The tunnel was sloping downwards. Loki wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. His stomach growled at him, but he ignored it. The stone had changed colour; instead of a brown-grey rock it was highly crystallized, with obsidian, quartz and mica flashing in the light. Loki paused a moment to admire the sparkles his flaming hands threw down the tunnel.
"At least I'll be able to say I died in beauty," he said aloud, and waited. The spell that had caused him to hear Farbauti's voice remained silent.
A strange shadow in the wall caught his eye, and he walked over to investigate.
"Interesting," he murmured, peering closely. Carved into the wall was a single rune – no, not a single rune. A whole string of them, starting at the distant ceiling and going to the floor. There were identical runes on the other side of the tunnel. Loki didn't recognise any of them.
"Perhaps the name of the king that built this place?"
Loki shrugged. It wasn't necessary to know. He continued. As soon as he passed the runes, they glowed green. Loki felt a wave of magic roll over them.
"Uh-oh," he muttered.
He tried to go back, only to meet a green force field. There was a shifting grumble in the rock beneath his feet.
"Not good!"
Loki rushed forward, away from the force field, only for another set of runes to start glowing, locking him in a five-foot square area. A crack opened in the floor. Loki cursed. It opened wider, revealing blackness below. Loki dropped to his knees, thrusting his flaming hand down as far as he could. Nothing.
"Just because you're a labyrinth doesn't mean you have to trap me and open up the floor!" Loki shouted, and then added, "and just because I can't see it doesn't mean there isn't a floor below this one." And he was going down no matter what he did...
Forcing himself to breathe evenly, Loki turned and lowered himself into the chasm. He hung as far as he could, fingers clinging to the retreating edge. He closed his eyes, readying himself.
"Knew it was going to happen," he muttered, and then looked up into the blackness above his head. "Heimdall? Tell them goodbye for me, will you? Thor, Balder, Mother... and Father."
He let go.
#
Angrboda snuggled against Fenrir's thick underbelly fur. A new storm was blowing in, but she was roasting warm inside her abode. Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to sleep soundly since Loki had gone into the labyrinth. She sighed, sitting up. Fenrir snored as she moved to the fireplace and sliced off a chunk of her hair.
Fenrir snorted and rolled over. He blinked blearily and rolled his head to look at Angrboda.
"Come here, boy."
Fenrir yawned, stretched, and padded over to her, flopping down onto the floor next to her.
"You are the best thing in my life," she murmured, scratching his ears. "As much as I hated him, Laufey did me a kindness by giving you to me as a pup."
Fenrir licked her face.
"I'm worried about Loki," she whispered. "He's arrogant, infuriating and thinks he's the smartest person in the nine realms, but... he's... he's teaching me how to read. He... Ah, I'm being foolish. But he always looked so sweet when he was sleeping. Vulnerable. And he's kinder to me than anybody ever has been."
Fenrir closed his eyes. Angrboda went to her dresser and pulled out the scrying mirror.
"Loki," she called into it.
The mirror did not react. She put it back, sighing. It could be that there was a spell in place to keep scrying from allowing people to follow the ancient king into the heart of the maze. It could also mean that Loki was dead.
"Stop," she told herself. "Loki is clever and brave. He will make it back."
To take her mind off things, she opened Farbauti's journal, to a part Loki had read to her. She found it easier to figure out what Farbauti was saying that way.
I miss my mother every day. She was always the one I could rely on. They found her at the bottom of a ravine. She never, ever, took the path that would have left her there. I try to tell myself that not even Laufey would be so cruel, but I can't help but think that he had something to do with it. I miss my father, too. His death I blame fully on Laufey and this stupid war that he started. I only have one thing from the two of them. This jade bead. I'll always remember the day I got it.
"I have a present for you, little snowflake!" Byleist smiled at his young daughter as her eyes lit up.
"For me?" she asked, hardly able to contain her excitement. She had never had a present all for her own before! Her father laughed at her excitement and swung her up into the air. She giggled and then kissed his cheek. "I've missed you, Tha."
"I've missed you, too." Byleist set her down and reached into a leather pouch. "Close your eyes."
Farbauti obediently pressed her eyes shut, and then peeked through her lashes.
"Keep them closed."
Farbauti began bouncing on her toes in excitement. "What is it, Tha?"
She felt something go around her neck. Opening her eyes, she saw a beautiful jade bead hanging on a leather string around her neck. Farbauti gasped and reverently touched it.
"It's mine?" she asked in a hushed voice.
"All yours." Byleist smiled.
"Thank you, Tha!" Farbauti threw her arms around her father's neck. "It's beautiful. You see, Oth?"
She ran to her mother to show off the bead. Astrid smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. "It's beautiful."
Farbauti settled down, holding the jade in her hands. Byleist kissed Astrid and handed her a pouch of dried herbs. Astrid's face was pale despite her dark olive complexion, and her eyes were weary.
