Valkyrie Rising

by GR Griffin

  The other side of her face was smooth, beautiful even. It was a direct contrast to the scarred ruin of her right half, presenting a fascinating mix of deformed perfection. She never tried to hide her scarred side, Hel keeping her shoulder length hair swept back with a diadem. Diamonds glinted at the center of the diadem, with a hint of blood red in their cracks.

  "You have been lax in your reports about Odin." Hel clarified. "You know I need that information." Her ruby red lips seemed to pout. "Especially if I'm going to make a move against his holdings in Midgard."

  "You shouldn't rush, my Queen." Lezard warned. "If you move too soon, you will alert him to the fact the alliance is not sincere on your part. And then where will we be? Hmm? The instant you attack, is the instant Odin closes up." He let go of the body, turning to face her more fully.

  "You've waited years...longer than I have been alive for this chance. Why rush it now, and risk everything due to impatience?"

  Hel appeared to be listening to his words, some of that malevolent energy lessening in intensity. The room no longer felt choked with, Lezard's hair no longer tried to stand on end in response to it. "I will find out all of Odin's secrets, all his defenses and plans. I will give that knowledge to you, and with it you will triumph over him. Asgard will be yours for the taking, the heavens molded to your desires."

  She liked that last one, her lips curling into a smile. But Hel's smiles were deceptive, and could hide untold torments and cruelty within them. "You better." Hel told him.

  "I will." It was perhaps foolish to interrupt her, but Lezard knew she needed the reassurance. "Who else is in prime position to betray Odin's trust? Who else but I can get you his secrets? He trusts me as the liaison between you two. That trust will be his downfall."

  "Do not presume you have Odin's trust." Retorted Hel. "That man has little faith in anyone to keep his council. I dare say even Freya doesn't know all his secrets."

  "He cannot be on guard all the time." Lezard told her. "And the Lord of the undead keeps him distracted."

  "Brahms makes him desperate." Corrected Hel. "If not for this endless feud, even you would not have been able to sway Odin towards allying with me." It went both ways, Lezard thought. If not for Brahms, Hel might never try to usurp Odin's power. She simply didn't have enough allies and strength to engage Odin's armies otherwise. If Odin's forces became divided, trying to stamp out the threats of both the undead and Nifleheim, then perhaps Hel stood a chance of gaining a foothold into Asgard.

  A shift in the air, Lezard scenting the heavy perfumes Hel wore. They could not entirely snuff out the smell of brimstone, the stench of death that clung to her skin. Hel was approaching him, gliding forward as though she floated on a cloud. She might very well be floating, her long green skirts covered her feet from view. Her eyes had changed color, from that dark angry jade to a greenish blue that might almost signal she was happy.

  "You've always been a silver tongued charmer." Hel lifted a hand towards him, as though she might caress his cheek. Lezard held himself still for this, feeling the heat radiating off her skin. Her touch would burn if it made contact with his skin. Burn but leave no mark unless she chose otherwise. "That tongue served us both well....I do not know what you said to Odin to get him to agree to this alliance. The heavens know I have tried in the past, countless times with many an emissary. You are the only one of my minions who have succeeded...and you have gone far past my expectations of you."

  That hand of hers didn't lay on his cheek, instead going to caress his hair. It was a fond touch she gave him, but it hurt all the same. "I never dared dream you would charm Odin to the point he would fall over backwards to cater to you." She continued, her voice now a sultry purr. "A Valkyrie for a bride...the first of many I hope."

  "I'm sure something can be arranged." Lezard was pleased his voice didn't betray his pain, or that his eyes didn't water with agonized tears fro, her touch. "Odin is eager to prove his willingness to work with you. Eager enough to hand over a few Valkyries, and the children they will birth."

  Hel's eyes gleamed with approval. She wanted those children, wanted them for the gifts and abilities they would gain from their mothers' blood. "You never fail me, do you?" Hel asked, eyes searching his face for something she could use. "You may keep me waiting, longer than I can tolerate. But you do get the results I crave."

