Author's Note: WHAT IS UP MUCKAAAAACHUNGAAAAAS!? IT'S TRAVEZTY! Okay so while I was supposed to be working on Rebellion, recently I've been having a Norse Mythology Itch that I've desperately needed to scratch! However, I am currently working on the next chapter of Rebellion, but I'm going to be working on this story as a bit of a side project, as I absolutely love Norse Mythology, and, with the help of my girlfriend, Wolfflight of ShadowClan, we're going to be bringing you the best Norse Story based on our Roleplay Universe, or RP-Verse for short.
However, before we begin, there are a few things that I need to explain for this story that you will need to know in order to better understand this story:
Item #1: The "OC" in this story is actually based on a fusion of my Favorite Norse God (Höður, Baldur's Blind Twin Brother, and the God of Winter and Darkness), and my least Favorite Norse God (Ullr, the Norse God of Winter and the Hunt). Now, as for the reason why I am combining these two gods is due to a video done by a YouTuber who goes by the name of "Norse Magic and Beliefs", and this guy said that Höður and Ullr are the same god, and this sent me down a rabbit hole to find out if this belief is the same, and I found a mentioning of a Theory about it. Unfortunately, try as I might, I couldn't find the theory that originated this idea that Höður and Ullr are the same God. However, this idea, despite annoying me to Valhalla and back, has me intrigued, and so I have decided to incorporate it into this OC who is Höður and Ullr, two gods as one being.
Item 2: Loki is going to be a woman in this one, and while this may not be well liked, Wolfy and I actually like this gender-bending in our RP-Verse, and it would allow us to actually change Norse Mythology so much because we had paired Thor up with her. Not only that with Höður now being an even more integral part to the mythology, it will be perfect for him. Besides, while Sif is a good wife in Mythology, Thor is, for all intents and purposes, an idiot with an anger problem, and so a fiery beauty like a female Loki, with more brains and genuine benevolence, would be a perfect combination to not only ease his rage, but direct his fury in the right direction. Besides, you can be a Trickster God without being an evil douchebag.
Item 3: Because Loki is not a man in this one, Angrboda's husband has been decided to be Thiazi, so that means that Skaði's siblings will be Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Héla themselves, which will make things all the more complicated and worrisome when things inevitably go south for this family.
Item 4: The Nine Realms, before this Chapter, are as follows: Asgard, Alfheimr, Vanaheimr, for Yggdrasil's Crown, Midgard, Muspelheimr, and Svartalfheimr for the Trunk, Nidavellir, Niflheimr, and Jotunheimr for the Roots. Helheim itself will be just below the Root Worlds of the Nine Realms, acting as the Tenth Realm. Kind of like how in the series "The Tenth Kingdom '' Manhattan, New York (aka Earth), is the Tenth Kingdom to the Nine Kingdoms of the Brother's Grimm Stories.
Anyway, that is enough out of me for now! Please be sure to Follow, Favorite, Review, and Share this story with anyone and everyone you know who likes Norse Mythology! Catch ya on the Flipside! SKOL!
Chapter 1: Let there be Night
Unspeakable pain… Relentless Agony… For Frigga, the Aesir Goddess of Marriage and Motherhood, it is her first time becoming a mother, however, she endures it as she can feel her firstborn child coming. The pain of her flesh stretching to its limit is a small price to pay, especially as this child will be her husband's heir, the Firstborn Son of Odin. Thor, that damn bastard with a Jotnar Woman, Odin's first wife… She would never allow such a being to take the throne of Asgard, no matter how much Odin desires it to the contrary. However, soon, all pain ends, and her ears expect to be greeted by the cries of a newborn, only… She hears nothing… "Your grace, it's a boy!"
"Why…?" Frigg asks, "Why isn't he crying?"
"He mustn't realize he is in the world… I can hear him breathing, your grace!" The maiden says, smiling at the goddess as she brings the boy over to her, in which Frigga smiles with joy as she looks at her little boy, one with silver hair and matching eyes when he opens them, She looks to see her infant looking around, holding out his arms in front of him weakly, and flailing around gently. However, the goddess smiles at her boy and let's him grasp her fingers as she smiles.
