Authors note: Hi, welcome to another chapter of the winter berry! The last time we left off Hans was able to escape or so it seems. Will it be that easy?
Summary:
Adopted and Raised by Freya the goddess of love, beauty and war who is an extremely overprotective mother, when older Hans was made a serf where he hopes that if he works hard enough he will gain a reward. As the day grows closer an terrible tragedy happens, Bauldr the god of happiness is killed signaling the beginning of rangarock. Or is it? As it seems something had changed when the Goddess Elsa of Helhiem, daughter of Loki, offers an alternative deal which will change everything. For the better or worse it will be seen.
Any way, enough of me blabbering, hope you all enjoy this new story and please leave a review when done as your opinions mean a lot.
Light rustles of grass sounded as a 3 year old Hans made his way around his mothers territory. He was not scared being alone, his mother often told him that as long as he stayed in her territory nothing would harm him, she had a shield clearly marked around the territory and he could tell where it started and ended by the trees she marked with gold handprints.
Looking around he stuck out his tongue as he looked between a drawing in his hands of an herb his mother asked him to find and the environment around him, but so far he had not been able to find the elusive ever green plant.
"This hard" he though frowning before continuing to look for it, he was an eager to please child, especially when it came to his mother Freya, his father and uncle. Of course his mother would praise him for trying even if he failed, but he did not want to fail, he did not want to shame his father by being incapable.
Stopping again Hans looked around and cheered when he saw a plant with leaves just as the drawing described growing at the side of a tree. Waddling over Hans proceeded to fill his bag with them before making his way back to the cottage.
Arriving there Hans almost jumped out of his skin when the door slammed open and Óðr came storming out.
Seeing his father Hans quickly ran over to show him his find only to have the man push him aside as he left. Confused and a little sad Hans watched the man go till he could no longer as he disappeared behind the tree line.
"Valdr " he heard, turning Hans looked at Freya as she walked out of the cabin, though he was 3 he knew something was wrong as her eyes did not look happy.
"Okay?" he asked as he walked over and hugged her legs, burying his head on her skirts. He felt her place her hand on his head and said "Of course".
Hans was not convinced but let it go as he held up his bag full of the leaves he had found.
"You found them, thank you" she said with a gentle smile before gesturing to the back of the home "Can you please help your uncle? He is busy preparing the meats".
Nodding Hans let go and ran to the back of the home where sure enough Uncle Frey was there, busy keeping the fire pit he made lit while keeping an eye on the meat being prepared.
Hans was not sure what meat it was, but it looked like boar. Walking over he called "Fey! Uncle!" letting him know he was there.
Turning his blond hair uncle smiled and said " Valdr just in time" then moved his hand, gesturing Hans to come over and sit on the log next to him.
Doing as he was told Hans looked up at his uncle who stood up and said "Can you watch the fire while I go and get something? Will be right back",
"Okay" said Hans as he watched his uncle walk to the inside of the home through the back door which led to the common area. Hans watched as he could clearly see his uncle and mother through the window. They seemed to be talking about something important before they moved away from the window so Hans could not see what was going on so he went back to watching the fire.
About a couple of minutes passed Hans began to get bored so he looked around and soon his eyes spotted something off.
Among the green and bright colors of the forest was a black spot. Curious he turned his head to take a better look.
Right outside of the force field was a mass of black fluff, what it was Hans could not tell. Getting up Hans walked to the mass, staying inside the field to get a better look.
Bending down his green eyes inspected the mass and quickly realized it was a wolf pup, a pretty big one as it was about the same size as him, it lay on the ground, still as death.
"Maybe it is dead, poor woof" though Hans with pity as he bend down and picked up a rock, moving it away from the field causing the shield to have a small opening, reaching through he took and pulled the "dead" wolf pup into the area before placing the rock back thus closing the opening once more.
Looking at the pup and now really sure it was dead as it had not moved Hans turned and walked back into his home. Entering he walked pass his mother's pet boar and announce "Can make pyre?" .
Confused both Freya and Frey looked at one another, having stopped what they were talking about before Freya asked "A Uh what?",
"A pure for wof, he dead" said Hans sadly, even more confused Frey gave a look to his sister before saying "Can you please show us this... woof?", nodding Hans led them outside and once he got there it became his turn to be extremely confused when he found the wolf pup was gone.
"Where woof go?" He asked as he pointed at where the wolf pup had been but Frey was paying attention to another thing.
"Where did the meat go?!" He yelled as he stared at the now empty fire pit which once had beautiful meat cooking on it.
Looking down next to the pit they noticed drag marks, following them it led them to the other side of the garden, out of sight and under a large tree in the shade was the meat which was almost completely gone with the pup laying nearby, it's stomach swollen from how much it had eaten.
"Uh ho" though Hans as he looked up to Frey whose face was turning into rather interesting shades of color, from pale of the realization that the meat he worked hard to get and prepare was gone to red of outrage and finally a strange purpulish color of rage set in.
