There we go, another chapter but before that a few words...
I'm terrible sorry for taking this long to post a new one, it's just that too many things happened over the latest months and I didn't have much time to write (and I also might have taken a small unofficial break during November because of my finals).
With that in mind, the least I could give you as compensation was a slightly longer chapter...hope you enjoy!
Thalia enjoyed feeling her body waking up after a good night of sleep, as she stretched like a sleepy cat the memories from the last few days were slowly returning. So much have happened in just four days...
She was sent on a quest to get help from some unknown force, discovered that there were more monsters related to trees than she`d like and almost died twice in four days, good statistics for a demigod anyway. The day before had been a living hell, after dealing with two crazy gods they rode hours before the first lights of San Francisco, the city where everything seemed to come together, Camp Jupiter where her brother have lived was there as well Mt Tam, the titan fortress in modern days.
When they reached Stanford University both were too tired to continued and slept under the trees near an open amphitheatre. She was glad for the rest, not only for having Villi for bed but also for Sieg being there. Even though she`d forsaken boys she wouldn`t chose any other Einherjar to come with her on this quest... caring as he was, he paid a lot of attention to details like if she was cold or letting her ride in front of him so she could rest her back, yet he kept a distance, respecting her and giving her privacy for her needs. While travelling with him, she came to understand a few things about him, he reminded her of Percy, her best male friend except she hadn`t got into meaningless fights with him (yet, at least, although she didn`t look forward for this specially after what he did to Fear), he was the type of leader who would do anything to protect his companions.
She sat, looking for Sieg and Villi, the wolf was nowhere to be found but Sieg was resting over a tree not far from her. She then crawled to his side, finally having the change to examine his appearance without anything to disturb him. His long hair felt over his shoulders, contrasting with his wind-burnt face, the scar that marked the left side of his face was nothing more than a thin but visible line.
She brushed her fingers over his cheeky, following the jaw and resting on a slightly pointy ear. When Thalia returned her attention to his face Sieg was already wake, staring at her with those icy blue eyes that sent a chill on her spine every time she focused on them. "Don't move" he whispered raising his hand and picking a small black spider that was on Thalia's shoulder, "A Black Widow" he moved his hand away from her face, the little spider already frozen between his fingers "We better move, Mimir must be waiting for us already"
He helped her up and together they headed towards a possible not-so-enjoyable meeting with a god, fortunately the Mist did well covering Sieg's armor...let's just say a full-armoured immortal would stand out too much in the middle of a university.
After a couple of minutes, Thalia, finally recovered from the awkward situation from before, broke the silence "Sieg, what is all this about?"
"About what is happening between us or this crazy quest?" She blushed furiously at the remark "The second then...What do you want to know?"
Thalia still had a look of a tomato "Why the gods are sending me on this quest? And why only now?"
"The reason of the gods is probably because they are desperate for help, Gaea isn't an enemy they can deal alone and to make matters worse, most of your gods are suffering from split personalities so that leave them looking for any help available". He stopped and faced her "As for why now...that's something I would like to know too, now come we are near and be careful, Mimir went crazy over the millennium so he might be a little off when we meet him".
They stopped in front of the library with Thalia giving a curious look at Sieg, "What? He is the god of knowledge and he likes places where he won't be disturbed and thanks to the internet, libraries are emptier than ever".
As they entered the building Thalia was sure she never went inside such imposing library. Books were carefully placed in countless shelves with a Spartan organization that it would even make Annabeth uncomfortable "If Annabeth was here now, she would go crazy. It's all to tidy for her, but she would definitely love having all this information at hand"
"I thought demigods had problems when reading contemporary languages. Did you finally get rid of that dyslexia?" Thalia was taken aback by his question, which was the first time he actually asked her something.
"No, we didn't. But some of us are just too proud of themselves to allow being stopped by that and some children of Athena translate modern books to ancient Greek so others could use that knowledge" She answered picking a book from a shelf and tossed it to Sieg. As he grabs the book the cover changed from English to ancient Greek. "That's a little trick they came up with the goddess of magic Hecate, using the Mist to hide the books".
"Impressive, you found an interesting way to overcome a natural flaw, now all that you have to do is deal with that ADHD of yours" He tossed the book back and Thalia put it back in its place.
"And waste time reading while I could be living most of those...pass" Thalia shrugged at the thought, however when she turned she saw Sieg with a small smile on his lips and with his eyes staring right at hers.
"I must remember to show you a few things after this quest. There is a lot I could teach you so you can fully enjoy your immortality and I am a little out-dated" His eyes shinned with a playful look.
