I sat outside Valhalla on that day. Valkyries don't require rest. We serve the selected heroes, we also judge them and take them there so they can fight and feast and train until the day Ragnarök comes. Sometimes those heroes have beloved. Most of the time, those beloved don't come with them.
It doesn't make sense, really. Why would it? If a warrior doesn't marry a warrior, then… why would they marry? Warriors need to breed warriors.
A cold breeze, contrasting with the warmth of the sun, signaled the coming of one of my sisters.
As I turned my head, I catched the smile of my elder sister, the first Valkyrie, Brynhildr. Bearing her White Swan Mystic Code, with wings of light and a Divine Iron Shield, she was the exact same as us. Her only distinguishing feature was her snow white hair that held a star field inside of it.
"Thrud," she said. I nodded in acknowledgment. How strange. We Valkyries could easily speak through our thoughts, yet some like Brynhildr still spoke normally to other units. "I have a task for you. From father himself."
I stood at attention. Orders from father were of the highest importance. "Yes sister."
"There are two humans. A warrior named Astrid, and her husband Halfdan. Astrid will live and bear Halfdan's child. Halfdan will die. Make sure their battle ends in that manner," Brynhildr said. I nodded, and gave her the aknowledgment.
She forwarded me all the details, and so I set out to Midgard. However, she stopped me as I began taking flight.
"One more thing sister," I looked at her. I wondered what else she had to say. "Father has created a new batch of Valkyries. You are to show one of them, Ortlinde, the way of judging heroes. Taker her and Hildr with you."
I forwarded an acknowledgment in the network, and set out.
Valkyries had no true home. However, most of us rested in the halls of Valhalla. Father even gave us our own exclusive castle to reside in, to discuss private matters among us. We never used it. But that was where all new individual units gathered.
So I flew over the golden fields of Valhalla, past the Hall of Heroes, and into the castle of the Valkyries. It was a building of made of dark wood, with a large entrance and assorted resting places. On the domed ceilings there was an opening, meant for us to land our heavenly steeds, or ourselves.
Along the way, I linked with Kára and Olrun, who acknowledged my presence as well.
The interior of the hall was a different from the outside. It was darker, had more stone on it's walls and foundations, the walls were adorned with weapons that other put there. Other than that, the bare minimum was available. Tables and chairs. No more. That was all we needed.
When I landed, I met my new sisters. The hall was full of them. It had been a long time since it had been this populated. The smell of crowds, similar to what would occur in the Hall of Heroes, invaded my nostrils. Sounds of steps and words drowned out the normal silence of the castle. Still, Valkyries did not need to speak words to each other, so it was much quieter than human gatherings.
I linked, welcoming them into our network. They all were emotionless, but eager to start their duties.
Quickly, I requested the presence of the individual named Ortlinde.
From among the crowd, one of them walked up to me. A black haired Valkyrie, hood raised over her head.
"Individual unit, Ortlinde. Reporting to Elder Unit, Thrud. It's an honour to meet you," she said with a small nod. I smiled. It was always a pleasure to meet new sisters. Not like it mattered. Regardless of pleasure I would need to meet them.
"The honour is all mine. Now, we must leave sister," As I said that, I noticed a look of surprise take over her features.
"L-Leave? R-Right now?" How strange. Rarely did I detect hesitation on new units. I would report this later.
"Yes. We must begin. Now we wait for Hildr," I said.
"Hildr," Ortlinde mused. I noticed her then, probing in the network. Upon doing so, I noticed her grow even more worried. "She seems–"
"She is how she is," I replied with a sigh. "No amount of reports seem to take father's notice."
Just then, another Valkyrie entered our network. A warm jolt spread through it. Hildr greeted everyone of us with a warm smile.
My pink haired sister made her physical entrance. She flew above us at high speeds like a falcon, looking at every new sister and capturing their attention for a while.
How annoying. Valkyries did not show off. They demonstrated their prowess in battle, and only in battles that mattered. Showing off was something humans did.
I was the eldest. I was the example. For Hildr to be like that… it was a stain on my honour.
However, Hildr was one of us. She deserved respect and care.
So I called to her, and in a second she landed.
