Andromeda | Thor [1] |

The Fall

If I imagine the way I die, this would probably be it. Flying into battle with my sisters and knowing that it might be the last. Heroically sacrificing myself to save another. It would be the honorable thing to do. The right thing to do. The only way to die. The fates have always laughed at me, so I guess letting me live was another one of their practical jokes.

---

The screams of terror and sounds of the ongoing battle surround me as they slowly fade in and out of my senses. I wake up. My chest is tight and my arms become rigid as I lift myself off of the cold greystone soaked with the blood of my sisters. I gasp in horror and fall to my knees. Scanning my surroundings I notice their fallen bodies. I'm pained with a burning throb as I wrap my arm around my abdomen. Glancing down I see a dagger. It sliced through my Asgardian armor like it was nothing. Images flashback into my mind as I try to recall what happened. I see Hela, surrounded by thousands of knives. Just as my Valkyrie sisters and I begin to close in they suddenly fly at us and everything goes black. I rip the knife out of my stomach and stare at it with malice. The dark shine of the obsidian dagger reflects onto my hand and I am overcome with an intense emotion of rage. I'll destroy Hela if it's the last thing I do.

I summon my spear, Eyða. Squaring my shoulders I prepare to fly towards my inevitable demise. I will not let my sisters and my King Odin down without a fight. The air is thickened from black miasma that burns my lungs and blinds my eyes. I stand to see Hela's loyal beast, Fenris. An eye for an eye. I lunge at the oversized wolf determined to end his life. Eyða ignites with a flame as she makes contact with Fenris' side. The wolf howls in pain before its electric green eyes focus on me. Eyða flies back into my hand and I crouch into a battle stance. The Eternal Flame surrounds my weapon as my wings propel me forwards. There is a blinding light as I swing Eyða at Fenris. I am thrown back a couple of feet and when I look up I see the devil herself, Hela. She must be here to save her precious beast from being destroyed by my hands.

"Eir!" I hear a voice call out to me. I look over my right shoulder and see Brunnhilde, another Valkyrie, and my dear friend. She reaches out a hand and pulls me to my feet. I smile at her familiar face before I turn to face Hela.

"You little Valkyrie are all roaches who refuse to die," Hela spits at us, "Why can't you realize that your time in this realm has come to an end?" She raises her arms once again and her weapons follow. I'm familiar with this tactic now. I grab Brunnhilde and put her behind me as I try to shield us from the oncoming barrage of daggers. I hold up Eyða in a defensive manner and stand tall. My world suddenly moves in slow motion as I watch the scene in front of me play out. Hela launches her attack at Brunnhilde and me while suddenly, Asynjur, the leader of the Valkyrie, appears. There is nothing I can do now to stop the chain of events. Asynjur steps in front of us and is our protection against Hela's fury. I scream in anguish as she falls to the ground in front of me. I can't hear a word Asynjur tells me but I understand what she said, "Run". Brunnhilde grabs my arms and we run away. I hear the cackle of Hela as she gleefully begins the pursuit against us alongside her beast Fenris.

"Go on without me, Brunhilde!" I gasp out to her as I feel my wound lose more and more blood.

"I can't leave you Eir!" She says with desperation in her voice.
"You must continue the legacy of the Valkyrie. Now run!" I scream and push her away before Fenris reaches our location. She silently nods her head and disappears into the darkness.

Tears well up in the corners of my eyes. I hold out Eyða and walk backward. I quickly stop when I almost fall. I glance behind my shoulder and my eyes widen. To think that this is where I die, the edge of the world. I look ahead to Asgard's golden castle as it shines with reverend light. I feel at peace knowing that I'm at least protecting the lives of thousands by sacrificing myself here. Sighing, I turn to the end. The emptiness of the universe always seemed so cold and lonely but as I stare out, I am only stuck with its mysterious beauty. It's funny how life and death situations can really change your perspective on things. Maybe my sacrifice and those of my sisters will give Odin enough time to finally put an end to his malevolent daughter's destruction. The hairs on my arms raise as I feel the coolness of death at my door.

"So this is where you have run to, little Valkyrie." Hela hisses as she and Fenris stalk closer to me. I turn and face her with renewed vigor, my dark hair coils around my charred and bloodied face. I stare her down knowing that there's nothing more she can do to me now. Hela makes her way towards me, the stench of death and decay in her wake.

"Oh, you poor pet." She coos in my ear as she trails a finger down my jawline, "Odin has forsaken you."

"No," I say quietly. "You're wrong. The only difference between you and me is that at least I died knowing what love is." I finish as I stab her in the chest with the dagger from my abdomen. She screams in pain and staggers backward. Fenris growls and supports his master as she wrenches the dagger out of her body.

"I'll kill you!" She rages at me.

"I'd like to see you try," I say with a smirk as my vision becomes hazy.

I fall over the edge.