Chapter 6: Respite
Opening File: The Huldra Brothers
Sindri and Brok, better known as the Huldra brothers, are a famous pair of Dwarven blacksmiths who crafted Thor's hammer Mjolnir. Though they are brothers they possess vastly different personalities. Brok wears a crude-looking chest plate, is brash, prone to swearing, possesses rather poor hygiene, and has some incidents involving insulting someone in Alfheim and ploughing an elf apparently. On the contrary, Sindri wears ornate golden armor, has a phobia of germs, is quite polite if snarky, and doesn't like trouble of any kind. As Dwarves they are able to hide in the spaces between realms allowing them to travel across the Nine Realms. Some months ago, the brothers were able to find another way for beings to move across the realms using the branches of Yggdrasil.
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Opening File: Vanaheim
Vanaheim (Old Norse: Vanaheimr) is one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree and the home of the Vanir Gods. Ruled by the wise and powerful Njörd, this world covered in lush jungles and inhabited by a dangerous fauna and flora is traditionally associated with Magic, Fertility and Wisdom. The peaceful nature of the Vanir quickly clashed with the warlike Aesir, who naturally became their most steadfast enemies.
This extreme animosity between the two realms culminated in the cataclysmic Aesir-Vanir War, which devastated both Asgard and Vanaheim. Despite the superior militaristic power of the Aesir led by Odin, the Vanir led by Freya successfully fought off the invasion into a stalemate thanks to their superior magic and the very environment of Vanaheim.
After centuries of war, an uneasy peace was brokered in the form of a marriage between the All-Father and Freya. However, after the fallout of their union Freya returned to Vanaheim and became its new ruler after Njord left to journey the Nine Realms. As such the Aesir and Vanir have currently been in a state of cold war waiting for the other to make the first move for a new war.
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Xxx
After Garmr's retreat the group needed a new plan of action. While Roland had offered to send the Guardians of Arcadia home they chose to remain and fight Garmr. Sindri offered to take them to his home on the branches of the world tree Yggdrasil to rest for the night. After taking the group through a stone archway called a 'Mystic Gateway' the group found themselves in a place that Douxie and Archie called the Realm Between Realms. The sky (or what could be called sky in this strange place) was a shade of blue and the walkway was the branch of a yew tree. Cracks seemed to be in the tree emitting a blue glow, and the group could find other vegetation growing on the tree such as grass and mushrooms.
"Follow me." Sindri said as he led the group. "And try not to fall otherwise you'll get erased unless you have proper protection like a Unity Stone."
"Good to know." Steve said after taking a quick peek over the edge of the branch the group was walking on.
"So, you and your brother, Brok, live on Yggdrasil's branches?" Jim asked as Claire and his pet wolf Barks kept close to him.
"Yep. We wanted to live somewhere away from most of the dangers going on in the Nine Realms when we need to leave our usual blacksmith spots." Sindri said as he brought the group to a new area. "Here it is."
The group saw the house and Jim, Claire, Toby, and Steve were amazed at what they saw. The house was a classically designed old Norse building but the path leading to the entrance was a well-made wooden floor, and growing on top of the house was a tree that was no doubt part of Yggdrasil.
"Looks like Ratatoskr finally got that other Mystic Gateway working again." Sindri said as both he and the group saw a stone archway with a wooden door in it.
"Ratatoskr? The Ratatoskr?" Claire asked.
"That's correct." Sindri said. "Also, he is not the landlord despite what both him and Brok says."
"He technically is." Douxie whispered to Steve who stifled a chuckle so the Dwarf wouldn't hear it.
Sindri opened the door and the group found themselves in a large room. A table sat in the middle of it and to one side was a blacksmith workshop and to another side was what appeared to be a kitchen with a Dwarf in it. This second Dwarf had a deep blue complexion, amber eyes and dark brown hair, to which is receded atop his head, and most prominent in the form of a medium-sized chinstrap beard and slight side whiskers around the side of his head as sideburns. He wore a golden double-plated cuirass that covered his torso in delicate Urnes-styled metalwork. This is assumed to end at his waist, followed by two spaulders that cover his upper shoulders, with the one on his left depicting ornamental images across its surface. Unlike Sindri's armor, this Dwarf has a built-in gorget on the back of his neck. This protection does not continue on the front however, instead displaying an ornate, rounded collar in its place. One brown belt-buckle is visible on his cuirass, the rest likely covered by his work apron. The left side of his leather shoulder-guards is longer than the one on his right.
The Dwarf saw the group that Sindri brought and said, "Douxie and Archie? What the hell are you two doing here?"
"Nice to see your still the same Brok." Archie sarcastically said as he flew over to the center table and turned into his cat form as Brok and the others came to the table.
