Nanna tentatively walked into the dwarf's shop; even though it was Snorta's turn to deliver food, they had sent her instead. I shouldn't have told them about that mother! Fortunately, it was empty save for Eitri and a middle-aged man bickering over the price of a brooch. She started inspecting the wares, waiting for the customer to leave so she could deliver the casserole and recollect her soup pot.

Eitri noticed her first, and managed a weak smile. He gestured with his hand for her to wait while he dealt with the customer. It didn't take much longer for the man to agree to Eitri's price. He gave Nanna a superior look as he left; she resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

"Here," Nanna said to Eitri, handing him the casserole.

"Thank you." Eitri took the dish, and set it down beside him on a shelf. A decidedly awkward silence fell.

"Can I get the soup pot back?" Nanna ventured eventually.

"Right. Of course. Wait here?"

But Nanna didn't wait, following him back into the forges. She gazed around and her jaw fell open.

"Wow."

Eitri glanced back, shaking his head that she'd ignored him. "I forgot you hadn't been back here."

Nanna's eyes were wide. "I had no idea the room was so big!"

Eitri shrugged. "We need a lot of space for our tools and materials."

Nanna leaned over a half-finished dagger handle. "How do you keep all of your projects straight?"

"Dwarves have a remarkable memory. I could tell you exactly what each of these cost to make and who they are for without looking at them."

Nanna took that as a challenge, turning and pointing randomly at a bejewelled dagger. "That one?"

"Three hundred and seventy-five, for Lady Auda as a wedding present for her eldest daughter."

Nanna nodded, impressed, and enjoying this. She looked at a finely wrought silver teapot, crafted like a swan's head and neck. "That one?"

Eitri glanced at her (not where she was pointing), and said, "Two hundred even, for Lord Ander."

"You don't even know what I'm pointing at!"

"The silver swan teapot. It's not quite done, I need to reshape the lid so it fits better."

Nanna shook her head in amazement. She wandered around the tables, asking randomly about the wares. Eitri replied to them all without missing a beat.

She gave up, in the end- it wasn't as if she'd know if he made a mistake! "Why don't my sisters and I have recall like this?"

"Because you're half Vanir," Eitri responded swiftly. "And you weren't raised as Brokk and I were... We had to spend hour memorising charts and blueprints and other things as children."

Nanna actually winced. "How dull!"

"Brokk was always the studious one... I am not sure..." he trailed off.

Nanna looked at the dwarf, pity rising in her. She knew what it was like to lose a sibling, but at least she had seven others! She finished her rounds and sat down. "Could you teach me?"

Eitri's brows rose. "What?"

"Could you teach me how to make these things?"

his eyes widened. "You want to learn how to forge objects?"

"I like pretty things just as much as anybody else in my family. And it would be nice to be able to make them myself. Plus," she added in a silly tone, "Mor says I need to have a trade, and that I can't keep working in the healing rooms forever."

Eitri laughed. "Alright, if you are really serious, I can show you a few things." His expression became mock-stern. "I won't have you complaining about the heat though!"

Nanna feigned a military salute. "I'll just go put on something I don't mind burning, then... Trousers would be best, wouldn't they?"

Eitri nodded.

"I'll be back!" Nanna called cheerfully, zipping out of the store with a grin on her face. Who knew that it would be worth it to spend some time with her fatheruncle?

Eitri smiled at her enthusiasm. He wondered how long it would last...

#

Brokk bounced little Skaldi in his arms, making funny faces for her to laugh at. Three weeks had passed since the wedding. Thirty-two more days. It was truly amazing to him, how content he felt. He wasn't even afraid anymore. Freyja and Var sat nearby, chatting about Nanna's newfound "skill" in forging metal. Brokk walked over to inspect the shapeless lump of metal that was displayed on the mantle; Nanna had been so proud of it! Whatever it was...

It could be a seashell, he mused, though it was strangely-shaped.

Skaldi reached for it, chubby hands grasping. And she promptly dropped it right on Brokk's foot. His eyes went wide and he bit back an oath. Freyja and Var both looked up at the noise; Var quickly took Skaldi back and Freyja helped Brokk back to the couch.

"Remind me next time that babies aren't strong," Brokk gasped, tears filling his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Freyja's brow was creased with worry.

"Fine, fine... my foot's going to have a beautiful bruise though!"

Skaldi began wailing as she apparently wanted to play with her new 'toy'. Var tried to shush her to no avail. "I'd probably take the little one home and put her to bed."

"Thank you for coming," Brokk said sincerely.

Var smiled warmly. "You're welcome... both of you. I'll try and come by again later in the week, if you like?"

Brokk and Freyja exchanged looks before nodding.

"We'll be sure to child-proof the place next time though!" Freyja quipped.

Var smiled and waved, though Skaldi was still wailing. Freyja turned her attention back to Brokk and started to ease off his boot so she could take a better look at his foot. He reached out and cupped her face. Looking up she smiled in puzzlement. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to look at you. You're beautiful, you know."

