Chapter 3

  The Fate of the Children

  Odin and the other gods return to Asgard from their mission, with two out of the three Loki's Children. By the time they left Jotunheim, Jormungandr had grown so large and heavy that even Sleipnir couldn't resist his weight! As a result Odin released the snake free into the great sea of Midgard, half way along their journey from Jotunheim back to Asgard.

  Mimir worried more than usual, an odd thing for such a wise man. He worried that in this timeline they are right now, two giant-snakes exist and they are the same person! One claimed to be from the future and the other that was meant to be born naturally. He asked Odin permission to visit the snake from the future. Odin ordered Mimir only to get the snake to reveal to him what is yet to come, so he would be prepared for everything, even from Ragnarok. Mimir set off to find the ‘oldest’ Jormungandr. A mission assigned from Odin

  *

  While Mimir was gone, Odin had the mission and the duty, to decide what to become of Loki’s children. The All-father ordered Hel and Fenris-Wolf to step forward, as he was sitting on his throne and all the other gods were besides him.

  “First of all, before I reveal my plans and thoughts for these two children, I want to hear if you have any proposition!” said the All-Father to the other gods.

  “I think we should imprison them” said Balder, “We do not know if they are as mischievous as their father, Loki”

  Freya answered with an aggressive tone to Balder, “Judging someone from their relatives is wrong Balder! They are just children taken from their home. Not to mention that if they grow to be as smart as their father, they might be of great assistance for us. Loki surely got us into many problems but he also found solutions in many others!”

  Loki at the moment was silent, he didn’t want to express his thoughts and opinion about his children since he wouldn’t be objective, but he gave a quick look of gratitude at Freya.

  Then Thor stood up, breathed heavily and revealed his position in this matter.

  “I personally have no interest in their fate! The only thing I want is to kill the beast that escaped and had the audacity to look me in the eyes like we are equals! Father, can you allow me this request?”

  Odin saw that no one had any interesting enough suggestion for the matter at hand and since he could never disallow Thor from killing a Giant, he stood up from his throne and revealed his final decision.

  “Thor, you have my permission to hunt down that snake, but not today, first Mimir shall return from a mission I gave him. When he returns, you may leave...”

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  Thor took the approval of Odin for the mission, but he wasn’t satisfied, because he wanted to leave as soon as possible. He wanted to slay the beast that dared to look him directly in his eyes provokingly.

  Odin continued his speech

  “Now, for the rest of the children, this girl here is Hel '', he pointed his finger towards the daughter of Loki and everyone gave a good look at her. Some felt disgust from her appearance, some felt curious and Freya felt pity. Hel was half dead and half alive, after all. Odin continued

  “She claims that she can see the very presence of the dead! She is admired by the dead because she is the only being in this world that stands on the edge between life and death. While the living, look at her with revulsion, the dead talk to her with respect. I, Odin, the All-father will crown Hel, daughter of Loki, the Ruler of the realm of the Dead. The realm from now on will be called Helheim, the ninth of the nine worlds!”

  Hel, then smiled, for the first time after she was taken from her mother. The gods seemed surprised from Odin’s decision, but they understood the logic behind Odin’s thoughts. A living dead is the best possible Ruler for the dead. Only Loki saw behind Odin’s “kind” words, he understood the cruelty hiding in them… He was about to manipulate his daughter into being his puppet to control the dead. Loki hated Odin ever since that…

  Odin was going to continue his plans following the other child, but Tyr stepped forward and interrupted him.

  “Excuse me for my rudeness to interrupt your speech oh great All-Father, but I want to express my thoughts about the possible future of Fenris-Wolf!”

  Odin didn’t seem to mind his interruption, so he allowed Tyr to speak…

  “This wolf giant is indeed very terrifying. Even though he is still a cub he grew, in a small period of time, while we were traveling from Jotunheim to Asgard, thrice his size and now he is as big as we are. He has undescribed strength potential, but I do not believe he will grow as a threat of the gods, rather he will be of a great asset if raised properly.”

  Odin was satisfied from Tyr’s sayings

  “Tyr, you speak wisely but who is to take that responsibility and the mission to raise this beast?”

  Then the gods muttered to each other for some seconds. No one dared to even get close to Fenris-Wolf, he was terrifying even for the bravest of gods, except Tyr. He seemed very fond of the wolf-giant, he was the only one who fed him until now and the only one who played with him. Tyr raised his voice once again.

  “Me!”

  Everyone stopped talking and turned their attention to him.

  “I, Tyr, the God of War, will take the responsibility to raise Fenris-Wolf”

  “Why you?” asked Odin, even though he already knew what Tyr’s answer would be. But he asked him so the other gods have no questions, objections and inner thoughts about this matter.

  “As the god of war, I am the most capable of teaching Fenris the art of war, to fight only to defend himself as well as to negotiate and even to prevent wars and conflict. Not to use his strength for himself rather for the common good! I am the only one who can take on this mission” Tyr responded confidently.

  “So be it,” said Odin, “with that, our meeting is over.”

  That was the fate decided for the children of Loki, by the gods of Asgard. Hel traveled to Helheim as its ruler and Fenris-Wolf who was nicknamed from Tyr as Fenrir in short, followed Tyr to his great Hall. Tyr was filled with joy to start training Fenrir as soon as possible. Those things happen in Asgard, while Mimir was traveling to Midgard for his own mission.