Chapter 2
2574
European Union
Denmark
State Museum of History
Mist leaned against the railing and stared off down below. In her mind's eye, she could still see the village. It's homes alive and full of activity, skins stretching on a rack, woman preparing a meal, children running around playing.
Yet that was in the past and those children had been dead for several centuries.
All that remained of the village lay below her, the foundations of homes, and the scorched earth where thousands fires had once burned.
Mist moved silently into the next hall. There, amidst numerous displays of Viking swords, shield, and other artifacts, sat an ancient ship. It had been dug from the earth almost 600 years before and painstakingly restored. The Valkyrie walked up to it, and silently wondered if she had seen it when it had roamed the waves.
"So you've finally returned."
Mist turned to see a man in a trench coat standing just behind her. She looked at him curiously.
The man smirked.
"So, you don't remember me." He stated, "It's just as well. I, of course, remember you."
"Can I help you?" Mist asked.
"Help me?" the man said, "You already did that Valkyrie, on the field of battle over a thousand years ago."
Mist paled. It was the mortal she had healed so long ago on her first mission as a Valkyrie.
"How….?" Mist whispered.
"Don't you know?" Erik asked, "You were the one that healed me. Of course….. you did that and so much more."
"It is not possible for you to be alive." Mist said, her voice low.
"Yet here I am." Erik said, turning in a circle. He then pointed at her. "You ruined my life."
"I did no such…….."
"Bullshit!" Erik shouted, "You know, I become a great Chief among my people. I led them to victory after victory. Each time, I saw you and the other Valkyries watching us." He then turned and looked off at a tapestry. "Then one battle, the Valkyries were there, but you were not among them. My forces were annihilated." He turned back to Mist. "You were the cause of this!"
"I didn't do a thing." Mist said, "If you lost it was because of fate."
"Do not blame others for your mistakes!" Erik cried out. He pulled a sword from his trench coat. "Now I take my vengeance." He lunged at Mist.
Mist's eyes went wide and she dodged the strike. She swung around and pulled out her own blade. The two swords met with a loud crash.
"I do not wish to fight you." Mist said.
"Fortunately I have a different opinion." Erik replied as he swung his blade at Mist's neck.
Mist blocked the sword, but only just barely. Again and again their swords crashed together, sending a shower of sparks towards the floor with each strike. Erik continued to press Mist back further and further with each attack. Then with a loud cry, Erik swung his sword at Mist's neck. She brought her sword up to block. Erik's blade shattered Mist's sword.
Mist stared at her broken sword. She had no desire to kill the mortal, but she also had a desire to remain in one piece. She then did what she knew she had too.
She blocked another attack from Erik with the remaining blade, then kicked him, sending him tumbling to the ground. She then turned and ran. Just as she entered the door to the next hall, she vanished in a flash of light.
Erik had returned to his feet and started to follow her when she vanished.
"Come back here!" he shouted towards the heavens, "Come back here and fight you bitch!"
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The Heavens
Bilskinir, Hall of Thor
Mist walked slowly through Bilskinir. The walls were lined in shields and tapestries. At the far end of the hall sat Thor behind a large desk. On the wall behind him hung his hammer, Mjollnir. His head was bent downward as he wrote something on parchment.
"Thor." Mist called out.
Thor looked up.
"Mist!" he roared, "How good to see you! Sif told me you had taken a vacation!"
"I did."
"But she said you had left just yesterday! Why have you returned so soon?"
"Something happened." Mist replied as she sat down before Thor's desk. "I need advice."
Thor sat down his pen. "Normally people go to Belldandy for advice."
"I can't go to her." Mist whispered.
Thor's eyes narrowed. "Why not?"
"Because this problem would involve her as a Norn."
"How so?"
Mist told him everything that had occurred on her first mission, as well as what had happened at the museum. When she was finished, Thor stood up and paced for a moment. He then turned back to Mist.
"Why was no one told?"
