“NATAKU!” a voice called.
She snapped her eyes open instantly and looked straight into the ceiling. There was a quiet feeling as if lingering alongside her mind that seemed to be so empty. She wavered against the calmness as she searched her thoughts quietly. What happened?
An immediate splitting headache shot through her head. She sat up in pain and her hand flew to her head as she gasped and squinted, holding back from muttering a curse under her breath. Too much resting be damned!
After enduring much of the thinly-seeming pain, she looked around and found herself in her room. She was on her usual battle robes – a long white robe atop a blue garb and black stretchable garment that reached down her thigh. What had happened? Ah, yes… There was this big war between Svartalfheim and Midgard and she carried the souls back to Valhalla. Then Persephone struck her with Silent Melody and after that… After that was a blur, ah, no, nothingness, that’s it. Silent Melody assailed her with great magnitude and after that was this. Somehow, she felt relieved. Her memories were still intact after all.
“Natakuuuuuuuuuuuu!!” it was Mercury’s small voice coming from behind the door. Nataku immediately put down the invisible barrier that was always up whenever someone entered the room. One could not blame a Goddess of War from being careful. The Messenger of the Gods, a 12-inch young man in green garb and with wings on his heels, hovered swiftly in the air. He was grasping a winged staff with two coiling snakes as flew straight at her and hugged her right cheek.
“You’re all right!” he squealed, his feet kicking in midair, “You’re all right!”
“Of course, I am…” her right eye squinted as Mercury’s small hand came in contact, “Persephone hadn’t gotten the better of me.”
“Persephone…” Mercury hovered away slowly, “Yes… Such a pain in the neck that woman. Oh, Master Izanagi sends for you, by the way.”
“Master Izanagi…” Nataku said while getting out of bed and fitting on her shoes, “Yes, I do have to manage Valhalla… The Valkyries.”
“I… don’t think it’s about the Valkyries.” Mercury said thoughtlessly as they walked into the broad and long hallway.
“Oh? Then what of?” Nataku closed the door flat. Mercury didn’t answer.
The life of a Battle Goddess was not easy. Next to Freyja, she was head of the Valkyries and Valhalla itself. It was absurd how easy everyone thought it were, how they thought all she did was bark orders, make demands, shout for training, bring punishment. Actually, there were times she felt like a nanny tending to the younger and less-experienced Valkyries. It was sometimes hard to figure out when to tell someone how something is done from what needs to be done. Although submission to the superiors was something taught from rookie days, some Valkyries tend to go over their heads and it was up to her to repress whatever it was they were up to – from a simple “doing-battle” to a plan of a great revolt. The latter she failed on the part about minimal damage to Valhalla. She had no problem dealing with twenty of the no-good revolting Valkyries but keeping her powers to a minimal while at it was quite hard.
Another thing was that she had her hands more than just full with all the missions. Some were highly eminent while others were just below so-so. Nataku had been assigned to rescue missions, prevention missions, retrieval missions, search missions, security missions and such. What more could they throw at her?
They had been walking a few good yards away from Nataku’s room when she stopped, looked at the small hovering entity to her right and said, “The Runes perhaps?”
“I guess.” Mercury said thoughtfully this time.
“What-more-could-they-throw” her face! Curse that thought, harbinger of unwanted lined-up missions.
“Then let’s be off.” Nataku said. She tried to sound resolved about it but for some reason or another, Nataku did not want to talk about the Runes at all. In fact she did not want to have anything to do with it. But if Master Izanagi commands, she must follow. After all, she owed much to him.
This was the world she belonged to. Each living being belongs to a certain race and is placed on a certain hierarchy and lives on each of the nine worlds. The highest beings are the gods which are composed of the sky gods or Aesirs who dwell in Asgard and the land gods who dwell in Vanaheim. The highest god was the Jade Emperor Izanagi followed by his wife, Queen Izanamai. Next to that comes Hel, the underworld ruled by the Aesir Persephone. All the souls of those who have died are taken to Hel except, of course, if one has died in valor in battle. This allows that soul to have the privelege to be taken by the Valkyries, the soldiers of Asgard, to Valhalla, the hall of heroes in heaven. Svartalfheim, the world of the Dark Elves, is currently in war with Midgard, the world of humans. Alfheim was the world of the White Elves and the Giants inhabit the freezing land of Jotunheim. Titans and other creatures inhabit the last two worlds – Niflheim, the house of eleven rivers to the north and Muspelheim, the fire world to the south. All of these worlds were held by the roots of the tree of life, the Yggdrasil.
“Oh, well…” Nataku and Mercury stood before a large wooden door with carved arches and encrusted stones and brass handles. Two Valkyries armed with spears stood by the door. Nataku nodded and one of the lady warriors announced, “Battle Aesir Nataku arrives!”
