Chapter 2

(2 months earlier)

The heavy rattling of the cargo plane kept its passengers from dozing off completely. The motors were loud and Valka lazily peaked out of one of the small windows as her head rested on Stoick's big arm.

They were currently flying over the Atlantic Ocean and heading for Norway, where they would charter a smaller flight to one of the many islands off of the coast.

Valka mumbled as she snuggled closer. "You aren't being a very good pillow."

Stoick merely huffed as flicked through the documents that they've been sent. "Just trying to catch up on my reading." He mumbled.

"Didn't I tell you to do that before we left?" Valka asked. "Now you've hardly gotten any sleep and you'll be cranky when we land."

"I won't be cranky." Stoick insisted as he flipped a page. "I probably wouldn't have gotten any sleep now that we might actually be close." He said as he stared at a photograph of the seal which was etched into the stone of the tomb they would be visiting. The seal was a circle etched in stone with an axe and a dragon carved into it.

Valka hummed in agreement. "We have been searching for this particular tomb forever."

"Excuse me ma'am" One of the men accompanying them on their expedition spoke up. "What is the significance of this particular tomb and why is The Society so eager to get their hands on it?"

Valka sat up straight and stretched before taking the photograph of the seal. "The Society has existed for centuries gathering those who want power to change this world. This seal is that of the Eternal Valkyrie, who rose to power quite quickly and ended the countless wars plaguing her homeland, and I'm sure you are all familiar with that legend."

"There are several legends about her to be precise." Stoick spoke up. "The people during that period were quite superstitious. The most prevalent however is the one where she would grant power to those loyal to her."

"But.... she's dead sir." Another spoke up. "How is she going to grant anyone anything?"

"That is what we are going to find out. It is most likely that she simply was an important woman in Viking society and men made up legends about her. The power may refer to the weapons she used in combat or that she was a great teacher." Valka explained as the other men nodded. "If this really is the tomb of the Eternal Valkyrie then we will have made one of the most significant archeological discoveries of the 21st century."

"Aye, some scholars believe that the Valkyrie was but a myth and that she never existed at all. We hope to prove them wrong." Stoick added. "The Society is funding this expedition because they wish to uncover the truth behind her power."

"Ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. We are approaching our destination and will be landing in ten minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts. Ground control has warned us of a heavy storm system currently over Oslo." Came over the speakers.

Everyone buckled in as they felt the plane descending. It was three minutes before the turbulence began. "Oh Stoick I hate weather like this." Valka grumbled as she sat closer to her husband.

The landing was rocky as the plane rolled onto the tarmac. Heavy rain pounded against the windows as the back of the plane was opened to reveal several jeeps coming to meet them. The jeeps stopped in front of the plane opening and a man stepped out opening an umbrella.

"Dr.'s Haddock?" The man asked Stoick and Valka who nodded. "Eret Eretson, I'm The Society liaison for this project." He said as he shook their hands. "We best get going. Your men will follow shortly. They already know the route." He mentioned and then gestured to one of the jeeps. The other men accompanying the Haddocks on their expedition were busy unloading the equipment onto the jeeps that they would be traveling in.

Valka and Stoick stepped into the backseat while Eret got into the driver's seat. He started the jeep and they drove ahead. Eret looked at the couple as they left the airport. "The paperwork has already been taken care of with the authorities. For all anybody knows you two are here merely to examine some artifacts."

Stoick nodded. "How is media control going?" He asked.

"We've managed to keep the villagers from going to the media and the authorities only know that you'll be inspecting some artifacts. We have an extraction team standing by if this really is what we have been searching for." Eret explained.

"That's good." Valka said. "Those who will be helping us know the bare minimum so I would like to keep it that way. Any news on the location of the scroll?"

"So far we have managed to narrow it down to the village a few clicks to the east of the tomb." Eret explained. "They are the oldest village in the area and we suspect that they knew of the tomb's location. You'd have to talk with the village elders themselves to get more information but they've not been very welcoming."

"I'm sure we can convince them otherwise." Stoick said.

Eret drove them to a private airstrip where the Haddock's saw a Chinook waiting for them. "This will take us to the site. From there we can take a jeep to the village."

Valka and Stoick nodded. "We'll need to phone in first." She said as Eret then handed her a cellphone. Valka dialed a familiar number and waited for it to ring.

"Hello?" Came the gruff voice from the other side.

"Alvin, it's Valka. We've reached Oslo safely and are now heading towards the site. Are there any new developments on your end?"

"Nothing new so far." Alvin grumbled. "I have Dagur standing by once you find what we are looking for. The room however is ready."

"Alright, we'll keep in touch." Valka said before ending the call and giving the phone back to Eret.

The helicopter ride to the site took little under 2 hours and the weather was clearing up as they landed. "Right this way" Eret gestured as he led them to the dig site.

Stoick and Valka descended the wooden planks to the tomb and began inspecting the seal. "Stoick this really looks like it could be it." Valka exclaimed as she ran her hand along the carven lines.

