Gods

by Ednah Walters

  “And this is Valaskialf, Odin’s palace. To the right is Valhalla. The field is not visible from here.”

  While the palace had silver steeples, long towers with runes and gold molding, and an open space before the grand entrance, the warrior’s hall was hidden behind a gated wall of what looked like giant spear shafts. All I could see were dome roofs made of shields.

  My focus shifted to the gathered deities in fancy clothes and cloaks. There were so many, but most appeared young, like they were in their teens and twenties and a few children. I stopped gawking when I saw a familiar face among them—Syn. He must be the one the goddess had sent to alert the Asgardians of our arrival.

  The gods and goddesses descended on us the moment Eirik stepped out of the carriage and helped me down.

  “Viggo,” Eirik said, and embraced a man around his age. Eirik introduced him as the son of Forseti, God of Justice.

  Viggo bowed and leaned in to kiss the back of my hand, then appeared to change his mind and planted a kiss on my cheek and hugged me.

  “Thank you for bringing him back,” he whispered.

  I didn’t have a chance to ask why he thought I’d brought back Eirik because the others were demanding to be introduced. Faces and names blended as Viggo introduced sons and daughters of gods and goddesses. I met Eirik’s cousins, second cousins, cousins twice removed. They treated him like he was their long lost brother. Some even said they’d thought he’d never come back until Ragnarok.

  “Are you kidding? How else am I going to annoy you guys?” Laughter followed. “Mother insisted I come and visit.”

  Most of the listeners didn’t mask their surprise. Others looked uneasy. Obviously the topic of a generous goddess was one they weren’t ready for. Then we entered the hall and my jaw dropped. One could fit several football fields into Odin’s hall. The floor gleamed and reflected the gold ceiling and the pillars. While arches separated Eljudnir halls, Odin’s vast hall had a continuous floor pattern and so many pillars. The entrance was at one end, the walls disappearing to the right and left, and directly ahead, in its place of prominence, was the throne atop semi-circular stairs. While both Eljudnir and Odin’ hall had runes on the floor, the pillars, the ceiling, and the walls, gold was the main color here, not gray. Outside was all silver while inside was golden.

  The second set of introductions started with Eirik taking over from Viggo. These were older gods and goddesses, parents and grandparents of the younger generation following in our wake like the tail of a comet. Some were amazed Eirik remembered their names and titles from his previous visit.

  “My father insisted I learn,” he said and they praised Baldur. “And Mother made sure I did. She is a perfectionist.”

  They clammed up and looked uneasy, but their reaction didn’t seem to bother Eirik. I was ticked off. What had Goddess Hel ever done to make them dislike her? I knew she’d lived in Asgard as a child before Odin gave her a realm to rule. But whatever she’d told Eirik must have been interesting, because he shared anecdotes about her interaction with some of the gods and goddesses as they were introduced.

  I realized what he was doing: making his mother relevant when the gathered deities wanted to ignore her existence. Whenever they asked about Baldur, he mentioned both his parents. Halfway down the hall, his strategy paid off when a goddess acknowledged teaching his mother something when she’d lived in Asgard. Another asked how she was doing before mentioning Baldur.

  I squeezed Eirik’s hand. He was my hero in so many ways. He was loving, protective, and fair. He never let anything or anyone stop him from doing the right thing.

  Gathered in this hall were some of the most powerful beings in the universe. The males were huge and fierce-looking in their tabards and cloaks of different colors. All of them had beards. Baldur was always clean-shaven, yet I could easily see him at home among these gods, even eclipsing them. The goddesses came in all shapes and sizes with auras of power and unforgettable faces. Yet Eirik had them by the time we reached the front.

  Finally, we stopped at the foot of the steps leading to the throne, and I looked up at the one-eyed, gray haired and bearded, Odin—also known as Alfadir by the gods—and his wife, my guardian. She was just as I remembered her and described her to the goddess.

  “I’ll introduce you.”