She blushed. "Brokk, you say that at least three times a day. Now let's see what damage has been done to you by Nanna's... paperweight."

She pulled off his boot and sucked in a breath between her teeth; his whole foot was dark purple and rapidly swelling.

"It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks," Brokk noted with some surprise.

She shook her head. "That's not necessarily a good sign." She pressed her hand to it gently. He gritted his teeth, and managed not to yelp. "We should get you to the healers- Unless taking care of a bruise is interfering with nature."

"No, it's fine, we just don't believe in altering life and death's plans-" Brokk tried to stand, and collapsed. "I don't think I can walk on this though!"

"I'll get the wheelchair." Freyja kissed his cheek and slipped out of the room.

Brokk grimaced at his foot. It really shouldn't be so damaged with so little pain!

Unless what the other healer said is true, and my ability to feel pain is lessening. He pushed that thought aside as Freyja returned, helping him into the wheelchair.

"Are you sure you can push me by yourself?" he asked with worry.

"I'm stronger than I look - I would have thought that you knew that already!" Freyja replied with a twinkle in her eye.

Brokk chuckled but didn't speak as she led him to the healers. He remained quiet, feeling dizzy for some reason... Freyja didn't notice when his eyes went out of focus. They reached the healers, and Freyja moved to help Brokk stand. He recoiled from her, eyes panicked.

She blinked. "Brokk, what-"

"How do you know my name? Where's my brother? Where am I?" He looked around fearfully, hands shaking slightly.

"Brokk, it's me, Freyja." Her eyes widened. Not again! "Remember, it's me... Oh!" She began fumbling in her pockets for the medicine that Eitri had advised she carry with her at all times.

"I want my brother!" Brokk cried, looking like a child in a grown man's body.

Passers-by were starting to stare. Freyja hastily pulled the bottle out of her pocket- but how to get him to drink it?

"Eitri is coming," Freyja soothed, kneeling beside Brokk. "But you have to drink this first."

Brokk shook his head. "Yuck!"

"I know, I know, but..." she cast about desperately. "Your mother says you have to!"

Brokk froze. His eyes widened in terror. "Mother?"

His reaction worried her, but she persevered. "Drink this, Brokk, please..."

Obediently, he gulped down the brew. He made a face and shuddered. Hiding his face in his hands, he breathed deeply for several moments before looking up.

"Freyja?" he muttered.

Her shoulders sagged in relief. "Brokk."

"What happened?" Brokk's voice was slurred.

Freyja smiled ruefully. "No... you seemed...younger, during- a minute ago. And frightened. I thought mentioning Dis might calm you."

Brokk's brows raised. "You met the woman, right?"

"You told me before we married that you trusted her!"

"There are many different types of trust, though."

Freyja folded her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Brokk opened his mouth to reply when one of the healer's apprentices came outside.

"Lady Freyja, can I help you with something?"

She straightened up. "My husband has met with an accident. His foot is badly bruised and swollen. It needs to be examined."

The apprentice looked down at Brokk's feet and his jaw dropped open. "Let's get him inside, that looks broken!"

"Broken?" Freyja repeated as the apprentice took over pushing the wheelchair. "But that thing isn't that heavy!"

"Actually, it was," Brokk muttered. "I lifted it once- it's made of pure uru, weighs a ton..."

"But it's not heavy," Freyja protested. "I've lifted it, too!"

"It's one of the features of uru. People the maker trusts feel like it's lighter than it really is... Which is why Skaldi was able to pick it up in the first place."

Freyja frowned at Brok's implication. "Nanna does trust you!"

"Perhaps we should continue this inside?" the young healer offered.

"Right, of course," Freyja muttered. She followed Brokk and the healer into the building, resolving that they would talk later, about what he had just indicated, and about Dis.

#

Sigyn was about ready to run out of the market when Dis began haggling over yet another price...

"It's fine," she tried to tell the dwarf woman. "I don't mind-"

"Two thirty-five for a basket of fruit?" Dis replied, shaking her head. "You shouldn't have to pay more than one twenty for it!"

The vender looked at Sigyn pleadingly. Sigyn shrugged helplessly, determined that she would come back and pay whatever Dis managed to haggle out of the poor vender. He looked at his wit's end! She glanced around, abstractedly hoping that something would happen to distract Dis from shopping...

"Eitri!" she cried, spotting the dwarf coming out of the baker's.

He smiled at her warmly, but the cheery expression vanished when he saw Dis. Sigyn darted over to him quickly.

"Help," she muttered in a low tone.

"You're the one that told her she could stay with you!" Eitri shot back.

"I didn't think she'd stay for three weeks and terrify everybody I met!"

Eitri shrugged. "You could tell her to leave."

Sigyn shook her head. "No, I can't!"

"Why not?"

"Because she's so lonely."

"It's her own fault," Eitri muttered darkly.

Sigyn frowned at his tone. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," the dwarf said quickly as his mother made her way over to them.

"Are you done shopping already?" Dis asked Sigyn, ignoring Eitri entirely.

