As the group approached the Dark bar, Bo became increasingly suspicious – Dyson was already a nervous mess because he was on Dark territory, which was not helping to ease Bo's own concerns, and Kenzi just couldn't seem to believe that all of their problems were going to be solved in a bar. Not that she minded, of course. Tamsin sauntered just ahead of the other three, her jaw clenched and mind racing the closer they got. By the time they were in the parking lot, Bo's own frustrations took over and she grabbed Tamsin by the shoulder.
"Are you sure this is the place? Because this is no time to be drinking yourself away."
Tamsin smirked back at her, making a show of plucking the succubus' hand off the shoulder of her armor and casting it aside.
"Of course I'm sure."
"And how do you know they'll be here?"
Tamsin looked past Bo at her small army and smiled even larger at them.
"Because they're valkyries. And its 6 o'clock. There's no place they would rather be than at a bar. Trust me on that."
Bo and Dyson share a sideways glance while Kenzi, who is standing next to the wolf, grabs his arm and pulls him closer to her side. He looks down at her lovingly before using his free hand to pat her arm reassuringly before turning his attention back to the other women.
"And what exactly is the plan here, Tamsin?"
"The plan, wolfman, is to pick a fight."
"Oh", Kenzi quips with a smile, "I think you have the perfect group for something like that."
The valkyrie pulls the hair tie from her loose ponytail, allowing her long golden locks to fall around her shoulders, before carefully placing her prized helmet on top of her head. Taking a deep breath, she turns around and begins to make her way up to the front doors of the bar. Her faithful, yet nervous, companions follow close behind her. They enter the bar slowly, Tamsin leading them straight to where Annicka and her group of valkyries are gathered. Sure enough, they each have a beer in their hand and are laughing amongst themselves; until Tamsin clears her throat loudly at the far end of their long table. All of the women turn to look at her, most of them putting their drinks down and quieting immediately.
"Lady Tamsin!", Annicka says as she quickly downs the rest of her beer. She doesn't appear as cheerful as last time, her head immediately bowing in would-be respect when she catches that the woman is in full armor. "To what do we owe this honor, milady?"
Having no patience for the charades or the formalities, and having no time to try to come up with replies for Bo and Kenzi's shocks expressions at Annicka's obnoxious acknowledgment of her title, Tamsin closes the gap between her 'friend' and herself. She places her hand threateningly on the hilt of her sword and leans forward as she speaks. Her words drip with venom, the anger that she's been keeping under wraps this whole time finally bubbling to the surface.
"What have you done, Annicka?"
"I have done nothing, milady. I swear it."
Tamsin lets out an angry growl as she allows herself to get even closer to Annicka. Their breaths mingle in what little space there is between them; Tamsin's hot and angry, the other woman's in shallow, nervous bursts.
"Why would you come into my home and take her from me?! Couldn't you at least warn me that there were coming, or take her without having to hurt her?!", she shouts in the other valkyrie's face. "We have fought together hundreds of times. You've saved my ass more times than I can count, and God knows I've saved yours! I am your friend!"
"But he is my Lord, Annicka", replies quietly, not brave enough to look her in the eyes. "I am so sorry, Tamsin. He sent us here because he knew, he knew far before your human ever dared to say the words. He sent us here to watch, and to wait. By the time she had admitted it to you we were just around the corner, already waiting."
Tamsin is quiet, eying the other woman seriously.
"Why was my apartment covered in blood, Annicka? There was so much of it. What did you do to her?"
Another woman, from the back of the group of valkyries, stepped forward. She looked younger than any of the others, nervously fiddling the the bandage that was loosely wrapped around her hand.
"Milady, she fought us. She had a knife", she holds up her hand for emphasis, "so we had no choice. We took her straight to the dungeons; she was still alive when we left her there."
"The dungeons?", Tamsin all but whispers, her hand slipping from the sword to fall lifelessly to get side. "Why... why is he doing this?"
"It is our way, my friend", the other valkyrie says to her sadly as she places a comforting hand on Tamsin's shoulder.
"You know what I have to do, Annicka."
Annicka smiles at her.
"I do."
Tamsin returns her smile sadly before turning to face her group behind her.
