Aelfhein – page 24
by AndyOH! from on (#43NXB)
"Hmm, best description I've found is 'naked singularity.' But this isn't really a hole to nowhere. It's more of an Einstein-Rosen bridge."
His eyebrows got all scrunchy. It was kind of cute as he asked, "Singularity, tesseract, Einstein-Rosen bridge, how do you know those words?"
Seidr shrugged. "I'm not entirely separated from Midgard. I shop for supplies every few months or so. I buy a lot of books and catch a few movies. But I've been speaking to you in Dikkilfarish, the Dark Elf language. And if I'm not wrong, you're picking up on Latin from my spellcasting."
She watched his jaw drop as he realized that was true.
"That is so weird," he said. "Why is that?"
Seidr shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. I think it's because Aelfheim is a higher realm. Mental magics are more effective here. You'll be able to speak with most intelligent beings of this realm."
Then she smiled. "If you don't mind my saying so, I'm impressed that you're able to attach meaning so easily to such advanced concepts. Now hurry after me, these don't last long."
She called out, "Bast! I'm going to the well!"
Seidr picked up the lamp and step into the circle, leaving him in the dark. Bast almost knocked him over as she raced into it behind her. Hans shrugged and, expecting a wall to the face, walked forward.
He found Seidr on the other side in a dark chamber. A metallic, clattering sound revealed Bast's location somewhere off to the left.
aI love this place!a
Seidr waved a hand and oil lamps around the chamber sprang to life. Hans gasped as he took in the mounds of trash and treasure filling the huge cavern.
Seidr swept her arms out and announced, "Behold, Urd's Well. Forgotten treasures from across the ages, so vast that even the Goddess of the Past has forsaken them."
She shrugged. "I've always wanted to say that to someone. Supposedly every item here is important to the future somehow."
Hans looked around, whistling softly.
"Shouldn't a well be full of water? What's all this stuff?"
"The well is dry. I don't know how long, but all these objects were once thrown into still waters or a well at some point.
She picked up a Chinese vase, turning it in her hands. "I'm not sure what to do with all the Ming Dynasty knock off vases, though. I swear, they must be breeding. It's been my work since I found this place to try to sort through and catalog all this. In two hundred years I've barely gotten started. What we're looking for is a wide leather belt with iron rings. I paid it no mind when I first came across it, but it might be . . ."
Hans piped up, "Thor's girdle of strength?"
Seidr nodded. "Very good. You've got the heart to take on Loki. I'm glad to learn you've got the wits you'll need as well. What else have you figured out?"
Hans joined Seidr in going through stacks of, stuff. "Ragnarok must have really happened. According to legend, due to Loki's machinations.
"Now he's here and Gni wants him ousted. Which she obviously hasn't been able to do. Also he's probably well guarded by his children, Jormungand, the Midgard Wyrm, Hel, Queen of the Underworld, and the late Fenrir, the Fenris Wolf."