  My grip tightened on his hand as he pulled me closer, my knees quaking at finally meeting the woman who’d rescued me from drowning, crocodiles, and a burning house before finding me wandering in the astral plane. My heart pounded with excitement and gratitude. Should I hug her? Kiss her? Curtsey?

  “Alfadir, allow me to introduce…”

  I didn’t hear the rest of his introduction because the goddess stood and gave me a hug. It was surreal. I tried to speak, but emotions made that impossible.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered and pressed a perfumed handkerchief to my cheeks. Only then did I realize I was making a fool of myself. I reined in the waterworks. Keeping an arm around my shoulder, she hugged Eirik with the other. “I knew she’d bring you back.”

  Eirik looked thoroughly confused. “Bring me back? From where?”

  She chuckled. “Remember when you were here and I said you’d never come back if you left?”

  “Yes, but I always knew I’d come back.”

  “You would not have come back if it weren’t for this young lady, Eirik. Take my word for it. The premonitions I had about your future were always the same, until I saw you with her.” She patted my cheek, and I was happy I was no longer tearing up. “At first, I didn’t realize you were the little girl I’d watched over years ago, until I saw the woman who tried to kill you watching you. That concerned me a bit, but you had our Eirik by then.” She squeezed my arm. “You stopped needing me when you turned seven, Celestia, so I assumed my work was done, until I saw you lost in the astral plane. For once, the Norns allowed me to change a destiny.”

  Eirik laughed. “Norns had nothing to do with this, Grandma.”

  “Oh yes they did, dýrr mín,” Frigg said. “If I hadn’t intervened, Celestia would not have come to Helheim. Imagine what your life would have been like without her.” Eirik paled. “Someone somewhere allowed me to change things while I couldn’t for your father.”

  Odin chuckled, his good eye gleaming. “Your grandmother never tells me her premonitions, except one. The screaming baby, who kept her awake for days.” He patted my hand and my face warmed up. “Nice to meet you. My wife was right. You are a beautiful young lady”

  I curtseyed. “Thank you, Alfadir.”

  He studied me. “Nice. Do you like poetry, child?”

  “Yes.” I glanced at Eirik. He was trying hard not to laugh. The goddess had told me Alfadir loved poetry.

  Frigg laughed. “Don’t start, dýrr. She and I have much to talk about,” she said. “Eirik, spend some time with your grandfather.” She kissed his cheek and took my arm. “I’ll show Celestia to your quarters.”

  We walked to the foot of the stairs and then she led me out of the hall and into a hallway. Several servants were right behind us and so were Kainani and Bree. When we slowed down to a stop, they did too.

  “Thank you, my dear,” Frigg said. “Our Eirik is back because of you. And if I could find the Norns responsible, I’d thank them too.”

  “I still can’t believe Norns had anything to do with this. They’re horrible.”

  She chuckled and took my arm. We continued walking. “No, they’re not. They are doing their job. If you’re lucky to know what they plan, then you can try and change it. In most cases, it doesn’t work when the destiny you’re trying to change is part of a bigger and grander plan, like my son Baldur. I tried to change his, but his destiny resulted in the birth of Eirik, so I failed. Everything has worked well in the end. Your destiny was to help him, so the Norns made sure I was there to watch over you.”

  “How did they do that?”

  “When I arrived at the hospital, your Norns were still there.”

  “My
what? I have Norns?” I asked in disbelief.

  She laughed again. “Every time a child is born, three Norns appear to seal his or her fate. The Wise Ones weave destinies, but the three Norns assigned to a child seal them. The first one seals the past thread, which is influenced by the choices parents make for their children when they’re too young to know better. Whether that thread impacts their present or not depends on the Wise Ones. The second Norn seals the present thread, and whether present decisions will lead to a path of greatness or tragedy. And the third one, ah, the last Norn’s seal is the trickiest and the most important. She seals your future, so the choices you make in the present stay the same regardless of what you do to change it, or they give you a little room, so either you or an external force can alter your destiny. I could not change Baldur’s destiny, but I could yours. So I listened to your Norns talk about your path to adulthood and how it was going to be rocky and how it would end. It sounded bleak, so I decided to intervene and hoped I wouldn’t fail. Whenever I got a premonition about you, I did what I could to help. I had no idea you too were part of a bigger and grander plan,” she added, chuckling.