"Oh Höður… My little boy…" Frigga says, only for Frigga's pains to begin once more as she realizes something glorious… She is giving birth to twins! However, despite the pain being the same, it is relatively easier this time around, and once she gives birth, she hears her child's crying this time, and she looks to see the second boy coming into view for her once he is cleaned, this one with Odin's Golden Hair and her blue eyes. Her smile widens as she looks upon her boys, true joy flowing through her, especially once the door opens to reveal Odin, who walks in with a smile upon his face. "Odin, my dearest!"
"Frigga… Are these my boys?" Odin asks, smiling as he walks over to the boys, smiling with a hidden darkness behind his eyes. "Ah…" He picks up Baldur, the younger of the two with a smile. "What a beautiful heir!"
"Heir? Odin, that's the younger brother!" Frigga says.
"That thing in your arms is not my son!" Odin says, which Frigga says, shocked. "No son of mine, let alone my "heir", would be born blind!"
"Blind?" Frigga asks, looking at her son, to which she sees her son's eyes are cloudy, however, much to her shock, she can also see her eldest son glaring at his father, revealing her son's intelligence and awareness. Frigga looks at her husband with anger. "What if he is blind!?" Frigga says angrily, "Höður is the Firstborn! He is your heir!"
"I will never make that creature my heir, even if it kills me!" Odin shouts, and thus an argument ensues, only for Höður to start crying, and suddenly the room becomes extremely dark… And unnaturally cold… "See, he is a monster of Darkness and Cold! I will never allow the Splendor of Asgard to become buried in mountains of Snow!"
"ODIN!" Frigg shouts at her husband as he leaves with Baldur, whose body begins to glow with light as he cries, reaching for Höður, who reaches out for his twin, the two infants crying. Frigga sheds tears as she sees Odin leave with Baldur, and she holds Höður close. However, two pairs of feet walk towards the door, peering in.
"Lady Frigga?" A boy asks, in which Frigga looks to see it is Thor and Loki… Thor looks so much like his father, yet, being a bastard born of a Jotnar woman, Odin's first love, she could only see her failings as a wife and a queen in him. The other is Loki, a beautiful young girl who had been brought here after a brutal conflict with the Fire Jotnar of Muspelheim, a hostage as Odin had a dream the child of Surtr and Laufey, the former Guardian of the Jotnar, a fierce warrior-woman who had once fought and defeated Odin. Laufey would've killed Odin had he not used his magic to flee like a coward. She glares at the two, but Loki speaks up.
"Lady Frigga, we came to congratulate you on the birth of your boys!" Loki says, speaking eloquently. Frigga relaxes slightly.
"Could…" Thor asks, "Could I hold my brother?" Frigga, looking at Thor, wanted to hate him, however… Something tells her that Odin is not the man she knew, and maybe… Just maybe… Thor could protect her son when Odin refused… She calms her expression and gently holds Höður to Thor, who cautiously approaches.
"Mind his head…" Frigga says, to which Thor carefully takes his little brother.
"Hello, little brother…" Thor says, shedding tears. "It's your big brother, Thor…" The little babe giggles as he hears his brother's voice. "So you're a God of Winter and Darkness… I'm the God of Thunder and Storms!" He then let's Höður grip his hand, "I promise to always protect you… Höður !" Loki walks over and smiles at the little baby, her eyes filled with wonder as she looks at the baby.
Frigga, conflicted, looks at them with a smile, and she could see their future, with three beautiful children, and with Loki having a pair of horns upon her head with a crown of fire floating between her horns, while Thor stands strong and handsome. She could honestly see these two together, as, thanks to her, she had made them outcasts, but now, seeing as how Odin had abandoned her son, and, more than likely, would betray her with other women. She then smiles as she sees about pairing the two together in the future, smiling as she now begins to plot against Odin for his cruelty. "Thor…" Frigga says, in which the god of thunder looks at her, "I'm sorry… For everything…"
"I forgive you, Frigga…" Thor says, smiling as he sheds tears of relief and joy. Seeing the tears on the boy's face causes a twinge of regret and maternal love to reach her icy heart, and she pulls the boys into a warm hug.
