Did something—"
"Do not ask questions!" Freya cried. She certainly has something up her cooch, Aelia thought. She smirked. "The Allmother has summoned you. Take my hand."
Aelia stood and did as she was told, her stomach starting to tie into knots with worry. She felt herself being pulled. Her friends and the hillside disappeared, and were replaced with the finely decorated halls of Asgard Hall.
Seven hundred and fifty years, the Allmother thought to herself, listening to Freya speak. Seven hundred and fifty years of peace, and she chooses now to move against us?
"Lenneth, things are not looking good. The army that she's amassed is—Lenneth, are you listening?" Freya asked. "Lenneth!"
"Yes. I am listening," Lenneth lied, shaken from her thoughts. "Please continue."
Freya cleared her throat and continued. "The army that Hel has created is nearly twice the size of ours. This is not good at all. How we could have missed the energy signals is beyond me…"
"I don't understand it. Such a massive gathering of demonic energy ought to be easily detected!"
"I don't know where she got the ability to hide it…we just don't have the manpower to fight them. Lenneth, I know this isn't something you look highly upon, especially since you promised peace between the nine realms, but…"
"You're telling me we need to gather warriors, aren't you?" Lenneth asked miserably. "After seven hundred and fifty years of peace…"
Freya nodded. "Yes, my lady. Shall we awaken Hrist?"
"No," Lenneth said immediately. Her sister's actions against her hadn't been forgotten, and Lenneth knew that Hrist would resent following her orders. She would think me a usurper. "I don't think she would be loyal to me. And what of my—our—body? I cannot give it away to her now and I fear what she'd do with its power."
Freya raised an eyebrow. "Surely you do not intend to do this yourself? You have enough to do here; perhaps we could send Frei? I am sure she would not mind."
"No, Frei's combat skills are not adequate for such a job. Let me think for a moment."
"As you wish." Freya fell silent, allowing Lenneth to think undisturbed. Many of the old Einherjar had chosen to be reincarnated rather than remain in Asgard, diminishing their forces. The legions of Hel had already begun to move; something had to be done immediately. Asgard needed soldiers, and the only way to obtain them quick enough was to harvest human souls.
"I promised them peace," Lenneth said. "I promised the humans peace. What sort of Allmother would I be if I went back on a promise to the entirety of Midgard?"
"It is a broken promise, or the lives of all in Asgard, and many lives in Midgard, too."
But who could she trust enough to gather human souls? Hrist was certainly out of the question; even if they were to awaken her, she would need a body. Lenneth felt that she couldn't trust her. And Silmeria…even if she weren't still in Brahms' hands, Lenneth wouldn't be able to give her a body.
Then, who? The Aesir would not understand the soul of a human as she did, or even as another human would.
Another human.
Her mind was made up. If this task was to be given to anyone, it would be one of her Einherjar. They knew her methods; they had fought beside her, they had helped her defeat Loki, and she would trust them with her life. It would be controversial at best, but it was the only good idea she could think of on short notice.
But which one?
"Lenneth, have you decided?"
She shut her eyes and expanded her vision beyond the walls of her hall. There was Nanami, dutifully sweeping the paths outside the hall. A sweet child, but nowhere near forceful enough to command warriors. She continued on. Gandar sat in one of the magic training halls, reading a thick leather-bound book. She cringed at the thought of him as a Valkyrie. She looked around and saw Belenus dueling with Jun. Jun was too easily corrupted, Lenneth decided, but Belenus was a possibility. She looked on. She finally reached a hill, where Mystina and Jelanda stared each other down angrily as Aelia and Arngrim dueled. Aelia flipped his sword out of his hands; he followed it, surprised, and she knocked him down with a kick to the chest. She was on him instantly, knees on his chest, a proud smile on her face. Arngrim held his hands up in surrender. Lenneth nodded. Aelia was a strong woman with extensive knowledge of battle and magic. And, even if she didn't show it, she had a kind heart.
Her choice was made.
"Freya."
"Yes, Lenneth?"
"I need you to find someone for me. Her name is Aelia. She's—"
"Surely you aren't giving this task to a human?" Freya cried, outraged. "A human, commanding newly-recruited Einherjar? Madness!"
"Freya, have her come to me."
"Absolute madness, Lenneth—"
"Do you have someone else in mind?" Lenneth asked.
"I…no, but I just don't—"
"Then bring her to me!" Lenneth interrupted loudly, standing.
"And what about the powers Aelia would need? You could never give them all to her, a human couldn't handle it! Only the body of a god—"
"The souls of men and gods are not as weak as you think. You are right, of course, but under the circumstances it's the best we can do. If I can find a suitable replacement—"
"I shall go, Lady Lenneth!"
