Worship of the Gods

In the hero stories, the call to go
on a journey takes the form of a loss,
an error, a wound, an unexplainable longing,
or a sense of a mission.
When any of these happens to us,
we are being summoned to make a transition.
It will always mean leaving something behind.
The paradox here is that loss is a path to gain.

– David Richo

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Western Forest Trial

Ten Days Later
The Western Forests of Asgard

Ellie's knuckles were white around the reins of her horse. She stared at Naeva in alarm, not daring to move an inch. Horses were intelligent creatures; they sensed fear. It clopped gently beneath Ellie. With eight legs, the clops felt thunderous and very unsettling on her thighs.

"Naeva, please can we share one," Ellie asked again. "John doesn't like me."

"His name is Jarl," she said, rocking gently on her own mare. "After the disaster it was getting you on him, I'd rather not deal with the fuss of getting you on mine."

"Jarl doesn't like me, then," she hissed. He quickened his pace with the group, startling Ellie. "Oh, God."

The Western forests of Asgard were a snaking maze of paths, and hills, and mountains. They were mainly bustling with recreational activities or woodland festivals. And as stromkarls and other creatures took residence, it was a rare opportunity for warriors to train in the area. That morning, they were heading towards the Northern Mountains. Rumour had it that Tyr was planning an ambush for them. The suspense as well as Jarl's flouncy movements unsettled Ellie's stomach.

Her wandering gaze landed on the back of Lounn's head. He hadn't spoken to her in days, mainly because she avoided him at dinner and breakfast. Ultimately, it was her choosing not to speak to him. She clenched her fingers around the reins.

"Tsk, Tsk," Naeva clucked beside Ellie. It walked faster, pulling up alongside Jarl. Ellie attempted to mimic the noise, but it was stuck on the back of her throat as an ugly gargle. She coughed and choked.

Lounn turned around and shot her an amused look. She nearly smiled, but the happiness shrivelled up inside of her stomach.

Jarl dropped back. For a quatermile, she focused on the rocking of her horse. Her ears picked up the noises of the forest. A herd or sorts were trudging just a short distance from them. They stopped several times to graze before wandering out of earshot. Another creature rustled in the bushes. From the musky stench, it was a wild boar. Not one to be eaten, that time.

Just as the group galloped over a rickety bridge,

At a signal, Tyr released a cry, and the other captains dropped back, while two warriors spurred up and galloped into the mist. There was a blood-curdling shriek on Ellie's left, and the horse reared. Ellie gripped its reins and swore. The entire group began racing forwards, galloping through the dense trees, half-shouting and bellowing orders.

Jarl shuddered beneath her, flying down the path. A tree groaned and split in half. Ellie ducked, missing it by inches. Voices cried out and horses screeched in alarm. Ellie had no time or chance of looking back. She clutched the pommel with one hand as one of her feet ripped out of the stirrup iron.

The horse reared, frightened by something in the forest. Ellie lurched and with an undignified grunt was thrown from Jarl and into a bush. She rolled thrice, panting and choking until she landed in a heap, staring up at the canopy in a daze. The thunder of hoofs shook the ground beneath her. Jarl was bolting back into the inner city; freaked and confused. She wished she could say the same, but she was more annoyed than anything.

With a groan, she got to her feet.

A dull ache throbbed in her rib. She rubbed a hand over her side as she looked at the trees. Something was waiting in there. Tyr hadn't warned them what it would be; but it definitely wasn't a warg or draugr.

She held her breath.

They burst through the treeline like a colony of green mucus. Instead of brown bark, their black armour scattered across the horizon until there were no bushes or plants, but them. "Goblins?" Ellie shrieked. "Oh, my fuck."

Turning, she scrambled up the hill. She clawed at the mud and earth, ripping roots until she threw herself up onto the path. The scene was a chaotic mess. Soldiers battled relentlessly either side of her, hacking and slicing as many goblins as possible. Horses were crying out in fright, speeding past her.

A goblin jumped onto Ellie's back. She screeched and ripped its skinny arms out, falling backwards. The goblin squealed and released her immediately. As she clambered onto her knees, her fingers wrapped around her sword. She turned and sliced it through the goblin's middle, releasing its innards into a mushy, bloody pool at her feet.

Another goblin emerged behind its collapsing body. It screamed at her, revealing a mouth of black teeth. Ellie gripped her sword and slashed it across the face, throwing its entire form sideways. Holding her side, she sprinted towards the Northern Mountains. One of the creatures barrelled into her side, knocking her off balance.

They struggled. Ellie gripped the top of its head, digging her nails into its slimy skin. Her hand shook as she pulled it back, her eyes taking in the up-close ugliness of it. A stench swam up her nose.

"You smell like shit," she spat and wrenched its body away from her, stabbing its side with her weapon. Gustav appeared as he fell into Ellie. She was winded for a moment and stared up at him furiously. "What are you doing?"

"Get up!" he grabbed her arm, wrenching her upright. She froze momentarily as a hoard of goblins took over the path and started towards them. And then she was sprinting alongside Gustav.

Just ahead, the rest of their group were fighting off the odd goblin which emerged from the woods. When they spotted the hoard, they took off. Ellie leapt over a carcass and stumbled slightly but managed to keep up with Gustav. A bright archway welcomed them into a wide clearing, half a mile from the base of the mountains.

Lounn nearly smacked into Ellie's chest. He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her into a fierce embrace. "I'm sorry!" he cried.

Ellie spluttered. "What for?"

"Behind you!" a voice called. Ellie turned and her sword met the thin dagger of a goblin. It swished and swiped at each of her blows. The rest of the pack attacked her group and soon, she was back-to-back with Lounn.

"Ellie!" he said, "I really am sorry!"

"What?" her sword tore through the throat of a goblin.

"I have to say that-" he grunted and kicked a goblin's gut. "I don't care!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean-" Lounn struggled, "-you're my friend!"

"Lounn!" Ellie said. "Now really isn't the time!"

He turned at the same time she did. Their gazes met and she saw his anguish. He apologised again, his voice strained and cracked. "I forgive you," Ellie profusely said. "I forgive you, okay? Should I be the one saying sorry?"

"No," he thrust his sword into another goblin. "Never. I trust you with my life. I will never say a word." Ellie smiled for a split moment and then growled at a creature preparing to jump onto Lounn's unprotected back. She darted towards it and shoved her blade into his chest, her face inches from it.

"As I do with you," she said breathlessly, returning to him. "My friend."

"Come on, we're not on a fucking picnic!" Tyr shouted. He was sat atop his horse, watching the chaos around him. His stead did not flinch or rear up in fear. It was trained for blood-shed and war. Or it was traumatically desensitised.

Either way, it was the only horse left.

Ellie huddled alongside the other soldiers; her sword posed. She felt almost animalist as she stared at the approaching goblins. They were filthy, stinking creatures. Neither feminine nor masculine, it was hard to resonate any similarities with human or Aesir bodies. She could only guess they crawled out of the bowls of a sewer to stain the world.

"To the mountain base!" someone cried. Ellie cast a quick glance towards it and began heading towards it, slowing backing up with her sword posed. The goblins sprinted towards them and she hacked at their onslaught with a grunt.

Lounn was superb as he fought beside her. They swiped and slashed in unison, having one another's backs as they reached the final strip of woodland. Tyr was galloping away, waving his axe gleefully. It would've been comical, except it distracted Ellie long enough for a goblin to jump onto her chest. She caught its side with her blade, and it leapt off.

Ellie stumbled. It swiped its claws at her, catching her arm. She hissed and gripped it for a moment before filling with anger and hacking her sword into its side. Wincing, she took off after the group and burst out of the treeline.

The gurgle of goblins echoed behind her. Sweat beaded her forehead and she fell into Lounn's side, breathing heavily. When she turned, ready to attack again, she found there was nothing in sight. She looked at Tyr expectedly and found he had his back to the forest and was watching them amusedly.

"Where did they go?" she asked.

Vidar frowned. "Are they even real? Or an illusion?"

Ellie pulled her slightly bloodied hand away from her arm. "One caught my arm," she muttered in Lounn's ear. "Felt fucking real,"

"They're real. I assigned them to the middle of the forest for this trial. I expected your horses to bolt and most of you to do the same. But I'm mildly surprised." He strutted past them; a thick brow raised. "Mildly. The cowards I'll see to later. You'll be safe here; able to rest tonight," he said, casting a dark look over the group. "Or shall I say: you rest tonight. I'm sleeping in the arms of a woman, I think. Yes, I think so."

Gustav stepped forwards. "What of us?"

"Takes about a day to travel back to the inner city by foot. Make it back and you'll let your balls see the Ether Celebration tomorrow night," Tyr waved his axe like a festive banner and disappeared into the forest. They could hear their cackle for several minutes and then the silence descended.

