Johan opened his eyes.
He blinked groggily. Without moving, he looked around. The room was really bright now, the sun shining in through the windows and creating yellow reflections on the floor. Johan was still laying on the couch, and Note and Signe were sleeping on the floor in front of him, each in their own nest of blankets.
Memories of last night hit him. They must have fallen asleep after their talk. Johan sat up.
What woke him up?
More knocking on the door answered him. Johan frowned and ran a hand through his hair.
The knocking continued and Johan got to his feet, disoriented in his half-asleep state, and waddled over to the door, leaving the warm blanket behind. Behind him, he heard the others waking up.
He opened the door slowly, peeking out through the gap.
Outside stood the guy - Leif - that had led them there yesterday. Well, earlier today was probably more correct.
“Hello?” He croaked, quickly followed by clearing his throat.
“Good evening! Well, morning in your case. I hope I didn’t wake you up!” The guy laughed. Johan didn’t, he eyed the man for a second. Leif’s laughter started faltering.
“Don’t worry about it.” Johan laughed, not wanting the situation to get awkward. “We should have woken up a long time ago.”
“Ahaha! I’m here to invite you to dinner!” Leif laughed and spread his arms. Johan paused, food did sound good. “We're having a feast in your honor!”
Oh. Right, Odin had said something about that. Johan had completely forgotten.
“Food.” Note nodded as he came to a stop beside Johan. Before Johan could even say something Signe sprang past him in the doorway.
“Let’s go!” She yelled and tok off, dragging Leif along.
In contrast to Signe, who seemed to have an unlimited amount of energy, it was very clear by Note’s squint that he had just woken up. Johan snorted.
“Come on!” Signe yelled back at them and they followed.
It didn’t take long before they got to the village. Johan found his eyes catching on everything, it looked so different in the daylight! All the colors were so bright!
Big and small houses surrounded them as they walked down the road and in the distance was the water, the sun looming over it on its way down.
But the biggest difference was the people.
People were rushing all around them, rushing from place to place as they walked past. It was nice. Laughter was in the air, people talked to each other, smiles on their faces as they were getting everything ready for the feast.
They were so…connected, like they knew how to move around each other, and everything just fit. It was weird to see with his own eyes. A community that was so tightly knit that they could work around each other effortlessly. He hadn’t seen that in years.
On the way there, Note had struck up a conversation with Leif. Apparently they had a lot in common. Something about swords. Johan had tried to keep up with the conversation for a good couple minutes before calling it quits and had taken to spectating the village. Signe had very honorably stayed interested for a whole ten seconds before falling off, instead occupying herself with yelling small talk at random people on their way.
Despite that nobody really seemed to notice them, or at least nobody paid much attention to them. It felt nice.
“And here we are!” Leif spread his arms wide triumphantly.
Johan looked up to see a huge longhouse towering before them. Big doors stood open, a constant stream of people going in and out of the big, warm room.
“Wow.” Johan breathed as Leif led them inside.
“It is impressive, right?” Leif asked with a grin as the three of them looked around in amazement.
The room was huge! Burning torches hung against the wall, making everything red and in the middle of the room was a fire with a big pot on it, the smell of meat wafting through the air. Tables and benches in different lengths were spread throughout the room, all pointing in one direction, except one. On the very end of the room, on top of a heightened part of the floor, was a table sitting horizontally, and right in the middle sat Odin, happily speaking with his wife as everyone buzzed around them.
“This is so cool.” Signe said.
Odin didn’t notice them, but his wife did. She met Johan’s eyes with a kind smile before giving her husband a small push. Immediately he turned around, eyes locking with Johan’s, and stood up.
“Our heroes!” Odin’s booming voice filled the room, his arms spread out as he greeted them and before Johan knew it, everyone turned and sound erupted around them.
Johan stood there in shock as everyone cheered and clapped, someone even whistled.
He looked back and met Note’s glinting eyes. A smile grew on his face.
Johan jumped as big hands landed on his shoulders and the hairy face of the chief filled his view. Signe laughed loudly as Johan was lifted into the air and spun around, his breath squeezed out of his body and his face shoved into the chief’s bushy beard.
And just as quickly as it started, it was over. Johan’s feet hit the ground again and he stumbled back, head dizzy from the spins. Hands kept him from falling over and he looked up to see Note. Johan laughed at his stunned face.
