He leans closer, trying to make them out. Jaak jerks backwards when his own face appears out of the thing. The version of Jaak shown within it is young and laughing, on the border between being an infant and toddler. The next image to appear is that of Hel, a baby herself.

She has her tiny arms wrapped around the furry body of a young wolf, the tongue of a gray-green serpent flicking out to touch the smooth skin of her cheek. The rest of the snake's body is coiled around Hel's small waist as she slumps against the furry side of the wolf. Hel's eyes are lidded, her mouth stretched in a yawn. The whole memory is softly tinted with something that gives off a sense of love.

Jaak blinks and whispers to his sister. "Is that-"

"Myself with Jormungandr and Fenrir? Yes, it is."

"But how-" Jaak pauses. "What are these?"

Hel reaches up to touch a finger to the ghostly mass. Her voice is soft and wistful. "Memories. I think you know whose."

"Hel, how could you have Pappa's memories?"

"I told you I didn't just hear of what happened to Pappa. I knew the moment it happened."

"How?"

Hel lowers her hand, not looking away from the play of memories. "Because this appeared when it happened. I didn't know what had happened then, but I knew it was something bad. You see, Jaak, something in him had died. This is his mind, as it should be. It was killed and replaced by something else and if I were to hazard a guess, I would say that all of his memories were twisted and these here are the truth that he can't see now."

Jaak's expression crumples. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

Hel twists to look at him. "Would you have even wanted me to tell you that a part of Father was dead? I thought it would be permanent, that nothing could be done. Why would I have ever hurt you by telling you that?"

Jaak explodes. "Because telling me the truth would have hurt far less than it does finding out that you hid it from me for a century and a half!"

Hel sighs. "I can't change what has been done, Jaak. It's too late now. So instead, can we talk about what this means?"

Jaak scowls at her. "You just said that it means there is no hope for him."

Hel shakes her head. "That isn't quite true. I had thought so before, but . . . this piece of Pappa, it isn't all of him. His mind but not his entire soul. He isn't completely dead. And besides, there is a chance that he can leave my realm. Baldur almost got to leave, so perhaps Pappa can too. The only problem is that we need to contain this piece of him inside something so it doesn't dissipate."

Jaak frowns, shifting in his seat to look closer at the specter that remains of his father's sanity. "How?"

Hel taps the crystal pendant lying on the table with a fingernail. "This. It's hollow, just large enough as well. When Mimir gave it to you, he knew exactly what it should be used for." She frowns and murmurs. "There is something strange about this crystal, some characteristic that I can't quite pinpoint." Hel shakes her head. "Regardless, this crystal can hold Pappa's mind. I think you're meant to take it from my lands with him inside of it to somehow restore him. I'm not sure how that healing can be done, but it must be possible."

"How do we get him in there?"

Hel smiles. "Now that, that is quite simple indeed."

Placing one of her hands on the crystal, Hel moves to touch the remnant of the mind floating high above her head. It flits away from her touch and she narrows her eyes at it, pursing her lips.

"No you don't. Come here."

It flits away again and Hel stands, making sure to keep one finger against the crystal as she tries to grab the mind. It darkens, a faint image of Loki scolding a five-year-old Hel appearing. Jaak can't see his father in the memory of course, but somehow his voice wafts through.

"Hel, what are you doing?"

The younger version of Hel pouts, tucking one leg behind the other. "But Pappa, Fen was hungry, Jor too. I just wanted to get food. It's not my fault Mamma's cooks get scared at the sight of me." Hel's eyes well with tears. "Pappa, why do they hate the sight of me? You, Mamma, Fen, and Jor are the only ones who don't run away from me. Is there something wrong with me?"

Loki sighs. "Oh, jenta mi. Don't let their words and looks get to you. No one can ever make you feel inferior without your consent. And you are special, Hel. Others may not see it, but you are."

