Authors note: Hi, welcome to another chapter of the winter berry! The last time we left off Hans found Fenrir and is now making his way to the land of fire meanwhile Elsa may or may not go after him, but we shall see.

Summary:

Adopted and Raised by Freya the goddess of love, beauty and war who is an extremely overprotective mother, when older Hans was made a serf where he hopes that if he works hard enough he will gain a reward. As the day grows closer an terrible tragedy happens, Bauldr the god of happiness is killed signaling the beginning of rangarock. Or is it? As it seems something had changed when the Goddess Elsa of Helhiem, daughter of Loki, offers an alternative deal which will change everything. For the better or worse it will be seen.

Any way, enough of me blabbering, hope you all enjoy this new story and please leave a review when done as your opinions mean a lot.

Steam billowed through the area, soft splashing as Hans row down the river that intertwined with the land of fire and ash. Rubbing his head Hans gasps a little, it was so hot in there he was beraly able to take a proper breath and he was not alone as Skumring whined and panted a little.

"I know, it's hot" commented Hans as they reached the end of the river, it had no more path ahead, just solid land, hot ash and small lava pits here and there. Looking around Hans sighted and said "We may need to walk the rest of the way". Not to thrilled about the idea Skumring whined and looked back the way they came as if he was saying "Can we please just go home now?",

"I am not happy about this too, but we have to go on" persuaded Hans as there was nothing in all the nine realms would get him to go back to Elsas domain, Skumring whined again as Hans got off of the boat, took some rope, tied it to the boat and began to pull it, dragging it through the ground. The pup whined again before jumping out of the boat and bit a bit of the rope that was dangeling out of the boat and proceeded to help as best as he could by pulling it. Hans looked and chuckled "Good boy".

They continued their way down the terrain for about an hour and a half, as they walked Hans feet felt hot, looking down he saw Skumrings face wincing a little, it's steps becoming more hesitant and even flinching. Wording Hans stopped, the pup looked confused as he bend down and picked him up, looking over his paws, touching them Hans felt the heat and Skumring whined in pain when he did.

"Sorry" said Hans as he put him on the boat, took some water from the water skin and splashed it over the pups feet and paws. The pup relaxed a little as his paws were no longer on fire and was even more greatful when Hans took out more water, cupping it on his hand and letting him drink it.

When done Skumring whined again and lay down on the floor of the boat before huffing as if saying "I want to go home". Hans frowned before patting the pup on the head before taking the ropes and continued to pull the boat. Finally after another hour he tripped and fell, sliding down to the ground, the boat sliding behind him before they landed on the ground, the boat cracked.

Letting out some curses Hans looked over it, there was no fixing it but he was happy the pup and supplies were okay.

"Guess we are walking" though Hans as he bend down and picked up the supplies, Skumring growled and dropped his full weight on the floor of the remains of the ice boat.

"Come on, don't be a brat" grunted Hans as he picked up the pup who growled his complaint as he was carried away. Hans grumbled at Skumring for not cooperating when he heard noise.

"Shh shh... somebody is coming" he heard,

"Maybe it's not" shushed another,

"What if it is!? We need help!",

"Quiet fool!".

Hans listened when his eyes widen, he knew those voices!

Following the voices he came to a cave, entering it he found it led to a cave whose cealing had collapsed long ago, letting light of the lava and volcanos light up the place. In the very center Hans eyes widen as he saw a sword, it was stuck on the ground, glowing with power, but what really attracted Hans attention was what or who was behind the sword impaled on the ground.

"Hemrod!? Magni!? Modi!? Bauldr!?" Hans yelled out in shock as he found the group held down with chains made out of lava rock and obsidian, forcing them to lay on the ground, their hands, feet and neck attached to the ground.

Looking up the four stared at him, at first not sure who he was, then their eyes widen as they recognized him.

"Hans!?" They yelled, they were so use to him wearing his serf clothes they did not remember how he looked without it or were used to it.

"Yes, what are you all doing here!?" demanded Hans, they shifted kinda embarrassed before Magni answered rather sheepishly "We were... going to rescue you..."

It took all Hans had not to laugh at the irony of the situation, but he did not laugh as in truth he was happy. Happy that his fears of being abandoned, being sold out against his will and left for dead were unfounded.

With a small smile gracing his face Hans said "Thank you, this means a lot to me" as he walked over, moving Skumring into his bag Hans took out some seeds and drew a rune on it, holding it out he let the seeds grow, it's tendrils reached into the ground and fidled with the locking mechanism there before there was a click and the chains fell off of his friends, freeing them.

"Thank you" said Hemrod as Hans helped him stand up and they together helped one another get up before Modi said "Okay enough of this! Let's get out before-"

They stopped when there was a a blast of hot air, it knocked Hans to the ground and sent Hemrod, Bauldr, Magni and Modi against the wall of the cave causing it to crumble and fall on them, putting them out of commission. Meanwhile Skumring wined before he ran out of the cave due to fright.

"I missed one" Hans heard as he slowly got up to find himself facing a giant. But non he had ever seen before, this giant, much like all the others he had seen looked pretty normal, like a normal midgardian, but with two big differences. The veins in the mans body glowed in a strange orange red, like the very lava of the land coursed through his veins, his eyes, they shone like they held all the fires in the world.

"You are far from home" he spoke, his voice sounding like the hiss a hot rock would make when dropped into water.

Walking over the stranger grasp and took the sword, pulling it out. Judging Hans he smirked "Let me guess, vanir?", Hans said nothing,

"I can tell, pale and soft skin, delicate looking" the stranger said as he stroke the blade then smirked as he mocked "I bet you have never fought or worked a day in your life".

Hans glared "You don't know anything about me",

"We shall see" said the stranger before he slammed the sword against the ground sending a flow of lava rocks towards Hans, dodging Hans reached into his pocket as he ran and dodged the rocks of lava, taking out some seeds he drew a tube on them before splitting into both his hands, the first he threw to the ground causing some roots to grow which he used to advance towards the stranger, the other he made grow into vine like plants which he threw at the stranger, once he was tangled Hans pulled and flipped over, using the enemies weight against it to hit it against the ground as best he could.

Before the stranger could get up Hans pounced on him, punching and kicking, even bitting, his mind repeating over and over that he cannot let it get up, if he did he was done for. As he punched Hans reached for the sword and managed to get it out of the strangers hand, flinging it by accident far away. Hans was only able to mentally curse about that rookie mistake before the stranger who managed to get his bearings grabbed a rock and smashed that against the side of Hans head sending him to the side.

Holding his injury Hans groaned a little as the stranger got up and ran for the sword but just before he was able to a cold blast threw him against a wall, followed by shards of ice.

"Ice?" though Hans as held his head, the turned to face in the direction he saw the ice coming from. Elsa glared in anger as she marched over, steam rising every time she took a step.

"Traitor" growled the stranger,

"Leave them be! They have nothing you want!" Ordered Elsa, the stranger chuckled "Seems so, but he is something you want" then added "Let me guess you are so ugly and so desperate for love you will never get so you decided to buy yourself love".

Elsa glared, "Ha! I though so daughter of Loki"laughed the man at her.

"Daughter of Loki?" Hans though as he looked between the two shocked, yes he knew Loki had children and yes Loki had mentioned him several times that he had a daughter but he did not know Elsa the goddess of Helhiem was his daughter.

There was no answer as Elsa shot ice, the two fought, as they did Hans got out of the way, grabbed the sword and made his way to his friends. Waking them up he shushed before gesturing to the exit. Nodding they made their way over to the exit, Bauldr went first, then Magni, Mordu, Hemrod and when it was Hans turn he stopped when he heard a horrifying cry of pain.

Turning he saw Elsa be thrown against the ground, she groaned weakly as she tried to get up only for the stranger to stand over her, placing his foot on her neck, Elsa wined in pain, sneering the man raised his foot ready to stomp on her as he said "Time to end your miserable life".

Instinct? Hans did not know, but in what seemed like a flash his body reacted before he could even register what was going on.

In what seemed like seconds he had run over, covering great distance, before slamming against the stranger pushing him away from Elsa. Thus saving her life.

"You bastard!" growled The stranger while Hans held out the sword against him.

"Leave her alone" growled Hans, the man laughed "Leave her alone?" Then spatted at Hans "You must be joking, I am doing you a favor by killing that thing",

"She has a name" sneered Hans,

"Fine, it's your pyre" growled the stranger as he threw a gust of hot ashes, dodging Hans slammed the sword against the ground to flip over and slam his foot against the stranger, breaking his nose, as he yelled in pain Hans did a round house kick, tripping the man and causing him to fall. When he fell to the ground Hans raised the sword, the stranger shot obsidian towards the sword.

Both collided, there was a mess of shard and smoke. Gagging and hacking Hans looked around, as the area cleared up he found the sword he held was now useless as the blade was smashed, the obsidian was now in pieces and the stranger was on the ground, a shard of the sword pierced through his chest, killing him instantly.

As he stared at the scene before him Hans felt something, yes there was a bit of regret as he was not one to find pleasure in killing another, but strange enough there was a sense of deja vu, like something similar to this had happened before. For a moment memories flashed before his eyes, for a moment he swore he saw before him a ruined village, dead Vikings and lastly a bloody wolf. Shaking his head the images left him.

Bending down Hans picked up the shards of the blade and some obsidian. Looking at the stranger he sighted as he touched the shard and said "Sorry it had to end this way" before pulling it out. As it did he noticed the shard was glowing with veins of what looked to be lava.

"Odd" though Hans before he heard a groan, turning he saw Elsa, she was on the ground, trying to get up, but unable to. Every time she tried she fell to the ground, holding her cries of pain as her body hit the hot ground. Trying hard to show that she was strong, but she was not, the heat was hurting her, destroying her.

Looking at the exit then at Elsa. It would be easy to leave her, just leave her there and he was free, but for some strange reason Hans could not, he could not find it inside himself to leave her.

