So sorry for having taken so long to get this next chapter written. I hope
that this new instalment makes up for the long delay.
20. THE EVE OF BATTLE.
"So everything that we have heard is correct," said King Eitri thoughtfully, standing opposite the old one-eyed man in his private chamber. "Loki has indeed launched his assault upon Asgard with the aid of the other young Midgarders, the ones as yet unaccounted for."
"It is even so," said the old man. "And with their aid, he hopes to conquer the Aesir, especially now that Thor and his hammer are gone. And it is entirely possible that he may succeed."
"And once Asgard falls, the rest of the nine worlds will be certain to follow," said Eitri. "Including Nidavellir."
"So you understand the importance of thwarting him," said the old man. "We must have all the help that we can find, and recalling Thor from Midgard is out of the question until he has fully learned his lesson. But that does not mean that there are not others from the human world who may be of assistance."
"The friends of those whom Loki has bound to his service," said the dwarf- king. "But can they be enough, do you think, All-Father?"
"I do not know for certain," said Odin. "But what little I was able to glean from Mimir's head and from the Volva suggests that they are the answer. Certainly I can think of no better allies. They, at least, have every incentive to rescue their companions from the trickster, so it will not be difficult to gain their aid. And I understand that they have abilities of their own, such as I have seldom seen before among the descendants of Ask and Embla. Midgard has indeed changed much over the centuries."
"Most of them are little more than children," said King Eitri.
"That is true," Odin replied. "But their gifts still make them formidable warriors. And with Thor in exile, Asgard will need all the help that it can find."
"So you intend to press them into service, somehow, All-Father?" Eitri inquired. "I mean - you decreed yourself that Midgard was now outside your jurisdiction and that of the other Aesir. You do not intend to revoke your word, do you?"
"No," said Odin. "But the circumstances here are unusual. These Midgarders are now in lands where my sway still holds. And, even more importantly, their cause is the same as mine. They have as much reason for wishing to foil Loki's assault upon Asgard as do I, if for different reasons. And I would not call them followers of the same sort as are the einherjar in Valhalla, either. Rather I would call them allies."
"And what of my own folk?" King Eitri inquired. "Do we have a place as well in this coming war?"
"I believe so," said Odin. "We will need the help of all who do not wish to see Loki and his supporters conquering the nine worlds - and I know that you no more wish such an event than do I. The dwarf-folk of Nidavellir are stout warriors when they must assume such a role, and even greater armorers. I still do not forget how you crafted Mjolnir, or how the sons of Ivaldi made my own spear Gungnir. Yes, you indeed have a place."
"So when do you intend to speak with the young Midgarders?" King Eitri asked.
"Very soon," said Odin. "But not yet. I need to wait a while longer, and make certain of them."
* * *
"Where's Rahne gone?" Kitty asked.
"Back outside, to talk to Hrimhari," said Sam.
"Who's Hrimhari?" Kurt asked.
"A wolf that she made friends with," said Sam. "That's still the part that I'm having difficulty understanding myself, so please don't saddle me with a lot of questions about it."
"Rahne made friends with a wolf?" asked Scott. "When did this happen?"
"While we were split up," said Sam. "Jamie and I were here, and Amara was - well, not quite herself."
"I just hope that she doesn't plan on bringing that animal home with her," said Scott. "We've got enough shedding problems around the mansion as it is. Sorry," he added quickly, as both Kurt and Beast looked at him with hurt expressions upon their faces.
"I don't think that she's planning on it," said Sam. "I get the feeling that she sees him as a friend rather than a pet."
"So, like, what are they talking about?" asked Kitty.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Sam replied.
* * *
*So, is anything bothering you?* Rahne asked Hrimhari. *You've seemed - kind of upset about something.*
*I have good reason to be troubled,* Hrimhari replied. *I fear that I can never go home now.*
*Why?* she asked.
*I fought against my grandmother,* he said. *It was to protect you and your friends, but still, I fought against her. She will not forget it. And I fear that she will respond by declaring me forever banished from the Iron Forest.*
*She wouldn't do that, would she?* Rahne protested.
