Erik and the Gods: Journey to Valhalla

(ebook)

PART ONE

ASGARD

CHAPTER 1 – ERIK, SON OF MAN

For a brief moment, the flash of light remained strangely clear in the night sky. Then it was gone, washed away by the rain that had begun to fall outside. It was unlike any lightning Erik had ever seen before.

He counted the seconds slowly: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and then, BOOM!

Seven kilometres away, he calculated. But still, the rumbling was so loud and clear that it sounded like the lightning could have struck somewhere close by.

He switched off the light in his room and walked over to the window. Raindrops fell heavily to the ground. Moments ago the wind had been whipping through the trees but now he only heard the gentle pitter-patter of rain. The ground was dry and thirsty and the drops slowly turned the dust black, like a map being coloured in.

A good old fashioned thunderstorm was on its way. One of those storms where you got completely drenched as soon as you stepped outside. Erik shivered. The air was already heavy with the smell of rain.

Another flash of lightning bolted towards the ground. One, two, three, four, five, six, he counted before he heard the rumbling. The lightning reminded him of the light sabres Luke Skywalker and the evil Darth Vader used in the Star Wars movies. Zzzoooom!

The rain was picking up. The ground could not absorb all the water and small puddles were beginning to form. Although the sky was threatening and dark, everything outside was well lit by the street lamps.

Erik wasn’t scared. He was thirteen now, almost fourteen, and he was not afraid of being home alone, not even during a thunderstorm.

Another bolt of lightning etched itself into the sky, and again, this one was different from the other flashes in the distance.

This one was straighter and somehow more targeted on its path towards the Earth.

One, two, three, four, five… and then the crack of thunder. It was far more violent than the crashes that followed the other bolts of lightning.

It was strangely fascinating to watch and listen to the powerful forces of nature. And also a little scary to think about how dangerous lightning could be, wherever it might strike.

Erik had once seen a big old oak tree that had been split down the middle by lightning. It stood in a field like a ghost tree, black and charred, in a sea of green.

Then another one, even bigger and brighter than the last. For a brief second, the clear blue and yellow flash lit up the room, casting long shadows across the floor.

Erik counted: one, two, three, four… and then a boom so mighty that it made his football trophies rattle in the glass cabinet on the wall.

He was getting worried; it looked like the strange, clear bolts of lightning were headed straight for him. Imagine the destruction if a bolt like that were to hit the house! He could be lying unconscious while the house burned down around him!

He walked over to the cabinet, pushed the trophies back a little and pulled out his football boots. They were brand new; he had only used them once, during a training session. But they were good boots and there were definitely a few goals in them.

A streak of yellow light bolted towards the ground. One, two, three… and then the thunder rumbled even louder than before.

Now he was really becoming alarmed. The unusual lightning was getting far too close. What was he supposed to do if something happened? Did the house have a lightning conductor? He didn’t know.

He knew it was very rare for lightning to strike a house, but it could happen. And if it did, he would have to call for help straight away. But wait, no, the telephone would probably be destroyed by the lightning too, and then what?

What did people do in the old days when something like this happened? He could understand why people were so afraid of lightning and thunder back then. There was no way of protecting yourself.

Nowadays there were always storm warnings on the telly but in the old days a storm like that could come like a bolt from the blue, just like this one had. He felt the fear slowly creeping up his spine, all the way up to the tiny hairs on the back of his neck. He was beginning to sweat.

Each flash of lightning was followed by a booming and rumbling outside, but that did not bother him. The scary part was the unusually large bolts of lightning that seemed to be getting closer and closer all the time.

And then another one. He could see it distinctly as it formed in the dark clouds above and then exploded towards the ground. One, two… and then a tremendous boom.

Erik covered his ears. The sounds were so loud that it was starting to hurt. Only two kilometres away. Maybe it had even hit that small house at the edge of the woods. Hans and Anne lived there, he remembered, even though he had only been to visit them once. They were a little odd, with their entire garden filled with plants they used for herbal medicine, and a few poisonous plants too. When they went around the garden, it sounded like they were talking to the plants. They also liked to play the guitar to each other, even though they were quite old. They called themselves naturopaths and they healed people with their hands. Erik and his friends called the place ‘the witch house.’

