Who: Bjorn Ironside and Thor Odinson What: Bjorn meets the God of Thunder. Where: Town. When: A few days after Bjorn's arrival. Warnings: None. Status: Closed | Completed GDoc.
Bjorn was having a difficult time adjusting to Madison Valley. Everything was so strange here, and there was so much to take in. He had learned to avoid the streets when those cars were on the road, and he was slowly figuring out that damned device they had given him. He’d even found his apartment, which was strange all by itself. The apartment, not the fact that he’d found it.
He was still wearing his Viking clothing, it was what he felt most comfortable in. He’d learned to leave his axe and shield at home, that people here weren’t so welcoming if he appeared armed and dangerous.
“Why has Odin sent me here?” he wondered out loud, in old Norse. He got a few odd looks at this, but whether it was because of the language or the fact he was speaking to himself, he neither knew nor cared.
***
“Odin did not, good man. The powers here hold no respect for the past, or for where we belong. They only do as they will. And even Odin is not able to turn back the hands of Fate.” The voice was a rumble, like thunder itself given form; low, warm, gentle, yet very much more than human.
And when Thor strode down the street, smiling at this new man, he came into view, one eye covered by a patch and the other filled with faint lightning.
***
Bjorn’s ears perked up a bit when he heard someone respond in Norse. Someone who was familiar with Odin and the gods. There was a certain quality to the voice, something he could not place. He looked around, trying to locate the source of this voice.
His gaze settled on Thor when he came into view. Was this… no, surely not. But he'd believed the Valkyrie when she said Thor was here in Madison Valley, so this very well could be.
He stumbled few steps back, his eyes widening slightly as he caught sight of the faint lightning filling the one good eye of the person who approached. “Thor?” His voice was soft when he spoke, full of awe.
***
“Yes.” A single word, and yet full of warmth and welcome. “Welcome home, warrior. You are not alone.” He crossed to Bjorn, and clapped a hand to the man’s shoulder.
“Welcome to Madison Valley.” Thor was very glad to see another of his people, and he was very happy that the lad seemed to recognize him.
***
“How is this so?” Bjorn asked. Yes, Sigrun had informed him of Thor's being in Madison Valley, but he hadn't quite believed it. But this… this was definitely Thor. He wasn't imagining it. Even if he was imaging it, the fact that he understood old Norse was more than enough for Bjorn.
“What is this place?” He motioned around them. “How is it that we cannot leave? How is it you're stuck here with us?”
***
“There are powers beyond the gods, beyond the fates, even in our universe. And here, this is their world, controlled by them. Here, even gods must be careful.” he smiled gently at the man, lightning in his eyes. “Not always very careful, but some.” He nodded.
“And someday, they will make a mistake, and we will wrest control of it from them. Nothing and no one is perfect, my friend.” He nodded again.
“Where come you from, and when?”
***
He had heard of Thor being in Madison Valley, but he was still in awe of the fact that here he was, speaking to someone like Bjorn. He was not sure he was worthy of such things, but who was he to question?
He nodded at Thor's words, taking in what was told to him. He had to accept what was said. After all, the proof was all around him.
“I am from Norway,” he offered, in response to the question. It is a few years into the eleventh century.” He had lost track of the years after traveling, but he knew roughly what year it was back home.
“And it is truly 2018?”
***
“”A good land, and time.” He remembered it as if it had been yesterday. Yes, those times were special.
He smiled at the young man and nodded. “It is, yes. And we are in America, a land far across the seas from Norway.” he smiled at Bjorn.
“It is good to see and hear someone from that land so treasured by my people.” Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the other lands of the area had been the home and seat of the Asgardians on Midgard and one of the most loyal places.
“It is a good town, if odd.”
*** Bjorn smiled at Thor's words, he was glad that he was appreciative of his home country. He was rather fond of it himself. “My father would have loved it here. He knew that there were lands to the West. He only got as far as England.” And managed to pick up Athelstan on the way.
There was a slight pang as he remembered both his father and Athelstan. He had loved them both. They were both family.
“You, and the others, are highly treasured in Norway,” he admitted. “Floki would have a heart attack, if he knew…” He sighed softly. He couldn't just keep thinking of what people back home would think of this place. “How long have you been here?”
***
Thor smiled widely as he listened. He wondered if Sigrun had met this lad, yet. “England was a good land, a good place to viking to.” Thor remembered those times and lands well. He chuckled. “Perhaps he will arrive here. It is entirely possible he will show up here.”
“It’s alright, my friend. It does not grow easier, but it grows less painful, in time.” With that faint reassurance, he smiled.
“I have been here some fifteen months, now.” He nodded. “Though I was sent home for some years a few months ago, and came back here to find no time had passed at all. That happens here sometimes.”
***
“Both my father and Athelstan have died,” he offered, well aware that This could not have known that if he had been in Madison Valley for fifteen months or so. “Can the magic of this town bring people back from the he dead?”
If it could, then Bjorn could only hope that one of the men from his world, whether it be Ragnar or Athelstan, would arrive here.
“You were sent home? I did not think that we could leave here?” Apparently one could not leave for long, if Thor was back in this strange town.
***
Thor sighed, but waved a hand to the yes. “It can, yes. It can draw people from the moment of death, or even from after. “The power of this place is sometimes horrifying and sometimes awe inspiring, Bjorn. But we face it together.” He nodded.
“You are not alone. You never were, and here? You especially are not.”
