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Author's Note: Well, this is the end. Sorry once again that I have not updated this story since August! I just wanted to hurry and finish this so I could start on my much better story, My Neverending Dream. So, if you are interested please read and review that one, too.
“Look!” Hel derided as she pointed to a feeble man in the corner. “Look at what remains of your pathetic king!”
Mist ran over to Odin, fell onto her knees before him, and placed her head as low to the ground as possible, “Lord Odin.”
“Do not talk to me, traitor!” he hissed weakly, as he clutched the fatal wound on his chest. “I told you to stay out of mortal affairs, but you disobeyed me and instead attempted to kill the serpent destined to destroy me. It is rather ironic that the very humans you wanted to save are now dying because of you. That serpent was the barrier that kept all happiness in Midgard. Without it, all happiness floats up here, plunging the world of men into darkness.”
“Please,” begged Mist. “Lord Odin, I did not know. I had been led to believe that the serpent kept suffering in. Please, I will do anything you ask of me. Just please forgive me!”
Odin’s eyes began to cloud as he stammered, “If I ever forgive you, then you must slay Hel and her brother. Then, at least Asgard will be saved from chaos. As for the humans, I fear that it is too late for them.” Odin took in a deep shallow breath, and then he said his last words to Mist, “Do not fail me.”
Mist gently closed Odin’s eyelids and slowly stood up. She walked determinedly towards Hel and drew her silver hilted sword. Hel looked at the meager weapon and laughed as she said, “You think you can kill me when the most powerful God in existence failed?”
“Yes, I can defeat you, but I will not do so alone,” replied Mist, as a strange fog began to swirl around her. “Souls of the fallen!” she shouted. “ I call upon you! Aid me in battle! Ragnarok has come! Odin has been killed! Let us revenge his death!”
The mystifying fog slowly took on the shapes of thousands of spectral warriors. They stood patiently behind Mist, swords in hand, waiting for her command.
Hel stood up quickly, surprise written across her face as she screamed, “Brother!”
The malevolent serpent’s head appeared above them, its long tongue licking its scaly lips hungrily.
“Feast, my brother!” demanded Hel.
The serpent snapped its massive jaws dissolving a hand full of souls instantly. The other soldiers charged forward, jumped onto the serpent, and began the assault. Mist watched her noble warriors for only an instance before she turned her full attention onto Hel. Hel brandished her blade and then rushed forward, attempting a fast stab at Mist. Mist skillfully blocked the attack and then retaliated with an attack of her own, and thus began the fierce duel.
The duel had gone on for hours, with neither Hel nor Mist giving up. Holding their swords wearily, they both panted heavily with each breath they took. Hel mustered what remained of her strength to perform one final thrust and lunged powerfully at Mist. Mist barely managed to block the attack, which caught Hel off guard, sending her blade flying across the room. Hel scrambled for her blade, but she was too late. Mist quickly ended the duel and then turned away as Hel fell to the floor, eyes wide open, still reaching for her blade.
Mist looked up towards her warriors who were gallantly trying to cut off the serpent’s head. The serpent shook furiously, trying to send its attackers flying, but it was obviously losing the battle. Mist launched herself into the air and hovered above the serpent. “Now, my warriors, let’s end this.” Mist brought her blade down upon the serpent’s neck as a thousand others did the same. The head of the once invincible serpent crashed into the floor and created a huge crater in its wake.
The ghostly warriors smiled proudly at Mist before they dissolved. “Thank you,” she whispered as she landed on the floor.
Mist had fulfilled her promise to Odin and had earned his forgiveness, but what she had caused the humans to endure was unforgivable. Tears began to stream down her face. Without warning, the door to the room blew open. In walked the Norns, the youngest one clutching the box Mist had seen them chanting around when Mist had first met them. The youngest Norn stepped forward and spoke in an innocent voice, “You must understand Lady Mist, that we could not interfere with fate. Please, do not be angry with us.”
The other two sisters joined their sister in finishing, “Asgard’s future has been saved, but Midgard’s still lies in chaos. The great serpent was indeed keeping something in, but it was keeping in the light. Now that the serpent has been destroyed, the light is leaving Midgard. Do not fret, for there is one last way to restore happiness. To keep the light in, a divine barrier must be created from a deity’s soul. You, Lady Mist, are the only deity who would ever willingly sacrifice herself for the humans.”
The youngest sister carefully opened the small box she was holding and slowly removed the single brown thread from within. “This is your life thread. If you choose to, your soul will become the new barrier, and happiness can return to the humans.
Mist looked fearfully at the thread that was her life. She was not ready to die, but she was the one that had taken the light away from her beloved humans. A determined look crossed her face as she nodded her approval. She had to do it.
“We knew as much,” chorused the Norns.
Mist tearfully watched as the youngest sister grabbed one end of the thread and the oldest sister grabbed the other. The middle sister produced a small, opal dagger from a hidden pocket in her robe and held it above the thread. “Thank you, Lady Mist,” they said slowly. “You have saved not only the Gods but the humans as well. May your soul rest in peace knowing this.” With that remark, they cut the thread.
The Norns’ usually emotionless faces betrayed them as they stared sadly as the lifeless valkyrie collapsed onto the floor. Then suddenly, an incandescent, golden light shot out of Mist and flew past the Norns at an extraordinary speed. It raced out of Asgard and fell towards Midgard. The golden light stretched until it encircled all of the human world, and then it exploded, sending golden specks of hope to rain from the sky. Instantaneously, the whirlwinds of fire, the violent winds and lightning, and the senseless fighting ceased to exist. All the people of Midgard looked blankly around as the warm golden drops fell onto their faces. They were all totally oblivious to the chaos that they had just been through.
The Norns stood watching this whole scene from a certain valkyrie’s favorite hill. They looked at each other and smiled, knowing that even though it was impossible for happiness to exist without suffering, somehow, the world was going to be just a little happier this time.