A murmur rippled over the group. Ellie turned around and looked at each of them, slightly lost. Her brief survival training kicked in and she pushed through them. Grabbing a piece of firewood and ripping some cloth from her tunic, she began clumping dead leaves and dry flowers into a pile.

"I'm fucking starving," Ajun complained. He stomped into the edge of the woods and clambered up a tree. There was a terrible squealing and a slice. He reappeared with a fat, squirrel-esque carcass.

Ellie blew the smoking pile. She stared at it and pushed an aggressive exhale of energy into it. A flame blossomed.

"Beautiful work," Ajun admired, slumping down next to her. She stared at him and inched slightly away. He stripped the creature and skewered it over the flames.

The act of settling down for the night was a slow one. It was dangerous entering the forest again as there was no way of telling where the middle was exactly. There was a ruckus of tree climbing, squirrel hunting and fire-making before small groups sat and began softly chatting between each other.

Ellie handed a strip of meat to Lounn who munched on it pleasantly.

"Well, if we are stuck with one another. Then I propose a tale!" Vidar sprung suddenly, drunk on juicy meat and adrenaline from their day. The group replied with an encouraging mutter. "A tale of what, however?" In response were a cheer of: Asgard! Yggdrasil! And Goblins!

Vidar took to his feet. "Asgard it is! Who will tell this tale of glorious conception?"

"Vidar!" someone urged.

"Vidar!" Ellie echoed, clapping her hands. "You tell the story!"

The group roared in unison and Vidar bowed his head gratefully. With a blushing nod, he headed towards the cliff face and fiddled with the firepits until they roared, illuminating his shadow against the grey rock. He practised some shapes with his fingers, earning a laugh from his audience.

Studying his ginormous shadow, a part of Ellie wished she could see a real giant, ferocious and thundering against the minute nature of Aesir. She figured that anything was possible and perhaps she would see a real giant in her new life.

Vidar began. "In the beginning was the void. Matter grew in this void. Matter formed stars. Stars formed planets and after one planet left the womb of the sun, it grew a biosphere which seethed with potential. This planet was Midgard."

Ellie stared up at him in wonder, hanging onto his words.

"Its oceans, which once bubbled, cooled and craggy rock rose above the water. It was a crackling world of life and energy. Until the energy itself became aware of its own potency!" he suddenly thrust his hands animatedly.

"Demiurge!" someone cried. Several murmured in agreement.

Vidar nodded. "The Demiurge was a sentient life-force. One of the first in the entire universe! It grew above Midgard. It was a cataclysmic face on a celestial canvas. And then…" he slowed and burst with excitement. "It exploded and showered Midgard with sparks of its own life. The inchoate soil. The primeval mud was rippling with energy.

From this energy the Elder Gods sprang from the ground like seedlings. Beings like Chton!"

Malai cheered: "Gaea." And someone nearby called out Set's name earning a cheer.

"These Gods overpowered the Earth, destroying sentient life with their own fury. All except Gaea…"

"The woman!" Malai said, full of pride.

Vidar smirked. "Gaea tenderly protected Midgard's creatures from the endless warfare. She sat atop Midgard as a guardian and summoned Demiurge to her council. She conceived a sanctuary where she could emit goodness and peace.

Until! Atum was born. The first of a new generation of Gods! His power was that of a sun; wild, burning and furious! He slew the Midgardian demons and absorbed their energy until he transformed into Demogorge the God-Eater! Only Gaea remained from his mass murder. With his task complete, he rose into the sun and exhumed wholly good power.

His nascent consciousness was absorbed by the universe's energy and thus, the new Gods were born!"

"Odin," Ajun roared, rattling two swords together. Vidar beamed, his arms raised in otherworldly pride. "Over the millennia, each pantheon of Gods forged themselves a home in the twilight dimensions! And that world is…

Ellie, enthralled with pride, raising her fist. "Asgard!"

"Asgard! The realm of grandeur and majesty, of great and noble deeds!" The group cheered as they bathed in moonlight. Their canopy continued to be a blanket of stars as they sung Norse poems and laughed until the fires expired.

References

Jarl – Norse for nobleman and warrior.

Goblins or Kofi – devilishly small creatures who are malicious and greedy.

The Story of Demiurge and Asgard - Thor Comics 1966 No. 10.