A Continuing Myth

*NOTE: Sorry Ms. Jess, but here's to another story! I just couldn't put myself up to think of a new topic, so here's just a simple extended Norse myth that was supposed to be a sort of 'sequel' to a previous, more interesting, story. So again, sorry if it sucks, but I wrote it a few years back as well, and when I tried editing it, I found it nearly impossible to make the plot line and grammar better!!!*

Up north where the wind blows and fades, where the snow whirls in the morning breeze, there sat on top of mountains a garden filled with luscious fruits. The garden, which was situated above the great waterfall of the gods, was tended by two unlikely spiritual warriors. Punished for murdering the giant Ymir and for their treachery against their brother, Odin, Vili and Ve were charged with the protection of the isolated paradise with their lives as the fruits yielded within would wield immortality for the greater gods. If ever used for bitter evilness, the consequences would be severe and just.

Time continued on, passing centuries upon centuries, the brothers left in peace to serve their time as was decided, and waiting for when their freedom would once again become a reality. In the middle of snow-covered trees and frozen lakes, one winter evening, the goddess Idun appeared out of a sudden fog to keep watch over the mischievous young gods. She was careful not to disturb the unusual silence that surrounded the atmosphere, gently glancing at the skies and hovering above the snowed grounds of the garden. Her face was shining and alive with song, her complexion glowing, her eyes deep in years and immortality. The goddess was mistress of the garden; her subjects worshipped her as the goddess of youthfulness and life, her golden figure giving light and vigour.

Idun then called Vili and Ve’s names not once but twice, yet none answered her voice. She sensed that they were again jesting with her to test her patience, knowing full well that she was simply there to ensure that the twins were not attempting any mischief which would destroy their beloved paradise. She smiled softly and went in search for them, her breath visible in the cold weather, floating in swirls as the wind would take them. She felt the soft gust of snow beneath her feet and the wind whistling through the opening gaps of the trees, but she did not yet caught sign of the two gods.

Idun was about to give up the search, preparing to leave to report to Odin that the brothers were not serving their due, when a sudden scream penetrated through the air. After a few moments, the scream was followed by what seemed like a shrill bird’s cry that shattered the glass of stillness that existed in the area. Idun ran to the direction of the shrill shriek, in fear that the two gods have done something they would regret. She stumbled across loose vines and leaves that scattered itself on the ground but she kept going still.

Very soon after, she came upon a white open field that was covered in snow. She would have admired its beauty and light that was reflected by the sun, but she saw a colour that sent chills down her spine. Blood spattered the ground; muddy tracks were flung in every direction and it dawned to the now-pale goddess, in growing horror, that a heavy and long struggle had taken place not too long ago. She scrambled up the hills to where the blood had been poured but yet she still saw either Vili or Ve.

Screams and shouts were again heard incessantly and were making such a commotion that in no time, other gods and goddesses of the earth came forth to find out what the garden was in such a chaos for. When they arrived at the plains and open fields, they saw Idun's vague figure swaying back and forth in weariness from afar, her lone shadow covered the fields. As she swooned and fell unconscious into the snow, they all rushed to her side.

When Odin, the brother whom Vili and Ve had betrayed, scanned the fields, stained in red colour, he ordered his best men to search the garden to find the two tenders that were missing. With no new news that appeared then later, Odin traveled by himself to edge of the garden where a fountain was located so that he may ponder at what they could do next in an attempt to find his missing brothers.

The fountain was spewing clear fresh water that created peaceful rhythms of sounds that echoed the lonely forest of trees. Odin sat underneath a mighty oak tree to gaze at the water and a mysterious raven that perched itself on a gate across from him. The raven was elegant and yet sly and cunning. He percieved this knowledge through the way it moved its head from side to side, cautiously guiding its eyes toward him. Odin shifted uncomfortably underneath the tree and contemplated at what the thing truly concealed in its dark mind. Time ticked away, Odin slowly surrendering to the soft ryhtmic swish of the leaves above him, and the raven was soon forgotten as his eyelids began to droop steeply. He leaned his head against the tree and soon fell into deep slumber.

