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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Twin Rose" data-source="post: 3052475" data-attributes="member: 2765">An end of all worlds was assumed to be inevitable--the final conflict on the horizon between the gods and their many enemies would be more than enough to wipe creation clean of all existence, but one man who grew weary of war decided to see if he could make a difference ...The Quest For Peacea literary serial by Saab LoftonEpisode ThreeEinheri imagined that Niflheim--the infamous underworld where the dishonored go--would be harsh, but the righteous indignation he felt after having been summarily dismissed by Odin somehow superceded any dread stemming from the prospect of being tortured for the rest of eternity."How dare that pompous old man call me a coward?" Einheri fumed while Vara spirited him away from Valhalla on her flying horse. "After all I've been through while I was alive--the gall ... why, I was the very model of a--""He is the king of the gods, you know," Vara cut him off. "He can do whatever he wants.""Even start a war that will destroy the entire universe?"Before Vara could answer, howls and screams were heard in the distance. As her winged stallion galloped across thin air, Einheri looked down and saw a point far below them where there were no clouds, stars or sky--just a swirling mass of darkness forming a whirlpool. Only then did Einheri's tone change a bit. "I-Is that the underworld ..?""Uh, huh.""A-Are you going to ..?""Drop you off? No, we're going to find some sanctuary." Vara turned her head for a moment to make eye contact with Einheri and smiled--the power she wielded over him was too tempting and intoxicating to let go of easily. When a sigh of relief escaped his lips, Vara felt something she had never experienced before, but buried it deep within herself for the time being in order to be savored later. "What do you know of the Vanir ..?"In contrast to the Aesir--who defined themselves by their wars against giants and trolls--the Vanir lived in peace amongst elves and fairies. Some of the Vanir ruled over mild winds and gentle rains--unlike a storm god such as Thor--while others saw to it that flowers bloomed on time. As Vara's stellar steed flew into Vanir territory, Einheri was immediately stunned and utterly overwhelmed by all the beauty around him. He never knew so many different colors existed or that nature itself could look more like a work of art than an actual landscape.When Einheri finally gained his composure, he laid a hand on Vara's shoulder as if to secure his footing. "Why are you helping me? Surely Odin will punish you for doing so."One of Vara's eyebrows thoughtfully raised slightly above the other as if she wasn't sure herself, but then answered, "Maybe because I'm just--curious ... or maybe I just feel sorry for you, mortal. Who knows."Einheri and Vara looked around and found themselves being surrounded by what initially looked like fireflies from afar, but upon closer inspection, proved to be miniature versions of humans. The rocks on the ground by their feet began to overturn by themselves, and from underneath them, gnomes crawled out into the open."See?" Einheri waved and fanned his hand across the scape before him. "This is how life should be--all the time.""We're glad you approve, mortal."Both Einheri and Vara spun on their respective heels to see a shimmering beauty of a woman glide in and land near them. Evidently, an enormous falcon had sunk its talons into her forearm, but once she was safely on the grassy plain, it let the woman go and bolted into the sky. In one motion, Vara then knelt before this glowing female and dragged Einheri to the ground in order to make him do the same. "This is Freya, goddess of love and fertility," Vara whispered.Einheri dared to rear his head up a bit when he heard the squeal of a pig, and sure enough, a giant boar with golden bristles touched down from overhead nearby. Upon it was a man who looked to be part elf and resembled the woman that falcon just dropped off enough for Einheri to think they were related. "Don't forget her brother, Frey, Vara!" the boar's rider bellowed."What are you doing in the land of the Vanir, my child?" Freya asked."T-This mortal spirit seeks sanctuary and amnesty," Vara stammered. "He enraged Odin when he asked was it possible for there to be peace between the nine worlds and for Gotterdammerung to be avoided altogether.""Well, I don't see why not?" Frey guffawed. "And here I thought all mortal men were bloodthirsty savages! I'm glad to see there's at least one with vision! This calls for a celebration!""If the wind changes direction, you think it's call for a celebration," Freya lowered her head in shame and muttered under her breath. "Damn drunkard ..."Copyright © Saab Lofton, 2006</blockquote>

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