The Frostians

Chapter 26

### Chapter 26: The Goddess Returns

Kristian sat by the campfire, the crackling flames casting shadows across the faces of his companions. The stars above Midgard sparkled brightly, and the night air was cool and crisp. His mind was racing, thinking about the trials ahead and the revelations that had been slowly unfolding about his past.

The quiet murmur of the camp was interrupted by a sudden ripple in the air, a shift in the atmosphere that made everyone tense. Kristian stood up, his hand instinctively going to his sword. Before him, the figure of a woman materialized, her golden hair gleaming in the moonlight, and her presence exuding a divine power that silenced the entire camp.

Freya had returned.

She approached gracefully, her eyes sweeping the camp until they landed on Tyr. Her expression softened, a rare smile curving her lips as she crossed the distance between them.

“Tyr,” Freya whispered, her voice filled with warmth and a touch of sorrow. “It has been too long.”

Tyr, usually so stoic, gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. “Freya,” he said in his gravelly voice. “I had not expected to see you again.”

Freya's eyes glimmered with unspoken emotion as she stood before him. “Neither did I,” she replied softly, “not after all these years.”

Kristian watched the exchange, feeling the weight of history between them. It was no secret that Freya had once been married to Odin, but their separation and her subsequent curse, which bound her to Midgard, had been shrouded in mystery. Seeing her reunited with Tyr seemed like the rekindling of an old, forgotten connection.

Breaking the silence, Kristian stepped forward. “Freya, it’s good to see you again.”

Freya turned her attention to him, her smile fading as she regarded him with her usual enigmatic gaze. “Kristian Frost, the warrior with a tangled fate,” she said, her tone both teasing and serious. “I see you’ve come far since our last meeting.”

Kristian nodded, his expression steady. “I’ve learned much, but there are still many questions that need answering.”

Freya’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Questions will always remain, Kristian. But for now, we must focus on what lies ahead.”

They walked a short distance from the camp, leaving Tyr and the others to their own thoughts. As they moved deeper into the forest, the quiet hum of the night enveloped them, and the tension that always seemed to accompany divine encounters hung in the air.

“I didn’t expect you to return so soon,” Kristian remarked, breaking the silence.

Freya looked at him, her eyes sharp but softened by something akin to affection. “I have been watching your progress, Kristian. The gods have not abandoned you, though we cannot intervene directly in all matters. But when Tyr rejoined your cause, I knew I had to come.”

Kristian raised an eyebrow. “Because of Tyr?”

Freya nodded. “There is history between us, as you might have guessed. Once, before Odin’s curse bound me to Midgard, I was free to walk among the realms. Tyr was... an ally.”

Kristian sensed there was more to the story, but Freya wasn’t one to reveal all her secrets. He respected that. “So, what now? Do the gods plan to assist us in the coming battle?”

Freya’s expression grew serious. “The gods’ influence in Midgard is limited, as you know. My own curse still holds me here, and the balance between realms is delicate. However, there are forces gathering, and you, Kristian, will have a pivotal role to play.”