"Hildr, reporting for duty!" She said, doing a strange gesture by placing her hand near her forehead.
Ortlinde looked at her, perplexed. Just then, Hildr took notice, and her features seemed to shine even brighter.
"You must be Ortlinde! It's so good to meet you at last!" Hildr said. She did another strange thing, shaking Ortlinde's hand excitedly.
"I-I was created five point four hours ago. I do not think that qualifies as a long time," Ortlinde stated.
"It does to me. Sisters need to stick together. Anyway," Hildr turned to me then. "What is the mission, Thrud?"
I sighed. Hildr from a later batch than mine. Thus, she had always respected me. But now that she was no longer the younger one, all her respect had vanished. Or so it seemed.
"We have two humans. We must make sure their coming battle proceeds as father foresaw," Thrud said.
"Awesome! More warriors to judge! I wonder which side will win this time!" Hildr said.
"I-Is that relevant?" Ortlinde asked.
"Not at all. Let's get moving you two."
When we arrived on the battlefield, however, something was amiss. There was no war, not yet.
We scoured the settlement from the skies, which had a crude stone castle surrounded by many houses and walls. We found the Jarl. A woman by the name of Astrid. However, no sign of Halfdan was to be found.
So we entered, taking the task upon ourselves.
Valkyries were not meant to interfere unless commanded by the All-Father. Or when a battle needed to turn out a certain way. This was such a case.
The castle smelled of wood and ashes. In the middle, before the throne, there was a large bonfire. Humans stood in awe of us as we approached the woman. As soon as she saw us, she stepped up, fear and skepticism in her features.
"You are…" she said, probably sensing our power.
"Valkyries," I stated.
"Yeah!" Hildr said.
"That is correct," Ortlinde added.
The woman swallowed. She was strong, tall, muscled, dressed in pelts. She was also was wide like a bear. She had strength, that was for sure.
"And what is it that you need, great Valkyries?" She asked, voice nearly trembling. "We are not at war."
"Not yet," Ortlinde stated. The woman's eyes widened.
"I see… You come with a warning?" She asked.
"An inquiry," I countered.
"Inquiry?" The woman raised her eyebrow, sitting back down. All her fear was replaced by confusion.
"Yes. Why aren't you and the human Halfdan united?" At my question, Astrid's eyes widened. Hildr forwarded that she sensed something amiss.
"Because I hate that man," although surprised, I did not allow my expression to change.
"And why is that? He is a great warrior, a commendable leader, and has a great deal of knowledge. Your union would bring many great warriors under one banner, and bear worthy heirs," Ortlinde stated, reciting sister Brynhildr's orders.
Astrid closed her eyes. Her face scrunched up. She was feeling remorse, perhaps?
"Indeed. However, he was not someone I wished to spend my life with," she stated. I could barely maintain my neutral expression. I did not understand. Neither did Hildr nor Ortlinde.
"Why not? You are both great warriors and leaders," Hildr said. At this, Astrid chuckled.
"Well… I have someone else in mind, the man at my side, Frode," Astrid said, pointing at a man that was beside her. He was unremarkable, unnoticeable. He was lean, squalid, weak. He did not have the makeup of a warrior. And we three could tell how prone to sickness he was.
I did not know what to think. Every logical process in my mind led to the same conclusion. Astrid should marry Halfdan, bear his heir, and allow a powerful lineage of warriors. Father's orders make sense. The logic made sense.
Yet, this human woman rejected all of that.
"That does not make any sense," Hildr stated. I frowned at her nonchalant way of speaking, but she was sincere.
"Maybe not. That's what everyone said. But I don't love Halfdan, I can't love him. I can only love Frode," Love. A human emotion. So that was the source of all of this.
"This emotion will lead to your ruin," I said. Many whispers were heard around the hall.
"Then so be it," Astrid said. "My people will live on."
I did not know what else to say. Any appeal to logic had failed.
"You are letting your emotions rule you?" Ortlinde asked.
"Emotions. Ideals. Yes, that is what rules me. But worry not, I'll defend them like a true warrior. If blood must be shed, then I'll shed as much as it's needed."
Astrid paused, as if considering something. Then she looked at us. I could sense another emotion in her. A great regret, and some manner of shame.
