II – The New All-Father
The mighty tower of Hlidskialf overlooked the nine worlds, now quiet in the wake of Ragnarok. Within its topless walls, Lenneth the valkyrie sat uneasily in the throne of the All-Father. Lucian's gentle smile gave her a small measure of comfort. He stood at her side, where Freya had once stood before Odin.
Freya. Lenneth recalled her summons here, a seeming eternity ago. When she was given her assignment to descend to Midgard to gather Einherjar. Freya had greeted her with uncharacteristic warmth. Odin had looked calm and regal, even as he spoke of Ragnarok. Of his own death. He had already resigned himself to his fate, much like Lenneth had in that uncomplicated time. She had never expected her return to Valhalla to be under these circumstances, her Einherjar gathered before her, still lauding her victory over Loki.
Loki. If not for her own memories of the battle, and for the marks of her sword upon his fallen form, she never would have believed her Einherjar when they gathered around her and told her she had won. When Lucian appeared before her and embraced her, filling her with feelings of love and hope that she had never known as a death goddess. It was truly a miracle. She had harnessed powers greater than any she'd ever dreamed to possess. Powers that no mere valkyrie rightfully should.
Lenneth was a mere valkyrie no longer. She had taken the place of the All-Father, and the duty now fell to her to create a new order in Asgard. Now it was her hope that she and the new gods gathered before her would have the strength to rule the nine worlds as those before her had, and to show them benevolence and justice that they had not.
She did not grieve for the lost gods. They had used her as a pawn and ordered her destruction when she began to discover the vestiges of free will hidden deep within her. But she understood why they had done so, for she had indeed rebelled as they had feared. And a part of her was consumed with pity that they had not been able to escape the doom of Ragnarok as she had. Odin. Freya. Frei. She would miss them, for they were truly more kind to her than her human family. She had considered Odin her father, and the siblings had treated her with more affection than they ever expressed for each other. But for some reason she did not feel their loss with any pain near what she had experienced when she learned that Lucian had been slain by Loki.
As far as Lenneth knew, she and her Einherjar were now the only remaining souls in Asgard now that the prophesied doom of the gods had come to pass. She had sent those who had accompanied her in battle to look for any survivors of Ragnarok, but they had found nothing in the wastes of the Vigrid plain. The responsibility of restoring order to the chaos of the nine now-godless world now fell to her, and she felt its weight upon her. A fleeting thought shot through the back of her mind like a comet---to take human form again and return to Midgard with Lucian. But she knew that could never be. It was now her duty to rule as the All-Mother.
She looked upon her Einherjar, now the new gods of Asgard. They were a diverse lot, gathered from all parts of the world. Some were not even human. She had chosen them as heroes, and they had all suffered for her and for Odin. But there seemed to be so very few of them compared to the number of gods before. At least they looked to be in good spirits. She wondered if it was for her sake.
Near the front of the crowd of Einherjar, Yumei whispered to Aelia, who stood near, "Lady Valkyrie looks upset. Do you think we ought to try to cheer her up?" The young mermaid's eyes were full of concern for the valkyrie. She remembered her mother, how sad she had been and how important it was to always be well-behaved and cheerful, so as not to make her any sadder. Now she looked at Lady Valkyrie as her mother. But she wondered if she could really bring the All-Mother any comfort, even though she'd always managed somehow to make her own mother smile.
"Yeah, Lucian isn't doing his job," Aelia snorted derisively at the young swordsman, Lenneth's consort. She didn't pretend to understand what the valkyrie saw in him. He couldn't possibly understand what she was going through. How could he be of any use to her at all? Aelia had long held the opinion that all a woman needs is herself, and occasionally a large weapon.
"Maybe I should give it a try."
Aelia turned to see one of the few men she'd ever called a friend smirking behind her. "Very funny, Kashell." She gave him her most practiced glare.
He'd only been half-serious. Kashell understood why Lucian had fallen for her, of course. He himself had always been partial to a woman who was good with a sword. He'd known some amazing ones in his time, most of whom were here now with him. But one wasn't. Maybe never would be. He tried not to think about it too much. It was better to keep his spirits up and make the best of present company. He knew Aelia wasn't interested in him, but he did enjoy ruffling her feathers. "I suppose you could do better?"