Thor sighed again. “Yes. We cannot choose to leave, but the dome can, much like the fates back home, choose to send us away, and bring us back, anytime it likes.” He grinned. “And it is just as fickle.”
The Norse, and the Asgardians, had an odd relationship with Fate. They knew that the being/beings was/were someone to respect and worship, and someone to be wary of.
***
Bjorn nodded at Thor's words. He found it easy to trust Thor and what he was saying. Thor would not lie to him, nor would he try to trick him. He was the god of thunder, not the god of mischief. That would be Loki.
“I am glad to hear that I am not alone here. It is nice to know that there are others here, some I may be familiar with.”
He knew that Fate was something not to be messed with, and therefore believed the Dome must be something one would not want to mess with as well. “Perhaps the dome will bring my father or Athelstan here, then. Or my wife, Torvi.”
***
“Indeed. Sif strides these halls as well, as does Sigrun of the Valkyrior.” Thor smiled a little, cocking his head to the side. And now he had another of his growing family here. He would need to talk to Sigrun and Sif. She would surely laugh at him, but also make sure Bjorn was okay.
“It may do both, bring both, slowly, or quick. Do not give up hope.”
***
“Lady Sif is here? I did not know of her presence here. I have spoken to Sigrun, she told me you were here.” He studied Thor for a moment. Sigrun had told him that this may be a different version of Thor than Bjorn would expect, so his next question was legitimate. “Are you married to Lady Sif here, in Madison Valley?” The town's name still felt strange to say, but he was sure he would adjust.
“I will try not to give up hope,” he promised. Bjorn was not one to easily give up hope. If his father, Athelstan, or Torvi arrived here, he would be pleased.
***
Those smiled ruefully. He got this a lot. He wondered if Sif did too. “She is, and we are not. I have heard that the Norsemen came to think of us so, but no. We are best friends, and she is the smartest person I know, but the closest to romantic she and I have ever been is the embrace of comrades and the kiss of friendship.”
He nodded. Now, more than ever, he relied on Sif’s counsel. “If ever you need a wise word, she is the one I would advise seeking out. I do, after all.” His smile was warm and honest.
***
He nodded when he was informed Thor and the Lady Sif were not married. He accepted as fact. After all, he knew he could trust this person. “I had always been told you were married to her, but if you say it is untrue, then I believe you.”
There was a small smile from Bjorn, “I do believe I will take that advice. If you trust her counsel, then I do as well.”
***
Thor grinned and nodded. “Oh, in some universe, I am sure it is. She is my best friend and I could see it, if everything were different.” He nodded again.
“Between Sif, Sigrun, and Nora, my love, I am surrounded by wise counselors. And all of them are good people for you to know,too. “
***
Bjorn accepted Thor's words as fact. If he claimed to not be married to the lady Sif, then he was not.
“I would like to meet Sigrun and Lady Sif,” he admitted. “And this Nora you speak of, though I have not heard of her in the tales I have been told.” Bjorn assumed that Nora was of Thor's world. He was not aware of the fact that Thor had opted for a relationship with a mortal woman.
“Tell me of this place,” he suggested.
***
Thor appreciated the faith the man had and he smiled to Bjorn. It was nice to have such a complicated and yet uncomplicated thing here.
“Nora is a woman I have met here. Brave, strong, fierce, loving, and beautiful, she makes my heart sing as much as it does in battle.” He smiled, eyes distant for a moment. “Perhaps we can welcome you to dinner sometime soon.”
He smiled warmer yet. “Madison Valley is a town of contradictions. It is both a joy to be here and also a hardship. Oftentimes, it is more peaceful, and gives more hope and opportunity than the worlds that people come from, but ti also brings darkness and pain sometimes. It is, in essence, like any other world, but with more elements to do as otehr worlds do.”
He held up a hand.
“There is death, as there was back home, but here, it is not permanent. There is loss, as people can be sent home at any time, and there is nothing we can do about it. There is joy, for love can happen anytime, from any angle. There is confusion, as the dome causes odd things to happen, once a month or so.” Thor nodded again.
“There is pain. And yet… there is hope. And such good people gathered together as one rarely sees, in any Realm.”
***
“Nora is… mortal, then?” He blinked slightly at this information. That was not what he had expected to hear when Thor informed him about the relationship with Nora. But, listening to Thor speak of her, he found that he could accept this as well. For the most part. If this woman could make Thor speak so highly of her… Bjorn found that he could not judge.
He remained quiet as he listened to the Asgardian speak of Madison Valley, and how life was here in this town. It did not appear to be too bad of a place. Perhaps warmer than he was used to for the time of year. But he did not mind that aspect.
“It appears as though Madison Valley is a good place to find oneself, then. Different in many ways to what I am used to, but as long as the people are good…”
***
“She is.” Thor nodded. He loved Nora very much, and was very surely glad of it. Having her, and knowing her, made his life so much better. He nodded as he smiled warmly.
“Aye. Once in awhile you will find those who are mean, and sometimes those who are indifferent, but most are kind. And they do love to throw parties and invite everyone to them.”
***
Bjorn eyed Thor for a moment, determining whether he approved of this or not. He supposed he was not the one to judge what the gods chose to do or not to do, and if Thor desired to be with this Nora, he would accept it as such.
“Parties?” he repeated. He was rather fond of gatherings, and supposed he would not be opposed to such things. He nodded at this, “This does not appear to be a bad town.” He was not sure it was truly considered a town, at least compared to his standards, but the word would suffice. For now.