Free Loki: Why I Began the End by Maia Jacomus Page B

and you’re furious over the fate of your son Fenrir.”
         I nodded, gritting my teeth. “You are the wisest, Odin.”
         “I had to know that I could trust you around Balder, and that if he should come to harm, I would have just cause for defending your innocence.”
         “Why do you even think that anyone would want to do Balder harm?”
         An earth-shattering scream split the air, and every hair on my body stood on end. It didn’t stop, either; it came on in desperate waves, battering our ears with pure terror. But the truly terrifying thing, was that it was all coming from Balder—who was still asleep. His body convulsed as he screamed and shouted involuntarily, each belt of his voice making my spine more rigid with fear. But Odin was cool as water. He knelt down beside his restless son and carefully sat him up. Balder finally silenced as his eyes opened—usually bright and merry, they were sunken with dread and fatigue. Odin spoke a few words, drawing rune symbols with his finger into Balder’s palm until he calmed and fell asleep again.
         “Is he alright?” I asked in a dead whisper.
         Odin returned to his seat beside me. “Nightmares. Ever since he was a child, he has dreamed of his destruction. He can never see his dreams clearly—only shapes and muffled sounds. But they attack him with promises of death.”
         I was silent a moment, disbelieving. “ Balder ?”
         Odin merely nodded.
         “But… Balder ? His mind can’t even harbor such thoughts.”
         “The nightmares are messages from the Fates; I’m sure of it. So you must now understand my concern.” He prodded the spot where he had left one of the scars on my skin. “A reminder, brother. The fate I see for my son is far greater than any the Fates themselves may know. If you can help me to guarantee Balder’s safety…” He silenced for a moment and slapped my back. “…then I will do everything in my wisdom and power to see that your son Fenrir walks free among us once more.”
         It was one of the few suggestions that I was glad to consent to. “It’s a deal, brother.” I thought I understood then why he had been a party to chaining Fenrir. He suspected that my son could be a danger to Balder, for though the Golden Boy was gifted, his strength and ferocity was nothing to Fenrir’s. Of course, it seemed to me that Fenrir and Balder would get along fine, but it was common knowledge that sometimes Odin and his wife Frigg had perceptions into the future surpassed only by the Fates. I thought that maybe he had seen signs of a future event that would transpire—maybe by argument or accident, Fenrir would harm Balder; or he would appear to do so, and someone else would defend Balder by attacking Fenrir. Whatever the reason, at the time—for the first time—my son’s fate made sense, for Balder’s protection and for his own.
         Of course, now I know that Odin was really just saving his own hind end by chaining up my son. Idiot. Fenrir had no vendetta against him— until he was chained up. Odin sealed the fate he was trying to prevent. Of all people, Odin should know that fate can’t be avoided, not in any case.
         Not even in the case of Balder, as it turned out.

 
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT: THE UNIVERSAL VOW
    When we returned to Asgard the following day, through the flood of Aesir welcoming Balder home, the Shining Boy insisted on meeting Fenrir, much to everyone’s surprise. Odin had no qualms about it, so I led Balder to where my son was chained and bound. All the other Aesir followed, all eager to jump to the rescue, should my son attack their most precious and beloved god. Fenrir just laid with his head on his crossed paws with a surly glance up toward the gathered Aesir, probably feeling like a village clown.
         I knelt down and stroked the soft fur atop his head. “Son, I want to introduce you to Balder, son of Odin. He has been very