Erik looked towards their house. During the day, he could see the house from his window and now it was completely dark, with no signs of fire. The moon was hidden somewhere behind the dark clouds and maybe that was why Erik was able to make out some of the clouds as they raced across the sky. Everything was in motion up there, the clouds swirled together to form new shapes as if someone was playing with them, or blowing them, as if they were being shoved aside to prepare the way for something.

Erik’s thoughts were interrupted by a bright yellow flash of lightning that nearly blinded him. One… he managed to count before the windows began to rattle from the powerful thunderclap.

Erik took a deep breath. The storm was only one kilometre away now. That was too close for comfort. The large lightning bolts were headed directly for him! Something big and ominous was headed his way, something uncontrollable that would only leave death and destruction in its wake! There was something almost… godlike about a thunderstorm like this.

How did they used to imagine it in the old days? He didn’t remember much about the old sagas, just that they were very exciting. Wasn’t there something about some kind of god of war? He would ride a chariot across the sky during thunderstorms, and wasn’t it pulled by a team of black horses – or were they goats? In any case, this god had a huge hammer that could create thunder and lightning. The god’s name was Thor, and Thursday was named after him.

Erik looked up at the sky. Rain was lashing down from the leaden sky and some of the clouds up there could easily pass for a chariot like the one Thor was meant to ride. It had to be one angry god up there, he imagined, driving around flinging lightning bolts at the Earth, maybe even to punish those who didn’t believe in him.

The lightning struck again and Erik fell to the ground, dazed. It felt as if he had been knocked over by a powerful blow, and in the same instant he heard a thunderclap so loud it nearly burst his eardrums. Everything went black around him. Had he been blinded by the bright light, or had he been knocked unconscious for a moment?

He pushed himself up and looked around. The glass cupboard had come open but his football trophies were still inside. A vase had tipped over on the windowsill and the water was dripping on the floor. It was the only sound to be heard, otherwise it was deathly quiet.

He took another look around and strained his ears. Nothing. Nothing burning either. The house hadn’t caught on fire.

He got up carefully and went over to the window to see where the lightning had struck. The rain had suddenly stopped and it was now eerily quiet outside. It was an expectant quiet, more like the calm before a storm than after. He pressed his nose flat against the cold window and stared outside.

The sky was still black and threatening but at least he could see the moon shining brightly now. The blanket of clouds was breaking up. Steam rose from the dark and saturated ground and a blackbird began to sing. The thunderstorm was over. Erik smiled in relief, but then he froze! A pair of feet were poking out below the garden gate. Big, hairy feet filling a pair of huge sandals with straps winding around some rather large ankles. It could only be a man.

The gate opened wide and there was a glint of something shiny just beyond the gate. It was a long, golden sword hanging from a wide, leather belt that was fastened with a large, gleaming buckle. A pair of grey trousers with a tunic hanging over them. The upper body was covered in bright silvery chain mail. Standing there, completely still, was a giant of a man.

Erik hardly dared to raise his eyes, afraid of the gaze that would meet him. He could already feel the man’s eyes burning into him.

They were blue! He had long, red hair that matched his untamed beard. He wore a helmet with large horns sticking out of either side. In one hand he held a set of reins and in the other, a large hammer! On his hands he wore a pair of iron gloves.

Come on, son! the man boomed in a commanding voice and pointed at his cart, an old war chariot with two steaming goats standing in front of it.

CHAPTER 2 – JOURNEY TO ASGARD

Who are you? Erik asked.

Thor, the man answered.

Thor! Erik looked at him awkwardly, still in shock. Where are we going?

Home. Far from here, Thor answered. Don’t you have any other clothes than that? Those thin rags will be useless. Don’t you have any leathers?

Erik looked down at his clothes. I have a jacket and some thick trousers. Should I grab those?

Yes.

"Are we going on the roads in that?" Erik asked and pointed at the chariot. The goats stamped at the ground impatiently.

