Cheating Fate

Where are the paintings? This article is in need of more images and/or better quality pictures from Assassin's Creed: Valhalla in order to achieve a higher status. You can help the Assassin's Creed Wiki by uploading better images on this page.

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 darkened skies for a while, Havi performed a Leap of Faith and dove into the pool below the tower, just like he had done years prior. He then approached a feast near it and spotted Týr lying on a chair admist the crowd.

• Havi: You fight well with your off-hand. As if bound to it.
• Týr: Easier than expected. And how does the world look through a single eye?
• Havi: It keeps me alert, focused. You're 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 waken to will be free of his malice.
• Týr: If it must be so...

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

• Freyja: Your journey has born 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, endeers 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... 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 and 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.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla