SOME OF THE LOGOS, CHARACTERS AND SETTINGS ARE THE PROPERTY OF MARVEL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Rated M for Mature
Appropriate for readers 18 and over. May contain extreme violence, sexual themes, nudity, or profanity.
Thor: The Asgardian Chronicles, Chapter 240- War of the Gods, Part 11: Know Thy Enemy
Balder the Brave and his great aunt, Freya took King Frey to safety. So far, none had met any more of the men whom they had thus went mad, back at the Fortress of Frey.
It was already dark, and that they would have to ride thus with their horses, for safety of their own king was much more important than defending the fortress itself.
Balder thought, I cannot believe this. Aye, he could not, for he had killed his own men, as well as King Frey's.
Freya noticed this grim look, which had come upon the brave warrior's face. "Balder, we must not worry of what we did back there, for we have a long ride ahead of us."
"But... where we must go, Aunt Freya?" It was the first time in his life, that Balder had become uncertain.
Freya looked at him, knowing of all his stay in Vanaheim, that he, Balder the Brave could outwit any of his enemy in battle. And not only that, he had great ideas of how to best them.
"Come," Freya said. "We shall find a place to hide for the time being."
King Frey was thus coming around to his senses, as he looked upon his twin sister and then at his grandson.
"Where... Where are we going?"
Balder said, "Do not worry, Grandfather. We shall... take you home."
"Home? But... my old castle is being taken by King Tyr!"
Freya said, "Not home, dear brother. But..."
"But what?"
Both Balder and Freya went deadly silent.
"What is it?" King Frey asked desperately.
Nothing was to be said any further, and this made the old king, uncomfortable.
"Balder? Freya?" No answer. Frey let go of them and this time, Freya surprisingly blew him a wild punch.
Frey fell down, as he was stunned to see his own sister, turning against him. What in Hel was happening?
"Freya!" But Freya did not listen to his dear brother.
"Balder! Help!"
Balder did not do anything, for even he, the bravest warrior of Asgard and Vanaheim acted strangely as his great aunt. Instead, he looked upon his grandfather and said, "You shall come with us, my lord. Or else..."
"What in Hel's name is wrong with you?!"
The other side of Balder had heard enough. He kicked him a couple of times, until the old king finally resisted. King Frey was still not sure what suddenly came over them.
And so, Frey did not try to strike them back, for he well knew that by doing so, he would thus cause harm to his own kin, even after causing the bloodshed of his men.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both Thor and Erik Masters have made sure that King Frey's madmen were dead. It was not meant to be, when these men unknowingly attacked their own, and thus the old king as well.
Thor figured that this could be the work of Amora the Enchantress. But it did not seem that way, for Amora herself had certainly not ventured upon Vanaheim. If so, Heimdall would have informed King Odin about it.
Erik looked at the bloody mess that he and Thor had caused. Lady Sif was there too, witnessing the aftermath. She stood, as if in great confusion, but knew that these men were not completely themselves, and that someone must have chanted a spell.
Could be Amora herself, Sif thought. She came towards Thor and Erik Masters, and then discussed what to do next. Thor thought for a while and said, "We must follow Balder, Aunt Freya, and Grandfather Frey."
Both Sif and Erik nodded at this. Then a man coughed behind them. It was Kildeg, whom Thor had caught him for spying upon the last field of battle.
"You!" Thor said, pointing his Mjolnir towards him. "You best explain what has happened here."
Kildeg gulped. "I... I know not, Thor. My task is to report a battle. That is all."
Sif said, "I am sure that he knows nothing, Thor."
Erik nodded again. "Perhaps so. But he is still valuable to us. If he could give us the information about the men that King Tyr had thus gathered, we could overcome them."
Thor thought it was a good idea, and a grand one at that, for Kildeg could offer important information. That is, if he was willing to do so, even for the sake of his own life.
"You must come with us, Kildeg," Thor said.
"Um... where?"
"That I know not, Kildeg. But if you try anything else, I shall smite your head with this hammer of mine."
"Um... no, I would not dare, Thor. Not for a life of me."
Thor smiled. "In that case, you shall call me, my lord instead of Thor."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Agnar and his army of four hundred men had thus arrived at the field of battle, where King Frey's men and Tyr's had fought each other a few moments ago. Agnar was not sure if either one of them had won, or lost. But judging by the appearance, it seemed that King Frey's men had indeed won, and that Freya was nowhere to be found.
One of the men pointed out towards a direction in which Freya, and a group of unknown men had thus traveled, together. Agnar asked him, how would he know thus? The man explained that he had been a good tracker, even to this day.
Agnar nodded and ordered him to track down these people and Freya herself. The tracker named Mernak continued performing this sole task, whilst the other men stood about, looking at the last remnants of battle, and thus whispered to each other of how it had went, as if they were really there to witness it.
The war councillor was already furious about this, for he had to report this seemingly unwanted failure to his self-proclaimed king. And to what manner would he speak thus, once his lordship returned from the hidden land of Vanaheim? Nay, Lord Agnar must exact his original plan that he had discussed with Tyr, alone in the council chamber.
And there was still Kildeg to consider. The question was this, where did he go, if not returned to report the ill tidings of the battle?
Agnar had no time to ponder this, for he had ordered his men to move out quickly as possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the City of Asgard, Frigga rested alone in the throne room, whilst the old advisor named Dolben stood beside her. It had been almost hours now that King Odin had left the castle, in order to speak thus with Karnilla the Enchantress.
The Queen of Asgard hoped that Odin comes back soon, for other matters were to be focused upon, and that there was no such time. Whatever Odin wanted to talk with his dear friend, Frigga would ask of him later, after his arrival and the important meeting to be taken place.
Dolben said, "Your highness... If I may boldly ask of what Lord Odin is up to, would it not be prudent to know that such matters could lest be ignored in these harsh times?"
Frigga said, "I am sure that my dear husband has not forgotten, Dolben. He had said that his visit with Karnilla shall not take long."
"Ah, perhaps so. And let us hope that he returns, for the King of the Light Elves is getting impatient."
Aye, the King of Alfheim was here, and thus wanted to speak with Odin about a serious matter, regarding the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim.
Frigga sighed. If this visit was to be considered too important, then Odin must finish it as soon as possible.
To be continued in Thor: The Asgardian Chronicles, Chapter 241- War of the Gods, Part 12: The King's Prisoner.
Both Balder and Freya are enchanted by the Warlock's Eye! And what of Thor and his friends? Can they save King Frey once they learned of his capture? You may find out in the next chapter of Thor. FOR ASGARD!