It was a grim sight that Heimdal saw from his position on the mountain top.
Others might not be able to see it like he did… But he did.
He could see how the snow and ice was slowly crawling on the ground, spreading. Like an infection, inch by inch. Slowly working its way towards new forest's, villages…. And it wasn't slowing down. It kept going, day by day, inch by inch.
Thor had managed to successfully defend the villages Jotunns had now tried to attack, but it would only be a matter of time before this snow and ice would reach those places as well, and eventually it would wrap all of Asgard in eternal winter.
Heimdals gaze turned to the palace, and in one of the dark cells saw a group of Asgardian huddling together around a green flame which had slowly become smaller and smaller over the days, flickering and doing its best to keep the cell warm. But it would not last.
In another cell a Prince was laying on the ground, breathing deeply while his body was filled with all the wounds he had sustained.
This wasn't looking good, time was their worse enemy. Already days had moved past them, five days ago Laufey took the palace and the city and the Asgardians had only been pushed further back, this looked grim.
Helblindi walked through the hallways of Asgard, looking up at the huge impressive walls and pieces of art. It was hard to make out though what those pieces were supposed to be, as they to were covered in frost.
His eyes moved away and he kept walking the halls until finally he eyed a door, the door was guarded by two Jotunn soldiers how-ever… They were standing still. Still as statues.
Helblindi walked up to them, but got no greeting nor salute. Then he reached forward a hand and waved it in front of their eyes… They didn't move.
Then finally Helblindi put a hand on one of the soliders faces and was confirmed, there was no soft meat under his hand. Only solid ice.
Like the sorcerer… The two guards were already dead. And neither had as much as touched Ymirs heart! Merely guarded the room in which it was being kept.
Helblindi stepped back as he looked at the frozen over door and the two guards that had lost their life by merely standing there guarding the room, then finally he turned and in a brisk pace walked back, he entered one of the chambers where a couple of Jotunn guards were sitting. The moment Helblindi stepped inside they stood up and saluted.
"My prince!" they all yelled.
Jotunn nodded at them. "I need a messenger send to Jotunnheim." he stated.
"Yes sir!" A soldier stated. "What message do you need delivered."
"Not a message, a retrieval." Helblindi stated. "The casket of winters, the only thing we know of able to contain Ymirs heart. I need to brought here." he stated. "My little brother is still at the Jotunnheim palace and has access to its vaults. Give this to him." he asked as he reached them a sealed document. "And get the casket here, quick as possible. Ones you have it, find me immediately and give it to me."
"Yes sir!" The soldier stated again. Took the parchment and bowed for Helblindi before he ran out and towards the portal which connected their two realms.
Helblindi sighed as he turned to walk out and towards the chambers given to him… Laufey had insisted that Helblindi use Prince Thors old chambers like Laufey were using Odins.
It wasn't that Helblindi couldn't appreciate the mocking gesture towards their enemies, but sleeping in another mans chambers were still… unsettling.
Finally Helblindi settled on the bed which was honestly way to small for him to get a rest, he didn't get to have much though before the doors opened and in stepped the King of Jotunnheim himself, King Laufey.
Helblindi sat up in the bed, then stood up so he could bow. "Father." he bowed.
Laufey sneered. "What do you think you're doing?"
Helblindi looked up, then stood up. "Father?" he asked.
"The casket." Laufey stated. "Why would you bring it here?"
Helblindi stood, then sighed. "Just a precaution father." he stated. "We have no one able to control the heart and it…" he halted. "It's not just deadly for the Aisir, it is deadly for the Jotunns as well. And it seems to be that as its cold is allowed to spread, its powers also grows."
"You will not place the heart back into its container!" Laufey stated. "The second the heart is back in its container the Aisir will be able to storm the palace!"
"But father!" Helblindi objected.
"NO!" Laufey demanded. "You are to young to remember, you weren't even born! But I shall never forget! The bloodshed! This is our moment, what-ever it takes. Odin shall pay!" he said. "Helblindi, I forbid you from using the casket! The heart stays without its container!"
Helblindi looked up.
"Do you understand?" Laufey asked.
Slowly Helblindi nodded. "Aye." he stated. "I understand." and he fell to his knee. "My king." he greeted.
