Brokk stirred first the next morning, smiling at Freyja asleep beside him. His wife... he liked the sound of that! He traced her lips with his finger. Even in sleep they were cherry-red. She truly was the most beautiful woman in existence.

Her eyes fluttered. "Mmm... Brokk?" Her voice was sleepy.

"Morning. Would you like me to make you some breakfast?"

She sat up, disoriented. "No... I'll do it." A smile spread over her face. "It is one of a wife's duties, after all." She swung her legs out of bed, reaching for her robe, and stood.

"I'm glad to see you're embracing it," Brokk replied, crawling out the other side. "But why don't I come help you? That is the duty of a husband, is it not?"

Freyja's bright eyes darkened with concern. "Only if the husband is sure he's up to it."

"The husband can at least butter toast! He is not so frail yet!" Brokk leaned across the bed to kiss her. "I love you."

"I know."

Brokk dressed, and they made their way downstairs. A short while later, there was a knock on the door, and Eitri burst in, out of breath as if he had been running.

"Good... I got here... first." He panted.

Brokk frowned. "First? what do you mean?"

"Mother is here."

Brokk paled.

"And she wants to meet Freyja. Now."

Another, louder knock on the door sounded. Brokk fought the immediate urge to tell Eitri to take Freyja out the back way and run for their lives.

"Mother isn't that bad," he said nervously, edging towards the door.

Freyja eyed him sceptically. "Then why do you both look terrified?"

"Because she is that bad," Eitri muttered. "I told her I was going to market, I'll go out the back! Give me five minutes!"

Another knock sounded.

"Eitri! I know what you're doing, I saw you come in here!"

Both dwarves winced. Freyja blinked.

"She sounds... determined."

The brothers glanced at each other, and Freyja walked to the door and opened it. "Hello."

"Hmph." The dwarf woman pushed past her, going straight to Brokk. "Good to see you, my son." she embraced him tightly.

"I was just leaving," Eitri said quickly. "Mother, should I have supper ready for you later today?"

"Don't bother, I'll be eating here. And spending the night."

Freyja raised her brows at Brokk over Dis's head. Is she serious? she mouthed at him.

Brokk nodded.

Freyja managed half a smile. "Pleased to meet you, my lady. I am-"

"The Vanir who enchanted both my sons, I know."

"Can I get you some tea?"

Dis surveyed her in disgust. "What is it with this place and tea? If I was thirsty I would ask for something!"

Freyja blinked. "I was only trying to be polite."

"Hmph." Dis surveyed her. "I suppose I see why my sons took up with you... You're very well proportioned."

"As are you," Freyja replied swiftly. "I certainly see where Brokk gets his looks from."

Dis smirked (having completely missed Freyja's sarcasm.) "Tell me Freyja, what drew you to my boys?"

"Initially, their craftsmanship caught my eye." Not a lie, but certainly not the whole truth!

Brokk and Eitri were glancing nervously at each other. Dis seemed to be ignoring them. "Their craftsmanship? What exactly about their craftsmanship?"

"Well," Freyja said slowly. "I originally approached their shop in hopes for some proper armour. It was near the start of the Aesir-Jotunn war and I wanted to be prepared to defend my home if the need arose."

Dis looked impressed. "Not a helpless female then, are you?"

Freyja looked insulted. "Not at all, my Lady. I was trained as a Valkyrie before I even came to Asgard in my early adulthood."

"And why did you come to Asgard?"

"I got married. To the Allfather's younger brother."

"And yet you are now married to my eldest? Is that legal?"

"My first husband died in battle centuries ago." Freyja blinked hard- she would not say Ve's name.

"I know that, I'm not a fool," Dis retorted sharply. "Every realm under Asgard's control was forced to mourn Odin's little brother. But surely your dead husband's brother had a thing to say about you marrying again?"

Freyja attempted to speak calmly. Dis was clearly baiting her, trying to get a rise out of her. "Odin does not command my personal life."

Dis snorted. "So he approves this, then?" She gestured between Freyja and Brokk. "I find that hard to believe."

"I don't care if he approves or disapproves of anything I do," Freyja shot back. "He can sit on a spindle for all I care!"

Dis stared at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. "I see where your daughter got her spirit from!"

Freyja blinked. "When did you meet any of my daughters?"

"Your little one... Nanna? Brought some soup to Eitri yesterday. She has quite a mind of her own."

Freyja smiled stiffly. "I suppose... though she has always seemed to me to be the gentlest of my daughters. Except for Sigyn," she added as an afterthought.

