And now we'll learn the truth behind Apollo's Asgard Business.
Chapter 209: Asgard Business Part Two
Nidavellir
Sigyn and Apollo aren't sure how long it's been since they were beaten and cuffed upside down above a forge, but both their faces have turned red from all the blood going downwards. All the dwarfs continue working below as if their "disturbance" never happened and this was just a normal interruption for them. The scent of Sigyn's burning hair and metal melting fills their nostrils.
Sigyn inhales deeply. "You lost your mind."
"You know you made me lose it more than I already misplaced it, but I found it," Apollo argues, "and with that, I've been thinking clearly on what I think is best."
"Please tell me why we're here. I took the liberty of delaying my grocery shopping for whatever we're doing here. Now Xavier has to fend for himself."
"I get that he's your husband but I thought I was your brother. Xavier can sort himself out. I can't."
If she didn't have such a headache from hanging upside down and inhaling a medley of interesting scents, she would've headbutted Apollo for saying that and then make him lose his mind all over again. She believes he's slowly delving back into insanity but he didn't think he'd rocket to that mindset so quickly. She thought she'd have more time. He was doing so well. Apollo sometimes gets to this point when his mind is warped: always questioning and getting angry when people prioritize other things when he's in such a crisis.
She's lived it when she told him about their destiny back as teenagers. She's lived it when she first showed up unannounced on his doorstep. She's lived it when The Norns emerged from The Serpent Crown and told him that he's their Champion.
"You don't get it," Sigyn whispers, smiling a little. "At least you're still dense because I'm joking. I have been this whole time. I want to be here with you and whatever the fuck this is."
Apollo looks at her for a moment before smiling a little. "Good because since I got us inside, it's your turn."
"My turn? This was the dumbest way to get us inside so you can go again."
"It worked."
Sigyn rolls her eyes because he's not wrong. They are inside but not in a comfortable or preferable predicament.
"After you tell me why we're here," she states.
Apollo nods. "I owe you that. A few days ago, I-"
A wall of the forge breaks, rocks and weapons flying everywhere. The impact swings Apollo and Sigyn from where they dangle. As they slowly settle, both try to crane their heads upright so they could see better. A giant roars within the rubble as dwarfs arm themselves with their weapons and yell emergency plans at each other.
For a moment, it was like they forgot Apollo and Sigyn were their chandeliers.
"I got a covert message that giants would attack at this time so I decided to show up to help," Apollo says.
Sigyn laughs. "Fat chance. Use your axe."
"I said it was your turn. I'm being fair for once. Can't you use magic?"
"I'd need control of my hands." Sigyn jangles her chains. Her charm bracelet slips out of the cuff and down her arm.
Apollo's face sours. "Seriously?"
"Yes, and I learned that the hard way, but I also learned from my mistakes." She grins widely as her green eyes start glowing like her magic. They stand out in the dark forge, nearly blinding him. "Fun fact, I'm not really here. Kinda. I left when the dwarfs attacked but I'm still here if that makes sense. Like, my real mind and soul are in this fake physical body."
Apollo's brows furrow. "What?" He thinks for a second and shakes his head. "Oh gods, you pulled a Loki."
Sigyn nods, jutting upwards with her chin. They look up and see Sigyn, the more real her or real her (depending on how one views it), standing on their chained feet while holding onto the chain itself. She waves down at them before looking off to the dwarfs opening fire at the giant as it tears through the forge. More giants burst through and the dwarfs scatter to strategize again. She catches glances her and Apollo's way so she assumes they're glad they created a disturbance.
"Getting a little crowded in here, don't you think?" The Sigyn above quips, waving her magic down.
The cuffed Sigyn disappears so Sigyn above elegantly changes her footing so she's standing on Apollo's feet as he remains chained upside down. Sigyn feels Apollo get rowdy below her the moment the lead giant picks up a sword that was sitting in a now-shattered glass chasm.
"Hey!" Apollo screams.
All fighting stops as everyone looks up at him. Sigyn grips the chains so tight that her knuckles blanch.
"That's my sword!" Apollo yells.
"Oh…" Sigyn mutters, pursing her lips, "so that's the Asgard business. Okay, I'm caught up. Actually, not really. We might need some reinforcements but your mission, your plan, and your turn."