  She stopped outside a door and it opened as though responding to her presence. She indicated to her servants to get us refreshments while she showed me around. The rooms were similar to the guest quarters in Eljudnir with several bedrooms, except it was bigger and light poured through a window into the living room. The oceanic view from the master bedroom was breathtaking.

  The closet was actually a dressing room with mannequins. Someone already removed my gowns and Eirik’s outfits and draped them on the mannequins along with the jewelry. I groaned when I saw my panties, bras, and stockings, and his boxers and socks nicely arranged on a round table. By the time we arrived back in the living room, there was a tray with drinks, a platter of cheese snacks, and another of fresh fruit.

  “Sit down and let’s talk. Eirik will join us when he’s done with his grandfather. Knowing my Odin, he’ll want to meet his dragon side.”

  “He must eat something afterwards or he’ll be very weak.”

  She waved over one of the servants and sent him off with a message. “They’ll take care of him. Tonight, we party, eat, and dance. Tomorrow, we’ll go to my hall, Fensalir, to meet my court and learn about your future role. As the wife of a ruler of the gods, you won’t just sit around and look pretty. While Eirik heads his court, you will head yours. When not learning from us, you will work with Eir on your healing gift.”

  I stared at her in shock. “Eirik and I aren’t… uh, we haven’t discussed things.”

  She smiled. “What’s there to discuss? I know how you feel about my grandson and he’s made it clear what role you will play in his life by bringing you here. Now, tell me about your gift of healing. How are you and Hel getting along? What’s life like in Eljudnir?”

  We were still talking when Eirik came to change into his flight suit.

  ~*~

  EIRIK

  I shot up past the highest pillar of Asgard and headed north. The second Celestia and Grandma Frigg left, Alfadir had asked to meet my dragon side, and that had led to flying. I swooped low toward the warriors training in the field of Valhalla. Freya’s field, Fólkvangr, was on the other side of Asgard and closer to her hall.

  The warriors stopped training and watched me fly past. I planned to train with them starting tomorrow. I turned and headed back toward Valaskialf, circling the highest tower of the palace. It was also the highest point in the entire Asgard and an observatory for Odin. Through the skylight, I could see the highest throne from where he observed the nine realms or conferred with his ravens. It was one of three thrones.

  The other two included the huge one in the hall, where he’d received us and was also where he talked to warriors. The last one was in Gladsheim—the Aesir Court where all the thirteen main gods had seats and often discussed strategies.

  The gathered spectators stepped back to give me room, but I shifted just before landing. More questions followed, but I was impatient for some alone time with my grandfather to tell him about my parents.

  “I’ll answer your questions tonight or tomorrow. Right now I have an urgent matter to attend to. May I have a word, Alfadir?”

  Grandfather led me toward the observatory throne. I indicated to Daiku and Ranger to stand down. I didn’t need them shadowing my movements. And if Alfadir decided he wanted me to stay in Asgard against my will, the Grimnirs wouldn’t stand a chance against his guards. Asgardians were war gods. Like their guards and warriors, they trained daily to be prepared for any attack by the other realms. Even the goddesses trained. I planned to teach Celestia once Cora came home. Cora might even join us.

  “I want to know how it feels when you go through the shift,” Alfadir said the moment we were alone. “Do you think and act differently?”

  “I used to, but not anymore. Celestia helped me embrace my dragon.”

  “Good women often do. How do you battle as a dragon?”

  “Other than incinerating anything in my path, every part of my body is a weapon—horns, teeth, wings, and tail. My senses are very useful too. I can see, hear, and smell anything or anyone from afar. When in my human form, I can go into partial shift to protect myself with scales and use my senses to anticipate an attack.”

  He laughed and slapped my back. “You are the ultimate weapon, Baldurson. Tomorrow, I want you in the field with our Einherjar.”

  “Asgard warriors?” I asked, excited at the thought.