"I……didn't think anything of it at the time." Mist said.
"Then nothing was done!" Thor asked.
"Not……… exactly." Mist said hesitantly.
Thor sat back down behind his desk and leaned forward towards Mist.
"Explain." He said.
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1252
Mist walked quietly into Freya's private office. Freya herself was sitting against the wall, staring at the floor. Behind Freya's desk sat the Norn Skuld. Behind her stood the Norns Urd and Verdandi.
"Milady?" Mist asked, looking to Freya. The Valkyrie Leader did not acknowledge her.
"Valkyrie Mist." Skuld said, "You have been called here because of a……..problem."
"A problem?" Mist asked.
"There has been a disruption in the destiny of the mortals." Verdandi said, "The fate of one has corrupted all."
"You seem to be in the midst of it." Urd added.
"Me?" Mist asked nervously.
Verdandi's eyes narrowed at Mist. "Have you in anyway changed a mortals fate?"
Mist remembered the incident with the demoness during her first mission.
"Not…….exactly." Mist said slowly.
Skuld's eyes widened. "What!"
"Explain." Verdandi said, her voice low.
"A mortal saw me." Mist said, giving a sideways glance to Freya, "Twice."
"I know of the one during the sea voyage." Skuld said, "Freya warned you."
"Yes milady." Mist said, "The second time was during the battle. He looked right at me………long enough to get shot by an archer."
"One mortal being killed would change things." Urd said, "But not as drastic as what has occurred."
"He didn't die……..exactly."
The Norns stared at Mist. The Valkyrie shifted on her feet.
"What do you mean he didn't die…..exactly." Verdandi growled.
"He died." Mist said, "And a demon came for him, but I started taking his soul first."
Skuld's eyes narrowed. "I did a full count before and after. There was no one missing."
Verdandi raised her hand, cutting off anything else her sister was about to say.
"Valkyrie Mist." She said very slowly, "Was he marked?"
Mist shifted again.
"Was he?" Verdandi repeated.
"No."
Skuld fell back in the chair.
"You." Skuld said, pointing at Mist, "Took it upon yourself…… to select a warrior for Valhalla!"
Mist looked nervously at Freya. Freya's gaze remained fixed on the floor.
"Don't look at her!" Verdandi snapped, "WE are the ones talking here!"
Mist's head snapped back to the Norns.
"Answer the question!" Verdandi shouted.
"Yes!" Mist cried, "I did it. I thought it would make up for causing his death! The Demoness got mad and raised her hand. His soul went back into his body and pulled my arm in with it!"
The Norns looked at each other wide eyed. Freya finally broke her gaze from the floor to look at Mist.
"His soul went back into the body?" Skuld asked.
Mist nodded.
"And it pulled your arm in?"
Another nod.
Skuld looked at Urd and Verdandi.
"She healed him." Verdandi said, "The Demoness healed the mortal."
"In the midst of soul extraction." Urd added.
"What would result from that?" Freya asked.
"It's never happened before." Urd replied, "I couldn't even attempt a guess."
"Regardless," Verdandi said, "measures must be taken." She turned and looked at Mist. "For now, you are to remain in Valhalla. You will not ride with the other Valkyries until I say so."
Mist stared stunned at Verdandi. The Norn glanced back at her sisters, then walked out of the room. Urd followed right behind her. Skuld remained seated at the desk.
"Do not worry." She said, "You will ride with the Valkyries again. Verdandi is simply…….angry."
Skuld then stood and nodded at Freya before leaving. Mist remained frozen where she stood. Then she heard Freya sigh.
"They're gone. You can relax."
Mist looked to where Freya sat. Freya was looking at her with a neutral face.
"What?" she asked, "You want me to yell at you too? Because I personally believe you have been yelled at enough."
"I'm sorry." Mist said softly, "I failed you."
"You didn't fail me." Freya said, "You thought you were doing right. If anyone should apologize, it should be me to you."