"Maybe I could!" she snapped back at him.
For all his jesting, Kashell had a sneaking suspicion that Aelia might empathize with him more than he was comfortable with.
From the back of the crowd, Badrach pushed his way through the press of his fellow Einherjar. He 'accidentally' brushed his hands against some of the women, ducking out of the way before they could respond. "Where's the babes?" he shouted over the noise of everyone else's conversations. "I heard that Valhalla was full of hot chicks with big titties and more booze than you can drink in an eternity!"
"Shut up, Badrach!" Jayle shouted back at the brigand, who she and many others considered to be the epitome of repugnance. He made sure to pinch her on the rear as he slipped by her. When she spun around to seek the offender she saw only Lawfer, who blinked innocently and cringed back from her, thoroughly confused.
Badrach had insinuated himself between Belenus and Llewellyn, an arm around each in a gesture of constrained camaraderie. "I say we all get shit-faced! Who's with me?"
Llewellyn looked as if he wanted to flee. Belenus merely shook his head disparagingly, wishing that the valkyrie had been more selective in her choice of minions.
"Man, you guys should really loosen up. You're almost as uptight as Lady Valkyrie!" Badrach shouted, breaking away from the two killjoys. "We won! We should be partying! Where's the beer?" He leered at back at Jayle. "I bet you'd make a cute serving wench."
Jayle's hand twitched near the hilt of her sword.
"Listen well, my noble Einherjar." Lenneth stood suddenly, raising a hand to command the attention of the boisterous crowd. She paused until they were satisfactorily silent. "We are all the gods that are left in Asgard. By fighting beside me you have each earned your place here. I thank you all." Her eyes drifted across the faces of her chosen warriors. She had come to see then now as her allies and friends. Her thoughts turned to Arngrim and Mystina in particular, who had gone far above and beyond the call of duty in order to save her.
Arngrim stood well over those around him, and the hilt of his sword behind his shoulder stood higher still. He was not an easy man to miss. But Mystina she did not see. She decided to inquire about her whereabouts later. Perhaps one of the other Einherjar would know where she had gone. She wished to thank them both personally, for if not for them she would not be standing now before the throne of the All-Father. Odin and Freya had deemed the two of them unacceptable, unworthy of fighting alongside the old gods of Asgard, but no one would deny them their rightful place in Valhalla now. But this was a matter for another time. For now she had more pressing concerns.
"But we must not forget that we now hold the stewardship of the nine worlds," Lenneth continued. "And it now falls to us to carry out the responsibilities of those who came before. First I must call on one of you to care for the apple tree of Iduna. If it is allowed to wither and die, so shall we, for its fruit sustains the eternal youth of the gods."
A torrent of low muttering filled the chamber. None of the Einherjar seemed particularly enthused at the prospect of spending eternity caring for a tree, and some had visibly cringed at the first mention of responsibility. Lenneth quickly felt herself growing despondent. She supposed it took a special kind of patience for that kind of care, and she had not chosen her warriors for their patience. Perhaps they were all unfit for the tasks that lay ahead.
Slowly, Nanami, the young Hai Lan shrine maiden, made her way to the front of the crowd. She walked slowly in small steps, her eyes never leaving the floor as she bowed deeply before her. "Honorable valkyrie, I will do my best to care for the tree if you would deem me worthy of this task." Her voice was meek, and so very young.
Lenneth looked on the shrine maiden. Freya had informed her that when she'd sent her to Valhalla, Nanami had taken to cleaning the great hall. She smiled. Nanami was almost too perfect for the job. "Rise, Nanami. I could think of none better than you to entrust with the tree. I know that Iduna would approve of you."
Nanami let her eyes stray upward for a brief, shy moment. There was a look of genuine gratitude there. Valkyrie found herself wishing that Nanami would find happiness and purpose in her life, instead of the sorrow that her human life had been filled with. She had taken her adopted sister's place as a priestess training, and ultimately sacrificed herself for her sake. What happiness had it brought her? Did she need to serve others in order to have any kind of self-worth?