"Hmm. Perhaps my boy didn't make a terrible mistake after all by marrying you. Although," Dis walked up to Brokk and slapped him firmly across the face. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU ARE DYING?"

Freyja jumped and covered her ears, the scream was so loud. Brokk took a few minutes to raise his head, wincing. Freyja moved to his side, examining the bright red mark. She scowled, whirling on Dis.

"What did you do that for?!"

"You stay out of this!"

"I most certainly will not!"

Brokk put a hand on her elbow. "Freyja, please-"

"You have no right to go around hitting people!"

"How I treat my sons is no one else's business, little girl!"

"How you treat my husband is completely my business, old hag!"

Freyja and Dis squared off, fuming. The dwarf brothers exchanged helpless looks.

"Freyja-" Brokk ventured bravely.

Freyja turned to look at him.

"Perhaps I can talk to my mother alone?"

"I think not!"

"Freyja."

Freyja glowered at Dis, but she nodded, walking away without a word.

Brokk turned to his mother. "I wanted to tell you in person. I was going to before the wedding, but you refused to come."

"You didn't even have the sense to marry a dwarf!"

"You have always said that no dwarf woman in her right mind would marry," Brokk responded calmly. "And you do not have to suffer having a Vanir daughter-in-law long. I'll be dead before two months are out and then you never have to see Freyja again. But in the meantime, Mother, I ask that you treat my wife kindly."

"I'll treat her any way I please, just as I do you and your brother! I won't be ordered around by my son."

Brokk stood up abruptly. "Leave."

"What?"

"Leave. If you cannot be civil when you have just learned I am dying, then I do not want to see you again. Goodbye."

Dis blinked in shock. Slowly she stood, and then marched out without another word. Eitri gulped as she left and turned to his brother.

"Was that wise?"

"I don't care. I am used to her being over-bearing, but I had thought she might soften now, of all times. And as she hasn't, I don't want to see her. After I'm gone, you may do as you please."

"Don't talk like that-"

"Brokk? I heard your mother leave, may I come back inside now?" Freyja sounded irritated.

Brokk sighed. "Of course."

She took a deep breath, calming herself before coming in. "Is your mother always so... brusque?"

"Yes," both brothers replied glumly.

Freyja put her hands on her hips, tapping her toes. "I never had mother-in-law problems before, but now! I'm sorry, but I just do not like her at all."

Brokk took her hand and squeezed it. "No-one really likes her much... but don't worry, she... has agreed to stay away for the time being." And if Freyja asks again, I can make an excuse for why Mother is too busy... as long as Eitri stays quiet! His brother was watching him with narrowed eyes even now.

Freyja frowned. "I hope it wasn't something I said."

"It wasn't," Eitri replied. "It's just her."

"Right..." Freyja decided to drop it for now. "Did you want to share breakfast with us, Eitri?"

"No, I had best get back to the shop. I have a brooch I want to finish before noon."

Brokk tried to stand. "I could come and help."

"No, stay." Eitri tried to smile. "Enjoy the day with your wife." He darted away before Brokk could protest.

Freyja swept over to her husband and kissed his forehead. "Maybe after breakfast we can go back to bed."

Brokk's eyes gleamed. "Sounds like fun... but let's eat first, I'm famished!"

Freyja laughed, handing him a plate of toast.

#

"Idunn, there is someone here to speak to you," Bragi called, wheeling into the parlour, a short stump of a woman following him closely.

Idunn looked up from where she had been trying to wrestle their youngest, 5-year-old Egill, into his tunic. She frowned. "And you are?"

"Your grandmother, girl. Brokk and Eitri are my sons."

Idunn let Egill go. He tore out of the room, half-dressed, shrieking with delight as though he had just triumphed on the battlefield. Bragi rolled his eyes and wheeled after him.

"Grandmother?" Idunn repeated, standing so she towered over the dwarf woman. "Interesting."

Dis huffed. "I hope you are more respectful than your mother and sister."

"I doubt it," Idunn replied, folding her arms. "If you're Brokk's mother, why in the Nine realms are you here today instead of yesterday at his wedding?"

Dis crossed her own arms. "Our people don't believe in weddings, that's an Asgardian custom. Can't think why Brokk went through with it!"

"Hmmm." Idunn was rapidly deciding that she didn't like her 'grandmother'. "Maybe because he wanted to."

"As I understand it, they were involved anyway. What difference does a fancy ceremony make?"

"If it doesn't make a difference, why do you seem so opposed to it?"

"It's a waste of expense and only flatters a woman's vanity!"

"Get out."

Dis looked shocked and annoyed.

