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All characters and situations between them are copywrited to me and further, are my intellectual property. Any use of them without my express written permission will be prosecuted. If you wish to

The following contains material of a graphic nature, if you are under the age of consent(whatever that may be in your area) and do NOT have the permission of your parent or guardian do not read this.

I beg your indulgence, for the sake of grammar, readability and most importantly my on going sanity. I ask that you imagine all characters with a west Texas drawl.(unless otherwise specified)

"Thankee ya'll that's mighty kind of ya" I am from Texas By the way so I get to talk like this without feeling shame. :D

note that {} denotes that this speech is in another language;

These stories are meant to run together, if you have not read the first one I strongly suggest you do so. Otherwise this will make little sense.

Note: I am NOT bashing Christianity in any way! I am in fact making a comment on the nature of unfocused Anger and the way evil tendencies seek to exploit it, even when there is no cause for wrongs to be committed.

hey everybody I would REALLY appreciate it if anyone wanted to help out with suggestions, but most of all EDITING!! I don't have the time I need to do it properly so please put feedback in on this ok? Thanks a bunch!

The armor description is long I know but it must be done! Bare with me and I promise you won't have to hear about it again...that's why it' so long :D

"...By the lives of the fathers and the deaths of the sons. May we meet at the shore where the black river runs.

Where the heroes have fallen, the god of death knows, long life to the brothers! Swift death to the foes!"

_________line from a personal poem.

"...The Allfather wove the skein of your fate a long time ago, run and hide if you like, but you will not live one instant longer. You see? Fear profits a man nothing"

_____________Herger the Joyous, from the Ibyn Fadlan manuscript "Eaters of the dead"

"...And lo, even the foulsome bonds of the ferryman canst scarce contain me. For were it that I love thee? Then even the night born grip of death hast not a claim upon mine soul."

_______________________________line from a personal poem

_______________________A surprising funeral. Choices_________________________

Katie was crying,

She was sitting outside Rick's father's church with many other people from the town, observing the passing of a young man. More people had shown up then were anticipated and seating arrangements had become tricky, yet they stayed, they stayed to show respect. Rick was being hailed as a hero. People all over the country knew of his exploits at the bank and of how he had saved Katie and her "reclusive" sister. And now? Now the nation knew of his death, there had been outcries when it was found out what had started the debacle at the station. No one thought that the officers should have done what the lawyer had said. In fact some of them had already turned in resignations.

This was to be the public ceremony; the privet one where his body was to be burned according to the old faith, along with his favorite positions was to occur later this day.

When Risa had returned home without Rick, Katie knew something had happened, but when Risa had recounted the tale she had spared no detail, knowing Katie would want to know all of it.

When Risa came to the part where Rick fell to the floor and his head had lolled back and his eyes had rested upon her with such loving tenderness, Katie had to go to the bathroom to throw up. The man she loved, the man her sister loved was dead, it was too outlandish to be true. Just this morning she had peeped on him while he was in the shower, had sat across from him as he plastered fruit loops and bacon all over his mouth. She chuckled as she remembered having to restrain herself from licking them his off his face. Hr levity fell away as she realized that never again would this happen, never would she have the chance to tell him how much she cared for him.

How much she loved him.

Ricks body was at the police morgue, his father said. They were removing the rounds from him for evidence. Half way through a dinner that no one was eating the phone rang, Lawrence picked it up and spoke for a moment, the blank look of shock never leaving his face. After he hung up he began to cry, not balling or sobbing. Just the silent trickle of tears as they wound their way down his leathery face.

" Apparently" he whispered. "The damage to his torso was so severe that they will have to put a brace on under his cloths to keep them from sagging during the viewing. The coroner expressed shock at the fact that he was alive for so long, much less moving with such grievous wounds."

After his speech Lawrence slid from the couch and sat on the floor silently crying and looking at the pictures of his son that he held in his hand.

All three of them spent the evening consumed in their own grief. Until the midnight hour struck and they retired to their respective rooms. The girls did not even make pretence of going to the guest room first, but instead simply walked into Rick's room.

Katie immediately sat down by his closet, curled up into a ball as only a feline can do and began to wail. Her crying was interspersed with hiccups and sniffing and after a moment Risa sat down next to her and put her striped arms around her sister. Eventually they moved to his bed, where his scent was still strong from his recent presence.