Laufey nodded. "Good." he said. Then his voice softened. "Do not think ill of me my son." he asked. "This is for the better, for all of Jotunnheim. As long as Asgard has free reign, Jotunnheim will be in danger. We must think of the future, of the children. The sacrifices we make today are necessary."
"I know." Helblindi assured as he stood up again. "I just… Father. Are you sure you know what you're.."
Laufey held up a hand. "I am doing what I must." he stated. "For Jotunnheim! My duty is to my people, always. Even if it means sacrificing my own children. It is the kings duty to do what-ever it takes!" he stated then grabbed Helblindis shoulders. "One day you shall be king, and then you will understand the burden. But not today. Today you will follow your kings orders."
Helblindi nodded. "Yes father." he stated.
Laufey smiled lightly then clapped his shoulders. "You're making me proud." he assured.
"That's all I desire." Helblindi replied and Laufey smiled, giving him one final clap.
And finally he turned to walk to the door and finally left.
Helblindi stood still, stood still as he heard Laufeys foot steps moving further and further away until finally the sound was gone, the moment it was Helblindi rushed out the door and the other way, he ran to the stairs going to the prison cells, he rushed past the empty cells until he reached the only two currently occupied ones and turned to the left to the one with a single occupant hitting the button which lifted the force field, then rushed inside and grabbed Lokis blouse in the front pulling him up.
"WHAT IS YOUR PLAN!" Helblindi shouted.
Slowly Loki glanced up, his red eyes meeting Helblindis.
"You said you were going to kill my father!" Helblindi stated. "That must mean you have a plan, what is it?" he asked.
Loki looked over Helblindi face then smirked lightly. "Oh you figured it out, haven't you?" he asked.
Helblindi sneered.
"I don't have to do anything." Loki stated. "So I wait… my refusal to coorporate is the plan. Slowly the hearts reach will grow and grow, it will kill everything within the palace, including Laufey. But he will be to stubborn to do anything about it."
"How do I stop it?" Helblindi asked.
Loki was quiet.
"ANSWER ME!" Helblindi smashed Lokis body up against the wall, then held it in place. "How do I stop Ymirs heart from killing everything?"
Ones again Loki remained quiet.
"You would even sacrifice your own realm as well?" Helblindi asked. "The heart will kill the entire realm!"
"I told you, I might die. But I shall take Laufey with me." Loki informed solemnly.
Helblindis eyes widened. "You would sacrifice your own home?" he asked.
"It is my hope that Laufey will succumb before I do." Loki admitted. "Then I shall neutralize the heart myself."
"You… You can do that?" Helblindi asked.
"I am not sure." Loki admitted. "It is my hope, how-ever I am also quite sure the moment I touch that cursed thing my days will be numbered. So I shall not go so far until I am sure my work is done."
Helblindi frowned. "So what you're saying is this… You think you can neurtralize the heart. But if you do… You'll die." he stated. "And therefore you wont do it until Laufey has died first."
Loki smirked.
Slowly Helblindi put Loki down, then finally let go.
"We can make a deal of course." Loki stated. "You could kill Laufey for me, then I'll neutralize the heart."
Helblindi sneered. "Now you are treading on thin ice!" he stated. "That's my father. I will not let you kill him."
"Well obviously you don't have to, he is closer to the heart than I am. He should die first." Loki stated in a shrug.
"What if I get the casket! We can just put it back." Helblindi stated.
Loki lifted an eyebrow. "Well yeah you could try, but I fear anyone as much as touching the heart at this time will, you know." he moved a hand across his throat. "That is of course, unless you know what you're doing." he blinked innocently.
Helblindi hissed. "What do you need to put it back?" he asked. "I'll talk to my father, ask him to retrieve, to see reason!"
"I want Laufey dead at my feet, that is my price." Loki stated.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU KILL MY FATHER!" Helblindi shouted.
Loki glared at him. "Then I wont help you." he stated simply.
Helblindi huffed as he bowed down to face Loki, and Loki stood straight, his eyes narrow.
Then Helblindi huffed as he stood tall. "Fine." he stated. "I will find another way." he stated. "There has to be a way where you are not needed." and he stepped outside, then put the force field back up. Glaring at Loki who glared back at him.
Then finally Helblindi turned and stomped off, Lokis eyes narrowing as he looked at him and the Aisirs in the other cell being lost for words.