I Am Zeus-Chapter 53: The Naming Ceremony 2

The feast hall pulsed with warm light as the Skalds’ low chants grew into a rising chorus, their voices weaving old words of blessing and power. The gods settled along the carved benches, polished bronze cups now filled with thick golden mead that caught the flickering torchlight with each tilt. Servants moved silently between the tables, placing platters of roasted boar glazed with honey, braised venison, and steaming loaves of barley bread studded with crushed juniper berries.

At the high table, Odin sat with Frigg at his side, her pale hair glowing softly in the hearthlight as she cradled their newborn son wrapped in thick white furs lined with wolf hide. Zeus sat to Odin’s right, his broad shoulders unmoving as he watched the gathered gods with calm golden eyes, each flicker of lightning beneath his skin casting faint shadows along the carved wood of his throne.

Hera sat just behind Zeus, positioned carefully beside Frigg, her crimson robes pooling around her feet like silent blood. Her gaze shifted from Isis and Horus to Amaterasu and Susanoo, studying every nod, every glance, her mind weaving each quiet expression into her own silent tapestry.

A hush fell over the hall as Odin rose to his feet, the thick black wolf cloak pooling down his back as he lifted his free hand for silence. The Skalds fell quiet at once, their chants fading into thin echoes against the dark timber beams high above.

"Gods of the Nine Realms," Odin said, his gravel-deep voice rolling through the hall like a tide against midnight cliffs. "We gather here to witness the naming of my son. May his name carry the power of Asgard and bring honour to his line."

He turned to Frigg, his single eye softening faintly as he nodded. Frigg lowered her gaze to the baby in her arms, brushing her fingers gently over his small dark hair before lifting him high towards the silent gods.

"This child," Frigg said softly, her voice carrying despite its calmness, "is Baldr. May his beauty bring light to Asgard, and his wisdom bring peace."

A ripple of murmured blessings moved through the hall. Amaterasu bowed her head, the faint light glowing from her skin brightening slightly. Isis smiled faintly, whispering words under her breath that tasted of Nile reeds and sweet lotus oil. Agni lifted one copper-dark hand, his flame flickering into a small silent lotus of fire hovering above his palm in blessing.

"Baldr," Odin repeated, his voice deep with quiet pride. "May he grow strong under the gaze of all realms. May he walk with light."

Thor stepped forward then, his thick arms folded across his broad chest, his heavy boots thudding against the stone floor with each step. He stood before his father and mother, his blue eyes locked on his baby brother, their usual stormy roughness softened with rare quiet.

"I will watch over him," Thor said, his voice low but firm. "No blade, no curse, no shadow will touch him while I draw breath."

Frigg smiled, her eyes bright with quiet tears as she nodded to her eldest son. Loki slinked forward from the shadows behind a wolf-carved pillar, his dark green tunic swaying around his thin frame. He tilted his head, his sharp green eyes glittering faintly under his long black hair as he looked at the baby.

"Light," Loki murmured, his voice soft as falling frost. "May he always carry it... for there are many here who will need it."

Thor scowled faintly at his brother’s tone, but said nothing. Odin only studied Loki with his single eye, silent understanding flickering between them before he turned back to the gathered gods.

"Come forth," Odin said, his gaze sweeping across the tables. "Offer your blessings."

One by one, gods stepped forward. Agni placed his flame-lotus gently at Frigg’s feet before stepping back, his copper-dark face calm and unblinking. Varuna lifted his hand, conjuring a thin curling stream of shimmering water that coiled like a serpent around the baby before fading into mist, leaving a faint scent of salt and ocean winds.

Horus pressed two fingers lightly against Baldr’s brow, whispering blessings of hawk-sight and sun-strength in quiet Ancient Egyptian. Isis brushed her fingertips across the baby’s chest, a faint golden glow flickering across his small heart as she whispered words of life and protection.

Amaterasu stepped forward, her white and gold layered robes rustling softly. She reached into her sleeve and withdrew a small folded paper charm tied with crimson thread. She placed it against Baldr’s chest, whispering in soft Old Japanese. The charm glowed briefly before fading into his skin like mist under dawn.

"May he rise always in light," she said, her voice calm as sunrise.

Susanoo merely inclined his head, his dark eyes sharp as he watched the baby before stepping back without a word.

Nuada approached last, his silver arm gleaming under torchlight as he pressed his metal fingers lightly against Baldr’s small hand. His grey eyes were quiet, unreadable as frost.

"May his blade always remain clean," Nuada murmured softly before stepping back. Brigid placed a single red-gold thread into Baldr’s furs, whispering blessings of fire and poetry before returning to Nuada’s side.

The hall fell silent as Odin raised his free hand again, his heavy frame unmoving as he looked around at the gathered gods.

"You honour my son with your blessings," he said, his voice low. "Asgard remembers each word, each flame, each thread given today."

Zeus inclined his head slightly from where he sat, his golden hair sliding over his broad shoulders. "He will grow strong under your name, Odin," he said quietly. "And Asgard will rise with him."

Odin’s single eye flicked to Zeus, a faint cold smile crossing his lips before vanishing just as quickly. "May Olympus remain bright under your storms, Zeus."

Hera watched the exchange in silence, her dark eyes locked on Odin’s face, reading every flicker of tension beneath his calm expression. She turned her gaze briefly to Frigg, who cradled Baldr close, whispering soft words only the baby could hear.

The Skalds began their final chant, low voices rising and falling in solemn waves as Huginn and Muninn wheeled high above the towers outside, their black feathers slicing the pale blue morning sky. The scent of pine resin, roasted boar, and thick honey mead rose into the flickering torchlit beams as the gods settled back to their tables, the naming ceremony closing with quiet dignity.

Thor stepped forward again, grabbing a massive bronze cup of mead and raising it high.

"To Baldr," he roared, his deep voice echoing against the stone walls. "Light of Asgard!"

"To Baldr!" the hall echoed, voices rising like thunder under the flickering flames.

And far beyond the walls of Gladsheim, in the silent golden sky, the Nine Realms shivered faintly as fate’s threads shifted around a name newly spoken into the world, tying destinies yet unseen in quiet knots of light and shadow.

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