Valhalla

Listen...

The wind tells a story, one that took place a long time ago -

- when Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, stood in the centre of the world.

In Asgard, land of the gods of the Vikings.

Here lived the one-eyed Odin, king of the gods -

- and the mighty Thor, god of thunder.

From all over Asgard, the gods would gather here, in Valhalla -

the greatest castle of all.

Here they received the worship of mortal men -

- which gives strength and life to gods.

From Valhalla, Odin surveyed the three worlds -

- and from here, he sent out his ravens.

To gather news from faraway lands.

Beyond the land of Utgard -

- home of the race of trolls whom men called giants -

the lords of darkness and chaos...

Beyond Utgard was Midgard, land of humankind.

Home of proud Vikings and industrious farmers.

From time to time, the gods went to Midgard -

to visit their human worshippers.

Tjalfe, come inside! There's a storm coming.

You'll get soaked, you silly boy!

Shoo!

Roskva! Come back, both of you, or I'll send your father after you.

Greetings, good people. Allow me to introduce myself.

I am Loki, the magnificent.

This gentleman is Thor, the god of thunder, the roisterous...

That'll do. We're staying here tonight.

- We haven't much food to offer... - Don't worry.

- I'll kill one of my goats. - We could make a...

But isn't that unfair on the poor goat?

Don't worry. He's used to it.

Are you really the mighty Thor?

Yes.

Why are you sulking, Roskva?

He can't just kill the goat like that.

Of course he can.

He's a god. He protects us from sorcery and giants.

He is a mighty warrior. He is strong.

Take this, and that, you monster!

And now, the final blow!

So you give up, huh? Victory is mine!

Tjalfe, the mighty cow slayer.

You wait and see.

Children, come in here.

The meat is tender.

Remember: Eat as much as you like -

but don't break the bones.

Throw them onto the skin afterwards.

Tomorrow, when I spin my hammer above them -

- the skin and bones will come to life again.

Here's a great story.

Once I was out fishing, I caught a gigantic fish.

Unfortunately, it got away. But it wasn't my fault.

Me and Hymer the giant went out on the vast sea -

- that surrounds the world to catch the Midgard Serpent.

For hook I used an anchor, and as bait an ox head.

...just when I was about to land it. Hymer, that big, fat coward.

The Midgard Serpent got away, of course.

I should have known better than to go fishing with a giant.

Bunch of sissies, giants...

Tell me, Tjalfe, don't you like bone marrow?

I love it!

- Why don't you have a taste, then? - Thor said...

There are so many bones. Who is going to notice just one?

But perhaps you are afraid?

- Thunder. - And tears forming.

What's this? Get out here immediately! Now!

Look at that. Which one of you did it?

- Er... I think it was me. - You? Come here!

- But he said that... - Come now, Thor.

- Boys will be boys. - Nonsense!

Let's say that as punishment for harming the goat, he'll come with us -

- and be your servant. He looks like a strong lad.

- Well, I don't know... - Good. That's settled then.

Today is your lucky day, young man.

It is a rare privilege to become servant to the god of thunder.

Congratulations, my dear friends. What an opportunity for a young man.

Servant to the thunder god...

- Will he be all right? - Of course he will. He's tough.

What an honour! You must be so proud of him.

He is to live in Asgard with the mighty god of thunder.

Now, let's have some breakfast.

- Where are you going, Tjalfe? - To Asgard, to be Thor's servant.

- Will you get to fly in the wagon? - I suppose so.

- But aren't you afraid? - At least I won't have to chop wood.

I get to see the world and go on adventures and fish for serpents.

- Can I come too, Tjalfe? - No, it's not for kids.

Run along now. Thor only wants men...

Roskva...

I'll be leaving soon, so I just wanted to say...

- It ought to be around here. - What?

The rainbow, young man.

Ah, there it is.

Come along, Tjalfe.

Åretty, isn't it? Now, come along, boy.

- It won't break, will it? - Of course not!

- I built it myself. - Of course.