"Been too long Brok." Douxie said as he shook hands with the blacksmith. "And these are-"
"I know who your friends are wizard." Brok said as he walked around the group while looking at them to size them up. "Every one of them is known throughout the Nine Realms. The teenagers for bringing down the Arcane Order and the Gunslinger for his ancestry and that new power of his."
"We're hunting Garmr." Jim said getting Brok's attention. "But right now, we need a place to rest so we can be ready to fight him again. And hopefully have a way to bring him down."
"Hmm, I guess you can stay." Brok said. "But tomorrow morning your helping us bring some materials to Vanaheim."
"We might be able to find something in Vanaheim that could give us a clue onto defeating Garmr." Claire said.
Jim nodded his head in agreement with his girlfriend. "It's a deal."
Xxx
Later that night…
Dreams, when one dreams, they see images of things that may have to do with their emotions, things that they have dealt with, or just pure nonsense. But some dream of future events that are yet to come and others communicate with other beings in their own dreams. And Roland Deschain fits with the latter.
When Roland fell asleep, he found himself in a field of roses he looked around as soon as he found himself there. At first, he thought he was back in Can'-Ka No Rey again, but he didn't see The Dark Tower, the physical form of Gan anywhere.
"You are not where you think you are scion of Eld." A female voice called out from seemingly nowhere.
"Bessa." Roland said upon realizing who he was talking to. "Wife of Gan, goddess of khef (life force), inventor of riddles, and the patroness of gamblers."
"Correct. When my husband took his place at The Point of Creation to keep order and chaos separate from each other I would tell him riddles to keep him entertained, so the weight of his duty would not become a burden to him. From that point on I became the patroness of riddling contests. Let us play one Roland, it may help you defeat Garmr."
"Very well." Roland said as he began to march forward.
"What has an end but no beginning, but ends all beginnings?"
"Death"
"Correct. 'Not chest or box is discussed. Money can be held in it, but just as we test its metal, within it there is rust.'"
"Trust."
"Correct. 'Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness!'"
"There are two different answers. Lion and honey."
"Correct."
"What can run but never walks,
Has a mouth but never talks,
Has a bed but never sleeps,
Has a head but never weeps?"
"A river."
"Correct. 'What's dressed when night falls and undressed when day breaks?'"
"A fire."
"Correct. 'There is a thing that nothing is, and yet it has a name. It's sometimes tall and sometimes short, joins our talks, joins our sport, and plays at every game.'"
"A shadow."
"Correct. 'What do you put in a box that makes it lighter?'"
"Holes."
"Correct. 'When is a door not a door?'"
"When it's a jar."
"Correct. In a tunnel of darkness lies a beast of iron. It can only attack when pulled back. What is it?"
"A bullet."
"Correct. I am emeralds and diamonds lost by the moon. I am found by the sun and picked up soon. What am I?"
"Dew."
"Correct. 'What has four wheels and flies?'"
Roland paused for a moment at how nonsensical this riddle was before answering as he continued his walk. "A garbage truck."
"Correct. 'What is black and white and red all over?'"
"A blushing zebra." Roland answered. 'These last two riddles were just nonsense. What's going on?' The Gunslinger thought to himself.
For a moment Roland blinked and he found himself standing before a gargantuan rose that was surrounded by numerous skyscrapers. This was the physical form of Bessa herself.
"Correct." Bessa said to the Gunslinger. "Final riddle. 'Why did the dead baby cross the road?'"
Xxx
Before Roland had a chance to answer he had woken up and found himself back in the spare bedroom Brok and Sindri let him use alongside the boys.
He thought about what he dreamed of and the riddles he had to answer. The last three were nonsensical ones that Jake once told him. But what did they have to do with defeating Garmr?
Xxx
The next day,
Vanaheim…
The group had made it through a Mystic Gateway and found themselves in a very beautiful forest.
"Nice place." Jim said as he was back in his normal blue zip-up jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a white shirt underneath. He has blue jeans and blue and white sneakers. The Amulet of Daylight was in his pocket, and he was carrying a wooden box containing metals. The rest of his friends carried similar boxes. "Looks better than Alfheim."
"Used to spend my fair share of time there but, uh, I ain't allowed anymore on account of the, uh, incident." Brok said as he pushed a wheelbarrow full of soldiers and axes.
"Why's that?" Toby asked.
"Can't tell ya kid." Brok said. "Ain't too sure Roland, Archie, and Douxie's gonna like me talking about it on account of all the swearin' and stealin' and f****n' involved." Brok explained.
Roland merely grunted at Brok's choice of words. Ahead of the group Barks ran ahead of them and the adolescent wolf stopped at a certain point and turned to face the group.
"Looks like your pet wolf found the camp." Brok said to Jim. "Ain't that right poochy."