No. We are flying. Now go get changed so we can leave. I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.

Erik did as Thor instructed him, climbed out of the window and walked over to the chariot.

Hop in and hold on tight, Thor said, this chariot can really fly!

Just as Erik settled in at the bottom of the chariot, it started moving. The wheels screeched and sparks flew from the iron wheels as the chariot thundered off. The goats snorted heavily, buckled down and pulled with all their might. The chariot creaked and groaned before soaring off, faster and faster, racing towards the heavens.

Where are we going? Erik repeated.

Home, as I said before, Thor answered, peering ahead into the clouds.

Where is home?

Asgard, of course, Thor answered with irritation.

Where is that?

Hmm. There certainly is much you do not know, Thor answered and turned to Erik. The goats seemed to know their way back and Thor relaxed the reins. He sat down next to Erik, took off his iron gloves and scratched his beard pensively.

Hmm, he said again.

Erik peeked over the edge of the chariot and looked down, with the Earth now far below him. He could see the city lights and the street lights winding across the landscape like shiny strings of pearls.

You have much light, though it is artificial, Thor muttered to himself.

What’s it like in Asgard then? Erik asked as he turned to Thor.

Asgard is an entirely separate world, which… well, it lies in the middle of your world, and that is where the gods live. The Æsir, we are called. Thor shook his head in dismay. It was going to be difficult to explain everything. He sighed. Have you heard nothing of us?

Yes, of course, Erik reassured him. Well, a little anyway, and it was a long time ago. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention.

I see. Thor frowned. He scratched his beard, glanced at Erik, and tried again. I think I will have to start from the beginning. Are you paying attention now?

Yes, of course, Erik answered.

Hmm, very well then. In the beginning there was nothing. There was no Earth, in any case. To the north was Niflheim, an immense world, dark, cold and misty, and to the south was Muspelheim, a bright, hot and fiery region. Between these two worlds was an enormous divide called Ginnungagap. Try saying that.

Ginn-un-ga-gap, Erik repeated.

Do you hear the rhythm?

Erik nodded and repeated the word to himself.

Obviously something had to give, with all of that heat and cold. And indeed it did, Thor continued.

"In the cold and misty world, there was a spring, the source of many great rivers. The rivers that flowed from there covered the north of Ginnungagap with enormous masses of ice and a freezing mist. The flames and the sparks from the south melted some of the ice, and so between these two extreme worlds, it was as lovely as a warm summer’s day. The drops of water that accumulated there became alive and formed a massive giant, a Jotun. He was called Ymir.

The drops also produced an enormous cow named Audhumla. The cow provided Ymir with milk as nourishment, and the milk gave him incredible strength.

While Ymir slept, he began to sweat. The drops under his arms turned into two giants, a male and a female, while the sweat from his legs created a son.

He was a strange fellow, that Ymir, Thor muttered to himself, – but that is where the Jotuns come from."

Erik wasn’t following much of this but he didn’t interrupt.

Thor continued, "Well, while Ymir was lying under the cow, guzzling its milk, the cow was licking salt from a stone. That same evening, a man’s hair sprouted up from the stone. The following day a head emerged and on the third day an entire man appeared. Buri was his name, and he was a big handsome fellow. He married a beautiful female giant and they had three sons, Odin, Vili and Ve. They became the first Gods.

The three sons didn’t care for Ymir. They captured him and Odin chopped his head off. But his enormous body contained so much blood that it drowned every giant except for Bergelmir and his wife. They just managed to save themselves, and the Jotuns who now practically rule the world, originate from them."

Thor sighed and looked at Erik to see if he was still listening or if he had fallen asleep.

Erik did his best to appear interested. And then what happened? he asked.

To make a long story short, Thor continued, "the three Gods then threw Ymir into the middle of Ginnungagap and created the Earth out of his body. The seas, rivers, lakes and streams were formed from his blood. From his flesh, the earth and from his bones, the mountains and cliffs. His teeth and the shards of his bones became stones and sand. His hair became the forests, and they raised his skull above the Earth to form the heavens. Ymir’s brain became the clouds and sparks from Muspelheim were sent into the sky to shine as stars.

The sea, they stretched all the way around the Earth and on the furthest shore of that sea, the Gods made a home for the Jotuns. That place is called Jotunheim, a cold and inhospitable place that you will see for yourself one day.

Within the centre of the world, the Gods made a place for humans to live. But back then, in the beginning, there were no humans. But one day when Odin, Vili and Ve went for a long walk on the beach, arguing fiercely out of sheer boredom, they stumbled upon two tree trunks that had washed ashore. They set to work at once and began whittling away at the wood like children who had just been given their first knives.

Without knowing what they were doing, they formed two humans out of the trunks and in order to flaunt their abilities, they each tried to outdo one another using their runic magic. Odin gave them life so that they could breathe, Vili gave them intelligence so that they could think and move, while Ve gave them all of their senses and a voice so that they could speak with each other and see and hear.

It turned out that the three Gods were equally skilled, and this improved their spirits. They clothed the humans, named the woman Embla and the man Ask, and placed them in Midgard where they would live. Midgard is your world, Thor said, pointing down over the edge of the chariot. All of the people who live there today originate from these ancient people."

Is that what you really believe? Erik asked.

Of course I do. That is how it happened. Perhaps that is not how it has been explained to you?

Erik shook his head. That’s not what I was taught. I learnt that people come from apes.

From animals, Thor exclaimed and shook his head.

I saw it in a movie too, Erik said in an effort to defend himself.

"What is a movie?’

It’s, umm, a moving picture.

A moving picture?

Well, a movie is, made with a camera and then it’s edited so you can watch it on the telly or at the cinema.

Thor looked confused. These things, I do not understand them, but then it has been many years since I last travelled to Earth, he said thoughtfully. Then he cleared his throat, got up and shouted some unintelligible words to the goats who slowed to a steady pace.

Erik turned around and peered over the edge of the chariot. They were headed towards a great rainbow that looked to be some kind of bridge. The intense colours dazzled him and it was some time before his eyes adjusted.

Thor seemed to be in need of an outlet for something, because he started swinging his hammer, sending clear, golden beams of lightning whistling off into the distance. Thunderclaps boomed, drowning out the snorting of the goats and the rumbling of the chariot, and Erik was forced to cover his ears.

Down below on Earth, many people looked up at the night sky. Some thought they had seen a new comet, like the one Halley discovered, with a long, glowing tail trailing behind it. Others believed they had seen a satellite burning up, and of course there were a few who were sure they had seen a UFO.

Erik looked at the large man standing beside him. He could easily pass for a madman from another world. What have I gotten myself into now, he thought.

CHAPTER 3 – BIFROST

There is something rotten in the state of Asgard, Thor said a little later. They were both sitting down now, leaning against the side of the chariot, and Thor had calmed down a little.

There is probably something just as rotten down on Earth, Erik thought to himself. Oh, he murmured.

Soon everything will be as rotten as Ymir’s flesh.

He was that big, milk drinking giant who had children coming out of his arms and legs? Erik laughed.

Thor didn’t laugh. Yes, him, exactly, he said. "When we were finished building Asgard and settled into each of our estates, we realised that we had left Ymir’s flesh lying on the ground, thinking that it would turn into soil. But we saw that his flesh had become a writhing mass of maggots and worms. It was foul and it stank of decay.

But then we came up with a way to deal with all of the maggots. We gave them shape so that they looked like people and we gave them brains so that they could think for themselves, but they didn’t grow very big. They are the dwarves who now live underground and in the caves and cliffs, and we have occasionally benefitted from their craftsmanship. They made this, for example, Thor said and patted his great hammer. But now the entire system is in chaos. And Old One-Eyed is to blame. That doddering old fool."

Who? Erik asked.

Odin.

But isn’t he the father of the gods?

"So it is said to be, and so it has been for a long time, but unfortunately he does not act like it any more. He was once so wise that there was nobody in the entire world who was a match for him. He could see the entire world from his throne. He could write poetry and sing beautiful songs, and with his two great wolves and his two ravens, his enemies could not lay a hand on him.

