Chapter 13
"Sooo…. Astrid what's the plan for getting inside?" Hiccup asked as the dragons flew over the lava plains.
"Oh, oh! I know!" Snotlout piped up and raised his hand much to Hookfang's embarrassment. "We'll go through one of the tower windows!"
"No," Astrid said as Snotlout tried again. "We'll blow up one of the towers and use it as a distraction to sneak in?"
"Snotlout, I don't think blowing up stuff sends a good 'we-come-in-peace' message," Fishlegs interrupted.
"Well unless our soon to be host likes blown up stuff." Tuffnut then piped up.
"Yeah, you never know." Ruffnut added, for once agreeing with her brother.
"Okay, I have to concede to that point of logic." Fishlegs mumbled as they approached the fortress. Instead of flying over it or blowing something up Astrid indicated for them to land. The dragons touched down right in front of the large black gates.
"Is she gonna knock the gate down with some Valkyrie magic?" Snotlout asked Fishlegs who was beside him in a whisper. Fishlegs just shrugged as he didn't know. The group watched Astrid hop off of Stormfly and approach the gate. Everyone leaned forward as Astrid cracked her knuckles and raised her hand. And then she proceeded to knock three times on the door.
"That's it?!" Snotlout asked as even Tyr frowned. "You're just going to knock?"
"Why sneak in when they can just open the door for us?" Astrid turned back to say. "Besides if we do have to blow something up then we have the excuse of having knocked first."
"She does have a point there." Heather mused with a smirk.
The looming black gate started creaking before it opened to reveal two cat-like lava animals. Their tails swished as they both looked at Astrid and the gang.
"Hello… uhm," Astrid had expected guards not giant cats but she asked anyway "May we have an audience with Sutr?"
The lava cats stopped growling and stared at each other for a moment. Astrid and the others assumed that they were communicating with each other, or maybe even mentally talking with Sutr. It seemed to be the latter as the cats took a step back to indicate that the group could enter. As they walked past the cats only seemed to growl at Tyr and Frey. Soon the gang found themselves in a large cavern-like throne room. There were four small but long lava-falls around the room and in the middle stood an intricate large black throne with a large red giant lounging on it. The giant had hair like fire and a crown that was likely crafted from either black marble or basalt.
"Now…. What brings a group of Midgardians to my humble abode?" The giant asked as he made no move to sit straighter. "And with two Asgardians no less."
"Greetings your Highness…" Astrid started but was stopped when Sutr held up his hand. "I wish to get this over with. State your business Midgardian."
Astrid nodded. Normally she wouldn't want to be interrupted so rudely like that but no one knew how this giant would react. She quickly reached into the satchel around her waist and pulled out the crystal crown Thor had thrown at Odin. When Sutr saw the crown he did sit up a little straighter. "Where did you get that?" He asked as he narrowed his eyes. "If you lie I will crush you."
"It was thrown at Odin's feet a day ago." Astrid told him. Sutr made growled upon hearing that.
"Bring it here girl," He ordered and Astrid approached with the crown placed in the palms of her hand. She held it up for the giant who took it with much more care than any could have imagined. Sutr inspected the crown with precision. The giant frowned before turning back to the group. "Where is she?" He asked as he stood up now to his full height.
"You mean Ymir?" Hiccup asked with a frown. "We don't know for sure."
"Lies!" Sutr shouted. "I was assured she would be returned to me in her old body!"
"Woah now…." Astrid shouted as she held up her hands defensively. "We are trying to find out what happened as well. Ymir might be prancing around in Thor's body."
"WHAT!" Sutr now roared. It reverberated within the cavern causing the gang to close their ears and cringe. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
"We didn't do anything!" Dagur now shouted. This elicited another angry roar out of the giant. "LIES!"
"Where is my Ymir?!" Sutr now asked loudly as he approached the group. "Are the Asgardians holding her for ransom? Did they kill here?!" He asked as steam now came out of his mouth. "Answer me!"
"Not good, not good, not good at all!" Fishlegs mumbled quickly as Meatlug took a defensive stance in front of him and Heather. In fact all the dragons had their hackles raised. Toothless was already charging up a plasma bolt if the need arose.
Astrid took a step back as Sutr shot a fireball at her. Her feather cloak of swiftness helping her to dodge the attack easily. "Wait!" Astrid shouted at the now enraged king. "We don't know what happened either!"
"Then why would you have this!" Sutr growled. "To mock me?!" He shot another fireball and Hiccup surged forward. Astrid could not have avoided the second one if Hiccup hadn't pushed her away.
"Hiccup no!" Astrid gasped as the fire engulfed him. The others stood there slack-jawed unsure of what to do. They didn't think they could handle it if Hiccup got hurt. But luck was on Hiccup's side once again because he seemed to be fine when the fire dissipated. A frosty blue aura covered him that seemed to originate from the metal bracelet Thrud had given him.
"Svalin," Hiccup mumbled in awe as he looked at the bracelet. "This is the legendary Svalin?!" Hiccup didn't have time to stare in wonder any longer as Sutr roared again. Then something occurred to him. "WHAT DID VE AND VILI PROMISE YOU?!" He shouted to the giant.
"MY BELOVED BACK! You should know! You have this" Sutr roared, indicating to the crown, as his eyes narrowed. "Where is she?"
"The closest we can guess…. Niflheim," Hiccup told the king truthfully. "We are as clueless as you but we want to help. Please you have to believe us." Hiccup pleaded and took the chance to take a step forward. "What would we gain from lying to you?"
Sutr seemed to regard Hiccup with scrutiny. "Proof to me that you are not lying."
"How do I do that?" Hiccup asked as he was glad the giant wasn't attacking anymore.
Sutr summoned another fireball in his hand and then pointed with the other at Hiccup's arm. "Take that off. I will believe you if you take my fire head on." he said while indicating towards Thrud's bracelet.
Hiccup looked at the giant for a moment biting his lip and then in another moment he took off the bracelet and placed it on the ground in front of him.
"Hiccup…." Astrid and the others tried to quickly change his mind but he indicated for them not to approach. Astrid looked worried as Hiccup indicated for Sutr to go ahead.
"You got guts boy." The giant laughed as he lobbed the fireball at Hiccup.
Meanwhile, back on Niflheim, Ymir was sitting on her throne looking utterly bored. She was tapping on the armrest when the icy doors opened to reveal Ve and Vili looking rather worse for wear.
"Well it's about time." She huffed. The two Asgardians approached rather cautiously and bowed.
"Oh most angelic creator…" Ve started but was stopped when Ymir pinned him with a glare.
"Spare me the suck up," She sighed. "Just tell me where my armies are."
"The… uhm… the Jothuns are refusing to join you, your Excellency," Vili now said.
"They are what!" Ymir's red eyes blazed with magic. "How dare they think they have a choice. I created them to fight for me!"
"We are not exactly sure what happened," Ve stated. "We had to make a hasty retreat from Jothunheim when Odin's forces appeared."
"And Laufy did not grant you any troops?" Ymir stood up and glared at them. Even if she was a head shorter than the brothers they still shrank back from her aura. "I was promised my army!"
"We could try contacting Laufy again once the Asgardians leave," Ve suggested.
"No, I will go myself," Ymir stated. "I have another task for you."
"What do you wish us to do?" Vili asked.
"Find Hella. I know that woman is alive and hiding somewhere in this Realm. You shall bring her before me…. Alive or dead." Ymir said as her red eyes narrowed.