"Now that's the worst idea for a date I have ever heard" She smiled at his reaction, a noticeable blush on his face but he soon was laughing at her bluntness.
"Touché!" It took a few seconds for him to recover his composure, "Too bad we both have oaths to honour"
"Huh? You too?" Thalia was quite surprise to listen him talk about himself. After four days and not a single word about his past, she was beginning to think he had none.
"Yes, eternal loyalty towards Odin, serving and protecting him. Because this and my own power I became the second-in-command of the North, although sometimes I prefer to obey Frigg than Odin. Sometimes the wife is wiser than the husband" Thalia thought it was a little weird to have such casual talk with him. True she wasn't like others hunters but that didn't mean she enjoy the company of a male.
Suddenly she felt a chill running through her spine; all her senses were yelling danger. She could hear a thundering sound coming from behind her, but as she turned to see what was coming a huge wall of water engulfed her and dragged her away from Sieg. There was no way she could fight against the current and soon her world darkened.
Sieg also noticed the huge wave approaching, however he couldn't move and as the wave swallow Thalia he was also dragged along only to crash onto a bookshelf causing dozens of books falling over him, knocking him out.
When he woke up Thalia wasn't there anymore, the wave had carried her to wherever it was headed. "Damn it! That's the second time this week that I'm frozen". He unsheathed his sword and gave a few swings with it "Fine, Mimir. If that's how you want to play than I'll play along!" He shouted startling the few mortals in the library and rushed towards a horde of monsters that was coming from the staff area.
More and more creatures were coming through the small door while something inside him was awakening, something powerful... The air around Sieg started to move, power condensed in form of an aura swirled around him and a thin glow emanated from his eyes. A war cry left his mouth and he charged against the nightmarish horde without a second thought.
Thalia woke up in a dark room and her dizziness made it impossible to even distinguish up from down. It took a few seconds lying there completely still so her senses could kick off. She started by trying to determinate the size of the room she was in.
There was a light breeze in there and a low whistle came from somewhere on the ceiling "A round room with a small opening on the ceiling" she thought while using her training with Artemis during her hunts, she could hear water falling near hear but no sound of it running anywhere "...and there is a small cascade and a pond". Different smell swirled around her but one in particular gave a chill on her spine "Burned pine wood...a fire was lit not long ago".
"Iiiiiimpressive!" A loud voice roared in the room at the same time several braziers instantly lit, raining their blinding light over Thalia. "You were properly trained, Thalia Grace" the voice was loud and annoying, just like a ringmaster and despite being temporally blind her hearing was till excellent and something saying her name with that tone made her blood boil in her veins. "No wonder you survived for so long on the northern lands, now let's be a little polite and have a look at each other".
A cold breeze brushed her face and her vision cleared completely and what she saw amazed her, she was inside a immense wooden hut with grass for floor and a small pond in the middle. Near it was a pile of rubble from which fell a small cascade in the pond, but it was the mad scientist head at top of the pile that made her jaw drop, as a demigod you usually see a lot of weird stuff but a head alone was something to worried about but when it talked Thalia knew she was about to super pass all levels of strangeness.
"Welcome to my lair, young huntress! I'm Mimir, god of knowledge and wisdom and as a side job I deal with the bargains of the gods." his voice reverberated in the chamber causing a little tremor, that however matched his appearance. A long crazy-sage white beard covered his mouth only giving hints of its movements to know he was the one talking, his face look like a dried apricot, the grey hair of a mad scientist that's just been electrocuted and as a finishing touch the eyes were black pearls floating in a sea of blood.
"You can ask me anything, however be warned, ALL knowledge has a price". Thalia started to open her mouth but was interrupted by another tremor, "So...you brought that little monster and he is having some fun up there." His beard move on its own, scratching his head "Not bad, it's always enjoyable seeing him fight like that", the beard move to his chin, arranging itself, "Very well, this pay for the information you seek for this quest. Tell him his assumptions are correct, this quest is only the beginning for both of you."
Thalia didn't know how to react, she hadn't anything but he had already answered like he somehow had..."Read your mind?" Mimir completed her thought, "Not your mind actually, but all thoughts are words just like minds are books for me and mortals' ones are extremely easy to look into them and read all that's written there". His eyes now had a mistchesviusly glow, "Since I'm in a good mood, let's make a deal, shall we? If you answer my question honestly I'll show you Sieg's past. How about that?"
