Sigyn and Vali leave Hela's room; his mother insists on staying with Loki a little longer, and bids the young man goodnight. Vali walks to his room in the dead of night after the last attempt to decode Hela's vision. He takes careful steps in the hallway, not wanting to wake up anyone in Heimdall's family, though he is sure they are just silently listening for more of Hela's screaming. It would be a miracle if anyone in the realm could sleep through that.
The young man is torn in mind and heart. This is the second vision that Hela has had in this madness, though they cannot know how long she was lost in her other world. Her rocking was so severe that Hela was banging her head on the back wall of the room, forcing Sigyn and Vali to pull the blanket underneath her forward so that she might get some relief. It is as if they have to watch the girl destroy herself.
His hatred for Modi is growing. Though he would otherwise know better than to focus on such negativity, Vali is back to blaming himself.
As he walks down the hallway to his own guest room, Vali has to feel for where the doorways begin. There is a vague light that comes in from a faraway window, but not much else. Dagheim residents appreciate the dark, as their days are so overly bright and hot that the dry and cool air that permeates the evenings is savored. He could light a small candle within his hands, but is afraid that even a small light would echo too brightly in the halls.
Vali yawns while walking, suddenly overcome with fatigue. He must have spent more time with Hela than he thought.
By the time Vali makes it to his room, he is ready to collapse. He removes his tunic and changes into a sleeping robe before crawling into bed. Vali says prayers before closing his eyes, to his brother and Valhalla that Hela will be cured. He falls asleep swiftly, hopeful to dream of less dark and treacherous things than those that plague his poor sister.
...
Vali wakes not even an hour later, still surrounded by almost total blackness. The tiny light that helped him find his room is nearly gone, but the young man cannot fall back asleep. He no longer hears the wheezing sound of aching wood, indicating that his father must have fallen asleep beside Hela and is no longer rocking in the chair beside her. The small skylight lets in just enough light to keep him awake. The only sound that seems to come through the thick silence is a dripping fountain of water that gets louder with every splash.
Vali rises out of bed, sits at the edge, picks his fingernails and occasionally runs a hand through his hair to keep it out of his eyes. He is exhausted, and yet wide awake. The sleeping robe he wears is open in the front, making Vali feel more exposed than he would like; the young man is very modest, a quality he learned from his mother long ago. He tries to tie it around his waist a little more snugly so as not to let it open further. Vali stands to walk the hallways, slipping on a pair of soft, fur slippers to keep his feet quiet, hopeful that being up will tire his mind again.
The hall that seemed so dark before is now void of significant light; emptiness and a worry hang on the walls themselves. Vali tries to force his eyes to adjust, taking very small steps, planning to make it to Hela's room and back in just a few quiet minutes. It would be quite a disruption to wake the house at this hour, so he must be careful not to accidentally trip on anything along the edges of the floor.
His hands are out at his sides, feeling for the openings of the rooms as he did when retiring to bed, peering in to see if he knows the residents. Vali passes the room that his mother occupies and sees her sleeping soundly under her own small skylight, which gives him some comfort to know that she feels well enough to get some rest. He continues down a few more doors toward the hallway window, trying hard to have lighter feet. The young man can't help but creak slightly with each step, his weight pulling on the old house from side to side.
When Vali reaches Hela's room, he peers in to see Loki sleeping soundly at her side, sitting in the chair but leaning backward against the wall from exhaustion. Hela is actually at rest, snoring somewhat, reminding Vali of the many times he teased her for it. This scene brings him yet more peace, and the young man decides he might as well try his own bed again, smiling slightly before turning around to go back down the hall.
The darkness is all consuming as Vali walks away from the window. He cannot see much of anything except for the vague shapes of doorways on either side of the hall. Vali's hands are outstretched on either flank, feeling again to find his way, telling himself that the dark does not frighten him. In reality, he still fears for the monsters that could come out to him at any time; Vali has to suppress his inner child.
His hand cusps the edge of the doorway, feeling for space. It is most definitely open, more than just a crack, just as he left his guest room. Vali turns to see back down the hallway before entering, again trying to get his eyes to adjust, but failing; the moon that shined in the small opening before is now gone, leaving only the silhouette of the window for him to peer at.
Vali steps into the room, closing the door behind him. The skylight on the back wall lets in minimal light, only allowing him to get around without hitting the furniture. His eyes refuse to adjust. He feels the floor with his feet, shuffling quietly, still grasping out his hands for anything to recognize as an anchor. This house is still a stranger to him even after so many years of being a guest.
When Vali reaches the bed, he starts by sitting on its edge, removing the slippers from his feet and slightly loosening the tie on his robe. He yawns loudly, blinking his eyes a few times, and then turns around to swing his legs up onto the mattress.
Vali's gaze meets Ragfrieda's, as she is sitting up and staring right back into his face. Her yellow eyes glow. This is not his room.