But now there is only gibberish and drunkenness. Just wait and see! Yelling and screaming, brawling and fisticuffs, on and on. Decay and rot, that is Valhalla now, and most of Asgard too."

Erik was curious to know why Odin was behaving like that, but he didn’t ask. Thor was frowning again and he’d stood up in the chariot. He had put on his gloves again, and his face was grey and determined. His wrinkles were so deep that his eyebrows almost covered his eyes.

He was quiet for a long time. Listen! he said suddenly and cupped his hand to his ear.

Erik stood up and listened, and he could hear long, grating tones that sounded like an alarm of some sort.

That is Heimdal, Thor exclaimed. It can only be him – something horrible must have happened.

Who’s Heimdal? Erik asked.

He was once one of the greatest Gods but now he guards Bifrost, The Rainbow Bridge, which leads straight into Asgard. He lives in a great fortress, a place we call Himinbjorg, or Heaven’s Mountain. He lives there all alone with his horse, Gulltopp, a beautiful golden horse. Heimdal has nine mothers.

Nine? Erik exclaimed.

Yes. You cannot expect things in Asgard to be exactly like in your world. And the nine women were his sisters too! Don’t ask me how they gave birth to him, but they did.

Thor ignored Erik’s scepticism and continued:

Heimdal is incredibly bright, practically gleaming, making him perfectly suited for his current task. Most of the giants and dwarves from Jotunheim and the Underworld hate light, and so Heimdal stands guard to ensure that no uninvited guests enter Asgard. His eyesight is so keen that he can see every hair on a man’s head from several bowshots away. At night he can see just as well as if it were day. And his hearing is so good that he can hear wool growing on sheep. He almost never rests and when he finally does, he sleeps like a bird so that no one, I tell you, no one can slip past him unseen!

Impossible! Erik thought.

As soon as Heimdal sees a giant headed for Asgard, he immediately blows his great horn. It might be a sign that the end is near, Ragnarok, as we call it. That way all of the Gods and Einherjar are warned.

Einherjar?

Former Vikings who now live in Valhalla, Thor snapped. Heimdal is a great and good man, someone you can always depend on, as I’m sure you will discover, Thor continued. But something must be wrong, something must be horribly wrong, since he keeps blowing his horn. Thor looked very worried.

As they grew closer, Erik could see a great fortress at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge, built of heavy wooden beams. That had to be Heimdal’s castle, Erik thought. Outside stood a tall old man, who was glowing brightly with his long, white hair blowing in the wind. He had one arm wrapped around a beautiful woman and with his other arm, he held a large horn that curved around his neck and pointed high in the air, like a rattlesnake ready to strike.

Heimdal removed the horn from his lips as they approached and shouted:

Who goes there? I, Guardian of Asgard, command you to stop. Hic!

The goats took no notice of him. Clearly they only took orders from Thor, as they continued at full flight.

Heimdal quickly let go of the girl, threw down the horn and grabbed the goats’ harness. The chariot stopped so suddenly that both Erik and Thor were hurled through the air right over the chariot and the goats, landing in a heap in the middle of the Rainbow Bridge. Heimdal doubled up in laughter. His gold teeth glittered in the sun.

It’s me, you idiot! Thor roared furiously as he got up and brushed off his clothes. His helmet was still rolling away and Thor ran to grab it. Then he tightened his belt of power, doubling his strength, grabbed the shaft of his hammer so that his iron gloves turned red-hot and turned around looking fearsome.

Easy now, easy now, Heimdal laughed so hard that tears were pouring down his face. His breath stank of sweet ale.

What do you think you’re doing? Thor spluttered with rage, practically frothing at the mouth. He clearly hated being made to look a fool.

I’m just playing a little tune for my little sweetheart here, Heimdal said and gave her a squeeze. I heard that Utgard-Loki is coming soon, along with all the other giants in Jotunheim.

