Chapter Seventeen
Thoth gulped as he glanced around the flickering landscape, wondering if this was in fact the best idea he had had. He wasn't much of a fighter... I hath wanted samples from this realm anyway, he bolstered himself, scurrying away from the portal site. Now he just had to find his niece and hope that Chthon's reptilian spawn didn't find him! He moved as quietly as he could, freezing every time one of the N'Garai came into view. So far, so good...
"Hello, nephew."
Thoth froze. He turned around very slowly to find himself face-to-face with a giant, seven-headed snake. "Set. What art thou doing here?"
"My brother left me to guard the girl while he goesss to kill Atum. I imagine he'll be bringing Gaea back here for her exsssecution."
Thoth tensed. "Chthon will never best Atum!"
"Then in that cassse my brother left me here to guard the girl while he goesss to die." Set shrugged. "Not that I care either way."
"Where is mine niece?"
"Do you ssserioussly think I'll tell you that?"
"Yes."
Set looked surprised.
"If thou hadst plans to end mine life, thou wouldst not have revealed thy presence."
"Are you sssure about that? Perhapssss I want you to know who it wasss that finissshed you..."
"Thou couldst not mistake me! Besides, thou referred to me as 'nephew', thou knewst who I was!"
Set peered at him. "Are you pouting?"
"No!"
Set laughed.
Thoth pouted.
Set slithered closer. "What isss your plan, here, nephew? How did you exssspect to free Sssigyn?"
"Since Chthon is not here, I intend to merely take her."
Set hissed in laughter. "You think he doesssn't have sssafeguardsss preventing that?"
Thoth looked proud. "All spells can be unravelled!"
Set lashed out, wrapping his long, lithe body around his nephew. "Cansssst they?"
Thoth struggled against Set's grip. "Release me, foul Serpent!"
"Why ssshould I?" Set wound tighter. "Perhapsss I will keep you to kill before your mother'sss eyesss."
Thoth quickly wrote a hieroglyph on Set's scales, making the serpent writhe and screech in pain as his skin burned.
"What did you do?"
"Freed myself!"
"My ssskin isss falling off!" And my... arms and legs are cramping?! That'sss imposssible! Set writhed, hissing with the pain. But even as his heart lifted, the feeling disappeared and his snake body collapsed. He lay there panting.
Thoth looked disappointed. "Perhaps a stronger spell..."
"What were you trying to do?!" Set demanded.
Thoth shrugged. "Twas a theory."
"What theory?"
"One that did not succeed."
Set scowled at him. "Are you going to tell me?"
"Nay. I wouldst not raise thy hopes for naught."
"Then why shouldn't I kill you?" Set suddenly froze. He hissed angrily. "It seems as though I am needed elsewhere... Get the girl and get her out of there. I have no desire to have to deal with a version of Atum that Chthon raised."
Set disappeared in a blink. Thoth narrowed his eyes but shook his head. There wasn't anything he could do about whatever Set was up to. He began his search for Sigyn anew.
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Thor cursed loudly as the warning bells started tolling. He rushed to the window - and his heart stopped. Hordes of Asgard's enemies were pouring into the city! He raced outside, trying to muster what he could of Asgard's soldiers, but the place was chaos.
Women and children were screaming. Fires were already starting. Thor summoned Mjolnir, and began fighting, trying his hardest to drive the invaders back. Loki, Balder! Where were they? He heard a familiar shout, and fought his way to join Fandral and Volstagg.
He struggled to speak to his comrades as battle raged on. Asgard's forces were beng decimated! "Where are-" he flattened several fire demons with a blow from Mjolnir, "Loki and-" lightning blasted a horde of dwarves, "Balder?!"
"Don't know! Where-" Volstagg's question was cut short as a Norn blade ran through his chest.
"Volstagg!" Fandral's yell did no good, as blood began to drip from the stout warrior's lips. He collapsed, unmoving.