Lenneth smiled. "And what would I do without you here? No, you are too rough on them."
"But—"
We do not have time to argue about this. Do as I say!"
Freya bowed her head. "As you wish, my lady." With those words, she disappeared, the air rippling around her.
Lenneth sat back down, wondering herself if this was a good idea. Only a few select humans had been given the tasks of those gods who had fallen in the war against Loki, and those had always been those she trusted most. That was not to say she didn't trust Aelia, but she simply did not know Aelia as well as she knew, say, Arngrim or Mystina, and though Mystina was a good mage, her skills in physical combat were practically nonexistent.
She knew, though, that Aelia was a good warrior with knowledge of magic. She was strong-willed, but she had also been a loyal Einherjar during their many battles together. Most importantly, she had been a human being…she could understand the souls of those she recruited, unlike Hrist, or Freya, or even herself back when she was a Valkyrie.
The question was, how would Aelia handle it? Could she tolerate the diversity of human personalities? She remembered Aelia's hatred of men. Could she handle the necessary powers? She already had a lot of power within her to handle; if anybody would be able to handle it, Aelia would.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the air rippled once again, and Freya reappeared, the dragonian woman by her side. Aelia knelt respectfully.
"You have summoned me, Lady Lenneth?"
Lenneth wondered just how big of a mistake she was making.
-- -- --
Aelia listened silently while Lenneth explained the situation.
"Somehow, we were unable to sense the forces of Hel gathering until recently, but according to our spies they grow stronger by the day; we must do something about it. We must do something immediately," Lenneth explained quickly. "Aelia, this is where you come in."
Aelia, still tired from her daily training, lifted her head to gaze at the Allmother. "I will do anything I can to help, my Lady."
"Mortal," Freya interrupted, "I believe it would be wise to listen to what we have planned before—"
"I have a name!" Aelia snapped. She had never been fond of Freya's arrogance towards humans. Freya clenched her fists.
"A human woman will not speak to me in such a—"
"Freya!" Lenneth cried. "Please! We have no time for this. Aelia, what I'd like you to do is something no mortal soul has ever been asked to do. As you know, my younger sister is still with the vampire lord, Brahms. I would not trust Hrist with this task, not after what happened during Ragnarok. I am appointing you to replace them."
Aelia's eyes grew wide. "Y-you're asking me to…"
"I want you to become a Valkyrie." Lenneth nodded. "You are the most powerful and the most reliable of my female warriors. I believe you are fit for the job. Will you take it?"
Aelia was silent for a few seconds. "Surely I am not worthy of such an honor."
"Are you refusing?"
"No!" Aelia said quickly. "I will accept the task."
"Excellent. Now listen carefully. I am going to grant you the powers I had as a Valkyrie; you will be able to sense the presence of human souls, undead, and demons, as I did. You will have the ability to fly, and the ability to take the souls of others into your own. Fear not," Lenneth said, seeing Aelia's face. "Not all of them; I would not overburden you. Are you ready to receive this power?"
Aelia stared at Lenneth. I wonder if I can handle it. But, I need to do what needs to be done. "Yes, my lady."
Lenneth shook her head. "No. Do not do this because you feel obligated. If you are not ready to accept, take some time and think."
"We don't have time!" Freya said.
Aelia fought with herself. I've never received such an honor. Why am I balking at it? I shouldn't be. I should accept. I can handle this, I'm sure I've handled worse. I will accept. Before she could think on her decision too long, she spoke. "I am ready, Allmother."
"Good. Don't be frightened, this will probably feel odd to you," Lenneth said gently, holding out her hands. The air around them began to glow, and along with them, so did the air around Aelia. At first she felt nothing, but soon her brain felt as though it were itchy. It hadn't felt as she had imagined it: a sudden sense of greater awareness, and a rush of great godly power coursing through her veins. Instead the awareness came slowly. She began to notice things she hadn't; she wasn't just aware of Freya and the other Aesir in the room; she sensed their presence like one might sense rapidly increasing heat. Space and time themselves seemed to expand along with her mind. Her back tingled, then itched, then burned. Pained, she turned her head and was surprised to see she had grown wings. As a dragonian, wings were not odd to her, but she had never had them in her human form before. She flexed them, and found they were leathery and brown, much like the wings of her dragon form.
The wave of power that had been pouring into her had slowed down to a trickle. She felt it running through, not like a torrent of power, but like rejuvenating blood. She was no longer tired; she felt stronger than she ever had. Both her body and soul felt ten times stronger than they ever had.
She looked up from the floor to find Freya whispering into Lenneth's ear. Peeved, she shot Freya her best glare.
Lenneth shook her head. "I'm not much worried about that."