10 Years Later…
It has been nearly 10 years since that day, and Höður stands in the training courtyard with a rather unremarkable sword, a "gift" from his father as the man couldn't be bothered to get him anything spectacular for his First Trueborn son. It was like this every year, Baldur was showered with gifts by almost everyone, including the girl they both competed for, Nana, the Goddess of Joy and Peace, only for her to choose Baldur, in the cruelest way possible, as she had only spent time with Höður to get closer to Baldur and make him jealous. To add insult to Injury and twist the knife deeper, had he and Baldur not been twins, she would have chosen Höður, but even he could tell from her heartbeat that it was a lie.
He was so angry and heartbroken that Winter came to Asgard, and he nearly buried the Realm in snow. Thor had done his best to console him with Loki, but Odin merely told him that Baldur was born lucky, while Höður was lucky to be born, despite being first. However, despite everything, his birthday wasn't completely ruined, in fact, he was out here at the training field for one specific reason, to waste time until Thor, Loki, and his uncles, Vili and Ve arrived. So as he stands before a dummy, he takes hold of the sword he was given and begins training with it. Despite how, compared to other Aesir Swords, shoddy it was made, he found the balance to be perfect for him as he began going through the motions he was trained with, swinging his blade with some actual skill for his age.
It often shocked his siblings, especially that spoiled brat Baldur, and the other Aesir how, though apparently blind, Höður was actually quite talented, much to his mother's pride. However, that is when he would hear footsteps approaching, and, at first, he snarls as he thinks he recognizes those footsteps, but then he relaxes once he has the scent of who it is. "Uncle Vili! Uncle Ve!"
"Hello Höður!" Vili says, smiling at his nephew. Unlike his father by birth, these two were more like the fathers he wished he had. They were rarely in Asgard recently due to the fact that they were working with his father on a New Realm, called Midgard. "Happy Birthday!" Ve nods, smiling. Höður smiles as he hugs his uncles, who smiles at the young God of Winter and Darkness. "Are Frigga, Thor, and Loki here?"
"They should be soon! What's the big surprise?"
"Just wait until they get here and we'll explain!" Vili says, smiling. Thankfully, they only need to wait a few more minutes for them to join, but with them are those he didn't expect to see: Tyr, Hermóðr, and Bragi, all three of them being slightly younger than him. "What are you three doing here?" His voice isn't angry, but rather surprised Frigga even let them join in on this conversation.
"They had birthday gifts for Höður, but Odin wouldn't let them give them unless they gave Baldur something first." Frigga explains. Höður looks at the three, genuinely touched as, out of his six siblings, he only knew that Thor liked him, while Baldur and Heimdall actively despised him, thanks to Odin. Tyr, Bragi, and Hermóðr were all on the fence, with Hermóðr being his youngest trueborn sibling, being born only a few years after him. Tyr, for his part, was originally a Jotun, but because the two got along for the most part, and acted as somebody that Tyr could bounce his ideas off of, and acted as his sparring partner in the Art of War. Finally there was Bragi, and while Höður wasn't much of a musician, he actually loved Bragi's singing and poetry, which he would compliment and give his honest thoughts on, which would allow him to improve upon his younger brother's talents.
Höður's nearsighted eyes gaze upon those who have gathered, his joy soaring as he can't describe how happy he is. Vili and Ve, smiling at their nephew, "I will go first!" Frigga says, smiling as she looks at her son, and brings out a small bag, smiling at him. "Your gift is here!" Höður tilts his head and gently takes the little pouch and opens it, finding something flowing out of it when he tilts it into his hand, what he finds, surprisingly, are three rings, each of which are beautifully crafted. One of the rings is a simple band with a groove in the center, where a string of metal is set into the groove, the second is a beautiful silver band with a blue gemstone, and the third is a beautiful black ring with a white gemstone set into it.
"These are beautiful, but… What are they?"
"Höður , my child, what am I the goddess of?"
"M-Marriage?" Höður asks, blushing as he realizes this. "These are-?"
"Yup, but other than that, I won't tell you more!" Frigga says, smiling at her little boy, as he puts two gemstone rings back into his bag, whilst he holds the plain band and examines it, before deciding to slip it onto his finger, smiling as he looks at it. However, that is when he turns to look to see who is walking over to him next, and sees Thor, who is smiling at his little brother.
"Thor?" Höður asks.