The Norn was beheaded before he even realised that an enemy had come from behind. Hogun met Fandral's eyes but briefly before he turned and pressed against the oncoming horde. There was no time to mourn; the two warriors did their best to guard each other's backs while they defended their fallen comrade's body. Thor was surrounded by Norns, dwarves, and fire demons - he was being targeted! Numerous minor injuries were being inflicted on him. They began to slow him down. I have to find my family! And Sif!
As if in answer to his thoughts, a burst of fire suddenly scorched all the Norns, reducing them to ash, while ice attacked the demons. Loki appeared in the fray, throwing two daggers, killing a couple of dwarves that were pressing in on Fandral. Behind him was Sif, her expression hard. He was relieved to see them, and began to fight with renewed zeal. Cutting a path to their sides, he managed to ask after Nanna, Balder, and Angrboda. Loki's eyes lit with panic, and he shook his head.
"Nanna's locked in the dungeon, that's all I know," Sif shouted as she skewered a dwarf.
"Loki?" Thor smashed a Norn into a fire demon.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Laughter echoed all around them. The air thickened, growing darker.
"What's happening?" Hogun shouted.
Even their attackers were slowing, looking to the sky in horror. Sif, Loki and Thor were practically frozen.
"Chthon."
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Gaea rocked little Hela, her heart constricting as she glanced out the window and saw Chthon clouding the sky. Frigga and Angrboda were both barricading the doors and unaware of what was happening. She backed away from the window, battling an instinct that said she needed to run and hide, right now. Her grip on Hela tightened without her noticing, and the baby began to grizzle.
"Jord?" Frigga had noticed the Elder Goddess go stark white. "What is it?"
"Chthon."
Angrboda joined the two older women in looking out the window. "Loki..."
"Could this have all been Chthon's doing?" Frigga breathed, horrified.
"I don't know."
"Gaea." The voice was dark, and horribly amused. "I know you're here, sister."
Gaea glanced around quickly. "We have to hide the baby!"
"Where?"
"I don't know, but he can't get near her!" Gaea's voice was frantic.
Angrboda looked confused but she understood the panic in Gaea's voice. "Behind the chairs." Gaea set the infant down quickly, praying the child would stay quiet, then moved away from the hiding place to distract attention from them. Frigga and Angrboda gathered near her just as a fathomless shadow seeped into the room.
"Chthon." Gaea's voice shook.
"You are waiting for me, are you?"
Gaea tried to sound brave. "Waiting to be rid of you!"
"You will be soon. One way or another."
Gaea felt her heart freeze, even as relief washed over her. "This is it then? You intend to kill me?"
Frigga and Angrboda cried out in horror.
Chthon chuckled. "Yes, I will be killing you... as soon as I have rid myself of Atum, plague that he has proven to be."
Gaea backed away from the other women. She didn't want them to be caught in the crossfire. "Will you kill me yourself or have Set do it?"
Chthon laughed. "Which would you prefer?"
"My desires never mattered in the past."
"Perhaps I will let you choose this time."
Gaea laughed humourlessly. "You aren't capable of giving others choices, brother."
"Am I not? Perhaps that is true... I do suppose I promised Set the joy of killing you..."
Gaea fought the tears in her eyes. Set. Will it be quicker that way?
"But now I think I'd like the pleasure of ending you myself."
Gaea laughed again. "Set should know by now that you never keep your promises anyway."
"Are you truly so eager to die?"
"I want this over." Gaea's voice was weary.
"And it will be. After I kill the rest of your kin in Asgard."
Gaea said nothing. Brilliant light blinded them all. Angrboda, Frigga and Chthon all cried out in pain. Gaea alone seemed unsurprised.
"I was wondering when you would arrive."
"I had to disable the bifrost," Atum replied as Chthon fled. Looking for better ground.
"But Heimdall-" Frigga started.
"Belongs to Set."
The queen went white. "What- how-?"
"Do not let Nanna or Balder out of their cells. They both wore the Serpent Crown."
This time Gaea cried out. Atum didn't spare another word, and instead dove out of the window, following Chthon. Angrboda darted over to the corner and retrieved her daughter. Frigga turned to Gaea, horrified, wanting an explanation, but not knowing how to ask.
