31
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They embraced for several moments before Frigg stepped back, her face a mix of shock and relief. “I cannot believe we are graced with your presence once again,” she said. “It’s beyond my wildest imagination.”
“I am humbled to be home again, and it’s all thanks to Phoebe,” Baldur said graciously. “Please, allow me to introduce you to my half sister.” He gestured for me to come forward. Fen followed behind me, a low rumble issuing from his chest. The Valkyries tensed, standing armed and ready. No one knew how Frigg was going to react. “Mother, this is Phoebe,” Baldur said. “Phoebe, this is my mother, the goddess Frigg.”
I bowed my head, figuring it wouldn’t hurt to be polite, even though she didn’t deserve my graciousness. “Pleased to meet you.”
To my surprise, Frigg returned the gesture, bowing her head slightly, her elaborately braided ringlets moving with her. She had no laurel crown on this time. “I owe you my gratitude for bringing my son home.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I had not thought it possible that Baldur would somehow escape his fate. If I had, this would’ve gone differently between us.”
I raised my eyebrows. I highly doubted that. “I actually don’t think he escaped his fate.” I watched her expression become confused. “I believe his fate was directly linked to his brother Vali’s, who now presides in Helheim with Hel. Without Baldur being sent there, Vali never would’ve gone, and Hel never would’ve accepted him. They both had roles to play and, in the end, I believe I was just the messenger.”
Frigg said nothing for a long moment. “You sell yourself short.” Her gaze met mine. Her eyes were as vibrant as her son’s. “If you hadn’t been born, there would have been no messenger, and both boys would still be languishing in that filthy realm. We all have our roles to play, but yours has proven to be a very important one—at least to me. I know Thor will feel the same way.” She bowed her head briefly again. “You have my word that I will stand up for you tomorrow against the Norns. Now, if you will excuse us, we have much to celebrate.”
“Phoebe,” Baldur added as his mother led him away, “you and the Valkyries are welcome to join us for the festivities. My mother’s apartments are not too far from here. There will be much laughter and libation.” He grinned widely. “I’m long overdue.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Baldur,” I said. “Maybe we’ll stop by a little later.”
He broke from his mother’s grasp and came back to embrace me. “I owe you my life, Sister,” he said. “I will spend it paying you back for giving me a chance at living again. I pledge to you, in front of all these witnesses, my undying loyalty and support. From this day forth, all you have to do is ask, and I will be there with anything you need.”
I kissed him on the cheek. “That’s very sweet. I’m overjoyed that you’re home where you belong, and you owe me nothing. As your mother just stated, we all have our roles to play. I was happy to do my part.”
The main doors banged open once again, and a group of twenty-year-olds mobbed the circle. The Valkyries stood back as Rory’s friends rushed to greet him.
Word spread fast in Asgard.
“I can’t believe you’re back!” one of them exclaimed.
“Were you really in Helheim instead of Valhalla? That’s soooo cool.”
“What was it like? Is Hel as ugly and deformed as everyone says?”
Before Rory could answer, a beautiful woman with gold-spun hair came dashing into the room, her dress flying behind her. “Oh, Rory, it’s true! You’ve come back to us!” She gathered him into her arms, her face wet with tears. She stroked his hair, disbelieving what she was seeing. She turned to me. “Are you Phoebe Meadows?”
I nodded. “I am.”
She came to me, taking my hands in hers. “I owe you a great debt—the greatest there is. Rory was taken from us too soon. I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t his destiny to die so young. Thank you, thank you, for bringing him home. His father will want to thank you personally, as well. Thor went into mourning, but once we track him down, he will seek you out. Nothing you ask for will be too great a cost.”
“I won’t be asking you or Thor for anything,” I promised her. “Rory’s actually the one who helped me. I owe him a debt of gratitude.” I peered at Rory over her shoulder and smiled. “Your son is a hero. If he hadn’t located the jewel, we wouldn’t be standing here. He helped rescue me and Baldur from Helheim.”