Note shook his head but Johan could still see the smile growing on his face.
“Quiet!” Johan’s head snapped back to Odin as silence fell over the room. “People of Molteholm. Gather up!”
Everyone inside got up from their seats and gathered into a big crowd around them, even the people outside came in to join. Odin looked around before giving a nod.
“Today!” Odin shouted, stalking around the floor. “Today, for the first time in months! We have fished! We have sailed our boats on the water! For this morning, the first morning of spring, our heroes came to us! They cleansed our waters of those terrible creatures and by doing so they have saved the livelihood of this village and so also us! Heroes, please introduce yourselves!”
“Uh..” Johan paused and shared a look with the others. “I’m Johan.”
“Note.”
“Hi, I’m Signe!” Signe finished happily.
“Johan, Note and Signe. Our heroes! Tonight we will hold a feast in your honor, and welcome you into our village! And tomorrow, we will go to Solstad to sell!” At this the crowd went wild. Odin waited for them to calm down. “Now let the feast begin!”
The crowd quickly dispersed, taking their seats.
The village sold fish in Solstad? That meant they were close to the city! Johan frowned. Would Frey...? No. Frey would never think to look so close to where they had met.
“Odin is so cool!” Signe said and broke him out of his thoughts, Johan laughed and turned back to them.
“He really is.” Leif quickly agreed. Even Note seemed impressed at the speech.
“He seems happy we’re here.” Johan glanced around the room. People were stealing glances at them but quickly turned away when Johan saw them. “I don’t know about the rest of them though.”
“Of course he’s happy you are here, we all are! You saved us!” Leif laughed loudly and gave Johan a friendly clap on the back. Then he faltered.
“Thank you, you don’t understand how much I appreciate you three coming here.” Leif spoke softly, suddenly serious, and met Johan’s eyes, then Note’s, before they finally turned to Signe. “Especially you, Signe. I don’t know how you did it but you killed the nøkks. I fished today for the first time in months and tomorrow we’re going to Solstad! It was the first normal day in a long time. Thank you, the village will survive because of you.”
“Oh.” Signe looked stunned. Johan agreed, ‘oh’ was right. Leif had managed something incredible, Signe was at a loss of words. Johan met Note’s eyes over her head and had to bite his lips to hold back laughter. Her mouth opened and closed a couple times, speechless. Then finally she found her words, her face grew sad and she gently grabbed his hands in hers. “I’m sorry it came to this.”
At her words Leif looked away and Johan could see tears glinting in his eyes as he stared at their combined hands.
“Thank you.” Leif quickly cleared his throat. “Uh. I’m going to go see if they need any help bringing the food in.”
Johan watched as Leif hurried out. For a long moment none of them said anything. Johan scratched his nose awkwardly.
Then Note broke the silence.
“I’m sorry it came to this.” He mocked. Johan burst out laughing.
“Ah.” Signe hissed, crossing her arms. ”What else was I supposed to say?”
“Something else?” Note laughed. Signe gave him a look and opened her mouth but before she could say something, someone else spoke.
“Heroes!”
Johan turned to see the chief approaching them again.
“I hope you had a good rest today!” He started. “We have prepared a lot of food! Eat as much as you want, there’s more than enough food for everyone! Our last sheep put to good use! ”
Johan raised his eyebrows in surprise. Their last sheep? They that close to starvation? Yikes, what would have happened if Signe didn’t turn up?
“I saved places for you all at my table. You should sit with us.” Odin continued, gesturing at the big table he had been sitting at earlier where his wife and a man Johan hadn’t met yet sat chatting.
“Sure!” Johan shrugged, feeling a little relieved. He didn’t like the curious looks the villagers were giving them. They didn’t seem to mean anything bad, but it still felt weird to be watched like that.
Odin led them to the table and the woman quickly got to her feet when she saw them coming over.
“Hello! I’m Hilda.” She introduced herself brightly and grabbed each of their hands in succession. She was a tall woman, only a little shorter than Johan, with long blonde hair braided away from her face. She had a gentle smile as she spoke, lines scrunched prettily on her face. “Welcome to our village!”
“She’s my wife.” Odin grunted proudly. “She teaches the kids in the village. And this is Trym, the best damn smith you will ever meet.”
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“Nice to meet you both.” Note said as they sat down.
“It’s good to see you all.” Trym spoke with a deep voice. He had a long, dark brown beard, and short hair on his head.