The group saw what Barks was looking at and they beheld a small camp manned by a few people. They saw a female dark elf talking to a male light elf, a large man with a beard who carried a huge sword, and a female dwarf who was blind in her left eye and was followed by a giant pug-like creature that resembled a swine. Said creature and Barks both started to sniff each other as a greeting.
"I was wondering how'd get all those supplies her Brok." The female dwarf said as she eyed Brok and his compatriots.
"A couple of old friends and some new ones Sindri here found in Alfheim Lunda." Brok explained.
"The one place you're not allowed back to anymore." The now identified Lunda says. "Not after that juicy Nokken incident you caused."
"A what?" Steve asked.
"A Nokken you see that's what got Brok kicked out of Alfheim." Archie explained from his perch on Douxie's shoulder. "You see a Nokken-"
"Archibald." Roland scolded the shapeshifting dragon.
"Oh right, sorry." The dragon quickly apologized.
"Come on, I'll show you all where the items go." Lunda said to the group as she started to walk. "You too Helka."
"So Freyr is here?" Jim asked as the group followed the female Dwarf.
"Yep. He may be a warrior and once ruled over the elves but he's a carefree kind of guy." Lunda said as the group passed by the towering human with the large sword. "Hey Birgir." Lunda quickly greeted before continuing the conversation. "He usually prefers to go one adventures across the Nine Realms and beyond them but since Freya came back after her divorce, she's employed him to run a system of spies and scouts across the realms to make sure nothing bad is going on."
"But you know about Garmr now?" Claire asked.
"Unfortunately." Lunda said with a sigh and then pointed at the Dark Elf woman and the Light Elf man. "The married couple over their found the beast tearing through Niflheim a few days ago."
"I thought Light and Dark Elves hated each other." Toby said.
"Byggvir was imprisoned by his own kind for suggesting peace with the Dark Elves, and without access to the Light of Alfheim he had a clear enough head to get away." Douxie explained. "While his wife Beyla wanted more in her life than what the Dark Elf hives could offer. They both wanted peace between their tribes, so they were a perfect match when they met each other."
"Looks like love always finds away." Said Claire.
As the group approached a stone building, they could hear a commotion coming from it.
"Sounds like Freyr was having one of his past times." Lunda said to the group and then pointed to a spot next to the building. "Just leave the boxes right over there, me and the Huldra brothers here can take care of them."
The group complied and after that they entered the building. They found a handsome man with swarthy skin, brown eyes, and long, messy brown hair tied back with a grey ponytail and some braided pieces strewn in random locations. He was wearing a worn out green and brown Vanir armor. He also has an arrangement of burn scars particularly noticeable on his arms. He also has noticeable scars from previous lacerations across his face. The largest scar stretches over his right eye, down to his lip. He was lying down and being tended to by a woman and a man.
The woman looked young and beautiful. She was tall, had long chestnut hair that cascaded down her back tied near the end, Hawk Feathers in her hair hinted to some of her hidden magical powers. In addition, she has two long braided locks that fall to her shoulder. She wore a regal outfit; a dark brown leather dress with intricate runic patterns and gold inlaid into the lower part of dress. She also wears a bright orange shirt that exposed her arms revealing tattoos. She also appeared to be barefoot for the most part.
The man looked older and possessed dark skin, blue eyes, and braided brown hair that was tied in a ponytail. His attire appeared to be a mixture of a green shirt, pants, brown leather armor, and a green tunic over his clothes.
"Honestly Freyr you need to stop smoking those herbs." The woman said as she gave Freyr a cup of tea. "It amazes me that Hildisvini and I have to keep telling you to stop and that you can actually lead others."
"I'm more of the inspirational type of leader Freya." Freyr said to his sister.
"Are we interrupting something?" Douxie said to the three Vanir gods with a smirk getting their attention.
"Hisirdoux Casperan." The third Vanir greeted the wizard and shook hands with him. "It has been far too long old friend."
"Indeed Hildisvini." Douxie said to the now identified Hildisvini. "Freyr still getting to his old tricks again?"
"Unfortunately, yes, it's almost like when we were kids with Hildisvini here having to look after us while our dad Njord decided to explore the universe." Freya said as she approached the group. "And I see you brought some friends of yours, rather famous ones since their names and accomplishments are known throughout the Nine Realms."
"I guess were famous across the Nine realms Jimbo." Toby said as he nudged Jim a little.
"Not to intrude but you said Freyr was smoking some herbs?" Jim asked with some concern.
"Yes, it's what your people call marijuana." Freya said as she glanced at her brother who was now drinking his tea. "One time he got high on it he ended up in Alfheim and fell into the Lake of Souls."
"When he emerged from the lake the elves thought he was a divine being and began to worship him." Archie explained. "That's why the elves worship him."
"You need to return to Alfheim and put a stop to the war there." Roland said with his arms crossed. "It's only going to grow worse for both sides, and according to Sindri the Temple of Tyr in that realm will only work once peace has been restored. Something that can only be done by you."
