Forged in fire

Niðavellir wasn't always such a terrifying place, but now it was a realm in a constant state of darkness and cold. The sun that had warmed it for many centuries before was frozen by eitr.

The dwarves built their mines underground and found warmth from the fire. Living without a sun caused them to have dark, almost black skin and bright white eyes that could see well in the darkness. Only a few places were built on the surface and one of these places was Draugr, a fortress next to the Falljárn, where Yrsa and Skadi portaled to.

They didn't expect it but they chose the worst possible time to go to the realm. There was an attack on the dwarves happening and they were losing. On the opposing side was an army of troll lords - outcasts and scavengers, strengthened by decades of wars and victories.

The trolls wanted the mountain's riches and the dark dwarves feared they would kill the creature guarding it. It was an immortal black dragon-serpent called Myrknár that produced the fires for the dwarves' forges and homes. In return, they gave it dominion over the mountain. They promised not to touch its riches, and to be sure, they cursed the riches to kill anyone who would take them without approval. That still didn't stop the trolls, however. Their greed being too strong, too rooted.

Yrsa and Skadi were greeted by the king of the dwarves, Hreiðmarr. They bowed before the Dwarf King who led them to a safe room within the fortress' walls.

"What is happening here... and how can we help?" Skadi said. The king was visibly tense but kept his face straight, even if the odds were not in his favour.

"The trolls have finally come for our riches. We have sent word to our allies but it will be too late before they arrive. If you wish to live, you better leave. Right now," he strongly suggested.

"We can't. There is something we are looking for and we believe it's in Falljárn. It is of grave importance. Please, we will do whatever it takes," Skadi pleaded.

"We will win your battle for you," Yrsa said, confident they couldn't lose. It was just a bunch of scavangers against two goddesses. The odds were in their favour.

"That mountain is not in my domain but if somehow you turn the tides of this battle, I can try help you as long as it's within my power," the king replied.

"Consider it done," Yrsa said, with a serious look on her face. They walked out of the fortress and went right to the middle of the battlefield. Then, Yrsa took out a black ram horn and blew into it. She summoned the Wild Hunt and then, the horn broke, fulfilling its purpose. It was a one-time summoning item. Very powerful and very, very brutal.

Almost immediately, a huge black cloud started forming above. It spread until it reached the ground itself. You couldn't see a thing. Everyone on the battlefield went silent. A feeling of terror spread and no one moved. Then, loud barks and growls emerged from the shadows. The hounds of Hati ran through the clouds, ripping apart every troll and seizing their souls, empowering their magic.

It was all done quickly and when the cloud dissipated, Yrsa was left with a newfangled horn in her hands. The Wild Hunt rode the clouds only for the Gods and themselves, and when called upon, a fair fight was not to be expected. The hounds were, after all, the blood of Fenrir.

Nevertheless, the dwarves were happy to live another day and for that they were thankful.

The king led them to the serpent and around its neck they recognised a gem which looked exactly like the one on the sceptre. The gem was all they needed, so the king of dwarves offered to replace it with another one. The serpent was indifferent to jewellery, so it agreed.

"Myrknár, where did you come from? I didn't think there were any creatures left on this planet," Yrsa asked, sitting beside her. She was coiled up, almost cat-like. They were in a huge cave with stone statues of past kings decorating the walls and there was a large fire in the middle. You could hear hammers hitting the giant necklace from a few halls away.

"Níðhǫggr bore me as an egg but when I was still small and powerless, I fell into a river that carried me across the realms. I ended up in Muspelheim and a fire giant placed me on flames to eat me but instead I hatched and he traded me to the dwarves thinking I was just a small pet," she replied, opening her golden eyes.

"Wait... Muspelheim. Yrsa, what if this is the fire of Muspelheim Mimir told you about?" Skadi suggested.

"You're right. Myrknár, can you breathe your fire on this?" Yrsa asked, placing the two items on an empty metal fire pit. The serpent stirred and flames washed over the sceptre and jewel. The fire turned white and almost too bright. So bright, that it blinded the three of them for a few seconds. When their eyes adjusted, they saw a large hammer in the pit.

The sceptre was wider and shorter and the rainbow gem fit around the top in the form of a rectangle. Altogether it was a good meter in size and when picked up very light. The two gems - the head and the smaller one in the bottom - were both shining and illuminating their surroundings like a torch.

Yrsa took it in her hand and felt its power.

"This is incredible. I think you should try it out," Skadi suggested. Yrsa had just the idea of what to do.

They went outside and she pointed it towards the sun. A very bright bream, much like the one Bifrost makes, shot into the frozen sun and it melted the layer of snake venom. The sun shone once again and centuries of darkness were broken, finally.

Then, Yrsa struck the dark, dry ground and tall oaks emerged, grass, bushes, flowers... the frozen seas melted and wildlife appeared that hadn't been seen in years. Life was brought back on the planet and, most importantly, the soil was rich again.

"It's a miracle," the dwarven king gasped, reaching his hand out to touch a small blue flower in a patch of dark green grass.

"No... not a miracle, just some very powerful magic," Skadi replied.

"How can we ever repay you?" the king asked.

"Well... I suppose it would be best if you kept what happened today a secret. We wouldn't want any unwanted attention," Yrsa said, hiding the hammer in her magical pouch.

"Of course. We are indebted to you, goddess," the king thanked them.

They waved him goodbye and passed through a portal.

Deep in the warm caves of Falljárn, Myrknár uncoiled and revealed three small eggs, which were starting to hatch. They would later become the symbol of dark dwarves and protectors of their realm.

Their names were Beradýr, Svelldýr and Mendýr, after Yrsa, Skadi and the gem which would save the universe. Even if the events of that day weren't written, they carried on in these names through history. And in the tales of old.