At some point in the night Sweiza had fallen asleep and her deepest and darkest desires soon surrounded her. She was back at her village; several of them had surrounded the large group from the pilgrimate. Sweiza was in a priestess's clothing, having won the favor of the goddess of fertility. There were several others around them; the knights and the maiden's whom had been knighted Valkyrie. There were several cheers from the village. However, Sweiza's merriment turns to horror as their body's turn to grey skeletons chattering and laughing at her. What was once their clothing, turned to ash and fell to the ground before it was swept away. Their clothing became old, worn with holes in them. She turns around to see her friends were all in armor still, but their skeletons were all that was left.
One finally speaks.
"Sweiza is a child, spoiled and rotten in her arrogance."
Her face wells up.
"That's not true!"
Another points its finger at her.
"You choose to be a maiden and want to protect your village."
There is more chattering. Another points its finger at her.
"You cannot be a maiden serving a goddess and protect your village."
"Yes I can!"
"You are not a warrior."
Her face turns red. She goes to swing her lance, but she realizes it is not in her hands. In fact, she remembers she isn't even in her armor.
"What the hell is this?!"
The skeletons of the village people turn to ash and the wind wisks it away. She turns around to see the skeletons of her friends also turn to ash; the wind does not carry it away. Their armor drops to the ground.
"Perhaps it is their armor that you seek."
"Who..."
The village suddenly spins out of reality; yet the trees and ground remain. The stars in the sky also change orientation and leave star trails from their previous position. The sky turns white and an aurora appears; again the sun 'Angol' appears in the sky. The trees suddenly flatten backwards circling her position and the ground turns white and blue. Snow and ice cover the distance. An icey blue thrown appears ten feet from her. Sitting in it with his legs crossed and his head resting against his hand resting against the thrown arm; was demi.
"YOU!"
"Yes it is I. I am Demi, trickster god and servant of nightmares. I see your darkest desires shine through the wind of the night; I serve no one but my own desires and I see yours shine brighter than our first star Lokul."
An large ice shard appears in her hands again; she goes to charge with it, only this time Demi's lips cross a smile and he stars down at the young girl as she cannot move.
She tries to move forward, but her feet will not move. She looks down to see ice has surrounded them and frozen them to the ground. She looks up to move her hands but sees they have frozen to the ice shard. She lets out a yelp and jumps backward. She twists her leg and feels her ankle move in a way it shouldn't. Pain fills her body as she falls backward. Pain pulses throughout her leg. Her hands move to crutch her pain laiden leg, but the ice shard also follows them and she scrapes her knee. Her face wells up and the tears come.
She hears his voice in the distance.
"The young one has failed in her mission. Most sad."
"Leave me alone!"
His voice is now closer
"No."
As she lay crumped backward on the ground, she hears a figure walk up to her. He stands over her looking down at her. She lets out several wimpers in front of him as she attempts to twist her body away from him. He pulls his lips inward towards his mouth and his eyes widen at the sight before him.
"Absolutely powerless before me. Even your darkest wishes can't save you. Any la..."
He feels a sharp pain impale him from behind. As before a large shard of ice has impaled him. However, this time there is no blood. He snaps his fingers and there is a blinding light. The world warps out from beneath them. She feels the pain in her legs subside as the ice suddenly disappears. She scrambles to her feet and notices they are in a forest. Demi is still standing mere feet from her. She turns around and breaks into a run. She hears his voice in the distance. She runs for what feels like an eternity and sees Demi's backside approach in the distance. He turns around and there is this absolute look of delight on his face. He snaps his fingers and large monstrous totem poles pop from the ground and rise in the distance. Their backsides were towards her, but they slowly turn around and their faces start to chatter and clang with wood that fills the distance. Sweiza turns around to run, but she feels her body is frozen in terror. She hears Demi behind her.
"You cannot escape; accept your fate!"
She can feel the tears welling up again. She tries to call out to Valkyrie, but nothing comes from her mouth. Her lungs refuse to take in air. She struggles and struggles and it is no use. She finally feels her will give up and suddenly the terror in her body releases and lets out a yelp as she drops to the ground; she gasps for air as she tries to get life back into her lungs.
"That was most amusing."
She turns towards the voice and sees the form of a white wolf. It was Demi's voice, so it had to be him.
"I haven't had that much amusement in some time."
She feels it as a subconscious desire for another ice shard to appear, but nothing happens.
"Don't bother young one; your wishes only work as much as your surroundings and fate permit."
Several vines appear around her wrists and ankles and pull her to the ground; another one pulls itself around her waist and does the same. She lifts her head up as the wolf walks towards her and slowly morphs into a red and black cloaked human. It was Demi.
