The following rant is brought to you by the demented mind of Daniela A. Wolfe

Well it's finally here! This is the final story in the Ragnarok Rising trilogy. As such if you haven't read Incompatible or the revised version Transfigured I would recommend doing so before reading any further. This story is the final one in the series and as such it won't make much sense unless you read the first two. This is being posted as a serial, there are twelve parts total and the goal is to post one every other day.

I've posted a glossary of terms (including the days/months and their English equivalents) to go along with these stories, it can be found at Bigcloset Topshelf, Fictionmania, & tgstorytime.

Shout outs go to the following people: Beyogi, Maggie Finson, Loki who served as either alpha and/or beta readers, The Rev. Anam Chara who helped edit some of the dialogue (spoken by the characters Hervor, Heime & Gilda) to more accurately reflect Elizabethan era English and last but certainly not least Holly H Hart for her superb editing prowess.

NOTE: The pre-history has been moved into a separate post. You can find it in the book outline under the title 'Ragnarok Rising Mythos'. It's a bit dry, but it does provide an overview of the mythology.

Well, I should probably start out by introducing myself. My name was Neil back before I become aware of the whole Ragnarok mess. I really don't look much like a Neil these days, but I'll talk more about that in a little while.

Many of you probably have no idea who I am, but you'll be getting to know me pretty well soon enough. Up to now you've heard the tale for the perspective of the Lady Aryanna le Fey, and there's been good reason for that, and to tell the truth she could probably tell my story just fine. We actually discussed it, but she feels that it's my turn to take the reins and tell you peeps what happened. So that's exactly what I'm doing!

A good portion of the story has been lifted directly from my journal, but I've expanded on it and added dialog where I felt it appropriate. That being said, Aryanna will be adding her own two cents here and there mostly to help the reader fill in the gaps.

I didn't actually start writing in my journal until after my first encounter with Hervor, so this first part was written entirely from scratch. It may not seem very relevant at first, but I felt it was necessary to tell of these events to help the reader understand some things mentioned further on in the story. So, let's get this party started, shall we?

The exact date was the twenty-eighth of Hostmander, and a small group of friends and I were just getting out of a telepicture. It was pretty late and there were only a handful of steamcars left in the parking lot. Our friend, Sophie Rolfe was moving away so we'd taken her out as a final goodbye.

We all went to school together and out of the four of us, Leif was the only one that wasn't a complete outcast. Sophie's social standing really had more to do with choice, she dyed her hair electric-blue and had a nose stud and set a of snake bites in her lips. She wanted to be an outcast, she didn't get along well with her mother and so acted out to piss her Mom off.

Ham, was an outcast because of his attitude. He hated the Spellbinders and frequently went into long tirades about why they were the ultimate evil. Not that I didn't disagree, but Ham would have spared himself a lot of problems if he'd just learned when to shut his mouth.

Now me, I wasn't really liked because of who my mother happened to be.

Like I mentioned before, Leif wasn't a complete outcast, he was athletic, half-way good-looking and was the son of a powerful Spellbinder. That being said, I wouldn't trade places with Leif for all the money in the world, even knowing what I do now. The Aquitaines were hung up on some of the oldest traditions, and they treated the male members of their family like crap. That really wasn't the worst of it either. Many Spellbinder Houses still forced their male sons into arranged marriages in order to maintain the 'purity' of the bloodline.

The men's rights movement had made some huge steps in the last twenty years or so, but the slowest change was coming from within the Spellbinder houses themselves. The government had created laws protecting men from discrimination, and it was becoming more and more common for men to get elected into positions of power. That being said, Spellbinder Houses still had far too much control over the lives and futures of their male descendants, and the greater majority of elected officials were still women.

Sophie, Leif and I had been friends for years. Leif and I really didn't know Ham that well, but Sophie had been dating him, so we'd thought it best to bring him along. Sophie was really very pretty, despite having a nose that was much too large for her face, but the two of us had never been anything more than friends. Leif, on the other hand, had been nursing a secret crush on her for years.

"Well guys, I had fun tonight," Sophie muttered.

"Yeah, me too," I replied back. Leif and Ham chimed in with agreements of their own.

We all offered our goodbyes and Sophie and Ham shared a kiss before we all departed. It was weird saying goodbye to someone that I'd known so long. I always figured we'd be friends for our whole lives. Well, life seldom goes as we plan. Sophie leaving was just a small bump in the road compared to the events that would soon follow.