"No weapons, kids. Let's do this old school style."
She turns right into Annicka throwing a punch to her already bruised jaw, causing her to bite down on her tongue. Hard. Tamsin smiles and licks the blood from her lips before returning the punch, only with twice as much force. The other woman stumbles backwards, laughing, her and Tamsin both with an excited fire in their eyes. Before charging forward, Tamsin throws a shit-eating grin back to her entourage.
"And try not to kill any of them."
Bo, Dyson, and Kenzi take this as their sign, and all three charge in to the group of woman and start throwing punches.
The fight went on for several minutes, neither side really wanting to fight the other, so minimal damage was done. Just when Tamsin was about to throw another frustrated and impatient punch to the face of one of her fellow valkyries, it was as if her hand had gone right through her. Confused, Tamsin opens her eyes and let's out a surprised gasp – as if by magic (well, it was magic after all), all four of them had been picked up out of the bar, out of the fight, mid punch or kick or whatever, and dropped in another realm. Their plan had worked – as much faith as she had in it, there was still a part of here that didn't believe it would really work. Mouth still agape, she turns to find her group wearing the same expression of confusion she is. Bo takes a step forward, fist still balled, and looks at Tamsin with an eyebrow raised.
"I don't get it. So... it... worked?" Kenzi asked hesitantly.
"Odin summoned us for fighting with his valkyries...", Bo answered as she looks around the room, "though I don't know why he would have us sent here. This doesn't look like a feasting hall to me. Where exactly are we, Tamsin?"
Tamsin takes in her surroundings - an ornate four post bed in the corner of the room, blue and gold silk matching the ones on Tamsin's armor flowing around it, its wooden floors and stone walls looking as old as time but very well kept. There were several chests against one side of the room, and swords decorated the walls all the way around. It took the valkyrie a second to recognize the room - it had been hundreds of years since she had been in it, after all - but when she did it hit her like a ton of bricks.
"This is... my room..."
Bo and Dyson look at each other nervously, while Kenzi speaks what they are thinking.
"Why would he put us here? His fancy dining room full or something?"
"No", Tamsin gulps hard. "It means he's been expecting me."
Dyson sighs and hangs his head, an almost smirk on his face.
"There goes our element of surprise."
The small army regroups in the room, taking the small reprieve from battle to collect themselves and make some sort of a game plan.
"So that's the plan?", Kenzi asks, not even trying to hide the shock in her voice. "We're just going to march right up to daddy dearest and demand he gives Lauren back?"
Tamsin smiles at her sheepishly while Bo and Dyson both shrug at the human.
"And what do we do when he says no? Are you going to throw a temper tantrum? Refuse to take a bath for a month? Feed your broccoli to the dog?"
"Kenzi, shh", Bo scolds.
"No, she's right. I don't know what I'm going to do. I just know that I'm not leaving here without her."
Dyson places a large hand on the valkyrie's shoulder.
"Then it's settled. Let's go get your woman."
Without another word, all four rise and make their way out of the room and into the large hallway. Tamsin leads the group through what seems like a maze, remembering all the times she roamed these very halls as a child. The house in empty, thankfully, and they make their way outside without any resistance. When they finally make it out of the large home, they are immediately hit by the swirling snow storm that is raging outside. The feasting hall is close, though, and sticks out like a sore thumb – it is huge, much bigger than any of the other buildings in the snow covered landscape, and surrounded by what has to be hundreds of men and woman mingling. Adjusting her armor, Tamsin takes a deep breath before drawing her sword.
"Here goes nothing."
Bo and Kenzi do the same, drawing their weapons and raising them defensively as they near the feasting hall. Much to their surprise, however, no one attempts to stop them. Most people don't even acknowledge the group as they near the large building, and the ones that do are only offering cheerful greetings to Tamsin. As they walk up the steps to the hall, Tamsin turns and gazes upon the large crowd, confusion etched on her face.
"Huh", she says as she cocks her head to the side, "I always forget how different it is here. Everyone is just so fucking happy."
Bo joins Tamsin on the top step and smiles at her as they near the large doors that lead into the famous dining hall of Valhalla.
"Not for long."