Has anyone made it past you since I have been gone? Thor asked. Is that why you are blowing the horn?

Oh yeah, lots of them. One after the other, Heimdal sniggered. One of them even left this little sweetie pie behind, tee-hee. Heimdal poked the girl in the stomach and she giggled and slung her arms around his neck.

Thor gave the girl an angry look, but as he didn’t want to fall out with Heimdal, the hammer remained in his hand. Aren’t you getting too old for that? he growled.

Oh no, Heimdal answered and gave a little toot on his horn.

Stop that, Heimdal! Pull yourself together, otherwise it’s going to end in disaster for all of us. This is serious! You know very well that you should only blow that horn when there are giants on the way!

But that’s why I’m blowing the horn, don’t you understand? Hic. There are giants everywhere. Just look at them swarming in the mountains behind us, some of them have probably made it all the way to the walls of Asgard. Hic.

Then where are the Gods? Why haven’t they answered your call and sent the Jotuns packing? Why haven’t they come when you blew the horn?

They’re probably lying drunk at the bottom of Suttung’s barrel of mead in Valhalla. I think they took advantage of the fact that you were away and decided to wet their whistle. But in any case, they are probably so old now that they’re not much good at hunting giants.

To Hell with them, Thor mumbled, his eyes flashing. Get back inside your castle and do your job. And stop blowing the horn when there is no danger!

What do you say, honey, why don’t we go inside and get a little more comfortable? Heimdal sniggered. The gate slammed shut behind them and everything was quiet again.

A large Jotun cautiously poked its head above the crest of a nearby hill. But when it caught sight of Thor, it vanished. Erik saw a strange shadow dart off but Thor didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he grabbed the reins, climbed into the chariot and signalled for the goats to move on.

Now do you see what I mean? Thor said shortly after. His face was grey and looked like thunder. Now even Heimdal has turned into a babbling old wreck, just like the rest of them. Deep down, I was afraid that might happen. As soon as I am gone, they go off the rails. But I had hoped that Heimdal of all people would have behaved himself. Now you can see how awful things really are in Asgard.

Erik was slowly getting an idea of what Thor meant, but he still wasn’t prepared for the events to come. The only thing he had seen so far was Heimdal being the worse for drink, as drunk as his own father had once been when he had come home from a Christmas party.

I can read those lines on your forehead, Thor said, misinterpreting Erik’s thoughts. Things are always a little complicated up here but lately everything has been topsyturvy. That’s why I have brought you here. I believe you are the only one who can save us from Ragnarok. I too am worried, and I believe we are going to have to act quickly!

Now Erik was really worried.

CHAPTER 4 – SUTTUNG’S MEAD

They continued across the Rainbow Bridge and every colour of the rainbow shone intensely.

Help me keep an eye out for Jotuns, Thor said, standing upright at the front of the chariot. His long red hair and beard were blowing in the wind, and he looked like a true god of war, Erik thought, huge and formidable.

Can you really handle all of the giants with your hammer?

No, unfortunately not, Thor answered. Some can only be dealt with through cunning, as they are often just as clever as the Gods. Utgard-Loki is one such Jotun, a rather unpleasant creature. You will probably hear a lot more about him. The cleverest giant is called Mimir, and no one can match him in wisdom. Odin, for example, had to sacrifice his eye just to get some of his knowledge.

What do Jotuns look like?

They come in many shapes and sizes, Thor answered, "but most of them are incredibly ugly and stupid, the males in particular. Some of them are enormous, as big as a mountain. I once slept inside the glove of a Jotun that size. It was Utgard-Loki’s glove, in fact, but at the time I thought it was a house or a large cave.

Some are small, almost like gnomes or dwarves. When you are travelling in Jotunheim, you never know what kind of creatures you will encounter. Many Jotuns can transform into fish or birds. There is a big Jotun we call Hræsvelg, the corpse swallower, who looks like a giant eagle. He is so big that when he flaps his wings it causes the wind to blow. He is an odd fellow and for the most part he remains unseen. But he is so strong that he can set the seas in motion, and with one swoosh of his wing he can make a