Cheating Fate

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Cheating Fate was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2020 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5, in which a vision of one of Odin's memories could be seen.

Description

Having defeated Fenrir in battle and bound him with Gleipnir, Havi spoke with Týr.

Dialogue

Havi approached Týr, who laid on the ground after Fenrir threw him. He helped him stand up.

• Havi: I could not strike the killing blow. All my oaths remain unbroken.
• Týr: Anyone lesser would have succumbed to his hatred.

Týr touched the stump of his right arm and stepped away.

• Havi: If I could have done this any other way—

His friend briefly looked back, skeptical, then resumed walking to the clearing.

• Týr: There was no other way, Havi. Our fates are fixed.
• Havi: Fate or no, you've made a great sacrifice on my behalf.

Týr looked at the binded Fenrir.

• Týr: It was not for you.
• Fenrir: Do not think your kindness has made you a new friend, Lord of Imbeciles. I will kill you. All of you, gorging on Æsir flesh.
• Havi: You may strike the final blow, Son of Loki. But I will savor my years of freedom before we meet again.
• Fenrir: (growl)

Havi turned to Týr.

• Havi: Come, old friend. The healing hands of Freyja can help you.

Týr looked to the wolf one last time before following Havi. Some time later, Havi sat back on his throne Hliðskjálf when the Nornir suddenly appeared before him.

• Havi: Have you come to say what I fear?
• Urðr: Not to say...
• Verðandi: ...but to show...
• Skulð: ...a vision of the times to come.

The sky took on the appearance of the ocean and lowered to be within Havi's reach.

• Urðr: None living or dead now equal our Havi in arrogance. To believe that you could remake your fate thus...

The "ocean" submerged Havi and, taken by the currents, he swam upwards in the Well of Urðr in an attempt to reach the surface.

• Verðandi: For all your efforts, for all your struggles, the threads of Fate still bind you as tightly as ever.
• Skulð: And yet... from this pattern, a single strand escapes the fray... and stubbornly clings to weave. Æsir. Vanir. Your doom will come.

The vision changed to a room with a table surrounded by eight thrones, with a tree at its center. Havi, Týr, Heimdall, Freyja, Idun, Thor, Freyr, and Sif stared at an Ásgarðr in flames.

• Skulð: The earth will shake. The sun will die. Jötnar will stalk your streets, as fire rains upon your heads.

In the Well, Havi saw Urðr with her arms up in prayer. She suddenly turned to face him, but had a wolf's head in place of her face.

• Skulð: And the great wolf Fenrir will feast upon your blood.

Another vision of the room showed Havi and his trusted seven seated in the thrones and placing their hands in their respective bowls before them.

• Skulð: But you have found a way to live beyond this terror.
• Havi: Let it flow.
• Skulð: To cheat your death.

Urðr fully transformed into Fenrir and lunged at Havi, a piece of Gleipnir still attached to its neck. In the vision, the eight gods drank a mixture from the bowls.

• Havi: From the life-tree we go, to the life-tree we shall one day return.

A fetus in an ovular tank briefly flashed behind a face carved into the tree.

• Skulð: Mind and spirit will surge to a time far beyond your own. To a time in which you shall be reborn.

As the flames entered the chamber, Havi and the others spasmed in their chairs as the mixture took effect.

• Havi: None may follow. Loki least of all.

Havi smashed his vessel on the ground and stood up, looking to his friends.

• Havi: It is done. Time to face our end.

Havi headed to the exit that was wreathed in flame, followed by his fellow, all of whom bore Swords of Eden except for Thor, who carried Mjölnir. The vision ended and Havi awoke on the ground before his throne, shocked by what he had seen and stunned that the Norns had disappeared as quickly as they had come. He stood up and looked down over Ásgarðr.

• Havi: This was not my day to die.

After staring at the skies for a while, Havi performed a Leap of Faith and dove into the pool below the tower, just like he had done all that time ago. He then approached the long feasting table and spotted Týr sitting on a chair amidst the crowd.

• Havi: You fight well with your off hand, as if born to it.
• Týr: Easier than expected. And how does the world look through a single eye?
• Havi: It keeps me alert, focused. You are strong as ever, Týr. I'm glad for your swift recovery, body and hugr (mind).
• Týr: What's done was bound to be. I bare no ill will to any here, not you, not Fenrir, not even Loki.
• Havi: I'm not ready to forgive the trickster.
• Týr: Will you punish him?
• Havi: Not in this life. But he will not join us in immortality. The world we wake into will be free of his malice.
• Týr: If it must be so...

Havi then left his palace and walked to Freyja's Garden, where he fought Fenrir previously, encountering her calmly watering some flowers.

• Freyja: Your journey has borne fruit.
• Havi: Of the sweetest kind. Life. Which I intend to share, of course.
• Freyja: We are fortunate that luck follows you like a dark feline. Against all odds, your success is what redeems you. Endears you.
• Havi: And how charming do you find me now?
• Freyja: Just enough to keep me awake.
• Havi: I've barely seen Frigg since we—

Havi stopped himself.

• Havi: I will not give up. I never do.
• Freyja: Good.

Lastly, the High One crossed the village to greet Thor at the foot of a statue at an altar.

• Thor: All-Father! Giant-slayer! Doom-bringer! (laugh) Do you remember your fight with the Builder? The jötunn who disguised himself as a craftsman? It wasn't long ago.
• Havi: I remember.
• Thor: I must admit, it was a glorious kill! I should have told you then, but my envy consumed me.
• Havi: It was a good fight.
• Thor: We should go hunting soon! Remember the days we used to hunt? With our wolves, Geri and Freki?
• Havi: A good idea. We will hunt Jötnar soon... without the wolves. Just the pair of us, Skull-smasher. Bone-Breaker.
• Thor: Let old times be new times! (laugh) I will be seeing you, Old One. Sleep with one eye open!
• Havi: Farewell, Son.

Outcome

Havi saw a vision of his future, shown by the Nornir.

Behind the scenes

Upon completing this memory, if the player has not already woken up to return to England and conferred with Valka, speaking to all three of Havi's Aesir allies will automatically trigger the wake up.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla