So this isn't quite a rebirth rather than a return, but maybe we can say it will be the rebirth of the old ways?
Rebirth
“Augrharrrgh” Oðin spluttered awake and sat up in his bed.
“What is it, husband of mine?”
“Oh, Frigg! I had a terrible omen! A great horror descended upon the land and all peoples succumbed to it!”
“Shuhs, husband. It was just an omen. Go back to sleep. What time is it anyway?”
“It’s still that guy with the pompous name, what was it? United Nations.”
“Ok good, I’d like to sleep a few more centuries yet…”
Settling back, the two gods tried to go back to their slumber.
“Seriously tho, it felt very bad. I’m worried.”
“Truth be told, husband of mine, I feel a bit strange too. Maybe you should send the ravens out?”
“Huginn, Muninn! Go to Midgård and take a good look. I had a pretty nasty omen.”
“Ach, I’ll make us some nettle tea while we wait. No point waking up the boys, right?”
After a moment or a decade, the ravens were back.
Muninn spoke first: “Allfather, things are bad. Battles rage in many places and United Nations is weak, he cannot keep the peace. But our lands are peaceful.”
Huginn’s message was even more alarming: “Allfather, an ill wind blows. Many are worried about a pestilence, growing rapidly although beyond our shores. A red shadow rises.”
“I don’t like this, husband mine. Let us look.” She went into the throne hall, which had a bit of a musty smell, not having been aired for centuries. Sitting upon the high seat Hliðskjálf, she cast her eyes to Midgård. “I see the red shadow, and… giants! There are terrible beasts about to attack all humans!”
“Oh, by my beard! The Ragnarök is upon us! And here we slumber! Must be some ploy of Loki’s again! Run, wife of mine, rouse Thor, Balder, Tyr, Hod, Heimdall, Höder, Hermod, Bragi, Vidar and Vali! And send someone to Freya’s halls…”
The one-eyed god stormed off, shouting for his servants to waken and bring him Gungnir the spear. “And Sleipnir better have been well fed or there will be consequences!” The servants were running around and bumping into each other. The Allfather wasn’t nearly as grumpy at home as he often otherwise was, but he also wasn’t happy to be woken early and in the middle of a mess.
Soon the One-Eyed One galloped out of his gates, yelling: “My sons, Aesir, Vanir, to me! Ragnarök has come! And if anyone sees that snake Loki, I want him caught and brought to me at once!”
A general commotion broke out with all the Aesir and Vanir having been slumbering and now suddenly awake.
To everyone’s surprise, Loki peeked out of his house. “What is all the noise! Some of us are trying to sleep!”
“Loki, you traitor! Setting the Ragnarök upon us when we sleep! Do you really have no honour?”
“Ragnarök? What is this nonsense? Have you been at the mead of “wisdom” again, Old One?”
“Giants walk Midgård and an ill wind blows! Don’t try to talk your way out of this, Trickster!”
“Well, if it really is Ragnarök as you say, may I respectfully inquire how come Fenrir is still in his chains?” As if on cue, the monstrous wolf howled and rattled his chains.
Freya had also come out of her halls and walked up to Oðin and the assembling Aesir. “Loki is right. Fenrir is still bound, Yggdrasil is standing still, the ocean is calm. It doesn’t look like Ragnarök.”
“Hmmm, I guess you are right, O Fair One. But something is afoot in Midgård! I had a terrible omen, and Frigg saw it from Hliðskjálf. Huginn told us that a red shadow rises.”
“Well, hold on. I’ll take a look. Don’t do anything rash while I’m gone.”
Grumblingly, Oðin conceded. “But I’m not letting you go, Loki, before we get to the bottom of this!” Oðin grabbed his “brother” by the elbow and beckoned a few of his sons closer to make sure the Trickster wouldn’t escape by changing shape.
Freya flashed her falcon feather cloak and was gone. Soon she returned, alarmed.
“I am certain it’s not Ragnarök. Jotunheim is quiet. But in Midgård there really is a red shadow rising. It is looking very bad. I think our people may need us. That coward United Nations is powerless.”
Sighing, Frigga said “Well, there goes the sleep… but OK, since we are awake anyways, maybe we could keep an eye on our people until this passes? Whatever this is. Go get washed and dressed, and for our sake, air your rooms!” Asgård was swiftly coming alive again with the gods and their friends, troops and servants awakening from their slumber.
Privately, Frigg talked with her husband. “Old One, maybe you should have a private word with our folk in Iceland and Scandinavia. I noticed there is even a temple being built for us in Iceland, but the Scandinavians seem to have forgotten… but still, clearly this United Nations character is failing. Warning our own is the least we can do now.”
Sighing, Oðin put Gungnir away, put on his wide grey hat, and took Sleipnir by the reins “Come on, friend. We have a message to deliver.”
This was also inspired by some discussion a while ago about how come Iceland closed their borders so very early. There had been no deaths (reported) by the time they closed with only hours in warning, and remarkably, not letting even their own citizens, who just happened to be abroad, to return. In that discussion there was speculation about them getting warned, perhaps by some more mundane agency with surprisingly accurate information, or maybe they had some other type of Friends in High Places?
In reality the construction works for the new Asatru temple in Reykjavik were commenced in 2015. But maybe a couple of years here or there doesn't make that much difference for a goddess.
