"Mom!" Atreus cries. Her son, the boy she thought she lost. He holds her, real and tangible.
Faye kisses his head, not caring how she cries as well. "Atreus." She gasps, pulling away just long enough to look at him again. He's similar, yet different. She knows those bright eyes and the shape of his face. She knows the kindness in his soul, but he's older. Still a child, but no longer just tall enough to reach her knees. He's closer to being a teen than the baby she cradled.
She holds either side of his face, her thumb wiping at his tears. Oh, how she dreamt of doing this again. Of holding him. Her boy.
"Atreus." He sounds the name out, as if it's unnatural on his tongue. "That's my name, right? Atreus?"
It's then that Faye realizes where he must've been all this time. Baldur stole him away to Asgard. Who gave him those scars on his cheek? Who took his name from him?
She quiets the rage before it can return. "Yes. Your father-" She gasps again, quickly recalling her axe. They're all here, now. In a way. Their family has returned, the pieces of them one. "It was a name from your father's lands." She says at last, watching as the axe glows. Responding. A name she still doesn't quite understand.
"My father?" The boy tilts his head, breaking free from her hold. It's painful to let him go, but she must. "Is he the Giant?"
What exactly did Odin tell him all this time? Standing, Faye touches Atreus' shoulder, wanting some kind of contact to ground her. Then, just as she's about to answer, she realizes they aren't alone. "Stay behind me!" She pushes Atreus back, her axe held out.
Mimir. Odin's advisor. She gives him a seething glare, frost already beginning to coat the Leviathan's blade.
"Stop!" Atreus cries, pushing against the hand holding him away. "No! He's my friend! Don't, Mother!"
Mimir holds his hands up in surrender, but his eyes shine with understanding. He knows exactly who she is. "Please, Laufey." His voice is hollow as he speaks. "I was a friend to the Giants, remember?"
Faye looks between the two. Then, she straightens; though, her axe doesn't lower. "I remember. I also remember what you did to the Dwarves."
To his credit, the horned man doesn't try to deny it. "I know." He bows his head. "And I regret everything I did under Odin. Every bit of it."
"Then leave." She commands. "Go and never come near me or my son again!"
Atreus wiggles his way in front of her, his eyes pleading. "No, wait! We need him!" He says. "I freed him so he could take me to Jotunheim!"
"Jotunheim?" She looks back to Mimir, who nods in confirmation. "What do you want in Jotunheim? Was Thor's bloodshed not enough for the Asire?!"
"I just wanted to take the lad home." Mimir says. "A boy like him doesn't deserve Odin's treatment. None of his sons did."
Slowly, Faye lowers her weapon. She stares at Mimir for a long while, her heart torn as she looks at him as both Asire and a friend to her people. The oppressor of the Dwarves, but a knowledgable ally. Her son's protector and potential danger.
"There's no point in returning." Faye says at last. "There's nothing left there. The Giants are gone."
"What?!" Atreus sinks, his eyes wide. "But...but it's safe there! The All-Father can't get us in Jotunheim!"
Faye kneels, looking at her son again. She will never be used to him like this and it will never be a bad thing. "Atreus, our people are gone. The few who might've survived Thor's slaughter left the nine realms long ago. I'm the only one remaining. Me...and you." She cups his cheek with her hand. The boy soaks in the touch, like he's been starved of it.
It's then that Freya bursts from the trees, her throat bruised with her son's fingerprints. She looks around frantically before she spots them. "Faye!" She calls, stopping once she too sees Mimir. "You." Freya glares.
"An ally." Faye tells her. Then, she side-eyes him. "For now."
"Your highness." Mimir bows, making Freya scoff.
She crosses her arms, her panic gone. "You are the last person I want to see right now. Where's Baldur? Did you-" She catches sight of him, wincing at the gore his body naturally heals. "I see."
With that reminder, Faye stands, leading them back toward the shore, Atreus' hand locked in hers. "We should move quickly."
The others follow. "If I may," Mimir struggles to keep her pace, as if he's too weak to walk properly. "Where exactly are we goin' now?"
"We aren't really bringing him along, are we?" Freya complains, walking on the opposite side. "He could be a danger to us all."
"If he wishes to join us, then he may. We could use an all-knowing god." Faye says.
Freya looks at her, still doubtful. "Yes, but-"
"All-knowing indeed!" Mimir chimes in. "Though, if you could fill some gaps in ma knowledge, where are we goin-"
"Vanaheim." Freya interrupts. "I refuse to stay trapped in this realm any longer."
