An hour passed and the Valkyrie finished eating, but Odin had not arrived. The Valkyrie got ready to leave, supposing that this conversation would happen another night, or perhaps without their presence as it didn't seem to pertain to them.
"Warriors!" Nanna exclaimed when she saw them dispursing. "Odin has not arrived, the reunion is still not over!"
"What? Will we sit here and waste our time? We normally hold Holmgang right now, because of this banquet we are behind schedule." One of them responded.
"Holmgang is a ritualistic duel," came a voice from beside Sirius, startling him. It was Sroka, the Beta's daughter—a presence he had almost forgotten about. Her sudden words made him jolt, nearly spilling the plate of Lachlan's unfinished food he forgot he was still holding. His jumpiness made her giggle.
"Everybody please!" Sirius said bravely, "Please don't go! I need to find my wife, she is pregnant!"
Once again silence filled the hall, but it wasn't because of Sirius' outburst, it was because Odin had arrived.
"Women!" His voice boomed, "Please tell me, what treason is this!?"
He looked around and all of the Valkyrie had bowed because of his arrival. Nobody answered him.
"Tell me why a filthy Beast like that," Odin boomed pointing to Sirius, "Tell me why he has been allowed to come and pollute the floors of these halls, and why he is dining with you of the beast of Særímnir!!!!!!?"
He stepped forward with rage and wiped his hand across the table, dumping the contents on the floor and spilling mead and other drinks everywhere.
"That is a sacred beast unworthy of his tongue! How, with so many supposed warriors in my halls, have I not been informed of this?!"
The Valkyrie all coward from his wrath and looked towards Nanna who had caused them to eat with Sirius, involving them in her treason, and hoped that she would save them.
She smiled. Oh she loved a good check mate.
Odin's dagger eyes shot to her as she smiled, he knew her well that she was the one causing mishchief. She loved a good scandal and everybody knew it. "Discendents of Loki." Odin muttered under his breath, "I don't know why I even bother…"
Nanna's smile faltered a bit as she heard this.
"What is the meaning of this Nanna?!" Odin yelled at her this time, causing the Valkyrie to give a sigh of relief. "Why bring him here? To the very heart of our realm, do you want a war?!"
Nanna regained her composure and let out a scoff, turning her attention to pet her black wolf. "Odin I told you we would be having this banquet, the boy has come to pledge his allegiance to you, obviously. Why else would I bring him here?" She gestured for a Valkyrie to bring her a drinking horn and as she took the cup, she prepared herself to pour some Mead for Sirius to pledge with.
"Sister!" The Beta said, jumping up suddenly, interrupting her before she could pour it. "Perhaps it would be more reasonable for him to drink of this." The Beta held up a drink that appeared to be a bottle of fine wine and made eye contact with his sister, willing her to follow him. "I've noticed he didn't eat anything tonight of the banquet, perhaps he would prefer a little bit of blood to quench his thirst."
Odin frowned as the Beta walked past him and handed the bottle to Nanna, who then proceeded to pour it. "Odin, let him drink of this and it will represent his unyielding devotion to you, my Allfather. Let him defeat his father and bring glory upon my family once again. It is the thing the boy wishes for the most."
"Who are you Creature of Loki?" Odin asked Sirius, ignoring Nanna.
Sirius cleared his throat, "I am Sirius, son of Alastor the vampire king."
"Do you really wish above all else to defeat your father so our realm might have peace? Or will you follow in his footsteps and should I just end you right now for stepping foot in my realm dispite the fallen state of your being?" Odin's booming voice was intimidating. His anger nearly made Sirius quit breathing, but somehow, he didn't fear him like he did his father. Even if he killed me, he wouldn't torture me like my father would. Sirius thought.
He stood his ground. "Nanna is lying, I am not here to pick a side, I have come to ask for help to find my pregnant wife who has gone missing in a different realm. That being said, I will defeat my father, he is a horrible king who has brought shame on my race and devastation upon my people, and I wish to bring them into a more righteous era."
Odin glared at Nanna when he heard this. "So you have tricked this boy into coming here, knowing I would kill him, are you trying to cause a war amongst the Gods!? I should banish you with him instead for provoking me."
This caused Nanna to scowl. In her game of chess, Sirius had just taken out her favorite piece, the queen. Now she'd have to use her pawns to attack more subtly. She looked to her brother.
The Beta swallowed hard. "My Allfather, perhaps it would be best for him to pledge to you, how could we bring him here if not by tricking him? He is very worried about his wife right now, I'm sure he will pledge if we promise to help him find her."
Dispair washed over Sirius in that moment. "Allfather please!" He begged, "Please don't involve me in your wars! I just want a peaceful life, I just came here to find my wife, please don't give this Goddess her way! My father will kill me when he finds out, I am not ready!"
Odin scowled. Then his booming voice exploded at the trembling vampire prince, "WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO? I CANNOT ALLOW BANISHED CREATURES TO LIVE ONCE THEY'VE STEPPED FOOT IN THIS HALL UNLESS THEY SERVE ME!"
Nanna looked up at the ceiling and would have made eye contact with Saoirse in that moment if anyone else knew that she was there. She mouthed the words "check mate."
Saoirse watched in despair as Odin took the cup of blood, his face filled with disgust that anyone would survive off of drinking such a nasty substance.
"DRINK!" He commanded, leaving no room for argument, "Pledge yourself to me, man up, and go kill that father of yours. He has been the greatest thorn in my side besides Loki himself. Drink it and pledge to me or I will kill you now and that baby of yours will have no father, just like the boy in your arms. I will give you no other options."