The Son of Kratos

Chapter 9

Atreus sat at the Zeus table, laughing with Freydis and Silena. He looked to the side and saw his brother, Loki. The look in Loki's eyes told him they needed to talk. He stood up and raised his hand to Jake, saying he's doing it alone. He walked to his brother and asked what he needed to discuss. Freydis watched their interactions when suddenly Atreus took a step back and collapsed to his knees. "Oh no," she whispered. Loki crouched down in front of him and put his hand on his shoulder. Storm clouds gathered and the temperature dropped. Everyone's attention snapped to them when Atreus yelled at the top of his lungs in rage, pain and sadness. It started to snow and rain as thunder and lightning flashed in the sky. Loki turned into a raven and disappeared. Atreus' hands started to turn to ice as a large fire spread around him. Freydis walked towards him as the fire parted to let her through. She crouched down and hugged him from the side as he cried. The words echoed in his mind as the storm calmed, "a group of Hel walkers and Giants got into Valhalla and a few people fought them and chased them back to Jotunnheim but one person didn't survive." He repeated the last few words Loki said to him to Freydis, "my mother is dead."

Atreus' rage was calmed by being with Freydis in the following days. They returned to Valhalla for Atreus to light his mother's funeral pyre. That part of the prophecy has come to pass. Atreus was overcome by grief and when they set his mother's body out on the bout, he said, "you were a lot of things, a great shield maiden, a great friend, a great person. But to me you will always be my mother. I didn't know you for the majority of my life. I was put into foster care at a young age, none of those places felt like home, none of those people were my family. But I found it, I found my family. You trained me when I first came to Valhalla, taught me everything I know now. You died a hero and a warrior. I always looked forward to my death so I could remain in Valhalla and be with my family but sadly I will not see you again when I die. But your spirit is with me and I will avenge you." Freydis stood to his side, surprised by the aggression in his voice at the final words. Atreus lit an arrow in a fire and pulled back the bowstring, letting it go and travel to the hay and kindling in the boat, which quickly lit aflame. Freydis hugged Atreus as he silently cried.

Over the next days, Freydis noticed the growing rage and need for revenge in Atreus as he prepared to invade Jotunnheim. He gathered a group of einherjar and yelled to them, "this a time of war. They took one of us. They brought the fight to us. Now we will bring it to them and avenge my mother." His sword was in one hand as his axe was in the other. They travelled to Jotunnheim only to be met with the Giants' army and the king was at the front. "You have taken my mother from me. And a part of me as well. And you, the king, killed your own granddaughter! Your own flesh and blood! I am no longer your Prince of Jotunnheim. And you!" He pointed at a woman whose face was covered by a cloak,"my niece, have betrayed your family! Hel! Look at me!" She turned to him, showing half her face was a grotesque skeleton. She appeared in front of him and said, "yes uncle I did. But I wasn't the only one." As she said this, she looked at her father, Loki. "What is she talking about brother?" Atreus thought to himself before slashing at Hel. The battle only continued from there as the two armies clashed.

Atreus stopped mid-battle, surrounded by the dozens of bodies he killed. He gazed at Freydis to see a worried expression on her face. His eyes widened in realization at what he had done. Before he could do anything, Hel appeared behind him and quickly snapped his neck. His weapons fell from his hands as Freydis screamed in grief and Hel vanished. Atreus dropped to his knees, his head stuck looking to the side, before collapsing onto his stomach. Freydis rushed to her boyfriend's dead body as the enemy retreated. People celebrated before seeing Freydis crouched over Atreus' lifeless body, tears streaming down her face. They all lowered their heads and sang a Norse song in remembrance of their leader and the greatest warrior to ever walk the nine realms. Atreus Kratosson had died at the hands of his niece, Hel, on the battlefield. What surprised Odin was that his Valkyries could not retrieve his soul for Valhalla, like he wasn't really dead...

Twist! I decided for a cliffhanger. I finished this at midnight so technically it's Christmas. Happy holidays to everyone, no matter what you celebrate. I know what is happening in the next chapter so it won't take long to write but it will be a little shorter than usual. Thank you. Read, vote, comment, tell others.