"Brother, starting tomorrow, I will be teaching you how to fight in Hand-to-Hand Combat. I will be teaching you Glima, just like you have been asking me for the past year!" Thor says, in which Höður hugs his brother immediately.
"Thank you, big brother!" Höður says, smiling as he is excited, the God of Thunder gently pats his little brother's head. That is when somebody walks over to Höður , and he looks to see it is Loki, who smiles as he looks at the Goddess of Mischief, who brings out something from under her cloak, and, much to Höður 's surprise, it appears to be a black cloak with a fur collar and a hood upon it, in which Höður looks at it. "What is this?"
"It is an item I had created for you, it is called Grima, or the Dark of the Night…" Loki says, helping Höður put it on, the hood clearly made for adults, but when it is properly fastened to him, to the shock of everyone, Höður disappears, except for the parts of his body that are exposed to the light. "Grima channels your powers over Darkness to hide you in a veil of cold air and darkness to protect you from sight. However, you only turn invisible once the hood is completely over your head, and if somebody spots you before you put the hood on, then they'll be able to see, as the background behind you will seem like…" Loki tries to figure out how to word it, "Do you know what happens when you open your eyes underwater, when everything becomes blurry? Think that as what people see, the world seems to bend around you and become blurry."
"Thank you for the warning, Loki!" Höður says, smiling as he hugs her, knowing that she and Thor will get married eventually, but he wants to save that surprise for later. However, the next person to approach Höður is actually Tyr, the God of War, who brings forth something that Höður didn't expect to see: It appears to be something akin to a mix between three different weapons… It looked like a large spear, but had the fletchings and head of an arrow, yet… There was something about it that told him this was meant to be thrown… "What is this, Tyr?"
"This is a special dart I had crafted for you, big brother!" Tyr says, smiling, "I had to make it long enough to be thrown, but with a thick enough shaft to be used for close-quarters engagements, while giving it the capabilities to fly a good distance!"
"Very nice brother!" Höður says, taking the weapon in his hands as he examines the Black Dart, which carries a glossy black blade upon it, with a rather nice shaft made of completely black wood, and with large black feathers as the fletching. The Shaft itself is 7ft long from the base of the dart to just under the tip with a 6ft shaft with a 12in metal arrowhead made of black metal. Höður smiles as he starts performing maneuvers with the spear, being very careful not to hurt somebody, and he smiles as he finds the balance is perfect for somebody like him, and he hugs his younger brother with a smile on his face. "Thank you little brother, I love it!" Tyr smiles as he hears his brother's words, and following him is Bragi, who presents Höður with a matching horn of pure black, with a metal mouthpiece and a metal rings clasped around it with runes carved onto it. "Oh now this is a nice horn!"
"I am glad you like it, big brother! It took me a while to figure out what you would like…" Bragi says, gently handing the horn to Höður , who smiles as he takes it into his hands. "It's a magical horn as well, anyone who hears it's sound will fall asleep instantly!"
"Very interesting!" Höður says, smiling as he hugs his little brother, who smiles as his big brother hugs him back. That is when Höður comes to his youngest trueborn brother, Hermodr, who smiles as he presents Höður with something that actually stuns him, as he cannot identify what they are. "What are these?"
"Well I had been talking to the others, and most of them were focusing on making items that would enhance your powers over Darkness… However, I decided to create something that would take advantage of your other set of powers… The Winter Aspect." He then shows Höður that the items look like they were some sort of strappable attachment to his boots, with large sharpened blades on each that had been riveted to the foundation very carefully, using similar techniques to that one would make for ships… With Hermodr helping him put them on, he then realizes what is going on.
"Hermodr… Dearest brother… Are these what I think they are!?"
"That is right, brother dearest, these are ice skates! Though I had realized that the Bone Skates that most of our people use are good on their own, however, we require extra assistance to glide across the ice. However, when I accidentally dropped my sword on some ice… I discovered something spectacular… The blade of my sword slid across the ice, and, shockingly even though it had damaged the ice, the damage was quickly sealed back up again… I don't know how it works but…"
"I think I get it!" Höður thinks, tightening the last strap and he balances himself, and he feels his powers flow into blades itself… That is when a frigid mist flows out from the blades of Höður 's skates, and, much to his shock, the mist flows out in front of him, creating a small path of ice. With a small gentle nudge from Hermodr, Höður begins to skate forward, pushing himself off and, much to his surprise, more ice flows out in front of him and he begins to skate around Asgard with a smile upon his face, laughing and whooping as he moves through the realm, the ice behind him rapidly melting away as more ice is created in front of him to skate.