“Where’s the wife and kids?” Odin asked Trym, taking his place in the middle.
“Ulfhild, my wife,” Trym added helpfully and winked at Johan. “She’ll be late, and Astrid isn’t coming, she’s been too ill recently.” He made a sound and looked around. ”Emil should be around here somewhere, probably the kid too.”
“Trym is lucky, his are still young!” Odin said happily, eyes turning into thin crescents as he looked between the three of them. “Hilda and I have two, but they are so old now. Both doing their own things, getting their education far away from home.”
Johan just nodded, trying to keep up.
“Ah, here they are with the food and mead.” Hilda interrupted him and sent them an apologetic smile. Johan turned to see the food being brought in and placed on the table in the middle of the room. “Let’s go.”
Let’s go? Johan watched as the villagers got to their feet, each one making their way to the food table. He met Note’s eyes, was this normal? Note just shrugged, looking equally surprised. When Signe got up like the rest of them, Johan quickly followed.
Everyone went and filled their plates before returning to their seats, and it didn’t take long after finishing eating before Note and Signe disappeared, leaving Johan alone.
Note had gone over to Leif and started a conversation with the fishing guys while Signe was somewhere out of sight, Johan could hear her laugh every now and then. Personally he didn’t feel like mingling, instead he sat at the table, waiting for the questions that were sure to come.
Trym’s wife had come and whisked Hilda away a while ago and the men were speaking together not far away. Johan could tell they were talking about him. He had been sitting alone at the table for a while when the chief and Trym finally came back.
“Johan! Let’s speak.” The chief sat down with a creak and Johan let out a breath he had been holding.
“Yes, let’s speak.” He appreciated the straightforwardness. Odin nodded and rested his strong arms on the table.
“Well, Johan. It’s our pleasure to have you here, that’s for sure. How long are you staying?” Trym asked, almost casually.
“Probably for a while.” He said slowly, watching keenly for their reactions. The only thing they did though, was share a look. It didn’t say anything about what they thought about it.
Really, Johan didn’t expect them to stay for very long, but having a place while they figured out the rest would be nice.
“Very good choice! We are always open for new people, especially someone who has been such a big help!” Odin said brightly. Then his face fell serious and he leaned over the table. Johan’s palms itched. This was it. “But I can’t help but find it strange. There’s not much to this village. Everyone knows everyone and everyone plays a part, as you know my wife is a teacher.”
“Mine’s a healer.” Trym stated proudly, swinging a fist into his puffed chest. “The most beautiful woman you’ll ever lay eyes on. It was a good long fight to get to marry her.”
“Don’t mind him, he’s a sap for his wife.” The chief chuckled, a bit awkwardly.
“Of course I am! It took me five years to get her to marry me. Every day since our wedding has been the happiest of my life.” He insisted seriously.
“I’m sure she is awesome.” Johan said pleasantly.
“She sure is!” Trym grinned and then he too fell serious. “And that’s why I can’t let anything happen to her.”
“Young man.” Johan tensed and met the chief’s stoic expression.
“Tell me,” He started seriously. “Who are you?”
Johan didn’t move.
The question could be taken in different ways. His first instinct was to play it off, but he knew that wouldn’t work. Should he tell them? If the three of them were to stay in the house, he would have to tell them. But how would they react? Would they even believe him?
Johan eyed the two men. They were watching him like hawks, sleeves pulled up to their elbows and swords glinting at their belts.
He had two choices. He could tell them, or he could lie. For some reason he didn’t want to lie. They didn’t seem like bad people…but then again, neigher did anyone in Heaven, at least not at first glance.
Johan gritted his teeth. If he told them it could end badly. But they had already seen what Signe could do and probably already had an idea of who she was. Not to mention, if they told anyone about what happened to the nøkks…
Johan wasn’t a violent person. But he wouldn’t take that lightly.
“I’m Fate.” To prove it, Johan pushed his hair away, showing his eyes. He would rather they tried to kill him now, with only the village present, rather than later, with an entire army at their backs.
He watched cautiously, feeling tense. But the attack didn’t come, instead they seemed to freeze.
The chief’s expression twisted into a series of different emotions. Shock, amazement and terror all flickered across his face before it finally settled on resignation. Like he had been expecting it.
“The king?!” Trym burst out in shock, hands slamming down on the table. Johan flinched at the outburst.
