Winterfire

Chapter Twenty-two

Lif

Since the deaths of her sons, Odin’s wife, Frigga, had taken to spending long hours sitting upon Hildskjalf, his high throne. From Hildskjalf, it was possible to see all the Nine Worlds – including Helheim. Frigga hoped for a look at Baldur and Hodur, but Hel concealed them from her sight.  On this day, Frigga was watching as Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, walked away from his post.

Frigga had been waiting for this moment. She climbed down from the tower and raced up the staircase to her tree house. She grabbed a packed bag she had stored in her closet for just this occasion and then ran to Folkvanger.

Frigga was not a frequent visitor to Folkvanger; she did not just open the door and enter as Thor did. Mildred opened the front door to her knock. “Mistress Freyja is not at home,” she said.

 “I’m here to see Lif, anyway,” said Frigga. Mildred started to send Erna to fetch her, but Frigga interrupted. “I’ll go and get her myself. I brought some of my old dresses for her. I’ll stay with her while she tries them on.” Frigga disappeared out the door and across the first bridge before Mildred could say another word.

She knocked to my door and then let herself in. I was surprised to see her; I barely knew Frigga. I’d only spoken to her once at a dinner party.  I curtsied and said, “Welcome to my room, Lady Frigga. To what do I owe this honor?”

“Let’s cut the small talk. We haven’t much time. I need you to go into Helheim and free my sons. I will take you to the edge of Helheim, but I cannot enter. Hel knows me. She knows I want to collect my sons, so she won’t even allow me to see them. But you; Hel will not recognize you. Not only have you never requested an appointment with any of her charges, you don’t even belong in Asgard. You’re a nobody, as far as she’s concerned. So put your shoes on and let’s go.”

I knew Frigga’s sons, Baldur and Hodur, were trapped in Helheim, but what could I do about that? If neither Frigga nor Odin had been able to persuade Hel to release their sons, how could I possibly get them out? I knew little about Hel other than the fact that she took her job as guardian of the dead seriously. I wished I had time to consult the Norns before I left. None outlives the night when the Norns have spoken, but maybe they hadn’t spoken for me yet. Frigga stood glaring at me, arms folded across her chest. “Hurry. Heimdall has left his post, but I don’t know how much time we have to get away unseen.”

I was more than a little afraid of Frigga, and didn’t see how I could refuse her. I put on shoes and opened the door. I noticed the small sack of runes Honir had given me on the dresser; without thinking, I grabbed the bag and put it in my pocket as I walked out of the room. I also took the pack that held Breyta, looping the straps over my shoulders. I turned right and headed for the door to the bridge. “Not that way,” said Frigga. “We need to get up to the top of the tree.” I had never been up to the uppermost branches, but Frigga seemed to know where she was going. She ran to the end of the hall and laid her hand gently on a locked door. I heard a tiny click and the door swung open. Frigga waved me through and followed, closing the door behind us. I found myself on a steep, winding ladder. Frigga scaled the ladder easily, holding on to her bag with one hand and the side of the ladder with the other.

“Come on!” she said. “We haven’t got all day.”

I was not afraid of heights, but this ladder was narrow and rickety. The wind blew steadily around me, and I had to hold on with both hands and climb slowly to keep my balance. Once, I missed a rung with my foot and slipped down two steps. “Oh!” I squeaked. Frigga turned around and looked at me. She shook her head, rolled her eyes, and continued up the ladder. She made it look so easy; I was ashamed of myself.