Goddess of Fimbulwinter | Odin

Chapter 1: Decisions Were Made

It seemed like a short time ago when she gave birth to her twins. They had grown, they looked a lot like their mother... but had features of their father. Jay's curiosity towards life was what scared her the most. The father of the twins was hardly what Jacqueline would call a prize, someone to father children either. He had enough of his own already, but Jacqueline refused to let her children end up like them.

Of all the individuals it could have been, of all the stupid things she could have done, why did it have to be this someone? How was she supposed to explain the parentage to her twins. Not a day went by when it didn't cross her mind, especially the most curious her children became. Jay and Jaycee, twins, taking on her features. Each had something from their mother and father, but luckily, the features of their mother had come out more. It made hiding easier.

Oddly enough, Jacqueline had chosen to hide her family in plain site, the shore of the nine. It was safe enough, the monsters always kept them on their toes after all. Not to mention the traps she had set up. She was to be prepared just in case their father came knocking.

However, as time passed, Jacqueline noticed the increase of ravens flying overhead. She knew enough about Odin to know he was always looking for something, someone, but she prayed it wasn't them. After all the time they had spent alone, she was not ready for it to end. One day, perhaps, but her children were not ready.

This day was no different. The sun was out, shining down on their home as Jacqueline pulled an arrow out of a deer she had just hunted. The twins were old enough to be left alone, hell, she was younger when her parents had died. They were elves, children of the goddess of Fimbulwinter, they could handle it. 

Jacqueline's hands wrapped around the antlers of the deer as she started dragging it back towards home. She had farming to do later, but it could wait. She wanted to spend time with her children. Jacqueline looked up at the sky as she made her way to the shore, walking alongside the water. Every time she looked at the water, her ice blue eyes would shine back her way. Sometimes she just wanted to look. Even as an elf, she aged from time to time, but she stayed the same. The twins were at the age where they would no longer change much either.

They had grown.

 As she neared their home, neither twin was outside at the water, nor anywhere that she could see for that matter. Jacqueline sighed, dragging the deer up to the side of the house and dropping it. "Jay, Jaycee, that's enough." She said, in a raised tone. Out from behind the confines of the house, Jay popped out. She had brown hair and ice blue eyes just like Jacqueline. Her smile, however, reminded her of their father. The memories still haunted her, but Jay had a kinder smile.

"Sorry, mother. We just... we found a raven." Jay said and Jacqueline could feel something sink in her stomach.

The ravens had never come close to her home, usually watching from a distance.

"House, now," Jacqueline placed her hand on the sword that accompanied her bow on her back. She was barefoot, not really prepared for a fight. Not like this anyways.

"Mother-"

"Now, Jay," Jacqueline spoke, harshly. "Take your sister."

Jay nodded at Jacqueline's words, retrieving Jaycee from a black and red raven with blue eyes before Jaycee even had a chance to react.

Jacqueline was no fool. Despite having made questionable choices before her children were born, she knew what to look for. She spent all the time she could have up to that very moment, preparing for Odin to come knocking. To come looking for her children, for her even.

Almost immediately, Jacqueline recognized the raven and she gripped her sword. "Huginn," she murmured. "Nice to see you again." She knew she couldn't understand the raven, but maybe her twins would. She stared at the raven, narrowing her eyes. "I know you plan to inform the All-Father... Odin... of my location, but you should also tell him he should be ready for a fight."

The raven cawed in response, flapping its wings back at her. Jacqueline sighed, there was no point in denying it any longer. Her daughters were children of Odin. A stupid decision made in Midgard many years ago had come back to haunt her. Now, she wasn't sure if there was any escaping it. She wouldn't let them go, not to Asgard, not without a fight. The problem with that, however, was getting away from Odin. Odin outmatched her. Then there was Baldur, Thor, Heimdall, what was she supposed to do to take them on? It wasn't time for Fimbulwinter, not yet. Jacqueline looked at Huginn one last time before turning her back, making her way towards her home.

Jacqueline lifted her free hand, gripping it tightly. She could still control the ice. She still had power over it. She could use it, protect her and her family, maybe even cover her tracks. "Twins, it's time to leave," Jacqueline said as she pushed the door open to her home. Jay and Jaycee were waiting for her on their beds on the opposite end of the house.

Both nodded to her, not asking questions. Neither had ever seen their mother like that, but they didn't dare to ask.