Vali pushed them along down the river with his magic, assisting Seela and speeding up their arrival as Ailsa’s fair skin turned a terrifying shade of blue. The storm was crawling behind them now, but the realm of Jotunheim was unpredictable. The sky could erupt in a blizzard while the sun was shining a warm day, and the river could rise and flood the mountain valley in a flash.
The order of life did not matter here. There were no laws for nature to follow. This was a realm of chaos and powerful giants that hated the Aesir more than they hated the land they were bound to. The river prevented the giants from going anywhere near Asgard or Midgard, but those not intimidated by the Irving could come and go at their leisure.
Lights flickered near a mountain’s base. And as the sun set behind the towering peak, Vali noticed the lights were the glowing windows of a hall, surrounded by small homes dimly lit against the harsh landscape. He docked them quickly, taking care to push the boat to the other side of the river for safekeeping, and carried Ailsa to the hall of Drieger the Frost Giant Lord.
* * *
Guards surroundedthem at all sides as they were escorted from the gatehouse to the Lord’s lodging on the top of the hill. Faces peered from shadowed terraces as they walked the streets, watching the strange procession make the long climb up the unpaved street.
Ailsa whimpered in his arms, and he held her close, trying to give her a fraction of the body heat he still contained. Her pulse against his skin was slow—but steady. She would make it if the giant agreed to help her, and he anticipated giving the giant anything he wished for just a moment by his fire.
The great hall doors swung open and admitted them entry, and Vali led the group past several long tables toward the throne dominating the room. The seats lining the dais were vacant, but the torches behind them were lit as if the room was expected to soon be occupied.
“Wait here,” one of the guards ordered before he disappeared behind an olive-stained tapestry.
Vali’s arms were starting to prickle from holding Ailsa the entire trek through the village, the tattered remains of her gown seeped cold river water against his bare skin. But she was so peaceful against his chest, and every time he shifted his hands, she whimpered like it was a painful experience. She was only suffering because of him, and so he endured the pain, hoping it stole a portion of her misery.
The tapestry parted once more to reveal the displeased face of a giant Lord. He was followed by three women, one his wife and the other two slightly younger. Vali assumed they were his daughters.
“Who disturbs my family during our dinner?” Drieger sat on his oversized throne. The giant was not much larger than Vali, but he towered over them from his platform. The Frost Giants were beautiful beings with lavender skin and hair that ranged from a deep red to a soft blue. Drieger’s was somewhere in between, the torchlight pulling auburn.
“Lord Drieger,” he beseeched the giant, “my name is Dane, and I am one of the fae neighboring your realm in Alfheim. My group was traveling when we were chased by a helstorm. One of our companions fell into the River Irving, and she will likely die if I do not find a place to accommodate us.”
“And you come to Jotenheim seeking… shelter?”
“Please, sir. This was the closest hall, and she is running out of time.” Vali shifted Ailsa’s body just enough to reveal her bruised lips and skin, her coloring resembling the giants. The woman behind Drieger’s throne flinched and she whispered something into his ear.
The giant swatted the woman away. “What is an elfin doing with a mortal?”
Vali stiffened, not expecting the question. But his wit was not as sharp as his tongue. The longer he went with his mouth hanging open, the less of a chance anything intelligent would come out. “She’s my… She’s… well… She is carrying—”
“His child,” Seela spoke behind him. “She’s carrying his child, which is why we were traveling from Midgard to Alfheim in the first place.” Vali swallowed and discovered his throat to be dusty. Of all the excuses his commander could have conjured,thatis what first came to her mind?
The giantess’s green eyes widened in despair, and she spoke again in the ear of her husband, her whispers louder than before. He waved at her again before speaking. “Fine, fine, if it pleases you, Skiord.” He sighed before looking back at them. “My wife has taken pity on your human, Dane. Bring the woman to my wife’s chambers and she will take care of the rest. Meanwhile we will find food and rooms for the rest of you.”
“Thank you, Lord Dieger, you are most generous.” Vali bowed his head, if only to hide the flush of his cheeks. “And I vow to repay you in any amount you deem worthy.”
He grunted. “It is my wife you should thank, not me. I only agreed because she wouldn’t let me live it down for the next seven moons. As for payment, I would like to finish the rest of my meal in peace before it grows cold. You have one night here, elfin. I do not wish to see any of you in the morning.”
Vali nodded again, wary of the ease to which the giant offered shelter to a stranger. But he followed the giantess into the wing breaking from the hall, which carved deep into the mountain. She led him to a windowless cavern where a firepit warmed the room. Furs lined the floor leading to a steaming pool—a natural hot spring.
“It’s safe for her?” he asked, nodding to the heated water. Vali was leery of rewarming her body too quickly. The giantess only smiled.
“Yes, we will warm her slowly. She is not the first to have fallen into the river, and I have used the spring while carrying all my children. I assure you it isn’t too hot for a babe, even as early as she is.” Vali cleared his throat again, unsure of why the topic was making him so uncomfortable. She continued, “My girls are getting some spare clothes from their wardrobes, and they’ll return to help me clean her up. You look exhausted, Dane. Go, take care of yourself and let me care for your human.”
Vali muttered his thanks and placed Ailsa on a bench before turning to leave. Her daughters filed in the room as he left, but he lingered outside for a moment to make sure they weren’t going to do something conniving—like eat her.
“Where am I?” Ailsa’s voice mumbled as they undressed her. Her old gown sinking to the stone floor with an echoing flop.
The giantess spoke with a genuine kindness. “Jotunheim, my dear. You fell in the River Irving and scared your lover half to death.”
Vali cringed and could only pray Ailsa wouldn’t expose his lies. Perhaps the giantess lady would think she was merely confused from her state.
But Ailsa replied, “Oh… Oh! Aye well, he scared me first.”
He let loose the breath he was holding and smiled despite their situation. He pushed off the wall and ventured back to the hall, feeling certain his human was in good hands.
The most beautiful woman greeted Ailsa when she finally awoke. Her eyes sparkled like gemstones mined from the heart of the world. Deep emeralds surrounded by light violet skin. She was told the Frost Giants were enchanting but couldn’t have fathomed this level of beauty existing.