Rory’s group of friends reacted to my words with sharp whoops.
I’d just made my nephew a celebrity.
“My name is Arabella,” she said, letting go of me reluctantly. “Please know that if there’s anything you need, all you have to do is ask.”
“I appreciate that.” I stepped back, coming up against Fen’s muscular chest. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to head back to the Valkyrie Stronghold.” I was anxious to get back to Sam and then figure out how we were going to handle the trial tomorrow.
I wanted to be done with the Norns once and for all.
My mother linked arms with me as we walked out of the courtroom, Fen right behind me. “I am so thankful you’re home, Phoebe.” Everyone followed us out, including Tyr.
“I am, too,” I said. “I’m angry they kept you locked up the entire time I was gone. It was unfair of Frigg to hold you there.”
“When a goddess feels threatened and has lost hope, there is no reasoning with her,” Leela answered amiably. “But you brought her son back, and that’s something she will never forget. You now have very powerful gods and goddesses on your side, including Thor. You will no longer be thought of as an outsider in Asgard. You have cemented your place in our history as a hero.”
I was relieved, of course. But this wasn’t over yet. “I’m happy about that,” I agreed. “But we still have to get through one more important trial tomorrow. The Norns aren’t going down easily. They will be sure to bring up Ragnarok and how evil I am. They’re not likely to let the people of Asgard forget it. They might be very persuasive, especially if Loki is still on their side.”
“They will not be able to harm you in the public arena,” Leela said. “In the end, the people will follow Odin’s judgment. I am confident that we will see justice prevail tomorrow.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said. “We’ll have to be ready for any tricks they might have up their sleeves. I’m not going down without a fight.” I’d been through too much for the Norns to win.
Rae came up behind us. “I’m going to apply for permission for us to be armed on the ground floor at the trial tomorrow. I’m certain Odin will grant my wish. He will want his hero of a daughter protected.” She grinned, which was not a look one saw on her face very often.
Outside the building, a group of people waited for us. Someone broke off and walked toward me.
“Callan!” I exclaimed as the figure got closer. “What are you still doing here?”
The white elf mage approached, five of his compatriots falling in line behind him. He gave me a grand bow, complete with an arm flourish. “We have just heard of your arrival back, along with the rest of Asgard. I wanted to personally congratulate you on completing your mission in record time.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate that and all you’ve done for me.”
“My dear, it hasn’t been nearly enough,” he said. “I wanted to remind you of my pledge before I take my leave of Asgard. I’m at your service, whenever or wherever it’s needed.” A few of Callan’s men grumbled behind him. Clearly, this wasn’t white elf protocol.
“She won’t have need of you. She has more than enough protection,” Rae said next to me, her arms crossed, “without the interference of outsiders.”
Callan’s delighted smile widened as he took in Ragnhild.
He bowed again, his eyes locked on her like they were magnetized. “Ah, Battle Captain, you need not think I ever doubt your abilities. It’s just the opposite. I was purely offering Phoebe my aid in backing up your efforts.” He reached out and plucked her hand up before she knew what he was doing. He kissed it reverently before she snapped it back, flustered. I grinned. “I look forward to our next encounter.” He nodded around the group. “Take care, valiant Phoebe.” His gaze drifted back to Rae. “And you as well, Ragnhild. Your beauty is surpassed by no other, your skills with your weapon unparalleled. I crave the day when we are able to spar again.”
“We’ve never sparred,” Rae retorted.
“Ah, but indeed we have.” He winked, returning to his group of disgruntled elves. “Onward, comrades. We shall make our way home.” As they began to walk away, Callan called, “I shall visit again soon, have no fear! Peace be with you.”
“That elf should stay in Alfheim where he belongs,” Rae muttered.
I didn’t even try to suppress my smile. “Callan’s pretty handsome, don’t you think?”