They had held each other until the comforting smell of his bed had lulled them into an uneasy slumber. All night Risa had dreams, nightmares really, about the look on his face as he had fallen to the floor, dying. He had died to avenge her, yet she ha not died, what then had Rick given his life for?

The next day Risa attempted to kill her self, she reasoned that if she was dead then Rick would not have died in vain. Katie and Lawrence had stopped her as she was about to plunge a kitchen knife into her heart. They had convinced her, through deftly applied splashes of water, that she had to LIVE to make his sacrifice worthwhile. For the next 2 days Rick's father dealt with the arrangements for the dual funerals while the girls spent as much time as they could in his room, trying to retain the sense of peace that had lain over them while in his company.

When the day of the eulogy came around, it had been decided that Katie would go to the ceremony, in some sense of symmetry Risa had seen him die so Katie would be there to send his body on it's way. He spiky black hair was well complimented by the white dress she wore. She had known Rick long enough and he had trusted her enough that once, about a year ago he had told her of the Norsemen death ritual.

How all members in attendance must ware white so as not to show favor to any one god and most importantly, to show respect for the "Glorious dead" as he put it.

His best friend Conner was there as well, decked out in his reenactment regalia and looking very forlorn, some guests had been asking him to leave, they stopped however when the sun had set, for at that time Conner had drawn his long sword and would not resheath it until daybreak. This had a profound effect on most of those in attendance, in fact all the audience was uneasy save for those who knew of Rick's religious choice.

When the Preacher asked everyone to please take his or her seats Katie sat with a despondent air about her. This was it, after today he was really gone, they had not talked about their future and she was at a lose as to what to do with her life. She knew that Rick's father would help them but she did not know if she wished him to. Any contact with him would remind her of his son, and Katie did not think Fenris or her self could handle that.

The preacher began with a bit of proselytizing, saying that even though Rick had been a "Pagan" he was still beloved of god, and that his deeds would be held in high regard in the kingdom of heaven. After this he began speaking of Rick's life and Katie had to tune out. She did not think she could handle listening to all the things they had done as children, or hear about all his triumphs and failures.

She was coming to hold a special hate for herself, she had found her heart twin and had not confessed her feelings. Even if he had not reciprocated she knew he would have stayed her best friend. That was just his personality.

As she sat on the cold hard metal chair, lost in her own remembrances, Katie heard a voice telling her to sleep, to close her eye and let her body rest. At first she ignored this voice, but it came back stronger and she was almost forced to follow its peaceful instructions.

________________________The End Times. Love___________________________

Rick became aware of a light "swooshing" sound. This sound it seemed, originated from all around him. At first he thought he might be by the ocean, at a beach somewhere perhaps? But as he lay there with his eyes closed he began to remember what had rendered him unconscious. He walked through the halls of his memories and sought out the very last one. He remembered thinking Risa had been shot, he remembered the feeling of absolute rage that had over taken him and he remembered how he had subsumed that rage through purpose. It was a wonder, Rick thought, that the walls had not been scorched from the intensity of his anger.

Setting aside his ruminations, Rick continued to remember the events that took place at the sheriff's office.

Something did not sit right with his recollections, Rick remembered being shot, six times no less. And after that one does not expect to awaken to the sound of...whatever it was he was hearing.

Deciding he needed to orient himself before going further down the twisting loops of memory, Rick opened his eyes and sat up.

Rick could not see but 4 feet in front of him, his vision was blocked out by tall grass like plants.

He raised himself to his feet with a clanking sound, looking around he found himself to be in a field of tall grass that stretched for as far as he could see.

The first thing he became aware of was the fact that the grass was responsible for the "swooshing" sound he had awoken to.

The second came to him as he admired the beauty of the waving sea of blue green stalks.

"Clank?" he said to him self as he looked down at his own form. His body seemed no different to him, still large and still corded with the fruits of manual labor. He reached back and felt his hair and yes it was still shoulder length and the top half was still tied back around his head. The only difference he could find in this regard was the leather strip that took the place of an elastic hair tie.