"This is your first lesson from me. Remember it."
Sweiza stares at him in indignation as his hand waves and she is pushed out of the dream world.
---
It was sometime in the night and a voice rouses Sweiza from sleep.
"Wake young child."
Sweiza rustles in her sleep, her armor clattering about against the tree's trunk.
"Young Sweiza, awaken."
Sweiza's breath comes to and life fills her tired eyes as she looks up at Valkyrie, whom is standing up and behind her.
"It wasn't a dream was it?"
Her voice fills with dismay as the events of the previous day dart around her mind.
"I am afraid not dear."
Sweiza uses her hands to push herself to a sitting position and then tucks her hands around her legs, which are curled close to her. The metal of her armor clanks slowly against itself as she does so. This time, the tears do no come, instead her face frowns at the fate she knows is before her. Valkyrie is silent behind her as she waits patiently. What feels like an eternity, but was only a few more seconds, leaves Sweiza to slowly climb to her feet. Her armor again almost silently reverbs with metal. Standing, she turns around to face Valkyrie, whom was waiting for her patiently. Valkyrie wears no look on her face as she waits for Sweiza to determine the mood, almost as if wearing a blank expression.
"Valkyrie..."
"Yes dear?"
"I have questions."
"As you should. Ask."
Valkyrie's voice was less distant and more pleasant, although 'motherly' might be pushing it.
"What is to be my fate through Odin's grand design?"
Sweiza was doing her best to put on a polite and respectul attitude; Valkyrie responds accordingly.
"Did you not learn anything from your tests from yesterday's approach?"
Sweiza's lips purse up and she shakes her head. She really didn't know or understand.
Valkyrie is silent for a time as she approaches the tree from before and sits down; her hand now rests down on her lance from before as she looks down to the grass before them and then up to Sweiza.
"Angst, what would you say of yourself?"
"It's SWEIZA."
Her voice fills the air with her ironclad determination. Valkyrie's lance is in her hand and flies at Sweiza's feet and trips her. Sweiza falls forward as the ground clangs with her armor. She winces in pain throughout her arms and neck as she tries to climb herself back to her feet. As she gets to her feet and tries to push grass and dirt off of her armor...
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"What's the big idea?! Why did you do that?!"
Valkyrie's lance comes flying towards Sweiza's feet again. Sweiza falls again as before. She feels pain throughout her body, almost as if the direction she had fallen had been intentional to cause it.
"You are a very slow learner young Sweiza."
"Please stop punishing me."
"If you would behave and show the proper respect you wouldn't be punished."
Sweiza let's out a slow, but silent sigh. Valkyrie waits patiently, looking up at the sky now.
"Valkyrie, I don't want to endure it like this! I can't stand it! It's bothering me and making my life hell."
"It is part of your knighthood, Valkyrie in training."
"Valkyrie, please send me back to my village. I don't want to do it like this anymore. I'll live as a disgrace instead. I'll accept not being worthy. Just please don't make me do this anymore.... please... I don't want this. I was never sup..."
"Young Sweiza!"
Sweiza stops.
"Stop your mindless chattering at once."
"Yes ma'am."
"You are clearly lost."
Sweiza nods.
"You will learn through your humiliation if you cannot show the proper respect and behave yourself, is that understood?"
Sweiza nods again.
"Now sit yourself up in a dignified fashion so that I may speak with you as my equal."
"I don't underst..."
"Now."
The order was abrupt, but not mean. Sweiza turns herself up off the ground, pulls herself into a squat and sits herself down on her knees and puts her hands on her knees.
"Sit up straight."
Sweiza stiffens.
"You are not a robot Sweiza."
Sweiza's posture slackes ever so slightly. Her heart didn't obey and continues to beat fast. She didn't want the lance again. Silence sits between them for what feels like ages.
"Valkyrie?"
"Hmm?"
"You are my friend right?"
The Valkyrie's face finally breaks from it's non-existant expression into slight disbelief.
"I do not like being long winded young-one."
"I don't understand."
"You truly are confused?"
"I am."
Valkyrie stands with her back leaning to the tree, facing Sweiza, and her arms cross as the foot of her right greave rests against the tree.
"I will tell you, but pay attention."
"Yes ma'am."
"Do I have your attention Valkyrie so-named Angst?"
She said it in a pleasant tone that unnerved Sweiza. There was some kind of sarcasm in there and she knew it. She holds back her distate for the name 'Angst" and simply nods.
"Very good."
There is a pause between them. Again what seems like ages, but is only a few minutes passes between them. Sweiza dares not to open her mouth.
"Very good young Sweiza, I see you are learning after all."
"Yes ma'am!"
