Winterfire

Chapter Twenty-three

Lif

As the sun began to set behind us, we neared the border of Niflheim and Helheim. A wild, raging river cut through a sparse forest of stunted fir trees below us.  I followed its track until it emptied into the sea. “That is the river Gjoll, the border between Niflheim and Helheim. I dare not fly across it; if Hel notices me, she may be suspicious of you. I will leave you in the forest on this side, and you will have to walk downstream to the bridge. I will wait in the woods for you to return. If you are not back in twenty-four hours, I shall assume you’re not coming. I’ll have to leave.’

“Twenty-four hours?” I said. “What if I can’t get out in twenty-four hours? What’s your hurry?”

“My falcon cape can only be used for three days out of every thirty. We have used up one of those days getting here. It will take another to get home. That means you have only twenty-four hours to get in and out of Helheim.”

I sighed. I really wished I had spoken to the Norns before we’d left Folkvanger. I’d feel a lot better knowing it was not my time to die. But what if my time was up? Would I not use my remaining hours alive to help Frigga’s sons, especially if Baldur and Hodur were essential to the side of Good in the Ragnarok? Frigga seemed to be listening to my thoughts when she spoke: “Fear not death, my child, for the hour of your doom is set, and none may escape it. If you are meant to die on this undertaking, then you will die. It is up to you whether you breathe your last breath cowering in some dark corner, or running hard across the plains of Helheim, Breyta poised and ready in your hand.”

Frigga landed as lightly as a robin in the dark forest. I couldn’t see the river Gjoll, but I could hear it. “Less than a mile downstream, you will come to a golden bridge. It looks beautiful until you are upon it. If you look down then, you will see that you are actually walking on thousands of knife blades, each pointing upward, just below the surface of the river. You must not stare at them, and you must not show fear. Just keep walking—steadily, bravely, confidently—you will not feel the knifepoints, and they will not cut you. But the minute you begin to doubt yourself and look down, you’re done for. Your feet will be sliced to ribbons; you’ll never get out of the river again.”

“What?” I shrieked. “Are you crazy? Who do you think I am? I’m not a goddess, like you are! I don’t have any special powers. I have this weapon Thor taught me to throw, but beyond that, I’ve got nothing special. You put your faith in the wrong person. Let’s just turn around right now and go back.”

Frigga slumped down against a tree and put her face in her hands. Then she began rocking her body back and forth, back and forth. When at last she looked up at me, her tears had made trails through the dust on her cheeks. As the last rays of the sun shone upon her face, I saw that she was old. She was old and tired and defeated.

“I know I had no right to ask this of you,” she said softly, all the authority gone from her voice. “But I didn’t know what else to do. Ragnarok is upon us. I wanted my sons with me so badly, I took advantage of your innocence. I have heard Thor and Freyja talk of your strength, and I thought perhaps you could help me. I was wrong. You’re just a girl. Let me rest a moment and we’ll fly back to Asgard.”

I sighed heavily. How could I refuse her now? She’d believed in me. I sat down beside her and thought.

Back in Beal, there had been a fast-moving stream Lucan and I had occasion to cross periodically on our ramblings. Although the water was only knee-deep, I somehow managed to fall every time I took more than two steps into the stream. “Try picking out a point on the far side,” said Lucan. “Look at that point, not down at the water. This creek moves so fast, if you stare at the water, you’ll get dizzy and fall in. Just pick your spot on the other side, step into the creek, and don’t look down.” I followed Lucan’s advice and crossed the stream easily. I’d crossed streams with and without Lucan many times since then. I knew how to do it; I just couldn’t look down.

“What about after I get across the stream?” I asked. “Then where do I go?”

Frigga’s head jerked up and she stared at me. “Besides the main gate, Helgrind, there are many other gates through which you may, or may not, have to pass. The gates shift all the time. You may have half a dozen to pass through before you get to speak to Hel and request an audience with my sons, or you may have none but the main gate. There is a keeper at each gate, and she will tell you where to go next. It’ll be dark soon, so you’d better go.” Frigga gave me a hug. “I believe you can do this, Lif. Freyja tells me you are uncommonly capable for a girl your age, Urd tells me you are gifted, and, most importantly, Thor says you never quit. Go now and get my sons.”

I had the feeling I’d been swindled. Frigga had not been a goddess and the wife of Odin for eons, without having a few tricks up her sleeve. Oh well. I might as well try. With Breyta in my backpack and a pocketful of runes, I set off through the woods toward the river.