The Eternal Valkyrie: War of the Realms (HTTYD fic)

Part 18

Chapter 17

The explosion was felt through the entire palace putting the gang and the two Jothun princes on high alert.

"What in Norns name?!" Helblindi shouted as a large crack appeared on the walls.

"Sir, it came from below. The prisons." One of the guards mentioned.

"Well, don't just stand there man! Move it!" Býleistr shouted. That seemed to get everyone out of their stupor and had them all rushing towards the lower levels.

Meanwhile, down below, rubble from the ceiling had fallen causing an uneven surface. Those in the cells were largely unaffected but Sigyn and her Frost Giant escort were buried under it. The click-clack of heels could be heard as the dust settled causing the cells' occupants to look in the noise's direction. It was Laufey who reacted first at the sight of the woman that was casually approaching them. "You.... You....!" the Giant sputtered as his red eyes widened.

"Is that any way to greet your creator Laufey?" Ymir asked as she stopped in front of his cell. "You have greatly disappointed me," Her eyes narrowed as she looked down on the bruised former Frost Giant king.

"F.....Forgive me," Laufey said as he genuflected. "I encountered opposition when trying to recruit capable men for your army."

"Opposition?" Ymir queried. "You got opposition from other Jothuns?"

"Y....Yes..." Laufey mumbled.

"Preposterous," Ymir muttered as she started gathering magic in the palm of her hand.

"They..... They are tired of fighting oh great Creator!" Laufey reasoned. "Maybe with time......"

"The Jothuns exist for the sole purpose of fighting for MY glory!" Ymir told him without pause. "What good is a commander that cannot rally his troops." she said not noticing that the rubble nearby shifted. The Frost Giant had shielded Sigyn from the worst of the falling ceiling and they had only just gotten free. Sigyn had glanced in Ymir's direction and saw that she was about to send a glowing ball of magic straight at Laufey. She didn't like the giant but she also did not want to see him dead. Acting fast, Sigyn sent her own wind magic in the shape of an arrow to knock the ball off course. Ymir's magic hit Laufey in the shoulder instead of the heart causing her to turn angrily and look at the person who foiled her attack. Laufey let out a harsh breath while trying to stop the bleeding.

"Your weapon," The injured Jothun said as he handed Sigyn's warhammer back from out the rubble. She quickly looked him over and determined that he was in no condition to fight at the moment. Her own abdomen throbbed and a cut on her head was bleeding as she stood up and glared at Ymir. "Good luck," The Frost Giant managed to whisper as the two women were now caught in a stare off.

"And just who are you?" Ymir asked looking like she had just eaten a lemon. She stared at Sigyn with distaste.

"Your opponent," Sigyn said as she took a fighting stance, easily swinging her warhammer up. This caused Ymir however to let out an actual laugh.

"You?" The eons-old Giantess asked incredulously. "And here I was hoping for a challenge."

Sigyn's eyes narrowed but she would not fall for such tactics. She knew her opponent was just trying to goad her into attacking recklessly. The Valkyries still in the cell wisely backed up as the battle was about to start.

"Kynda!" Sigyn chanted causing a massive fireball to appear before her. She immediately sent it hurdling straight at Ymir.

Ymir was unimpressed and batted the fire away like it was a flea. She however did not anticipate the hammer behind the fire that came crashing into her. The weight and momentum that the hammer traveled with caused Ymir to be flung back. Sigyn hoped she had made quite a dent in the woman but sadly she was mistaken. Ymir, while being sent back a few meters, was still standing and the woman had managed to catch her warhammer.