"You have not said a single polite thing since bursting into my home, and I will not have my sons subjected to you. Get out."

Dis looked down her nose at Idunn, but turned and left. Perhaps coming to Asgard was not the best idea after all... Why they all seem to be so tightly wound I don't know! Maybe this Sigyn will be more hospitable and put her wretched grandmother up for a few days.

She made her way to the house one of the peasants pointed out as Sigyn's. The girl was outside, tending to some sort of flowery garden. She seemed paler and slighter than the other girls she had met; more dwarf-like. Good.

"Well met, Lady Sigyn."

Sigyn looked up and brushed her blonde hair back from her forehead. "Good morning," she said pleasantly. "What can I do for you?"

"You can put your grandmother up for a few days."

Sigyn blinked a few times, paling. She glanced around, as if she were looking for a way to escape the conversation.

"Well? Aren't you at least going to answer me?" Dis scowled.

"You're Brokk and Eitri's mother?"

"Are you dense? I just said I was your grandmother!"

Sigyn stood and brushed off her hands. "If you are Brokk and Eitri's mother, than you are not my grandmother."

Dis narrowed her eyes.

"Neither of them is my father."

Dis blinked a few times. "...What?"

Sigyn shrugged. "You can come in if you want."

Dis followed Sigyn inside dazedly, her mind whirling a mile a minute.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"Tea with milk, no sugar. What do you mean by this nonsense that neither of my boys are your father?"

Sigyn stiffened. "It is not nonsense, my lady." Her voice was tight. "My mother only told me recently that I was not sired by either of your sons."

"So who's your father then?"

"I don't know. And neither does she," Sigyn replied, turning away to put water on to boil.

Dis hurrpmhed with approval. "Better that way."

"She was forced. So no, not better that way."

"Forced?" Dis stared in horror. "What sort of sick place is this?!"

Sigyn winced. "My conception is not widely known, and it is not a common occurrence in Asgard, if that's what you were thinking."

"The dog should have been strung up be his-"

The kettle started whistling and Sigyn hurriedly turned to it, her face reddening.

"-for ten days! And then cut open and maggots infect his flesh."

It was a rather disturbing image, but Sigyn thought of Njord... She shrugged the thoughts off. "I told you, we don't know who it was."

Dis was quiet for a long moment. "That explains why Brokk wanted to marry her... He's always been overprotective."

Sigyn nodded. "I suppose... and I know Mother cares about him."

"Hmm." Dis took the tea from Sigyn. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. How long will you be staying?"

Dis shrugged. "Perhaps a few days. I had thought to stay longer, but my sons are not being overly welcoming. Nor, to be fair, are your mother and sisters." She took a sip of her tea, oblivious to Sigyn's worsening temper.

"I don't wish to be rude, but I do have a lot of things that I need to get done today. So make yourself at home. I'll be outside."

Dis watched her leave with raised eyebrows, before setting down her mug and following her.

"I'm curious as to what women in this realm do all day."

Sigyn threw down the trowel she had just picked up. "What do women of Nidavellir do all day?!"

"We craft, we work. We sport."

Sigyn wrinkled her nose. "You speak very freely."

"Why should I not?"

"Women here are generally more... conservative."

"You mean prudish."

"I mean that I am not comfortable with such frank speech and would appreciate it if you made an effort to curb yourself."

Dis rolled her eyes. "A woman shouldn't be so reserved, it's unnatural, girl. Haven't you had lovers?"

"I had my husband," Sigyn replied stiffly. "And not even that is any of your business!"

"Husbands...wives... Asgard and it's ridiculous customs." Dis shook her head. "Honestly!"

Sigyn folded her arms. "Are you going to do anything except attack my way of life?"

"I am merely stating an opinion."

"You are 'merely' scoffing at my values."

Dis rolled her eyes. "Is lack of respect for elders something all Asgardian women are taught?"

"Is disrespect for everybody else something all dwarf women are taught? How can you expect me to respect you when the only thing you have done since your arrival is to mock me?"

Dis blinked repeatedly. "Mock you?" Her voice was genuinely confused. "I meant only to express my opinions!"

"Your world must be a very different place from Asgard," Sigyn muttered.

"It is." Dis nodded sagely. "I had thought they would be more alike..."

Sigyn bit back a reply to that! "I need to go to the market. You're welcome to come with me or stay here."

Dis shrugged. "I can come with you if you like."

"Either way is fine with me. I don't get a lot of company, to be honest."

Dis apparently took that as an invitation, falling into step with Sigyn. Sigyn stifled a sigh.