*I fear that she would. She is the head of my pack, and her decrees form our law. If she calls me an exile, then that is what I must be, and none of my brothers or sisters may gainsay it. To be a lone wolf is a terrible thing.*
*What can you do about it?* Rahne asked.
*Nothing, I fear,* he answered. *Not one of us dares stand up against her. She is too strong for us. The only thing that I can do is to leave the Iron Forest, and find a new home.*
*You could come with us,* offered Rahne. *I mean, once we're able to go home.*
He shook his head. *Your offer is generous, but I cannot accept it. I have gathered already from you that Midgard has changed much since the days when Odin and his folk still freely visited it. Everything would be foreign to me. And I have no doubt that the two-legs there would fear me greatly. No, your world is no place for me.*
*Yes, I suppose that you're right about that,* said Rahne. *It's certainly a difficult place for wolves in general. People are only starting to learn better about them now. And I'm not sure that the Institute is the best place for you, either. You might be a little too conspicuous there. We've had trouble enough just keeping Kurt and Mr. McCoy a secret from everyone else. But if you can't come with us and you can't go back to the Iron Forest, where can you go?*
*I do not know,* said Hrimhari. *Would that I did.* He sank his head in silence, a troubled look in his eyes.
Rahne tried to think of something comforting to say. Before she could come up with anything, however, a voice called out her name behind her. She turned around, shifting back into human form as she did so. "Yes? What is it, Jamie?"
"The others sent me to find you," said Jamie. "Scott says that you're wanted in the great hall. We're having a meeting."
"All right," said Rahne. "I'm coming." She turned back to Hrimhari. "I'll be back again shortly," she said to him.
He nodded his great head in silence, and then lay down to wait as she followed Jamie back to the dwarves' great hall.
* * *
King Eitri and the old one-eyed wanderer had re-entered the hall by the time that Rahne and Jamie joined the rest of the X-Men. Eitri had seated himself upon his throne, while the old man stood by his side.
"I have been discussing the matter with Vegtam the Wanderer," said the dwarf-king, "and he believes that he can lead you to Loki and the friends of yours that he has deceived into assisting his cause."
"He can?" asked Sam. "That's great! So when do we leave?"
"Shortly," said King Eitri. "We still have to finish making the preparations for our departure."
"And how long is that going to take?" asked Scott. "I mean, we can't just stand around here waiting for the rest of you to pack. We have friends to rescue."
"We know that," said King Eitri. "And we will do whatever we can to help you. But we can do them little good if we do rush off recklessly."
"He has a point," commented Beast. "As Napoleon once said, 'An army marches on its stomach.'"
"Just once I'd like to go on a mission where Hank doesn't act like a walking Bartlett's," muttered Wolverine.
"But do you know how to locate Loki?" Storm asked Vegtam.
"Indeed I do," he replied. "I am - shall we say, all too familiar with that trickster and his methods. And I know much about his destination of Asgard."
"I'd still like to know how long it's going to be before we can leave," said Scott.
"A couple more hours, I believe," said King Eitri. "My people have already been in a state of war-readiness since we first learned about the dark elves close at hand. The only thing that they were not expecting was that the war would take them to Asgard. Once we have gathered our provisions, we shall depart."
"I still say that we can't wait that long," Scott argued.
"You do not have to," said Vegtam thoughtfully. "After all, do all of these Midgarders have to depart with your dwarf-host, King Eitri?" he inquired, turning to the dwarf-king.
"It does not appear to be necessary," said King Eitri. "Two waves of reinforcements would certainly seem to be sound strategy."
"I believe that you know how to reach Asgard without my assistance," said Vegtam. "So I will lead the Midgarders there myself. I hope that we will not arrive too late."
"And just how do you know the way to Asgard, bub?" asked Logan. He glanced at the old man with a decidedly suspicious look in his eyes.
"I have my ways," said Vegtam. "But this is no time long-winded explanations. It is time for us to leave now."
"Then let us do just that," said Storm.