In many ways she admired Nanami's strength. At least she had seemed content with that life. Lenneth herself had once only been judged by how well she had served others, and fated to sacrifice herself for the sake of those she served. She could not understand how anyone could truly be happy in that situation.
Lenneth broke away from her thoughts and returned her focus to the next issue. "Now we must think of Alfheim, the realm of the guardians of the world tree, once ruled by Frei."
"Didn't you say that a land full of those cute elves would be paradise, Aelia?" Kashell playfully nudged her ribs with an elbow.
"Shut up, Kashell!" Her face was flushed as she snapped at him. Kashell suspected she might have been using her dragon charm too often of late, as she appeared to have grown fangs.
"Sounds like it to me!" shouted Badrach. "Let me at 'em!"
"Badrach, if you open your smarmy mouth one more time I'm going to shove my spear right up your--!"
"Would you accept, Aelia?"
"Huh?" Aelia ceased her impending assault and turned at the sound of Lenneth's voice. Her face was flushed, but she quickly regained her composure. "Uh . . . yeah. Yes, I would. Heh. Somebody has to protect them from perverts like him. Girls have to stick together, after all."
"But who's going to protect them from perverts like you?"
Aelia punched Kashell in the stomach so hard that he doubled over, gasping for breath. He looked as if he was actually about to cry.
"You've gotten so soft since our last duel that a girl can whip you, Kashell?"
Everyone turned as the great doors of behind them swung opened. In stepped a tall, raven-haired man familiar to the valkyrie and any Einherjar that she had sent to Asgard.
"Vidar?" Kashell could barely believe his eyes. It was the god that had challenged him to a friendly duel and bested him. At the time he had acted like it was nothing, but he still bore some of the bruises.
"You. You're alive!" Lenneth knew Vidar as the son of Odin, and the god of revenge. He was said to be the second strongest of all the gods. She wondered ominously what the significance of his survival might be. The press of Einherjar parted before him, and the steps of his iron-shod boots echoed loudly against the strained silence as he strode towards her.
"Are you disappointed? I never thought I'd see a valkyrie claim the throne of the All-Father. Perhaps you would have liked to take all of our places."
"Show some respect!" Lucian growled at Vidar. "Don't talk to her that way!"
So the god of revenge suspected her of betraying his father. Lenneth knew that somehow she must convince him otherwise, or else. "Vidar, that was never my intent. I did not plan for this to happen. You must believe me. It was Loki who killed Odin, not I. I avenged his death. My only wish now is for the nine worlds to be at peace."
"If you hadn't killed him, I would have. Make no mistake about that. But I suppose I can forgive you for stealing my kill." He looked at her intensely, and she realized that he was sizing her up. "However, you'll have to prove to me that you are worthy of taking my father's place. I propose a duel. If you truly are the All-Father, you should have no problem beating me."
That solution was so very Vidar. He loved to duel, as Kashell could attest. Lenneth wondered but for a moment how he would react if she refused him. She knew her fellow gods well enough to know that they respected only power. He would only think her weak, and that would be his confirmation that she was unworthy of Odin's place. Perhaps all of her Einherjar would think so as well. When it came down to it, godhood was merely a matter of power. She shivered, suddenly finding herself thinking back to Lezard and his mad ambitions.
Would it even matter if she was defeated here? Vidar was one of Odin's strongest sons. He might be better suited to the throne than she, by the laws of patriarchy. But wasn't her presence here proof that it was time for a new order?
Lenneth rose to her feet and drew the demon sword, Leventine, the most powerful artifact sword in the nine worlds, the sword that had slain gods. She looked at Vidar past the leveled point of the blade, upon which Loki had died. "I accept your challenge, Vidar. But I will only fight till first blood. I've had enough of killing. There are too few of us remaining. We shouldn't be fighting each other." Somehow she knew that her sentiments would be lost on him.