From his palace, Odin, Baldur, and Heimdall look towards the sound as Baldur looks at his brother having fun, his eyes filled with wonder as he looks at his twin, but also jealousy fills his heart as he wonders how he could not have such a gift, while Heimdall, sighing in disgust, just sees how frivolous this is. However, for Odin, he grits his teeth and clenches his fist, seeing how this little blind idiot is having so much fun when he should be miserable… He swears somebody is conspiring against him to do this… But, for now, he has to focus on other things, namely the completion of Midgard, in which Vili and Ve had told him they had used up the last of Ymir's Corpse to finish up Midgard, and so, he has to prepare for the coming of man.
Höður , making his round a bit, returns to where his family members have gathered and soon comes to a stop with a smile on his face, out of breath, and laughing. "That was really fun, brother! Thank you so much!" Höður says, hugging Hermodr with a smile upon his face, and his sibling smiles big at this.
"I suppose it is time for us to give you our gift, Höður , but for that, we need to go somewhere beyond Odin's Gaze!" Vili says, smiling, in which Höður tilts his head. "Brother?"
"Right! Everyone join hands with us!" Ve says, in which the two brothers join hands with everyone, and in a burst of fire and ice they vanish from sight, in which Huginn and Muninn fly towards Odin to reveal what they had seen.
The flames and ice vanish as the family appears somewhere that nobody expected them to be, a great wasteland of ice and snow, in which, much to everyone's surprise, quickly registers for them, they are in Niflheim. Höður looks around with shock, finding his body not feeling even the slightest bit of cold, but then he sees something that he never thought he would see, the remains of a massive Jotun's corpse. "Uncles, is that?"
"What is left of the Remains of Ymir…" Vili says, "From this we will be giving you the Gift to End all Gifts…"
"We are going to be creating a realm for you!"
"Really?" Höður asks, shocked, but happy, hugging his uncles with a smile on his face. "When do we start?"
"We can begin but first let's get somewhere we can do so warmly!" Ve says, shivering, everyone begins nodding in agreement. They soon vanish again and find themselves within Bilskirnir, the Hall of Cracking Lightning, Thor's personal hall within his personal realm within Asgard called Þrúðheimr, situated within the plains of Þruðvangr. Thor, smiling as they look around, make their way to his private audience chamber, where they situate themselves around the great table and bring in parchment for Höður's realm. "So Höður, what do you envision your realm to be like?"
"Well… I have had some thoughts, but I feel like I would like for my realm to be as vast as we can make it, but considering we have limited materials to work with, and since Baldur may want to take the realm for himself, I want this realm to be hidden from sight and sound, a place that nobody alive can enter unless I give them express permission to." Höður explains.
"So then we want to make your realm a hidden home?" Frigga asks, "That would make the most sense. "However, where to hide it?"
"I have an idea…" Thor says, "Why not at the very bottom of Yggdrasil?" Everyone looks at him, "What? It's a good place, almost nobody knows what is at the very bottom of Yggdrasil, not only that, nobody ever wants to go there! Höður 's home is built there, then, nobody would want to go there!" Höður looks at his brother, rubbing his chin…
"That is… Actually quite the logical idea!" Höður says, looking at his brother, with a smile on his face. "First thing we need to do is get to the Bottom of Yggdrasil first, once we know if there is anything down there, then we can make a plan!" Vili and Ve nod at this as they begin to stand, knowing what it is they need to do.
"Then until you return, we will remain here…!" Frigga says, to which she stands and hugs Höður , "Be careful, my son…"
"I will, mother!" Höður says, hugging her back as Vili and Ve vanish with him, the rest of the family sitting there as they wait. Höður , opening his eyes when they appear before Yggdrasil… If Höður 's eyes were better than they were, the scene before him would be far more mesmerizing… What he could see is the Great World Ash standing majestically under, through, and above everything… He would see the stars dancing around a great cosmic lattice around the sky, with clouds slowly flowing through the night sky as the charioteers of the sun and moon dance around the sky. He could see it, not clearly, but he can also see the Great World Ash standing mighty and proud, and flowing through its branches, along its trunk, and at its roots, are the great Worlds of the Cosmos… Though Höður can't rightly see them, he can feel where their magic is coming from.