"Get me over there!" Apollo orders.
"So bossy…" Sigyn jokes. She leans against the chain as she watches the battle below continue. "Portal or ride?"
"What?"
Sigyn balls a magic hand into a fist and tightens it, breaking Apollo's bounds. She holds onto the chain with one hand so she doesn't drop. Before he falls, she swirls magic around him before punting him across the forge. He's a fast-moving blur. Apollo slams right into the lead giant who took the precious Asgard business sword.
But the giant catches him by the head. Sigyn winces, thinking she heard a crack but isn't sure if that's necessarily a bad thing. It's not like Apollo can die here. Ragnarök aside, he'd be pretty annoyed.
Fate's a blessing and a curse wrapped up in a Midgard Serpent.
"Hello, little Prince," the giant sneers, looking down at him. Apollo's head is wedged in the space between the giant's thumb and pointer finger, his face bright red as his body flails. "This will be fun."
Sigyn continues swinging from the chain above, trying to conclude whether Apollo in that position resembles a grape or a bothersome zit about to pop. And why would either of those need a sword? Apollo has an axe, a gift from the Norns to their Beloved Champion and her destined demise, so why would he ask Nidavellir to make him a sword?
Apollo being slammed into the ground catches Sigyn's attention. Something definitely cracked there. She bets it was … she doesn't know the bones in the skeleton but maybe one directly behind the collarbone since that's where the giant would've pressed against him to get to the heart and lungs. She's been paying attention to when her husband blabs about fighting strategies.
"My turn…" She sings to herself, building momentum to swing in a circle.
Sigyn lifts her free hand and holds it like a phone as it swirls with magic. She holds it up to her ear.
"I don't know if you're busy," Sigyn starts her call, "but Apollo and I are on some Asgard business on Nidavellir when some giants rudely interrupted and are making a mess out of the place. So if you wanted to drop by- hello?"
Sigyn looks at her hand phone and notices her magic's gone.
"Huh…" she mutters, shaking it to no avail. "Must've lost my signal. Look out below!"
She doubts anyone's actually looking as she lets go of the chain and lands on the ground on her feet. Dwarfs and giants fight around her. She raises her arms but stops when the hairs on the back of her neck tickle and send shivers down her whole body, coating her with a thin layer of magic. She jumps a little as Apollo's axe flies right through her body. Sigyn looks down at the little mystified hole in her torso as it closes up and she feels solid again.
It would've been a mess if that spell failed.
A shadow looms over Sigyn and she holds up her hand as a boulder flies her way. She catches it above her, wrapping the rock in her magic mid-air. When she balls her fist, it shatters. Pebbles and dust rain over her as she runs across the forge.
Apollo catches his axe just as he's grabbed by the lead giant again and thrown through some metal shafts used to create weapons. Sigyn stops when she watches Apollo rise, lightning sparking around him and his axe, sliding across the metal around him as if it's gliding on ice. He looks at Sigyn, mouthing "my turn" and she nods.
Sigyn looks at the lead giant holding it in place. Magic secures him to the spot and it tries to wriggle out. Apollo summons lightning from the sky and strikes it. Sigyn uses both hands to try and ball up the lightning and keep it on him. Her arms shake and its resistance and eventually, she lets go.
Lightning explodes. Mine materials fly everywhere as everyone falls back. Sigyn covers her face with the inside of her arm but squints her eyes above to keep a lookout ahead of her. Within the dust, the sword glints against remnants of lightning. Sigyn swears she saw runes etched into the blade. She couldn't pick up on what they said since dirt clouded her eyes and she had to blink and rub it all out.
Apollo looks at Sigyn. His axe is still gripped in his hand and blood runs down his nose. If he broke something, she couldn't tell.
"You know, it's been a while since I killed a giant."
Someone runs in from behind. They turn around and see Freya charge ahead of them, sword held high as she leaps. She screams as she slices her sword down but the giant raises the sword. When both weapons clash, Freya's sword breaks and she falls. She lands on her knees in front of the giant, pieces of her sword on the ground surrounding her.
"No, no, no…" Freya mutters, her voice cracking like her sword moments ago.
