Shatterproof

by Stein Willard

  Her breath hitched.

  Bo!

  Where was Bo! Why wasn’t she with the others? Panic-stricken, she turned to Odin to demand Bo’s whereabouts, when an entourage comprising of Frigg and her ladies' maids came towards the stage. They stepped aside to reveal Bo. Hlif stared at her girlfriend in stunned silence.

  Oh no!

  The blonde looked ravishing. She was dressed in a sleeveless dress, made of radiant, white robes. Golden bangles adorned her wrists and ankles, with gemstone-studded, golden armbands circling her biceps and fine silk slippers on her feet. Delicate, green vines from the sacred ash tree, Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, were woven into Bo’s blonde hair and fine gold dust covered her skin. Her eyes were wide as they stared at Hlif.

  “Hlif?” She sounded scared. “Is this what I think it is?”

  Chapter 23

  Hlif quickly closed the distance between them and took Bo in her arms. Her hold was almost desperate and Bo grunted softly. She felt the grip loosen a little.

  “I promise you I had nothing to do with this,” Hlif whispered near Bo’s ear. “Odin, out of some misplaced sense of fatherly duty, thought he could buy my forgiveness by doing this.” She leaned back and searched Bo’s eyes. “I wouldn’t spring something like this on you unless I knew you wanted it.”

  Bo quickly lowered her gaze. She wasn’t sure about anything. One moment she was in the bedroom, getting ready to take a shower before calling Marion and the next she found herself submerged in a small pool of fragrant water with a gaggle of women surrounding her. How could she translate her confusion to Hlif without hurting her feelings?

  “I’m willing to wait until you’re ready, Bo.”

  Bo looked up, her gaze hooded. She was aware that all eyes were on them as they talked. It wasn’t an ideal time and place to have a private discussion. “You don’t want this?”

  “I want what you want.” Hlif placed a soft kiss on the corner of Bo’s lips. “Now, let me tell Odin that the ceremony is off. Serves him right for not checking with us first.” She moved away, but Bo’s hand shot out to restrain her.

  “What… what will you tell him?”

  Hlif shrugged. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “You can’t say that!” Bo hissed at Hlif. “He meant well.”

  “That’s not our problem, now is it?” Hlif looked irritated as she said that. “That’ll teach him not to rush to conclusions.”

  “Surely you can come up with a more subtle explanation.”

  “I could, but I don’t have to.” Hlif frowned. “Why are we even having this discussion? He had us kidnapped. Our friends, too. Look at them.”

  Bo did and she immediately regretted it. Their friends looked comical. Dressed in sleepwear, barefoot, and with the worst case of bed hair, the women looked like they’d all escaped from an insane asylum. The men fared much better. Harald seemed to have been out of bed already because he was fully dressed. Shawn looked quite comfortable in his pyjamas, which made him look less unprepared.

  Bo turned back to Hlif. “Is there no way we can immortalize that image?”

  A small smile pulled at Hlif’s lips. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Hlif walked to where Odin stood. Bo saw a flash of disappointment in the man’s eyes before his expression evened out into a blank mask.

  A soft touch on her hand made her turn to find her mother standing next to her. She looked confused. “Is this what I think is happening?”

  “A wedding? Yes. Odin kinda sprung it on us.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Well,” Bo glanced at where Odin, Hlif, Thor, and Frigg were in deep conversation. “Hlif is telling them that this is not what we had in mind.” The words sounded incredibly lame, even to her own ears, and she knew instinctively that her mother picked up on it.

  “You or her?”

  She felt her cheeks warm a little. “We spoke and concluded that this is very sudden.”

  “Wasn’t this the ending that the both of you envisioned after having been forcibly separated millennia ago? Do you think Hlif had stayed the course just so she could be your girlfriend while she waited for you to get over your fear of commitment or whatever?”

  Bo was shocked to find that Magarethe had figured it out so easily. Her heart was almost sure that Hlif was it, but years of scepticism didn’t just disappear after four days.