"Is that all? We must prepare," Astrid said in a low voice.
"It is. We will meet in battle, Lady Astrid," Without another word we left.
Although I was silent, considering the woman a lost cause, Hildr and Ortlinde chattered.
Sister, do all humans act like this?
Yep. Most of them. They are illogical creatures. They cannot discern emotions.
Isn't that bad?
At times. However, battles were emotions are on the line tend to be the most exciting to watch. You won't believe the limits at which humans get to when enraged.
I see. What do we do, sister Thrud?
We will do what Valkyries do. We will watch. We will fight. We will find the worthy and guide them to Valhalla.
And what about Lady Astrid?
She has defied her fate. What awaits her, only father knows.
And so, a great battle took place.
Astrid's people were massacred, including Frode who died in an unceremonious way. Yet Astrid fought until the end. It took to the last enemy to take her down.
That man was Halfdan.
Not a single man, woman or human was left standing.
They all died.
Hildr was excited at the idea of so many great warriors.
Ortlinde was satisfied with doing her job.
Among the souls, we found Lady Astrid.
In the end, we welcomed her to Valhalla. However, she suffered, for her beloved was no warrior.
Yet despite the pain, despite knowing it was her own choices which led to their fate, she smiled.
This answer we could not reach... we buried it deep inside.
We never spoke a word of it during our lifetime.
Our task was accomplished.
We were still Valkyries.
So we carried on.
Such questions about love and other irrational emotions were unnecessary.
However… after Sister Brynhildr left us...
I… I wanted to know.
Why Astrid loved someone else.
Why she loved someone that was not meant for her, that couldn't be like her. Someone that obviously led her to ruin.
It scared me.
Choosing wrongly scared me.
And so… in the back of my mind… in the centre of my chest… a kind of curiosity began to swell.
Hildr and Ortlinde had that as well.
In Chaldea, there are many examples of love, and hate.
…
It still scares me.
What if… we are incompatible with him?
What if… loving him is a mistake?
If it is, I don't want to repeat it. I don't want to face it.
"Oh, here you are," Thrud turned her head. The human, Shirou Emiya, had entered Moriarty's bar.
"Ah, the human Emiya. Welcome! Welcome! Take a seat and I'll serve you," Moriarty said, clad in his bartender outfit.
"And finish that feast please," Hildr said, gulping down her large glass tankard filled with mead. It was the drink of the gods and humans of Scandinavia. Thus, the three sisters including herself partook in it as tradition when Moriarty offered it to them, but Hildr was the only one to really indulge on it.
"I'm not doing a feast! This isn't a restaurant!" Complained Moriarty.
"You stated that you'd give us an experience of our time," Thrud added as Shirou approached them with a smile.
"I meant that with mead in mind," he added, refilling Hildr's tankard.
"But tradition says–" Ortlinde began.
"–This isn't Scandinavia girl. Take it or leave it," Moriarty said, breaking off from the conversation.
"He totally conned us," Hildr complained.
"But you got your mead, right" Shirou said, taking a seat at Thrud's side.
"That we did," she said, drinking from her smaller tankard.
"Why did you come, Emiya?" Ortlinde asked. Then, a blush crept up her face. "Do you wish to join us?"
"Yeah! Want to join us?" Hildr asked, excitement apparent on her persona. Her cheeks were beginnign to get flushed.
"I don't really drink," He said. That answer made Thrud feel a pang of disappointment in her chest. She suppressed it. It was not a rejection. Correction. It was… but not a malicious one.
"Awww," Hildr said.
"Then what is your purpose here?" Ortlinde asked, now she seemingly drank her mead with haste.
"Well, I was looking for Ophelia. We have a meeting in the Command Room, and she wasn't responding to her calls," he said.
"Lady Ophelia? She's right here," Ortlinde said. She moved aside, and revealed the sleeping magus, face down in the counter and covered by her sprawling hair. Thrud sighed, watching the once graceful woman that had turned into a mess.
"W-What happened to her?" Shirou asked, bewildered.
"We found her like this, drinking Whiskey," Ortlinde stated.
