With only a couple of days ahead of his departure from Midgard, Jörmun decided to descend for one more time into the meditative deep slumber to meet his father. He had not seen him in a while; he had not met with anyone ever since his discussion with Maddie. He managed to somehow successfully avoid both Birger and the girl for the days that followed that heavy evening.

As he descended into the cave, he felt as if he navigated through a really dense but invisible matter. There was nothing to obscure his vision nor to make his feet heavy as he walked. He was relieved when he finally caught sight of the familiar silhouette; Loki’s fair, long hair was worth of a shining halo against the surrounding darkness.

“How are things going, Jörmungandr?” he turned around to look at his son once he sensed him stop at his side. There was only a mere contour of his usual presence. Loki had his suspicions on what it may have been causing it, but he decided to keep the thoughts to himself until further information would surface.

“I’ve done it, father. The ship is ready to set sail tomorrow.”

Loki looked proud of Jörmun’s accomplishment, but there was a tint of sadness in his smile. They both knew the path that would lay ahead and while there was a chance of hope in it, there was also the possibility of a worse turn of events.

“And how are you feeling about it?”

“Confident? I suppose…”

“It doesn’t sound much like it though,” he offered his son a moment to add something more to it, but only silence followed. “I see the ring is still with you,” he remarked the emerald shine.

Jörmun raised his hand enough so they could both have a better look at the jewelry piece cradling his finger. He sighed at the memory of his recent discussion with Maddie; it felt like a fresh wound each time his thoughts decided to drift to it.

“I told her everything.”

“And?”

“As I was expecting, she didn’t take it lightly. I don’t blame her, but in my head I thought all this time that I was doing the right thing, protecting her from the rather dark journey ahead of me.”

“Did she leave after you told her the truth?”

“She didn’t. I believe she wants to wait and see how things unfold. Deeply, she probably hopes that all I said was nothing but another lie.”

Loki nodded slowly and hovered his hands around Jörmun’s palm, as if attempting to hold it. “Everyone seems to be hurt by lies, but when presented with the truth there isn’t a much different reaction to it. They all have their set expectations and whatever else goes beyond that, turns into a painful experience.”

“Says the God of Mischief,” Jörmun scoffed silently.

“I am in the best position to say such, I believe.”

“You probably are, but it didn’t hurt me any less when she echoed the words of the All-Father. There is nothing to love,” his gaze lowered, searching the ground aimlessly and fighting his emotions from surfacing.

“She likely only said it because she was angry with you. Conflicted in her own feelings. Have you never said or done things in the heat of the moment?”

“I did,” he said in a hushed, soft tone, recalling the way he butchered the Jotunn. His jaw clenched at the vividly blood stained memory.

“I still propose that you give her the ring.”

“What if she throws it away?”

“Then it will remain lost until next time.”

“There has to be something about this though,” Jörmun’s eyes narrowed as he studied his father’s face. He caught glimpse of him masking the briefest smirk. “You wouldn’t give up on that ring as easily. It was well hidden before. You wouldn’t just have it lay around until next time, whenever that would be.”

“Do as you please, Jörmungandr.”

“I am about to go and die while trying to do the impossible, walk out through the other gate of the Underworld back into Asgard, and all I get from you is this ambiguous guidance?” he frowned, deeply annoyed. He stepped away and stared into the dark abyss of the cave that extended beyond their usual rendezvous.

“You know very well that stepping into the Land of the Dead will be a mere matter of dusting off some ash from your shoulders. The silver strand of hair from your sister, which I mend into your red curls, is your forever right of passage through her domain. Death will never claim you unless it’s through a battle. Only Valhalla will welcome you after that.”

“Will this strip me off my memories?” he turned enough to look his father in the eye. It was for the first time the idea actually struck him. Will he be the same after the supposed rebirth?

“You will never stop being you, Jörmungandr.”

“That’s vague.”

“Nothing will part from your mind and soul, but your body will lose its usual strength for a while. You will have to allow yourself time to recover.”

“That’s a very useful information. I wish you shared it longer ago, for peace of mind if nothing else,” his reply came sharp and on a displeased tone. “All things considered… Does this mean that I will be cleansed of the poison that’s been consuming me from inside out?”

“It was the huldra, wasn’t it?” Loki finally validated his suspicions in regards to the fading silhouette of his son. He watched Jörmun confirm wordlessly. “It will be gone,” he added.

“Well, at least something good will come out of this charade,” he ran a hand through his hair, looking exhausted. It felt as if each time he acknowledged himself living under the poison’s influence, his body grew a bit weaker. “How much time must I lay low?”