"Aye dear. The seal looks untampered with." Stoick said as he wore his glasses to inspect it further before turning to Eret. "How are you planning to open this?"

"We were thinking dynamite." Eret said but Stoick frowned and then said. "I don't want this stone damaged."

"An explosion could also damage the integrity of the tomb." Valka stated. "We'll have to carefully pry the slab open."

"I'll tell the men to set it up then." Eret said as he called for one of the workers. "Shall we head to the village now?"

The jeep drove away from the site and to the village. The road was rocky and Stoick grumbled as he hit his head against the ceiling of the jeep as they went through a pothole. The village soon came in sight. As the jeep drove through the village Valka and Stoick observed various people glaring at them and giving them nasty looks.

"You'll get used to it." Eret grumbled as he paid the villagers no heed. "They seem to think that we have no business disturbing the tomb."

"Whether they think it or not this has to be done." Stoick grumbled. "It is a chance for us to further The Society's goals."

"Pardon my asking but how did you get involved with The Society?" Eret asked as they passed the square where a statue of a Valkyrie on a dragon stood proudly. Valka raised an eyebrow observing the statue before turning to Eret. "We wanted to make a difference but found that it was hard when one doesn't have the influence or the power to back it up."

"We were almost laughed out of academia for our theories on the Eternal Valkyrie and it was that time that The Society approached us." Stoick explained as Eret stopped in front of an ordinary looking house.

"So your agendas lined up." Eret said as he shut off the jeep. "They fund the research to find the Valkyrie and you prove those who mocked you wrong, while all of us have a chance to receive her power to change the world."

"That is if the legend is true and these items from the gods really do exist." Valka explained.

"You don't believe in the legend?" Eret asked.

"I'm a practical woman. I'll believe it when we can resurrect her." Valka stated as they got out of the car.

Eret proceeded to knock on the house's frontdoor. The door opened a crack to reveal a young brunette woman who scowled upon seeing Eret. "We don't want you here!" She yelled before slamming the door in his face.

Eret let out a sigh of frustration before knocking again. "We just want to speak to the elder!!"

"Well too bad for you!!" Was shouted from the other side.

"Oh, come on!!" Eret growled. "We just want to talk!!"

"Well have fun talking to each other!" Was now shouted and Eret banged his head against the door in frustration.

"I swear that sass reminds me of Hiccup." Stoick whispered to his wife who just rolled her eyes. They could hear some noise on the other side as the young woman opened the door wider. Eret who still had his head against the door fell forward face first onto the floor.

The young lady rolled her eyes before speaking to Stoick and Valka. "It seems that my grandmother wishes to speak to you." The woman said but didn't sound happy about it. Eret had already dusted himself off and tried to look presentable but the faint redness on his cheeks gave away his embarrassment.

"This way." The lady said as she showed them the small living room where a tiny old woman sat looking at a movie. "Grandmother, I've brought them, although I cannot understand why you would need to speak to these outsiders." She then turned to the visitors. "Everyone this is the village elder Gothi. She only speaks in runes so I'll translate for you."

"Why does she only speak in runes?" Stoick asked as the old lady grabbed her staff.

"Beats me." Her granddaughter stated. "But I suggest you heed her words."

Gothi stood up and moved to the backyard where she began scribbling in the sand. "You are disturbing the tomb of the Valkyrie. Why?" was translated to them.

The Haddock's saw no reason to lie to the elder so Stoick said "We are searching for the Valkyrie to prove our theory."

Gothi gave Stoick a serious look before scribbling "and?"

"We wish to know the secret behind her powers." Valka added.

"You wish for the Scroll of Ages." Gothi now scribbled. The trio nodded.

"Do you know what you are getting into by reviving the Valkyrie?" Gothi now asked giving them a serious look. "She will continue her quest. She will gather allies and she will exact her vengeance. Are you prepared to face all of the consequences that will follow?"

Stoick and Valka were about to answer when Gothi put up a hand. "Give me your answer when you have thought it through. Are you absolutely prepared for the consequences? Lives will change because of this."

Gothi ended the conversation after that and the three were shown out. All of them piled into the jeep as the old woman's words rang through their heads.

"Is there really such truth to a scroll which can revive the dead?" Valka muttered as she began to doubt.

"That old lady did seem pretty convincing that it was real." Eret said quietly. "She knew exactly why we came."

"Reportedly the scroll was written by a shaman who received a vision from Odin after the Valkyrie was slain. He created the scroll which contained the spell to bring her back." Stoick said.

"What does that have to do with any of this?" Eret now asked confused as they drove back to the site.

"That village probably has descendants from that shaman and they seriously believe that the scroll has the power to awaken the dead." Stoick explained. "Her warning might just be her belief that the dead shall rise again."

"And what about The Society then?" Eret asked. "They wish to revive the Valkyrie as well. It can't just be a myth."

"We honestly don't care what The Society believes." Valka stated. "We came here to prove her existence."

"So basically, you're not looking a gifted horse in the mouth." Eret laughed as they drove back to the site.