Mist looked at Freya curiously.
"It has been sometime since I had a new Valkyrie." Freya said, "You are the first of what will become many. I need to refine my training techniques…….and unfortunately……you are my victim."
Freya stood up and placed her hand on Mist's shoulder.
"You will become a great Valkyrie one day." She said, "I promise you this."
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2574
Thor sat back in his chair and scratched his chin.
"I often wondered why Norn Verdandi was so irritable during that time." He said, "What I do not understand is why she, nor her sisters, or even Freya herself reported this!" He pounded his desk in frustration.
"I do not know." Mist said softly.
Thor's face softened.
"Know that I am not angry at you." He said, "But I fear that this incident has placed us in very bad position."
"Us?" Mist asked.
"All Norse." Thor replied sadly.
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Saturn glared at Thor from across the council room.
"You mean to say the original Norns covered up an incident involving a mortal!" he asked, "A mortal that still lives!"
Thor sighed. "Sadly, I'm afraid that is exactly what I am saying."
Saturn turned his head and directed his gaze at Mist, who stood before the council.
"And what have you to say for yourself Commander?" he asked.
"I was punished by the Norns." Mist said, "I regret my actions of that day."
"And what of your other actions?"
Mist frowned, as did Thor and Belldandy.
"What other actions?" Mist asked.
Saturn stood up and leaned over the council table towards Mist.
"I am talking about other 'infractions' you have done."
"There has been nothing to suggest that Mist has done anything wrong!" Belldandy said.
"Anything else you mean." Saturn replied, "We never knew of this incident. What other incidents are there in the Commander's past?"
"Other then this incident," Mist said, "My record is clear and untarnished since then. My actions as Commander of the Valkyries supports this."
"It is the actions we do not know of that concern me." Saturn replied. He then turned and looked at the rest of the council. "I move that until Commander Mist's past is thoroughly examined, she be removed as head of the Valkyries, as well as the forces of Heaven."
Mist jaw clenched tightly shut to keep the curse word she was about to utter in. Thor however, didn't.
"THERE IS NO REASON TO REMOVE COMMANDER MIST YOU SANCTIMONIOUS ASSHOLE!" he shouted.
Saturn glared at Thor.
"I think there is every reason to do so!"
Anubis raised his hand.
"The Commander was on vacation when this incident occurred." The Jackal god said, "Perhaps she could simply, continue her vacation, extend it even."
Saturn turned and looked to Kami-sama. Kami-sama looked around at those present.
"All in favor of this?" he asked.
The yeas outnumbered the nays substantially.
Saturn wasn't yet done.
"I further propose," he said, "That considering the actions of the very Valkyries themselves are in question, that they be disbanded."
"WHAT!" Mist, Thor, and Belldandy shouted.
"The Valkyrie have existed since the beginning!" Belldandy cried out, "They protect Heaven and Yggdrasil!"
Saturn smirked. "Fortunately I have replacements ready and willing to take over."
"What do you mean?" Anubis asked.
Saturn indicated the door to the council chamber. Standing there in golden armor was a Legionnaire of Ancient Rome.
"The Legions of Rome are ready and willing to protect the Heavens." Saturn said with a grin.
"You would have the heavens protected by mortals!" Athena asked.
"They are not mortals." Saturn replied, "Each member of the Legion is a son of a Roman Deity. At the very least a second class God, several as high as first class."
"I find this acceptable." Anubis said, "Though I would not disband the Valkyries. They would only temporarily be replaced, until the investigation is finished."
"That is reasonable." Athena said.
"This is an INSULT!" Thor shouted, rising to his feet. He stabbed a finger in Saturn's direction. "I warn you Saturn. This will not stand!"
"I call for a vote." Saturn said with smirk.
Once again, the Yeas took the vote, but it was a very close vote.
Thor sat down heavily in his chair, feeling very defeated. Belldandy remained silent, but her eyes never left Saturn. The Roman god noticed Belldandy's eyes on him and smirked at her.
