Title: a taste of lightning
Fandom: Highlander/Avengers movieverse/Norse mythology
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: AU for Avengers movieverse; intentionally inaccurate Norse mythlogy
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 865
Point of view: third
Prompt: The Jotun once told stories of the Oldest, too.
When Odin first approached the new king of the jötnar, Býleistr, for peace between their realms, in the wake of Laufey's death, Býleistr demanded the lives of those who attacked Jötunheimr with the Bifrost.
Thankfully, no one knew who had committed that atrocity. Everything had happened so quickly – Thor's banishment, Odin's healing sleep, Loki's madness.
Few of the Æsir had known, so fewer still outside knew.
So Odin told Býleistr, "I cannot give him to you." When Býleistr growled, Odin said, "Peace. The Oldest has taken him."
Býleistr accepted that and the negotiations continued.
The jötnar had legends of the Oldest, too.
.
Once, the story goes, Jötunheimr was a paradise. Ice was only in the highest mountains. Thrym ruled in those days, and Jötunheimr stood among the realms, powerful and respected.
The troubles began, so the tale continues, when Ymir rested by the shore of a jötunn lake and was slain by Æsir.
Jötunheimr was cursed forever after. The Oldest, known among the jötnar as Thiazi, flew over Paradise and called down spells of pain and rage, of cold and ice, of eternal frost. Because Ymir's blood was spilt and Thrym protected his slayers instead of delivering them for justice, Thiazi demanded vengeance and his magic made it so.
Never again, the legends end, will Jötunheimr be allied with Asgard.
.
"Did you get the name of those responsible for Utgard's destruction?" Helblindi asked when Býleistr returned from meeting with Odin. They'd agreed to meet in Ālfheimr, under the watchful eyes of the impartial álfar.
"No," Býleistr told his brother. "Only one was responsible, and his name is lost." Býleistr looked out at the mess, at his people rebuilding their stronghold. "The Oldest took him."
Helblindi grinned. "That is good, brother. I hope he suffered."
.
The Oldest is a terrifying monster. Even the monsters fear him, huddled in the dark as the wind howls. He is nemesis to all.
If he turns his gaze to you, do not even attempt to run.
The Oldest is the most powerful sorcerer in all nine realms and the most magnificent warrior of all the races. The Oldest planted Yggdrasil. The Oldest created each realm and each race, and could crush them all in his palm, should he so wish.
The Oldest takes those who betray, and their names are lost forever after.
The Oldest is a legend, originally told to explain the unexplainable, and though the Æsir forgot, the jötnar never did.
.
The Oldest took the one who tried to kill all of the jötnar. Odin would not dare to lie about that. And so the King of Jötunheimr, Laufey's heir, was satisfied, as was his younger brother.
Býleistr announced their attacker's fate to a resounding roar of approval.
Peace was again in Jötunheimr as the Casket of Ancient Winters came home, gifted by Thiazi before his curse fell, the source of Jötunheimr's power. Its return was the final demand of the jötnar.
.
Ymir died in Jötunheimr. Thiazi waited centuries to avenge his brother on the murderers, but he punished the jötnar for letting him die.
When Methos finishes the tale, Van says, "It's been an eternity, Da. All of the jötnar alive then are dead. Do you not think the winter has lasted long enough?"
Methos thinks about that for a little while, and then he offers, "Would you like to accompany me to Jötunheimr?"
"Will they know who I was?" Van asks.
"No," Methos replies. "They won't know who I am, either." Grinning, he stands and holds out a hand. "C'mon, kiddo. Let's go end winter."
.
Loki grew up hating the jötnar, and it drove him mad to learn he actually was one. Odin's fault, Methos knew, though a few others held blame, and the whole thing could be traced back to Ymir's death. And Methos hadn't known or cared what his vengeance wrought until he nearly tripped over a boy who had just fallen to Earth.
Methos takes them to the deepest cavern in Jötunheimr, where he and his brothers had played in the time before memory.
"Sing the song of spring," Methos tells Van. "Hear the lightning in your blood and dance to the music."
Van closes his eyes and when he starts to hum, starts to move, Methos echoes him, mirrors him, and the heart of Jötunheimr begins to thaw.
.
Helblindi, disbelieving, delivers the news. "Brother," he says, eyes wide, "the snow… it's melting."
"What?" Býleistr demands, hurrying outside.
The snow is melting. Býleistr gapes, and all the jötnar feel warmth seeping from the ground.
Lightning flashes, high in the sky.
.
When Odin hears about the change in Jötunheimr, he sends a message to Methos, written in air and thunder.
What are you doing? he asks. You cursed Jötunheimr, just like you killed my father, in some game nobody else is privy to.
Oh, poor little king, is the reply, sent in a bolt of lightning. Fear not, Son of Borr. You might realize someday.
Methos' laugh booms across the sky as a storm breaks over Asgard, the first in living memory.
Or not, little thief, the Oldest croons, and Odin flinches, turning to look at Frigga, who watches the storm with a smile.