31 The Beginning's of a Quest

Peace.

A simple thing yet often, so challenging to achieve. Ironically, wars were often waged in the pursuit of a single individual's idea of peace, one often contested by another's.

But Asgard had beaten back the Dark Gods and secured peace.

The war against the Dark Gods had been a short, but bloody affair, made even shorter by the arrival of the Olympians who had continued their centuries-long conflict with the Gods of Narcisson. Upon that very planet, Odin and his entourage of guards met with Perrikos, the new Majeston of the Dark Gods, and signed a peace treaty.

It heavily favoured the Asgardians.

With the Kree Empire and Skrull Empires pushing in upon the borders of what was once considered the Dark Space, ruled by the Dark Gods and tens of thousands being killed in their attempted invasion of Asgard, the Dark Gods were in a difficult position. To have the Kree, Skrulls, Olympians and the Asgardians attacking them would mean certain defeat.

So when Odin offered a parlay, Perrikos for the purpose of survival had no choice but to acquiesce to each and every demand the All-Father proposed.

With it done, Odin and the Asgardians would no longer be considered at war with the Dark Gods. But in return, the Dark Gods would return every slave or worshipper that belonged to the Nine Realms. There had been thousands taken in secrecy over the course of centuries, corrupted, abused, violated and tortured by the Dark Gods till they were but shells of their former selves.

It had been a mercy to kill them all.

Their bodies returned to their respective realms where they would be buried. Even King Rugga the de facto ruler of Jotunheim had struck a peace treaty with Asgard, disbanding his gathering army and accepting the many Giants that the Dark Gods had enslaved. Though he too, was forced to pay reparations for his part in the failed invasion.

However, many of those belonging to the Æsir and Asgardians did not stay dead for long.

With peace forged between both the Dark Gods and King Rugga, Odin could safely enter into the Odinsleep to fully recover. He had emerged nought but days ago and used his newly recovered power, had entered the Halls of Valhalla and revived the fallen Æsir and Asgardians. Only a few of those that had been enslaved by the Dark Gods had been deemed to have been worthy to enter the Halls of Valhalla, many being taken by the Goddess of Death, Hela.

With it, Asgard had seen its once weakened population and military grow.

Now, Odin sat upon his throne, Gungnir floating in the air beside him. Two of his sons, Thor and Loki sat on the stairs looking at the golden spear in awe. Both had been punished for their actions in the defence of Asgard. Despite Thor's arrival serving to rally the Asgardian army and Loki's own actions helping Thor to get past the gate, both had subverted the military command structure. However, Thor's punishment had been lessened due to the fact his actions tipped the tide of the battle in their favour. Even then, the punishment was steep for both teens, a lesson that needed to be learned now rather than later when it was too late.

"How was it forged?" Thor asked, tearing his gaze from the spear to look at his father, Loki unable to take his gaze off it.

"The Dwarf King, Eitri and his brother, Brokk forged this from sunlight itself as a gift for me many years ago," Odin spoke, remembering the moment vividly. It had been decades after Asgard had finished its consequences of the Nine Realms and mere years after the Celestials had forced him to remove his Kingship over Midgard and weeks after his marriage to Frigga.

The actions of the Celestials had caused some discontent amongst many, each of the other realms hoping to be free of Asgard's rule like Midgard was. One of which was the Dwarves of Nidavellir.

The Dwarves were an important aspect of the Asgardian war machine and if they openly rebelled against them, many of the other realms could rise up against Asgard. And unlike before, they would be armed by the Uru weapons forged by Dwarves. It would be Asgard's undoing so Odin gave concessions.

Nidavellir would be given autonomy but would serve as a client state to Asgard. The Dwarves continued to provide them with weapons and yearly tax, but in turn, would be under the protection of Asgard and given more freedom.

In return, the newly elected King, Eitri along with his brother had forged the spear, Gungnir as a show of not only thanks but loyalty to Asgard and its ruler. It was this act that actually pushed Odin to do the same for many of the other Nine Realms, though keeping others under tighter restrictions than some.