Vidar drew his own sword and moved into a fighting stance. He was stronger than she was, she was sure of it. He watched her silently, poised to react to whatever move she might make. Eyes full of unnerving patience, like a serpent ready to strike.
Lenneth had seen what happened to others who suffered that look, but she was not some small animal to be caught by the serpent. She lunged at him with as much determination as she'd ever had in battle.
As the clash of their swords rang in her ears she realized that she felt more like her old self. When she had ridden over battlefields amidst the warriors, a swirling chaos of blood and metal. That was the true domain of a valkyrie, not sitting idle on a throne.
Their swords met again and again. She should have been drained from her battle with Loki, but she felt somehow revitalized. She felt like she could take on an entire army of the strongest swordsmen even after she was through with Vidar. On the periphery of her vision she saw the Einherjar cheering for her, but she heard nothing but the clash of blades and the pounding of her own heart.
With a powerful swing she knocked Vidar's blade away. A second drew a long red line on his cheek.
Lenneth let her sword fall to the floor as she realized that she had won, and how. She hadn't meant to harm him so. It would have been enough to disarm him. He would have yielded. But she had been carried away with the spirit of battle.
She looked at Vidar and saw that he looked back at her now with fear in his eyes, but only for a moment. He quickly regained his composure. He drew himself up, sheathed his unbloodied sword, and raised his hand to his face to trace his wound with a finger. He stared at the blood that came away on his hand for a long moment, seeming almost bemused. After a long moment, he turned to her and bowed deeply. "You are the rightful victor, and the rightful All-Father. I, Vidar, son of Odin, pledge to serve you as I served my father."
"Rise, Vidar. You don't need to bow before me. I am thankful that you are still with us. I had ordered my Einherjar to search for survivors, but they found no one."
"I was on the Vigrid plains."
She looked past Vidar, scowling pointedly. "Badrach, that's where I told you to look for survivors."
"Eh heh heh. Woops. I guess I was a little hasty."
Lenneth sighed and turned her attention back to Vidar. "Do you know if there is anyone else left?"
"My brother Vali, Odin's brother Honir, Thor's sons Modi and Magni."
"That . . . that is all?"
Vidar nodded solemly.
"I will inform them of what has happened, so that they won't misunderstand your presence here. If I may have your leave, my lady?"
"As you wish."
He waved his farewell to her as he turned to leave, and somehow that nonchalant gesture dispelled the tension between them. As he passed through the crowd of Einherjar he caught Kashell by the arm. He smiled at him. "I believe you owe me another duel. I'll be expecting you in my hall, Vidi. It's usually entirely too peaceful and quiet there for my liking. Feel free to drop by some time if you don't want that ridiculously huge sword of yours to get rusty."
"I'm sure Kashell would never pass up the chance to play with his sword. I bet he can't wait to whip it out for you. But I do think you're too easily impressed if you think it's really all that big. Arngrim over there knows what it really means to overcompensate."
"Aelia!" Kashell hissed at her, looking quite mortified. Aelia gave a satisfied chuckle. Vidar merely raised an eyebrow for a moment before shaking his head and continuing on to the exit.
Lenneth looked at the blood on her sword, the blood of one of her fellow Aesir who she had once served. Was she still one of them? Would they think she was still one of them? She felt slightly euphoric in the aftermath of battle frenzy. It was the valkyrie in her, not the All-Father, that had won that battle.
She almost wished she would never have to face that side of herself again. It seemed very ironic now that a minor death goddess was the one to survive her fellow Aesir. Should she have been more eager to follow them to Niflheim? The thought of the gods she served lying in rest there reminded her that she still had things to accomplish here. It was her duty to rule in their place, and she had to choose one to rule over the souls of the departed.
She called for the attention of her minions, who had fallen to talking amongst themselves. "Now I am afraid I must appoint one of you to rule over Niflheim. The ruler of the netherworld has complete control over the domain and all the souls that dwell there, be they man or god. But you must remain there. To take this role is a sentence of self-exile."
