The snow continued to fall and it was making Hel a bit antsy. She'd spoken with her father and told him of the unusual snowfall, but the hadn't seemed concerned by it. He'd just made some lame joke about "Hel freezing over." She'd glared at him, but had finally laughed along with him. It was rather hard staying mad at him for long. His smile was absolutely infectious.
Then again, she had enough trouble dealing with her two newest guests. Odin had insisted that he stay in Helheim and Hel had finally given in, if only to shut him up. He could be incredibly irritating and his incessant whining was driving her crazy.
She sighed, leaning her head on the window sill in the library. She reached out her hand and let the snow fall into her palm, watching the snowflakes curiously. It had been a long time since she'd seen snowflakes and she marveled at their complexity. So caught up in the sight, she didn't notice when someone entered the library.
Balder had been ignoring his father for the most part and instead had wandered around. It was only fitting, after all, since this was to be his new home. He learned quickly and found that Niflheim wasn't that much different from Asgard. It was quiet, which he found he liked. It gave him a chance to think on what he'd done in the past.
What he remembered sickened him. It seemed that the longer he stayed here, the farther away the madness that had overtaken him grew. It was like he was another person, or rather he had become the man he once was. He couldn't even remember anymore why he'd sought to kill his father, and Loki. Loki hadn't been responsible for his death, well not directly. He had to admit, it had been his own stupid fault.
But then he saw her and he grinned. She looked so peaceful, no matter what side of her he could see. A grin split his face and he went over to her. He waited until she noticed him and then he took her hand in his. She followed him like a dutiful puppy, curious and overcome all at once.
Neither noticed that Odin watched from one of the tower windows. The pair left the castle and Balder took her in his arms, dancing with her in the snow. Even from the tower Odin could see the two and he wondered at all that had happened. Had it all occurred only for them all to be where they are now? Perhaps there was something to this whole love thing. The winter solstice was coming and he could feel the change in the air. Perhaps it was time for another change as well.