Mimir nods slowly, his expression turning grim. "Ah." And it's left at that.
They make it to the shore, only to see Faye's boat drifting in the middle of the lake. When she looks to Mimir, he cowers. "Thought it was a good idea at the time."
Before Faye can start searching for another way to the temple, Freya steps forward. "Allow me." She whispers a spell, moving vines grow from out of the trees left from their fight with Baldur. They form into a raft of sorts, the roots rightly locked together. Then, she gestured toward Faye. "You needed a boat?"
"That's a pretty bad boat." Atreus mutters; though, he climbs on anyway, testing it's safety. Mimir joins him after, sighing as he rests his left. Then, Faye helps Freya onto it, pushing them away from shore. A shining sword whistles from Freya's side, it's words lost to Faye as it pushes them from behind. "Ingrid!" Atreus addresses the weapon. "I thought you left!"
The sword replys, to Faye's bewilderment. "A talking sword?" She asks Freya. When did she acquire this? Was it while Faye was in Alfheim?
"It belongs to my brother, Freyr." She says, watching the sword with a bittersweet expression. "Perhaps I can return it to him."
"Ah, yes. The Sword of Freyr, a very special one that-"
"Shut up, Mimir."
Mimir falls silent.
They dock roughly by the side of the temple, the raft knocking with little grace. Then, once everyone has climbed out, Faye ties the heap of wood to the post, hoping it actually stays. If not, she would rather ride Jormingandr's head back to shore.
Stepping onto the pain walkway, Faye gathers her son's hand again, holding him tight. He smiles up at her and it gives her a warmth she lost that day. Her little boy.
"Yer back!" Brok calls as they entire the room. "Seems you met each other nice and well. I gots that armor fer the snot gobler."
Atreus runs up to the workbench, his expression brightening as he looks over the set. "Woah! It's so cool!" He gasps, placing each section next to the ones he already has.
As the boy marvels at his armor, a door appears behind them. Sindri walks out. "I couldn't find the soft steel, but at least-" He jumps upon seeing them. "Oh! Hello again!" The Dwarf returns to his brother's workbench, a smile pointed at Atreus. "Hello, Faye. Your Highness." He ignores Mimir.
"Sindri! Look!" Atreus shows off his new armor, making Sindri glare at his brother.
"So you were making that for him! Well, little Jotunn, I'll have you know that my parts will serve you better."
Brok scoffs, shoving Sindri away. "Bah! Yous can talk all you like, but we both know who's better!"
Faye stops them before they get carried away. "I see you've united again." Both Dwarves smile at her.
"Yes! You see, after working on your axe again, and armor for the little one, I realized that..." Sindri sighs. "I guess I missed this filthy beast. A little."
Jumping up to their bench again, Atreus beams. "That's great!"
"Indeed." Mimir adds, more to Atreus than anyone else. "Now, we really should get to Vanaheim. I'm sure Odin won't be pleaded we stopped Baldur."
"I agree." Freya says. "We only have so much time left."
Before they can leave, Sindri stops them. "Wait a moment! You deserve one last upgrade to your axe. From the two of us." He puffs out his chest, his hands on his hips. Faye entertains his heroics, handing the Leviathan over.
The Dwarves take it with a new caution, their clever fingers working over the metal and wood until it shines brighter. When Sindri hands it back, wiping the metal down quickly, his eyes meet hers with concern. "This seems...different. You didn't let anyone else touch her, did you?" His unspoken question hits her. Who did you take from Valhalla? Who is inside of this weapon?
At first, Faye prepares to lie or shove the subject away; but then she thinks better of it. While Faye has lied for years to protect those around her, those lies did more harm than good, in the long run. Now, she has a chance to be better. A chance to be honest about her son's father.
"Kratos of Sparta. His soul didn't belong in Valhalla. So, he stays with me now."
Mimir tilts his head. "Wait, you don't mean the Ghost of Sparta, do you?" He seems genuinely surprised.
"No." Faye touches the axe gently, the blade reflecting her face back at her. "He stopped being that person long before he died. To me...he was just Kratos. My husband."
"Aye, I'm all for changing your destiny and starting anew but...the son of Zeus-"
Faye returns the axe to its proper place against her back. "Enough." She gives Mimir a hard look. "The Ghost of Sparta means nothing to me. Only Kratos did." She turns to the travel room, leading them away. Atreus runs to catch up and Freya joins soon after, followed by Mimir.
