Page 38

TOVA AND TRIG were bound together on the second Freya’s day, with their hands fasted together before a gothi in the presence of the entire clan, and those willing to travel in winter on such short notice. Jarl Hakan didn’t want to delay the ceremony any longer, for fear Tova would be taken from us again. So there we stood, as snow fell around us, watching them commit their lives to each other.

Tova wore a deep red dress with silver flowers in her hair. When she got to the part about gods watching over them, she gave me a wink.

I winked back. At my side, Ve stood, dressed in mortal clothes of simple tunics and thin wools. More than one person glanced his way, curious about the stranger who appeared overnight. We explained him as a match Faoir had prepared for me years ago from a distant mountain clan, and no one could disprove that.

We hadn’t told others about who I was. I doubted I would. Over the years, Ve and I would visit less frequently and keep out of sight, until all those who remembered me in my youth had forgotten about Tova’s mediocre sister. Until then, we had plenty of land to explore.

The clan cheered as the marriage was proclaimed, and the wine began to pour.

“It’s good,”

Ve commented, peering into the cup. “Nothing like jravn, but still very good.”

I poured some for myself from a large horn. “I’d quite like to try jravn again sometime when I’m not fearing it will kill me. I could have fainted when Leif said it would kill a mortal.”

Ve laughed. “I do remember how frightened you looked.”

I could laugh now. There were so many moments I wanted to go back and live without fear, but we had a hundred lifetimes to make up for it. Hand in hand, we made our way closer to the outskirts of the clan, settling on the planks of the harbor to watch the feast. Tova and Trig sat at the head of a table, sitting close even as they entertained those around them. Tova’s smile was as wide as I’d ever seen it, and for once she didn’t appear uneasy with all the attention on her. Her experiences over the past few months had molded her into a stronger person, and the clan would be lucky to have her alongside their future chieftain. She would lead them well.

An equally large crowd gathered about Sigrid as she showed off my sword, which I’d heard her call her own several times. I might gift it to her one day. For now, I could only hope she didn’t accidentally chop someone’s head off. The blue stones on it glinted like Odin’s eye, reminding me of the task ahead. Once this was over, Ve and I would travel to Asgard for a brief visit to set things right. Then our life was ours.

A slow shuffle came from behind us, and I turned in time to see the seer approach, clutching his tattered, dark robes in hand as he maneuvered slowly. Ve offered a hand.

“Seer,”

he greeted. “What news have you from home?”

His shriveled face turned my direction. I adjusted my clothes, though he couldn’t see them. Today I’d dressed simple in a blue dress sinched at the waist, with a knitted shawl and dainty flowers in my hair—all of it making me feel like another person. Tova’s wedding was one of the few occasions I’d gladly wear a dress for.

“I’ve heard chatter of an uprising. Alliances shifting. Old foes being thrown down.”

The crackle in his voice was like a fire, and his words burned within me.

“Is Aegir the god thrown down?” I asked.

His lips peeled back into a smile. “And Astrid will be the one to rise.”

The name still settled over me oddly, like one not truly mine. I decided to adopt it in Asgard, but on Earth, I would remain as I always was. And to Ve, I’d forever be his Rune. But when the seer said Astrid, it was as if it was the most normal name in all the land.

A new thought came over me, and I shuddered. “Did you know the entire time I was a goddess?”

“No. What I told you was true—your future had been shielded from me. Now I know why.”

He spread a long, painted finger toward my older sister. “But they have unveiled Tova’s destiny and it is a glorious one.”

That didn’t surprise me. It was Tova. Her future would always be strong, because she was strong.

The seer bowed to us both. “Your humble messenger bids you farewell.”

And for once, an encounter with the seer didn’t leave me covered in gooseflesh, but filled with hope.

As he left, Ve took my hands to pull me into the warmth of him, holding me in such a way, I wondered if we ought to ask the gothi to orchestrate one more ceremony right now. It wasn’t a bad idea. Chilly waves lapped to the west, licking against our boots in the sand while Ve led me through a dance as the wind against trees played like a melody, and it felt like the start to our forever.

Never in my youthful longings did I foresee someone like this calling me theirs.

His touch was healing, his presence the thing calming me in the wildest of storms, his kisses were lightning, and his love as strong as an axe forged in Asgard.