Within the Branches of the World Tree are the Realms of Alfheim, Asgard, and Vanaheim, each held gently but firmly by the branches of the World Tree. At its trunk are the Realms of Midgard, Muspelheim, and Svartalfheim sitting next to one another. At its Roots are the World's Jotunheim, Nidavellir, and Niflheim, each of them being held by one of the gnarled hand shaped roots of the World Tree. However, as the three gods stared at what they see, Höður hears something… A Call… A Sound as he slowly floats down towards the base of the World Tree. "Höður ! Wait!" Vili calls out as Höður touches down on the tree and begins running down towards the bottom of the World tree, finding very thin roots that expand past the three Root Realms, and finding their fingertips have "nails" that slowly converge onto one single point. "Höður , what has gotten into you?" Vili asks, in which the young god points down, in which he and Ve look, and see something in complete and utter shock, seeing what they hadn't believed still existed… Water… Glowing Water that was releasing the mists of Niflheim off it's surface, yet they could feel their warmth from here. That is when the two gods look up and realize what is going on… Muspelheim and Niflheim, while moved apart from each other upon the World Tree, the warmth of Muspelheim still reached Niflheim, and allowed it's waters to flow into a new Ginnungagap… Yet this newest iteration of the Gaping Void felt different, far more powerful than what had come before… "Höður ..?"
"The Darkness of these Waters… It's calling me…" Höður says, breathlessly, and the two uncles of the Blind God nod at each other as they vanish… Sitting there before the Gaping Void, Höður would hear the voices from deep within the dark calling to him, his nearsighted eyes seeing things in the pool that are not clear to him, but… He can hear the melodious laughs of a young girl about his age, and the boisterous laughing of another, equally happy as he hears them dancing and frolicking among the flowers. He doesn't know why, but these voices make him feel… Happy… At Peace… And as he stands up, Vili and Ve come back with the remains of Ymir, in which they look at their nephew, out of breath. "Uncles… May I take the first step?"
"Of cour-" Ve says, only for Höður to grab combined pieces of Ymir's remains and drags them into the water all at once. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" He doesn't get an answer as Höður jumps into the water, "Höður !" Ve is about to jump in but somebody grabs him. "No! He can't swim!"
"He knows what he's doing, brother! Give him a chance!" Vili says, and almost five seconds after he says that, the Ginnungagap begins to glow brighter as waves of blackened light and frigid mist rush out of the void, coating it entirely in mist, and the two gods have to cover their faces with their arms to protect themselves… Only… They don't feel any harm come to them… Instead… They find themselves standing… Upon what appears to be a large and steep slope overlooking a massive forest that is covered in a thick and indescribable mist… They see behind them, along the cliff, there is a pathway set out before within the dank loamy soil that is a path made of… "Are those… Bones?"
"Looks like it! Animal bones and… Are those Elf Bones and Dwarf Bones?" Ve asks.
"I think I even see a jotun's toe bone as well!" Vili says, looking around, only for them to then hear a croaking as something lands nearby on a dead tree branch, and they see a Raven. "A raven!? How did-"
"That's not Huginn or Munnin!" Ve says, but then something occurs to him, "Let's keep going…! We might be able to-"
"To what?" A voice echoes out from behind them, and they turn in shock to see a face they were hoping not to see, Odin.
"Odin!" Vili and Ve say, looking at him.
"So this is where the last of Ymir's Corpse had gone to… What have you two done!?" Odin says, furious.
"Something you should have done, your highness…" Vili says, venom in his voice. "If you hated Höður that much, then why not just get rid of him by giving him his own Realm?"
"What!? And why would I do that!?" Odin shouts.
