Lezard's Triumph

The sun had long since set in Asgard, and still the battle raged on. Night fall should have brought a kind of peace to the battlefield, and yet as the sky darkened, it grew no less chaotic. Bonfires were spread across the field, huge fiery pits that cast both illumination and an offer of safety from the frost giants. The men of ice didn't dare approach while the bonfires were lit, fearing the heat of the flames.

But there were others in their employ who did not heed the warning of fire, giants of stone, and their tamed beasts who prowled the field. They launched assaults against the great wall the einherjar had built, smashing their fists into the concrete blocks, attempting to weather them down into dust by brute force alone. Magic kept the stone giants from damaging their large hands, and bit by bit pieces of the wall were chiseled off.

The einherjar ran about the top of the wall, expressions serious as they listened to their commander bark out orders. His tone was frantic, demanding the soldiers get into place and fast. From his resting spot on the safe side of the wall, Rufus watched as men and women labored with large containers of heated tar, half a dozen for each barrel as they worked to tip it onto it's side.

A cheer went up as screams were heard from the enemy side, the hot tar coating the stone giants, making their movements sluggish, and burning them alive. More barrels were tipped over, more screams were heard as the stone men backed off from the wall. They were running, and some blinded by the tar, lumbered straight into the path of the bonfires, getting set aflame, their screams growing distorted as they burned.

"If they're lucky, a few of those on fire will stumble into the frost giants' camp." Arngrim said, his approach silent as he walked up to the archer. Rufus looked up at the warrior, gratefully taking a cup of ambrosia mead from the beserker.

"Yeah." Rufus agreed, otherwise silent as he sipped his drink. It had been a long day, with little time to rest, and Rufus had been kept busy when it was his turn to be on top of the wall. He had been assigned to a platoon of archers, keeping the frost giants at bay with flaming arrows, while Arngrim had joined the Asgardians in the back breaking work that went into building up the defensive wall.

There had been little chance for them to escape, incomplete though the wall may be, it was just too well guarded on both sides. Even if they snuck past the watchful einherjar that patrolled the wall's bottom and top, they'd still have to contend with Jotunheim's forces which had set themselves up along close to the rainbow bridge. Reinforcements arrived daily along that route, leaving the Asgardians to wonder at the size of Jotunheim's army.

It would actually be to Rufus and Arngrim's benefit if the wall was to fall. In the ensuing chaos, they could sneak out onto the field, and fight their way to the bridge. But as things stood, it didn't look like that would be happening anytime soon. The two friends were caught up in the midst of a long siege, forced to do their best to stay alive. Rufus often got through the days of war by thinking about Alicia. How many times had he conjured up the memory of her face, her tanned skin framed by a mane of spun gold, and her sparkling blue eyes. Most of all he remembered her smile, her laughter making his heart light, the thought that he would return to her making him fight fiercely

in this insane war of Lezard's.

Rufus didn't know what Arngrim thought about to get through the days. He knew the beserker was itching for a chance to get out on the battlefield, if only to break the boredom of wall detail. The difference between them had never been more apparent than during this time on the battle field. Arngrim seemed to thrive in the chaos of war, and he made friends where ever he turned, learning all kinds of useful and at times useless information. Where as Rufus was practically a recluse, sticking to himself when he wasn't at Arngrim's side.

"The einherjar are spoiling for a fight." Arngrim murmured between sips of his mead.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. There's talk of sending out a small group onto the field tomorrow morning." Continued Arngrim, eyes focused on the wall, watching as more tar barrels were carried up to the top.

"Are you going to go?" asked Rufus, knowing this was a chance Arngrim had been waiting for.

"Haven't decided yet." Arngrim frowned. "I mean to make for the bridge together with you. The group they want to send out will only have room for close quarter fighters. The archers are still to remain on the wall."

"Damn." Rufus sighed, and drained the last of his cup's liquid. "Well, don't let me stop you from having your moment of fun on the field. I know how bored you've been working on the wall."

"Not sure it's a wise move though. A small group is likely to be overrun quicker than a large one. It might just be a death sentence." A sour look from Arngrim, tossing his cup onto the ground. It overturned and ambrosia mead sloshed out, staining the grass with it's amber color. "What are they thinking?"

"Arngrim?"

"Are they so eager to end this siege that they would sacrifice soldiers in a crazed full frontal attack?" Arngrim shook his head. "Never have I seen such foolish maneuvers on a battle field before this week."

"Well, what can you expect when most of our leaders are all inexperienced fighters. Gods of love and peace do not a warrior make." Pointed out Rufus.

"Yeah. It's fortunate they still have Lord Tyr to make some sense of this mess." Muttered Anrgrim. Rufus nodded, thinking how busy the former War God was being kept. He was never seen alone, constantly surrounded by einherjar and Gods, the divine beings pestering him for advice on what to do next. He often looked harried, eyes tired and ringed with black circles of the sleep deprived.

