Meanwhile, Loki and Hel wasted no time in beginning phase three of their conspriacy. Loki, as promised, took Hel to Fenrir’s prison. As their small raft guided itself across the lake, Fenrir’s roars could be heard echoing in the still air. As they drew closer, Hel pondered what she would say to her long lost brother. She wondered what he would say about the battles just a few miles away. She wondered if he would even remember her, after all these years. Was he still the kid brother she dearly loved, or had his curse finally overtaken him.

Eventually, they came to the massive stone door and Loki used the royal spear to unlock it. As the door swung open a gust of wind blew in their faces, bringing with it the stench of wet dog and the clanking of chains. They both held their breaths as they slowly drew closer to the large black mass in the center of the room. There was an eerie silence that filled the air, until Loki came within a few feet and the black figure lunged forward with snarling teeth and rage filled eyes. Fenrir tried to cut Loki down where he stood, but his chains stopped his deadly claws inches away from his targets throat. Fenrir began snarling and roaring, straining with everything he had to rip Loki to shreds. Yet he was remained just out of reach. Loki just glared at the beast and grinned that same evil grin.

In time, Fenrir exhausted his energy and fell to his knees heaving heavy breaths. Once Fenrir had calmed down enough for their voices to be heard, Hel softly called his name. At the sound of his sisters voice, Fenrir looked up and the look in his eyes changed from rage, to bewilderment. For the first time in years, he laid eyes on his one and only friend. The next few moments were filled with hugs and tears as the twins were again united. But the sounds of war carried across the lake reminded Hel why they had come in the first place. She explained everything he had missed in the past few days, and that if he would help them, he could finally be free. However, Fenrir remained incredibly suspicious of Loki’s true intent. Loki responded with a long, eloquent speech that Fenrir barely heard because he was actually listening to Hel’s thoughts within his own mind. She revealed her plot to utilize the fire giants to exact revenge on Odin, Loki, and all the Aesir for their cruelty. Loki thought he had convinced Fenrir through his eloquent words, when truthfully it was the promise of Loki’s own demise that prompted Fenrir to obey; at least for now. With a tap of Loki’s spear, the chains that had left deep scars on Fenrir fell to the ground. Fenrir slowly rose to his feet and released a mighty roar that trembled the entire cave around them. The beast was free, and hungry for vengeance.

Far off in the distance, the fight continued with both sides struggling to maintain their advantage. Helheim and the Jotun were slowly giving way to the Valcare, but the Aesir were losing warriors; fast. Baldur and Thor had managed to coordinate their battalions and were each leading assaults to regain control of the Bi-frost. Odin was directing a search for Loki and Hel from his throne in Yggdrasill, but it was proving very difficult. They did eventually find their targets, but accompanying them was a long forgotten onyx-blood warrior smashing and slashing every thing he came across. The color drained from Odin’s face as he gazed at Fenrir for the first time in years. The pitch black fur matted and tangled from years of neglect, his wrists and neck torn by scars left by the chains, his teeth and claws just as sharp as the day he was wrongfully locked up. What scared Odin most though was the look in the beasts eyes. Eyes that longed for blood. Odin’s blood.

With the addition of Fenrir to the fighting, the Aesir found themselves pinned to the ground. Their men were dying left and right, and the enemy was only getting stronger. The Aesir eventually found themselves scattered and alone. They called for help from their other colonies but any that came through the gates were met with harsh resistance. Priority number one became to protect Odin, and the majority of the dwindling Aesir army set up a defensive perimeter around Yggdrasill.