"Yeah, the lass was very depressed. Something about some 'Kirschtaria' guy," Moriarty informed them. Thrud only knew that he was a Crypter, and their leader. Ophelia had been one. She still loved him it seemed, despite betraying him and his path.
"I see. I guess that's natural," Shirou stated. He raised his right arm and spoke into his device that allowed for long distance communication. "Mash, you there?"
"I'm here, Emiya-senpai," the Shielder's voice came from the device. "Did you find Ophelia?"
"Yes, she's here," he replied, taking a second glance at the sleeping woman.
"Is she okay?" Mash asked.
"She's passed out drunk. I'll stay with her until she's better, so I don't think we'll make it to the meeting," he replied.
"I-I see. Didn't think Ophelia was that sad. Guess I gotta work on how to identify feelings," Mash said.
"It's alright. Not everyone's open with theirs. Take it easy Mash," he said.
"Okay. See you two later, then," with that, the line cut off.
"Well," Shirou said, facing the counter fully. "Guess I'll stay for a while."
"But you won't drink with us," Ortlinde repeated. A feeling of fear was broadcasted through their network. Thrud looked at her black-haired sister. Her face was a little flushed, her mead tankard refilled even though she must have drank it all.
"I… just don't like drinking. And I don't hold my alcohol well," that explanation made sense.
"You don't like fighting either," Hildr stated.
"Only if it's necessary," Shirou corrected.
"And you have no desire to be recognized as a great warrior," Thrud added.
"That's correct," Shirou nodded.
Thrud thought back to the many warriors they had selected for Valhalla. Many had lovers. And all of those lovers were similar to them. They all shared bonds of blood and spirit, and they all shared a path. The path of the warrior. The others… were sent to Hellheim.
So… if Shirou was so different to them, how was it possible they fell in love?
She did not understand it.
Even heroes like Tomoe and Yoshinaka, Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Brynhildr and Sigurd, Mash and Ritsuka, all of them were similar to their respective partners; they all were in love.
"You look disappointed," Shirou stated, bringing Thrud out of her stupor.
"I…" Thrud looked away to her sisters for help, but found her sisters bearing a similar expression. "Forgive us, Emiya. We just have been thinking."
"About what?" He prodded. Thrud grimaced. She was not one to let her feelings free. But here she was among her sisters and… friends if she could call Shirou and Ophelia that.
There was no father or gods to judge her. Or so she hoped.
Maybe, one time. Humans did allow themselves to be vulnerable all the time. That was how many battles were won against greater odds, by exploiting exposed vulnerabilities.
It's just what humans did.
Not like Shirou or Ophelia would harm her.
"Well… we are very different, you and us," she said. It didn't come out right, so she brought her tankard to her lips, the sweet liquor going down her throat, silencing her.
"So?" Shirou asked with a raised eyebrow.
"So it does not make sense that we fell in love. We are not similar enough in our… purposes. Our paths," Hildr added, looking into her own reflection in her drink.
Shirou remained silent.
Just then, a glass was slammed in front of him, startling him.
"Well now, you are quite naive to believe it's that simple," Thrud felt her chest swell with fire for a moment.
"Excuse you?" She asked, tone dangerous.
"I'm just saying," he retreated, raising his hands as if he were an innocent bystander. "Love, and any other kind of agreement between people, does not come from similarities but understanding. Although being similar does help."
Ortlinde raised an eyebrow, as did Thrud.
"Think about it this way," he said as he refilled Hildr's glass for the sixth time. "Humans hate what they don't understand. So… it makes sense they would love what they understand the most, right?" With that, he went back to cleaning glasses, not allowing the Valkyries to offer any kind of rebuttal.
"He… does have a point. I think," Shirou said, scratching the counter.
"How do you know?" Thrud asked, genuinely curious.
"Well… there was this man in my Grail War. He was a monster who only found delight in making others suffer, yet also wished to know why he was that way. In the end, it was the only way he could live. I hated him at first… but…" Shirou fell silent. Thrud was intrigued now.
"But...?" She prodded.
"… he was my opposite. He was as empty as I was. Looking for a purpose beyond what we felt we could only do. So looking back, I think I actually liked him," Shirou said with a small smile. "I understood him."