I was just making my way over to my brand new Hudson Roadster XL7 when there was a loud thud from the hood of a nearby steamcar. My heart leapt up into my throat, but when I looked over to investigate I didn't see anything. Chalking it off to my tired mind playing tricks on me I continued on to my steamcar. When I was just a few feet away from the door, I could have sworn I felt someone's warm breathe on my throat. Then there was loud inhuman wail and the sound of someone or something scurrying away. I didn't know it them, but I came closer to death that night than I ever had up to that point in my life.

Well that really concludes my little introduction, the next part is from Aryanna's journal, then we'll hear from me again.

Freydag 3. Morsugur

I had a dream last night and the implications of that dream terrify me. In the dream wherever I looked there was madness and destruction. I watched as hordes of dark elves, trolls, draugar and other dark creatures swarmed across the land and the last remnant of humanity were squashed out like insects by gigantic Jotun, wielding weapons larger than the people they slaughtered. Even the goddesses were incapable of stemming the onslaught, and they too fell before the giants. Soon nothing remained but the shattered remnants of a once thriving world. I stared out into the crumbling remains of Midgard and wept. How had I failed? What could I have done differently?

In the dream, everyone I loved and cared about was gone. I was alone. What cruel fate would have spared me when everything else had been destroyed? Anger welled up inside me at the unfairness of it all. Why after everything I had done must I live to see the destruction of everything that I held dear? I screamed in rage and anguish and felt despair overtake me.

Suddenly, everything faded away and I found herself within a black expanse of nothingness. There was nothing save the darkness in any direction. "Aryanna Morgana le Fey," a soft voice said and a woman with flowing black hair and a serene smile on her face appeared. Despite the darkness that surrounded me the woman was clearly visible as if she were standing out in the brightest sunlight.

"What you have been shown has not yet come to pass and should we be successful, it will not."

"What is this place? Why have you brought me here? Who are you?" I asked.

The woman smiled, "I am the Goddess Nyorun. This is my domain, the world of dreams, and I have brought you here to speak with Frigg."

I shook my head, "Why?"

"It is for Frigg to tell you her reasons. Please follow me," she said with a dreamy smile, then swirled around and began to walk away without waiting to see if I followed.

I leapt after her and followed on her tail as the darkness fell away and was replaced with the brightest of white light. I put my hand over my eyes to guard against its glare, but it did no good. The light was so bright that it shone through my hand. I let my hand drop back to my side and noticed for the first time that Nyorun had disappeared. I spun around and found myself alone within the light.

"Be at ease, Aryanna," a soothing voice said from my side.

"Frigg," I muttered and turned to face her.

"The time is almost upon us," Frigg said smiling sadly. "The final battle looms ever more close. In just over four months the Jotun will come and descend upon Midgard."

"The final battle? Ragnarok cannot be so close. There is still too much for me to do," I said with a shake of my head.

"There is a task that must be completed before it is too late. One which grows more urgent as Naglfar grows nearer to breaking from its moorings.

"What would you have me do?" I said staring at the goddess with wide eyes.

Frigg smiled. "It is not you that must complete this task, mortal."

"Who then?" I asked.

The goddess's smile widened further as she spoke and told me what must be done. A sense of dread filled me and I awoke…

"Elska," the soft voice of Daniella said speaking softly into my ear. "What is wrong?"

I gasped and locked eyes with my partner of almost twenty years. Absently I traced my fingers across Daniella's soft cheek. "The final battle is coming," I muttered. "Oh goddesses, it is coming."

Daniella smiled reassuringly, "It was just a dream, my love. Go back to sleep. The final battle has waited this long. It won't be coming tonight."

I shuddered and kissed Daniella's hand. "It wasn't just any dream. There is a person I must find or all will be lost. Frigg has shown me what must be done."

Daniella frowned, "Who are you to find? How are you to find them?"

"She didn't say. She said only that this person's awakening would be marked by the touch of an elf," I said, quickly getting out of bed, "and that I would know them."

Daniella followed me out of bed, came to stand facing me then wrapped her arms around my waist, "What can you expect to do at this hour?"

I frowned staring at Daniella's glorious naked chest then lightly kissed her on the lips, "I'm going to find some answers."

