Song of The Last Valkyrie

By Stephon M. Evening High School – English 12 (Characters and Creative Writing) 

SPPS Evening High School out of Gordon Parks gives opportunities to students to create original written stories based on ideas students already have but didn't commit to writing. This student writes about the Valkyrie. 

“Weave the crimson web of war.” My sisters sang in Valhalla. We were warriors. The most feared of all in Valhalla. Men would see us fly overhead in battle, wing and wind at our back, shield, and spear in hand, knowing Odin’s fleet watches over. 

“Let us go, and let fly…” They sang as they sharpened their swords and spears. “Where our friends the conflict shares, were they triumph, where they die.” My sisters chanted, as they perfected their aim with each arrow they fired. I wish they all knew their fates, as I did…

My name is Astrid. 

And I am the last Valkyrie. 

What happened? There was a tragic war… though my sisters fought to the very end, and faced death without fear. It was not enough. I was a Valkyrie yet I was not ready for battle. I was nothing more than a young girl. While my sisters fought for honor, glory, and to lead men to the great hall, I was fighting merely for my survival. My eldest sister, Rayla forced me from battle and hid me away. “This is not your purpose, child.” She said as I was tranced, and forced into sleep. When I awoke, the war was over… but I was born an only child. My mother, a shield. My father, a spear. The weapons I fell into slumber with. I was awakened to a strange, new world. The world I knew, of gods, of honor, and of the old traditions, gone. My sisters, my home, and my life had all disappeared. It was a world full of new technology and people. Mankind didn’t worship the gods as they once did, and those that did worship a god I don’t recognize. In little time, I’ve learned that the war that I was forced to sleep through… was over one-thousand years ago. Which is when I realized, I was the last of the Valkyrie sisters. 

Why Rayla? Why was I trapped for so long? Why did I awake only now? 

What is my purpose now? 

It's been eleven months… I still am uncertain of this place. But I’ve spent my time here tirelessly learning. History, language, culture even, with each passing day, this possibility of a new future for me draws ever closer. This life, it may not be what I have known, but this strange, new life has been… well how do you explain such a situation such as mine? The clothing is different, the philosophies are more progressive, people seem to be more free though this new bureaucracy has control over… almost everything. I’m unsure of how I feel about that. Especially saying that their “laws” as they are called, limit my freedom of flight. But, my wings... men of this time are not used to seeing such things, or at least not as often as I present them. Weapons in this time are forbidden to carry. Something I never thought I’d ever heard in my entire life. Men would carry weapons as often as they wear clothes in my time. But it is for good reason. Man's technology has advanced far beyond anything I ever even imagined. Its destructive power should be something only the gods can achieve. And so it seems that power has been used too often now. Man has lost his way through all this death and destruction. Fighting to destroy their enemies, rather than protect their loved ones. They seem doomed…

But…

I have hope. 

I’ve seen what man can do at its best.

I’ve met those with gifts of power obtained possibly by the gods. I have encountered them many times when dealing with the threats of man. While they may not be my sisters, they are true warriors. They are of mankind but are its greatest champions. 

There is one who moves as fast as Hermóðr, another warrior with the magic and deception of Loki.

And… a woman. One who named herself after the goddess of the sun. Sól.

I often do not applaud any mockery of the gods, but she does not mock. The goddess would be proud of this woman. She embraces her power, her very skin is engulfed in flames as she gracefully flies through the air. I was graced with her presence, as she was mine. Our Norse similarities gave us a deeper understanding of each other. After our last encounter, many of these “heroes” as they are called,  extended a hand to have me join their legion. I… have not decided. 

I know Rayla, looks to me from Asgard.

“Where our friends the conflict shares, Where they triumph, Where they die.”

“Weave the crimson web of war.” I could hear my sisters singing. 

This is the Song of the Valkyrie. When it is sung, I must call to arms, and protect mankind.

I am The Valkyrie and this my promise to you, my sisters…

Until Valhalla.