"Curios" Rick mused. He was, mildly disturbed by his own lack of reaction; perhaps he had gone into shock or some such? Shaking his head and abandoning this train of thought Rick looked down at his body and this time was very surprised indeed. He was clad in the most beautiful set of armor he had ever seen, it outshone even the ceremonial pieces he had viewed in museums. Upon his shoulders rested a set of flanged pauldrons, each with overlaps smaller then Rick had seen before. The one resting upon his left shoulder had a neck guard making an angle of about 25-30 degrees with the point facing outward, creating a shallow "V" with the open end facing his head. Rising up from his shoulder about a foot it was designed to halt blows sliding up over the top of a shield and hitting him in the face or neck.

The pauldrons on his right shoulder had a neck guard on it as well, save this one was less then half the height of it's twin. His upper and lower arms were covered by a set of bracers, covering the outside of the upper arm and both the out and inside of the lower, it was made from interlocking plates of metal that allowed for range of motion.

On his chest was a breastplate that covered his upper part of his torso only; it was hinged in the middle to allow for movement, and so that it would give if it were struck by a strong impact.

Reaching behind himself Rick found that his back was covered by a pattern similar to that incasing his arms, save it followed the contours of his spine.

Testing his range of motion, Rick found that this barely impeded his ability to twist and move. Protecting his lower torso was a fine set of scale mail. Patterned off the dragon scales of old, this armor was made of numerous small metal ovals sewn into a padded coat. These scales overlapped each other and protected the wearer from both the cut AND the impact of a blow. Checking below one of the scales Rick found another set lying underneath the first, this second set of scales was sewn in the opposite direction as the first to stop any blows from finding their way under the armor and into the flesh beneath.

Protecting his legs was a set of metal rings sewn into a stiff metal frame. Similar to what the warriors of Japan wore, this construction was made up of 7 rectangular frames. Covering the backs, sides and the front of his legs as well as one hanging in front of his crotch. This armor allowed for the most protection coupled with the maximum amount of motion.

The heaviest armor adorned his feet. His work boots had been replaced with metal greaves, armored boots that went all the way up to just past his knee.

These greaves were made very thick but not to the point of immobility, running lengthwise along the top of the front of the shoe section was a flat metal spike, formed in the triangular shape of a sharks tooth. Jutting from the knee section was a spike, not dissimilar in construction to the bayonets of world war I, save it had a more pronounced curve to it's construction, keeping it's 9 inch length from harming the wearer accidentally.

Rick then noticed that there was what appeared to be weapons harnesses attached to this marvel of the armoror's craft. One hung at his left hip and seemed to be designed for a single edged sword, another hung from his right hip but it's construction baffled him as to it's intended resident. Along his thighs were sheaths designed to hold some kind of knives with their blades facing down and behind him at an angle. But the most interesting was set upon his right pauldron, attached to his arm was a sheath identical to the one hanging from his left shoulder, it rested at mid upper arm and was also attached to his back by a set of straps. This would not impede him but would keep the hilt of the weapon within drawing rang of his left hand.

Completing his garb was a deep-cowled cloak hanging from the backs of his shoulder pauldrons.

(Note: all conversation in this chapter is in Old Danish)

Completely and absolutely stunned by his attire, Rick failed to notice the presence of another in the field with him.

"So, are you just going to stand there ogling your self? Or are we going to have a little discussion?" boomed a voice from behind Rick.

His first thought as he spun around was that if the man was an attacker he would not have announced him self, do by the time he was facing the speaker he had composed himself enough to not look COMPLETELY ignorant of the situation.

What Rick saw when he faced the man who had spoken was what seemed to be an older fellow with a trimmed gray beard, blue jeans, roper boots and a pilots jacket on over a Hawaiian print T-shirt. Somehow the shirt threw Rick for a moment, it was hard to imagine the Allfather wearing a Hawaiian shirt. And Rick had no doubts as to the identity of this man. For he exuded wisdom and knowledge as no one else Rick had met. Add that to the fact that the old ones left eye was missing and there was an eight legged horse grazing behind him and Rick was certain of the mans true name.

"I see you're not a total imbecile, figured it out right quick didn't you? Well I expect nothing less from you, not with the job you're going to have to perform. "

"Sir, what exactly are you talking about?" asked Rick, unable to fathom what was happening.

"Am I dead sir?"

"Dead? Why of course you are! Come with me ma boy and I will explain things to you."

By this time Rick was infused with both fear and confusion, he was dead, but he was not as he thought, in the frozen halls of Hel. Where then was he?

"Right now" spoke Odin, " you and I stand on the plains of the in-between. This is where all souls come after they die, then they cross that river over there, you see it?"

and Rick did see it, he saw the largest river he had ever laid eyes on. This river was wider then most lakes, but what was truly amazing was, now that he was looking at it he saw what lay on the opposite bank. Rearing up from the soil were the greatest structures he had ever seen, rising miles upon miles into the air. Surly he thought, no buildings could sustain such heights. Yet they did.

Ranging from a giant multicolored wheel to fluffy cloud enshrouded minarets, to dark, jagged flame riddled spires of rock that, if he squinted he could see writhing figures impaled upon.

"What is that?" Rick asked in awe.

"That is the after life, when someone dies, their beliefs dictate where they end up on that side. Based upon the tenets of their faith, they either go to a punishment or a paradise. If they go to a punishment then, after a certain period of time based on how severe their actions, they will "come up for parole" as it were. That is they will be allowed to renter the world of the living through reincarnation.

If one were to go to a paradise then at any time they wish they might be reincarnated. However, when they return they will be judged again based on their conduct while in the realm of life, and if they are found wanting then they must go to their faiths punishment.

If it happens that some one does not wish to cross the river, for fear of the judgment the will receive, then they stay on this side of the river, and live there on those grass plains."

Lord Odin said, gesturing out past the hilly region we now stood upon, out to the vast expanse of unpopulated grassland.

Standing up here, it looked even more like an endless ocean of wheat, blowing and twisting with the invisible currants of the wind.

"Most of these people know that what they have done will keep them in punishment for a long long time, so instead of facing that they choose to exist out here away from any chance of regaining 'life.'

Now most faiths have an antagonist built into their structure and unfortunately most of these badies have what you might call a grudge. As you might imagine after being beaten down over the course of human history they have gotten a little pissed off.

Loki, my adopted son, is there ring leader, they figure that if they cannot hold control over man and existence then they will destroy it. And unfortunately for you and I, the old religion is fraught with prophecies of Ragnarîk. They are at this very moment starting events into motion that will culminate in the destruction of the world."

The god and the young man had stopped their walk and were now sitting on the banks of the river of death.

"Well sir, that IS a nasty problem, but I'm just an 18 year old were I to meet any of these people much less fight em I would get toasted, I can't fight gods. Besides which, I'm dead, from what you said all these happenings are going on in the living realm. So I guess what I would like to know is, why are you telling me this?"

"Well you aren't stupid, that's a good sign." Said the Allfather as he tossed a pebble into the swiftly flowing waters.

"Tell me, do you know what your name is?" he said, changing the topic of conversation.

"No, my dad said it was strange and that I would avoid being ridiculed if I went by Rick."

"Your father had the right of it, it's fitting that you should learn of your name in this place.

Your name is Verik Roth Hrim, which means-"

"Strong one of the red Frost, or Blood Frost depending on the context." Chimed in Rick, a little tipsy from the learning of his name.

"Sorry for interrupting Allfather, please continue."

"Thank you, as I was saying. Far back down the webbed and dusted halls of time, when the great doors of Valhalla had yet to be opened and yea, even the great roof of shields had yet to be hung. There were upon the face of Midgaard, ten men whose bravery surpassed all others. These men were beloved of me and my kindred throughout the pantheons, for they were strong and wise and kind.

On the day of their deaths all the gods quarreled as to the resting place of these heroes in the after life. 2 chose to reside in Valhalla as their home, while 2 followed Set onto his celestial river barge. 2 rose to stand at the Christian gods side. 2 sat with the Celts protectors and the last 2 ascended Olympus's slopes.

All was well for a time; the men aided their patrons in expanding their domains always working from the backround keeping things in order. But all was not to remain thus for long. Many hundreds of years later, one of the Christian heroes descendants had been wrongly accused of a crime, as he was about to be executed the hero pleaded with his lord to intervene and save his kin.

The Christian god had become confidant in his domain and refused, saying that this death would serve as a lesson to others contemplating breaking faith with him. The mortal was executed and was brought to heaven were he met his ancestor, after learning of the words of his god the man said that if that was his fate then so be it.

The ancestor, who came from a different time with different morals could not abide by this and spoke with his god.

"These things you do, I can not be apart of them." And his god said.

"If that is your choice then so be it, for I love thee all the same."