"Are you feeling better, my love?"
"A little," Astrid smiled wanly. "I am just so cold, Byleist. All the time."
Byleist brushed a strand of her raven locks behind her ear. "I will get more furs for you, and I'll send for mushrooms."
Farbauti listened to her parent's conversation, but her eyes were on the jade bead. It was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen! It was carved in the shape of a ball, the leather strung straight through. She decided right then that she was never going to take it off, ever!
Ten years later, Farbauti walked wearily home after a long day in the fields. She was hot with the summer, and dirt clung to her hair and skin. She carried a net of vegetables slung over her back, and a basket in both arms. Astrid walked beside her, almost as heavily laden.
"We're going to have a good harvest this year, Oth."
"Yes. It will be good to have more than manticore meat this winter." Astrid's breath was short.
Farbauti frowned in concern. "You shouldn't be carrying so much. You still have that cough. I can make two trips."
"Don't worry for me, Snowflake. I'm tougher than you realise." Astrid gave her a smile.
"Oth, you're sweating!" Farbauti cried in alarm. She slung her load aside and then took her mother's.
"I'm just a little warm, child," Astrid protested.
Farbauti caught her as she swayed. She gathered her mother into her arms and ran all the way back to the city. Despite her mother's weak protests, she tucked her into their shared bed and built a low fire.
"Don't leave the food out there," Astrid muttered. "It will freeze and go bad."
"Never mind the food," Farbauti replied, but her stomach twisted. Food was too valuable to waste. She kissed her mother's forehead and shook her head. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
She ducked out of the abode, and caught a passing servant, telling him to run and tell Lord Byleist that his slave Astrid was ill.
Farbauti hurried away, gut twisting with worry. The sun was sinking behind the mountains, casting the land into rainbows and shadow. Fortunately, she found the vegetables where she had left them. She slung both nets in place, and stacked the baskets. She stumbled under the weight, but trudged back to the city. Her arms and back ached so bad by the time she reached the stores that she was afraid she would never recover. She put the vegetables into Byleist's stores.
She was gasping by the time she returned to her abode. It was hot and a kettle was over the fire. Byleist sat near the bed, his hand over Astrid's. She was sleeping.
"Tha," Farbauti whispered in relief. She sat by her father and he put an arm around her. "Is Oth all right?"
"She is just a little ill and overworked," Byleist responded. "I told her not to go to the fields today. But your Oth is a stubborn woman."
Farbauti toyed with the jade bead around her neck. "I did not realize... I'll make sure she rests for a few days. I can do our work by myself."
"Ah, Snowflake. You are a good girl, such a hard worker. I should like to see you in a better situation." Byliest frowned. "I will try to get you a position as a servant in Ymir's house. I am getting too old to provide for you and your mother."
"A servant?" Farbauti's eyes shone. The thought of earning her own money! She could buy vegetables for her mother in the winter. "Thank you, Tha!"
Byleist kissed her forehead. "You are my only child, Farbauti. I will always care for you as much as I can. I only wish I could do more."
Five years later, Farbauti cried as she gently brushed her mother's hair. Astrid was dressed in her favorite gown, the one she had worn from Vanaheim and was forbidden to wear on Jotunheim, except when accompanied by her master. It was threadbare and the lace cuffs were stained. Farbauti tried not to look at the awkward angles her mother's limbs sat at, or the sunken eyes in her face.
Byleisy entered the abode. His head hung. "Is she ready?"
Farbauti nodded. She struggled to hold herself together, and then burst into tears. Byleist pulled her into his arms, shushing her gently.
"Don't cry, Snowflake. She always hated the cold, anyway."
Farbauti pulled herself away from her father, fighting to calm herself. She took a deep breath. Byleist tenderly gathered her mother's still body in his arms. Silently, they walked in the shadows of the blue sun until they came to Serpant's lip. Byleist kissed Astrid's cold forehead.
"Goodbye, my love."
"Goodbye, Mother," Farbauti whispered.
Byleist took a deep breath and tossed Astrid into the air. For a second, Farbauti thought she would rise towards the sky. Her gown fluttered like wings. Then Astrid was falling. Farbauti sobbed. Byleist pulled her in close. They stood there long after Astrid's body had disappeared.
"She is gone. May the ice preserve her."
"May the ice," Farbauti repeated.
Byleist turned, pulling his daughter with him. He led her back to her abode. She would be here alone, now and forever...
"Don't leave me alone, Tha," she pleased.
Byleist nodded. He went into the abode with his daughter and put his arms around her as she cried.
"You know, she helped me pick this for you," Byleist said, touching the jade bead. "Did she ever tell you that?"
Farbauti shook her head.
"She loved you with all her heart."
"I loved her, too."
"As did I, Snowflake."
The moment was interrupted by a loud shouting outside.
