Andvaka was leading the way through what seemed to be a labyrinth of tunnels most of which seemed like they were laid out artificially. Their ceilings were high above even Andvaka’s head and their width allowed for free movement. At first no one spoke a word; most of the explorers were more than reluctant following the giant woman, but it seemed like there was no reasonable alternative. The ice-devil’s hunting grounds meant certain death to trespassers and as they’ve come to realise there were but little chances to find yet another way out of this labyrinth on their own. Yet Kyra’s determination to meet Andvaka’s tribe of supposedly equally large women just to gather information about her family struck them as odd, especially when taking into account Andvaka’s menacing words. Even for Philian, recent events had been tough to wrap his head around and he was both curious and anxious to find out where their journey would lead them.

»Are all members of your tribe… you know…« Taras who was still carried around by Andvaka asked shyly.

 »Are all specimen of your species this small?« She interrupted him, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, and tightened her grip on his body so that he would let out a little grunt. »But yes, the daughters of Rindr are blessed with great height. Unlike your kind, we are not bound by age and keep growing until the day Freyja opens to us the gates of Fólkvangr.« She continued, not noticing the disbelief in the faces of her travelling party. Understandably, knowing that the tribe they were seeking out for help not only wasn’t too fond of humans but also supposedly consisted of giant people, didn’t help much in calming the group of adventurers down. Mathias exchanged looks with his better half to see if she was as freaked out as he was.

»This is nuts… We can’t trust that monster or its tribe, it even told us so…«, he whispered and Lysann just nodded slightly.

»We are also blessed with great hearing, boy«, Andvaka stated but didn’t even bother to look at him. Mathias turned a little pale but quickly regained his composure as he became curious. While Andvaka was obviously huge, she still didn’t look much older than Lysann or Kyra. Her skin seemed smooth and there were no visible wrinkles. In addition to that, and he better didn’t tell Lysann that he noticed, her breasts were as firm as they were big. »In our society I’m considered a grown man. I’ve seen twenty-seven cycles. If I may ask, what age are you then?«, he asked. Now he had her attention and Andvaka stopped for a second to turn around and Mathias couldn’t help but take a quick glance at her bosom once again

»We don’t measure our age in cycles but I believe since my birth, more than a century has passed on the surface« She answered and enjoyed the surprise in his face.

»I guess this explains why you’re so… big… but how can you still look so young?« Mathias asked while still occasionally glancing at her breasts. This was the first time they saw Andvaka smile and while it seemed friendly, her mouth and teeth were making Mathias nervous. He couldn’t help but ask himself how much of him she could fit in there and devour in one bite. »I guess it takes longer for us to lose the outward-advantages of youth but thank you anyway. But it will surprise you to hear that I am amongst the youngest and therefor smallest of my tribe« Andvaka answered keeping her smile up and giving Mathias a wink before she turned to continue down the tunnel without another word. Mathias gulped, how much taller would these sisters and mothers of her be? Nevertheless, the more they actually interacted with her, the less menacing she appeared. Their journey through the tunnel-systems continued for quite a while and every now and then they would engage in conversation to find out more about their destination and the potential risks of meeting her tribe. Andvaka wasn’t particularly chatty and would not reveal much; instead she’d often just smirk or chuckle when one of them asked another nervous question. »I can’t and won’t guarantee for your safety so you better treat my family with respect, be polite and hope for the best. It’s been a while since the last human found its way down here«, She said at one point and immediately got Kyra’s attention.

»Do you know anything about my uncle or aunt? Have they come down here?«, she asked. Andvaka stopped shortly and looked at her in mysterious fashion.

 »Maybe you’ll have the opportunity to ask Brussa about it. She usually handles affairs involving strangers.« She answered and pressed on. »Come now, we’re almost there!« The journey went on for a little while longer and the tunnels seemed to grow even larger in both height and width with every turn they’d take. In the dim light, Nessi’s torch emitted it had become impossible to see the ceiling but a gate had become visible at the end of the tunnel. A gate bigger than any man made structure any of the explorers had ever seen. Taller than the tallest building in the north, wider than the river Acheron and made of white wood that reflected the torch’s light. When they stood in front of it, all but Andvaka were gazing at it in awe. It had beautiful ornaments carved into its surface, ancient runes and even some pictures that told of stories unheard of in the north. The giantess put down Taras whom she had carried along and who seemed to be able to walk by himself again now.

»A dottir of Rindr has returned and seeks shelter among her mothers and sisters, open the gate for Andvaka! « The giantess’ booming voice echoed through the tunnels and not long after, with loud noise the massive wooden wings of the gate slowly opened. And behind them, there was a truly vast cavern. The term vast doesn’t even begin to describe the sheer scale of the hollow the group of adventurers and the giantess were about to set foot in. Philian’s eyes and mouth were opened wide as he gazed upon the beauty of Halheimr, the Lair deep below for the first time. Beacons, huge bonfires, lighted the underground city that was built into the cave. There were Mansions of stone and wood, each tall enough to provide shelter to beings much larger than Andvaka and amidst them there was a great hall right in the centre of the lair. A wide River separated the group from the city and an even greater bridge was leading across it. But blocking the view, was a giantess much like Andvaka but many a head taller and armoured in leather. Her skin colour was of ebony and her eyes were glowing red as she saw who was entering through the gateway.

 »Thou gavest me one name, Andvaka. Yet thou bringest forth seven faces unknown to these realms and without doubt unworthy. Wishest thou that I calleth upon the hound or disposeth of them myself«, the ebony giantess spoke and menacingly took a few steps towards Philian who was walking closest to Andvaka.