The X-Men followed Vegtam from the hall.
20. THE EVE OF BATTLE.
"So everything that we have heard is correct," said King Eitri thoughtfully, standing opposite the old one-eyed man in his private chamber. "Loki has indeed launched his assault upon Asgard with the aid of the other young Midgarders, the ones as yet unaccounted for."
"It is even so," said the old man. "And with their aid, he hopes to conquer the Aesir, especially now that Thor and his hammer are gone. And it is entirely possible that he may succeed."
"And once Asgard falls, the rest of the nine worlds will be certain to follow," said Eitri. "Including Nidavellir."
"So you understand the importance of thwarting him," said the old man. "We must have all the help that we can find, and recalling Thor from Midgard is out of the question until he has fully learned his lesson. But that does not mean that there are not others from the human world who may be of assistance."
"The friends of those whom Loki has bound to his service," said the dwarf- king. "But can they be enough, do you think, All-Father?"
"I do not know for certain," said Odin. "But what little I was able to glean from Mimir's head and from the Volva suggests that they are the answer. Certainly I can think of no better allies. They, at least, have every incentive to rescue their companions from the trickster, so it will not be difficult to gain their aid. And I understand that they have abilities of their own, such as I have seldom seen before among the descendants of Ask and Embla. Midgard has indeed changed much over the centuries."
"Most of them are little more than children," said King Eitri.
"That is true," Odin replied. "But their gifts still make them formidable warriors. And with Thor in exile, Asgard will need all the help that it can find."
"So you intend to press them into service, somehow, All-Father?" Eitri inquired. "I mean - you decreed yourself that Midgard was now outside your jurisdiction and that of the other Aesir. You do not intend to revoke your word, do you?"
"No," said Odin. "But the circumstances here are unusual. These Midgarders are now in lands where my sway still holds. And, even more importantly, their cause is the same as mine. They have as much reason for wishing to foil Loki's assault upon Asgard as do I, if for different reasons. And I would not call them followers of the same sort as are the einherjar in Valhalla, either. Rather I would call them allies."
"And what of my own folk?" King Eitri inquired. "Do we have a place as well in this coming war?"
"I believe so," said Odin. "We will need the help of all who do not wish to see Loki and his supporters conquering the nine worlds - and I know that you no more wish such an event than do I. The dwarf-folk of Nidavellir are stout warriors when they must assume such a role, and even greater armorers. I still do not forget how you crafted Mjolnir, or how the sons of Ivaldi made my own spear Gungnir. Yes, you indeed have a place."
"So when do you intend to speak with the young Midgarders?" King Eitri asked.
"Very soon," said Odin. "But not yet. I need to wait a while longer, and make certain of them."
* * *
"Where's Rahne gone?" Kitty asked.
"Back outside, to talk to Hrimhari," said Sam.
"Who's Hrimhari?" Kurt asked.
"A wolf that she made friends with," said Sam. "That's still the part that I'm having difficulty understanding myself, so please don't saddle me with a lot of questions about it."
"Rahne made friends with a wolf?" asked Scott. "When did this happen?"
"While we were split up," said Sam. "Jamie and I were here, and Amara was - well, not quite herself."
"I just hope that she doesn't plan on bringing that animal home with her," said Scott. "We've got enough shedding problems around the mansion as it is. Sorry," he added quickly, as both Kurt and Beast looked at him with hurt expressions upon their faces.
"I don't think that she's planning on it," said Sam. "I get the feeling that she sees him as a friend rather than a pet."
"So, like, what are they talking about?" asked Kitty.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Sam replied.
* * *
*So, is anything bothering you?* Rahne asked Hrimhari. *You've seemed - kind of upset about something.*
*I have good reason to be troubled,* Hrimhari replied. *I fear that I can never go home now.*
*Why?* she asked.
*I fought against my grandmother,* he said. *It was to protect you and your friends, but still, I fought against her. She will not forget it. And I fear that she will respond by declaring me forever banished from the Iron Forest.*
*She wouldn't do that, would she?* Rahne protested.