He hugs the small girl, who sniffles against his shoulder, nodding. The adult Hel scowls at the memory. "Really, Pappa? Did you just try to guilt me?"

His mind floats there for a heartbeat before it descends into her palm, emitting what seems to be a sense of guilt. Once the ghost of Loki's mind touches Hel's skin, light flashes from it and it disappears. Jaak's eyes widen in alarm.

"What happened? Where'd it go?"

Hel smiles. "Don't fear. It's right where it should be, Brother."

She touches the crystal, where colors play inside. If Jaak squints, he can just make out the fuzzy images of some of the memories. Jaak moves to lift the pendant from the table, but Hel stops him, gripping his wrist.

"Did Mimir specifically give it to Hi'ilani?"

Jaak pauses. "He did."

"Then it should stay with her."

"But."

Hel gives him a piercing glare. "Mimir gave it to her for a reason. We may not know what it is, but it has to be important."

Jaak grumbles but acquiesce, removing his hand from the crystal. Hel picks it up by the chain and passes it to Hika. the girl stares at the crystal swinging at the end of the pendant, a faint light beginning to emerge from beneath her skin in response to her nerves. Jaak nudges her, sending a few snowflakes to sneakily touch the back of her neck and pull her from her thoughts.

Hika's glow fades in response to the cold and she glances at Jaak, her eyes questioning. Are you sure? Jaak dips his head and with a shaky breath, Hika pulls the pendant over her head. The crystal gleams in the residual light and that still being cast by Hika's hair, reflecting rainbows onto the ice that still encases the room. Jaak seems to notice this and looks to his sister.

"Can I lower the ice now?"

Hel looks up. "Oh, of course."

The wall of ice collapses into shards on the floor that quickly dissolve into snow. The move towards Jaak and are absorbed into his skin, although a few flakes turn into bright blue embers as they pass Hika. She scoops them up in her palms, the embers grouping into a larger flame. Hel frowns at it.

"What is that?"

"Icefire, or at least what we've been calling it."

"May I keep this? I'd like to try something."

Hika glances at Jaak, who is just as confused as she is. He shrugs. Hika nods after a moment and extends the small handful of fire to Hel.

"Be careful, they burn. And not with heat."

Hel reaches for the box and trails her fingertips along its bottom surface. The material shimmers and she nods, pushing the box towards Hika.

"Put it in here, if you will."

Hika tips her hands toward the box, sending the flame sliding into the empty space. Hel places the lid onto the box and walks across the room to place it on the shelf. She turns back to them, her gaze sharp.

"You should return to the surface lands, I'm sure you have much to do. But before you go-"

Hel whistles sharply, the sound flying out through the opening to the tree. The ground begins to jolt slightly in time to a thudding sound, and Hel grins. The thudding stops just before a giant head pokes through the opening into the tree. It's a wolf, whose furry cheeks brush against the sides of the slim opening. Hel laughs and steps over to the wolf, running her hands over the fur on his snout. She looks back at Jaak, smiling.

"Garmr has a message for you."

Jaak frowns. "Okay."

Hel laughs again. "Don't worry, it's not bad. Fenrir says hello."

"You can talk to him?"

Hel nods. "Through Garmr, yes. I have more difficulty speaking to Jormungandr though. If you see him in your travels, will you tell him I miss him and that I say hello?"

Jaak nods. "Of course. Will I see you again soon?"

"I will be there when things come to a close. I promise you that."

Jaak gives her a smile. "Thank you, Sister."

She smiles back. "Now go!"

Jaak laughs lightly and moves for the door, Hika following after him. Garmr pulls back his head to allow them to leave the tree, nudging Jaak on the cheek once he is outside. Jaak laughs and scratches the fur on Garmr's nose.

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sorok deviat' - forty-nine (Russian)

jenta mi = daughter mine (Norwegian)

What do you think of that revelation? Why do you think the crystal has to stay with Hika? What do you think of Garmr and Hel communicating with her brother through him? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out