While we danced, Ve brought his lips to my ear to whisper. “I figured out how Aegir fooled everyone.”

I gasped. Since we’d been on Earth, one question plagued us. I tried to be free of it, but it pressed against my thoughts while trying to sleep until it was keeping me up all night and I worried I’d never get my answer. When Aegir took my blood and gave it to Odin, he said it was bitter.

How did he swap my blood with Tova’s with so many eyes on him?

“How?” I asked.

Our dancing slowed. “Remember the story I told of how I once wanted to be in Aegir’s good favor? I gave him a gift.”

He waited until I remembered. “An apothecary teacup.”

“An apothecary teacup,”

Ve confirmed. “And that was the cup he poured from for Odin. He took your blood, but it never left the cup—someone else’s was inside already, and Odin tasted theirs. Though I can’t guess whose.”

“I can. Tova mentioned she’d met Aegir and he took some of her blood. It was hers that went to Odin.”

I exhaled, grateful to have solved the last mystery. These past few weeks were defined by one question after another, and at last we possessed the answers to them all.

Ve rubbed a thumb across my cheek. “Your blood holds the proof Aegir lied, and he will be thrown from Asgard. And you and I,”

he was kissing me now, “will have a future free from meddling gods.”

I made a noise in my throat. “You have no idea how nice that sounds.”

“And I think it should start there.”

He drew apart to point down the bend of the fjord, closer to the sea.

We’d be in view of the town but far enough away to have our own life and be away from meddling eyes, wondering why we didn’t age.

It had many paths spreading from it of which to see the world, paths leading through the mountains and paths across the sea.

One path led to my past. A hundred led to our future.

And I could see it now. The longhouse we’d build. The lands we’d wander. The battles we’d fight side by side. I saw it all, and my eyes watered at the sight.

Ve dried my cheeks with a mischievous grin. “I have something for you.”

He led me along the fjord, where he dug through the sand until pulling up a box.

Inside, was the laurel he’d given me weeks ago, back when we were surrounded by the gods and by his promise to love me forever.

That whatever his fate is, it forever be tied to yours.

I’d brought it to Danmark with me, but in the fight at the arena and journey from Asgard, it’d gotten rumpled beyond beauty.

But now, as he passed it to me, the golden leaves shone once more and stood up with a vibrance that made it look new, just like our love.

New and beautiful.

“How did you fix it?”

I asked, holding it close.

“I asked my móoir for new leaves from Asgard,”

Ve replied. My eyes snapped up. Ase had been kind upon our last meeting, but adamant no one break her son’s heart. After my escape from the arena while leaving Ve behind, I was uncertain how long it’d take to reclaim her trust.

“She gave it with all of her love,”

Ve told me. “Before hearing you are Astrid.”

Tears welled in my eyes. Erik might be a tougher heart to win, but Ase’s support meant a lot. It meant I had a home in Asgard whenever I chose to return.

But my main home was here, with Ve. He took my hands in his to lift the laurel and place it upon my head. My heart warmed until it could burst. “How does it look?”

His gaze was heavy on me. “Like my forever.”

If it were possible, I’d stitch this laurel into my hair so every day I could look upon the vibrant leaves and remember the promise it symbolized.

Unity. Eternity. Us.

The ones who defied the gods and forged our own path. The healer and the fighter. The sword and the axe.

And our forever started with Ve ushering the gothi over. The man approached with an awed look as if he knew who Ve was, and bowed low until his cloak dragged in the snow. When he raised, Ve beamed wide. “If we could have a moment of your time, there is one more thing to do today.”

Dear Readers,

This was one of the oddest writing experiences I’ve had, having to set aside this story when deadlines moved up, then only coming back to it when I had time between contracted projects. But the thrill of this tale never wavered, and it burned like a fire in the back of my mind for a year before writing ‘the end.’ From that point, it was another two years before it went out into the world.

While I usually relate to my main character the most, this time it was Ve. His desire to find a place for himself in a world that doesn’t feel like his really resonated within me, so much so, I gave him my name. Whoever you resonate with most, I hope you find yourself within these pages, and it gives you strength.

I’d love if you left a review, as a greater number of reviews help my book be found by more readers! As always, thank you for your support.