"Is that it?" Baldur finally asked.
"No fighting?" Vidarr moaned.
"Man, I got all dressed up and have nowhere to go," said Hermödr. "This armor isn't easy to put on."
"Perhaps the new fire giant king will allow us to spar with some of his men, so it isn't a total waste," said Hödr.
Elle chuckled and broke her kiss with Thor.
The group looked at Thadren.
"Of course," said Thadren. "Anything we can do to heal relations with the Asgardians."
Elle smiled. She made the right decision with Thadren.
"Can we kill them?" Fenrir growled.
"No!" everyone said together.
"You lot have gone soft." Fenrir stalked to the door and raced out.
Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr bleated at Elle and pressed their heads into her.
She chuckled and scratched their noses. "All right. Who are my great big protectors? Did you save me? Yes, you did. Yes, you did.”
“They saved you?” Thor questioned.
She turned and winked at him. “You all saved me.”
Thor looked at the goats, then at her. “You know they are going to be unbearable to live with now, thinking they are the heroes.”
She smiled and kissed him. “I’m pretty sure all three of you will."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Soaring across the cosmos, Thor held onto the chariot with one arm and wrapped his other around Elle, who clung to him so tight he could barely breathe. A joy unlike anything he'd ever known surged within him. Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr streaked through the heavens like twin comets, their coats glimmering under the nebula's glow.
The rush of cold wind whistled in his ears as they descended beneath the old constellations. Clusters of distant planets blurred past them. The brisk atmosphere carried a sharp scent reminiscent of clean frost mingling with electric ozone. As they sped toward Helheim’s ethereal gateway shimmering on the horizon, Thor couldn’t believe the turn his life had taken in a short span of a week.
They headed for the portal, and before they entered, Val flew by, followed by Loki.
"Really?" Thor called. "You couldn't wait your turn."
Val looked back. "This is my turn."
Elle snickered, and they dove through the portal.
"That one is a pistol," said Thor.
Elle smiled. "You have no idea."
"I'm glad she is. Loki deserves a woman he can't handle after everything he's done."
"Yes," Elle replied. "But does Val deserve him after everything she's been through?"
Thor thought for a moment and wondered if Val had suffered the same abuse Elle had. As a prisoner of Surtr's, he assumed she had, but somehow he doubted she would take a beating from anyone without putting up a fight. Even at the cost of her life.
The chariot popped through the portal, and the Helborn guard on duty dove to the ground as they rushed by. He jumped back to his feet despite wearing full armor and swore at Thor.
