Servant of Jotunheim

Ritual

I wait anxiously for Ruth and Sara in my chambers, no longer able to stomach another bite of my lunch. Not knowing the details of the ritual was causing me a great deal of stress.

I hear a knock at my door and it is another servant girl who has been sent to deliver a dress to me. I eagerly take the items, knowing that this must be what the King intended for me to wear this evening.

I open the box and try on the elegant silver heels inside, hoping I will be able to dance in them and discover they are surprisingly comfortable.

The dress itself is a sheer, pale pink and has a high cut up the skirt, clearly designed to display my leg. I believe it is quite modest at the top and will not reveal too much of my chest, but once turned around I discover that it is very low cut at the back.

If the King's intentions were to display me like a trophy this evening for all to see, then this would most certainly be the dress to accomplish that.

Ruth and Sara come into my chambers and see the dress hanging up, they both gasp in unison at the sight of such a perfect garment.

Sara: "My gods, it is beautiful".

Ruth: "Is this the dress that the King designed himself? He sent Kiara out to the dress makers with a sketch of it".

Me: "Yes, this is it. I am almost too nervous to wear it" I admit.

Ruth: "Let us focus on the matter at hand. The Queen Mother awaits us".

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We soon reach a hidden room that I had never known was there, which is located at the farthest end of the palace where very few are permitted to venture.

All of the windows have been blackened and it is solely lit by candle light and a small fireplace nearby. The Queen Mother is already sat waiting for us.

Frigga: "Are you ready, my dear?"

Me: "Yes".

Ruth and Sara assist me in removing my clothes, while the Queen Mother proceeds to add something to the water in a large copper bathtub near the fireplace.

I can already tell that the water is rather hot which strikes fear into me as Sara removes my necklace, leaving me entirely bare.

Frigga: "I know you are afraid, but you must resist the urge to fight the change. Whatever part of you is Jotun will desperately attempt to fight back and do anything it takes to survive".

Me: "I will not cause harm to any of you, will I?"

Frigga: "We cannot know" she sighs.

I step forward hesitantly and notice that the water in the bathtub is green in colour, similar to the potion I had taken on many previous occasions.

Me: "I am to bathe in it?"

Frigga: "Yes, my dear".

I step cautiously into the water. It is far too hot for my Jotun form not to feel pain, but I slowly lower myself down despite already having the urge to get out.

Once I am fully submerged except from my head, I try to control my breathing and focus on anything but the excruciating burning sensation. I soon begin to panic and question my decision entirely.

Me: "I want to get out".

Frigga: "Try and remain calm" she replies soothingly.

Me: "I cannot do this, please?"

Frigga: "Anya..."

Me: "Let me out!" I scream aggressively and she appears momentarily afraid.

A hand grabs the top of my head and pushes me down under the water. I grip the sides of the bathtub, trying to pull myself back up to the surface but to no avail as I soon lose my grip.

The hand releases me and everything fades into darkness when I see a lid being placed over the top. I desperately claw and punch at it as my body longs for air, but there is no escape now.

I slowly begin to lose the battle as I can hold my breath no longer. My body convulses when the water floods my lungs and all the pain finally fades away.

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Frigga: "Quickly, we must take the lid off".

Sara is beyond distraught upon seeing Valanya's now lifeless body submerged in the clear green water.

Sara: "She is dead, we killed her!" she cries.

Ruth: "We went through all of this, Sara. We must do this in order for her to be reborn".

Frigga: "Come now, we must get her onto the ground".

They pull her out quickly and find her skin to be as solid as a rock so. She is completely inflexible while they lower her down onto the floor.

Ruth: "What happens now?"

Frigga: "We wait. At the moment she is in a cocoon like state, and if her will is strong enough then she will soon emerge".

Ruth: "What if she is not strong enough?"

Frigga: "Then she will make her final journey to Valhalla, but do not doubt this girls will to survive Ruth".

Ruth: "I have never doubted her for a moment".

Sara: "Look!" she points down to the solidified body on the ground nearby.

The skin all along Valanya's body audibly begins to crack while a pure, white light appears to shine from within that illuminates the room. The light soon becomes so bright that all three of them are forced to shield their eyes from it.

With one final, intense burst of light, the room dims so that once again it is solely lit by candles and the fireplace.

Looking down, they find Valanya now dithering on the floor, but clearly not fully conscious. She is surrounded by the cocoon like skin that her body had shed to reveal the new body within.

Sara quickly wraps her in a blanket and lies down next to her until her shaking ceases.

Sara: "What do we do now?"

Frigga: "We wait for her to awaken, but she may be disoriented at first".

Ruth: "We will carry her to the nearest guest chambers and get her cleaned up".