"Because Höður is not respected in Asgard thanks to you, even though he represents the Dichotomic Balance between Baldur and Himself: Heat and Cold, Life and Death, and Light and Darkness…" Ve says, looking at his brother. "If Baldur is the Light of Asgard, then why not give him a realm all to himself that he can rule, a Dark Realm, hidden away from everyone else, save for those…" He then motions to the bone paved road, "Who are Dead?" Odin is about to protest, only to stop himself, beginning to think carefully about what Ve is saying, pondering the logic of it. "You were planning on building a Hall where Fallen Warriors, the descendants of Ask and Embla, will go when they die, but what about the Rest of the Souls, those who have no place to go?"
"You may have a point… And Now I can see the Wisdom of your Foresight, brothers." Odin says.
"Do not thank us, brother, thank your son, Höður! He created this world himself!" Vili says. Odin, pinching the bridge of his nose, realizes that while the idea to build Höður a "home" was originally Vili and Ve's idea, Höður did all the necessary hard work. However, despite this, Odin looks around and sees the great Yew Trees that litter the forest, while there are also great rocky bluffs that are scattered around the soil, however, most of it is blocked out by the thick mist that blocks sight for more than a 100 feet outwards. "Before we go though, let us go retrieve those who wished to be there to see Höður's Home."
"Fine…" Odin says, going to sit on a rock as Vili and Ve leave, Odin sitting upon a rock as the Raven on the nearby tree tilts it's head and flies off as soon as Odin spots it. 'That's not one of my ravens… Just how did Höður?' That is when he has Huginn and Munnin fly out, exploring the region around him, hoping to get a clear view through their eyes. What he sees through their eyes is an absolutely massive realm, one big enough to possibly fit all 9 Realms inside it, maybe even more than that. The entire realm was shrouded in a thick mist that made it extremely difficult to see more than 100ft beyond where one stands… The Soil itself is an extremely damp and cold loam that Odin just can't agree with, and the topography of this world is covered in not only steep bluffs, but massive valleys so deep and dark that nothing can be seen, while the Boundaries of Helheim are surrounded by Great Black Mountains… However Huginn and Muninn also spot what appear to be two massive rivers that each extend out into what appears to be a mighty sea that stretches out towards the Horizon. However, there is one thing that immediately catches his attention, Huginn and Muninn standing atop a great Yew Tree and seeing that, across one of the rivers is a Great Black Mountain, where, in a Valley situated within it, there is a Great Fortress of Black Ice the size of Asgard rising out of the ground as the Yew Trees surrounding it become coated in the same ice, turning the forest as black and dark as night. Not only that, he sees there are three great walls flowing up from the ground, all of them made of black ice.
However, before he can explore more, he feels Vili and Ve returning with Frigga and the other conspirators, alongside Baldur and Heimdall, in which Odin simply sneers at this. Thor, giving his father a look, takes a gander at the realm around him and smiles. "Amazing, this place is beautiful!"
"It would be… If only we could see it truthfully, it's so dark and misty in this realm that I can hardly see a thing." Odin says.
"Goes to show what your neglect and abuse of Höður has cost you in a son." Frigga states, in which Odin just glowers at her.
"This realm is just disgusting…" Heimdall concurs with his father, "My sight can't reach further than a hundred feet in front of me within the mists, I can't even tell where the mists are moving!"
"Maybe I should shed a little light on the matter?" Baldur asks, raising his hands and creating a massive sphere of light above him the size of a small boulder… Unfortunately for the God of Light, beings of shadow fly out of the woodwork. "What the!?" the other gods get ready to defend themselves but they only seem to target Baldur's sphere of light, and begin to devour streams of it until it is nothing. "You monsters!"
"Feed us…" Another spirit says hungrily, "Give us more Light!"
"More!" they start chanting, begging for said lights, however, before Baldur begins to panic, Thor generates lightning in his hand.
"Will this sate your hunger, dark ones? If so, I will give to you if you answer me one question." Thor says.
"We shall endeavor to answer." one of the spirits says.
"Why do you seek the Light so much?"
"Everything begins in darkness, and so to, in Death, must it return, the Light is no different. We are born of the Void of Ginnungagap, and created to protect Helheim from beings who hold the Light of Life within them. We feast on the Light and leave nothing but shadows…" Thor, not entirely understanding, keeps his word and carefully feeds the light from his lightning to the dark spirits who take turns feeding, before Bowing gratefully to the God of Thunder. "A word of advice… Remain on the path, even when you sleep… For it created the only light we abhor… Stray from the path at night and our hunger will not be contained." The spirits fly off after being given their food, with Odin just looking in disgust as he and his family make their way towards the where Höður is located, even through the dark valleys and misty forest.