"And still no sign of the twerp." Continued Arngrim, choosing to avoid mentioning Lezard by name.

"He's probably holding himself in reserve." Said Rufus. "Waiting until the last second to make his appearance."

"More like using the rest of us to tire out his enemies before he comes to join the fight." Grumbled Arngrim, knowing from experience it was a tactic Lezard favored.

Rufus opened his mouth to agree, but a piercing whistle sound drowned out his voice. Arngrim shouted something incomprehensible, looking in the direction of the sound. It was too dark to properly make out anything, but other whistling sounds were heard, the noise growing in pitch as something was lobbed over the wall. Large objects crashed into the camp of the Asgardians, taking out people and tents, destroying supply wagons.

One was hurtling straight at the tree Rufus sat against, Arngrim shouting out a command. "Move!" The warrior proved surprisingly agile as he leapt to the left, getting a face full of dirt as he avoided being hit. Rufus scrambled to the right, feeling the wind of the object's passage stir up his hair.

"What in Hel's name?!" Rufus demanded, turning to peer at the object. His eyes widened as he heard a low moan, seeing the round ball unfurl itself, revealing a stone giant that was three times as tall as any human.

"Damn it, they've catapulted over the wall!" Arngrim shouted, already having drawn his sword. Rufus quickly picked up his bow, notching an arrow on it's strings. All around him he could hear panicked screams, people hurrying to confront the stone giants, to get the wounded away before they ended up in a state of permanent death.

There was no time to asses the damages done, the fight was on them, and though they were caught unprepared, they quickly rallied.

While the fighting commenced, some of the giants barreled past einherjar, large stone fists batting aside the warriors like they were rag dolls, making for the wall. Tyr could be heard bellowing out commands, demanding soldiers take up position at the wall and stop the giants. There was one already at the wall, quiet except for a few grunts, as he labored to smash sections of the wall apart.

The einherjar on top of the wall were scrambling to get the tar barrels turned around, even as more giants began attacking the wall on both sides. Their fists shook the very foundation of the wall, causing a few warriors to go screaming off the top as they fell. Some landed right in the enemies' hands, getting stomped on and squished flat. Rufus was blind to all of this, keeping his eyes focused on the giant he and Arngrim stalked.

His senses were alert, Rufus watching as Arngrim ducked under a fist, popping up to slash his heavy blade across the unprotected side of the giant. He barely made a dent in the stone's flash, fiery sparks shooting up as though mocking him.

Even as Arngrim cursed a steady stream of swear words, Rufus was firing off his arrows, seeing most of them bounce off the stone hide. "Useless!" scowled Rufus, dancing back as the giant kicked out a foot towards him. "My arrows do nothing!"

"I'm not having much better luck with my sword!" Arngrim retorted, doing a barrel roll forward, right between the giant's spread legs.

"You must aim for the eyes!" A female voice shouted, rushing past Rufus' left. He glimpsed only the back of her, seeing short cropped blonde hair, and pale gray armor that fell to mid thigh, long brown boots of leather guarding her legs from attack. An arrow sheathe was strapped to her back, the woman rapidly drawing arrow after arrow, firing them off as she sought out her target.

"The eyes?" Rufus questioned, seeing an arrow scratch across the surface of the giant's face, just missing the eye.

"It's the only vulnerable part!" The blonde shouted, nearly getting her head smashed in by the giant.

"All right...If you say so..." muttered Rufus, aiming for the head. His arrows missed, causing him to scowl as he realized he would have to get in close. "Arngrim, take him down!"

"I'm trying!" Arngrim shouting, smashing his sword into the giant's back. The giant lurched forward, Arngrim pounding away, keeping him distracted. Trying to stay just out of reach of the creature's fists, Rufus and the female archer both attacked, raining down a torrent of arrows on the giant. Just as Rufus was down to his last three arrows, he got in a successful shot, the metal point sinking deep into the giant's eyeball.

Blood poured down the giant's face, and it howled in a pain induced rage, fists a blur as it tried to hit anyone who dared get close enough to it's hands. "Look out!" Arngrim shouted, and dove forward, arms going around the blonde's waist, slamming both of them into the ground. Rufus was left to fend for himself, landing backwards in the dirt.

"Thanks." Rufus said, shooting an annoyed look at Arngrim.

"Hey, ladies first." Arngrim shot back, pushing himself up off the blonde.

"Is it over?" She wanted to know, sitting up and peering over the beserker's shoulder.

"Looks like." Rufus said, as with one last scream, the giant crumbled to the ground. They shared a sigh of relief, cautiously getting to their feet, eyes on the giant. It wasn't moving, but before introductions could be made, another voice cried out.