Gungnir was the symbol most associated with him and his reign. But it was a weapon that Odin could not wait to be rid of. For all the wars he had won, Gungnir had also been the tether that his masters used to keep him alive throughout the years. When he no longer needed Gungnir, that was the moment Odin had finally succeeded and that was a moment he could not wait for.

Looking at the two boys, who had once again turned their full attention to Gungnir, Odin decided to test the two. It was about time that both received mystical weapons of their own, usually, in Asgardian society, only warriors who had proved themselves in battle would be able to receive a mystical weapon. Sigrún and Heimdall are the only two outside of himself to earn a mystical weapon.

The former was named the Valkyrie Queen and put in charge of the Valkyries while the latter had become the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, the Bifrost. A great honour and an act that had once only belonged to the King of Asgard.

Though he was planning to have Skurge and the Warriors Three, Hogun, Fandral and Volstagg who had proven themselves greatly during the battle against the Dark Gods. Skurge had led the naval assault that saw the fleet upon the Sea of Mamora destroyed and the monsters in the sky defeated. He then personally headed into battle, right into the thick of it, reports saying that he was surrounded by hundreds of slaughtered worshippers.

As for the Warriors Three, each had proven themselves individually and as a group. Having arrived with Heimdall, Fandral was the first to clash against the Dark Gods, Hogun not far behind who along with Heimdall and Volstagg, led the charge that swarmed through. When the shield wall was smashed and the Asgardian army retreated, Volstagg covered the rear almost by himself while Hogun was the first to join Thor in his charge back down the hill.

All four had proven themselves immensely capable and skilled, earning glory and prestige in the battle. They had earned the right to have a weapon of their own, but whether it was just those four who would gain weapons or not was a matter for his two sons to decide.

Odin however, would like to prepare his sons for the future. Mystical weapons were the difference between life and death on the battlefield and as Princes of Asgard, it would only be right for them to have one of their own.

So, rising from his seat, Odin left the room leaving Gungnir floating before the two princes. As he watched from a distance hidden from sight, the two boys continued to sit there, just looking at the spear.

"Loki! What are you doing?" Thor hissed out as the mischievous prince reached out to touch the spear.

"I just want to hold it," Loki replied, entranced by the golden spear as he reached out for it, slowly making his way up the stairs.

"It is forbidden!" Thor's warning came too late as Loki's finger touched the spear and before he could grip hold of it, the spear seemingly collapsed to the ground, the magic holding it cutting out unexpectedly.

It clattered against the ground, the sound deafening as it echoed throughout the empty throne room. This act made them both jump in shock and fright, looking around wildly to see if anyone had heard and come to see what had happened.

Or worse yet, if Odin had seen what had happened.

But just as they began to relax, Gungnir began to shift, the magical protections surrounding the spear making it transform into a large green serpent. It rushed towards Loki and wrapped around the boy quicker than either of them could react.

And it constricted tightly.

"Don't just stand there like a gaping monkey!" Loki cried out as the serpent tightened its hold upon him. "It's crushing me!"

Looking around, Thor noticed a sword laying upon the steps nearby despite it not being there earlier. Not questioning it, Thor picked up the sword by the handle and drew it from its sheath.

"Leave him be, foul serpent!" Thor cried, gripping the blade tightly in both hands and swinging the blade upwards with all his strength. However, as soon as his blade came into contact with the serpent, it seemingly disappeared entirely, and Loki dropped to the ground in heap. "It disappeared!"

Both princes looked around trying to find where the serpent had gone.

Then seemingly summoned, Loki flew through the air and directly into the hand of Odin who held the Prince by his tunic in the air in one hand.

"So it was you, Loki. You who went to take the spear without permission." It was not a question, but a statement of fact. "And to think I had authorised for three new treasures forged by those who forged Gungnir. Thor and you were to share these treasures, but no more."

Turning to Thor who still held the sword in one hand, shocked by the events. Odin waved his hand dismissing Thor.

"Go then, Thor. Bid for three new treasures to be forged. You remember the names of those who forged Gungnir, yes?" Thor nodded his head, the sword in his hand being returned to its sheath.

-X- Line Break -X-

Journeying to Nidavellir would not be easy, that was something all knew. After all, only two ways were open to them, two acceptable ways on this quest that the five of them had been given.

