Ragnarok Unwound: The Awakening

Chapter 11

"What do think father?"

Valkyrie asked as she stepped away from the unconscious warrior. A large smile spread across her blood splattered pale face. She had been training for this moment since her fifth birthday. That was the day Odin had taken her from her mother, who had attempted to give her to Athena. This however, was her eleventh birthday, the day where Odin finally took her under his wing. The day she finally earned her birthright.

Odin looked down upon her and Valkyrie couldn't help but feel nervous under his gaze. Even with his age Odin was tall with a strong build. He scratched his long white braided beard and kept his dark eye on her. His face was a cold scowl as he thought silently. Then, after a moment he kneeled down and grabbed the spear from her hand, examining it. Valkyrie froze as a proud fatherly smile broke across his face.

"You did well, but you have one more test..."

Val awoke with a start. She sat up and looked out into the dim lit room. Besides the sleeping frames of the other female recruits there was nothing, well excluding Hugin who had made his home at the post near the foot of her bed. She sighed and realized she was tense for some reason. She also realized that she was clutching the knife she hid under her pillow. Her body was racked in a cold sweat and her hair was stuck on ends. Val let out a shaking breath and relaxed slightly.

One last test, yeah right! You liar!

Val reached down and subconsciously stoked the pendant that rested on a simple silver chain around her neck. It was an owl. It was Athena's owl. Val scowled to herself and grabbed the small piece of metal in her hand.

Unable to sleep she sat in silence, thinking. She had told them the truth about who her father was. Skadi and Freya were obviously more skiddish around her. She hoped that Keir's trust would help prove her loyalty. She ran a high risk by turning against her father to help the school. He deserves this! He deserves to have his pride ruined! Val had to hold back a frustrated yell. Never had she thought she would turn her back on her father. But he pushed her far beyond her limit. Then again she never thought she would be allies with a frost giant or the daughter of Loki. She also never thought she would ever turn away from her pantheon and seek out Odin's enemies for help.

This could have all been avoided if he had just bestowed her birthright. Val rose from the bed and grabbed her hewing spear. Hugin squawked gently and jumped to her shoulder. She met the birds mocking eyes and stroked his beak gently as she walked silently past her sleeping commrades. A small mischevious smirk played across her lips.

If you refuse me what is mine, I will turn to others. Where a friend refuses an enemy will agree! That was the only wisdom you ever gave me father...

.....................
The All-Father sat quietly at his throne, a scowl pressed firmly on his lips. Hugin flew into the room, after half the night had passed. He perched himself on Odin's shoulder. He craned his head and Odin leaned in to hear the creatures whisper.

"Freya needs allies, she is sending the frost giant Keir to you to make an agreement..."

Odin dismissed the bird with that. He smirked ruthlessly. Oh how Freya and Skadi had played so easily into his hand! All it truly took was showing the giant in danger and probably some coercion on Valkyrie's part. She was more useful than I originally thought! Surely it is by the will of her mother's gods that she has not died yet!

Valkyrie had always been so eager to receive his acceptance. She sought out what she thought to be her "birthright". Odin knew that it was so easy to manipulate the girl by offering her the wisdom she was seeking. Sometimes Odin wondered if she was truly his child, seeing as she lacked he proper wisdom to see when she was being played as a pawn. Still, miraculously she had managed to succeed in bringing him the frost giant. Maybe the arrogant brat may serve a greater purpose than I originally believed.

Odin laughed vicariously and threw his head back. He only stopped when he realized that he still had not received word on how skilled his new ally may be. Gripping his spear tightly he thought to himself. No matter, I have my ways of finding out when she arrives...

"THOR!"