"Millidia!"

They all turned to the sound of the voice, seeing another armor clad woman running towards them. From the distance she very much reminded Rufus of a Valkyrie, her long black hair covered by a metal helm. Only a glimpse of her thighs and upper arms could be seen, the rest was covered in a dusky gray armor.

"Friend of yours?" asked Rufus, seeing the blonde wave at the warrior woman.

"Richelle!" The archer said, giving a name to the newcomer.

"Millidia." The woman stopped before the trio, eyes scanning over their shoulders at the giant. "It's good to see you are still in one piece, partner. But next time don't run

off without me."

"I'm sorry." Millidia apologized. "I just saw them struggling and knew I could help.

"There is no time to be making excuses." RIchelle said. "Others could use our help as well. Come. Spread the word you three. Let all know where to attack the stone interlopers."

"Well, isn't she bossy." Arngrim's voice murmured in Rufus' ear. The half elf's lips twitched, fighting back a small smile. The warrior woman must have heard him, for she shot Arngrim a poisonous glare. But before she could muster up a proper retort, a rumble was heard from behind them.

"Don't tell me..." Rufus said, hesitating to turn around. "He's not dead."

"He's not dead." Arngrim said.

"Damn it all, I told you not to tell me that!" shouted Rufus, turning even as Richelle went running past them. The two archers were drawing their arrows, Arngrim following on the woman's heels when she did a move that surprised them all. With a wild scream, she forward flipped onto the hand of the giant. Before it could think to knock her off, she was running up it's arms, only stopping once she was level with it's head.

Feet planted firmly on his shoulder, Richelle screamed again, sword glowing with power. "Whirling Ripper!" She thrust her blade into the giant's remaining eye, face expressionless as she twisted and turned her sword, grinding it in deeper and deeper into the eye.

"What's she doing?" Rufus wanted to know.

"Digging for it's brain." Arngrim answered, and the two archer's shuddered in distaste.

The giant started to teeter totter about, and Richelle drew back her sword with a sickening squelch, blood and gray matter decorating her blade. Just before it crashed into the ground, the woman leapt off it's shoulder, landing on the grass.

"Come Millidia!" RIchelle ordered. "Others may need us!" She didn't even pause to clean off her blade, or make sure her companion was following. She was already off and running, charging towards another group of einherjar that were having difficulty dealing with their giant. Millidia gave a sheepish smile to the two men, and then was running off after her partner.

"She's got a good point." Arngrim said, hefting his blade up. "There's still plenty of giants to take care of." Rufus sighed, nodding as he hurried after Arngrim in a direction opposite the two women. He noticed that others had seen what they had done, their victory giving them the courage needed to fight onwards, word quickly spreading about how to defeat the stone giants.

-------------------------------------------

The water mirror shard deposited them near the main foyer of Valhalla, Alicia grateful to find the corridor bereft of any people. That didn't mean she relaxed her guard, Alicia keeping her hand near her sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Unfortunately her two companions weren't as vigilant, pausing to look about, voices murmuring their awe as they took in their first sight of Valhalla.

"I never imagined it would be so beautiful." Lydia said, spinning in place, eyes wide.

"Such wealth..." breathed out Dallas, eyes alight on the gold and silver that made up the walls and pillars. "It surpasses Dipan's."

"..." Alicia bit back a sigh, remembering how she too had been taken aback by the beauty that was Asgard. "It may be pleasing to the eyes, but remember. Beneath it's beautiful surface lies ugly truths."

"Right..." Lydia said, though her eyes still showed she was distracted by what she saw.

"You know...they say all the world's knowledge is contained in the library of Valhalla." Dallas said, eyes bright and gleaming at the thought.

"We are not here for sight seeing, or knowledge seeking." Alicia reminded him. "We came here for a reason. We're to find Rufus and Arngrim and get out."

"But..." Dallas began his protests, eyes almost pleading as he looked at Alicia. "Just one book. One book Alicia. Think of the knowledge contained in it, knowledge that could benefit Midgard!"

"Benefit or destroy it." Pointed out Alicia, shaking her head no. "It's best not to dabble in things you do not understand. Lest Dipan be repeated elsewhere in the world."

"Besides." Lydia placed a hand on Dallas' shoulder, the crestfallen mage turning to look at her. "The Gods jealously guard their treasures. It's best not to take anything of theirs, lest they come after you."

"You really think they would?" Dallas said, his face growing pale. "Even for a book?"

"If we were meant to know something, the Gods would grant us that knowledge." Lydia said, and Alicia couldn't resist making a scoffing sound.

"I think the Gods care little about granting us any favors or information." The princess said, striding forward with an impatient air about her. Lydia and Dallas exchanged looks, but hurried after her.

