a marvelous story - avengers soulmate au

escape (pt. 3)

As we made it to the park, I talked animatedly to Crocus about various myths I'd obsessed over as a teenager.

Some of the stories I told were Greek, others Egyptian, but most of them were one specific pantheon I held closer to my heart than I had before.

Norse.

I told of the creation, from the giants to the Aesir and Vanir, and the many tales of the Midgardian adventures of the Gods in the time of Viking warriors.

I regaled each treacherous journey, each hilarious journey, and even some things I'd experienced in person from the prince brothers themselves.

I tried not to think to hard of that time I spent with them.

At some point, a group of small children had gathered and I was left making my own stories of princesses and dragons and knights all being independent and fierce and embracing themselves for who they were. I tried to also tell more stories of the Gods of old, but I was running out of ones I'd not told before.

"Do you children know how Odin gained his wisdom and powers of prophecy?" I asked, making an exciting face as the gathered children shook their heads. I grinned, laughing lightly. "You don't? Why then, would you like to know?"

"Yes!"

"Tell us, Ms. Sol!"

I smiled at the little cries of excitement as the parents looked on fondly.

"The Allfather, king of all the Gods, wanted to be the wisest, most clever of all the Aesir and the Vanir." I began, a child asking a question nearly immediately.

"Who are the Ay- I- Aesir and Vanir?" the little boy asked, looking up at me with wide, curious eyes.

"They are the two races of Gods. The Aesir, in Asgard, and the Vanir, in Vannheim." I explained, continuing with the story, "Odin was the king of all Gods, and he used to visit Midgard very often. But, he grew tired of going back and forth from Asgard to Midgard. This is why he wanted to know all, and to see all."

"He knew that if he wanted to do this, he would have to return to Midgard one last time to visit a well guarded by the wisest man on Midgard, Mimir." I said, explaining with slight hand gestures. "He ran into a giant, mounted atop a reindeer. And the giant stopped him, asking him questions."

"He asked three questions, so that the Allfather could pass. He asked the names of the river separating Asgard from Jotunnheim, the horse who ran across the sky at Day and the horse at Night, and the final battlefield of Ragnarok."

"Odin knew all these answers, for he was king of Gods. He answered simply each name. Ifling, the river between Jotunnheim and Asgard. Skinfaxe and Hrimfaxe, the horses of Day and Night. And the field of the Last Battle, Vigard."

"The giant assured Odin that he would keep his head, but Odin also had a question for the giant. 'What are the last words the Allfather would speak to Baldur?'" I smiled as the children thought, "The giant proclaimed it was something no one could possibly know, and that Odin's questions had been unfair. But Odin returned that the giant's own bargain was unfair, and that he did not want the giant's head but to know what Mimir would ask for in exchange for a drink of his water."

I looked over the crowd of children, who waited with baited breath for the answer.

"The giant answered, solemnly, 'Mimir will ask of you your right eye. Many have been offered, but none have agreed.' Odin thought it was a lot to ask of a man, let alone a God, but he was determined to get his drink."

I continued, the children all having varying reactions.

"And so, Odin the Allfather continued on his path to reach Mimir's Well. And when he reached it, Mimir asked him if he was willing to pay the price."