For only the second time in her life, Belldandy thought evil thoughts about someone.
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Mist sat forlornly in Belldandy's office across from the desk. Beside her sat Blitz, the temporary Commander of the Valkyrie. Belldandy sat at her desk with her head in her hands. Thor paced about the office.
"This is the most INSULTING thing that little troll has ever done!" Thor shouted. He grabbed a small table and tossed it against the wall. The table shattered into pieces. The door to the office opened a crack, allowing Cayla to peek in. Seeing her boss unconcerned over the damage, she quickly shut the door.
"He's so damn smug!" Thor shouted, "He should have been kicked off the Council long ago for supporting Loki!" Thor grabbed an empty chair and sent it hurtling through the windows. Once again the office door opened a crack, then closed.
"Would you mind not trashing my office." Belldandy's voice came softly, "I just had it redecorated."
Thor blushed slightly, then turned to sit down, only to find he had just thrown his chair out the window. He waved his hand and the chair returned. A second wave and the damage he had done was repaired.
"The Legions are already guarding Yggdrasil." Blitz said, her voice tinged in frustration. "They've also taken over the main wall and gate, and much of the city."
Belldandy looked up.
"How much?" she asked.
"About 68 of it." Blitz replied.
Belldandy nodded. "And the Norse section?"
"None there."
"All Valkyries are to move into the Norse section of the city." Belldandy said, "As well as the Norse Wing of Yggdrasil. No Legion are to be let in."
"What!" Thor and Blitz shouted.
"You want to exclude the Legion?" Thor asked, shocked.
"Yes." Belldandy replied.
"But you can't……" Blitz said, "They are mandated to protect the Heavens."
Belldandy raised a finger, halting Blitz.
"But there is a rule about this." The Goddess said, "Should a section of Heaven wish to provide it's own defense……"
"…they may do so," Mist spoke, startling those present. "excluding the primary force if they so desire."
"Saturn is going to throw a fit." Blitz said.
"Yes he will." Thor agreed. Then he smiled. "Let's do it."
Blitz stood up. "I will do so right away……unless….." She glanced at Mist.
"You're still in charge." Belldandy said, "I cannot overrule the council in Mist's case."
Blitz nodded and gave her Commander one last look before heading out of the office. Thor stood up.
"I have to go see the look on Saturn's face when he finds out." He said with a sadistic grin. He too, then hurried out of the office.
Mist was now very nervous. Even though she had known Belldandy since birth, she did not know how the Goddess would react to her meddling with the mortal's life.
"I'm not mad if that is what you're thinking about."
Mist looked back at the Goddess. Belldandy smiled.
"As was said, Verdandi already punished you." She said, "and from what I've read of Verdandi, you were lucky."
Mist gave a slight nod. "She did tend to anger easily. Some think the Messengers affected her more then she let on. She was the one that oversaw their……dispersal."
"Yes, she did." Belldandy said, "And yes, she did hate the messengers for their betrayal." She then sighed. "Now regarding you………and that mortal."
Mist sat up a bit straighter. Belldandy turned her chair and looked out the window.
"His fate was an unfortunate accident," Belldandy said, "an accident that caused much chaos on Earth." The Goddess sighed loudly. "I cannot believe I am about to say this…….."
Belldandy rotated back around and faced Mist.
"His time on Earth is over. Fate determined he should die long ago. That sentence………still stands."
Mist nodded. "Yes Ma'am."
Mist stood and walked out. Belldandy watched her leave, then turned her chair to face out the windows again.
"Forgive me." She whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
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Author's note:
Yeah, I'm still here.
And still wearing shorts
In December.
God I love Florida.
Ok for those of you who demanded to know, Ragnarok is finished and is now going through final edits, so after this story and Angel are posted, you get the 'finale'.
But since someone demands more (COUGHAnexsisCOUGH), obviously this won't be the end now will it?