Legendary

"Well, there are a lot of fatalistic people who think that Ragnarok is just going to play out the way it's foretold, like Sif and Odin. But to me, that has holes because accounts differ. You'd think that if it really was immutable prophesy, that all the accounts would be exactly the same." Emma nodded. "Others, like Thor and Loki, seem to be more open to things not going exactly as planned. So I propose that we work with these people. The Midgard serpent is supposed to spray venom all over the place instead of being bitey, so personal protective gear for Thor as well as perhaps bite-resistant armor in case I'm wrong. Loki and Heimdall have agreed to avoid each other on Vigrior but maybe I can train Loki to be a better swordsman. And I think it's imperative that we all keep ourselves fit. The scrimmages have halted due to the weather. I haven't been doing as much work as usual because of the winter, but I need to get my head on straight. It's not like I can die in a training accident," I said, irritable with myself.

Emma grinned briefly. "I'll pass that last bit on to Steve and Bucky. They've both been slacking off too. But in the meantime, I'll start working with alloys for crush resistance, see what I can come up that will repel quantities of snake venom. See what I can do to make the best metal possible for weapons. And when you finish making them, I'll inspect them for defects." We discussed plans for trying to ascertain the views of others named in the prophesy, which actually didn't look good since neither of us knew most of them and some of them, like Odin, weren't talking about it anyway. She gave me some spice cakes when I left to go home and take a nap.

The next day, I started work on my physical conditioning. I quickly discovered that the best time to get out to the obstacle course was just before noon; for some reason, the winds weren't as fierce there at that time and I had to have the help of wings to get past some of the obstacles. Rather than resenting the terrible conditions, I decided to embrace them as challenges. Fighting the wind would make my wings stronger. I made an ice axe like climbers use to help get over obstacles and my fingers and hands would get stronger from ice climbing. Not giving in to the horrible conditions would strengthen my determination and discipline. No, not horrible conditions. Challenging conditions.

And following the adage of healthy mind in healthy body, I visited Earth a few times and ordered texts on metallurgy, hand to hand systems like krav maga, fighting techniques like la canne, information on winter camping, and spinning, weaving, and sewing. Claire Schaeffer's classic book on couture sewing techniques was in its umpteenth edition, and I was able to up my game with my dressmaking skills. Since cloth was severely rationed, we were changing the look of our clothes with alterations instead, and these techniques made everything fit and look better. The reading provided me with challenges to think about.

I nagged Loki into showing up for some of the practices with his niece and nephew. He didn't really want to, but when I pointed out that more skill increased his odds of surviving Ragnarok and defending himself against Heimdall, should it come to that, he reluctantly agreed. Torunn was not thrilled to have the guy she was supposed to grow up to bodyguard getting better at defending himself--I think she was worried he wouldn't need her after all--but when I suggested that perhaps she could use his progress to measure her own abilities against, she got more interested. I increased her training in ninjutsu as well, and brought in experts on Asgard to teach her how to survey geography and predict weather changes; the stuff I hadn't learned during my lessons because of the technology I'd had access to. I sat in on these lessons too. Both Loki and Thor tutored her in power hierarchies and the military (Thor) and other power centers like industry, trade, and education, and the rudiments of diplomacy (Loki). Magni sat in on some of these lectures too, but they were primarily for Torunn's benefit. She needed to have a firm grounding in the spheres of influence her uncle traveled in. Magni was getting more intensive lessons from his father, but sometimes he would say things to his daughter that were worded differently or summarized things that made his son think, and the knowledge from Loki helped him to better understand the influence and importance of the other realms.

Sif was quick to recover from her delivery and, afterward, said that it had been nice to have a shorter pregnancy. Modi had kind of a shaky start as premature babies often do, but then he began to grow and flourish. In fact, he grew quite rapidly. Everyone was startled, but it was my private opinion that perhaps this was due to the prophesy that he would play a role in Ragnarok and the aftermath, and a kid just wasn't going to be able to do that. If this was correct, it also meant that our time was shorter than most suspected.

We were firmly in the second year of unending winter before the word "Fimbulwinter" ever publicly passed Odin's lips. And even then, it was an acknowledgment that this current weather appeared to be Fimbulwinter, not the beginnings of a plan. Because of course Odin didn't have a plan, he believed in unalterable fate. It made me really nervous.

So one day, after I'd finished my lessons with the princes and princess, I took off for Yggdrasil.

Its location wasn't a secret; the World Tree was rooted in Asgard and if you spent any time there at all, you could see the great ash tree in the distance. I was going in search of the Norns.

The Norns were often described as weaving the fates of gods and men, but I'd come to think that this was a conflation with the representation of the Greek Fates. As I approached the World Tree, there was no evidence of any weaving. I folded my wings and walked the last bit to the Tree; its branches were so vast that it veiled the ground for a good distance all around it and the snow was almost nonexistent. Even in this dire winter, it was in leaf; healthy green shone through the snow on its boughs. As I drew closer, I saw three beings hauling buckets of water from the Well of Fate to Yggdrasil, splashing its trunk, bleaching it white with the purity and strength of the water, keeping it healthy and strong. According to the legends, anyway. But even if their actions weren't strictly needed, I guess everybody has to have something to do.

