As Tyr walked to the dining hall, he found it much quieter than before, with the only noise being an occasional murmur from the einherjar and Aesir as well as the chuckles that Loki must have let out. Tyr stared out at the groups, then began to walk towards his throne. Before he reached there, one of the better equipped einherjar got up and stood in his way.
“Jarl you may be Tyr, but after what you did you must be daft to think that you’re welcome in this hall right now.”
“And what pray tell did I do?”
“You cheated. It’s the only way a gambeson could beat a true einherjar.”
“Those gambesons are true einherjar. More so since they relied on their skills more that gear.”
The einherjar turned red in the face and reached for his sword, only to have Brjann stand up between him and Tyr.
“Sit back down Bjarki, and take you hand off your sword.”
“You trying to start something gambeson?”
“No, but I ready to finish what you’re starting.”
“You think that you’ll be as lucky as you were on the fields?!”
“No, I think you’ll be quicker than the ones on the fields! After all, you were amongst the first to die there!”
Bjarki began to get his sword out only to find Brjann’s Gambanteinn at his throat, ready to extend. Other einherjar were beginning to rise from their seats and take sides when Forseti came up.
“Everyone calm down. Fighting I for the fields not the mead hall. Come now, would all those not involved sit down.”
Tyr felt a calm wave wash over him and the others and saw that many had indeed sat down.
“Now that that is over with, let us all acknowledge that words were spoken in anger due to the unseen and unfortunate outcome of the fight. Certainly, the wrong sort of people were able to do more harm than what is normally expected, but one should almost expect a stalemate when the war leaders known to the Aesir. Regardless, the time for fighting is over, and let the cheaters be dealt with fairly on the next fight. But here there is meant to be peace and comradery. Do you see that you were wrong Brjann?”
Brjann? All here saw that Bjarki was the one ready to draw first blood.
“Yes, jarl Forseti.” said Brjann with his head lowered.
“Now, let us do what is right and have you apologize to Bjarki.”
“Bjarki, I’m…”
“No. Don’t apologize to him Brjann. He’s the one in the wrong and all here know it.”
Forseti looked at Tyr with an expression of confused shock.
“Bjarki is innocent.”
“Everyone here saw him insult my integrity and go for his sword to do me harm. Brjann merely came to my defense.”
“It was not his place to face one who has earned greater standing than himself. Don’t you agree?”
I should agree, but why do I feel like I should?
“I don’t. in fact, Brjann and the others display on the fields have won them honor.”
Tyr could see that Forseti was taken aback. Still, Forseti tried to press the matter onward.
“The mead hall is still meant as a place of peace, and Brjann disrupted it.”
“So did Bjarki, and he acted first.”
“I don’t see it that way.” Forseti said, raising his voice while still sounding haughty.
“And I see you deciding to side with one because of preference rather than justice.”
“Are you accusing me of letting bias determine my judgement?” Forseti shrilled.
“I’m warning you as to what it looks like you are doing.” Said Tyr in a calm even voice.
Forseti stepped back at this and opened his mouth to speak before a woman with golden brown hair placed her hand on Forseti’s shoulder.
“That is enough Forseti, let it drop.”
“But mother he…”
“Let it drop.”
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“Your mother speaks wisdom dear grandson.” Said Odin coming behind Tyr.
“Fine. We’ll leave it here and drop the whole thing. That is satisfactory, agreed?”
“Agreed.” Said Brjann.
“Agreed.” Said Bjarki.
“Agreed.” Said Odin.
“Agreed.” Said Forseti’s mother, Nanna.
Tyr was silent for a moment, then said in measured voice: “It is doable.”
Tyr and the other Aesir then walked to their respective seats, save for Odin who turned and began to address the einherjar.
“Warriors of Valhalla, today we once again feast to the bravery of the einherjar in battle, for win or lose the fight they put on today is something we have not seen in a long time. Fram son of Arrick, step forward.”
Fram, whom upon standing and walking forward Tyr recognized as the last of the higher-ups to fall, kneeled before Odin.
“You showed great prowess in the fight, prowess worthy of an einherjar. Regrettably, I cannot offer you the usual reward because of the nature of your death in that battle, but instead offer this spear in its place.”
Odin handed Fram a spear with a silver wooden shaft and a golden head that had runes on it. When Fram gripped it, the runes began to glow and there was a faint humming in the air. Fram smiled as he stared at the spear, then said “For the glory of Valhalla.”
“For the glory of Valhalla. Now, Brjann son of Haraldur, son of Trygg, come forward.”
A mumbling went through the hall all Brjann slowly walked in front of Odin and kneeled.
“Many of you may be wondering why I called him up here, a few of you who have been here the longest may begin to get an idea, as I have admittedly not done this in nearly 600 years. Brjann, while it is true that your side lost, you have shown tenacity, bravery, and cunning against your foes. These traits that you have displayed, have convinced me to give you this necklace.”
Odin placed a necklace with a drop shaped ruby attached to a polished iron chain around Brjann’s neck.
“This necklace.” Odin continued. “Marks you as one of my berserkers, and come Ragnarök, you will be counted amongst my personal guard.”
Brjann’s shock was so great that he could barely say “For the glory of Valhalla”. Furthermore, after he stood up Fram shook his hand.
“Congratulations Brjann. You are definitely worthy of that honor, and I look forward to facing you skill again.”
Fram seems to have a good heart, he truly does feel glad at Brjann’s success.
“Let the feast begin!” shouted Odin and returned to his seat.
Tyr got his mead and listen to the hall return to the sounds it had previous nights. Smiling, Tyr then began to eat, savoring the taste of the meat before a woman who’s head could barely reach the shoulders of an average einherjar came up to him.
Idunn.
“Greetings Jarl Tyr. I was wondering if you could help me with something really quick.”
“Of course Idunn, I would be honored.”
Tyr put his food aside and got up to follow Idunn through one of the left corridors. After walking for a while Idunn seemed to get even smaller and then duck through a trapdoor beneath one of the benches, returning in a few minutes with a sack on her back.
“Well let’s go to Heimdall and Mimir.” Said Idunn.
“Did you grow shorter?”
“Giants and their blood can grow larger while Dwarves and their blood can grow smaller. I was born from Ivaldi’s first children, so I can shrink the same as you grow. Now come before Loki finds out what we’re doing.”
Tyr shrugged, scooped Idunn up in his arm and began to jog through the halls to the Bifrost.
Upon arriving, Tyr saw Heimdall standing in the middle of the Bifrost, talking.
“Well if he is that far gone why do others simply not remove him and take his place on the ship. Ah, so that’s why Ra remains where he is. Still is he really that necessary when there are so many with similar functions? Hold on, I gotta go, there’s company. Hello Idunn and Tyr.”
“Hello Heimdall, I brought you some apples.”
“Thank you Idunn. Always nice to get these, especially when they aren’t delayed by Loki. How have you been Tyr?”
“A little sore at Odin’s actions with the match and displeased with Forseti on account of his stunt in the hall… Why did I share that?”
“Well, you wield the power to tell when others are trying to lie to you, perhaps that power comes at the price of being unable to lie yourself and therefore causes brutal honesty even when unwanted.”
“Powers can come with prices?” asked Tyr.
“Some, like my eyes and ears for example.” Responded Heimdall.
“Well, it’s always interesting to see you Heimdall. Goodbye.” Said Idunn in a hurry.
“Hm? Farwell Idunn. Oh, before you go Tyr, I have a question for you.”
“Yes?”
“Where did you get that medallion?”
“Medallion?”
“On your first night back, when morning came you had a strange medallion in your hand with a lot of markings on it. They looked like something I saw used by the Romans, but you never encountered any romans. Anyway you destroyed it a little while afterwards and looked a little upset.”
Tyr stared at Heimdall for a second, then responded slowly.
“Heimdall, was I there at the base of Laerad the whole night?”
“Yes, though, as Laerad is a world tree, it is possible to dream of other realms now and then.”
“And when one dreams under a world tree, do they bring stuff back?”
“Not that I have seen. Was the medallion from a dream.”
“No… a nightmare.”
Tyr turned and followed Idunn back to Valhalla.
“Is there anything else you need me for Idunn?”
“No, but Mimir wanted to talk to you. I usually ask him for advice as to how I can get my apple to Heimdall without Loki swiping them, and he that you were the best call and that when I was done to send you his way.”
“Very well. Pleasant evening Idunn.”
As Tyr left Idunn and walked into the courtyard that led to Mimir’s chamber, he saw an einherjar doing sword drills. As he began to pass the einherjar, Tyr recognized him.
“Bjarki?”
The einherjar, Bjarki, turned and gave Tyr a bow.
“Greetings Jarl Tyr, I am honored that you know my name.”
“You snuck out of the feast to train huh?”
“Actually my jarl, I never went to the feast and have been training for a while, trying to see if I can mimic the sword moves done the einherjar you trained.”
He’s… telling the truth?
“There are some in the dining hall who think that those I trained are not true einherjar.”
“They would not be here if they were not worthy.”
“… You’re really Bjarki?”
“Yes, my jarl.”
He really means that. But then who… Loki.
“Jarl Tyr, while I do understand the basics, would it be possible for you to train me in the same way.”
“My losing of the match means I am not supposed to train other einherjar to fight like that.”
Tyr watched Bjarki seem to become dejected and then added: “There was nothing against those that I trained sharing their training however.”
Bjarki lit up at this comment and said, “Then I will ask one of them if they are willing, perhaps Brjann is available to train me.”
“Ah well… If you do, best bring two tankard of mead and an apology. Also, tell him I said you were both victims of the same trick, he will hopefully understand what that means.”
Bjarki nodded, looking a little confused, and walked towards the hall, while Tyr continued to Mimir’s room.