The Old And Forgotten Gods (God Of War)

VI

The two sat by the cracking fire as they bit into the warm meat. There was an awkward silence flowing between them, but it didn't bother either. But as they enjoyed their meal, a far too familiar growl came from outside the cabin, followed by shuffling. Kratos was first to hear it, in which he lowered the meat and listened, then looked to Eir. She questioned what his look was about, but then she heard it herself. She perked her head up then stood bravely, calling her axe into her hand. Kratos then follower behind her, taking the bow and quiver from its placement on the wall. Eir walked to the door first, holding her hand out to stop Kratos as he tried to pass her. And without reluctance, she creaked the wooden door open where the freezing winds slung it open even further, where they then saw standing in the thick snowfall a group of draugr waiting for them to come out. Eir's eyes widened at the sight and she stood, the winds blowing her hair furiously. Kratos took aim of his bow, keeping a steady eye on the enemy while questioning Eir what their next move was.

"I've never seen this many in one spot, let alone this close to home..." she stared, staying still as it seemed the draugr had not heard nor seen her due to the storm. She furrowed her brows as she squinted, taking a step forward very carefully to get a better look. There were roughly fifty draugr roaming around the house, tumbling aimlessly through the snow.

"What do we do?" Kratos questioned again, more thoroughly this time.

"We kill them, of course."

Kratos grunted in reply, drawing the arrow back even more on the string of the bow, then once aiming, finally firing, the arrow blasting cleanly through one of the draugr's skulls. The rest took notice and looked to Eir who charged forward to them, her axe gripped tightly between her fingers. And as she swung and sliced, Kratos ran forward, using the edges of the bow to kill while still firing the arrows.

Together they made a mighty team. After Kratos bashed one draugr into the ground with the bow, as he was hunched over, Eir ran to him from behind, hopping up onto his back and jumping off, giving her enough height so that the next blow with her axe would leave a devastating tremor through the ground, ice crawling up the few remaining draugr and completely freezing them, then exploding them. Kratos looked to her in shock, his breath heavy and visible from the cold. He furrowed his brow even further—if that were even possible—tucking his bow over his torso as he angrily tromped to Eir, using both hands to grab her by the shoulders and squeezing her arms to her side. She looked up into his furious eyes with shock and confusion.

"How are you that powerful?! What is it you are not telling me?!"

"What do you mean?!" Eir replied in question.

"THE ATTACK! NO MORTAL COULD HAVE DONE SUCH DAMAGE! WHAT IS IT YOU ARE HIDING FROM ME, WOMAN?! ARE YOU A GOD?"

"NO!!" She yelled back quickly, keeping the truth hidden. She stared to him for a moment, pondering her thoughts. "I..." she began to speak, looking away. "I was a Valkyrie." To that, Kratos finally loosened his grip, lowering his arms and taking a step back but folding his arms, waiting for further explanation "What do you mean?" He asked with a low, growling voice.

"A Valkyrie—I've told you of them. They were Odin's warriors."

Kratos grunted in reply, feeling ashamed he'd gotten so suddenly angry with her. He looked down to the snow, gritting his teeth. "Let us go inside. Tell me more of the Valkyrie."

Eir was still in shock from the sudden hostility and was surprised she held back from defending herself so well, but a soft smile finally grew on her face as she walked back inside, Kratos following her. She walked to the pot of boiling juice sitting over the fire and dipped her cup into it, then another and handing it to Kratos. She held the warm copper cup with both hands, heating up from the cold outside. They sat on the bench across from the fire and beside the bed together.

"The Valkyrie were... brave, and relentless women. We chose who must live and who must die. One half were sent to goddess Freya's afterlife field, called Fólkvangr, while the other half are sent to Valhalla, the hall of the slain which is ruled over by Odin."

"So..." Kratos intervened. "You chose who was sent to Valhalla and Fólkvangr...?"

"Mhm. We were the daughters of royalty, taught that we must be lovers of heroes."

"What happens to those sent to Valhalla?"

"They become fighters. Odin is using them for preparation of Ragnarok, they were called the einherjar. When my sisters and I weren't battling, we were to bear them mead."

"Hm. Do you ever miss those days?"

"Of course—I didn't leave by choice. My wings were ripped off my Odin, though, I hear he still keeps them in hopes to use me as a warrior again someday. Who knows, maybe come Ragnarok, he'll give them back."

"Why did he take them?"

"That..." Eir paused, looking down to her drink. "is a story for another time." She smiled, looking back up to Kratos. Kratos acknowledged that she was uncomfortable going to further detail, so relieved her of the questions. Eir took one last sip and placed the empty cup on the floor, then standing from the bench, cracking her back as she stretched her sore muscles. She hadn't fought like that in a long while, and she could definitely feel it. "Well... it seems that the gods have found me, or at least, think they have. The draugr are a clear sign." She sighed, then walking towards the door. Kratos followed.

As she opened the door, looking up to the grey skies, she took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she inhaled the crisp air. "I should've put a protection wall around this place long ago."

"What will you do?"

She turned her body to the towering man. "I can't have anymore draugr getting in. I'll go out, circle the woods and place a protection spell. It's pretty simple but it'll take a few days."

"I'll grab my things then." Kratos began to turn back to the home but Eir stopped him, wrapping her hands around his large forearm.

"No need. I'll do this by myself." She held her hand up and the axe flung to her. "You will stay here. You know how to cook, right?" Kratos nodded his head in reply. "Good. There's plenty of meat. Well, I guess I will see you when I return. Please do not burn down my home." She flashed a smile before walking off. Kratos huffed out visibly cold air, then turning back and walking into the comfort of the warm, secluded cabin.