  Another point for consideration was that this was a mystical union and Bo wasn’t sure what that would mean for her. They needed to talk about this first and she appreciated the fact that Hlif understood that. She noticed that the conversation between Hlif and her family was becoming tense.

  Hlif remained composed, as she calmly seemed to field questions from Frigg and Thor. Was Magarethe right? Would Hlif wait around for her to make up her mind about their future?

  “…stand up for what you want, Sister. Loving someone doesn’t mean that you should always abide by their whims. You are a goddess, for thunder’s sake, not some common wench that can be…”

  She’d heard enough because it was the truth. She hadn’t given Hlif the opportunity to honestly speak her mind about the issue. Yet, she’d expected Hlif to deal with the situation. She swallowed. What if Hlif wanted this? Hlif and Thor were standing nose-to-nose now, ready to come to blows.

  “You’re a coward for letting her face them alone. Especially, since you have decided to throw their noble gesture back in their faces. ”

  She glanced at Magarethe. The older woman was scowling at her.

  ***

  Hlif couldn’t remember when last she felt such a strong urge to punch someone in the face as she did now, looking at Thor’s scowling face. How dare he, the most promiscuous person she knew, think he could pass judgement on her relationship with Bo? Too soft. He called her too soft to rein in her woman. Hlif’s fingers twitched and she could almost feel the impression of her broadsword in her hand. Its weight and purpose cradled in her palm.

  “I hate to say this, but I agree with Thor, my dear.” Frigg scowled just as hard as Thor. “You are too lenient with her. She’s a wonderful girl, beautiful and clever. However, she needs to understand that you could have anyone you want without batting an eyelid.”

  Hlif closed her eyes as she swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. Strange, how they think they have the right to interfere now. She opened her eyes and caught the uneasy looks on the faces before her. It had been so long since she last felt her power surge through her body that she’d forgotten the one important rule she’d imposed on herself.

  Absolute self-control.

  Without self-control, her vast power was more of a plight than a blessing. Especially when misdirected, as was the case right now.

  “Maybe we were a little too vocal in sharing our concern,” Thor added quickly, his eyes darting from her to Odin and Frigg.

  “Hlif.”

  The voice, soft and uncertain, filtered through her rage. Hlif fought her fury, trying to reign it in forcibly. But the Valkyrie had been awakened. Her wrath burning hotter after centuries of suppression. Her senses were alive as they detected the air. The square was as quiet as a tomb. She could sense the shock of her friends, but it was Bo’s reaction that affected her.

  Fear.

  A violent tremor shook the hall and brought everyone to their feet. A soldier hurried towards the raised area where they stood.

  “Milord, Asgard is under attack. It’s the Vanir.”

  With a shimmer, both Odin and Frigg were instantly dressed in their battle armour. Hlif turned to Bo and saw the woman take a step backwards. The fear in the light eyes cut her deeply.

  Bo.

  Beloved.

  “I have to go for they need me.” Hlif glanced to the side to find the Valkyries waiting for her. “Odin will make sure that you get home safely.”

  She was tempted to taste Bo’s lips one last time before she set off for war. A brutal one, if the Vanir were involved. However, the bitter taste left by Bo’s fear of h
er still lay heavy on her tongue. The woman needn’t be traumatized any further. She gave a curt nod before she shot upwards. Her powerful wings carried her higher, with her Valkyries flanking her.

  ***

  Bo felt numb.

  “That might very well have been your last sighting of her,” a voice said next her and Bo spun around. Thor stood there, towering over her. He had a scowl on his handsome face. “Gods wage war against each other using celestial weapons. There will be many casualties before this uprising is suppressed.” He pointed at her with his hammer. “You, my dear, squandered a vital opportunity to give her a reason to want to return to you—alive.”

  Bo’s heart almost exploded at hearing that. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. That didn’t seem to deter the man.

  “Humans are so fickle and that was what my father wanted to protect her against. Yet, she chose to denounce him and everything else to be with you. Maybe she would be better off dead than the lapdog of a spineless, ungrateful human.”

  “That’s enough, young man,” Magarethe snapped and Thor’s gaze slid to the older woman.