"Yeah, once I come up with a plan I can go there." Freyr said as he got up and approached the humans. "But I take it your also hunting Garmr."
"How do you know that?" Jim asked as Barks approached Freyr.
"Several centuries ago, Merlin visited me and Freya." Freyr explained as he began to pet the adolescent wolf. "He wanted to hide something in Folkvangr, and he told us if his apprentice and a few others come by hunting that monster than Freya and her Shield Maidens are to take you to it."
"Did he say what it is?" Claire asked. While she didn't have a good opinion of the dead wizard considering his track record and how certain plans should go, they usually prove useful.
"Only that it can lead you to defeating Garmr for good." Freya answered. "Though it can only be accessed by answering a riddle."
Roland's eyes widened at this. The vision he had with Bessa involved him answering riddles, were they to prepare him for this.
"I can call Sigrun and the other Shield Maidens so we can take you to Folkvangr." Freya offered to the group. "Your quest will be ov-"
BOOM!
A loud noise occurs outside, and the group goes to investigate it. They see that the others in the camp have come to see that two men have appeared in the center of the camp with a symbol on the spot they stood on.
The first man is incredibly tall and extremely muscular with icy blue eyes and long blond hair. His body is covered in scars from previous battles, as well as several tattoos of Norse runes which cover his chest, back, and his face. His hair was tied into four separate braids, his longest braid had multiple hair rings and jewelry attached at the end, as for his beard it was tied into two smaller braids. He wore brown leather pants secured by an armored loincloth with added belly armor, held together by a leather belt attached to a decorative piece of blue armor, multiple pieces of the armor have a specific design depicting two horses, while most of his upper body is exposed. He also wears two blue bracelets on his left lower forearms, a blue guard on his right arm, and a second guard around his right bicep. In terms of shoes, he wears brown leather boots with minimal stitching. On his shoulder was a massive broadsword that he held in his right hand.
The second man was tall, though not as tall as the first man, and has a heavy musculature build. He has ice-blue eyes, red hair, and a beard that covers half of his face. He has two braids in his French Fork style beard, by his chin. He wore brown fur-edged leather shoes, blue-colored pants with knee protectors, and an armored loincloth with belly armor held by two brown belts. On his upper body, he wears stick fur which cowers his back to waist added to nuclease-like holder around his neck while his chest is exposed and covered in an Elder Futhark tattoo. He also has armor on his shoulders that span to his forearms, along with several small leather bracelets. In his left hand he had a square metal shield and in his right hand was a one-handed medieval mace.
"Magni," Douxie said as he looked to the blond man before looking at the red head, "and Modi. The sons of Thor."
"Been a while Douxie." Magni greeted the wizard cordially. "Heard about what happened to Merlin, our condolences."
"Too be honest he was kind of an arse, no offense." Modi added.
"So why has Odin sent the two of you?" Freya said to her former step-grandsons. "Odin knows better than to come after me and the two of you don't like your grandfather."
"Believe me Lady Freya under normal circumstances we wouldn't be bothering you, but he's requested an audience with the Gunslinger, Douxie, and the Trollhunter." Magnir explained. "No one else though."
"You can bring your pet though boy." Modi said to Jim. "He's okay with a few animals."
The group looked at the sons of Thor before talking amongst themselves.
"Do you think it's a trap?" Jim asked.
"Asgard and Midgard are currently allies." Freya said. "While Valhallen maybe Odin's son his loyalties may draw him to Midgard if war were to be declared, and everyone in the Nine Realms knows of Roland's power, Douxie's skill in magic, and how you wield a sword capable of killing gods. If anything, this might actually be peaceful for once since Odin is inviting people that can actually kill him in his home."
"We must remain cautious though." Roland advised. "Odin spoke to me when I was in Alfheim and admonished me for my powers, it could still turn into a fight."
"Then there's what Merlin left for us to defeat Garmr." Douxie added. "That isn't something we can just leave waiting."
"Magni said that it's only you, Jim, and Roland that Odin wishes to speak with Douxie." Archie said to the wizard. "The three of you can go to Asgard and talk to him while the rest of us can go to Folkvangr, answer the riddle, and then we'll have everything that we need to complete this quest."
"It sounds like a good plan." Claire says.
"A little divide and conquer." Toby added.
"Sounds like we got everything figured out." Jim says before him, Douxie, and Roland turned to the sons of Thor. "We'll go."
Magni nods in agreement at the Trollhunter's words. Archie hops off of Douxie's shoulder and onto Claire's while Jim, Roland, and Douxie head over to the sons of Thor with Barks following them. The group is gathered together, and Jim turns to face Claire and the others.
"We'll be back." Jim assures his girlfriend.
"Just be safe." Claire says back.
Jim nods is head in agreement and a beam of light hits his group taking them to Asgard.