When I reached the clearing where no snow lay on the ground, I could see that one of the beings looked to be an old woman, one a young woman, and one was so heavily veiled that you couldn't see. Legend had that they came from Jotunheim, frost giants, but they didn't look different to me; they were bigger than humans, but so were almost every race in the Nine Realms. The veiled one dropped her bucket by the well and seated herself in one of three chairs around a fire. "Come, child," she said impatiently. "Your time is not limitless." I approached to a respectful distance and bowed to her. "Ask," she ordered.

I wasn't sure if there was a limit on the number of questions or the time I'd be granted if they decided to speak, so I went for the big one first. "What is the nature of fate?"

The veiled Norn laughed, a lovely, musical sound. "Well, that is the ultimate question, is it not?" Behind her, the other two Norns laughed as well. "Sit." There were only two chairs left, one for each Norn, so I sank to the ground and crossed my legs.

"Polite," the younger woman noted as she joined her veiled sister.

"Respectful," the older woman said approvingly as she took the third seat.

"The answer is both complex and simple," the veiled one said.

"Skuld," the younger woman sighed. "It's mostly just simple."

"Verdanti is correct," the older one confirmed. "Orlag is all. The rest is just interpretation, with a few facts thrown in."

"Urd refers to the universal eternal law when she mentions Orlag," veiled Skuld said. "Would you like to know what Orlag is, child?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said promptly, and the three Norn laughed.

"All things end." We sat in silence as I worked this over in my mind.

"So what comes after the end?" I asked. "The prophesy of Ragnarok says that Sutr will destroy the worlds and everything on them, but the land will reveal itself again eventually, lush and fruitful and the race of man will be reestablished by two who hid at Yggdrasil's roots. What happens to the rest of us? Is fate immutable and irresistible? What--"

And Skuld cut me off. "First, it will be helpful to understand the Norn, our purpose and power."

"We represent destiny as it is twined with the flow of time," Urd said, her voice deep and weighted with age. "Fate, necessity, and being. What do you know of us?"

"Well, that you're the source of the prophesy of Ragnarok, that Asgardians, the Vanir and the Aesir seem to mostly view fate as fixed, and that you tend the World Tree. It seems that you're confused with the Fates a lot. And that heroes in the sagas always blame you when things go wrong for them or when they're stupid," I said, summarizing my research. It had been light on the Norn in general.

All three laughed. "It is the nature of mortals to want to shift the blame when the outcomes they desire do not occur," Verdanti said, amused. "We are the source of the prophecy of Ragnarok, but what others do with the information we provide we cannot control."

"We shape destiny by divining the runes in Yggdrasil. The World Tree connects all the Nine Realms and these runes influence events. They do not control destiny. Come here." Skuld led me to the tree, placing her hand on the vast white trunk. Three runes sprang from the flow of runes up and down the bark. "Providing insight into your character, nature, and abilities, here we have Raidho, representing travel, spiritual and physical. Journeys, relocation, evolution, changes in place. Seeing larger perspectives and the right moves for you. Personal rhythm, world rhythm, the dance of life. It is joined by Kenaz, vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability, the vital fire of life, transformation and regeneration. Open to new strength, energy, power, passion, sexual love. These qualities are tempered by hard passages of life as shown by Hagalaz in opposition, stagnation, loss of power, pain, suffering, loss, hardship, sickness, and crisis. Well balanced overall in temperament and abilities, overall.

"And here, your current man. Uruz. Strength and speed, untamed potential. Great energy. Freedom, action, courage, tenacity, understanding, some wisdom. Sudden or unexpected change, usually for the better. Sexual desire, masculine potency. The shaping of power and pattern, the formulation of self. And Algiz, protection or a protector. The urge to shelter oneself and others. Defense, warding off evil, shielding, a guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life. Ability to channel energies appropriately, good instincts. This is offset to some extent by Tiwaz reversed, what happens when events turn against him and energy and creative flow is blocked. Mental paralysis, overanalysis, over-sacrifice, injustice, imbalance. Strife, conflict, dwindling passion, difficulties in communication, possible separation. A good pairing on many levels, particularly the sexual dimension and complimentary abilities of creativity and protection.

"But here, the man whose character, responses, and abilities are more finely matched to you. Fehu, possessions won or earned, earned income, luck. Abundance, financial success, hope and plenty, success and happiness. Social success. Energy, foresight, fertility, and the balance of creation and destruction. Ehwaz, transportation, physical or spiritual. Movement and change for the better, gradual development and steady progress. Harmony, teamwork, trust, loyalty. An ideal marriage or partnership. Confirmation beyond doubt of the meanings of the runes around it. Nauthiz shows his reactions to hard times--distress, toil, drudgery, extremity, deprivation, need, emotional hunger."

