The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Murphy
KurtinStGeorge:
So, how does someone become a Valkyrie? Doing a little research about Norse mythology the evidence needed to answer this question is somewhat sketchy and some of it comes from Roman stories about Amazons and some of it is from the post-Viking age, both of which are questionable.
There is some talk about female warriors; shield maidens, who became Valkyries. According to Gard, the Maiden idea; as in being a virgin, is nonsense. I think that conversation is in one of the short stories.
With that in mind, I could see Murphy becoming a Valkyrie, if she didn’t get that status immediately. I could even see Jim doing a Conan the Barbarian movie reference that has Valkyrie Murphy asking / telling Harry, “Do you want to live forever?”
Mira:
--- Quote from: KurtinStGeorge on August 29, 2025, 01:43:01 AM ---So, how does someone become a Valkyrie? Doing a little research about Norse mythology the evidence needed to answer this question is somewhat sketchy and some of it comes from Roman stories about Amazons and some of it is from the post-Viking age, both of which are questionable.
There is some talk about female warriors; shield maidens, who became Valkyries. According to Gard, the Maiden idea; as in being a virgin, is nonsense. I think that conversation is in one of the short stories.
With that in mind, I could see Murphy becoming a Valkyrie, if she didn’t get that status immediately. I could even see Jim doing a Conan the Barbarian movie reference that has Valkyrie Murphy asking / telling Harry, “Do you want to live forever?”
--- End quote ---
Somehow I don't think it will be that simple. If it is, I think it will amount to poor writing, if we do see Murphy again, it will either be in Mirrormirror or the final reel of the BAT.
--- Quote ---Gard is a Valkyrie. She can go visit Hendricks any time she likes in the golden hall of Valhalla.
--- End quote ---
Can she? If she could or knew that, why was she grieving so hard for him? Because if what you say is true, then Hendricks would now be immortal like her, they could be lovers forever.
magnuskn:
--- Quote from: Mira on August 29, 2025, 12:07:39 PM ---Somehow I don't think it will be that simple. If it is, I think it will amount to poor writing, if we do see Murphy again, it will either be in Mirrormirror or the final reel of the BAT.
--- End quote ---
How would that be poor writing? Jim has set up Murphy to be kind of a living Valkyrie since about book two, where it was first mentioned that Harry perceived her as such. I just re-read the early books a few weeks ago (in preparation for Twelve Months) and was quite surprised to find that reference in there so early.
--- Quote from: Mira on August 29, 2025, 12:07:39 PM ---Can she? If she could or knew that, why was she grieving so hard for him? Because if what you say is true, then Hendricks would now be immortal like her, they could be lovers forever.
--- End quote ---
He still just died, probably before her eyes, so grief would be a natural reaction. Or maybe she sensed it beforehand (like she did with Harry, before Marcone intervened many books ago) and felt overcome when it finally happened.
Or maybe Santa Claus is running a big con on Harry and she was faking it under his orders. I am, in retrospect, actually kinda surprised how things went down, with Murphy being a devout catholic. One would think Uriel would have something to say to Odin about taking someone who wielded one of the three swords as an Einherjar. Unless they both want Murphy to power up in preparation for what is coming down the line. Just saying.
LaraBeck:
--- Quote from: KurtinStGeorge on August 29, 2025, 01:43:01 AM ---So, how does someone become a Valkyrie?
--- End quote ---
In the Norse mythology that we know, nothing is that clear, you're right.
But in the Dresden Universe, we have this little passage in Aftermath:
--- Quote ---Gard nodded, her eyes steady, and she looked back at the warehouse again. “There’s another position you might consider. Monoc Securities is always hiring. My boss is always pleased to find those with “the proper”—she pursed her lips—“frame of mind. Considering your experience and skill set, I think you could do very well as one of our security consultants.”
“And work for guys like Marcone?” I asked.
“You should bear in mind that this is the second such incursion of the fomor,” Gard said in a level voice. “And there have been a half-dozen others nosing at the city in the last eight months alone. All of them have been turned away, courtesy of Marcone.”
“He’s swell,” I said.
“He keeps his word,” Gard replied, “which puts him a step above most of your own superiors, in my opinion. Like him or not, he has defended this city. It’s no minor thing.”
“Every predator defends its territory,” I said. “Pass.”
Her eyes glittered with amusement, and she shook her head. “Vadderung would definitely find you interesting. You’ve even got the hair for it. Don’t be surprised if you get a call sometime.”
“It’s a free country,” I said.
--- End quote ---
I think the insinuation here is that becoming a valkyrie is a thing that is possible in the dresdenverse, we already know that they're not Odin's daughters.
LaraBeck:
--- Quote from: magnuskn on August 29, 2025, 07:56:18 PM ---He still just died, probably before her eyes, so grief would be a natural reaction. Or maybe she sensed it beforehand (like she did with Harry, before Marcone intervened many books ago) and felt overcome when it finally happened.
--- End quote ---
Personally, I believe Gard has lost a bit of her touch. And she doesn't really know everything either.
--- Quote from: magnuskn on August 29, 2025, 07:56:18 PM ---One would think Uriel would have something to say to Odin about taking someone who wielded one of the three swords as an Einherjar. Unless they both want Murphy to power up in preparation for what is coming down the line. Just saying.
--- End quote ---
I think this is exactly what it is about. First, never in the books we saw Murphy being more catholic than she was shown to be than in Battle Ground, that's your first clue. Second, she reached Harry thanks to the Knights, they helped her get to the battlefield, the knights are ALWAYS where they're supposed to be, where the white god wants them to be. Third, we know that Odin and Uriel are at the very least friendly (don't they have an annual meeting over coffee or something like that?). Four, we have word of Jim about people just waking up in Valhalla, being "lent" to Odin's preparing army. Five, it makes a hell of a lot of sense, that Murphy who was compared time and again through the series to an warrior angel, and who's accompany Harry to every battle he's won, to be protected for now, preserved for later on in the series when Harry needs her the most, that she shows up to accompany him in battle again, maybe pick him up from the field and save him, you know, like some versions of the myths about valkyries, or hey, guardian angels. Also, it's an excellent piece of leverage in Odin's favor. IMO, there is a plan in motion here...
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