Sigyn folded her arms. "Yes, and I was just asking Eitri if he would care to come have lunch with us."

Eitri looked at her in alarm. Dis's brows rose. Sigyn turned to the dwarf, raising a brow and waiting for his answer. He stumbled over his tongue for a moment before shaking his head and muttering something about having to work. Dis's expression fell slightly.

"Maybe supper then?" Sigyn pressed.

Dis shook her head this time. "I'd rather not share a meal with him."

Sigyn's jaw dropped. "What?"

"You heard me!"

"Which is fine, because I'd rather not share a meal with her!" Eitri shot back.

Sigyn looked between them; they were acknowledging each other's presence now, but by glare. She wondered if she should get between them and try and diffuse this, or just make herself scarce...

"Good day, Lady Sigyn," Eitri said stiffly. "I pray that your unwelcome guest leaves soon."

"Hmph!"

Eitri stalked away. Dis turned hard eyes to Sigyn, staring as if waiting for something. Sigyn didn't know what to say.

"What?" she demanded eventually. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

"Some support from you might not have hurt, you know!"

Sigyn gaped. "Why should I get caught up in your family quarrels?"

"If you want me to continue to stay in your home, you should have!"

Sigyn quickly suppressed her reply, that she didn't want the imposing wretch to stay with her! "I don't get involved in fights," she settled for instead. "It makes me feel sick to be around people who are angry with each other."

Dis pursed her lips. "Not very outgoing, are you?"

"I fight my battles in other ways."

"Like what? Ignoring them and pretending that they go away?"

Sigyn turned her back on Dis, intending to just leave.

The dwarf woman laughed at her. "See? You're doing it now!"

"I think I'll eat with Mother and Brokk tonight," Sigyn called over her shoulder. "I'm sure you'd be welcome to join us."

She walked away. Dis did not follow her.

#

Idunn called the meeting of sisters to order. She looked seriously at the other six who had gathered.

"This meeting," she announced, "is called together that we might free our sister Sigyn from that horrible dwarf woman who is holding her captive!"

"Here, here!" Var cheered.

Nanna smothered a giggle. "Shouldn't Mor be here for this? I'm sure she's as worried about Sigyn as we are!"

"She's busy taking care of Brokk. Your... present to them dropped on his foot and crushed it," Lofn explained. "They went to the healers but he's supposed to keep off of it for a few days."

"So instead Mor's on top of him!" Syn cried out.

The girls giggled, some blushing. Idunn shook her head.

"We're in a meeting," she reminded them. "Let's save the crude remarks for other times."

"Alright," Var managed to regain a straight face. "So what are we going to do about the harridan?"

"What does that mean?" Idunn demanded.

Var shrugged. "I don't know, it's a word I heard Thoth use once, that time he came here..."

Lofn blinked. "How do you even remember that? You were ten!"

"I remember things," Var said defensively. "I have a good memory!"

Idunn waved her hand dismissively. "Setting Var's memory and vocabulary aside, we're getting off track. How are we going to get rid of Dis?"

"I've heard wormwood does amazing things," Syn volunteered.

Nanna gasped. "We can't poison her!"

"I wasn't being serious. Mostly."

"We could get pitchforks and torches," Snotra suggested. "Or we could follow her around everywhere singing."

"I happen to have a lovely voice," Lofn replied haughtily.

"No, Var has a lovely voice." Syn corrected. "Maybe we could invite Sigyn to stay with one of us, and pretend we've forgotten about Dis?"

"I have a lovely voice too," Lofn argued back. "And Sigyn would just invite Dis along, you know she would!"

Idunn scowled. "Well, we have to do something!"

Nanna tilted her head to one side. "I wonder if Eitri knows any ways of getting rid of her?"

"You should ask him, then, since you practically live there now!" Sjofn retorted.

"Don't get mad at me! You're the one that kept sending me there, and he's actually not as horrible as we always thought he was."

"If you say so." Sjofn turned her back on Nanna.

"I just wanted to get to know that so bad?"

"No," Idunn said with a sigh before any of the sisters could. "And we're off track again."

"Maybe we could just tell her to leave," Lofn suggested. "You know, all of us gang up on her?"

Idunn shrugged. "Might work... unless anyone has a better idea?"

They all shook their heads. Nanna frowned thoughtfully.

"Maybe instead, we can give her presents. Scare her off by being really nice."

Syn made a face."That might make her think we like her, though."

"Maybe she'll be nicer."

"I thought we wanted her gone." Snorta folded her arms.

Nanna threw her hands into the air. "Well, excuse me if I don't want people to end up dying alone and unloved!"

There was silence at that. None of Nanna's sisters knew what to say.

Evenutally, Nanna stood. "I have to get to the shop. Eitri's teaching me how to inlay jewels today."

She left without a word.

Snotra spoke up hesitantly. "So... are we going to do anything about Dis?"

Idunn shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe we should talk to Sigyn."

"That might be best." A general chorus of nods followed.

"Alright. Meeting adjourned!"