Weary eyes scan the battle field; spy many fallen comrades,Mutilated bodies lay all around; white mists caress their forms,
And, somewhere in the distance, a solitary Raven cries ...
Odin's attendant scouring the dead for his Chosen Slain
Alvit survives, alone and scared; a blood red sunset ahead of him.
No glory for he in living; his soul yearning for rest,
To venture to brave Valhalla; his vain request denied by some cruel fate
Verdandi be damned ... Skuld, what hast ye in store for me?
Urd how could ye deny me?
Alvit survives but it comes with dismay.
Fine rain washing the blood away; his spirit exhausted;
His face pulled low to the ground ... again, the Raven cries,
Moving closer and closer ... until it flies overhead
The nearest cleaing axe lifted and tossed high into the air
With disgust, Alvit curses Odin's name ... his leige finally deserting him.
All of his village now perished, leaving Alvit on his own.
The twang of a bow, intense pain in his side, a fresh flow of blood
Alvit drops to the ground with a loud cry,
Weary eyes scan a shadow in the trees to his left,
His eyes close ... for one last time ...
Alvit survives after all.
A Valkyrie, armour clad, lifts him from the blooded grass,
Carries his tortured body towards the light,
The light where Heimdall stands waiting, a smile like the sun across his face,
Alvit opens his eyes wide and sees the turrets then of legendary Valhalla ...
Far in the distance, the Valkyrie laying him gently down on the dusty road,
And, on shaky legs then ... Alvit walks slowly on
Heindall granting him passage across Bi-Frost ... the Rainbow Bridge ...
And, after a timeless passage, a beggar man stands before him,
A peak cap tilted to one side ... Old One Eye waiting there for him.
An ageless quality to his one remaining eye ... wisdom beyond wisdom there ...
Gangrad stands there before him with an open smile; hands out in welcome
Mighty Odin ye hast not denied me, Alvit falls to the ground
Valhalla to be his eternal home
Alvit survives ... Alvit had been chosen after all.
Written by Matthew James 2001