  “The once dead ones, not my usual guards. I know Freya will ask you the same thing tonight, but I beat her to it, so Valhalla’s Einherjar come first. They’ll learn a few tricks from you, even out the odds.”

  Our fighters? “Alfadir, you know I cannot take a side during Ragnarok.”

  “Of course you will, Baldurson. You will protect Midgardians. Heimdall will give you some of our Einherjar to fight with you if you like. Still, it’s a foolhardy endeavor, but that’s what the Völva I visited told me. You might save a few more, but the majority of them will perish.”

  “A few are better than none.” We stopped outside the door. I didn’t understand the gods’ attitude. “Have you ever thought of changing the fate of the gods, Alfadir? If you killed Surtr, so his army of fire giants would be in disarray, you could sign a peace treaty with Jötunheim, Svartalfheim, and Nidavellir.”

  He chuckled again. “But every good thing must come to an end. We’ve had a good life, Eirik, and when Ragnarok ends, our turn to rule ends with it and your turn begins. Rule wisely and justly. Add to the knowledge of the Midgardians. And lead a productive life, so when your turn ends during your Ragnarok, you will be ready to let go. Then it will be the turn of your sons and daughters. It’s how the world works. If you try to fight your destiny, it fights back, and you’ll end up a miserable leader.”

  He pushed open the door and Geri and Freki, his two wolves, straightened from their resting position at the foot of his chair. They trotted over and he scratched their necks. They moved to me as he continued forward to climb the steps to his seat.

  I eyed the wolves, wondering if they remembered me. One sniffed and growled. Alfadir watched them without saying a word. He was always testing me. I focused on the wolves. I couldn’t tell them apart, so I went with calling them one at a time.

  “Freki!” The one to my left inched closer and sniffed my hand. I patted his head. “Come here, Geri.” The second one approached. I rubbed their necks; then let them sniff my hands. Grinning, I walked past them to stand before Odin.

  “What is it that can’t wait until tomorrow, Baldurson?”

  “Could I use your throne to keep an eye on someone in Midgard?”

  “A woman?”

  “Yes.”

  He chuckled. “That’s my boy. Love your consort, but don’t limit yourself to one woman. It’s the only way to get strapping sons without putting your consort through too many childbearing. Look at your grandmother? She still looks as beautiful a
s the day I met her and I could not imagine life without her. I love her and would do anything for her. Why is she happy and content? She has her own court of goddesses to keep her busy, her own hall so she didn’t have to see me with my mistresses, and she is free to take on a lover. So make sure your Celestia has everything she needs to keep her busy.”

  My idea of love and his were poles apart. I had no intention of sleeping around and siring children. He had three sons outside his marriage to my grandmother, and the three women were all Jötnar. He had a serious weakness for Jötun women.

  “Yes, Alfadir. I’ll do that.” I wasn’t going to tell him or anyone about Cora, until after she met our parents. For now, I’d rather let everyone think I was interested in her.

  “Sit.” Alfadir waited until I was seated then added, “Don’t stay in here for too long, Son. Watching people is not only addictive. You’ll be tempted to intervene. That’s why I send Muninn and Haginn.”

  “Yes, Alfadir.”

  “Stay,” he ordered his wolves. The two curled at my feet and closed their eyes.

  I leaned back on the chair and let my will to find Kayville take over. It was Monday and Cora was at school. I didn’t hear Alfadir leave the room.

  “That seat looks better and better on you, uncle,” Viggo said, entering the room. A servant came right behind him pushing a laden cart. “Someone said you should be fed after you fly, so here’s food.” When he joined me, he saw Cora. “Still spying on your ex? Thinking of taking her home as a mistress?”

  “Taking her home, yes,” I said, holding back a chuckle. He was only half right.

  “She’s pretty,” Viggo said. “But do you think that’s wise when you barely found your present consort? Celestia is just as pretty as the blonde. Maybe even prettier.”

  I couldn’t confide in Viggo either because he would tell the others after one too many tumblers of mead. “I know what I’m doing, Viggo.”