Chapter 9 – Balder the Brave
Asgard, the Realm Eternal
Balder couldn't take it anymore, he needed to do something, and he could not just seat on the Asgardian throne and sit idle while the other realms fell to Loki's joint forces. The God of Light went to Valhalla accompanied by the Warriors Three and Lady Sif.
"With Thor still stuck in Midgard, we need to round up our allies." Balder told the warriors.
"But who would stand by us?" Fandral asked.
"The Norn Queen Karnilla is an ally of Asgard, so are the dwarves and light elves. If it needs to be necessary I would summon the Olympians." Balder responded.
"The Olympians? Those stuck ups wouldn't even try to aid us." Volstagg said.
"But Odin and Zeus are close friends, they would certainly aid us." Sif responded.
"Still, we cannot rely on solely on the Olympians, we need help from the other seven worlds." Balder said.
"What about Midgard?" Hogun added.
"No, they are not ready for extended contact with the gods." Balder said. "The mortals are not worthy yet."
"The Spirit World?" Sif added.
"Possibly, I will make a journey towards the Outworld Gods, or Spirits as the mortals call them." Balder said. "I leave my mother in charge until I return."
"Thread safely Lord Balder." Volstagg said.
And with that Balder wore his mighty armor and blue cape and wielded the mystical sword of Frey and rode towards Yggdrasil. He was accompanied by Herokin the Barbarian and a handful of brave Asgardians into the Outworld or Spirit World.
The Spirit World
The brave Asgardians and their king stepped out of the portal and into the Outworld, the Spirit World. The place that they appeared at was beautiful, but appearances can be deceiving.
"Watch thy backs, warriors. This place is full of deception and arrogance." Balder said to his warriors as they continued on horseback.
"A Son of Odin…" a voice said out of the darkness of a cave.
"Koh.." Balder said, then out of the cave came out a centipede-like being that had a face of a mortal.
"What is an Asgardian doing in the Spirit World?" Koh asked. "I've never had the face of a god in my collection."
"And thy will not, evil one. I have come to seek aid." Balder said, emotionless.
"Aid? Why would a mighty god need help from us the little spirits?" Koh added.
"All-Father Odin has entered the Odinsleep and Asgard is threatened by Loki," Balder said.
"Loki Laufeyson? Well there is someone to admire. Anyways, who you seek is deeper into the valley." Koh said as he pointed north.
"Thank you." Balder said as he and his Asgardian warriors continued their quest to seek help.
Deeper into the valley, the mighty Asgadians stumbled onto a city full of spirits and souls. They had arrived at their destination.
"There it is the city of spirits. Come; let's go find the ones we seek." Balder said. They rode down the hill and into the valley, for a city of the dead it was quite lively but they all went quiet when they saw the Asgardians entering the city.
Balder The Brave heard the disembodied voices of several spirits talking about them, but he simply ignored them. He didn't have time to waste.
"Oh spirits of the elements, protectors of the four Midgardian nations, heed the call of a Son of Odin!" Balder yelled high on to the sky once he had arrived to town square, every other spirit went silent.
The sky darkened and four enormous spirits descended from the sky above. Each representing the four nations and elements of the mortal world, they were massive at comparison to Balder.
"Balder Odinson, God of Light and current king of Asgard, what do you wish, Son of All-Father Odin?" Agni the spirit of fire said.
"I seek help from thee, the spirits. Asgard is being threatened by Loki Laufeyson, and his army of doom. He plans on bringing Ragnarok to us, we need thy help." Balder confessed.
"It is believed that Ragnarok can only be begun if you, Balder Odinson is killed with a golden arrow covered in a strange plant." Yue the spirit of the moon said.
"Aye, but it has no happened yet. Will you aid me in protecting Asgard now that my father is trapped inside the Odinsleep?" Balder asked.
"We are omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent in our realm, that what was believed. But then long ago, your father ventured to these lands to seek allies, we denied any involvements with you gods. We even tried to kill the All-Father, but he proved to us that there are higher powers than us, even in the Spirit World. One-Eyed Odin earned our respect and friendship that day when he defeated us in battle with the sound of his voice and force of his hand. We will help you Son of Odin, we will send once our spirit warriors to help you protect the Golden Realm." La the Ocean Spirit said.
"I thank thee, noble spirits, even with my brother Thor, the mightiest of the mighty, gone we can hold our ground now." Balder expressed his gratitude.
"Did you say Thor? The Lord of Thunder and Lightning, he who lifted the Midgard Serpent with his own arms, he who puts most of us in shame, the son of the spirit of the Earth and Odin himself?" Agni asked.
"Aye, but I did not know that Thor was the Earth Spirit's son. That means…" Balder though.
"He is currently on the mortal world, is he not?" Yue asked.
"Once again, aye. He was exiled by Odin prior to his slumber, he need to learn humility," Balder answered.
"It appears that he had done so." La said.
"The God of Thunder has known defeat, and through defeat one knows humility. He has learned to rely more on his friends' aid rather than on his own power, even if he is mighty enough. And he has learn mortal love." Yue informed the God of Light.
"He has?" Balder asked.
"Indeed, but now he is waiting for his liberation from mortal prison, for his love has been captured." Agni said.
"Who is he's mortal love?" Balder curiously asked.
"The Avatar." Agni answered.
"The Avatar?" Balder once again asked. This time more confused than before.
"It is the mortal avatar for the spirit of the Earth, it is the spirit's representation on the mortal plane of existence." La said.
"Would that not make that woman his spiritual mother?" Balder said.
"Yes and no, godling. The Avatar represents the Earth Spirit indeed, but it is not it at the same time. The mortal body's spirit and the Earth Spirit share the flesh. But once the flesh dies, the Earth Spirit moves onto the next mortal in the next nation, the mortal's own spirit comes here, to the Spirit World ever since you close Valhalla's doors." Agni said with authority.
"I see, Thor will need to reclaim Mjolnir he wants to reclaim his divinity, correct?" Balder asked.
"Indeed, but he does not realize it. He still relies on his mortal form." Yue said.
"Once again I thank thee mighty spirits, Asgard thanks thee." Balder said as he rode his white horse once again.
"Farewell, Son of Odin. May the spirits be with you." Agni said to the departing Asgardians.
Asgard, the Realm Eternal
When Balder and his fellows came back to Asgard they were waited by the others. They hoped that Asgard counted on the Spirits' assistance.
"What did they say?" Frigga, wife of Odin and Goddess of Marriage asked her son.
"They will assist us against Loki." Balder answered his mother's question.
Everybody cheered for now they had allies in the Outworld and that Loki would not set foot on the Golden Realm. Everyone, except Balder the Brave.
"Mother I need to ask thee something." Balder said to his mother.
"What is it my brightest son?" Frigga asked.
"I am going to answerer thy question with another question, is Thor my brother or not?" Balder seriously asked.
The question took Frigga by surprise, everyone knew that Loki was Odin's adoptive son but no one knew that Thor was not her son. She wondered how Balder found out, but she knew that it was Odin who held the answer.
"He is thy brother, Balder. Thy both share the same divine blood, but he is not my son. I did not give birth to Thor." Frigga said.
"Then why did Odin do this?" Balder once again asked, but he knew that his mother wouldn't give him an answer, that answer could only be given by his father, All-Father Odin.
For now, Balder the Brave would wait, for more important issues call for his attention. A war loomed on the horizon, and neither his brother nor father could counsel him. The God of Light will have to lead Asgard in battle.