The Vakyries were silent after that.
Thrud wondered if he was right.
They did not love him yet. And also, despite having memories from the time they did, they did not understand him. Not right now.
"That's very interesting, Emiya boy," Moriarty said, now sporting a conniving smile. "However… if you are not going to drink, why remain here?"
"Ophelia–"
"Oh, come on! She did this to herself! You could even take her QP if you wished to," Moriarty said. Thrud narrowed her eyes at his suggestion. As did Shirou.
"And why would I do that?" Shirou asked, voice dangerous.
"Why not? It's not like you are beholden to help her. The world is gone. What good is it to remain a saint?" Moriarty asked, tone between mocking and genuine curiosity.
"I…" Shirou seemed to swallow his words for a bit, before steeling his gaze. "It's just what I do."
"And if you no longer can do that? What will happen when the world doesn't need you anymore?" Moriarty cast a side-glance at the Valkyries as he said that.
Thrud froze, as did her sisters.
A world that didn't need them, where no heroes were born or required for Ragnarök.
That prospect… it paralysed her for a second.
"I don't know," Shirou admitted with a sigh.
"Humph. Such are heroes, never looking beyond their sights," with that, Moriarty left them alone.
The Valkyries remained with Shirou, staring at the bar counter as if the answers to their plights were to be found there.
"A world that doesn't need us to judge heroes…" Hildr mused. "That's kinda scary. We would have no purpose."
"That is correct. We have no formal command, upon completion of our mission," Ortlinde stated.
"Still, we must accomplish it. What about you, Emiya? What would happen if you accomplished your mission?" Thrud asked.
"Well," Shirou picked the drink that was left in front of him. "If I saved everybody, then I would have no one to save. Thus, a world in conflict is the only world where I'd really be able to live, which is something I detest."
"A contradiction," Ortlinde stated.
"Right," Shirou said, eyes narrowed. "I would have no purpose at all."
Just then, Thrud felt something new. She didn't know what exactly, but she wanted to comfort Shirou just like she would one of her sisters.
She could imagine him being in her place, and her being in his.
She…
"I… think I understand how you feel," Thrud said.
Shirou looked at her, surprised.
"Yeah. Me too," Hildr added, with a smile that hid melancholy.
"It seems all four of us have a purpose that, when fulfilled, will leave us without one," Ortlinde mused. "I… Why would father do something like that? Why leave us with such a task?"
"Hmm," Shirou frowned. "I wish I knew. I still don't know the answer, but this is the path I chose for myself. So I won't regret it still. Even if the end is uncertain."
He looked at them, and he smiled a bit.
Thrud felt somewhat warm in her chest, and her sisters felt the same.
Thrud rubbed her chin.
Feasting with her sisters.
Playing with Tomoe.
Seeing Brynhildr again.
Talking with Shirou.
None of those things would bring answers, but still… maybe they were significant, somehow.
"… I guess it doesn't matter when it ends. We should cherish what we have. Right?" Thrud asked with a small blush. She wasn't sure the answer was right or logical, yet she raised her tankard. "Then, let's celebrate our present,"
She blushed, realizing what she did. "Right?"
Shirou looked at her with surprise, before smiling.
"Right!" They all said in unison.
And so, they drank in the bar, waiting for Ophelia to wake up.
For a singular, isolated moment, Thrud wasn't worried.
A/N: So that's it for this small interlude. As for why I tackled the Valks loving Shirou… well… in the early chapters I never really explored the why. I just went straight to their relationship having developed. At the time I was only thinking of doing 'one more one shot', and I didn't really want to write an alternate 5th Holy Grail War.
But now that we have Shirou in the Lostbelts and the Valks, well… I guess it's as good time as any.
I also wanted to try writing in first person… and about the Valks time during the Age of the Gods in Scandinavia.
And that is how this chapter came to be.
Anyway… I don't know how well it turned out but I still really enjoyed it. And I got Brynhildr Lily in. So success!
Next up… still deciding. But maybe Lostbelt 3. I think I have an idea of what to tackle there in regards to Shirou and the Valks. On the other hand… I don't know. It would be hard.
Sorry for the long note. That is all for now. Chiao!