"Uncle? You okay?" Hans asked kinda worried,
"Yes" hissed Frey as he glared daggers at the pup who was now in the middle of a food nap.
Not reading the room Hans walked over to get a closer look at the pup only to be stopped by Frey.
"No, it's a monster Valdr, we do not get near such abominations" said Frey, Hans looked confused at him then at the wolf pup then back at him before saying "He fluffy", Frey bit his lips before correcting "That is Fenrir, he is a monster".
This made Hans be even more confused, his mother had often told him of the dangers outside, a lot of horror stories about giants who eat children, witches and such. She was not one to sugar coat things, but this?
Looking again between the two Hans was not really convinced, the pup named Fenrir did not look like a monster or act like one judging by the way it was taking a nap. If it was a monster why did he not eat him or destroy things like the monsters do in his mothers stories?
No, Fenrir was not a monster.
"No monster" said Hans as he went to get closer to the pup, hoping to pet it, but Frey was fast, grabbed and pulled Hans causing him to cry out by the sudden move and hard grip his uncle was grabbing his arm.
This caused Fenrir to wake up, the god of harvest and child looked in silence as the pup looked at them, still groggy from the food it whined as it turned so it was no longer laying on its back. It's stomach was so swollen it made movement hard as the wolf wobbled to its feet before it collapsed under the weight of its own stomach.
"See, no monster" said Hans nodding to himself as if what he said was the end all.
Before Frey could say anything they heard a call, "Fenrir! Fenrir!" the pup turned and looked at where he heard the call and sure enough Loki showed up, he was walking down the path that went pass their home, looking around the area as he called out the name.
With rage in his voice Frey yelled "Loki!", as soon as he did the mischief maker jumped and ran over, stopping at the edge of the force field and glad that it was there as Frey looked like he wanted to kill him.
Pointing at the pup Frey yelled "Your monster ate our dinner! What are we supposed to eat now?!".
Analyzing the situation Loki said "Well can you blame me? You always cooked the best meats, it also does not help that my beloved wife decided to put Fenrir on a much needed food restriction".
To this Fenrir growled in response, seems he was not happy that his food intake was restricted.
"I don't care for your excuses, keep your bastard child off of my land" roared Frey causing Hans to run and hide behind a nearby Boulder as he had never heard Frey scream like that before. It even started Fenrir who despite his added weight ran or tried to run through the shield to the safety of his father only to head butt first into it. Knocking itself out cold. Growling Frey grabbed the pup by its scruff, opened the shield and toss him over to Loki who emmediatly caught him and yelled "This is my son! You cannot talk or treat him like this! You need to show him respect!",
"The only thing that monster needs is a leash!" Frey snapped before he walked over, grabbed Hans by his arm and proceeded to walk away with a "Come Valdr".
As they walked away Hans looked back at Loki who carried Fenrir away, the wolf pup peeked behind his fathers shoulder, it's blue eyes looking at him.
Gasping Hans sat up startled and looked around, he was still on the boat, still going down the river through the roots of the tree of life, maybe?
It was hard to tell as he noticed the strange fog that gathered in the area, there was also this strange heat about the area, it was a sort of humid hot that sticks to you.
Taking out a map Hans looked over it only to find he was hopelessly lost.
"Great, I got out of the pot only to fall in the fire" though Hans as Skumring sat up and yawned, stretching his leg. Patting the pup Hans took the oars and proceeded to row as he knew he would not get anywhere staying still.
About an hour or so passed before Hans felt a jolt, he hit shore. Turning and looking as best as he could through the fog he saw a rocky shore and some rocky cliffs.
"Best to look around" though Hans as he got off of the boat and secured it to the ground, grabbed some supplies along with a skin of water. Skumring looked confused, tilting his head, "Stay, will be back" ordered Hans before he began to walk up the shore and towards the rocky cliff, touching the rock he winced a little, it felt hot and strangely sticky.
"What is this?" He though before he touched the cliffs rocky wall, feeling around before he proceeded to climb up.
Icy rage coursed through Elsas veins as she made her way through her realm, those who saw her were quick to make themselves scarce as nobody dared to face the goddess and ruler of hel.
Arriving to the pools of hel Elsa looked over all the pools before settling on one, large pool of crystal clear blue water. Shooting her power into the pool she watched and waited. The power swirled around the water, a silver color contrasting against the blue quite prettily before it began to change color and forms to show Elsa a lo imagine.
Hans was there, climbing up a rocky cliff, she was glad that he was alive but confused, he was not in Midgard or Asgard, in fact she does not think he is anywhere where she can recognize.
"What are you doing?" Muttered Elsa as she decided to sit back and watch what Hans did for time being for he was not a child, he was a grown man making his choices and like everything else, all choices have consequences, whether good or bad, she will soon find out.
With a light groan Hans pulled himself up into the cliff. It was hard as whatever that stuff was coating the cliffs wall made it hard to get a good grip, the hot sticky stuff, it was revolting.