"What is happening?" Angrboda demanded, not bothered by etiquette. "Don't just stand there looking helpless! Tell us what this means!"
Gaea inhaled sharply. "I fear your Ragnarok has begun."
Frigga closed her eyes, shaking slightly. "Atum said Nanna and Balder wore the serpent crown."
"Yes, though how that came about, and how he knows, I cannot tell you."
"Where are they now?"
It was Angrboda who asked. Frigga sighed.
"Atum said they were in the dungeons."
"Then let's go talk to them."
"You might not like what you hear," Gaea warned, looking at Frigga.
"They're my son and daughter-in-law, this concerns me, if they are in peril."
Frigga marched off towards the dungeon without another word. Gaea and Angrboda followed silently. They reached the dungeons quickly. Nanna and Balder were in their individual cells, hands pressed to the energy barriers, crying ss they gazed at each other.
Frigga stepped closer, her eyes brimming. "Balder... Nanna..."
They both glanced over.
"Mor, go away," Balder whispered.
Frigga shook her head. "My son, what's happened to you? Why didn't you tell anyone you were in trouble?"
"I couldn't." It was a whimper. "He wouldn't let me... I tried, Mor, I'm so sorry..."
Gaea stepped in close. "Set... Talk with me, little brother."
Balder's eyes turned putrid green. Frigga stifled a gasp and stepped back, paling.
"What could you posssibly want to ssspeak about, sssissster?" Set sneered, deliberately allowing his hiss to come through despite being in Balder's form.
Gaea's eyes were infinitely sad. "Must it end like this?"
"How elssse could it end?"
"Chthon's end but our continuance."
"How?" Set ignored the spark of hope. "Too much hasss happened to allow that!"
"We can figure it out..."
Set shook his head. "No. It isss far too late! All will end."
"If it ends today, then we all end together," Gaea said softly, firmly. "Are you willing to die in order to kill me?"
Frigga and Angrboda were speechless with horror by this point. What was Jord talking about? Set made Balder's face contort, not really understanding what Gaea meant. How could his and Chthon's plan lead to all of them dying?
Gaea jumped forward, grabbing the bars of the cell. Her eyes were like steel, her expression fierce. "Answer me."
Set spoke through gritted teeth. "I don't want to die... but I want thissss over!"
"So do I. So let's end it, shall we? One way or another!"
"Grandmother, what are you talking about?" Nanna asked, her voice whimpering. Set must have answered her, because her eyes went wide. "No!" she cried instinctively, but then her brow furrowed. "Yes. Yes, end it."
Balder, Frigga and Angrboda looked torn between being petrified and utterly confused.
"What are you all talking about?" Angrboda demanded hotly.
"Run and hide," Set said through Balder's lips. "Everything burnsss."
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Loki ran his dagger through the throat of an attacking dwarf and then conjured an ice knife to throw into the back of the Norn attacking Thor. The god of thunder grunted in surprise, but nodded his gratitude to his brother.
Is there no end to these creatures? It didn't seem like it- for each one he felled, seven more seemed to take its place! He'd lost sight of Sif, Fandral and Hogun some time ago, and weariness was impairing his performance. The darkness overshadowing them didn't help any, either! He made his way to Loki.
"Where is blazes is Atum?" the dark-haired god shouted, glancing worriedly upwards.
Chthon's mocking laugh echoed over Loki's head. You think he can save you now?
Everybody, Norn, Aesir, Vanir, Dwarf, Fire Demon, shuddered at the sound of Chthon's voice.
"He should be fighting you!" Loki shouted at the sky.
A huge hand clamped on Loki's shoulder. He whirled, expecting a fight. Atum stood beside him, golden skin bloodstained and bruised, but his head still held high.
"I am fighting him."
Loki blinked, and his mouth spoke before consulting his brain. "Then why are you down here instead of up there?"
Atum's chest was heaving, but he still managed an annoyed glare. "I need help."