Walking over Hans took Elsa, holding her up a bit, she looked at him, angry and hurt. With care Hans brought her into his arms and pulled her up, carrying her out of the open cave and towards Hemrod, Magni, Modi and Bauldr who stared at Hans in shock.

Turning to then Hans said "Do you have the boat?",

"Yes but-",

"Good, we need to get back to Hellhiem" said Hans seriously,

"What?! But we just! We-" began Magni to complain,

"Do as I say" ordered Hans before he began to walk away, the group stared at one another before they too began to move, going up ahead and leading Hans and Skumring to the boat.

Taking it Hans placed Elsa down on the boat gently, then helped Skumring inside, the pup snuggled up against Elsa who weakly stroked the pups fur. Together the group of five began to pull the boat in the opposite direction, going back to where Hans and Skumring first arrived.

Placing the boat there on the water they got on and proceeded to row down the river and to roots of the tree. Though Hans had no idea where he was going it seems Skumring did know as the pup would gesture and point which way to go.

Soon they arrived back in Hellhiem where they went under the bridge and into the city and castle where they were greeted by the worried staff.

After a short brief Hans had the servants take Magni, Modi, Hemrod and Bauldr to a couple of rooms to recover while Hans carried Elsa back to her own room.

Laying her down on the bed Elsa curled up in it, her back facing Hans and her head buried in the pillow. Hesitating a bit Hans waited before speaking "Elsa", she grumbled something,

"Elsa, are you okay?" asked Hans again, this time Elsa spoke clearly "I don't want to see you", with a sight Hans nodded and said "Okay, take care and rest" before he turned around and left the room, leaving Elsa alone with her thoughts.

The place, hostile as it was, as hot and arid, how no plant could grow, it was home. It has been and has always been to her.

Ancient was the woman as she made her way down the hot rock path, a path she had crossed many times before, so much so she knew it by heart, her back hurt a bit as she carried the supplies she had gotten from her trip to Midgard, for her and her son to enjoy.

Arriving at the open cave she called "Surtr, are you there? I-" what soon followed was a heart breaking scream.

Soft groans Elsa turned to her side, buried her head unto the pillow. She felt miserable as she lay there, sweating and hot, a combination which she though it would not be possible to feel.

Sitting next to her on the bed Hans, who she had allowed back into the bedroom after a while, dipped a rag into ice water before running it through her forehead. Though he did not say he did felt guilty that he tried to escape, thus running into that stranger that tried to kill him and his friends. Had he known that Elsa would risk her life to go after him he would have never done that.

Yes he wanted to be free but never at the cost of a life. Especially Elsa who despite her actions she had been more than kind of him.

"How are you feeling?" asked Hans as he ran the cool rag through her face,

"Hot, miserable" mumbled Elsa as she turned and added sounding both weak and angry "This is your fault, had you not run away I would have been fine".

Beraly holding back a glare Hans countered "What did you expect? You kidnapped me, took me away against my will",

"Odin promised you to me" she snapped,

"But did I promise myself to you? Yes Odin is a god, but I do not follow his orders" said Hans then sighted "To be honest I have found myself trusting him less and less as the days go pass"

There was a bit of silence before Elsa ask "Why do you say that?",

"I, I have been remembering, not much, but my memories show something and I am sure Odin changed them, why? I am not truly sure, but I know he did" explained Hans then added "He has a thing for control, wanting to control everything, I would bet my own life that he has it out for me for some reason, maybe because I break his illusion of control".

Elsa said nothing, then groaned again, clutching the area of her stomach. The heat sickness was getting worse.

Putting the rag down Hans though then said "Let's try something", getting up from bed Hans helped Elsa up, her legs shook unsteady, beraly able to walk. Wrapping an arm around her Hans helped her walk to the bathing room.

Once there he lay her down gently on the ground, Elsa pressed her body against the ground, it was cool and made her pain lessen.

As she did Hans filled the floor bath with water by pulling one of the levers near the bath allowing the water to flow into the tub, filling it up from the ground up with cold water.

As it did Hans took off his shirt before picking Elsa up and helping her into the tub, holding her as they went into the water. The ice cold water made Hans gasp a bit and shiver as he held Elsa, the water was much colder than he though, but slowly he got used to the temperature and stopped shivering.

As the water soaked into her Elsa got comfortable as the heat sickness went away. Gently Hans scooped up some water and rubbed it gently over Elsas body and head, as he did Elsa pressed her head against him, buried it on his neck.

An hour or so passed before Hans helped Elsa out, sat her on the ground before leaving. After a minute or so he came back with a new tunic and shirt for her.

Carefully he helped her change out of the soaked clothes into the new dry ones while careful not to look more than he should.

When dressed he helped her back to bed. Laying down on it Hans tucked her in, as he did Elsa turned, buried her head into the pillow and with a final sight Elsa closed her eyes and went to sleep leaving Hans in turmoil about what happened. Slowly getting up he walked away and made his way to the balcony overlooking Elsas kingdom. Thinking of what happened, what he felt and what would he do next.

To be continued...