Her eyes snapped to mine, alarm in their depths. “No…I mean, he’s okay…for a white elf.” She stepped back and unsheathed her katana. “Let’s go,” she ordered, moving forward, using her weapon as a directional aid. “Clear the way, we’re coming through.” She marched ahead, half of the Valkyries following her, half falling behind.
“Has she always been this obtuse?” I asked my aunt as we began to walk. “Callan is clearly into her.”
Ingrid chuckled. “She’ll come around. It’s not always easy for us ladies to find love. We’re so much stronger than most of the men around us. Rae has a few more years in her of being our battle captain before she thinks about raising a family.”
We walked out of the gates of the High House.
“I don’t understand why Valkyries can’t have a family and continue to fight,” I said.
“I wonder the same thing,” my grandmother said, smiling as she came to walk beside me. “Welcome back, Phoebe. I’m very proud of you.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. It was good to see her again. “Having experienced both sides of being a Valkyrie, I feel there is no reason why we must separate family from our duties. The only reason we do so is because it’s been our way since any of us can remember.”
“It might be time to revisit the rules,” I said. “I can tell you that if I’m forced to choose between Fen and active duty as a Valkyrie, I choose him. He’s as much my family as my sisters are.” Fen growled his agreement from behind me. “If the Valkyries want me to continue on, they must accept us both.”
Grete smiled. “I believe your arrival here will spark a new age for the Valkyries,” she said. “I see many changes ahead. Fenrir has proved his loyalty to the shieldmaidens. So has Tyr. This new era can only bring strength to the Valkyries. Change will be slow, but it will happen.” She chuckled. “I never thought I’d stand witness to it, but I’m glad I’m here.”
“Me, too,” I said. The streets were packed with Asgardians. There were twice as many as before. But there was a vast difference—this time, they were cheering.
“Not only did you bring back the god of light, but you brought Rory home as well,” Ingrid said. “It’s a big frigging deal.”
People were shouting, “Praise Phoebe!”
“She brought our gods back!”
“Phoebe the powerful!”
“Get used to the attention.” Ingrid elbowed me in the side. “You’re a star now.”
“How can that be?” I asked. “This is a land of gods and goddesses. Magic must abound.” I glanced at the throngs of people who were able to change their attitude toward me so easily.
“No one has ever managed to do what you just did. You brought somebody back from the dead. Two somebodies,” Ingrid answered. “You’re special, Phoebe. Just accept it. The people here know it, and they’re not going to let you forget it anytime soon.”
All of a sudden, I felt overwhelmed.
Fen squeezed my shoulders, leaning over to whisper, “This is your day, shieldmaiden. Enjoy it. People are fickle, and Asgard is no different. Their loyalties will shift on the wind. Revel in it while it lasts.”
I eased into him, enjoying his warmth, walking proudly next to him down the streets of Asgard. “This shouldn’t be my day alone. Without you, Odin, Rory, Vali, Huggie, and Mugin, none of us would be here. I know the truth, even if the Asgardians don’t.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. The people should celebrate you, and you alone,” Fen said. “What you did—as Ingrid said—has never been achieved before. There is no precedent. If you had not been born, I would still be stuck in Muspelheim, languishing in my exile, near death. Callan would also be dead. What I meant was, tomorrow the people of Asgard may find someone else to relish, so enjoy your time now. You deserve it.”
People kept chanting. They lined the streets, sitting on roofs, hanging from trees. For the first time, I realized there were no cars in Asgard. I wondered how I hadn’t noticed before. “How do people get around here? Do they walk everywhere?”
Fen chuckled. “We have no need of cars when we have Yggdrasil. The confines of Asgard are not that large, and the tree takes us everywhere else.”
“Ah, that makes sense. Still so much to learn.” We reached the opening of the Stronghold. I waved to a few stragglers who had followed us, and then I headed inside. Standing right in front of me was a very pleasant sight. “Junnal!”