The door opened to reveal a large dome-ceiling chamber with a red carpet lined with gold trimmings stretched out on the marble floor towards an elevated platform where an old man of fifties sat on a high floating chair with golden carvings. He wore long robes of maroon and gold and beside him, his wife Izanami, sat on a smaller chair. A distance in front of the divine couple stood their son, Odin, a blonde brown-eyed young man donning informally smart attire. The pillars were very robust and they reflected clearly on the marble flooring. Some other Aesirs were there and some Vanirs, too and their eyes were set on both Nataku and Mercury. She had been in situations like this for more than just several times and yet somehow, it always seemed to be new (and annoying) to her. Ignoring the reluctant air that whizzed from the stares she had been receiving, the Battle Aesir walked formally down the red carpet, stopped beside Odin and knelt down before Izanagi.
“Father, I would like to go.” Odin was now saying, “I’d like to go, father. I ask permission.” The sleeves of his mid-length jacket were rolled up to his elbows and small chains hooked from the end of his garment clinked as he moved. Nataku looked with only her eyes moving at Mercury who was at her right. It appears that there had already been a conversation going on and they weren’t sure enough if these three Aesirs had been able to realize that they had already arrived.
With what this time? Nataku thought.
“Oh! Forgive me, Nataku.” Izanami exclaimed, opening a feathered fan with ease and fanning her self, “We have been rude not to have acknowledged your presence. Odin charged in here the moment he heard about the Runes.”
“It is of no substantial matter, my lady.” Nataku said with a tone of formality and respect.
“Have you slept well, Nataku?” Izanami asked, her voice echoing a little in the large hall.
“Yes, my lady.”
“The Valkyries and the souls in Valhalla are in good order, I have heard. You have done a good job.”
“Thank you, my lady.” Nataku said again, “May I inquire the matter of my summons?”
“There had been signs of the Effluence.” Odin said and it was unclear whether he was talking to Nataku or his father. Either way, there was a rise of murmurs from the small crowd.
“Fenris… Fenrir?” Nataku lifted her face towards the high Aesir.
“Indeed. We are threatened by the power of the Ragnarok.” Izanagi nodded and stroke his beard in thought, “Though we had once been able to pacify Fenris Fenrir in the Overthrow, it had been showing signs of effluence. It might emerge from somewhere when we are unguarded.”
“That’s why we need to go down to the other worlds before the Yggdrasil dies out and annihilate us!” Odin said again in firmness of mind, “We should do something! Gather the Sealing Runes: Laeding, Dromi and Gleipnir, which had been lost in the Overthrow!”
I feared he’d say that. Nataku thought but said nothing nonetheless and waited for further briefing. It was not that she was scared but something in the pit of her stomach just didn’t want to go. Damn this feeling of untimely insubordination.
Fenris Fenrir, the nine-tailed demon fox that was supposed to be the herald of the Ragnarok, had appeared just once as far as she remembered. But that “just once” was more than enough from all the damage the whole of Asgard had suffered. It cost her several important Valkyries and injured the rest. It was horrible how the Ragnarok was released, how she seemed so weak and helpless against it. She had loathed herself being in a state of weakness and helplessness among all things and yet, it seemed unavoidable at that time. Ragnarok was the power to destroy gods, and thus, its release was named the Overthrow. The knowledge of who created it and how or why was held only by several Aesirs and never spoken of. She had wondered several times why since it was something so vital but the last time she asked made the Divine Couple angry and she dared not ask again.
“Are you to go down to the remaining worlds in search for them? I am sorry to inform you that we have no information on the location of the Runes.” Izanagi continued and when the son did not seem shaken, Izanami added, “But, Odin…! It is going to be dangerous. You would not want to.”
“No, mother. In fact, I do.” Stepped forward in determination, looking at his mother. His decision did not seem to waver at all and his eyes seemed to say, “Give up on convincing me not to.”
Odin was the Aesir of Light and Knowledge and that just seems to explain much of him. He knew the how’s, what’s and whatever it was that needs to be known about something. And if there was something he realized he didn’t know or understand, leave it to his in-born nature to quest for it. It was imperative! And this, obviously, made him a very good diplomat He had a way with words and he was able to use facts as if they were lies and swords and chains to force you to what he wanted you to do. It amused her somehow and she wondered whether she could attain just a tip of that knowledge or if she ever did possess enough knowledge for her to use in her field. And from there, Nataku’s thoughts nearly sped away if not only for the image Lady Izanami was sporting now.
The Queen Mother’s mouth remained slightly open and it was probably unknown to her as she was obviously too busy thinking about what she could say to stop her son. Evidently, she found none and she sighed.
“Oh, all right…” Izanami admitted defeat from her son’s fiery eyes, “But only if Nataku is all right with you taking her down to the worlds…”
“Whatever my lord sees fit.” Nataku was unsure what else to say. That last statement of Izanami was meant to tell her that it was the other way around. It was Odin who would be tagging along and that the mission of searching for the Runes was to be her mission. But really, whether or not she had a companion didn’t matter because in the end, this mission would still commence with her involved yet again.
“We can take care of ourselves, mother.” another voice came from the door. All eyes turned and saw a young man with pale hair and ash gray eyes wearing a black garment and white pants walking towards them.
OURselves?! Nataku’s mind voice shouted.
“Loki!” Odin exclaimed. There was no tone of disapproval. Nataku noted that the brothers were probably in this together as they watched Loki approach.