My search for answers this morning proved to be fruitless. I spent much of the early morning hours searching for Brokk and a couple of my other sources to no avail. After returning home for some much needed sleep, I left the estates once again. It was getting dark at the time, but I knew Brokk's shop would still be open.

"By the beard of Dvalinn, you filthy little…" the clean-shaven dwarf said, trailing off.

"Oh, " he muttered a smile slowly forming on his face upon seeing me. "Sorry 'bout that. Filthy little beggar just wouldn't take no for an answer. I thought maybe he'd come back. What can I do for yeh Lady Aryanna?"

I smiled a weary tired smile. "Is your brother around? I was wondering if I might speak with him."

Eitri was probably the only cheerful dwarf I had ever met. Most dwarves had a gruffness about them that Eitri seemed to lack. He had an almost grandfatherly air about him. "No, sorry lass. Brokk hasn't been about in days. The conclave has got him busy runnin' all over the place. Yeh don't be needed more weapons do yeh?"

I shook my head, "No, probably not. You haven't heard anything concerning Nyorun or Frigg have you?"

Eitri's face cracked into a big frown, "Nothin' spercifically about the goddess o' dreams or the Allmother, but word amongst the conclave is that the goddesses are on the move. Some are even whisperin' that the final battle between them Jotun and the Aesir is comin' round the corner. O' course, I'm sure yeh would know about that wouldn't yeh? Being Frigg's champion and all."

"You would think so. Wouldn't you?" I muttered noncommittally. "What about the light elves?" I asked suddenly.

Eitri scratched his face, "As a matter o' fact, that there light elf Queen Hervor is in town. Saw her meself just a few hours ago."

"Really? That's interesting," I said remembering what Nyorun had said about the touch of an elf. "Any idea what she's up too?"

"Now that little piece o' information will cost yeh," Eitri said with a greedy conniving grin on his face. Greed was a favorite past-time of the dvergar that Eitri, it seemed, was all too happy to participate in.

I smiled and shook my head. "How much?"

"A hunderd gold trigguts, and I gives yeh one more weapon," he said.

I eyed the dwarf curiously, "Another weapon? What exactly do I need another weapon for?"

"It's the only offer yeh'r going to get. Take it or leave it."

"Very well, looks like I have little choice. I'll send someone with the payment along later provided your information is correct."

"Deal," the dwarf smiled. "Rumor is the Elf Queen is lookin' fer a half-elf."

My face drained of all color. "A half-elf? Goddesses! Neil!" I muttered then disappeared with a great gust of wind.

Freydag, the third of Morsugur

Oh Hel, this has been one weird frizzing ass day and I need to vent. I've finally started writing in this journal my gramor gave me for the festival of Jul. I keep thinking that maybe it's all just some weird dream, but I know better than that. I've been sitting here staring at this stupid journal trying to figure out where to even begin. I guess I'll just start at the mall…

It was just a normal Freydag, and I was standing around in the usual place waiting for Eva, my girlfriend, if she could even be called that.

"Hey there," a soft feminine voice said suddenly in my ear. "Sorry I'm late."

I grinned and turned to face Eva. She had a pair of dazzling ocean-blue eyes, shoulder length raven-black hair, a nice pair of breasts, a smoking hot body and the face of a valkyrie. I'd met her a few months back at a party. She'd been standing in the corner glaring at everybody that came near her. I don't know how I managed to do it, but somehow I convinced her to dance with me and we'd been together every since.

"Did you miss me?" she asked.

I grabbed hold of the girl around the waist and kissed her on the lips. "Fraggin' frizz, yes!" I said grinning.

"Good. I missed you too," she said, giving me a dazzling smile that made me weak in the knees.

I couldn't quite place it, but there was something odd about Eva. Don't get me wrong I'm crazy about her, but she keeps saying all this weird stuff. she will sometimes be brutally honest and she reacts to the most mundane things as if seeing them for the first time. There were other things too. She had never told me her last name, and I knew next to nothing about her. I don't know why I put up with it. Oh wait, yeah I do, she's freaking hot!

"Well, I can't get you out of my head," I murmured which was true enough. Despite the weird hluti I had to deal with I couldn't stop thinking about her. Who was this strange girl? Why wouldn't she tell me anything about herself? Where did she come from? I shook my head and grinned as I looked Eva in the eyes.

"I was thinking we could go–" I said stopping mid-sentence as I realized that Eva wasn't paying attention to me.

