Jaak can feel his hands trembling as he steps through the gate in the wall surrounding the city at the heart of Asgard. It feels like the city is watching him, hesitant to welcome him back yet joyous. Odin claps a hand to his shoulder.

"You'll be alright. We'll be inside soon and there are so many who will be overjoyed at your return."

The words are in Norse and Jaak can feel the familiarity of them wash over him, carrying nostalgia with them. He hadn't realized how much he had missed the sounds of his native tongue until now.

Jaak tries to smile, but it falters. "I feel like they'll be angry that I left." His own words are stumbling as he slips back into use of the language but they smoothen out as he makes his way through the sentence.

"You tried to protect our people, Jaak. We aren't angry."

Jaak snorts. "I might believe that of some of you, but not my mother. She'll be angry." Jaak pauses, frowning. "How is she?" His voice is small, unsure if he wants to know the answer to his question.

Odin grimaces. "She's been up in the mountains since you left. We haven't heard much. Although I do know that physically, she is fine."

"Thank you, uncle."

"Come, the family will wish to see you. There will be time to find your mother later."

Jaak looks torn but nods and follows Odin deeper into the city. There is a caw from above his head and Jaak looks up to see a raven taking flight from a rooftop, his black feathers gleaming in the lanternlight. Odin leans towards Jaak.

"Hugin has gone ahead to let them know we're coming."

Jaak swallows nervously. He still isn't sure that his family isn't going to be angry with him. He can feel how young he is compared to them now, feeling the same age as Hi'ilani, unsure of the world. She seems to sense this, touching him on the shoulder. Jaak sends a snowflake or two to dance around Hi'ilani, weaving in and out of her hair.

She quickens her pace to match his speed and smiles at him. Jaak twists his hands together, frost sparking at his fingertips. Hi'ilani laces her fingers through his, her hands warm against the frost. She pulls her hands back almost immediately, looking down. Jaak slows his pace, confused.

"What is it?"

Hi'ilani whispers under her breath. "Look."

Jaak follows her gaze down to their hands, where blue flame glows. It's on both of their hands, flickering and pulling towards the other flame. Jaak frowns.

"How-"

"I don't know where it came from, it seems like the normal version of icefire. At a guess, something of my flame must have come back and mixed with your frost to create it."

"Hmmm. Would you like to take it from me? I'm not sure what to do with this?"

Hi'ilani laughs. "Of course. Although, we are going to have to figure out what to do about these flames eventually. Especially dismissing them. I'd like to not get frosted and I don't think you'd like getting burned."

Jaak laughs. "Yes, that would be much preferred."

He extends his burning hand to Hi'ilani and with her other, she scoops the blue flame from Jaak's skin. She brings her hands together after a moment, letting the flames form one big ball. Jaak tears his attention away from the flame for a moment to see Odin watching the exchange with a curious look in his eye. Thor too looks interested as he stares at the fire. He reaches a hand towards the flame and Hi'ilani quickly pulls it back to her chest, snapping.

"Don't touch it!"

"I can handle lighting, I don't think a little flame will hurt."

Before either Hi'ilani or Jaak can stop him, Thor reaches into the fire. He quickly pulls his hand back, hissing and wringing it.

"What is that? It burns cold!"

Hi'ilani gives Thor an unapproving look. "I did tell you not to touch it. It's your own fault that it hurt you."

Thor's mouth gapes open. He regains control of himself after a moment. "But what is it?"

"Icefire. And don't touch it."

Thor falls silent and Jaak glances at his uncle again. Odin is still watching the blue fire and he mutters something under his breath. Jaak can only just make it out.

"Interesting?"

Jaak frowns. "What do you see, uncle?"

Odin attempts a smile. "Nothing to worry you. Let's go inside."

Jaak takes a shaky breath at the sight of the building in front of him. The rest of his family is waiting within. Hi'ilani nudges his shoulder and smiles reassuringly, Jaak forcing himself to smile back at her.

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Dvacat' sem' = twenty-seven (Russian)

What do you think Odin saw? How will everyone react to Jaak's return? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out