Now that's was a bargain she couldn't pass, quickly nodding in agreement and just as quickly she regret her choice certain this god wouldn't be kind with his question. "Excellent! Now tell me what do you feel about Sieg?"
There it was, a question that involved feelings and a male, the biggest taboo for her. It certainly wasn't an easy question for her, yet she didn't know how to answer that. "Hahaha...take your time, it'll take a few hours to Sieg to get here since he won't go all out so that will be your deadline". With that Mimir disappeared leaving her alone in the room, she knelt near the pond and studied her own face. How could she answer that?
She remained there watching her own reflex on the pond, trying to figure herself. She had never stopped to think about anyone, she had always been too simple with that... if she someone, she would tell. If not, she would let it be clear. However, now she didn't know what to say.
"Your time is almost up" Thalia got startled when the damn talking head appeared on the pile of rubble and when she tried to move, she felt her body stiff and sore. How many hours had passed since she sat there? "A couple of hours, but do you have an answer to my question? Sieg is almost at my door".
With a sigh Thalia raised herself. "Yes, I do" Mimir did nothing as encouraging her with his silence. "I DO have feelings for Sieg, I respect him for the leader he is, I'm thankful for saving my family and I DO love him...I just don't know if I love him as a younger sister who is looked after or if I love him as a woman" she felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and Mimir looked pleased with her answer.
"Well done, hunter. Looking deep into you is the hardest part of discovering who you truly are and where do you truly belong, that's something even gods have problems dealing with. Knowing yourself like this means you must accept your qualities and your faults" His tone was way more friendly than before, like she had done something that amused him. "Now come look into the Fountain of Wisdom and take a peek at his past, learn how he became what he is." She approached the pond once more and this time there was something glowing on its bottom, "Look through Odin's eye! Through time!" The glow intensified, involving her in its aura and taking her mind somewhere beyond time...or better said, before time.
Her mind came to a place filled with thick mist and bone-chilling gusts; wasteland was the only expression that came to her mind t describe that place. Little by little, the mist concentrated in front of her until three silhouettes could be distinguished
"We must persist! We can't let those foul creatures triumph over us!" Exclaimed a womanly voice that from the slender of the three.
"Calm down, Villi. We must not take any unnecessary measures, our enemy outnumber us. If we desire to prevail, we must think this through" The second voice was more guttural...wilder.
"How can we be so patient, Ve?! If we don't attack soon, we will meet the same fate as our father." Villi was clearly blind by her grudge against this enemy, whoever he was.
"We are waiting for someone who might join us in our fight" The third voice final spoke with a commanding tone. "He is here" the third said turning his head away from the group.
"So...these are the infamous children of Bor..." Thalia knew this new voice; it was Sieg, younger but definitely him. "I expect more from those who go against Ymir, yet I can sense the power flowing deep inside you. Guess you really are different from us, slaves" His voice was filled with bitterness and sound much angrier than what she had heard so far. "What do you want with me, Odin?"
"Not much I assure you" Odin answered making Sieg shrug in disbelief. "Assist us in our fight and we'll give you a seat beside us in the new world" the god spoke with so much confidence that even being only an image, a memory, it still urged her to accept the offer. But apparently, Sieg wasn't affect by his presence.
"You wish for me to slay my own kin, isn't that right?" His voice was cold, not giving a hint of what he was thinking. As Odin nodded in agreement he continued, "And how do you expect me to fight hundreds of others mortals? It can't be done, even if it's me"
"And who said anything about fighting as a mortal? To win this war you must embrace the godly side of yours along with my own power to become something more...something different. Neither a mortal or a god, you shall stand between all, the first immortal warrior of the gods, the first Einherjar" Odin finished his speech with a glow of excitement on his eyes, but it soon disappeared as Sieg turned his back towards him.
"Humph...and serve you afterwards until I fade into oblivion. No, thanks" With that he walked away, his nebulous form dissipating. The three gods were once again alone and an argument soon brakes off.
"Arrogant fool! How dare he turn his back towards us?" Ve was the first to lose his composure "Who did he think he was to talk like that?"
"Not only that but he insult you, Odin, after you offered such generous propose" This time was Villi's turn. "He is only a savage, a brute with no manners or valour, a..."
"Enough, both of you!" Odin voice silenced his brothers. "He don't consider himself as a living being, he was raised as a slave...a think to be thrown away when serve of no use. The mortals are never named for this very purpose and I want them to choose their own path". He breathed slowly, allowing his mind to look where the meeting had gone wrong. "Humph...it's so simple. He is just to honoured and proud of himself. Come, we have to help him before he kill himself".