Valkyrie's eyes dart to Sweiza. Sweiza's face stiffens as she silences her enthusiasm and comes to attention.
"Sweiza, I don't like being long winded. But your failure to grasp the obvious leaves much to be desired."
"I can't help it! I've been tra..."
The finger on Valkyrie's gauntlet taps her elbow quickly and repeatedly. Sweiza again silences herself.
"Very good Sweiza. Now pay attention to what I'm about to tell you. You seem to have a grasp on how to act around authority... provided you agree with it. What I've noticed is that you regularly speak out and speak your mind when you disagree with authority; you speak very highly of yourself when things are going your way; you also speak negatively about things you do not enjoy and look at others as being beneath you when you disagree with them. You have gone so far as to challenge Odin himself. I dare say you act like a child and this is a problem."
Valkyrie waits. To her, a very pleasurable look of Sweiza's humiliation adorns the girl's face at having just had her faced rubbed into her own mannerisms. Sweiza's gauntlet covered hands also tighten around each other.
"So what should I do?"
"I am here to assist you, as will your training."
"But I d..."
Sweiza stifles herself again.
"Do go on Valkyrie. Please excuse my arrogance."
Sweiza bows on her knees with her hands on the ground before she raises herself again.
"You will accept humbleness and humility in all things."
"Yes ma'am."
"You will disregard your arrogance, privilege and above all else your childish spirit."
"Yes ma'am."
"You will behave yourself in front of authority and show the proper respect. Understood?"
There was no answer.
"Understood young Valkyrie?"
"I don't understand. What is the proper attitude if I can't be myself?"
"You will be sculpted and learned in the ways of Valkyrie. Your heart will be full of courage, but your mannerisms will be that of the graces of a lady until such time as needed when you must act as a warrior."
"And then what of myself?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do I have to give up being Sweiza Serif?"
"No dear. But as with all things, there is a time and a place to act as yourself. During your training, I expect you to learn and act as the young Valkyrie in training known as 'Angst'."
"Yes ma'am."
"If you wish to act childish, do it on your own time. As you have already experienced, you will be punished and humiliated as you speak out of turn or demonstrate your own freedom of will."
"Yes ma'am."
"You will be expected to function within a team of other Valkyries and function on your own as a Valkyrie; but all of that will come much later. For now, there are a number of formalities to endure and your training to Valkyrie is far from complete. Understood?"
"Yes Valkyrie, I understand."
"Good. Now, I believe you had some questions for me?"
Sweiza lets out a sigh and looks down to the ground and away to Valkyrie before meeting her gaze; her hands still tightened in her lap.
"Valkyrie, I don't deserve it, but please tell me your name."
There was a look of surprise on Valkyrie's face. She was not expecting Sweiza to stop acting so boisterous so quickly.
"I see you are learning after all... Sweiza. I am very proud of you."
Valkyrie waits for Sweiza's mind to procure the results. Sweiza looks down at the ground. Her face turns red and the tears start to well up again. In all of its glory, Valkyrie saw it.
"Sweiza Serif, I am speaking to you as your friend and ally. For now, I will forgive you for your earlier mistakes provided you continue to mind yourself. My name is Verdandi."
Sweiza looks up, her lips pursed and her eyes watered up. Her gaze meets Verdandi's.
"You should also know, 'nobody' likes Odin. He is also as you put it, an 'ass'. I suffered a fate not unlike your's."
Sweiza was about to open her mouth.
"But I am not content with discussing it at this time."
Sweiza's mouth closes.
"Understand that I am your mentor Sweiza. I have been charged with training you and assisting you as such when you need it. When I am your friend, it is Verdandi. When I am training you and your mentor it is Valkyrie Strife; understood?"
"Yes Valkyrie, I understand."
"Good. Now, I'm sure, that you no doubht have more questions?"
"Have I truly offended the goddess of fertility?"
"No dear. You have her favor."
Sweiza looks up in surprise.
"What? Really? Why?"
"You are protecting the realm within her kingdom... you are doing so as a Valkyrie. She could ask for no higher honor to have you as her ally."
"I see. Please let her know I never meant to disrespect her."
"She already knows dear."
Sweiza's hands loosen in her lap.
"Was it to be my fate as Valkyrie?"
"Your attitude put into motion the series of events that lead to you being knighted as Valkyrie."
"I don't understand."
"You chose to camp outside of the temple putting your own thoughts and beliefs before those of whom should be your friends. You may agree with your village's traditions and be determined to uphold it; but you were doing so for all of the wrong reasons."
"Oh..."
"However, you do display an ironclad will and have a strong spirit. You are also not so easily humiliated unless it is your fate that is toyed with and snatched away from you. Odin enjoys this kind of thing and takes great delight in toying with victims of his bad taste in humor. You do understand don't you Sweiza? You are not the first, and will not be the last."
"Understood!"
Sweiza's demeanor and mood finally perk up.
"You were chosen as a Valkyrie for your arrogant pride. It is true, we as Valkyrie have every right to be proud, even arrogant to the point others are not worth our time. This is precisely why we are chosen by Odin."
"I don't understand..."
"Odin has a sick sense of humor and loves the irony of us having to be humble while acting with humility over our position."
"I see..."
"However, we as Valkyrie have a reputation to live up to. We do not do this for Odin's sake. We do this for our own sake and for the sake of others. We do this to be better than Odin. Understood?"
"Completely."
"Very good! I am very impressed with you Angst.
"I am your humble student Valkyrie and wish to serve my fellow Valkyrie."
"Very good Sweiza. However, from now on, you are to address me as Strife and not 'Valkyrie'. Do you understand?"
"Yes Strife. I understand."
"Very good."
"As for the rest of my questions Valk... I mean Strife?"
"And those are?"
"What is my fate?"
"You will serve with loyalty and respect to the will of Odin; our supreme leader. You will also serve the same to his whims and desires; no matter how petty and childish."
"Yes ma'am."
"Valkyrie..."
Strife face looks with a curious look down at Sweiza.
"I mean Strife; what was the point of those trials?"
"In reality there are about five hundred or so trials; the ones most specific to a Valkyrie in training are the twelve that they must endure. Those situations where they are most needed, the places where they would be best tempered as Valkyrie; are the places that begin their fate. As you experienced, as I have experienced, and so many Valkyrie-kin before us."
"How many of us are there?"
"Roughly fifty-four over the last one hundred years."
"I see. How did Odin arrange all of this?"
"Odin is a god you see. He has seen through Ymir the knowledge of the future in ways we could never understand. Whether we are slaves to his meddling, or free will to make our own fate, I do not know; I try not to concern myself with it. My fate has been chosen, as has yours. I suggest you just accept it and enjoy what freedom and time you are given and be done with it. Odin's word is law."
"Understood."
"Because of your stubbornness, you did not become acquainted with your initial trials, or some simply eluded you altogether. The situations changed to match the personality and attitude you demonstrated. You effectively chose your fate according to Odin's design."
"His bad sense of humor?"
"Yes, but there is a point to it. You will understand at the appropriate time."
"I see."
"You seem to do better with people that act as your friend and ally in serious matters."
"Yes, this is true. I would rather get to know the people around me; it makes it easier to understand and work with them."
"As you have demonstrated. You are also more willing to listen to people you know that respect you as their friend. I suggest you tread with caution, as this will be a strength and a weakness in the future. Not all of the people you have met in your trials want to be your friend. Some of them need your talents, not your personality or friendship. Understood?"
"Understood."
"When in those situations they act with your friendship, you my act as Sweiza. When they require your talents, you act as Valkyrie Angst only; understood?"
"Yes Strife; I understand."
"Very good."
"Strife, I..."
"That is enough for now Sweiza. The night is young and I am tired. I will see you in a few hours? Good night then."
Strife unfolds her arms and leans her back against the tree as she slumps down to a sitting position and closes her eyes.
"Good night Strife."
Sweiza stands up and turns around with her back to Strife; her mission resumes to stare off at her village in the distance.
"And Sweiza..."
Sweiza turns around to see Strife looking up at her.
"Yes?"
"Take heed of what you write in that diary of yours. Others may be reading it."
"I don't underst..."
"I will see you in the morning Sweiza. Good night."
Strife's head turns over and slumps against the tree.
Sweiza is left with confusion at what Strife meant; but it soon became clear.
---
"Dear Diary, Valkyrie Angst has chosen to show her spirit and angst to Odin and has been so named accordingly. Despite her initial arrogance, I see great potential in her future once her spirit and will have been tempered and honed accordingly. She will make a great Valkyrie, of this I am certain.
Sweiza, fight! I know you can do it!"
Sweiza looks down at her journal in disbelief and sees there is a gap between the middle of the entry; there was more to it.
"Sweiza, you also display an unrivaled affection for food. Part of your training will involve learning how to cook and serve others. We will hone this healthy appetite of yours yet! Look forward to it!"
Sweiza slowly closes the journal and sets it on the ground. As she stands up her arms cross; she looks down at Valkyrie, then quickly turns her head away towards the woods. She looks up at one of Avalon's moons and pushes her lips together in disgust.
"What the hell is this shit?!"
Unbeknownst to her, Strife heard her, and couldn't help but give a discreet smile before she drifted off to sleep.