A loud shriek was heard through out the halls of the grand palace, waking Haldora, who had not for a long time heard anything which troubled her. She jumped from her bed and walked through the halls following the loud shriek. She seemed to be the only on to do so. No other person seemed to be able to hear the sound. She came to a new chamber; she had not been in before. It was a high ceiling chamber, with a strange grey light, though no windows or any source of light were seen. This light hurt Haldora’s eyes and she had to cover them with her hand, in order to see. She walked in and looked around, the chamber was empty, a apart from a large poll and a gigantic chain. The chain stretched till the darkest part of the chamber and Haldora followed it. As she was about to enter complete darkness again Hella abruptly appeared before her. Haldora screamed.
- I was not sure you could hear it. – Said Hella, pushing Haldora back to the light.
- Could hear what?
- Our ride.
Upon saying these words, movement was noticeable in the darkest part of the chamber. Something massive was approaching and Haldora was frightened for the first time in a long time. First she saw the paw, a long grey scaled paw, with tree great white claws, then the other paw and after the light invaded slowly all of its body, she saw that it was a dragon. His head was massive, with two large white horns and a long mouth, which shot a long red snake-like tongue. Around its neck, was a collar and attached to it was the gigantic chain. Haldora admired this giant being in awe, whereas Hella was only interested in taunting it. She would grab the chain and rattle it, making the collar move and annoying the dragon, who would shriek. Hella would laugh.
- My father gave me this dragon, after he slain him. He is the Underworld dragon. Otr.
- He is quite the beast.
- And he is our ride. Come.
The two women climbed on the dragon’s back and sat on a saddle. Hella broke off the chain as if it were a twig and used it for reins. Haldora held Hella by the waist as tightly as she could. The dragon took off. At first it seemed they would hit the ceiling as they were flying. Haldora closed her eyes dreading the impact, but nothing occurred. She opened them again and saw nothing but clouds, white clouds and light. Light so bright it stung her eyes and she almost could not see where they were going. She was however happy, she could feel warmth again, after she could not feel a thing in the Underworld. She could hear the wind breeze by her hears. She could even smell the clouds, though she did know whether clouds had smell, she could swear she sensed them.
- I must tell you that there are rules to our visit. You must never leave my side. You must never speak to no one, mortal or immortal. You must never touch anything. Do you understand? If you break these rules I will haunt you forever. Do not make me regret this.
Haldora nodded her head in understanding.
Hella pushed Otr’s chain and the dragon set down on a white corridor. Hella and Haldora climbed down and as Haldora touched the ground she knew she was again different. Her senses were with her once more. Hella removed a shroud from the saddle and wrapped Haldora in it.
- Never take this off.
- What is it?
- It’s an invisibility shroud.
The two ladies walked through the long corridor of light and came to a grand door. Hella opened it with no effort and inside Haldora could again smell food and drink and crave for it. She could hear the laughter of the great warriors, as if it were the day of a great victory in her village. Many of the Gods sitting at the table turned their heads as soon as Hella came in, her moldy stench filled the room, and Haldora was nauseated by it as well. The warriors were mostly too drunk to notice. Hella lead Haldora through the room, and Haldora could not understand, whether the Gods could in fact see her or whether they were just amazed to see Hella around. Haldora looked for her warrior but could not find him. The party was cheery and the warriors were waited on by the ever dedicated Valkyrie. Hella sat down on a chair far away from the group and made Haldora sit on the floor by her side.
- Let us wait. He will show sooner or later.
As they waited a man sat down on a chair next to Hella.
- It has been a long time since you came up here, my dear. - He said, giving her a drink.
- Well, it’s been a long time since they allow you back in, father.
The man smiled. Hella took a sip from her drink.
- I have fallen on Odin’s good graces again.
- And how long till I see you downstairs again? - Hella smiled.
- As much as I love to be around my dear daughter, I fear it will be a while this time.
Haldora looked at this couple and grew impatient. She could see a door, from where she sat and was extremely curious to know what was beyond it. Maybe there she could see her warrior, seeing he was shy from the party. The conversation between Hella and her father continued and Haldora slowly got up and moved towards the door. As she talked, Hella searched with her hand to find Haldora’s presence, she almost felt her absence, were it not for her father grabbing both her hands to tell her how he longed to visit her in the Underworld.
Haldora got through the door undetected and was amazed at what she saw. It was the grand Hall of Life. There, hanging on the wall, where the lives to be chosen by the warriors, after their service to Odin was done. Three Valkyrie chose the course, length and success of each of them. Already a few warriors stood in line to get a new life among the living. Haldora came close to see the process. The warrior would grab a thread and it would speak out its life. He would take it from the wall and wrap it around his neck. Then the golden women would take their souls and breathe them into an unborn baby. The births of these babies were witnessed from above, as their reflection appeared in a lake of dark water. Haldora was in awe as she watched the process unravel before her eyes. She got as close as she could to the hedge of the balcony where she stood. When looking down, she saw there was no passage to the Hall of Live from where she was, instead just a long drop to emptiness.
She was so distracted that she did not see Hella’s father come close to her.
- Inspiring! - He said frightening her. - There’s no need to be afraid. I am Loki and I mean you no harm. I will not tell a soul of you’re being here.
Haldora remained quiet and still.
- Speaking of souls. Here comes the next batch.
A group of warriors came through the same door as Haldora and Loki had come in. Instantly a bridge appeared before their feet to the Hall of Life. They passed one by one. Close to the end of the group, Haldora stirred. Her warrior was there.
- Is he who you are looking for? I guess his time as come. Shall we wait and see what life he chooses?
Haldora could not look away and saw him choose a farmer’s life in a new land called Wessex. He was swept by a golden woman and breathe into an unborn child and soon the image of his mother giving birth to him was reflected on the lake. His first cry was heard and the image disappeared.
- Another success. - The soft voice of the golden woman announced.
Haldora broke her silence and cried a muffled cry. Loki looked at her and smiled as if mocking her sadness. Hella storm through the door and before she could she Haldora, Loki pushed her off the balcony straight to the emptiness. Haldora cried but she could not hear her own voice, she saw nothing but white and blue, she heard nothing by quiet…