  “I’ve said what needed to be said, old mother. Your daughter should hope that my sister returns to her intact, for she just sent her off to a brutal war with no tether to the mortal plane.” His gaze turned glacial. He rudely ignored Bo. “I love my sister and unless your daughter realizes how lucky she is to hold Hlif’s heart, I’ll make sure to keep them apart to save my sister the heartache.” He lifted his hammer and off he took.

  Odin sighed deeply as he looked from the sky to her. He looked deeply sad. “I thought it would be something you would both want. Your love endured the harshest odds and I automatically assumed that the next step would be matrimony.” He shrugged. “That is the way for us here, because true love is a scarcity in a world ruled by power and deceit. I need to join the fight and I promise, I will try everything in my power to keep her safe.”

  Odin waved his hand and they all found themselves back in Hlif’s lounge. They stood in dazed silence, trying to find their bearings after the sudden displacement. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion, but none of them seemed to have anything to say.

  “I’ll make some coffee,” Harald volunteered and moved to the kitchen.

  “That wasn’t a dream, was it?” Everyone looked at Sara, who looked deranged with her dishevelled hair and wild eyes. “I mean we couldn’t all have had the same dream.”

  Maxima placed her arm around her wife’s shoulders. “It wasn’t a dream, but it’s over now.”

  “Regrettably, yes.” This time, everyone gaped at Sara. The blonde shrugged. “We were in Valhalla or somewhere. Thor was there. So were Odin and his wife.” She blinked. “And Hlif went all Valkyrie on them and flew away.”

  Bo didn’t want to be reminded of that moment. She realized the conversation between Hlif and her family members was entering dangerous waters, when two huge black wings sprouted from Hlif’s back as the air around the Valkyrie undulated with her power. When she turned to look at Bo, her eyes were an eerie, solid black. It was a truly scary sight.

  Yet, it was the uncertainty she’d witnessed on Hlif’s face that had bothered her most? As if the other woman had been unsure of how Bo would accept her. Hlif hadn’t even tried to kiss her goodbye and now she was locked in a celestial war where she could be killed. Bo had screwed everything up. From the moment she had met Hlif, she had kept the woman guessing. Even after she had come to know the truth about them, she had failed to reassure Hlif. No wonder Hlif wasn’t sure about them anymore—even as she left for a war that might not see her return. She shouldn’t have let Hlif left like that. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat.

  “Are you okay, Bo?” Magarethe asked with concern. The older woman was watching her closely.

  Was she okay, Bo asked herself? What was the correct etiquette for a person who had just gutted someone? Especially someone who had loved her for close to two thousand years? That alone should’ve bought Hlif a whole lot more consideration than what she got in the end. Hlif had to defend herself against her family once again because of her.

  Her mother was right. She was a coward who didn’t deserve Hlif. Maybe the Valkyrie was better off with finding herself a more appropriate partner. Like a goddess. Someone like Idunn, perhaps. The mere thought of Idunn and Hlif together sliced deeper than Bo had expected. She shook her head slowly.

  “I’m not okay,” she admitted quietly.

  She turned quietly and went to the bedroom she had shared with Hlif. Tomorrow, she’ll catch a flight back home and try to salvage whatever pieces of herself had survived this experience unscathed.

  ***

  Shawn struggled to concentrate as he sat through the meeting with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture officials. The country’s cultural office had finally reached out and Shawn’s idea of converting the tomb into a museum had been well-received. It had been three days since the aborted wedding ceremony, but he was still in a daze by what had transpired at the event.

  They had been in frigging Valhalla.

  He had seen Odin, complete with the horned headdress, in person. Thor and Frigg. The Valkyries. Who would believe him?

  Nothing, not even the idea of the tomb conversion, could top that experience. However, he owed it to Gurith, to ensure her legacy remained for generations to come, and to himself. Finding Gurith’s tomb had been a lifelong dream of his.