At that moment, when relief warred with anger at his gods actions, Evil, who had been searching for an opportunity such as this since the beginning of it' conception took root in his mind.

And when his god was betrayed so to did he betray. And thus it was and is. This man, along with one of those that traveled with Set have become the generals of an army of unmaking, they desire nothing more then to see all of creation destroyed.

We gods signed a pact a very long time ago to cease directly interfering with the business of mortals, and since most of this army is made up of mortals we can not simply smite them. Not until a conclave has been called and all the pantheon leaders have agreed to dissolve the pact. However, this process could take decades and I doubt we have that much time. So the gods have been choosing avatars, mortals that have had a long-standing record of courage and bravery. These mortals are given access to an aspect of their patron's divine powers, for surly their opponents wield wicked sorceries of their own. This is where you come in my boy, some of us were thinking of making you their arbiter on earth, how does that sound?"

Rick sat there on the banks of the river, absorbing all that he had just heard.

"To be honest Allfather? I am confused, I am no longer among the living, what use am I as an arbiter if I am dead?"

"That is a good point, I myself am not looking at you, and no offense you understand? I have just had my eye on another for quite some time." Allfather mused while Sleipnir nudged his back, looking for treats.

"And on the subject of being dead, would you like to hear the name of the sixth great hero? The first man to walk through the gates of Valhalla? His name was Verik and he asked a great many questions, just as you do."

Rick was stunned.

"Are you telling me that I was the first person to enter Valhalla!?!"

"Yes my boy I am, however that is not the issue at the moment. The issue is wither or not you wish to live. You see being such a notable person and, being as we are in dire straights I am willing to offer you incarnation back into the body you departed. For a price however. Should you wish this to occur then one person must take your place, someone whose soul resonates with your own.

In order for you to return to the land of the living one of those two girls will have to die and take your place." Allfather looked at Rick expectantly.

But Rick did not even have to think about his answer.

"Thankee kindly sir, but I will decline, I am sure that I could be of SOME help. But I won't do it if it even hurts those two in the slightest...I am in love with them; down to the deepest corner of my soul do I love them. And what kind of man would I be if I sacrificed that, even for my own life? ESPECIALLY for my own life?"

Allfather smiled sadly and shook his head; he stood up and jumped upon Sleipnir's back.

"Well you made your choice, it would have been nice to have you in this fight and make no mistake there WILL be fighting but you made your choice and I respect it."

As he turned to leave Rick halted him.

"Sir, before you go, may I ask you two questions? The first one has two parts to it"

"Aye boy, but be fast I have not much time now to dawdle."

"These clothes, are they what I used to ware?"

"Yes, that armor now resides on display in a museum in New York, well pieces of it all anyway. Without the touch of the gods, even the most well crafted of items is ravaged by time."

Rick thought on this briefly and then asked the second part of his question.

"And the weapons that it carries? Where are those?"

Allfather smiled and said.

"That, I shall not tell you. Now for the last question?"

Rick sucked in a breath and then exhaled out, did he really want to know? He would never see them again, as he did not know what their true religion was he could not go and look for them when they died. Yes he decided, if for nothing but closure then he would know.

"Katie and Fenris, why are they like the way they are?"

At this Allfather grew very grim and dour.

"That is a somewhat longish tale, suffice it to say not all the gods loved you and your kin.

Long ago you called Loki the trickster a 'Boy', simply in passing and with no malice yet he was greatly angered. Now you are indeed older then him but Loki hates being mocked and so the next time you were reincarnated along with your soul mate. Loki split her in two, this did not kill her for the two pieces were drawn into two bodies and grew again to form two complete souls. Loki brooded on this and during this incarnation he cast a very powerful spell, trapping your soul mates in the guise of animals. His hope in this was that you would reject them and thus cause you as much pain as possible."

Rick was gritting his teeth by the tales closing.

"I have a feeling he left them outside of Terry Shulte's house as well." Said Rick.

Odin simply nodded his head. Turning to leave Allfather once more asked Rick if he was sure.

"Yes sir, I'm sure."

Odin then smiled and shouted.

"WHO HERE WISHES THIS MAN TO BECOME THEIR ARBITER?"

Suddenly Rick found himself surrounded by a large crowd of people, none of them did he recognize for they were but indistinct outlines.

