Odin lay on the floor of the throne room, coughing up blood. He peered up at the Warrior of Tundra standing over him. Odin had a look of resignation in his eyes. “You’ve won. My life, my people—they are now yours. I cannot stop you. Kill me now and be done with it. I do not want to live to see what your evil taint does to the Asgardians.”
Zane/Zoe sighed, exasperated. They powered down, the armor and spear disappearing. Zoe materialized beside Zane. They both reached out to help Odin up. Odin stared at their hands as if they were venomous snakes. “Come on, Odin. Get up! You’re a proud, arrogant jerk, but your people need you.”
The gods of Asgard came towards Zane and Zoe. He hoped they didn’t have to fight them all now. They all suddenly, reluctantly bowed to Zane and Zoe on one knee.
Volstag spoke for them. “You defeated the king of the gods in trial by combat. According to our laws, you are now ruler of us all. You now have what you desired most, Loki.” He glared murderously at Zane.
Zane smacked his forehead. “You guys are giving me a major headache! Read my lips: I am not Loki! She’s not Loki! We’re not going to kill Odin and neither of us wants to be your ruler! We just want to go home with our friends. Got it?”
A cold gust of wind blew through the room. Two women cloaked in black appeared--one an old crone, one a middle-aged woman.
“Gudrun, daughter of Balder.
It is the task of the Norns
to advise, to wait,
to follow, to witness
to show and relate
To warn and guide
to illuminate fact
to impart wisdom
but never to act
You are guilty
woe the day
for now young Gudrun
you must pay.”
Gudrun stepped forward. “I accept punishment gladly for my actions.”
Balder was confused. “I don’t understand.”
Gudrun looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I’m one of them, Father. I have been since we came to Muspelheim. The Norns are only allowed to watch and advise. They can warn others of danger, but are not allowed to act to save them. The moment I actively came to Zane’s aid, I broke our laws. Now I must face their wrath.”
“The sentence is death.”
Zane and Zoe jumped in front of Gudrun, speaking in unison. “We won’t let you have her. You’ll have to come through both of us first.”
Zane approached the Norns. “She saved my life. That’s a crime? What kind of people are you that you can sit back and watch evil things just happen? You have the power to help and you do nothing. Now you’re going to punish her because she has a heart?”
“We do not interfere because all living beings must decide their own actions. We only offer alternatives. Their destiny must be their own. To step in is to take away their right to choose.”
“And in the meantime people suffer and die.”
Odin, too, came forward. “If you want the child, you will have to fight us all. She may be a haughty, disobedient girl, but she is pure of heart and spirit. She has been, perhaps, the wisest and bravest of us all.”
“You still say this after she has foiled your plans and made you look foolish?”
Odin bristled, but held his anger. His voice was low. “I think…perhaps…only I made myself look foolish.”
The old crone smiled at the middle-aged woman. “Very well. Death will not be your punishment. You are one of us no longer. You must find a new path. The sentence…” The old woman smiled strangely. “…is exile.” They pointed at Gudrun. A vortex of bright light formed behind her and silently sucked her in. The two Norns vanished with a rush of air.
Balder ran at them. “NOOOO! What have you done with her! Please! Come back. Gudrun…” He fell to his knees. Odin went to his son. Thor had always been Odin’s favorite, as Balder had been Frigg’s. When Thor hadn’t made it through Frigg’s gate, Odin had tried to make his other sons live up to Thor’s legacy. Perhaps that had been a mistake. Balder was much like Frigg…beloved Frigg whose heart was kind enough to ache for the whole world’s suffering. Odin said nothing, merely kneeled next to his son and put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.
Kayura came up behind the still stunned Zane and Zoe. “Perhaps it is time for us to go. There’s nothing more we can do here.”
Zane and Zoe were both crying. They brushed her aside. “No.”
“But…”
“No! Not without them! Your dimensional gateway doesn’t need more power the more people it transports, right? Once it’s open, a larger group could go through just as easily, right?”
“Well, yes…”
“Then let’s do it! Besides, without her armor, Mia wouldn’t be able to help much. Maybe we’ll need the Asgardians power to get the gate open.”
Astarte nodded. “For once we are in agreement. Gilgamesh and I know what it is like to be trapped and nearly powerless in a horrid place, the centuries creeping by with agonizing cruelty. I would wish such a fate on none but the most loathsome of creatures.”
Kayura sighed. “Have you really thought about this? Bringing an entire pantheon of gods back to the world of man?”
Zane was adamant. “They aren’t much more than mortal now, so they shouldn’t be too much trouble.”
They all stared at him. Zoe challenged them with a determined look of her own. “Zane’s right. We are not leaving these people here! This place is a hellhole. Would you really do something so cruel? We have to help them.”
One by one they all agreed. Zane and Zoe walked over to Odin and Balder. “Let’s all go home.”
There was a subdued eagerness among the Asgardians. They wanted to believe it was possible to go home, but they had endured too many futile attempts before. And they still didn’t trust Zane and Zoe. But maybe…this time…
Kayura gathered everyone in a circle. She stood in the middle with the Staff of the Ancients held high, drawing on the energy of all the Asgardians and Sentinels. A column of swirling light formed around them and drew them into it and away from Muspelheim forever.