*I fear that she would. She is the head of my pack, and her decrees form our law. If she calls me an exile, then that is what I must be, and none of my brothers or sisters may gainsay it. To be a lone wolf is a terrible thing.*
*What can you do about it?* Rahne asked.
*Nothing, I fear,* he answered. *Not one of us dares stand up against her. She is too strong for us. The only thing that I can do is to leave the Iron Forest, and find a new home.*
*You could come with us,* offered Rahne. *I mean, once we're able to go home.*
He shook his head. *Your offer is generous, but I cannot accept it. I have gathered already from you that Midgard has changed much since the days when Odin and his folk still freely visited it. Everything would be foreign to me. And I have no doubt that the two-legs there would fear me greatly. No, your world is no place for me.*
*Yes, I suppose that you're right about that,* said Rahne. *It's certainly a difficult place for wolves in general. People are only starting to learn better about them now. And I'm not sure that the Institute is the best place for you, either. You might be a little too conspicuous there. We've had trouble enough just keeping Kurt and Mr. McCoy a secret from everyone else. But if you can't come with us and you can't go back to the Iron Forest, where can you go?*
*I do not know,* said Hrimhari. *Would that I did.* He sank his head in silence, a troubled look in his eyes.
Rahne tried to think of something comforting to say. Before she could come up with anything, however, a voice called out her name behind her. She turned around, shifting back into human form as she did so. "Yes? What is it, Jamie?"
"The others sent me to find you," said Jamie. "Scott says that you're wanted in the great hall. We're having a meeting."
"All right," said Rahne. "I'm coming." She turned back to Hrimhari. "I'll be back again shortly," she said to him.
He nodded his great head in silence, and then lay down to wait as she followed Jamie back to the dwarves' great hall.
* * *
King Eitri and the old one-eyed wanderer had re-entered the hall by the time that Rahne and Jamie joined the rest of the X-Men. Eitri had seated himself upon his throne, while the old man stood by his side.
"I have been discussing the matter with Vegtam the Wanderer," said the dwarf-king, "and he believes that he can lead you to Loki and the friends of yours that he has deceived into assisting his cause."
"He can?" asked Sam. "That's great! So when do we leave?"
"Shortly," said King Eitri. "We still have to finish making the preparations for our departure."
"And how long is that going to take?" asked Scott. "I mean, we can't just stand around here waiting for the rest of you to pack. We have friends to rescue."
"We know that," said King Eitri. "And we will do whatever we can to help you. But we can do them little good if we do rush off recklessly."
"He has a point," commented Beast. "As Napoleon once said, 'An army marches on its stomach.'"
"Just once I'd like to go on a mission where Hank doesn't act like a walking Bartlett's," muttered Wolverine.
"But do you know how to locate Loki?" Storm asked Vegtam.
"Indeed I do," he replied. "I am - shall we say, all too familiar with that trickster and his methods. And I know much about his destination of Asgard."
"I'd still like to know how long it's going to be before we can leave," said Scott.
"A couple more hours, I believe," said King Eitri. "My people have already been in a state of war-readiness since we first learned about the dark elves close at hand. The only thing that they were not expecting was that the war would take them to Asgard. Once we have gathered our provisions, we shall depart."
"I still say that we can't wait that long," Scott argued.
"You do not have to," said Vegtam thoughtfully. "After all, do all of these Midgarders have to depart with your dwarf-host, King Eitri?" he inquired, turning to the dwarf-king.
"It does not appear to be necessary," said King Eitri. "Two waves of reinforcements would certainly seem to be sound strategy."
"I believe that you know how to reach Asgard without my assistance," said Vegtam. "So I will lead the Midgarders there myself. I hope that we will not arrive too late."
"And just how do you know the way to Asgard, bub?" asked Logan. He glanced at the old man with a decidedly suspicious look in his eyes.
"I have my ways," said Vegtam. "But this is no time long-winded explanations. It is time for us to leave now."
"Then let us do just that," said Storm.
The X-Men followed Vegtam from the hall.