“Well...” Johan started awkwardly. “I wouldn’t exactly say that...”
“So you’re not the king?”
“Well…” Johan struggled, heat rushing to his face. How was he supposed to say that he got kicked out of Heaven? “Uh...I guess.”
Trym slapped the table and turned to Odin. They shared a look.
“You don’t want to explain a little more?” The chief challenged, raising an eyebrow. Johan smiled, lifting an eyebrow back in mock curiosity. The chief huffed unamused and continued. “Like why is the king of Heaven bothering himself with my small village? And why does the king want to stay in it?”
Johan hummed thoughtfully.
“Can’t the king do whatever he wants?” Johan joked.
“The king can do whatever he wants unless it is to harm my village.”
Ah that’s the mood, huh. Johan looked down at the table.
“This king isn’t much of a king at the moment, so no worries there.” He spoke honestly, amusement fading to something darker as he took a sip of his mead.
“Why not?” The chief frowned. Johan shrugged.
“It’s complicated.” He said simply.
Odin didn’t seem impressed, but he did accept the answer.
“Do you know something about why people aren’t dying then?” Odin asked.
Johan froze. Uhh…
Before Johan could even think of an answer, Signe stumbled over.
“Those old men can really drink” Signe laughs as she almost falls down on the bench next to Johan.
Relief filled him at the change in subject.
“Find someone that can win over you?” He asks idly, sipping his own drink as he carefully watched Odin and Trym. They seemed to have frozen again when Signe got there.
Signe let out a loud laugh. “Hah! Nobody can beat me! Those old men didn’t stand a chance.”
Suddenly she grabbed his face, staring at him drunkenly, eyes thin and face scrunched up like she was really studying him.
“Your hair is so fluffy.” Johan nodded in surprise. Ahh, such words of wisdom. Still, Johan felt strangely flattered at it. He smiled at her.
“Thanks.” He answered, and didn’t try to stop her when she started petting his head very gently. Johan tok another sip of his mead. As long as she didn’t move it away from his eyes it was fine.
“Hey, where did Note go?”
Johan felt his eye twitch at the reminder, suddenly annoyed. He nodded over to where Note sat without taking his eyes away from the men across the table. Note had been sitting over there pretty much since the meal ended and for some reason it was making Johan really annoyed.
“Oh, he found himself a guy. Huh.” Signe wondered aloud, then downed the rest of her drink, arm still slung over Johan’s shoulder.
Johan nodded shortly, not wanting to think about it.
He kept watching the men, they had started to glance at each other, then back to Signe, and repeat. It was getting weird.
“Can I braid your hair?” Signe asked.
“Later.” Johan promised. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, the people here are awesome.” Signe giggled.
“Excuse me, Signe.” Odin finally spoke, interrupting their conversation, his eyes glued to Signe. Johan leaned back on his arms.
“Yeah?” She smiled curiously at the chief.
“By any chance, is your father’s name Ragnar?”
Johan froze. What?
His head snapped over to Signe. For a second she seemed just as surprised as he was. Then her expression fell. All gentleness disappeared, and Johan was hit by old memories as a cold, flat expression settled on her face. Her arm fell from Johan’s shoulders as she sat up straight.
She glanced uncomfortably at Johan before twisting her face into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How did you know?”
Trym slapped a hand over his mouth, turning to Odin with big eyes and the chief wasn’t looking much better, his jaw dropped and his eyes hurriedly ran over Signe.
The two men shared a look, and suddenly the shock was replaced by excitement, eyes somehow growing wider as grins broke out on their faces. Johan could almost see them shrieking in delight.
“I knew it! You look just like your mother.” Odin laughed.
Signe stared without blinking. “You know my parents?”
Johan bit his lip. Her demeanor had changed completely. She sent Johan a worried look.
“Know? I grew up with them! I was the best man at their wedding! Even saw you and your brothers as babies.” Odin’s laughter boomed.
“Really?” Signe asked, sounding desperate. Odin and Trym didn’t seem to notice anything and kept laughing.
“Yeah! It’s been a long time since I last saw him, must be around a decade now, give or take.”
“Oh.” Signe cocked her head, a frown on her face. Finally she sighed, relieved. Her smile fell back in place.
Johan didn’t know anything about Signe’s past, he realized, and right in front of him were two people that knew her as a baby. That was weird. That was very weird.