However, thankfully, the paved road of bones leads them through the dark and cold realm, with the eyeholes of every skull lighting the way as they pass through the realm, guiding them onwards for eight days until they reach the river that separates the great walls from the road. At the edge of the river, to their surprise, a bridge made of pure gold rises from the depths of the river, creating a path across as they slowly make their way towards the center.
The first of the great wall of the is covered Ina dense layer of mist that rises high above the walls, preventing others from seeing past it, and it takes them one quarter of a day to reach the second wall, where they see, carved into the icy wall, are the images of skeletons, corpses, and other such depictions of dead people, gods, and, even monsters… Eventually, they reach a Third Wall, and thus one depicts all sorts of events that will not happen now, but in the future. And as they pass this wall and it's gates, they see it… The Mighty Fortress of Black Ice beyond a frozen Yew forest, both of which glow with an eerie blue and emerald light that shines throughout. The doors of the Fortress open with Höður standing in the courtyard, looking at his family, holding in his hands bread and salt as he looks to those who arrive.
"Welcome, Kinsmen, to Eljudnir!" Höður says, holding out the bread and salt. The First of the people who takes a piece and dips it in the salt, much to the surprise of those there, is Baldur, his hand hesitantly does this and eats it, in which Höður looks at his twin, but then smiles gently. Slowly, after this, the rest of them begin to do the same, in which Höður bows respectfully to his father. "I apologize for the lack of a proper reception… But, as you can probably tell, Helheimr is not very full right now… So even if I wanted to give you a warmer reception, I am physically incapable of it, right now…"
"My dearest son, you needn't be so apologetic!" Frigga says, stepping forward before Odin can say anything. "This situation is not your fault, my boy. You shouldn't have to worry about that…!" Frigga says, smiling, which is when Odin clears his throat.
"Your mother is right, Höður… And as your uncles have stated, when the humans begin to multiply there will be souls who will not know the glory of Valhalla… So…" He summons his spear and slams the base of it into the ground, in which Höður, his eyes widening, kneels to the ground. "Höður…" He seems to hesitate to speak the words that are to come out of his mouth, for what reason, Höður can only guess, but there is a mix of emotions that he cannot identify from his tone and speech. "Odinson… My Firstborn… My True Heir… He whom I had so wrongfully robbed of his inheritance…" Baldur looks to his father with a look of shock on his face, unable to believe what his father is saying. "Through the years of neglect and harsh treatment that you have endured… You have proven to be as resourceful as the Darkness and as Patient as Ice… Fitting Elements for a King. Though you shall not inherit Asgard's mighty throne, you had won the hearts of those whom truly believe in your potential, and thus had secured the remains of Ymir's Corpse, and begot a realm far beyond the Light of Asgard, beyond my reach. Though long I have seen you as a threat to the stability of Asgard, yet only now do I see the mistakes I had made…"
'Pretty words laced with venomous lies…' Everyone thinks aside from Heimdall and Baldur.
"And so, it is only fitting… Though it is too late to make amends for what I have done… I shall grant you your first true birthday gift…" He raises his spear and places it's tip upon Höður's right Shoulder, "By my right and authority as the King of the Aesir, I, Odin Borrson…" He lifts the spear and places the other tip upon Höður's left shoulder, "From this moment, henceforth… I grant you dominion, supremacy, and authority over all of the Nine Realms. You are hereby charged to administer board and lodging to those who are sent to you, and they will be those who die of natural causes, sickness, old age, or mishap shall be sent to you. Those who have committed all manner of foul deeds in life shall also be sent to you to punish as you see fit, and they shall be Oath-Breakers, Murderers, Seducers, and Adulterers to name but a few. I also grant you room and board whenever you come to Asgard upon your own business or reasons…" He then places the tip of his spear upon the boy's head and then raises his weapon, sending out his energy throughout the Nine Realms before slamming his spear's pommel down on the ground. "As is my will, it shall be so!"