"Mother?" Atreus asks, his voice quiet as she stands in front of the large doors. "Who..." He furrows his brows, thinking. "Was my father kind?" His voice holds a weight no child his age should know.
"Yes." Faye smiles down at him. "Despite his own thoughts, your father was kind. Though, don't confuse kindness for friendliness. He certainly wasn't social." She laughs to herself, recalling their first few meetings. His grumbling and angry pouting. Oh, how she loves him.
"Was he strong? Most people with a title are really strong."
Opening the travel room doors, Faye waits for everyone to enter before she lets them close behind her. As Atreus takes in the beauty of the room, Faye walks to the gate, setting their destination for Vanaheim. Freya steps up to the door, placing the stone she's acquired in front. "This will unlock it." She calls, her voice echoing around them.
Once the gate has been set, Faye pushes the Bifrost in. The room changes, sparks of magic and vines shifting until a beacon shoots at the realm crystal. Then, the door to Vanaheim unlocks.
"Woah!" Atreus gasps. "Mimir, we did it!"
"Indeed, Little Brother." The horned man smiles. "Though, I will warn you. Not many Vanir like me."
"Well, at least it won't be too new." The boy jokes, making Mimir huff in false offense.
While she does distrust Mimir, Faye can see how Atreus looks at him, like he hung the stars above. They have a connection, either through Odin's torture or from rescuing each other. This isn't something Faye would like to break off, she realizes. They're happy together and if she can, Faye will allow them to stay together for as long as she can.
The travel room door opens, casting the four of them in light. Faye calls her axe as she realizes who it is. They've run out of time.
Atreus watches as his mother throws herself at Baldur, knocking him out of the doorway. His panic returns as he battles between going through the door to Vanaheim and helping Mother fight.
He decides on the latter, shifting into a bear.
"What in Hel-" Freya jumps away as Atreus barrels after Baldur. He pushes through the doors and stops a hard blow from landing on his mother's side. Then, the bear grabs him by the leg and tosses him across the room.
"Not in here!" Sindri cries, trying to save his supplies.
Freya and Mimir join them as Atreus releases a roar, his anger directed at the god.
His mother stares. "What-"
"It's the boy." Mimir tells her quickly. "He can change into animals."
Before she can respond, Baldur comes right back, throwing a punch right into Atreus' snout. He falls onto his side, head cracking against the floor. The world shifts and twists around him, his head aching from the impact. The fight continues around him as he returns to his human form, energy spent.
"Come back here!"
He has to get up.
"Son, please!"
He has to stop Baldur.
"Hand me those arrows!"
A hand grabs at Atreus' clothes, lifting him to his feet. His mother's face fills his vision. "Are you okay?! You aren't bleeding, are you?!" When he shakes his head, she lets out a sigh of relief, kissing his forehead quickly before they're running for the travel room again. "We have to go, now."
She pulls Mimir along, who's gotten his hands on a green arrow, his hand tight around it. Then, they bring Freya, who simply runs where she's told. They pass back into the travel room, just barely making it away from another one of Baldur's attacks.
"You're not leaving!" He screams, following them too quickly as they just barely get to Vanaheim's door. As Atreus and his mother pass through, Freya steps in front of her son, trying to overpower him.
"Stop this! Please! See reason!"
Baldur squirms out of her hold and slaps her across the face, knocking her back. Before he can get his hands on her, Mimir tackles him down, his whole body strength used in keeping him down. "Go!" Mimir shouts at them, his struggles growing more and more desperate by the second. "Go now!"
"Baldur!" Freya screams as Mother pulls her into Vanaheim. Her form changes quickly into a falco but her voice stays the same.
Mimir looks directly at Atreus, the hand with the arrow raising. "Close the door, Brother! I'll be right behind!"
Atreus runs forward, grabbing both doors with his mother's help. He hesitates, however. "But-"
"Go now! I'll be right there!" Mimir stabs the arrow into Baldur's shoulder and the struggle stops, but the horned man doesn't move. He just stares at Atreus, sadness in his eyes. "Go, Lad! I promised!"
His promise to never lie. The one they made to each other.
Atreus pulls the doors shut with a grunt. They resist, their weight too much for him to move, but his mother yanks hard and the door closes. After a few seconds, the magic in the door fades.
Mimir doesn't come back through.
Discontinued, sorry.