  "That I do." It was a relief when she pulled away, Lezard's scalp sore from where she had caressed.

  "Go. Enjoy your Valkyrie bride." Hel told him, her eyes almost seeming to twinkle with amusement. "But do not let her distract you to the point you forget your duty to me."

  "I will not." Promised Lezard.

  "Call Odin. Work that tongue of yours into gaining me the information I need to be successful against him." Hel urged. "Do not rest until you have all his secrets in your hands...."

  "It may take time." Lezard warned. "Odin is not always forthcoming in our talks."

  "You will charm him all the same." Ordered Hel coldly. "Or face the repercussions of your failure."

  "Of course." He bowed, but never took his eyes off the Goddess' face. "I much prefer to lead your armies than to wallow in the underworld's torture pits."

  "Oh how little you think of my affection for you." Hel smirked. "I would never leave my most promising follower to the demons' care." Lezard took no reassurance from her words, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "No, Lezard. If you disappoint me, it will be my hand that deals out your punishment." Her eyes blazed then, like green flames of fire. But she was done speaking, done with this visit. Already her energies gathered around, dark bolts of purple electricity crackling over her form.

  Some of that energy lashed out at random objects in the room. A vase shattered apart, and the broken body splurted viscous fluid from an orifice. The energy grew in strength, until a crackle of lightning sounded. And with that noise, Hel disappeared, leaving only smoke in her place. The smoke was thick and odorous, making Lezard cough and choke in response to it.

  He muttered a spell in between fits of coughing. The spell would work to clear the workshop of the smoke. Lezard was left with the mess of Hel's tantrum to clean up, the mage wondering if he could salvage some of the experiments she had destroyed. But before he could begin to attempt a clean up, Lezard knew he would have to get in contact with Odin. The Lord of Asgard needed to know of Hels' impatience, but more importantly, Odin needed to give Lezard some information he could feed Hel. All in order to appease the Goddess, and lead her into thinking Lezard was succeeding in his supposed betrayal of Odin.

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  Chapter 17: Seventeen

  Tension had begun to take root inside Lenneth. It mounted in intensity by the minute, unraveling all the good the morning's ride had done her. She hadn't been entirely relaxed, nor had she been happy. But after spending time on the horse Obsidian's back, for one brief moment Lenneth had felt very much like her old self. She had enjoyed the freedom of the ride, the wind in her hair, the strong horse beneath her. She might not have been riding into battle, but Lenneth had felt the same kind of exhilaration in that moment.

  It wasn't dulled by the fact that riding might be one of the only outlets left to her. The only thing that might bear a resemblance to her old life as Valkyrie. She had been free in the moment, uncaring of any duties and obligations she might have had, to Odin and to Asgard.

  Of course, reality had come crashing back once she had returned to the stables. Her betrothed had actually put his arms around her, though the embrace hadn't been done with seduction in mind. That was perhaps the only reason Lenneth had kept from overreacting at Lezard's touch. She understood he had been frightened for her, for her safety and well being. Lenneth would even grudgingly accept that she had been taking risks riding Obsidian at such a fast speed. But she didn't understand why Lezard c
ared so much.

  Lenneth wondered if she was fooling herself. Perhaps Odin's love spell made her misread the situation by the stables. Perhaps Lezard didn't give a damn about Lenneth as a person, and just saw her as a means to an end. The token meant to seal the alliance between the underworld and Asgard. Thinking that way didn't make Lenneth happy. Any happier than when Lezard had excused himself from the dining room.

  He hadn't tried to hide where he was going, or to whom Lezard intended to meet with. Lenneth wouldn't have been pleased either way, though her agitation increased to know she was in the same building as the Goddess Hel. Every fiber of her being screamed in protest, Lenneth loathe to idly stand by when Hel was near. Lenneth knew what her own presence here in Flenceburg was supposed to signal, but the Valkyrie maiden was unable to accept it. Nor could she accept that Odin would so foolishly ally with the Goddess of Nifleheim. Anymore than she could accept that Hel had been defanged, becoming friend not foe to the Asgardians.