A chorus of 4 voices sounded out, all of them male affirming that they would accept Rick as their avatar in the mortal realm. Allfather looked to Rick and said.

"One more piece of advice, many other pantheons have chosen arbiters, none as old as you, But many with great skill and power. Some will be friendly but some will by openly hostile towards you. The Christian gods chosen most notably, we have not been on good terms for a few hundred years. So watch your back and if you can, try to be nice eh?"

Rick looked to the Allfather, confused by this.

"But sir, did you not say I could not return to the world of the living without one of my soul mates taking my place?

"Yes I did, however I also said that the reason it would require this was because of the great amount of power required to reanimate your body. Your loved ones WILL have to make a sacrifice to bring you back, they must give up the pendant that allows them a human seeming form."

At this Odin turned away and began riding towards the river.

"But how will they know?" Rick shouted after him.

"Look behind you boy!" Odin called back over his shoulder.

Rick turned around and there stood Katie dressed all in white with tearstains on her fur.

He gasped and ran to her but he passed right through her ghostly form.

'Good' he thought. 'She's not dead.'

Katie reached around her neck and pulled out the necklace, holding it in her palm she looked at Rick with a tear streaked smile.

"You could live" he found himself saying. "You could live a normal life, dad would help you. You could lead a normal life."

Katie stooped and looked at him; twitching her whiskers in consternation she slapped her hand down on the pendant, crushing it.

The last thing Rick knew he was falling up through multi colored lights, rushing as fast as he had ever thought possible. Rushing, with the feel of silky whiskers still upon his cheek.

_________________________Reunion. Old fears.________________________

Katie opened her eyes, the old man whom Rick had called both "Allfather" and "Odin" had come to her in her dreams. He had asked her if she wished to see her love again, and of course she had agreed. He had told her to be silent and that Rick would not see her. He had then said that there was a way for Rick to once again walk the face of the earth. Now being as she was already emotional she had accidentally blurted out.

"But I don't want him to be a zombie!" then realized the absurdity of her words and clamped her mouth shut.

The man had burst out laughing, great booming shouts rolling from his open mouth.

"Don't worry little kitten, he will not be among the shambling dead! Just stand here and watch, but most importantly, listen."

And with that he had winked (she supposed, it was hard to tell when the person had but one eye) and walked over to where Rick was standing looking at himself.

Katie had heard all that had passed between the two, and was more shocked then Rick. She supposed that should call him Verik now, but would refrain from it until he said so.

When Odin had told Rick that he could return to the living Katie felt her heart swell, she could hold him in her arms and tell him how much she cared for him! But then Allfather had told him of the price, and yet Katie was only slightly disappointed.

"He will have a life with Risa then, but what matters is that he will be alive, I can be content with this."

Just as she was about to give her self to sacrifice, Odin shouted out. And then Katie realized that she was not the only invisible person on the riverbank. She watched as first a man with only one hand called out, then a man whose skin was blacker then night and whose hair was so white it made her eyes hurt to look at it, said that he as well would accept Rick. Next came a man whose arms were thick and strong looking, much like Rick's, this man wore a belt that was very wide and had no shirt upon his torso, his hair was blond and he radiated good cheer. The last man was frightfully pale, his hair had a blue tint to it and when he moved it seemed as though he "creaked." She was fascinated by there appearance and almost missed when they began talking again.

When the old man told Rick about the necklace, Katie became frightened. She was afraid of what the world would do to her and her sister. For there was not a doubt in her mind as to wither or not to give up this bauble in order to save his life.

It was then that she heard the old man's voice in her head.

"I will hide you until you return to your home, it would do no good to have an arbiter break into a testing facility to rescue his soul mate now would it?"

"Sir" she replied.

"Thank you so much for this, but I must say. A 3 day old corps coming back to life will be a sensation all on it's own."

"Don't worry to much my dear, for as we speak Loki has made his first big play. One of his generals is attacking New York, walking the streets, slaying people indiscriminately. And with the impressive pyrotechnics he is displaying I doubt anyone will pay attention to a zombie from Texas."

And so saying he walked into the mist.

Katie wanted to slap Rick when he said that she could have a "normal" life. Did he not realize that with out him she did not want a life?

No, she decided, he didn't. So she was just going to have to tell him so her self.