I should have killed you as a child. What a disappointing son you have turned out to be!
Thor looked shocked as Atum glared at the sky. "I AM NOT YOUR SON!"
The thunder god looked at Loki, his eyes demanding an explanation- he'd had no idea about this! "What...?"
"I need both of you with me," Atum interrupted. "He's stronger than I thought... Thor, these clouds aren't just Chthon. I need to know which ones he is and which ones he's hiding within. Clear the sky. Loki, stop him from getting stabbed in the back. Get high, clear of the battle. Now."
He leapt into the sky again. Loki opened his mouth but then closed it. "The astronomy tower!"
Thor nodded grimly, grasping Loki's arm and whirling Mjölnir to get them into the air- they would travel faster this way. They were at the tower in seconds. "Now what?"
"You know your powers," Loki said, finding his footing and bringing his daggers up, wreathed with flame. "Clear the sky."
Thor lifted Mjölnir to the sky, concentrating with all his might on sending the clouds away. A black swirl of cloud almost immediately shot towards the tower, lashing out whip-like at Thor.
"Chthon's fighting back!"
Loki cursed and threw his hands out, creating a fire-barrier between them and Chthon's shadow. The effort caused beads of perspiration to appear on his skin. He breathed heavily, struggling to hold the demon off.
"Any time now, Atum..." he ground out.
The clouds had begun to clear a little bit. Loki gasped as Chthon's strength against him increased. Suddenly there was a golden streak of light that collided with the shadowy cloud. The pressure against Loki's mind lifted, and he swayed on his feet. Thor's hands on his shoulders helped him stay upright, and they stared intently into the sky, watching the battle raging above them.
"Keep clearing the sky, Thor," Loki murmured, and then saw a battalion of fire demons scaling the tower walls to get at them. "Clear the sky!" He began flinging barrage after barrage of ice at the demons, freezing the tower's outer wall as well, so that many of them lost their grip and plummeted to the ground.
Above him, the battle raged, with fire and lightning bursting across the sky in brilliant shades of colour. Sounds of battle below echoed up to them, but he barely noticed. Angrboda. Hela. Their names leapt into his mind from nowhere. Where was his family in all this chaos?!
"Loki, focus!" Thor shouted, as Loki's barrage of ice faltered. Sweat was pouring out of every pore and his nose and ears were beginning to bleed.
He struggled to maintain his attack on the fire demons, but it was too late. One of them forced its way past him and lunged at Thor. His concentration broke. He was just barely able to repel the demon's attack. Nonetheless, he gained several claw-shaped burns for his trouble, and cursed, wincing.
"Loki!"
"This isn't as easy as it looks!" Loki snapped back, taking out two attackers with a well-aimed block of ice. They kept coming.
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Gaea had retreated from the company of Angrboda and Frigga to the library. It would all burn soon enough... She closed her eyes.
Oshtur. She fought to stay calm as she waited for a response. So many were dying around her... Sister, please answer me.
Gaea. Oshtur's voice was emotionless as always.
It's the end, sister. I don't think I'll survive today.
What?! Oshtur's presence in Gaea's mind faded, and an instant later, a pure white light appeared before her, coalescing into Oshtur's form.
"You shouldn't have come." Nevertheless, Gaea gratefully folded herself into her sister's arms.
"Why are you speaking this way?"
"Look outside!"
Oshtur did. She quickly picked out Atum and Chthon battling in the sky. "They have fought before."
"Not like this."
"What has changed, then?"
"Set put all this into motion. He is present in Asgard as well. And these people are being massacred."
Oshtur frowned.
"One way or another it ends today. They have killed enough trying to end me."
"All four of us gathered here..." Oshtur's voice was oddly reflective. "Perhaps a larger end draws nigh."
"What do you mean?"
"The end of the Elders."
Gaea's expression was stunned a moment and then she nodded. "If we are to die today-"
"Let us burn together."
They stood in silence for a few minutes, mourning all the other deaths that would come with such a thing. This realm would not survive.