Author's note: I own nothing… blah. I hate finals and they're finally over! There is a small reference to Star Wars in here, which I also don't own… I'm sure everybody will recognize it when you read it. I am soooo sorry yra that it took so long for me to get this up. Thanks to everybody who waited and reviewed while I worked on this, and I'm sorry this is so short. It's kinda a transitional chapter.

Chapter 9: Enter Freya

"STOP!"

Both Deliyyja and Sara looked up at the shout, startled to see another person in the room, and both incensed that anyone would dare interrupt them. To their surprise, the goddess Freya stood there, impatiently waiting for them to acknowledge her. Deliyyja was surprised by Freya's appearance. She's changed since last time; taken out every hint of softness in her wardrobe. Wow. Still looks good though.

Freya was dressed in a mixture of blood red and black leather. The blood red leather made up her top that was corset style with small metal rings sewn into the leather for ornamentation. The straps of the corset were heavily ringed with metal. On her arms were wide leather bands; one at her wrist, another at her elbow, and another at the upper arm. Each band was studded with metal rings and chains ran through the rings, connecting each of the bands to each other, and finally to Freya's corseted top. Her shoes were black knee-high boots and with those she wore a short black leather skirt. Mmm… most definitely lost the softness factor there, Deliyyja mused. Ooh… I forgot the hair… wow. That's changed, too. No way could anybody miss that unless they were blind.

Freya's hair was a wild, vibrant red that was naturally curly and could not be controlled. Freya had tamed in it in a sort of way with her crown. The crown was silver and began on Freya's brow. From there it traveled to the side of her head and was anchored there with clips. From the clips, the crown became a sort of hairpiece, swooping under her hair and intertwining with it until it lifted the hair off of Freya's nape before coming back to rest on top of Freya's head. On the top of her head, the crown met in a peak and from that peak dangled a large ruby that was shaped like a flame. Smaller glittering rubies decorated the rest of the crown.

Sara took all of this in, in an instant, then bowed her head and kneeled to the ground. Deliyyja followed suite; Century a moment later. Freya looked at them and was silent. The two women looked up at their mistress in expectation of what she would say, but she remained as she was, just staring at them. Deliyyja was the first to speak.

"Mistress, it's good to see you. I am honored that you have chosen to visit my home." Freya gave Deliyyja the look, and Deliyyja stopped right there.

"What have you been up to here, Deliyyja? You know that when I sent Sara, she was given instructions to let no one interfere; yet what have you done but that?" Sara gave a small, secret grin. Good… uppity bitch never should have gotten in my way. She relished that Deliyyja would soon be in trouble with the High Goddess herself, and that she, Sara, would be once again on her way after the Wolf-Goddess Fenris Fenrir… and the sword of Balder.

"But Mistress, I can explain. I needed to –"

"No need for explanations, Deliyyja. No need…" Freya's voice became soft, and she swayed forward towards her. Deliyyja swallowed sharply. With her eyes locked on Freya's, she slowly stood up.

"What do you mean by 'no need' Mistress?" she asked.

"What it means, Deliyyja, is that I would expect better from you than to interfere with a vital mission." Sara smiled in understanding. Ahh… the power sparkle. That's where it came from. Whoops. Guess maybe I shouldn't have captured it. Freya had been keeping tabs on Vættfang the entire time; ever since she had left the palace. "What it means, Deliyyja, is that I expect better from someone I have raised in the Valkyrie ways personally," Freya continued. Deliyyja stood silent. Freya arched one perfect red eyebrow at the Valkyrie.

"Well?"

"Well… uh, Mistress…" Deliyyja began clawing at her throat as Freya lifted her hand. Freya whispered to herself as she watched Deliyyja fight the stranglehold the magic had on her.

"Don't try to play me, Deliyyja. I know what goes on in that pretty little head of yours, and you are not good enough to outwit me."

"Hrk… please, Goddess–"

"Please, Goddess nothing, Deliyyja. I know you were watching Sara; it's your favorite pastime. You have watched her and watched her since I started training her instead of you, hopeful for some payback, I believe." The magic grew a little stronger and Deliyyja's face began to turn red. Century gave a gasp at the tactics the goddess was using. Surely she's not truly going to suffocate one of her best, is she? She can't possibly. But to Century's dismay, Freya didn't let up.

"Century," the goddess snapped. He stood at attention.

"Yes, Goddess?"

"Out. Now."

"Yes, Goddess. At once." Century left in a hurry after giving Deliyyja an apologetic look. Even though struggling for air, she nodded slightly at him in understanding. Century didn't want to leave her, but to disobey the Goddess Freya would be even more disastrous.

Deliyyja turned back to Freya, thinking furiously. The magic of the goddess was slowly strangling her and she was starting to see dark spots in her vision. Century was gone, and now Freya would have no qualms (if she'd had any before) about punishing her errant Valkyrie, and Sara was watching just behind the goddess with a satisfied grin on her face. I… never got… to tell… her.

As Deliyyja grew limp, Freya turned to Sara.

"Now, Sara, I want you to finish your assignment. Fenris Fenrir has not reached the sword of Balder yet, so there is still time. Find her and stop her if necessary." Sara bowed low to the goddess.

"Yes, Mistress. At once." Sara turned on her heel and left the room. Freya took another disgusted look at Deliyyja before releasing her from the magic that held her. Deliyyja lay on the floor, gasping for breath, barely conscious.

"Remember this, Deliyyja, for the next time you cross me, it will be worse. I promise you that." The goddess drew a symbol in the air and disappeared, leaving Deliyyja alone.