section7mfu | "Stranger things have happened"~ for the Short Affair Challenge

Challenge: The Short Affair

-Prompt Word #1 - Recite

-Prompt Colour – Black

Author: mrua7

Title: Stranger things have happened

Word Count: Approximately 775

Dressed only his pants, Illya Kuryakin was restrained and tossed into a tide pool. Bound to a rock; the black water was as deep as his naked chest. It was frigid, and his teeth began to quickly chatter.

"Farewell U.N.C.L.E. agent. As soon as the tide comes in you will drown, but before that the crabs just might begin to feast," Halvor Ragnavaldsson laughed heartily as he began to recite a litany of names…."Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya I honor thee with this sacrifice!"

As the tide came in, the water began to rise, and was nearly at the level of Illya's chin. He was weakening as his body became numb. He shook his head to keep himself from giving in to the bliss that was sleep as it called to him like a beckoning hand of a woman. He swore he heard singing.

"Napoleon!" Illya shouted. Though it was pointless as he was sure his partner had no idea where he was.

There was a sudden gust of wind, and with it the tide began to shift, taking the water back out to sea.

"What in Hel?" Halvor snarled. He believed for the most part when a man died if he had lived an unexceptional life, he would travel to a place called Hel which lay far to the north and underground.

Hel was a thought of as being a cold and damp place where the spirits of the dead continued in a dreamlike form of existence. It was not particularly happy, but it was not torturous and one's time there was viewed as a long sleep.

Ragnavaldsson looked to the skies and shouted, shaking his fist.

"Why do you do this Odin? Was he not a good sacrifice?" Halvor was a believer in the old ways, though at this point he wondered if the gods were forsaking him.

There was another realm beneath Hel, where people who had lived bad lives were gnawed upon by a serpent called Nidhoggr. They slept in a hall that was made of snakes and dripped poison. This place, called Nastrond, was located on the shore of an ice cold subterranean sea.

Those who lived exceptional lives would travel to Asgard. the home of the gods and spend the afterlife in happiness. The exact dwelling that was given to these people depended upon their lives. A hero who died in battle would go to Valhalla known as the hall of the slain, and lived with Odin the king of the Gods.

That was Halvor's plan, to die the hero, but not just yet. He had it in his head to persuade the people of his homeland to return to the belief in the old gods even if he had to destroy many of them to do achieve his goals.

"Napoleon,"Illya called out in Russian, his voice becoming weaker."Pozhaluysta, pospeshite!"

Understanding the language, Halvor laughed again. "This Napoleon cannot help you. Why do you call out to a long dead Frenchman?"

"Beg to differ, "a voice spoke from behind him. "I'm neither French, or dead for that matter.

Not waiting for Ragnavaldsson to react; Napoleon darted the man and quickly jumped into the pool to free his partner.

Dragging Illya to the rocks, Solo rubbed his limbs to help bring back the circulation.

"Thank you Napoleon. I thought I was a goner for sure."

"Not if I can help it tovarisch, now let's get you indoors and into some dry clothes."

"Halvor's cabin is just up the hill." Illya tried to point but his body was drained of all its strength.

"Just one second," Napoleon turned to Halvor and tied his hands and feet with the remnants of the ropes that had bound Kuryakin.

When that was done, Solo gently lifted his partner and cradled him in his arms as they headed for the cabin.

Once there, Illya was warmed with a blanket and hot coffee.

In the distance they heard a great rumble followed by a loud thunderclap.

"I better go get Ragnavaldsson before it starts to rain," Napoleon said as he headed out the door. He returned a short while later, but alone.

"Please do not tell me he got away?"Illya asked. The Russian was now fully dressed in some of Halvor's clothing.

Napoleon twisted his lips. "Well, not exactly. He was dead, struck by lightning."

"Ahh, the wrath of Odin perhaps," Illya snickered.

Solo laughed. "And this from a man who doesn't believe in God?"

Kuryakin merely shrugged. "Stranger things have been known to happen, have they not?"

Napoleon wondered what that meant? Was Illya referring to his or Halvor's beliefs? The question was moot as the Russian had closed his eyes and was asleep….or was he?