"Uh Alicia..." Lydia began, after several minutes passed by in silence. "Do you even know where you are going?"

"I thought we'd try the einherjar feasting hall." Alicia answered.

"That makes senses." Agreed Lydia.

"Yes, knowing those two's appetites, they're bound to be where the food is." Said Dallas. "That's if they haven't gotten themselves thrown into the dungeons!"

"Dallas!" hissed Lydia, but Alicia turned and offered a small smile to them.

"It's all right Lydia. They may very well be in the dungeon. That's preferable to the alternative."

"Alternative?" questioned Dallas. "Alternative to what?" But Alicia was already moving on ahead, her walk purposeful. She moved as though she had a right to be there, ready to give off the airs of an einherjar with important business to be done. If she was lucky, no one would question what her party was doing in the halls of Valhalla.

Lydia and Dallas followed behind her, doing a poor job of acting like anything but newcomers to the hall. Alicia sighed, and wished they weren't so easily dazzled by the sights Valhalla offered, knowing it made them stick out like sore thumbs. At least it kept her from thinking about what could be happening to Rufus and Arngrim, Alicia fearing what Lezard would do if he learned they were still alive and in his domain.

"Hey..." Dallas again, for once not looking at the splendor that was Valhalla. "Why is it so quiet here? And where are all the people? The Gods? The warrior spirits?"

"If there is a war going on, most likely they are consumed with fighting it." Lydia said. "Perhaps we should seek out the battlefield. Rufus and Arngrim may be found there."

"We will." Promised Alicia, turning a corner. "But after we thoroughly check out the hall." Her words ended in a cry of surprise, someone lurching into view at the exact moment they rounded the corner.

"Help me..." The man groaned, stumbling into Alicia, a flurry of divine energy surrounding him. The green and gold ether fluctuated weakly, the God having used up all of his strength to get here.

"Ah..." Alicia gasped, her arms going around the God, trying to hold him up. But his weight dragged them both down, her legs going out from under her so she slumped to the carpet. It was then that she felt it, thick and warm, soaking through her skirt and onto her legs. Blood. "You're bleeding!"

"Heal him Dallas!" urged Lydia, the mage nodding and bending to kneel next to the God. His hands began glowing a soft yellow color, trying to seal the wound shut.

"It's no use." Dallas announced. "I lack the power to do this. Perhaps a Goddess of Healing..."

"No time." Gasped the God, wheezing painfully. "Must tell someone what I know." He clutched at Alicia's shoulders, fingers weakly gripping her. "Please...you must hear me out."

"All right..." Alicia said, not attempting to escape the God's grip.

"Lenneth is in Jotunheim. In a prison past the mountains of ice. It is a cave in the middle of nowhere, but do not be deceived. Illusion hides what is really there." Another

wheezing sound, the God coughing. A hacking sound that brought up specks of blood on Alicia's shirt.

"Lenneth?" Alicia asked, confused.

"You must tell Lezard where she is." The God said. "Please...promise me."

"I...I can't..."

"You must!" His eyes were urgent, and he attempted to rise up in a panic. "You must tell him who is behind her kidnapping. He must know the real reason behind this war. He must know..." Another violent cough, and suddenly he was slumping in her arms, cold skin feeling even colder.

"Must know what?" Alicia asked, giving him a shake. His head lolled back, his eyes wide open, the sheen of death to them.

"It's too late Alicia." Dallas said with a sorrowful shake of his head. "He's gone now. Passed on to wherever Gods go when they die."

Alicia shivered, and with the help of Dallas began pushing the man off of her. His hands on her shoulder were still holding her, grip tightening in death. Lydia attempted to pry the fingers off one by one, the three working silently.

"We must tell someone." Alicia said.

"Yes." Lydia agreed. "It was his final wish. It must be honored."

"We can't just leave him here." Alicia said, gesturing to the body. "It's not right."

"But here he will have to remain." Dallas said sensibly. :"For now."

Alicia sighed, and with a hand from Lydia, rose to stand. "Fine...I guess we have no choice."

"Oh...there's always choices Alicia." A new voice was added to the hall, a smooth, seductive purr that the princess had never wanted to hear again. "It's just a matter of making the right ones."

With a gasp, Alicia was spinning around, eyes narrowing into a glare that could not hide the hint of fear to them. He stood before her, his expression one of increased familiarity, a polite smile such as he had worn when they were first introduced. He was even dressed similar, crushed velvet of the darkest gray, white ruffled shirt that tied around his neck in a cravat.

But the smile didn't match the look in his eyes, those purple jewels looking malevolent as he gazed at the princess and her companions. Swallowing back her fear, Alicia spoke, a simple saying of his name. "Lezard."