She holds the handle on one end and the tip of the blade with the other. Freya looks up and sees the giant about to whip the sword through her. Freya grunts as she stabs a piece of her sword into the giant's calf. The giant roars as Freya swipes its legs with her own. She rolls out of the way as the giant staggers.
Apollo charges his axe with lightning and fires, sending his weapon that way. Sigyn balls up magic and rapid fires. Freya grabs a ball and chain from the ground and winds it up before whipping into the giant's foot and leaving it in place.
"Freya, get out!" Apollo yells.
Freya steps back as Apollo flies in above her, checking into the giant, grabbing the stolen sword, and slamming the beast towards Nidavellir's star. Apollo lands on the ground again and backs away with Freya. When the giant contacts the star, Apollo hugs Freya tightly and cranes his body over hers so he'd get the most hits, but Sigyn runs in front of them and everyone. Magic dances and builds in her fingertips as the star explodes. Sigyn raises her hands and a wall of magic builds around Nidavellir to shield them all except the giants who remain. Those obliterate to dust in the explosion.
Sigyn heaves and screams as she holds it all back, her arms seizing against the pressure as her magic sears her. Moments later when it settles, Sigyn falls to her knees. She wheezes for air, holding a hand to her chest. She waves away smoke emitting from her arms and torso. Dwarfs slowly exit their hiding place and applaud as Apollo and Freya check on Sigyn who waves them off but they don't budge.
Freya eyes the new weapon in Apollo's hand. "That's a magnificent sword."
Apollo holds it up, spinning it around. "I'm glad you think so. By the way, as much as I love and adore your company, what are you doing here?"
"Sigyn called me because you didn't!"
"This is classified Asgard business!"
Freya frowns as she points the edge of her broken sword right underneath his chin. Apollo doesn't react except to smile as he holds her upper arms. A dwarf clears its throat and Apollo walks over to him.
"Ah, I was looking for you," Apollo says.
"Apologies for the misunderstanding, your Majesty," the dwarf responds, "I didn't notice you dangling from above until the giant broke in, but thank you for defending our home. Surely, the sword you requested is still in perfect condition."
"Better than what I imagined," Apollo says proudly. "And a successful test run, if I may add."
"A sword?" Sigyn questions, now standing beside Apollo as she looks at it. Even Freya's on his other side, the sword's side. "Is that for Ragnarök?"
Apollo hesitates. " … ah, yes, that's exactly it. A weapon to keep in my honour. May it one day cleave the Serpent."
Freya raises a brow. "Wasn't your axe given to you by the Norns for that exact reason?"
Sigyn and Freya both glare at him. The dwarf backs away, scurrying back to help clean up with the others.
Apollo laughs nervously. "Can never be too armed."
Sigyn doesn't stop glaring but notices Freya's expression softens at the remark. She smiles up at him, cheeks reddening not because she's fresh from battle. Her eyes flutter and Sigyn tries to recall a time when Freya was overtly smitten with Apollo. It's adorable.
"Well…" Freya says. "I'll need a new sword while we're here."
"I prepared for that," Apollo states. "Not for the giants to show up and for your sword to break but what I intended this sword to be. Actually, Freya, I planned to do this in the marketplace where we first crossed paths as children but I'm glad you're here. I'm always glad you're here."
"I want to fight more giants."
Apollo can't help but smile as he moves a lock of her hair behind her ear and traces her cheek with his thumb. "You know what, we will. But after this."
"After what?"
Apollo stands in front of Freya. He holds the sword flat in his hands, arms outstretched. Freya looks at him and gets a better look at the sword, dropping the pieces of her broken one at her feet once she recognizes it as her father's sword or an upgraded replica at most. Sigyn gets a closer look and notices that the design on Freya's mother's ring is engraved into the dark handle in silver, encasing a dark red gem. Along the blade is a glinting message written in Asgardian runes that are brought to focus when the light hits it at the right angle.
You are the People's Queen before mine.
Sigyn gasps, holding a hand to her mouth. She looks at Apollo with wide eyes but his focus is on Freya. Her eyes brim with tears as she keeps her gaze on the sword for longer, tracing the message with her finger before looking up at Apollo.
"What are you doing?" Freya asks although Sigyn knows she's connected the dots.
"A sword for my People's Queen."
Apollo wipes away her tears. He holds the sword on top of where her hands are as he gets down on one knee to present it to her formally.