Legacy of Asgard

A Titan... Awesome

Ch. 17

The newest residents of Tartarus made their way deeper into the pit, following the River of Fire as they went. They walked in silence for a while, both lost in their own thoughts about many different things, most prominently how impossible the journey to the very heart of Tartarus was going to be. They were supposed to somehow follow this blazing inferno of a river until it met up with the Styx, then cross some great plain within Tartarus to find the Kokytos River, better known as the River of Wailing or Lamentation, and follow it to a Mansion of Night, whatever the Hel that was. After that, they would need to cross the River Acheron, a place reserved as the ultimate punishment for the damned, and end up in the heart of Tartarus itself.

Yes, this sounded like a walk in the park.

Reyna glanced down at her wrist, the bracelet giving off a soft glow in dark and gloomy light of Tartarus.

"Percy," she said quietly. "Tell me of Asgard and your people. I know you've never met them but surely you know all about them."

Percy didn't look over at her. He kept his eyes ahead of them as he thought about her question, the memories of all the stories and tales his guardians had told him growing up coming back to him.

"It is a lot of tell Reyna but I will tell you what as much as I can." He answered softly. She smiled a bit and nodded for his to continue.

"In our world, there are nine realms or worlds that exist, the first one, Niflheim, is called the World of Fog. Deep under the ground, that is where Hel's kingdom can be found. It is a place of cold and unforgiving condtions. It is said all living began there and all living end there. Then there is Muspelheim, or the Land of Fire. That is where the Fire Giants make their home. They are the sworn enemy of Asgard and their king, Surt, is said to ride out with his flaming sword at the Ragnarök and turn Asgard into a blazing inferno."

"What is Ragnarök? Reyna interrupted, she heard Percy mention it before but the term was foreign to her.

Percy stopped; his expression darkening before he spoke.

"It refers to a series of events, foreseen long ago that will bring about the end of the world. Many of our major gods will fall, the All-Father Odin; my father; Tyr, the god of war; Freyr, the god of the sun who rules over the realm of Alfheimr; Heimdallr, the god who guards the Bifrost Bridge; and Loki; killed by monsters like Garmr, Jörmungandr, and Fenrir or by other gods who turn against Asgard before the final battle. Natural disasters will tear the world to pieces before it is submerged in water only to be reborn anew to be repopulated."

Reyna looked at him, her expression showed a little disbelief at the detailed account of the end of the world. She thought it impossible for such knowledge of the world's downfall to be known to even to the Norse gods.

"So some monsters kill some of your gods and then the world ends for all of us?"

Percy narrowed his eyes, a look of anger on his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Are my beliefs not copasetic with yours? Is it because my people, who by the way would crush your little Roman and Greek gods, don't think themselves infallible? Because unlike the Olympians, they are humble enough to think themselves able to fall from power. What exactly do you think is going on right now Reyna? That Hel is here to take over the world so she can pass out cupcakes and dandelions to all the mortals?"

Her eyes widened, "What?"

Percy rolled his eyes at her obliviousness.

"Taking over Midgard is just the start. She won't stop there. She hopes to start the Ragnarök. Then the majority of our most powerful gods will be gone. The world can start anew without the gods who shunned Hel when she was brought to Asgard as a child. Before the All-Father, taking pity on her because her form brought fear and discomfort to the other gods, gave her the kingdom in which she rules over."