"Look at that one," Eva said suddenly. "She has a nice pair of breasts."

Eva was into girls too, which I really thought was pretty hot, but I found it a bit unnerving when she pointed out pretty girls for me to appreciate. Odder still, she fully expected me to point one out if I happened to find her attractive.

"Someone is following us," she said suddenly.

"What? Who would be following us?" I asked craning my neck to look around.

Sure enough, a woman with long golden locks seemed to be tailing us, and she really wasn't making any secret of it either. When I locked eyes with her, she flashed a smile, and that's about when I knew something was seriously wrong. I stopped mid-stride and stared at her with my mouth hanging wide open like some kind of idiot.

"I don't like this. Can we please leave?" Eva asked.

I didn't answer, not because I didn't want too, but because I couldn't. My feet were planted firmly on the ground, and I couldn't move them no matter how much I tried. My eyes followed the blond woman as she got closer. She was drop-dead gorgeous, yet I didn't feel the least bit attracted to her. There was something familiar about her, I didn't know why, but I knew I had never met her before.

"I feel deep regret," she muttered with a sad smile as she got closer.

"For what?" I asked dumbly finally able to speak.

The woman shook her head. A single tear ran down her face and she reached out to touch me on the right cheek with an open palm. "For the changes that I am about to invoke within thee."

Eva leapt at her, muttering something in a language I didn't understand. The soft glow of magic enveloped them both, and suddenly Eva went soaring through the air, and with a bright flash the blond woman was gone.

White hot pain shot from my face where the woman had touched me and surged through my entire body. I fell to my knees as sweat shot out from what felt like every pore and a strange lurching dizziness hit me. My stomach felt like it was going to explode and I clutched at it as my belly groaned in protest. The last thing I remember was hearing Eva scream and then the darkness poured in and brought me relief from my agony.

"Neil, are you alright?" Eva's voice echoed in my head. I blinked and looked up and felt my eyes bulge out of my head as two Evas looked down at me.

"Frizz!" I said groaning loudly. "I'm seeing double. What happened?"

"She touched you and you just collapsed. I tried to stop her, but she got away," she said tracing her hand across my face.

"She is a light elf," Eva added suddenly, and leaned over me, which granted me an awesome view of her cleavage in the process.

I stared up at my girlfriend in confusion, "A light elf? What would she want with me?"

She shrugged, "I couldn't say."

"How would you know she was an elf anyway?" I asked with a sigh.

Eva gave me a cautious look, "I-I know an elf when I see one."

"Holy Frizz I think you're right. Mom told me what light elves are like, and I think she could be one. Where'd she go anyway?"

"I don't know. She called up a travel spell and was gone before I knew what had happened," she said with a shake of her head.

I shook my head and laughed, "Frizz, Mom's not going to be happy."

I groaned and started to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me and I sank back down to the ground. It was about that time that I finally noticed the shield of spirit magic that surrounded us. I'd seen my mom raise similar shields before, so I was able to recognize it almost at once. The barrier must have been Eva's, which meant she was either a Spirit Mage or a Spellbinder. No Charmer would ever have the power to raise any kind of shield, and very few Enchantresses would be capable of raising a shield as large as the one that surrounded us.

Eva closed her eyes and placed her hand on my left shoulder. I gasped as a bright white light poured out from her fingers and shot through my body. Eva rocked on her haunches and she let out a soft groan as a shudder swept through her body. Her eyes snapped open and I could see an expression of pure shock mirrored in her eyes.

"It cannot be!" she screamed hysterically. "It's not possible! You can't be one of them! No!"

"Eva…" I said in a vain attempt to calm her down, but was cut short as the air around us seemed to ripple and the dome of spirit magic that surrounded us shook like a bowl of gelatin.

Eva's eyes widened further and her hand began to shake. "My Shield! I can't let anyone through my shield!"

Suddenly the air started swirling around almost if we had been caught in the middle of a whirlwind. A bright blue light temporarily blinded me and faded away as a large tear appeared in the shield. A woman with long auburn hair and an angry scowl stepped through the crack in the barrier and I felt my heart leap into my throat when I saw her.

"Frigg and Hel," I muttered under my breath and watched as the hole in Eva's shield closed behind my mother, Aryanna le Fey.

Comments, no matter how short, are very much appreciated. If you liked this story please take a minute to leave a review. Criticism is welcome, but only when presented in a constructive and positive manner.