  For all the riding she had done this morning, Lenneth had never forgotten the purpose she had given to herself. The reason she needed to make her life here in Flenceburg have meaning. But searching for proof of Hel's betrayal would be difficult, Lenneth having little leads she could follow, and even less people she could actually trust. She was alone, friendless and without back up in an enemy's domain.

  Lenneth didn't even have her King's sanction for what she was attempting to do. She could have sighed then, though Lenneth kept her outward expression even. Certainly she could not betray her true emotions to the people at this table. All of them were loyal to Hel, sworn to do her bidding. Perhaps Lezard's as well, Lenneth sure her behavior and reactions would be reported to the man.

  Lenneth knew she had to appear accepting of her fate. To appear as though she was making the needed adjustments to her way of thinking. Nor could she throw herself wholeheartedly into the act, having to straddle a fine line between too much enthusiasm and not enough. It was almost as draining as fighting the love enchantment, Lenneth knowing her talents lay not in the act of deceptions.

  Conversation had not stilted with the removal of Lezard from the room. The group at the table continued their talk, gorging themselves on the feast laid out before them. The people gathered here was calm, hardly showing emotion in response to just who had called upon their Lord. Lenneth took it to mean it was a typical occurrence in the house, one she could use to her advantage.

  She had to fight not to stand and make excuses. Lenneth knew Lezard had asked her to remain at the table. But the Valkyrie wanted to leave, to sneak after Lezard and spy on his conversation with the Goddess. All in the hopes that Lenneth could learn something useful through her spying.

  But it was obvious to Lenneth she wasn't about to get away from the table so easily. Mystina was watching her, her eyes dark with interest. That sorceress' regard served to further spoil Lenneth's mood. She didn't like that Mystina was so interested in her, nor did Lenneth want to tolerate much of Mystina's tongue. She had yet to say anything too offensive, but Lenneth could sense the malicious intent festering inside the woman.

  Holding Mystina's gaze, Lenneth reached for her goblet. She refused to cower away from Mystina's blatant stares, Lenneth's own eyes holding a challenge to them. She almost missed the turn in the conversation, one of the nobles whose name she did not yet know asking a question of Lenneth.

  Drinking slowly, she gave him time to repeat himself. "How does Flenceburg compare to life in Valhalla?"

  "It doesn't." She set down her cup. They had drawn the attention of the others, some frowning in response to the blunt answer she had given. She was slow to explain the reasons behind that answer. "With the undead's constant press against Asgard, we do not have the time to linger between meals. My days are busy, as are my nights. I find in Flenceburg I have had the chance to think about things beyond battle and the tactics needed to stay alive."

  "You make it sound as though the Valkyries have a hard life." Pointed out a woman, whose face was just beginning to line with age.

  "I did not find it difficult, just different." Lenneth told her. "I enjoyed being a Valkyrie. The sights and sounds of battle, there is no other experience that can compare. Fighting Brahms' undead gave me purpose...I was protecting the realms, helping to make the land just a little safer for the people of the world."

  "Noble work." Murmured the woman, and others agreed.

  "Will you find it difficult to make the adjustment from warrior to wife?" Before Lenneth could answer, another was speaking.

  "Does she have to give up her sword? Surely she could do both..."

  "Come now!" scoffed Mystina. "As if Lezard would ever let her risk herself in that manner! She is his Valkyrie, a prize many covet. He will not allow her to throw her life away no matter what she may desire." Mystina said nothing Lenneth hadn't already expected, but still it was disheartening to hear. But she would not show her upset to them, Lenneth's expression cool and distant.

  "I will do as countless Valkyrie before me." Lenneth said out loud. "If it is my husband's wish that I not fight, than I shall heed his desires."

  "Well, that's boring." Grumbled Mystina. "I had not realized Valkyries could be so docile." Anger might have flashed in Lenneth's eyes, for suddenly the blonde sorceress was smirking. "Or do you like being the object that cements the alliance between our two kingdoms?"