» I greet you Modgudr, sister of mine. I don’t owe these mortals and yet I’d wish for them to speak to our lady before any harm shall befall them. They won’t give you their names for they don’t belong here but their intentions are good«. Andvaka greeted her. Modgudr seemed far from pleased with this appeal and for a second there it seemed like she would ignore Andvaka and just crush Philian who was still dangerously close to her. He looked into her fierce red eyes in fear as she towered over him at almost twenty feet. Her legs were like logs covered in leather, her feet, clad in enormous boots, were large enough to turn a normal sized-human into paste with one stomp. In her right hand she wielded a massive spear and in the other a shield that seemed to be made of bones.

»Halja will not be pleased but you may pass« she pressed out and gave the bridge free. Only now the group would get the full view of Halheimr and as they crossed the bridge, the great hall in the centre of the city caught their eyes the most.

It seemed like a place where gods could live and walking down the countless stairs from the hall to the plaza there was a goddess. While Andvaka lead the way, the rest were speechless by the sight of not only the place but the deity that was approaching. Andvaka was dwarfed by her even from the distance; her hair was of ghostly white colour, her ivory skin glowing in the light of the beacons. Each step of her could be felt by the small humans who watched her in awe. Mathias and Taras instinctively kneeled down as she arrived. She was clothed in a white silken robe that covered most of her more private parts but still didn’t leave too much for imagination.

»Halja, Lady of Old and Mother of Mine«, Andvaka spoke to her and bowed slightly. Now the others of the group followed Mathias’ and Taras’ example and kneeled down in front of the goddess whose feet alone, now only a couple yards away, were as big as small buildings.

»Long have you been gone Andvaka, Daughter of mine. Long have I awaited your return from the outskirts of our realm and now the time has come. But what plague have you brought with you into our holy lair?« Halja answered and looked down at the kneeling humans to her feet. Her eyes were of an icy blue and pierced right through Philian as he arose to speak on the groups behalf. Too afraid was he, that Kyra’s stubbornness and pride would get them into trouble.

»My name is Phil…« He started but was interrupted abruptly when Halja pushed him over with her left foot and then rested one of her toes on his body. Philian hadn’t seen it coming and before he knew it, was buried beneath a toe almost as large as him. Its skin was smooth and while his predicament certainly was humiliating and uncalled for, it didn’t hurt much as the deity was not putting any weight on him yet.

 »You will speak when you’re told to speak« Halja said and lifted her foot of him. Philian took a deep breath and crawled backwards.

»Forgive them mother, and forgive me for bringing them here. They were forced into the tunnels by a demon of old wreaking havoc on the surface. Fate had it, that they would find me, trapped in ice and unable to free myself. In their decency they destroyed the prison that would have held me for ages to come and decided to follow me here to ask you for council.« Andvaka said on their behalf and the fierce expression on Halja’s face became more gentle and warm.

»Old Blákaldur is still on the hunt I see… You made a decision in order to keep your friends safe but you also seek knowledge…« Halja said as she turned to Kyra who was still recovering from what she had just witnessed happening to her brother. Being unsure about how Halja could have possibly known that, she just nodded.

»Oh it is okay for you to speak, but your brother and the other men you’ve brought have no voice here.« Halja stated. Kyra looked at her brother and thought about what to say.

»Lady of Old, Halja if I may… You must apologise our rude intrusion. This place and its inhabitants have been unknown to us and it is a lot to process. We came into the tundra to gather information and find supplies for the villages in the north. These men and women are my responsibility and it was but my decision to follow your daughter here. I ask of you to spare them and if you don’t want us here we will leave at once and we shall never disturb your peace again.« Kyra spoke. Philian was surprised and impressed with his sister. Halja smiled and seemed to think about it for a while until she reached a conclusion. »I fear it is not that simple, child. Never have seven of your kind at a time made their way to Halheimr. But on the surface there awaits certain death for it is Blákaldur’s realm and I can’t send you right into his icy claws with a clear conscience.« Halja spoke.

»That is most generous of you. Might I dare ask, is there another way through the tunnels that would lead to the surface outside of the ice-devils hunting grounds?« Kyra asked in a careful manner. Halja smiled and got down to her knees to bring her face closer to the small human.

»You have a way with words and your way of conducting yourself in the presence of a being that must truly scare you is wise and impeccable. So I will be honest with you. Your kind is not supposed to be here or even know of this place let alone of the daughters of Rindr. Usually if someone of your kind loses their way and end up here they meet an unfortunate fate so to speak, especially if unlike you and your sisters here, they resemble our fathers of old.« Halja explained.

»You mean males?« Kyra asked.

»Yes, the descendants of the one-eyed… Now it’s been many years since the last of your kind has come to the gates of Halheimr and few have lived to even talk to me. Many fell victim to the hound or were ripped to pieces by my daughter Modgudr« Philian shuddered at the thought of having that ebony giantess rip him apart. »But you behaved well and gave me reason to believe that your intentions are good. For now I can’t make any promises but I will provide you with shelter and nourishment so you may recover from your perilous journey while I will take council with my sisters and hopefully reach a decision regarding you and your friends’ fate.« Halja stated and arose. Andvaka gave Kyra a look that seemed to say: Well done; good for you and then offered to take them to a place where they could recover. Halja agreed, gave Kyra a last smile before she turned around to make her way back to her halls. While the others arose, Mathias stayed on his knees as he watched her leave. She was as huge as the tallest tree he had ever seen in the north and he tried to imagine the man it would take to please a goddess like that. Lysann noticed that he was staring at Halja’s vast behind that swung in a hypnotizing fashion from left to right with every step the giantess was taking, and hit him hard on his shoulders. »Stop it you pervert, you better be thankful that she didn’t take note of your glaring and that Kyra managed this delicate situation so well« Lysann whispered into his ear. They could hear Andvaka chuckle in a concealed fashion, before she signalled the group to follow her.