Chapter 2 – Gods among Us
The year was now 795 A.D. Two years had passed since Hroki had lost his family and his purpose and had begun his new monotonous and monochromatic life of endless smithing in an attempt to forget. Hroki no longer took to the seas with his brethren during the summer raids; instead, he stayed at the village, taking care of things until they returned. He would not leave the village, not after last time. His mind was still scarred and he feared that if he left his return would herald doom once more, that history would repeat itself.
He thought he was being punished by the gods and constantly wondered, why? Why him? What had he done to deserve such a horrible fate? Daily, he searched for signs from the gods, any inkling of reason that would give his life purpose once more, but nothing...until now.
It was past midnight when it happened. The moonlight flowed through the cracks in Hroki's hut, illuminating him as he slept. He dreamt, of strange things, of gods and goddesses, and of a strange place that seemed familiar to him, though he had not been there before. It was a forest of sorts yet brighter and more magnificent than any forest he had entered previously. He wandered this place, looking for any signs of life, of the faces and visions he had seen only moments ago. He stood still. The eerie silence that filled the forest dissipated as a booming voice sounded from behind him.
"Turn and approach me mortal, for we have much to discuss".
Hroki turned and tried to pinpoint where the strange voice was coming from. He looked in the distance and noticed a tree of great size, the largest tree he had ever seen. He was dazed and confused, 'Surely not...could it really be?'... He inspected the monstrous tree thoroughly. It was Yggdrasil, the world tree, and suspended from it was a long piece of rope. At the end of the rope he found a man, hanging there. He did not seem to be alive but as Hroki approached this mysterious figure knew exactly who this man was; it was The Gallows God, The One Eyed God...Odin.
Hroki approached, and as he did so the figure had seemingly vanished with only the length of rope left to swing freely from the world tree. The voice sounded once more, from right behind him this time and as he turned towards it, he found himself face to face with a man dressed in a long black cloak and with a pointed black hat from which a long grey beard protruded. Hroki spoke out quietly as if with fear.
"I know who you are...You're The Allfather...You're Odin".
"And what brings you to that conclusion young man?" spoke Odin
"My mother used to tell me stories as a child, stories of gods and goddesses and of Asgard and the nine worlds, she told me tales of your visits to Midgard and how you dressed yourself in a long black cloak and a black hat, and the beard, the long greyed beard of the Allfather, it all makes sense".
"Well done boy, well done indeed, you have wit about you, it seems I was right to choose you after all" Odin said proudly
"So why am I here? What do you want with me? Hroki asked
"I am here to warn you" said Odin "Of an ancient evil that will plague your lands and devastate your people, unless you act now"
Hroki's face was one of surprise. He was confused and could not comprehend what was happening.
"But what is this evil? Where did it come from? And you're a god, can you not stop it?
"We Gods are not responsible for this disaster so we leave it to you men to restore the balance once more. And I have chosen you carefully. Since you were a boy I have sat and watched you from my throne Hlidskjalf. I could sense your potential, and knew that one day you would do great things" said Odin knowingly.
"So tell me, what is this danger?" Hroki asked.
"It all started with one man. A man named Malkorath. He defiled our magic, bended it to his will. He read into ancient magical texts, and became obsessed with them and with an endless pursuit of power. It was never enough. He learnt of our Runestones. Ancient stones inscribed and imbued with our magic. Used to change the way of the worlds, to bend matter itself and create untold power, or to take it away. But no mortal can truly have the knowledge to control this power. Even I, the Allfather had to make a sacrifice for this knowledge. For nine days and nine nights I hung there, from the world tree, Yggdrasil, and neither food nor drink did pass my lips. My side was pierced by a spear and I was left to die. Thrashed by the harsh winds and exposed to the elements, but for a cause. For I sacrificed myself, to myself and in doing so, the runes became clear to me, I understood them. Now I knew of magic and how to control it. Malkorath is defiling the magic of the Runestones and using them to lead the heroes from my hall in Valhalla to his side. This I cannot allow. I must have these warriors returned to Valhalla before Ragnarok descends upon us. You must go, find him and put an end to this. It will not be easy, but if you can prove to me that you are worthy to carry out this task then you shall be rewarded, with knowledge, strengths and abilities you could only dream of. Now go. Back to your lands, and warn them. Do whatever you must to convince them of this impending doom. And Hroki...Good luck, you'll need it".
Then, without warning, Odin was gone. He had seemingly disappeared, leaving nothing but a cylindrical wall of dust and debris in his wake, as if taken by the Bifrost and transported back, across the rainbow bridge to the city of Asgaard, the home of the gods. Hroki could not believe his eyes or ears, had he really just spoke to the Allfather himself? He hoped it was as it seemed as it may have been news of an incoming disaster, but this did not worry him...He had finally found a purpose once more.