  "You have never faced a Valkyrie in battle, or you would not imply that." Lenneth allowed her teeth to show in her own little smirk. "Of course...if you had faced a Valkyrie in battle, you would not be here now."

  "Oh? And just where would I be?" demanded Mystina.

  "You'd be dead." Lenneth couldn't help but take pleasure in the way the women next to Mystina seemed to shudder in response. Mystina's smirk had faded, her own eyes flashing with anger.

  "You will find I am not easy prey, even for a Goddess to take down."

  "I've fought spell slingers before." Lenneth was calm. "They've yet to impress." Another pause, her smirk remaining. "You've yet to impress."

  The nobles were looking back and forth between the two women as though this was a spectator's event. No one was trying to interject themselves into the conversation, content to let the two have at each other with their words. Lenneth herself felt a perverse pleasure in bating Mystina, though this battle of words could not compare to the clash of swords.

  "It wouldn't be a fair fight." Mystina said in response. "Not now with you a mortal. I could easily overpower you with my spells."

  "If anything the fight would be more fair now that I am no longer a Goddess." Lenneth retorted. "I did not lose my swords skills just because the nature of my being has changed. I still possess brains, agility, strength. You would not find me an easy target."

  "You are overconfident."

  "I have a right to be." Lenneth told her. "You are just a child. Where I have lived for centuries, honing my skills. I have the wisdom and maturity of age, without any of the disadvantages."

  Mystina's lips pressed into a tight, thin line. She appeared not to have any rebukes to what Lenneth had said, and yet the sorceress still spoiled for a fight. Lenneth half expecting the woman to challenge her to a duel, so potent was Mystina's displeasure.

  Lenneth wasn't the only one to notice the mood coming off of Mystina. In an attempt to diffuse the situation from becoming even more explosive, a question was asked of Lenneth. "You've mentioned centuries. Are you really that old?"

  "Yes." A curt reply, Lenneth not taking her off eye Mystina. She didn't trust the woman as far as she could throw her, especially not in this moment.

  "I cannot imagine living that long!" exclaimed a woman. "The things you must have seen, the lives you must have lived."

  "Lives?" Lenneth frowned. "I had but one life, and that was spent in dedication to my king."

  "But surely..." A hesitation. "You did something besides fight?"

  Lenneth had to think, to try and remember the quiet moments where she had done something other tha
n fight. Other than sleep and eat quick meals. There wasn't many, but thoughts of her sister Silmeria came to mind. "I enjoyed listening to my sister sing." She said out loud.

  "Somehow I can't imagine Valkyries singing for pleasure."

  "We don't. But Silmeria was gifted in that regard, and it gave Lord Odin pleasure to hear her sing during the funerals we held for the fallen." Lenneth explained. It felt life a millennia since she had last heard Silmeria's song, even longer since she had thought of her sister without pain and fear coloring the memories.

  "Ah...for the Valkyries who died in battle?" asked one of the men.

  "And our einherjar." nodded Lenneth. "Death is an unavoidable part of war, even up in the heavens..."

  "And what of the heavens themselves?" Mystina had regained enough of her composure to

  speak. "Surely there must be something to Asgard beyond the fighting..."

  "Yes...what is Asgard like? Please, tell us." Begged one of the women sitting near Mystina. "Your descriptions might be the only chance we get to know of true paradise."

  Lenneth hesitated. "My descriptions would pale in comparison to the true beauty of the realm." And still they urged her onwards, some openly pleading with Lenneth. It made her ill at ease, Lenneth slow to speak. "I did not spend much times in the lands beyond the plains of Idavoll. The heart of the fighting takes place on those lands, the territory that leads to and surrounds castle Valhalla."

  She sighed then. "You would not find the plains a pleasing sight. There is too much war, too much blood shed on that land. The tall, golden stalks of wheat? An effective cover for ghouls and zombies. They are a poison, ravaging the land. The Valkryies and their soldiers work to keep it from spreading, keep them from reaching to other parts of the realm."