If the room had quieted at Valkyrie's call to attention, it was now utter silence. It was understandable that no human would choose to spend their eternity in Niflheim, despite the enormous power the position carried. That's the fate that most spent their lives avoiding.
It was Lorenta's voice that broke the silence, strong and clear. "I will go."
"Lorenta . . ." Lenneth looked with astonishment on the aging sorceress, who still looked as prim and proper as when she had been a university professor in life. Many of the younger sorceresses looked up to her as a mentor. The only exception was Mystina, who seemed to harbor some deep antipathy towards her.
Lorenta met her gaze, her face set as a stone mask. But her eyes betrayed a sudden upwelling of pain and longing. "I . . . haven't seen my husband in so long." Her usually stern voice was uncharacteristically soft.
Lenneth looked away from Lorenta, unable to face the pain in her eyes. She remembered the man who had been sacrificed alongside her by the mad necromancer. He was the victim of foul arts, and not a warrior spirit worthy of being chosen to become an Einherjar. But in Lorenta she had seen great strength of spirit. She would make a good ruler.
Lezard had chosen the two of them because they had experienced a bond that no young couple could share. She hadn't pondered it at the time, distracted with her duties. He had seemed just a mad dabbler of no consequence at the time. And a lifetime of human emotion seemed but a fleeting, trifling thing to her. But perhaps she couldn't understand it because she'd never felt it herself. She looked at Lucian. Could she truly say she loved him? Could such a bond grow between a man and a goddess? She hadn't thought so once. Perhaps the maniac knew more than she'd realized. It was best to put such thoughts out of her head. Truths about the nature of love couldn't possibly come from the mouth of a madman.
"Very well, Lorenta," said Lenneth. "I shall send you--"
Yumei jumped up above the crowd, waving her arms. "Excuse me, Lady Valkyrie! Lady Valkyrie! I'd like to go too!"
"But Yumei. . . why?" Lenneth found herself at a loss for words in her surprise. The gray realm of the dead seemed no place for such a girl as she.
Yumei shoved her way through the crowd and dashed towards her. "I beg you, Lady Valkyrie. You promised me I'd get to see my parents again."
Lenneth bowed her head. "So be it. I shall send the two of you--"
"The girl is not the only one who has loved ones trapped in Niflheim." This time it was the rough, stoic voice of Grey that carried over the crowd. "I never felt I was worthy to be here. Let me carry out my fate among the damned."
Of all the Einherjar she'd chosen, Lenneth suspected that he resented her most of all for forcing him to continue his existence. Once during his lifetime one of his companions had given her soul to save him in the ritual of soul transfer, and Grey had never forgiven himself for it. For him the gift of life meant nothing but sorrow.
"If that is truly your wish."
"It is." His voice was devoid of emotion of any kind. As barren as the steel that covered his face.
"Then so be it. Then the three of you will descend to Niflheim."
A sudden keening moan startled them all. The Einherjar parted in a circle around Lyseria, who seemed to be in the throes of some sort of fit. She had fallen to her knees, her white, shaking hands tearing at her hair, which covered her face like a veil.
Lenneth approached her slowly, for fear of startling her. When Lyseria raised her face towards her, she saw that her eyes were wild, and her lips trembled. She looked as if she couldn't say anything for fear of bursting into tears or screams. She began to try to crawl unsteadily towards her. Jun, who was closest, tried to help her to her feet. She was as limp in his arms as a rag doll.
"A vision. A vision for you, Lady Valkyrie." Lyseria's voice was frantic and erratic. Her eyes were now squeezed shut. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead. Stringy, disheveled strands of hair stuck to her face. She clung onto Jun's arm with what little strength she had as he led her towards the All-Mother.
Jun could not help but remember his blind sister, Ai. He had been accustomed to leading his sister in such a manner after she had lost her eyes. Now he led a sorceress gifted and cursed with sight beyond sight. Was this kind of sight a more torturous curse than having none at all? He wondered if his sister would pine so much for her vision if it brought her pain, for surely this woman would not grieve if her sight was stripped from her.
