I would like to apologize for the very long wait... I had serious writers block... but now I shall be updating at least once a week if not sooner. Thank you for all the reviews and suggestions! They are greatly appreciated!
"You cannot dictate whom I marry! You are not my father… you are nothing to me!" A loud slap was heard echoing throughout the throne room. Then silence for what seemed an eternity. "I do not condone hitting women… that is why I did not hit you as I wish I could have." Odin placed his hand back to his side and narrowed his eyes at Rienne. "You should feel honored I allowed you to live. I could easily kill you now… you should thank my wife for the air you currently breathe… perhaps you are not worthy to marry Thor after all… becoming a Valkyrie is a great honor… why do you not wish to be one?" His back was now to her. The awkwardness in the room was so thick you could slice it with a blade. No one wanted to even breathe. Attracting the All-Fathers' attention to oneself now, surely meant being killed.
"I… I want my old life back…" hardly an audible whisper was her response. "As a slave? A maid? To live your days cleaning and one day you realize on your deathbed that you lived a lonely, pathetic life?" No response. She silently let tears roll down her wet, sticky cheeks. "I had such high hopes for you Rienne…" Odin sat on his throne once more. His eye downcast at his feet contemplating on what to say next. "Try it. For one year. Try becoming a Valkyrie. You do not have to marry Thor if you do not wish it… however…. I implore you to train as a Valkyrie. To die with honor… let everyone forget the nonsense they say about you… once you return from your one year, then tell me again if you truly do not wish to marry Thor or stay a Valkyrie. If you do not want either of those things… then I shall find another position for you. Worthy of your loyalty and love."
Rienne looked up at the all-knowing man. "I have heard rumors of you All-Father… that you are all knowing… you know what once was, what is, and what shall be… if it is true… then you know what my answer will be a year from now." Rienne gritted her teeth and refused to look up at him. After a few minutes of silence Odin spoke. "You may keep your memories of your children but not of Loki. If anyone dare speak of him to Rienne I shall cut them down in one fell swoop. Whether it be one of Loki's three children, my own wife or my last son… I shall cut them down. He never existed for you and that will remain true until your death." With that Odin stood up once more. With a wave of his hand a portal opened and everyone stared intently into it. You could make out a beautiful dark blue ocean within the portal. He took hold of Jormungand by the throat and lifted him with one hand. "I… will…n-never pro-protect the mi-midgardians… I s-shall devour any that c-come near m-me…" Jorg had a hard time speaking with the All-Father's vice grip on his throat. Odin would never admit it but… it pained him to look at Jormungand. It always had. For Jormungand was a spitting image of his father Loki. He said nothing to the boy but instead, just flung him through the portal and into the Midgaridan Ocean with all his might. Before he hit the water, the spell keeping Jorg human had disappeared and a small snake hit the mighty ocean with a light splash.
"He will grow into a mighty serpent… nothing will be as large as he… you need not worry for him." He said that more to himself than anyone else. Then, turning to Fenrir, he motioned for the guards to bring him closer. Again he opened another portal but this time, looking into it was a dark, rocky place. "This leads a mile down into the earth. You, Fenrir, shall remain chained with Gleipnir onto the enchanted rock Gioll. Your monstrous strength forever bound as the beast you truly are." With that, Odin called forth Tyr, the god of war. Moments later, the mighty Tyr appeared with blade in hand. "Mighty Tyr, go through the portal and take Fenrir with you. There, you shall chain him to Gioll." He did as he was told and grabbed ahold of Gleipnir. Pulling Fenrir with the ribbon, they passed through the portal. As soon as they did, Fenrir's spell containing him in his human form vanished and he transformed into the great Fenris Wolf. With a wide, toothy grin he tried to eat Tyr but he managed to quickly avoid him. That is… without his right hand. Fenrir managed to bite it off… unfortunately for him, Tyr became so enraged that he jammed his blade through Fenrir's mouth from the top going through the bottom. "You stupid beast! Now you shall NEVER harm anyone again!" Tyr tied Fenrir to Gioll and came through the portal once more. A medical team was ready for him as he passed through.
Odin closed the portal and promptly opened up another. "Let us hope you are more… compliant than your brothers Hela." Looking into this portal was… nerve wrecking. Everything was so dark and held such an ominous feel to it. You could hear faint wailing and moaning coming from within it. Hela held no resistance as the All-Father approached her. Placing his hands on her shoulders he spoke, "You shall be loved by them Hela. You will not be alone." The small smile he graced her with soon dissipated with her final words. "Grandfather… the love you showed me was a lie… and now I am forever cursed to be with those whom know not what love is… you send an innocent child to live an eternity in death… with those who everyone hates… I shall be encased in a world of hatred… hatred for you." And with that she gently removed his hands from her and silently walked through the portal without another word.
The All-Father sighed heavily as he closed the portal to Helheim. "I have called forth a Valkyrie servant. She shall escort you to Valhalla and there you shall meet the current Captain of the Valkyrie knights. You will train there for a year and then be escorted back here. Then… you shall give me your decision." Rienne did not try to protest. She knew it was futile. She did not cry. She ran out of tears to shed. There was silence again for what seemed an eternity. Finally, the doors to the throne room slowly opened. A lean, blond, very pretty woman stood there waiting for further instructions from Odin. He turned to Rienne once more and placed a hand on her forehead. Softly whispering to her he said, "This is for the best Rienne. In time you will thank me." A brilliant light emitted from his palm and Rienne shut her eyes tightly. She could only imagine Odin was attempting to take her memories of Loki away. Thankfully, Odin did not see the fait green light being emitted from Rienne's palm. The ring Loki had given her was protecting her against Odin's magic. After a few minutes he removed his hand from her forehead. "Rienne… how do you feel about Loki?"
She stayed silent for a moment trying to remember who Loki was. Indeed she remembered him to be the only person ever capable of making her body yearn for his touch. She remembered… so Odin's attempt to take her memories failed?... She could only assume it was the ring she tightly held on to. She gave Odin a puzzled look. "Loki my king?" He gave a small smile, satisfied. "Take her." He said to the Valkyrie servant. As Rienne walked away, Odin turned to Thor and his wife. "This is for the best." Thor watched as Rienne followed the Valkyrie servant. He remained unaware of her final glare to the All-father before the heavy throne room doors closed behind her.