  What a dream it had turned out to be. He’ll always be thankful to the Warrior Queen for the most thrilling experience he was fortunate enough to share with his soul mate. Jennifer had confessed, before she’d left for the States, that she understood him and Aeron much better after this almost surreal adventure. In her own words: Archaeology was more than digging in the dirt.

  The only downside to all this was the gaping rift that now existed between Bo and Hlif. Bo had called to thank him for inviting her to join him and to say goodbye, but even over the phone, her despondency had been obvious. There was no way a love that had been forced apart so many centuries ago, would falter so easily in the face of a mere misunderstanding. However, he still harboured hopes that his two friends would reconcile.

  If only Hlif would make an appearance. Shawn found he missed her deeply. He especially missed her calm presence.

  One of the delegates addressed him and a sharp poke from Hanna brought him back to the conversation.

  ***

  Bo’s head snapped up at the soft rap on her open door to find Marion standing there. The woman gave her a sharp look. She’d been pestering Bo about her well-being for the past two days, which at times, had annoyed Bo. She was fine, and she wished people would stop prying and just take her word for it.

  It didn’t help that Magarethe called her about three times a day under the guise of getting to know her daughter again. They both knew that it was just an excuse to check up on her, but Bo held her tongue and was learning to endure the subtle inquisitions.

  “Lisa Vaughn’s here to see you.”

  Bo swiftly searched her mind for an appointment she might’ve forgotten.

  Marion shook her head. “She’s not on your calendar.”

  “Oh. Send her through, please.” She tidied her desk a little before she walked to the door to meet her client.

  Lisa was dressed impeccably as always and Bo had to admit that the woman looked great. However, she felt slightly sick at the ill-disguised once over the woman gave her. Since her return from Iceland, Bo has found herself oddly insulted by the looks and flirtations from others.

  “You look great as always, Lisa.”

  The woman smirked. “Nowhere near as good you, though,” Lisa purred as she walked into the office in a light mist of expensive perfume to take a seat in the visitor’s chair. She made a show of folding her shapely legs and glanced at Bo. She quietly studied Bo for a few moments. “Something’s different. You’re different.”

  Not her, too, Bo thought.

  “Just some jet lag. Co
uld I offer you a coffee? Or water, perhaps?”

  Lisa smirked. “Changing the topic, I see.” She removed her gloves. “Coffee would be nice. Thank you.”

  Bo could feel Lisa’s eyes on her as she skirted her desk to ask Martin to arrange two coffees for them. She looked up and fixed a level gaze on her guest. The older woman met her scrutiny head-on.

  “I was going to call you.”

  “When I heard you were back but hadn’t called yet, I thought I’d drop in and see how you were.” She tilted her head slightly and Bo caught a gleam of concern in her eyes. “It’s unlike you to not be in touch.”

  Vaguely warmed by the obvious worry from Lisa, she smiled. It was her first real smile since her return from Iceland. “I had an exhausting few days and didn’t have time to take a break before returning to the office.”

  Lisa gave her a long look before she nodded. A soft knock on the door announced the arrival of their coffee. She thanked Martin and after a quick sip put her coffee aside to consult her laptop. She brought up an email she received from Mr Paudel, the Nepalese Cultural Attaché. The email came through yesterday, but Bo was ashamed to admit that she hadn’t been in the mood for people yesterday. Especially, after a call from her mother revealed that there had still not been any news from Hlif. It appeared her mother and Harald still lived in Hlif’s apartment in the absence of its owner. Bo had found it strange how homesick the thought of the two of them being there, had made her feel.

  She looked up from the screen and found Lisa watching her over the rim of her coffee cup.

  Bo turned the screen. “I’ve received a letter from the Nepalese Culture Ministry. It approves the transfer of the artefacts to the United States for an exhibition in The Laramie Gallery. To ensure that we keep the path clear for future collaborations, I had to assume the role you would play in this event. It’s been accepted, off the record, of course, but they don’t want you linked to the event.” She watched Lisa closely for a reaction to that before she cautiously continued. “I thought I’d talk to you first before we go any further. I know that we expected some push-back from the Nepalese, but you’ll be spending a lot of money, behind the scenes, to make this happen.”