“That’s hard to tell, since there is no time in the Underworld.”

“Brilliant,” he stuffed his hands deep into his pockets while pacing around. He had been there for a while and though the discussion with his father did not unveil plenty of new details, he was grateful for being reminded of the bits and pieces he had been told of ages before.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask me, Jörmungandr?”

“Is there anything else you believe I should be aware of?”

“For as long as you are there, I won’t be able to reach you.”

“So, this is farewell for a while…” he concluded without much enthusiasm.

“I believe so,” he walked up to his son. “You will do just fine. You have already outdone yourself.”

“I hope to live for long enough to see you on the other side, father.”

“You will.”

Jörmun‘s lips curved in a small smile, which Loki mirrored, touched by an encouraging note. They eventually parted ways with the lingering promise that they would hopefully meet in flesh and bone the next time. It was a good thought to keep in mind for the journey ahead.

---

Despite the difficult news she was given to hear from Jörmun, Maddie found herself desperate to catch glimpse of the fiery haired one before the evening would arrive. She didn’t want to wait until the very last moment to have a chance to chat with him. No matter how mad she was, she didn’t wish to part with him on bad terms; she was not one to hold grudges.

“Birger!” she called for the man as soon as she saw him outside, by the pier. While still wrapping herself in her jacket, Maddie rushed through the ankle deep snow. “Have you seen Jörmun?”

“He left only a few minutes ago. He asked me to make sure the water around the boat is not frozen.”

“Where did he go?”

“I believe he mentioned the workshop. He asked me for the longship sculpture.”

“He should be there, putting the other boat back in place,” she murmured to self. “Thanks, Birger,” she offered the man the quickest smile before making herself gone.

It was fairly easy to track Jörmun down, given the fresh layer of snow. Maddie had been guided by the footsteps trail straight to the workshop, where she had been advised she could find him.

With steamy breaths still escaping her mouth, the girl made her way inside through the back door. She was grateful to see the one she sought for to be there, in the company of Birger’s boat.

“I nearly forgot I had to return this to its former state,” Jörmun said on a laughing tone as soon as he saw Maddie step inside.

“He will surely miss you help him out in finding the lost nails.”

“He will do just fine. I hope he remains motivated enough to continue.”

“Did you give him any details about the evening?” she asked a bit precautious. She refrained from giving away any information to Birger; it was Jörmun’s call to make.

“I didn’t. Did you?” he looked at her, hoping that she didn’t go ahead and spill out all that she knew only out of spite.

“No. He always knew considerably less than I did. I thought it’s best to leave it to you to decide on the level of details you want to offer.”

“Thank you, Maddie,” he sketched a smile and accepted the silence that fell between them. His fingers played again with his ring, which loosened its grip on his finger even further. It was as if it expected to be given away. “Not yet,” he mused to self while stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants.

“You’re pretty pale. Did you even eat these days?”

“I did.”

“It’s the poison then…” she whispered only for their ears to hear.

“I stopped trying to hold it back from spreading. I need to make tonight’s passing as hassle-free as possible.”

“And yet you speak so lightly of it.”

“I will be all right,” he reached out for her arm and squeezed it gently. “Will you be well, Madeleine?”

Maddie disapproved. She felt her shoulders slouch as if something broke inside her at Jörmun’s question; his tone had been genuinely concerned, but also warm and caring. The sound of her full name rolling off his tongue, without any hint of dissing like other times, hit in a way she least expected it would.

The girl threw herself at the other. Her head pressed hardly against his chest, while her arms looped around his torso. Her entire being shook and shivered with intense emotions, while hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for what I said that evening. I didn’t really mean it. I was so angry. I was so scared,” she cried on.

“I am not upset over it,” his hands reached for her back and rubbed it in a calming motion.

“It hurt you and please don’t say that it didn’t. I saw it in your eyes. I will never forget that; never forgive myself for doing that to someone.”

“It did hurt.”

“I hope you can forgive me before you go. I don’t you to leave this place thinking that I truly hate you,” she parted with him and let her watery eyes stare into his pale slit pupils. She would miss the uniqueness of his gaze, which she struggled for a while to get accustomed to.

“You need no forgiveness, Maddie. It was rightful for you to feel that way.”

“No. It wasn’t. Don’t try to excuse my disgusting behaviour.”

“Let’s just say we evened it, by equally hurting ourselves in the process,” he laughed quietly.

“I wish it never came to that.”