The year and a season since Vigdis met Odilio has proven fruitful, the warrior maiden assembling a sizable band and a string of victories, thanks to her uncanny ability to outmaneuver her enemies as though she has an eye in the sky. This presents a problem, as if the curse is broken, Odilio can no longer scout for her.
Perhaps Freja can allow the lad to become a male Valkryie?
Follows on from: @internutter/challenge-04894-m145-making-the-effort
Search for [Swan] here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valkyrie -- Deathshead419
Vigdis became known as the Warrior Queen. She led a sortie of five hundred horsefolk and held three strongholds against her enemies. Not a Queen by the more verdant southern lands that Odilio came from, but Queen enough for the frozen north.
She had gone from three bowfolk and five lancers to a rank that gave her her choice of bedmates, and power enough to make other warlords parley for surrender.
Vigdis shared her tent or her chambers with Odilio, and none other. Rewarding him with her care and attention, as well as the best food she could get for him. On idle nights when rare peace descended on her lands, she would stroke his snow-white feathers and sigh, "You are so useful as a bird, and so dear to me as a friend. I know I could break your curse, but... you've been instrumental in my gaining power. It's selfish to keep you like this, but I fear what may turn about if I lose your aid."
"Man or bird, I will fight by your side," he said, and said honestly. A year and three months had changed a lot, but only on the inside. "Man or bird, I will help you with all that I am. Man or bird, I am proud to be your second, and always will be."
"I will take it to the gods," decided Vigdis. "There is a temple near here. We have enough warriors to guard us. Will you come and pray with me?"
"Always at your side," swore Odilio. He meant it in his heart and soul. No matter what form he had, no matter whether or not she shared her bed with him, no matter if he stayed under the curse for all his days. He would always be at her side.
Even if she chose another.
What mattered most to him was her happiness.
He roosted on her horse's saddle as they rode to the temple of all gods. Like most Wilder temples, it was made by nature more than it was made by the hands of intelligent life. There were pyre pits outdoors for Thor, Aurorus, and Meridia. There was a sacrificial bowl in deep caverns for all the gods that were begged to for their mercy. There was even a tree for Wothyn and The Green.
Odilio helped her hunt up and truss a boar for the sacrifice. For something like this, one needed to appeal to all of them.
Which was bloody work, and involved making part of the beast into a stew for other guests to eat. For Freja's sacrifices meant feeding others.
They were expected to fast until the prayer was answered - one way or another.
Odilio sat by Vigdis, as always by her right hand, and breathed in the herbal smoke that brought them both closer to the gods. She named all the gods large and small, and called on the gods that hadn't been caught at it yet.
His prayer was much simpler. If any of you can hear me... I only ask to make her happy. If that means keeping my feathers and wings, so be it. I renounce my title as Prince, if need be. I have no want to claim my lands or rule the people. Let my heirs have it. I only wish to claim her smile.
He opened his eyes to a Goddess cupping him in the palms of two hands. And the cosmic aspect of Freja smiling down on him. There were suns in Her hair, and literal stars in Her eyes. Nebulae and stellar clouds cavorted on Her armour.
"I like you," She said. "You've learned so much since you were cursed. You've come so far... I can bless you in turn. Would you rather be a man, or stay a bird?"
"Whatever helps Vigdis be happy and safe."
"She can't decide either," the goddess rolled Her eyes. "Well. It doesn't have to be one or the other. You can have both."
"Whatever the price is, let it rest on me," said Odilio. "I will pay it gladly."
"You will become one of my Valkyries," declared Freja, carefully petting Odilio beak to tail with one cosmic finger. "And at least one of your children will be Halloblooded, as Shai decrees."
A light price, all things considered. Hallobloods were born to balance the influence of Hellkin, and often faced just as much trouble from the other way. The forces of Chaos and Hatred would oppose them, fight them on sight if need be. Kill them if they could.
If such a child were in his future, he would protect them with everything he had. Including the knowledge of how to fight to survive.
"As you will it," was all he said to Freja. "And thank you for your blessing."
He woke up, naked and with a splitting headache, on the floor next to Vigdis. He tried to push himself up, but there was something heavy on his back. Some new and strange part of him that he could sense, but would have to learn how to use.
There were white feathers in his face. Odilio pushed them away so he could see Vigdis... and felt his hand pushing part of himself. Startled, he looked. He had wings! As well as the arms and hands of a Human.
Vigdis was staring in awe. "You never said you were an earthbound Valkyrie..."
"I wasn't before," he yawped, quickly covering his nethers. "Can you please check and see if anyone has a cloak or something? A spare loincloth? A hankie and some string?"
Vigdis did smile as her eyes raked him over. "A little scrawny, but I can work with that. You stay right where you are. I'll see what I can gather for you."
Left to his own, somewhat mortified devices, Odilio experimented with flexing and moving his new wings. "Am I going to have to learn how to fly again?" he wondered.
Don't worry about it, soothed the echo of Freja. You can shapeshift, now.
[Photo by Mark Fletcher-Brown on Unsplash]
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