“Little brighteyes. Look at her!” The chief boomed and playfully hit Trym’s back, forcing more delighted laughter out of him. “She looks just like her mom! But her eyes are her dad’s. I would recognize those soul gazing eyes anywhere”
“She’s even a big drinker too.” The blacksmith hollered. “Bet you can’t beat my old man tho, the only thing he does from dawn to dusk is drink. Sigurd, did ya meet him? Big guy, well was big. He has a bit of a hunchback, graying hair and beard both down to his pits.”
“Sigurd?” She cocked her head to the side, then cackled, almost falling off her chair. “Oh him. He’s puking in the forest.”
“He’s-? Ah! For Jotun’s sake, that old man! I’ll catch up later!”
Johan laughed in surprise as the last words were thrown back over the blacksmith’s shoulder as he hurried out of the building, shouldering through people dancing.
“Woah!” He quickly grabbed Signe as she threw her head back in laughter, almost throwing herself off of the bench in the process.
Odin wasn’t doing much better, he was leaning heavily over the table and hitting his fist against it so hard that Johan could feel it from his seat.
Johan smiled into his drink as he waited for them to finish.
“How are you here?” Odin suddenly asked, laughter still apparent in his voice. “Last I heard you took over your mother’s position when she died.”
Johan turned to Signe, smile falling off of his face. Her mom died?
She met Johan’s eyes easily and gave him a small smile before turning back to Odin, a calculating expression on her face, her running a hand down Johan’s arm soothingly.
“You don’t keep in touch with my dad?” She asked casually but Johan could hear the underlying question in her words. He frowned.
“We did for a long time but it’s been a while now. Sent my son out to yours a couple years ago to study and live some before taking over the duties as chief. Haven’t heard much since then.”
Johan watched as realization hit Odin. He froze, eyes narrowing. For a moment he stared at nothing, then slowly he turned to Signe. A deep frown settled on his face as he searched her.
“But you haven’t met him, have you?” It wasn’t a question. Johan bit his lip, so Odin knew Signe died then.
Signe shook her head with a short giggle. “No.”
“What happened to you?” Odin asked seriously, worry on his face.
She cleared her throat. “I haven’t been there for a long time.” She smiled with a glint in her eyes before continuing. “You could say life took its turn.”
Johan sighed, she was playing with him.
“Signe is the Jotun of Death now.” He threw in helpfully, watching for the chief’s reaction. For a long moment, Odin didn’t even blink, seemingly not having heard him. Then it seemed to register. He turned to Johan and his expression fell to shock, then horror, then something in between.
Signe didn’t even flinch when the big man turned to her, she burst out laughing. “Don’t look so worried.”
“How..?”
Signe threw a look over her shoulder, Johan could hear Note laugh from wherever he was and she turned back. For the first time since the conversation started, she looked conflicted.
She shrugged. “Sometimes you make the right choice but the results are completely different from what you expected, yet exactly what you needed.”
“...I understand.” The chief cleared his throat, getting serious. ”Well. You saved my village and you are my old friend’s child. You have a home here whenever you need it, all three of you. And I will not say a word to your family unless you want me to.”
“Thank you.” Signe said. She turned to Johan with a wide smile, then immediately frowned as her eyes caught on something over his shoulder. Johan turned to see a very happy and drunk Note sauntering up to them.
Johan yelped as his shirt was grabbed, struggling to stay on the bench as he was hit with the deadweight of a muscle-heavy swordsman.
He groaned, grip white around the table and barely keeping them both up as Note sunk against him. In an attempt to slam his hands on the table, Note had hit the bench and face planted right into Johan. Beside him Signe was laughing like crazy, even Odin joined in after a while.
“Guys. I’m going fishing.” Note said happily, finally supporting himself.
“Now?!” Johan gaped up at him and finally noticed Leif standing at the edge of the table, just as happy as Note, and clearly just as eager for a late night, drunk fishing trip.
“No.” Signe spoke up from behind him, and for a second Johan thought she was going to say something reasonable. “I have a better idea. We’re going fishing!” Immediately Johan took it back. Of course she wouldn’t.
“Fishing!” Note yelled.
“Let’s go!” Johan didn’t even notice Signe stood up before the collar of his shirt was grabbed.
He had just enough time to glance back at Odin, the big man’s eyes’ sparkling, before Signe lifted him out of his seat and started herding them away.