Once on top he lay there for a bit, trying to catch his breath before getting up once he was sufficiently rested. When he did he almost jumped off of the cliff when he felt a heavy hot breath pass him.
"What is wrong with you?! Your not a coward" Hans scolded himself before looking to see what was making that.
At first he did not see it, the fog was kinda thick initially but soon it dispearced enough allowing Hans to see what was making that. He felt as if the ground drop beneath his feet as he stared at the huge monster size wolf before him.
His first instinct was to jump off of the cliff and pray to Odin he did not die on the fall. But stopped himself when he noticed something.
The wolf, it was bound with a strange thing cloth like thread, silver and gold in color. Despite that it looked like a decoration it somehow hold this wolf to its mercy, bounding him to the point that he was unable to move. To make matters worse the wolfs jaw was held open by a sharp sword placed sharp side up, pointing it at its jaw, if it tried to close its mouth it would be cut by the sword.
Walking closer Hans felt it's hot dry breath on him, it's tongue hang out of its mouth, dry and cracked. Upon looking at that Hans realized, the stuff on the ground and walls of the cliff, it had been most likely old slobber from this.
"Ugh gross" though Hans before getting closer to the wolf, it's eyes were closed, was it sleeping?
Hans was not sure as he slowly made his way over to the wolf. Looking over the mouth of the wolf Hans touched the blade, it was rusted, quite gross, even the breath smelled.
Holding his breath Hans reached in and grasped the sword. Mentally wincing when the wolf moved a little. Mentally begging it would not wake up and bite it's arm or something, Hans took the sword out, discarding it.
When he did he heard a light growl, looking at the wolf Hans fell on his back when he saw the wolfs cold blue eyes staring at him.
Had it been pretending to be asleep all this time?
The wolfs mouth closed, it licked its lips and smacked its mouth then it coughed and wheezed then eyed at Hans
At first Hans was confused then looking down at himself he realized that the wolf was not looking at him per say, more at the skin full of water he had strapped on his chest.
"Oh" said Hans as he took it off, the wolf rested its head on the ground, turning it so it was laying on the side, open slightly parted.
Cupping his hand close to the wolfs mouth Hans used his teeth to open the skin and poured the water into his hand, letting it slide unto the wolfs mouth.
The wolf drank, Hans stopped a little, it growled as it licked its lips.
"Letting you swallow, don't want to drown you" explained Hans, the wolf seemed to understand before it opened its mouth again, Hans gave more water, pausing every so often till the water was all gone.
"There is that" though Hans as he had another much larger skin full of water in the boat, the one he had was just a small portable one.
Licking it's lips for the final time the wolf looked at him, trying to decide something before asking "Valdr?".
This surprised Hans, how did this beast know his name.
"Are you Valdr?" asked the wolf again,
"Yes but",
"Ah, almost did not recognized you" he said then pointed out "You grew your hair".
Hans scratched his head, trying to remember, but he could not, in truth he only remembered having short hair was when he was small, right?
Noticing his silence the wolf asked "You do not remember?",
"I am sorry but no" said Hans then asked "Who are you? And how do you know me?".
The wolf looked, at first baffled but then disappointed before saying "You really don't remember" then sighted sadly "It's Fenrir"
When the name was spoken Hans realized what this wolf was. It was the monster wolf his friends and family walked about, how it would swallow Odin, the sun, moon and who knows what.
Usually he always told himself that if he met such a being he would get out of the way and hide, but this was something else. Fenrir did not look like a monster, he looked like a big wolf but nothing more and he was talking very calmly, so far.
"Fenrir, why are you here?" asked Hans, Fenrir hesitated and said "The gods fear me, their fear led me to my fate",
"I see" said Hans, Fenrir sighted and asked "Have you seen my pups?",
"Pups? You have pups?" asked Hans,
"How can you not remember Valdr!? You helped deliver them from my dead wife's womb" Fenrir roared making Hans jump back as the ground shook.
Seeing his reaction Fenrir calmed down and said "Never mind" then sighting before looking and saying "If you want to go to midgard your only way out is going through the land of muspelhiem".
Hans wondered how did the great wolf know, but simply nodded his thanks, turning around he went to leave but Fenrir said "If you see my pups, please tell them I miss them", Hans hesitated before saying "I will see if it's possible",
"Thank you" said Fenrir, with that Hans walked away and proceeded to climbed down from the cliff. For a moment he hesitated before climbing back up and calling out "If I find something to cut you free, I will be back, I promise" before climbing down.
Why he said it? Hans was not sure, he knew the horrors stories, so why was he helping the monster of said stories?
Tears would have fallen if Elsa was able to cry, with a shaky hand she reacted and tried to stroke the image of Fenrir only for the image to vanish when she tried.
"No no! Please! Please tell me! Where is he?! Where is my brother?!" yelled Elsa as she hit the water only to cry out a bit in pain. Holding her hand against her chest she hissed in pain as the water was so cold it burned.
Growling in anger she turned and made her way out. A plan in her mind.
To be continued...