Lucian rushed to help Jun with Lyseria. He gave her his arm to help her support herself, concern filling his eyes while he whispered some reassuring words to her. But the tortured prophetess seemed to take no notice of him. Her eyes were fixed on some distant point. Her mind and her eyes were elsewhere.
Lyseria lurched away from Lucian and Jun when Lenneth approached. She fell upon the All-Mother, her hands clawing at her pauldrons. Lenneth put her hands on Lyseria's shoulders, half a supporting gesture and half to keep her at a distance. Lyseria's face was unnervingly close to hers, and she saw her eyes swiveling frantically in their sockets. Lyseria leaned heavily upon her, craning her neck to speak in Lenneth's ear.
"He will come again." Her voice was quavering. Her breath came in short, hot gasps.
Lenneth was almost afraid to meet Lyseria's fevered eyes. "Who?" She spoke more sharply than she intended.
Lyseria drew several breaths before she spoke again. "God of mercy, slain by the blind. He will come again."
"She must be speaking of . . . Balder."
"He will come, and bring a golden age of peace and love. After twilight, beyond the darkness . . .comes the dawn."
Lenneth waited for Lyseria to continue, but she said nothing more. She simply closed her eyes and pushed away from her. She would have fallen, but Lucian caught her.
"If this is what a pleasant vision does to her, I'd hate to see what the bad ones are like," said Lucian as he handed her over to Jun.
Lenneth found her own voice unsteady when she spoke. "Einherjar, I would ask now that you leave me to ponder the meaning of Lyseria's prophecy. You may now commence with the celebration of our victory that you've been waiting for. You deserve your fun."
Lenneth fell back into her throne and watched her chosen warriors file out of the great doors until the hall was empty save for herself and Lucian, who had chosen to remain at her side.
"You're not going with them?"
He smiled at her sweetly. So very sweetly. "My place is here beside you."
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him. When she finally drew away from him, she gave him a long look and sighed. "Thank you."
He seemed to notice her mood and looked at her quizzically. "You're bothered by Lyseria?"
"I don't think she told me everything. She might not even have understood what she saw. Balder's return is a good omen, but . . ."
"She did seem awfully disturbed."
"I don't know what Balder's return might mean. When he was alive, he never had much power, but he was well-loved by men and the gods. I think in some way, every one of us admired him. Everyone grieved so much when he died . . . except for one, but that's a long story."
"You mean the brother that killed him?"
"No, not him. Hodor was tricked. He never forgave himself for Balder's death."
"Yeah. I don't see how anyone, man or god, could draw their sword against their own brother."
"Well, actually it was a sprig of holly."
"What?"
"I said it was a long story. . . . But it doesn't matter now. He will rise from Niflheim like everyone wanted, and he'll bring forth a new age of peace and happiness."
"Why do you look so upset?"
"Because . . . if that is his fate . . . then what am I here for?"
"Don't talk like that," Lucian whispered gently as he clasped a reassuring hand over hers. " I'm no expert, but I'd say you did pretty well on your first day on the job."
Lenneth smiled, and was almost able to bring herself to laugh. Somehow Lucian made her forget everything that was troubling her, even though he was a set of troubles all his own. What would the other gods think of her, relying on a human consort?
"Don't worry, Platina. I'll stand by you no matter what."
"That's a charming sentiment."
"I would have killed Vidar today rather than let him hurt you."
"Vidar would have killed you. Your chivalric intentions won't kill any gods who challenge me."
"You're not afraid that someone else might, are you?"
"I don't know, Lucian. I don't know." She knew that the prophecy of Balder's return should have comforted her, but what place was there for a former death goddess in a new age of peace and love? She did not fear rebellion, especially from one so gentle as Balder. It was possible he might not come until long after she'd lost the throne of the All-Father. But she could not stop fight against the human feelings of uncertainty that tore at her. She had lived through the twilight of the gods, but would she live to witness the dawn?
~ to be continued
Les Bla-Blas d' Auteur
And now for the inane prattle that no one actually reads. My take on the post-Ragnarok universe leans a bit more towards the original mythology than is necessarily implied by the game itself, so just consider it AU if you want to.