The raven, now realizing that its time had come, swooped down fiercely, its beak pointing toward the god’s heart, fully intending for it to pierce through the god's soul. However, it had forgotten that Odin was wise and strong. It also had failed to recall that the spear the god had taken with him was still in his hands. Odin, already perceiving what would take place, jumped up from the ground, and with a flick of his wrist, the spear flew from his fingers, whistling defeaningly through the air.

The spear now lodged into the left wing of the raven and the thing was quickly pinned into a nearby wall by the force of the impact. It struggled to get free, but it was too late. Odin, in his fury, with his bare hands, snatched the head of the bird and pulled on it with such strength that it soon broke away from its body! Odin was about to tear the other pieces of the creature off when he saw instead of red blood, he saw another head that indeed belonged to a giantess! The raven cloak that draped from her shoulders slid down to reveal her true self.

Odin staggered, surpised by who he viewed now before him, though as the moment passed he resumed his fury, directed toward the one whose presence was scorned and condemned since Idun's devastating kidnapping attempt.

“To what right have you to be here!” Odin demanded of her.

“I have every right! I once had the power, I once had a father, but you took all that away! Give me my leave and I will never disturb your wretched peace again!” She replied back with vehemence.

“What have you done to my brothers?” Odin pushed his hands against her neck and continued to squeeze it until it was all she could do but choke.

“Why should you care?” She felt even more pressure that surrounded her neck, her face growing red from suffocation.

“Where are they? Tell me now or you would regret that you have not!”

“I would rather abandon my life than my revenge and my pride!”

“I can hardly believe you!” Odin continued to squeeze her throat mercilessly, but by then the giantess had her fill of torture.

“I’ll tell! I’ll tell, just leave me be!” She felt beads of tears that stung her eyes from the pain inflicted upon her.

Odin released her neck but kept a steady gaze on her face. Her eyes were red from her tears and her grotesque face turned a lighter shade of purple as she gasped for breath. She carefully told him of where she had placed his brothers once she regained her composure.

“Go and retrieve the dead! I have failed to carry out the avenging of my father’s death, but I can still see that I have caused you pain. To that I salute myself and to that I mock and pity you!” She let out an odious laugh that resonated through the mountains and Odin backed away in disgust. The other gods have gathered near after what they have heard from afar, and Odin told them of where they could go and retrieve his brothers.

“Skadi, you will pay for your insolence and bitter rivalry to the great gods of the earth!” Odin scowled at her when the other gods left.

“You killed my father Thiazi and you took away Idun back to this despicable garden! I have already endured much damage and my life is now hardly worth the living, and still you wish to punish me?”

“You have offended and murdered in bloody abhorrence, my brothers and fellow gods. For what you have done selfishly, cruelly, and brutally, you will pay seven times fold! “

When the other gods returned, they wrapped Vili and Ve’s bodies in white linen cloth. Odin then officially, with his power and authority, banished Skadi to the Land of the Undead because she had murdered two gods of the earth, and was imprudent enough to try to steal the fruits that gave the gods life. She also made a murder attempt on the highest god of all realms and so Odin overshadowed her with a curse that would haunt her children for years to come. Her children and generations would all die early or succumb to long and painful deaths at her expense. Skadi was condemned by the greater gods to never rest or die in peace until she repay for her deeds that affected many others in this world.

As for Vili and Ve, they were buried in the garden in which they have worked, guarded, and slept in. Their bodies now lie in the corner of the fountain beneath the mighty oak tree in a pit in which Skadi had flung them into. In time, another tree grew on their graves and since then, the white and pure tree symbolized sacrifice and repentance for mortals and gods alike in honour of Vili and Ve and their fight for their loyalty.

*...Told u it was bad :)*