"Farbauti!" It was Laufey, coming closer. "Where are you, my little servant girl?"
Farbauti shrank back. "He's drunk!"
Byleist stood. He went to the door as it was yanked open. Laufey blinked blearily at him, looking surprised.
"My prince, I will be taking my daughter to visit my kin. We will be gone for a week." Byleist shut the door. He turned back to Farbauti.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"We will have to return. Ymir is pleased with your work as his son's servant. He would be most displeased if I took you from his service."
Farbauti wiped her eyes. "A week at least will be something."
I didn't tell him that I suspected Laufey of pitching Mother off the side of a cliff. I never told him. At the time, I did not suspect it myself. It was only later, when Laufey whispered into my ear about what a dutiful mother I had had, and how her limbs must have flopped around as she fell, how she must have died slowly, that I thought that he had something to do with it. But to accuse the prince when I had nothing would have been fatal.
#
"Balder, you're not paying attention."
The young prince winced and looked guiltily at his best friend/hopefully-soon-to-be-betrothed Nanna. She tucked her book that she had been reading aloud from into the wicker basket that held the last bits of their picnic. She took Balder's empty plate and set aside the basket.
"I'm sure he's fine," she said, tossing her long blonde braid over her shoulder and leaning into Balder's arms. "Loki is very clever."
"I know." Balder sighed. "I'm just worried. Distract me?"
Nanna looked up with a raised brow. "I was trying to. You stopped listening and that's your favourite book."
Balder fished for something to talk about. "How is your sister, Sigyn?"
"She gets lonely in that big house all by herself. Since Theoric's death she hasn't gone out much. Not that she did much before he died, either. Idunn and Bragi have her watch the boys every now and then, but not very often. Grandmother Skadi is still trying to get her to go to Vanaheim, to live in Hnossa's old house, but I don't think any of us..."
Balder squeezed Nanna's shoulders at the mention of her long-dead sister.
"Anyway," she continued after a moment, "Sigyn's not doing much. She even left the anniversary dinner for Var and Kvasir's anniversary last night. Of course, that's because Mother was being Mother..."
"What did she do this time?"
"Just being herself," Nanna shrugged sourly. "I know she's lonely, but sometimes I seriously consider moving out. Maybe I'll live with Sigyn. But that would leave Modir all alone. Well... alone as she'll ever be, with all the lovers she has."
Balder wasn't sure what to say.
Nanna pulled away from him. She toyed with her sleeve. "I love Modir, Balder. I don't want anybody else to be my mother. But she's so infuriating! Theoric died only a year ago and she's already pressuring Sigyn to start courting again. As though she has any right! Ve died forty-five years before I was born and she's never allowed anyone to court her. She just has her lovers. And those who dwarves. I don't know why she keeps going back to them. She can't have any more children, and she always said the only reason she'd sport with them was to get pregnant."
Balder sighed unhappily. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't. My mother did."
Balder took Nanna's hand in his and kissed her palm, then her wrist, and then leaned in to brush his lips against hers. He sat back, his brow furrowing. Was this right? Sitting in a sunlit meadow, surrounded by flowers, having a picnic with his best friend, his soul mate. It was such a beautiful scene. How could he be here when Loki, his brother, was on Jotunheim, in a deadly labyrinth?
"Balder? Balder?"
Balder poked at the ground. Where was Loki now? Was he alive and well? Was he dead?
"I'm pregnant."
The prince's eyes went wide. His head jerked up. He stared into Nanna's blue eyes with shock and terror. "But... But... We haven't done anything!"
Nanna laughed. "You wanted me to distract you!"
Balder opened his mouth but stopped, confused. "What?"
Nanna kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry. That was mean."
"So... you're not?"
"No."
"Oh."
Nanna tilted her head. "Like you said, we haven't done anything. How could I be? Unless you think I'd do something with someone else."
"That's not fair. You say you're pregnant, we haven't done anything, what am I supposed to think?"
"You're right. I'm sorry. Come on, let's make daisy chains!" Nanna pulled him to his feet and they went running through the meadow gathering daisies. After they had gathered what they wanted, they went back to the blanket and talked and laughed while they braided their chains.
"Balder, Thor's coming," Nanna said after a while.
Balder looked up. His brother was indeed marching through the grass. The young prince's heart stopped. He had never seen Thor look so grim! No, not true. Twice he had seen that expression on Thor's face. Once, when he told Balder that Loki had thrown himself into the void. The other time when he told Balder that the brother they knew had died in the void, and the Loki who had come back was not the same.
"Nanna?"
She knew what he needed to do. "Go on."
Balder scrambled to his feet and ran. When he reached Thor, he couldn't ask. Instead, he stared at his brother, hoping against hope...
"Balder, Mother and Father need you to return to the palace at once."
The young prince trembled.
"Heimdall has lost sight of Loki.