“Loki, dear… Not you, too…!” Izanami seeming even more worried, looking at the Jade Emperor Izanagi for backing but found none.
Another prince. Nataku blinked and turned her gaze towards Mercury who responded with a shrug. Being able to use facts as if they were lies was one thing but being able to use statements as if they were both fact and fallacy was another. That was Loki and more. Loki seemed to make an art out of cunningness. Unlike his twin brother Odin, Loki was more nonchalant and less formal. He was able to conduct himself in a manner so casual and yet commands respect. Most of the people in Midgard fear him as he was said to be the harbinger of bad omens, something which he only does to those who believe it. She had always wondered what Loki had always been up to, what his role was and how he did it but no matter what, she had never decided to find out herself not because she couldn’t or didn’t want to, she just didn’t.
“What is in for you in this assignment that you would like to go this much?” Izanagi said finally. The Queen Mother looked eager to know as she shifted quite uncomfortably towards the brothers. And so did Nataku who still knelt down before the Aesir couple. All eyes turned to the twins; the image of one looked no where near the other.
“Just a little excitement.” Loki replied immediately without thinking, “Odin and I have talked it over.”
“This is a serious matter to be understood.” Odin was looking more determined each second.
Those last statements from them drew the line of difference between the twins and yet somehow, there was this strong invisible bond between them that remained too obvious to be ignored. Nataku sighed quietly.
“Besides, it’s the Ragnarok we’re talking about. You wouldn’t expect us to just sit around and watch you ask the battle Aesir Nataku deal with it all by her self… Again…” Loki added casually before looking at Nataku, “… Having all the fun, I mean. And besides, we’re not here to be pampered, really.”
“Yes, father, I agree.” Odin nodded, “I find it more… interesting than frightening.”
“Who knows if we find the nine-tailed fox Fenris Fenrir itself?” Loki was still looking at Nataku. The Queen Mother gasped in worry, opened her feathered fan and flapped it to her self, looking at Izanagi for any response she would approve of and found nothing the second time around. Honestly, he was seemingly too quiet in this kind of situation for a father and king.
“Nataku, would it be too much of a favor for me to ask you to baby-sit my boys?” Izanami said. Out of what, nobody knew.
“MOTHER…!” Odin’s tone was a little of reprimand saying.
Baby-sit. That was more than just embarrassing. Mercury seemed like he wanted to laugh.
“This charge is of vital importance to the Yggdrasil tree and all the worlds, including ours.” Odin began speaking shifting from “son” to “God of Knowledge”, “We are not to place this issue of our survival, something of this heavy substance, on the shoulders of one Aesir alone, lest, we risk being irresponsible and useless. A little dust and dirt and pain would not hurt that much in comparison to what Fenris would do to us if we are incapable of putting a lid on it.”
“Not that Nataku could not handle it but my sense of manhood won’t allow me to sit around.” Loki said casually, burying his hands in his pockets, “And the whole of my still sane wits won’t let the term ‘baby-sit’ used on me. If we put it in a better sense, it would be traveling with the twin sons of the Jade Emperor and the Lady Queen Mother.” Loki then turned his gaze towards Nataku who got up, looked at the brothers and said, “It would be an honor working with the sons of my lord. I will protect you both with my life.” And she bowed.
“There we have it.” Odin said finally, triumphantly looking at their mother who sighed, “All right. But Nataku, please, do watch the boys. And if anything, if it’s too dangerous, return to Asgard immediately.”
Nataku gave a quick respectful nod.
“Mother!” the twins chorused in a tone somewhat of a plea. Nataku saw a small blush on their cheeks.
She would hate to be any of them right now.
“If you don’t mind, we could use some time of preparation. Is it all right, Nataku?” Odin asked. Nataku nodded. Odin faced the Jade Emperor who bid them leave, “I send you my blessings. Do take care.” The three bowed in respect and filed out of the large hall as the Jade Emperor waved for Mercury for an errand.
Nataku thoughtfully looked at each of them in front of her while they spoke about random things as they walked by. She confirmed that it was no rumor that these brothers were not just royal Aesir sons who acted much like the snooty princes down in Midgard. Odin was knowledgeable, as Loki was cunning. And they were quite used to getting what they want – their way. This was the first time she was to be on a mission to retrieve something with the Princes, whom she was also assigned to protect.
Loki had just finished rattling off about a blacksmith elf that seemed to have created a sword with three blades when they reached an intersection of hallways where they stopped. And Odin said, “I’ll check on some scrolls for a while. Just some information gathering, you know what I mean…” It was unclear to whom it was he was speaking to as he dug his hand for something in his right pocket.
“I’d like to check on the Valkyries and the souls in Valhalla.” Nataku uttered lowly as if asking permission.
“I have nothing better to do.” Loki yawned and looked at Nataku and turned away as soon as Nataku saw him looking at her.
“We meet by the Gates in an hour.” Odin announced still looking at his pocket where his hand was and they split ways, leaving Loki in the middle of the hallway.
“Oh, well…” Loki sighed before walking away towards Odin’s direction.