"I would warn her anyway, it would be foolish not to," Freya advised.
"As you wish," Lenneth sighed, turning her head back to Aelia. "Freya has asked me to warn you about your power."
"You mean the transforming?"
"Yes. You are aware of what that power is, right?"
"It is a form of necromancy," Aelia replied.
"And necromancy is a fickle art. It can grant one unspeakable power, but it can also destroy one's soul," Lenneth told her. "Aelia, do not use your power carelessly."
"I will be careful," Aelia assured her.
Lenneth smiled. "Good. Are you ready to head down to Midgard?"
"I am, my lady."
"Then I will send you down." Lenneth held out her hand, and the room around Aelia shimmered, and was replaced with blue sky. She looked down and realized she was no longer on the ground, but flying high above Midgard, which lay below.
Aelia hovered over the land, looking down on it somewhat nostalgically. How she had loved traveling with her friends through those woods and over those mountains. She could even see the path they used to take between Artolia and Villnore; it was a bit more worn-down and beaten with age, but there it was. She smiled, remembering the first time she had gone down that road. She had been with Kashell and Celia. Kashell had been drinking in the tavern, and was hitting on Aelia. He had stopped, of course, but only because Aelia had threatened to take his oversized sword and—
Aelia, can you hear me?
She jumped, and then realized it was Lenneth speaking to her.
Uh…yes. Sorry, my lady. I can hear you.
Good. As I'm sure you see, the land has changed since you've last seen it, Lenneth said.
I see. Artolia's grown quite a bit, she replied, looking down at the city, which had more than doubled in size.
Yes. Aelia, are you ready to attempt spiritual concentration?
Spiritual concentration?
The merging of your mind and soul with that of a human who is near death. It is how you will find people worthy of becoming heroes of Asgard. I will direct you towards your first.
Uh…I guess so.
Good. Shut your eyes and open your heart and mind. Don't be afraid if you begin to experience memories not your own. You'll be synchronizing your mind with the mind of a human that is close to death. Try it now.
Aelia shut her eyes, and concentrated.
Open mind, open mind. How am I supposed to do that? She focused, trying to feel something. She was aware of souls; she could sense humans moving around below her, but she didn't feel any memories or strange sensations.
Aelia, try imagining your mind as a room. Open the door of that room and let whatever is outside to enter.
Yes, my lady. She pictured her mind as a room. She pictured herself opening the door of the room. She saw light come in, and felt a slight draft. She threw the door open all the way.
Suddenly, a wave of emotion and foreign sensations overcame her. Frightened, she tried to shut the door, and found she couldn't. A man's screaming filled her ears; even odder, she could feel herself speaking the words.
I've seen zombie dragons with more sex appeal.
Aelia started laughing, but the laughter quickly dissipated as the vision continued.
I TOLD YOU NOT TO FUCK WITH ME!
Her nose, Goddess, her own nose, was filled with the odor of cheap alcohol and heavy perfume. Overwhelming torrents of thoughts and emotions washed over her.
Very mature. Are you going to call them "shitheads" next?
Abijal, don't! Control yourself, please! – Shut up, you stupid woman! — Abijal—AAUGH!
Aelia's eyes widened with rage before they filled with tears.
You could have killed her, you son of a bitch.
She heard rustling leaves and hushed whispers.
Hey—get away from that, you gods-damned thief! I SAID GET AWAY— a clash of metal, followed by pained moaning.
Artolia. He's in Artolia…
The feelings dwindled, then disappeared. She realized that as she was concentrating, she had grabbed her head and had been pulling on her hair. Suddenly aware of the pain, she let go. She spun around in the air and eyed Artolia. The city sat below, looking quiet and peaceful from up in the sky.
Aelia, are you okay?
Yes, my lady. I'm okay. I'm fine. If she had still been human, her heart would probably have exploded out of her chest by now. What was all of that?
You felt many things. Things that the man named Abijal has experienced, is currently experiencing, and things that he will experience in the very near future.
Abijal? She felt annoyed; her first Einherjar was to be male! A man? And a wifebeater at that!
Yes, Aelia. I chose him for a reason. Do not be so quick to make judgements. There are many great warriors, male and female. Do not overlook a great person because of how they were born.
But—
Do not be so quick to make judgements, Lenneth repeated. There are things you won't understand until you've spoken to him. It will be the same with others you find. You must get used to it.
I understand. I'll do my best. Aelia started down towards Artolia.
Thank you, Aelia. And remember: these are humans, as you once were. Treat them with respect if you wish to earn their trust and loyalty.
I will, Lady Lenneth. Thank you.
No. Thank you for taking this task. It helps the gods more than you'll ever know.
It is an honor to serve you, Aelia replied. She received no reply.