Katie snapped back to wakefulness, as she tried to orient herself again she realized that Rick would be reaching his body soon. Katie stood up and began to walk over towards the casket Rick was resting in. enough time had passed that now was the open viewing time, people were walking up to the coffin and setting mementos down next to him. These would have been burned along with his body under normal circumstances, but today he would not be burned, instead he would live and Katie's heart rejoiced at this knowledge.

She could barely contain her self as she stood beside his coffin, how would he come back? She hoped it would at least not be painful.

She waited for a long time for something to happen; yet nothing did. Had she hallucinated? Had what she seen been merely a figment?

It was then that she noticed a viscous green fluid, seeping from the body.

Only now did Katie see the hard ships that were bound to occur with this resurrection.

She thought of the embalming fluid and the tiny stitches they used to hold the eyes closed. Not to mention the brace that was keeping his torso from collapsing. As she watched the embalming fluid came rushing out of his mouth, nose and ears.

Unfortunately, she was not the only one to see this. One of the elderly teachers at their high school noticed as well, promptly fainting on the spot.

Whilst the other patrons were busy attending her, Katie watched and listened to the almost sickening display coming from the pine wood box.

After about a minuet of crunching noises, the stitches snapped with a resounding 'pop'. What happened next frightened Katie almost as much as thunderstorms.

As Rick was winging his way through the multicolored void, he suddenly felt a sharp tugging sensation and his momentum was ceased.

He hung in a state of weightlessness, wondering just WHAT was going to happen to him this time.

"Well" he heard a voice say.

"I'll make it easy on you boy, you stand now before M°misbrunnr, (Mimirs well) and I am Mimir. The norns never send anyone here who is not in great need of a drink from my well, what is it, pray tell, that you would know?"

"What do you mean?"

"My well deals with knowledge and wisdom, you and I come to an agreement upon which you will receive and then you drink."

"Why would I need knowledge or wisdom so direly that I would be sent here?"

"I know not boy, I simply guard the well."

Rick thought, he knew not for how long but it was a while. This he knew to be an important decision, and thus wished to make the right choice.

"I wish for knowledge of myself, and of battle, that I might be of more use in the coming conflict."

The voice was quiet for a time and then responded thus.

"For the first I would take but a finger from you, the same for the second. But for both!....something of greater value most be given."

"I will give to you my eye Mimir, as Allfather did before me. However, the payment I give you is greater then what you asked, so a boon must be given from you to me."

"Very well, I will take you eye here, and very soon in the world of the living you shall lose it as well. Drink then, and know that knowledge of your self will come far slower then that of combat. When you awaken your injuries will heal and your body shall be healthy. The next morning none of the funeral goers will remember that you had been dead, only gravely injured. In this way you may be of use in halting ragnarok."

Rick then felt a mind blowing pain sprout from his left eye, causing him to scream out with agony. As quickly as it started it was over and he was once again zipping his way back to his body.

Rick came to consciousness unable to open his eyes; he immediately turned to his other senses to discern what was happing in his environment. This feeling was new to him, in the past it would have taken him a few moments to adjust to the strange sensation of having ones eyes sew shut.

A few minuets after he regained awareness, Rick felt as if he had been plugged directly into the memories of a thousand different people.

Death, Life, pain, suffering, strategy, love, responsibility, command, troop dispositions for battles millennia old and death again. All these things came crashing through his mind within the blink of an eye.

But along with them, a flash of identity.

Rick snapped the stitches in his eyes and felt the rest of his body heal it's self. The pain was like nothing he had ever felt before. When his body could he leaped to his feet and shouted at the assembly.

"I AM VERIK BLOOD FROST! SLAYER OF THE ELDER WYRM BRHODINIR! KNOW YOU THAT THE VERY GODS ONCE SAUGHT MY COUNCIL, AND NOW THEY SEEK MY SWORD! AND LO ALL THOSE WHO SEEK RAGNAROK SHALL FIND MY BLADE BARRING THEIR PATH!"

And with that Rick toppled off the raised platform, falling into the arms of his soul mate.

END chp 4 part 1, I will put some interesting stuff at the end of part two. I decided to break it up into two parts other wise it would have been far longer then most of you want to pay attention for. Part deux will be out before weeks end. It will be just as long if not longer then this one so you can see why I split them.

tell me what you guys thought about the "he really is dead" thing i did at the start. i could just hear some people yelling "bad author bad!!