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

Part 36

Chapter 35

"You're crazy, insane, totally cookoo," Mótsognir muttered. "Mimir's well is this entire lake. How are you going to evaporate it all? Besides no magic but Creation magic works here."

"I've been wondering about that," Loki stated. "The laws here seem to cater to the subconscious wishes of the inhabitants." He said as he remembered conjuring the ball of light. His dip in the Lake of Knowledge had let him to a theory. All he needed to do was piece what information he had gained together.

Loki paced for a while before he conjured up a fireball in the palm of his hand. He tried to make it bigger but it didn't really work. Then he tried duplicating the fireball. A smirk appeared on Loki's face when that did work.

"Hey now... WAIT!" The tree shouted as the area became filled with small fireballs. "Watch the leaves!"

Loki smiled as he looked at what he had summoned. Creation magic seemed to work with a different set of rules but it was exhilarating. The fireballs burnt brightly as Loki let them impact the surface of the lake causing some of the water to evaporate. He did this a couple of times and the tree sighed "You know this isn't going to work,"

"But it already has," Loki laughed as a whirlpool started forming not far from the island they were on.

"What is happening?!" Mótsognir bristled since he couldn't actually see.

"We are about to have another guest," Loki stated as he watched tendrils of water shoot up and form the body of an old man in elegant robes.

"Who dares to harm the knowledge in my lake!" The watery figure boomed.

"Loki, Prince of Asgard and Mótsognir, Lord of the Dwarves!" Loki announced.

"HEY, DON'T LUMP ME IN WITH YOU!" The tree shouted.

Loki ignored the tree and then said "It is a pleasure to meet you at last Mimir," He gave a short bow that held no disrespect.

"You seem to know who I am boy," The watery figure stated as he looked down critically at Loki.

"Of course. You are still famous on Asgard to have been the only one to con the Allfather." Loki laughed. "Although that tale is only spoken of in hushed circles it is still very much alive."

"He had it coming." Mimir grumbled. "He was way too arrogant in his youth."

"Okay, I am slightly lost here!" Mótsognir mumbled. "Just what did this guy do?"

"You wouldn't mind if I tell the tale, right?" Loki asked.

Mimir cocked his head to the side as if in thought before he answered with "I am curious to what they are saying after all these years."

"The story goes that Mimir here came from beyond the Nine Realms," Loki started and when the watery individual didn't correct him he took it as being the truth. "Lauded as the possessor of all knowledge he garnered many individuals seeking his help. One of them was the Allfather before he took the throne."

"The story goes that Odin was trying to court Frigg but she kept giving him the cold shoulder when the other ladies of the court would fall at his feet for even a tenth of the attention he bestowed on her." Loki said as the tree hummed. "One day Odin approached Mimir with the question 'How do I win Lady Frigg's heart?' but Mimir merely scoffed at him and did not answer. Odin returned every day for a year until Mimir gave in."

"So where is the con?" The tree asked as Mimir was listening silently at the recounting.

"One day Mimir told Odin, 'Give me the All-Seeing eye and I shall give you the means to court the lady'. Odin's eyes widened because the All-Seeing eye was a national treasure bestowed upon him by his father for his heroics during a particularly difficult battle. It was a pendant that could gaze into the future for five seconds and Odin always carried it with him."

"Five seconds doesn't seem like a lot....." The tree mumbled.

"Five seconds could mean life or death on the battlefield." Loki stated. "That pendant saved Odin's life more than once."

"Odin yanked the pendant off without hesitation and offered it to Mimir," Loki then told the tree. "In return Mimir gave Odin a book before disappearing before his eyes. When Odin looked down at the title of the book he raged for it said 'Courting rituals for the addlebrained'.

Mótsognir snorted, as best as a tree could.

"He was rather arrogant, demanding that I help him." Mimir stated. "Whatever happened to him and the lady in question?"

"Frigg was getting worried about Odin and decided to follow him on that fateful day. But you already knew that didn't you?" Loki asked rhetorically. "Otherwise you wouldn't have played him." Mimir said nothing as Loki gazed at him. "She saw Odin give up a precious national treasure just for the chance to court her. A treasure that he valued greatly. It was then that she decided to give him a chance."

"Conman and matchmaker. Who would have guessed." The tree exclaimed. "But wait! You've been living in this lake all this time and didn't even pop up here to talk with me?!"

"Why would I want to talk with a noisy tree," Mimir grumbled. "Your singing at night kept me up! And it was the same damn song for eons!"

"Well excuse me for knowing only one song!!!!" Mótsognir huffed.

"We are getting off topic here!" Loki intervened. Mimir seemed to be glaring at the tree and if the tree had a face that actually moved it might have been doing the same. "Look, there is a situation that needs to be handled."

When Loki came back out from the doors to the Springs of Creation he frowned as he saw none of the guards there. Surely they wouldn't have just left the place unguarded. An elegant ice-like crystal bow was in Loki's right hand and he looked down at it. The doors closed behind him and he decided to not wait around. The staircase was illuminated by torches and he made his way up into the main part of the palace.

Loki stopped and stared in shock once he had reached the main floor. The grand foyer and most of the throne room was filled with huddling Jothun. Children were being held close by mothers and fathers. Huddled families cringed as the ceiling rumbled. Even from where he stood cries of 'AVALANCHE' reached his ears. It was utter chaos.

'Just what had happened since he had been gone?' Loki thought as his eyes widened when he saw the old ornate ice crystal chandelier tremble and fall.