The mist change and several silhouettes appeared, they seemed to be fighting. Countless war cries came to Thalia's ears, the sound of clashing steel and blood spraying everywhere filled her head, this was war as she never knew, this battle wasn't for power...it was a battle for survival, one side would live while the other would die. In the chaos of the battle three new forms joined force with one that was moving faster and wilder than the rest. "Good grief! The boy is a true monster! He is holding his ground against this many mortals!" Ve's voice echoed among his brothers. "What should we do, Odin?" he turned around and saw only Villi by his side, "What?! Where he is?", the only answer he got was the goddess pointing towards the young man they had talk before and Odin fending against the infinite horde, both matching their strength and swings power crushing everything near them.
Again the mist became turmoil of images only to reveal the three gods and Sieg once again alone. "Why did you come here for?" Sieg's voice had a cautious yet thankful tone.
"Because you are too stubborn to admit you need help" Odin replied with natural confidence and Thalia thought that perhaps he was just like Sieg in a few ways. "Now, what do you tell me after we fought together?"
A devilish grin formed on Sieg's face "You fought well and was true to your words..." He let a small chuckle escape between his word "Guess I have no one better for serving then". He knelt in front of the god and spoke with the most respectful tone he could muster "Name me then, milord".
"Very well, I name you Sieg, the victorious, keeper of the Realm of War" Odin announced, the sound echoing through the world as if letting it know the birth of a new kind, one that would fight side by side with the gods.
"Victory even in the name...not bad" He place his right hand at his foot while the other rested on his left knee. "I, Sieg, swear this oath to Odin, my new master and lord, to serve him until the time of my demise or he prove unworthy of his own words", thunder roared on the sky and glowing runes appeared connecting both right wrist.
"I, Odin, god of war and magic, accept your services until the day of your demise or your betrayal. Now rise, first of his kind...rise first of the immortal warriors...RISE, EIHERJAR!" The other two gods looked at each other with the same thought on their minds; things would certainly change from here on.
Thalia was dragged back to her body, she was shaking after waking up but warmth was close to her. Looking up she discovered the source of the heat, Sieg was embracing her, gently raising her torso with her back resting at the inner part of his tight. "Mimir..." The rasping sound that came from his mouth reminded Thalia of an animal ready to defend his territory.
"Oh snap it, Sieg!" Mimir's face was cracking with a mad smile that would put Joker on his place, "I only showed her a little of what I have of you past and don't worry with the payment...what she will do from now on with that knowledge will be more then enough".
He effortlessly raised Thalia on his arms and started walking away from the god, ever so gently yet he would accept a word against it. "Oh yes, almost forgot this one" the god made a cracking noise with his tongue and a small pouch materialized on Thalia's hand, "Hermes send this to you and said you will need this and your trading skills to pass that place". Sieg only nodded and continued walking away from the pond and its master.
They crossed the same corridor that Sieg had come through and the whole place was wrecked, like a tornado of fire, ice and blades have just passed by. "I may have got a little excited with this" Sieg had a noticeable blush on his face "...even if it was only Mimir and he would never harm you anyway, I got carried away". Thalia was actually pleased with this, if that guy would go to this extend to help her in a non-lethal situation, she definitely would want him by her side when the really dangerous part of their quest begin.
After they left the library Sieg set Thalia on a bench and starred right at her, "You know just how dangerous was for you to take a look through the eye of Odin? You were almost frozen back there." He was deadly serious, worry clear in his icy eyes.
"Yeah...I notice" She hugged herself still feeling a little cold. "But how a god's eye ended up there?"
"That was the price for a glass of the water of that fountain. A single drop could burn a mortal mind because of the excess of knowledge, that was that Fountain of Wisdom and its waters are liquid knowledge". His explanation didn't make much sense, but since when did something involving immortals did...
Thalia choose to put this matter aside, there would be time to talk about this and other things. Now there were more pressing matters, "Mimir told me your suspicion are correct but what was he talking about and what will we do now?".
"I'll tell that on the way, now come...we have a boatman to bribe." He played with the bag that was given by Mimir while extending a hand at Thalia, helping her to her feet.
Okay...that took a little more time than expected, but whatsoever...
Now I would like for some reviews if that isn't asking too much. I'll understand if you don't want to.
If you don't like writing long reviews, just say a few words of what you thought about the flashback part (hope that part didn't end up to confusing)
Also, I promise to post the next chapter before the second week of January.
Wish you all a merry xmas and a happy new year!