And so Roskva and Tjalfe came to Asgard.

Asgard, the land of wonders.

The land of the gods.

To Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life.

To Valhalla.

And to Bilskirnir, Thor's home.

Tjalfe! Roskva! Come and help me with the children.

Adventure...

Tjalfe, hurry up. She's waiting for us.

Tjalfe! Roskva!

Work, work, work. Why do we have to do everything?

Thor is always out rumbling and having fun, and Loki is never here.

Well, you know Loki.

For the last time: Get me out of here, you little, miserable...

Åull me up immediately, or it's straight back to the giants for you!

Quark, my little friend...

Ålease help Uncle Loki out of here.

Good boy.

Damned brat! You're disgusting. An embarrassment to your family!

Help! Can anyone hear me?

Help!

They're crying because they're teething, right, Sif?

I don't remember when I was teething, but I'll bet it hurts a lot.

Sif, he's wet again.

Hello, everybody.

Sif.

- Having fun, boy? - Well, I...

What a day.

Tjalfe!

Some mead.

Come to Daddy.

Thanks, son.

I might take you out hunting trolls one day.

Roskva, Thor said he might take me hunting.

Sif, they're crying.

So I hear. They are teething. You know that.

- Can't you do something? - Yes, my love.

There.

Let's eat.

- Hello, my dear friends. - Loki... In time for dinner, as usual.

- What is that? - I Don't know. He followed me home.

I met some extraordinary people.

- Trolls and giants, I suppose. - I leaned some amazing tricks.

- It's pure magic. - Magic?

- Have you been at Utgardsloki's? - I simply must show you this.

- Loki, control your little friend. - Yes, yes. Now...

I take an apple, a few rose leaves, and abracadabra...

A beautiful, bright, beguiling, breathtaking...

...bat?

You little brat! Go stand in the corner where you can't do any harm.

If you're so good at magic, then make him disappear.

Unfortunately, the spells don't last, Thor.

What's he doing now?

- There, there... - Oh, children will be children.

- Loki, who is he? - His name is Quark, I think.

I needed a bat for the next trick anyway. You'll love this.

- From now on... - Ålease!

No more trouble!

Roskva, Tjalfe. Gather round. This is really exciting.

We need two pebbles and the eyelash of a serpent.

Mix them all together. A little water, and a sprinkling of mistletoe.

Loki! The little beast is torturing my children!

- How long is that brat staying? - Until he's learned some manners.

Well, I can't wait for that. We're leaving now. Goodbye!

That does it! Let me have that little monster.

Calm down, Thor. Sif will be back.

Sif will be livid. If you want to make thunder, go outside.

I'll clean up in here. Off you go.

Dear me, what a mess.

Åoor things. I wish I could help, but I have things to do.

I'll be in my room.

Out!

- What's he doing here? - Never mind him. We're busy.

I could sure use some breakfast.

Where is everything?

Never mind. I didn't need that plate anyway.

Good morning, dear children. You're up early.

What? Oh, no!

I noticed you hadn't quite finished. But I'm sure you will.

- You made the mess! - You clean it up.

You seem to forget something. I'm the god, you're the servants.

- Now, start sweeping! - No!

- You'll do as I say. - You can't tell us what to do.

- This isn't your house. - We'll see about that.

Him again? Just wait until Thor hears about this.

He won't listen to us.

Odin! King of the gods.

- What about him? - Well, he's king of the gods.

He should be able to help us if only we could get to him.

King of the gods? We'll just get into more trouble.

- We had better wait for Thor. - You wait then. I'm leaving.

Long way down, isn't it?

We have to wait for Thor. We don't even know this Odin.

He definitely won't listen to you. You're just a little girl.

What are you doing?

Escaping.

We don't care, do we?

- Out of the shadows they came. - Look! Maybe they know the way.

At you service we are. Definitely.

- Well, do you know the way? - Are you looking for Odin?

We want to ask him to do us a favour.

- Strange creatures from beyond. - The boundaries of time.