Olympnomachi Book 9: The Journey of Astrild & Zisa for the Well of Might

And now we return to the gods

 As these events rocked the realm of mortals, shaping and twisting the earth and making life very difficult for a great many, events in the lands of the immortals had likewise begun to spin free from control. Notably, the former Macaria, now named Astrild for her protection who had been wed to Meili, son of the Allfather took notice one day of the many disappearances of her husband. Never a particularly easily contented lady even at the best of times, she was to become greatly angered by his frequent departures and the emptiness of her marriage bed.

 Therefore as said, shortly after the marriage, Meili took once more to the road, this time deep into Jötunheimr, and being of a suspicious nature, Astrild gave chase. Saying with a huff to herself and to her dearest friend, “He is run whither, to a mistress, come Zisa I will unman and be rid, of this husband of mine!”

Shrugging, her foster-sister agreed and thus it was that without the permission of the Æsir they slipped, from Tyr’s hall out, onto the road to the demon realm. Not long on the road were they, before they were met by Heimdallr, who sat by the rainbow bridge, Bifröst. He warned them that, were they to ere away from Asgard that, they were destined possibly to never return. Zisa hesitated, for she in truth loved her home and was loath to leave it.

Her sister sneered at the guardian of the rainbow-bridge, saying to him, “Mind thy bridge, bridge-master lest it fall and leave the matters of the world, to those who shalt yet master it.”

Whereupon she departed, unaware of the truth behind his words, for his own part, Heimdallr bowed his head in sorrow. His, had always been a gentle nature, and he had no great desire to see the daughters of Tyr, come to a bitter end.

On the first day in Jötunheimr, the sisters were assailed by a band of marauding Frost-Giants, who espied them from a distance. While they had no great desire, for Astrild hideous as she was, even for those folks, they took an immediate longing to Zisa. Beauteous with copper-hair, and a full figure courtesy of her mother, she struck the Giant Thlerenon, as a wife befitting of his station, as duke of those lands they trod upon.

Upon his approach though, the ladies consulted between one another, neither trusting in the goodness of these men, who were so oft Thor’s prey. A smile on his lips, Thlerenon addressed them grandly, welcoming the two Ásynjor to the lands of the Giants.

To which he added the promise of a good place to rest, and eat should they require it. Mistrustful of him, Astrild declined at once.

“We must rid ourselves, of the ugly wench,” Thlerenon muttered to his followers, having no great need for the uglier of the two ladies. To which his followers, and retainers counselled he continue to try to trick them.

This was not to be, for Zisa had their measure, she however had a much more subtle spirit than, that of the daughter of Hades. Pretending to assent, she in the end proposed, a game of wits that should she lose, she will go hither with them, in turn they might give them directions.

Thlerenon acquiesced at once, with the Giant demanding of the women, “I can break, I can be clogged, I can be attacked, I can be given, I can be kept, I can be crushed, yet I can be whole at the same time. What am I?”

“A heart.”

“In that case I cannot eat, yet I consume the hearts of many, I have no purpose, yet I drive the will of vengeful men, I am no leader, though will lead you to hate, I have no relation to danger, yet we look very much the same. What am I?”

At this Zisa answered at once, “Anger.” It was now her turn, so that she asked of him, “Who is it that rises every morn’ to escort the sun in the east, on her westwards’ journey yet is not the sun.”

“Helios the Charioteer,” Thlerenon answered readily.

“Ah yes it appears so,” It was now that Zisa looked on him with a clever gleam in her eyes, for she had a second puzzle in mind, “And who was it first who captured the heart of Macaria, Hades’ daughter? And for that matter who holds it still?”
As Thlerenon could not answer, for he could not know what lay in the heart of another he failed to answer properly, even as her companion grew angry at her sly jest at her expense. Neither spoke between them though, for the game was well won, for it must be said that Thlerenon had been properly subdued in their view, yet not all was well for some time between the two women.

Enraged by their defeat, at the hands of Zisa in the riddle game, Thlerenon and his followers drew their weapons in a rage. They were however killed at the hands of Astrild, who fought so capably that even Zisa was frightened, by the violence with which she slew the demons.

While they had set out initially, to chase Meili, Astrild sought then to sack the home of the Giants, which she did slaying all those in the keep, before departing once again, on the road with her friend who had reluctantly joined with her, to sack Thlerenon’s keep.

Headed along the road once more, they were directed towards him, by an old guide, by the name of Guildrax, who carried them on his boat, across a river to Kenero’s lands. A great Giant, he was said to be a mighty warrior. “Thou must save the noble son, of Oðin Allfathir, lest he perish, before noontide.”

Infuriated, the goddess arms in hand, leapt onto the shore, and barrelled into the grand hall, of Kereno, to the alarm of the Giants, who had never before seen, a woman more violent-tempered than she; which given the nature of female Jotuns said a great deal of Astrild’s terrible temper. For at that time, she was ever full of wroth at all things, and might have preferred to violate or destroy all that lay before her that did not at once kneel before her.

This was ever the situation, when she visited the lands of Jötunheimr in those days, where the demonic Giants lived and were the bringers of doom and suffering unto mortal-men and immortal gods. The notion that Kereno might harm her husband, a man to whom she had given herself angered the goddess, for he was her husband and thus she would have no harm brought down upon his head. For though she was as ill-natured as a wild beast in those days, she was still Meili’s wife and could only be glad, when in his presence as is always the case of good wives and dutiful husbands.

“Where O boatman, may we find the son of Oðin Grey-Beard?” Astrild asked in a foul mood, and with a proud toss of her long-mane one that hardly served to please Guildrax who had eyes for her friend.

“Daughter, I shall transport you, but one at a time across yon river where you might find him.” He replied, and though he thought himself clever in this he did not know that they were not so blind as he thought.

His desire was not unknown to them, nor were they blind to the beauty that Zisa possessed. Whispering together they did not debate the issue long between themselves, but as the two discussed the matter between themselves they decided to acquiesce. Knowing it was a trap, they however demanded from him that he give them a few minutes to prepare behind some trees ere they made the crossing. Being but feeble, and fearful girls they could no more think to cross the sea without first preparing themselves in their own secret, female manner.

Sniggering, Guildrax naturally assented to their demands, with the two ladies returning dressed in thicker cloaks and with veils. It happened that the first maid he took into his ship, did so whilst grunting and growling not unlike a wolf so that he barely repressed his disgust. It had to be Astrild, he told himself, so that he grew ever more excited when next he returned to pick up the second maiden.

When he had almost reached the other side with his second guest, he suddenly threw down his oar and made to press her down and have his way with her. Feeling her shaking he could hardly contain his excitement, it was however only when he saw the blazing eyes that stared up at him it was then that he realized his error whereupon he soon bore deep within his throat her knife.

His body thrown aside into the river, mighty-limbed Astrild leapt over the distance that separated the boat from the shore and unto the sward.

Away they went, making their way thither into the nearby castle-keep that lay in ruins before them. It was there that they were to their surprise discover Meili alive, well and in the midst of a heated debate with his uncle. At first she reacted with the sort of joy that all women might feel when reunited with he whom they are promised to.

And while she might well have given herself over to a fey sort of joy, she did not for Meili would not acknowledge her. Caught up in debating the matter that lay ahead of them, he was to turn over the matter of the Well that lay ahead of them, over again and again with Vé. It was for this reason that he paid little heed to the arrival of the women beyond idle curiosity and disapproval of their decision to give chase.

The realm of demons was not the place for ladies of any sort, he told them even those as formidable as they. They really ought to turn back, and return home to await his and Vé’s return.

Though his was a good natured disapproval, Astrild took it but poorly and plunged forward past them whilst the three others debated endlessly among themselves.

The well that lay ahead was not that of Mimir, for that Well had become lost to most and was guarded now by gods loyal to the Allfather. This well though, had but a single jealous guardian, one whom as with the Wells of Life and Wisdom had little desire to share its mystical waters with anyone.

Kirror the guardian of the Well of Might, demanded just as Mimir might have, a price from all those who drank from it. The price for these waters was one that none save a special few were aware of, with the young gods unaware of it. Of the three great wells, the foulest, its waters were not simply magical waters, but ones of the purest poison especially to gods. It was thus that the madness of Macaria led her to folly. The price to these waters lay in surviving the drinking of them.

Choking upon the poison, it was then that Ares struck, spear in hand. Appearing from behind them, having tracked them across Jötunheimr, on the orders of his father, he struggled for some time with the other gods. Knocked into the well, it was Vé who pulled her free, frenzied the gods escaped from thence, as well as from Ares, with Meili carrying Astrild upon his back.

They fled to Miðgarðr, pursued by Ares, with the four turning themselves into a flock of humming birds, along with the poisoned goddess. To which Ares turned himself, into a vulture, to overcome him, this served only to anger the escaping gods. Zisa soon turned into a great-hawk and began pecking at the war-god who fought back in turn, only to grow excited when he saw through her false-raiment and desired her for his own. He might well have taken her, were it not for the interference of Vé, who shifted into a small dragon-cub and tore at the war-god’s wings with his fangs, seeking to sever the limb itself and the arm beneath it to the utter terror of the war-god.

It was thence the turn of the son of Zeus to fly from them, his terrible foe in hot pursuit of him, fury in his eyes and hatred in his heart. That is if it were not for the Drago-Father’s great-niece he might well have pursued the son of Hera as far as the gates of Olympos.

Once there it happened that Ares was to complain at great lengths to all who would listen to him. He claimed himself to be the wounded party, and that he had sought to liberate Macaria and Zisa from the likes of Vé and Meili, that what he had done he had done for his father, Zeus. He begged that the elder god help bring about justice against those who had wronged him.

Zeus longing for the young Macaria, rather than the lady Zisa as most did (he had little regard for the sort of beauty she possessed), and being crafty in mind, more so than any other Olympian he sent his herald Hermes to inform Hades of all that had passed. Keen as ever to corner his brother at the same time, he was to propose that Hades call forth Macaria, to have her disciplined. “If you will not take your daughter in hand and teach her to do her womanly duty, and allow my noble son to rescue her, as she should have I will have no other choice but to involve myself in the matter directly.”

Hades fearful for his daughter gave way at once to the daunting threats and complaints of his brother, fearful that he should in some way displease him and bring undue suffering unto his wife and daughter.