by Glenn “Maghnus” Wright
Long ago in Nastrond where Nidhogg gnaws on corpses, a stranger wandered in by mistake unaware of where he was. Looking up he spotted Nidhogg and politely asked, “Would you please tell me where it is that I find myself, kind friend?”
Nidhogg looked the traveler over and leered in the way that dragons do, and said, “Stranger you are in Nastrond – the site of the hall of evil-doers. Welcome to my chambers in Hel.”
“Ah, I see,” replied the young traveler. “And would you happen to know how it is that I find myself here?”
“Yes, I surely would,” chortled Nidhogg. “You are here because of the evil you did as a human.”
“But, there must be some mistake?” objected the young man. “I have not yet died that I know of, and I am an honest traveler of the world. I have harmed no man that I am aware of.”
“What of women?” leered Nidhogg. Have you done ought to make them sad, feel hurt or even abandoned?”
“Indeed not!” averred the young man adamantly.
“Then tell me your name that I might check my ledger to see why you are here.” said Nidhogg
“My name is Rolf, son of Gunner,” stated the traveler in a slightly trembling voice.
“What were you doing before you appeared here in my realm?” queried Nidhogg.
“I was resting alongside the road and must have fallen asleep,” said Rolf.
“Then that explains it all,” chuckled Nidhogg. “You are here so that you may see what happens to those who, unlike you, perform acts of evil on their fellow man during their lifetime. Behold the fate of the evil-doers and be warned lest you stray from the path of honesty and hospitality!”
Rolf looked around and saw half eaten bodies, crisply burned skeletons and skulls showing agonizing deaths that must have been a prelude to their dispatch here. “These people look like they have suffered terribly. Thank the gods that their suffering is now over,” said Rolf.
“Oh, their suffering is not over yet,” chuckled Nidhogg. “Their suffering lasts until Ragnarok, then those assembled in Gimli will decide. Until then they feed my craving for meat and blood.”
Rolf slowly looked around, taking in all of the gory details, feeling the evil frissoning in the air around him, aware of the chilly eyes of Nidhogg observing him closely. “Like what you see,” taunted Nidhogg in a stealthy whisper.
“Not really. This is a not a place that I wish to be,” stated Rolf.
“Then get back where you belong and never forget this place, for it is here you come if you change your ways,” roared Nidhogg.
Rolf suddenly awoke on the side of the road he had been traveling. “That was not a pleasant dream,” he thought. “But then, was it really a dream?” he pondered. “Who knows the way of the gods? I best take care in the future anyway.” he resolved as started out again on his travels.