I felt kind of sucker-punched. I could see truth in her words and felt a little naked. "And look here, other individuals capable of great heroism and influence, whose impact can be seen throughout the worlds." Other clusters of runes surrounded mine. Skuld dropped her hand from the bark and the runes resumed their movement through the tree. "Our work is to warn the gods of future events, teach them how to use the present and remind them of the lessons of the past. The gods cannot question or influence us; all flows from the universal external law." She was silent a moment. "Yet the gods, who used to be frequent visitors, especially Odin, have ceased their visits. We are powerful enough that they envied and respected us."

I heard a honking noise and looked over to see that some swans who had taken offense at my swan-feather cape had waddled over and were extending their necks and wings aggressively. "I'm sorry!" I apologized. Skuld laughed indulgently.

"We can possess them occasionally to interact away from Yggdrasil," she said. "They have not forgiven me for using their feathers to create your capes." My mouth dropped open and she laughed again. "Yes, the valkyries were designed after me by Odin. Before you, I rode to take the slain and decide fights. I showed Odin how to create the capes that give you flight, and how to give the abilities to interact with the mortal realm and choose the heroes, creating the bonds between you and him, but anchored in the Tree, ultimately. After those who should have known better confused us with the Fates, I took advantage of it and began to guide the weaving of the valkyries before the battle to identify the chosen. I still select the fallen but have passed the retrieval to your group of sisters." She led me back to the fire, resuming her seat as I thumped down onto the ground. This was information I'd never heard a whisper of.

"But regardless of our power and the strength of the pull of fate, humans and gods alike can change their fates," Urd took up the conversation. "Child, no being is chained to fate like a slave. The only real power that fate has is what gods and men choose to ascribe to it."

"Gods can only act within time although they can sometimes foresee what is to come. They are powerless to prevent anything, however, since truth cannot be changed," Verdanti said. I sighed. I'd gotten mixed up somehow. "There is a difference between fate and truth," she said. "Events will occur that none can stop, such as the appearance of Sutr with the evil souls emptied out of hell. That is truth. It is also truth that Odin will be present and he will die. However, this is truth because he has made it so; his belief that Fenrir will consume him is absolute."

"Fate is a mixture of truth and belief," Urd said. "We provide the most likely predictions based on the conditions at the time. When Odin asked us for the fate of the world, we had no hint that man would become as powerful and influential as they have." She nodded to me. "Simply with your questions you are changing fate. Loki and Thor do not accept fate as inevitable. This belief will change outcomes in the fight on the plains of Asgard."

"The truth is that the world as we know it will end. It is not the truth to say that the end is absolute. The truth of how this comes about is not set on a firm timeline; time is mutable to some extent," Verdanti said helpfully.

"Put another way, the cocks will not crow the moment the Fimbulwinter ends," Skuld said. You will not all ride for Asgard the moment the cocks crow. Remember, the third cock raises the dead, and that does take time of itself. So, my daughter, if I were to give advice--"

"Which we seldom do, the truth is that everyone must interpret it for themselves--" Verdanti interrupted, and Urd nodded.

"If I were, I would advise preparing for the coming events in the best way that you can devise. Be ready and prepared. Fortune favors the prepared, I heard somewhere, and you have a knack for knowing what is needed. Keep an open mind, stay alert, and be willing to fight for the outcome you desire." Skuld finished.

"It is interesting to see the preparations of all," Urd said blandly. "Others, with other beliefs, prepare as well. Everyone faces the same immutable truth--the end of the world as is known. But the forces that will be faced vary according to their beliefs. Or their placement. There are those like you, who do not worship the gods you live among, but you accept their reality, which is, in the final analysis, what is needed far more than mere belief in their existence. What lies beyond the end of the world is not really known. Prophesies were made at one point, but prophesies can change as the circumstances that surround them change. Interpretation is everything." I flashed for a moment to the prophesy in the Harry Potter books.

I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I stood and thanked the Norn for their guidance, bowing last to Skuld. Urd and Verdanti smiled.

"Come back if you have more questions," Urd invited me. "The company is welcome."

"Thank you," I said, and took a step backward before turning and trudging back into the snow. I flew back through snow driven by battering winds and found Loki in the courtyard. He looked curious. As half Jotun, he was unconcerned by the temperatures or the snow.

"It is late for you to be here, is it not?" he asked.

"It is, but I didn't want to wait to have to track you down later. I just came from the Norn," I said, speaking quietly. "We were right. Fate isn't fixed. If you'd like to know more, go visit them. They're very nice and not nearly as confusing as I thought they'd be."

"Well, well," Loki said slowly. His green eyes brightened.

"It would be worth both you and Thor going," I suggested, and his grin was a lovely thing to see.

"Another thing," he said. "I will be bringing Torunn back to the city with me for a brief visit. This will probably become a pattern. Would it be possible to shift her instruction there?"

"Don't see why not," I said. "Will this be at the embassy?"

"Yes, it will be a way to ease her into Midgard customs and experiences. She will be able to interact with my current bodyguards as well as the embassy security." We discussed timing, as he wanted to be there for the first lesson so there would be no misunderstandings, and I went back to Valhalla.