One down the cold oceans of the Sea of Mamora. A dangerous place with all manner of dangerous creatures capable of destroying ships with ease, including Asgardian Skiffs. Or one could travel through the mountains, filled with Trolls and their interconnected network of caves.

No path was truly free of danger, but that was the point. Achievements won in battle earned one the right to go on the quest. But braving and overcoming the dangers encountered on the quest proved they were worthy of the reward.

Their journey had been long, but peaceful in the beginning. The Plains of Ida were tranquil and beautiful. Long stretching fields of green grass and golden wheat. Travellers passing up and down the roads who greeted them as they passed. Large caravans had formed into mobile trading centres filled with goods from the magical lands of Vanaheim, the forests of Alfheim, the caves of Nidavellir and as far south as the lands of Hindi.

Thor enjoyed the sights as they trotted along. Their group of five made quick progress with occasional breaks to rest and recover, a few days having already passed by.

Hogun the Grim, the most experienced led their group from the front. Once a member of a tribe of a long-deceased race that had existed upon Asgard before the Æsir arrived. They had been horse folk, often learning to ride before they could walk and it showed with the ease in which he rode his steed.

At his flanks, were Skurge the Executioner and Fandral the Dashing with Thor and Volstagg the Valiant bringing up the rear. Though a Prince of Asgard, that meant little on this quest, he had to pass it on his own merit and not through a title.

He would be in just as much danger as the rest of them and he shared an equal burden to ensure the safety of himself, but also others. Yet the Plains of Ida held no danger for them as they travelled south, days passing by until they finally reached the Asgardian Mountains.

A large and expansive range of mountains that covered much of the lands surrounding the Plains of Ida. They acted as a natural boundary that separated Asgard from Vanaheim, Nidavellir and Alfheim.

It was a dangerous place, Odin and Bor had both discovered this themselves. The Storm Giants had strayed away from them when they had ruled the continent of Asgard and for good reason.

The Trolls.

The mountains were their territory, often bringing them into conflict with the dwarves as both races' expansive cave systems overlapped. It was the Trolls that had personally delayed King Bor's ambitions for decades, a constant thorn in his side that had also proven incredible elusive.

Once ruled by Grundor the Great during the time of King Bor, then by Grundor the Greater during his father's rule. It was Odin who managed to land a decisive blow that had left the once united Trolls, scattered. Ever since then, they had never recovered, dozens of Troll Kings existed, constantly vying for power amongst themselves, rather than focusing their attention outwards.

However, it was that very same division that arguably made the Trolls more dangerous. Anyone that entered their territory was attacked, no matter the reason for their visit. Whereas in the past, they had been willing to let messengers come and go during the times of Grundor the Great and Greater.

Already on their quest, just having entered into the Asgardian Mountains, they had been attacked a number of times. The Trolls were violent and headstrong, attacking first and often, never asking questions.

Ripping the axe from the head of a Troll, Thor wiped his brow of the sweat that had formed and took a look around. Their journey had been plagued with conflict from the moment they entered the mountain range, already having fought against four parties of Trolls.

They weren't large, no more than a dozen or so, but the perilous journey up the rocky mountains, the extreme weather and the loose rocks made it a tiring journey, both physically and mentally.

One that Thor was feeling.

Trolls were as strong as Asgardians and just as fast, but they were also far tougher. Their leathery hides made killing them difficult, Thor having already dulled and chipped one of his axes, another having broken entirely.

"Here," reacting quickly, Thor caught the large axe thrown his way by Skurge. "Axes like those won't last long as you've learned. This will do you better."

Thor didn't really know what to make of Skurge, the man having been cold and distant with everyone from the outset. No one could deny his skill or strength, he was one of the few Asgardians with strength rivalling Volstagg. His skill was also great, his fighting style emphasising brutality and savagery, hammering away at any defence until it broke open.

He was a stark difference from the Warriors Three who conformed to the more standard styles of Asgardian combat. But it was also clear to Thor that Skurge was different in many other ways from other Asgardians.

A difference that seemed to make him disliked by them, the Warriors Three having done little to make friends with him.