Loki Passage 20

2.

“Odin, is it true?” Thor barged into the Hall without alerting the Lord. Odin himself was pre-occupied with his own preparation. He was wearing the intricate coat of mail which was covered with the metal scales intertwined across his shoulders down to his navel. The shoulders were padded with the leather covered greaves to the elbows. On his lower body were additional greaves that includes the thigh. His dark boots were of the thick leather that was cured over time to make it softer to shape. 

“Thor, you are welcome to the Hall. You will ride to meet Jörmungandr in combat.” Odin gave his command. “Freyr will fight with Surtr. If only Balder was here.”

Odin regretted the death of his other son whose power was invulnerability. It was then another warrior charged into the Hall and brought in grave news.

“Garmr had been seen.” Garmr was the guardian of Hel and was said to be seen in the realm during Ragnarok. “Tyr had confronted it at Gnipahellir. He had fought bravely but without his good hand he was only the guardian equal. He had perished in the fight but so was the guardian.”

Thor in his anger threw Mjolnir at the roof. His hammer broke through and soared to the sky breaking cover pass the clouds before it sailed back to Thor’ hand.

“There is not time for mourning now. We need to be vigilant.” Odin took command of the assembled. “Thor, there is one other task you must do. You must stop the Naglfar from sailing.”

Naglfar was a boat made entirely from the untrimmed fingernails and toenails of the dead. It was said that at Ragnorak, the vessel will break its secured berth at Jotunheim when its Captain board the ship. It will set sail from there to ferry the legions of Jotnar toward the battlefield of Vigrior to confront the Gods in the final battle. Thor rode hard to Jotunheim but he was late. He missed the ship leaving the port but he met one other who was there.

“You are late, Thor.” Loki appeared there. He had changed into a rainbow shades costume. “How do you like my new uniform? I had it made for the event.”

“Loki, you are here. I will need…” Thor extended his hand but Loki laughed it off.

“Thor, its Ragnorak. Your death had been foretold.” Loki jumped aside when Thor threw the hammer at him. “I am just speaking the truth.”

Loki picked himself up and laughed again. He rolled away when Mjolnir came back on the rebound before it soared again. It was then Loki stood up to face the weapon.

“Thor, you wield a fearsome weapon but would you kill an unarmed warrior.” Loki’ words ran out in Thor’s ears while his faithful hammer reroute towards Loki. “I am your half brother.”

With those words, Thor held out his arm to call back the hammer when it was to hit Loki. Mjornir did a sharp turn and returned to its master’ hand. Loki took a deep breathe on it.

“Thank you ….brother.” Loki smiled and then revealed himself as an image projected by him from a distance away. Thor was enraged that he was deceived but by then Loki was far on a boat towards Nalgfar.  Loki was received on board the ship by its Captain Hyrm.

“My Lord, we are ready to sail on your command.” Captain Hyrm told the boarded  party. “She is a fine ship with her trimming ready for the sail.”

Loki looked to the raging sea caused by his other child, Jörmungandr. The serpent had been freed of its bonding to Misgard, then raged its way in the open seas. It brought up huge tidal waves that lashed the coastal lands, and created large whirlpools to trap the seafaring ships.

“Jörmungandr, its your father here.” Loki called out towards the sea. “You must create a calm path for my ship to bring forth the undead warriors of Hel. Fare thee well in the other seas, but keep the ones I will sail to a clear sky for me.”

Jörmungandr heeded its father words and raged outside the path of the ship’ route.