Oliver spends the night in his room, running through the recent revelations in his mind. Melody's adopted family being the head of the Aesir was hard enough to accept. Her being friends with Marcus on top of that felt like some kind of cosmic joke. Finding out that she's also the daughter of a Greek goddess pushed it over the edge. He spends a few hours debating back and forth if she's just messing with him. He spends a few more after that fearing what would happen if she ended up turning on him now that Marcus has been freed. In the end, he forces himself to fall asleep, wondering how he ended up in a situation like this for the second time.

The next morning Melody barely says a word beyond a morning greeting. They eat in silence, collect Marcus from the room across the hall, and head to the docks. Oliver feels his stomach twist with every step, watching Marcus and Melody blatantly ignoring each other. He thought she would at least comment on Marcus's change of clothes; a pair of brown cargo shorts, a black shirt with a flame pattern around the bottom, and a pair of hiking boots to match hers. He doesn't look as pale and seems to have even regained a bit of the weight he lost. His hair is neatly combed and trimmed, and the raw patches on his ankles are all but healed. Despite that, his face still looks like a melted mess of scars, his eyes are cloudy, and it looks like his new bracelets dig into his wrists as much as his bindings did.

Melody leads them down the docks, towards the mouth of the river. The sun hangs high in the sky, and as Oliver stares up at it, he can't help but worry about how long it's been since leaving Empire. Ra's warning rings through his mind, as if he just heard it. Nobody has heard from the Shinto since the night of the rebellion. It's like they've disappeared completely. He shivers at the thought. Was it wrong to come to Asgard first? What if, by the time they get there, they're too late to help?

"Hey!" A man calls from the end of the dock, making Oliver jump. He recognizes the man from all the meetings he's had with the Aesir; Frey, the god of peace, rain, sunshine, and basically everything good. He jogs up to them, flashing a grin with teeth so white that Oliver looks back at the sun for relief. "Morning to you all, how's it going?"

"Good morning," Melody says with a polite nod. Marcus grunts and tilts his head upward in response. Oliver looks down awkwardly, feeling the tension in the air. Frey, however, seems to ignore it completely.

"I'm sure you're anxious to head out, so I'll keep the explanation brief." He digs into his pocket, pulling out a wooden cube on a string. He grins as he hands it over to Melody. "Here's your boat. It basically sails itself; you just need to hold the rudder while setting your course, and it will get you there. Though, you may want to take the reins if you hit a storm or something." Oliver stares at the cube, his jaw slack.

"Seriously, we can have this!?" Melody exclaims, her eyes lighting up. "I thought you said I wasn't allowed on board!"

"Sure, when you were younger! What if you accidentally sailed off to who knows where?" He ruffles her hair, and Melody quickly slaps his hand away.

"Please don't touch my hair," She hisses in a tone that makes it clear this isn't the first time she's asked. Frey giggles and nods, crossing his arms.

"It's easy enough to unfold. Just toss it in the water, step back, and boom! Instant ship." He throws his arms up to demonstrate. "Folding it up is a bit harder. There's a switch on the inside you need to hit, third room on the left once you get below deck. Can't miss it. Pull that, and make sure it clicks into place. Then, once everyone is off the boat, take one of the ropes leading to the mast and pull. Any rope should work, but make sure you're all out first. Anything you store on it will fold with it, but people..." He wiggles his hand and sucks on his teeth. "I've never tried it, but I'd rather not find out."

"Thank you," Melody says, pulling him in for a one-armed hug. He pats her back, letting her slip past when she hurries down the dock. Marcus huffs and follows, looking around the wide-open landscape. Oliver watches him go, wondering just how far he can see with his damaged eyes. He tries to follow, but Frey holds an arm out to stop him.

"Just a sec," he says, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that the other two are on the other end of the dock before continuing. "No offence, but you don't seem very...on board with all this." He says, crossing his arms. He looks Oliver up and down, raising an eyebrow. "If you're having reservations, say so now. I'm only letting her go because you're going with her." Oliver blubbers a few quick excuses, and Frey sighs, shaking his head. "That's what I mean. You don't seem like you have the stomach for this."

"I-I..." Oliver tries, hanging his head. I don't, he finishes in his mind. He glances up at Melody and Marcus, watching as she tosses the cube into the water. It disappears below the surface, and the water starts to bubble. A second later, a massive Viking ship erupts from the water. Melody cheers, throwing her arms up as the water rains down on them. Marcus stands perfectly still, barely reacting to it at all.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't go," Frey adds, patting Oliver's shoulder. "But it seems like you're being dragged along on their journey because you don't have a choice. You do." He flashes another smile, resting his hands on his hips. "You just need to find your backbone. I know you have one - you tried to stop Thor when he was getting all in Melody's face, right?" Oliver nods, looking down at his feet.

"I just don't like bullies," He admits sadly. "I'm not brave."

"I'm sure you think you're not a lot of things," Frey says with a laugh. "You are. Otherwise, none of us would trust you with this. And I don't just mean the Aesir." He whirls around, placing a hand on Oliver's back and gently guiding him down the dock. "You're an important part of this mission, too. And I mean Oliver - not Hermes." Oliver recoils, looking up at the man curiously. Frey grins back at him. "It's okay to have weaknesses. If you're scared, then let them support you." He stops, gesturing at Melody and Marcus as they explore the boat. "Believe it or not, I'm sure there are going to be things that they won't be able to do, and you can."

"I-I don't think-"

"Actually, you think too much," Frey counters, leading him the rest of the way to the boat. "Have confidence. Four weeks ago, when the moment came, you stepped up and did what you had to. You can do it again. And I'm sure you will." He stops at the end of the dock, looking over the ship fondly. "Take good care of her. She means a lot to me." He says with a sigh. Oliver looks up as Melody hurries over to meet them.

"I-I'll do what I can. But she can handle herself," He mutters.

"I was talking about the boat," Frey replies with a chuckle. "Melody's good."

"Are you sure we can take this?" Melody says, dashing to the edge of the boat. "What if you need it?"

"The only time I'm going to need it is for Ragnarok. And somehow I doubt that's going to happen." He points at Marcus lazily. "May as well make it official; Melody, as of today, Skidbladnir is yours." Melody squeals happily, jumping up and down on the spot.

"I promise I'll return it once we're done!" She says, skipping towards the stairs in the center of the dock. Frey turns to Oliver, gesturing to the boat.

"All aboard," he chuckles. Oliver gulps, inching to the edge of the dock. Glancing down at the water, he hops into the air, his winged shoes fluttering to life. They fly him over the rail and onto the deck before falling dormant again. "Safe trip!" Frey calls as the sails uncurl from the mast. The boat shifts, sliding along the surface of the water smoothly. Oliver watches Frey shrink into the distance, and eventually, Asgard disappears over the horizon. Finally, when the only thing he can see around them is ocean, Oliver turns away from the water.

The boat is made of light brown wood, smooth and polished to a shine. The deck is wide and completely empty, except for a couple of barrels next to the mast. In the center of the deck is a staircase with no railing, and Oliver sighs, knowing that he's going to end up tripping into it at least once. The front of the boat ends at a point, with a figurehead shaped like a dragon's skull staring out into the ocean beyond. Marcus sits on the edge next to it, his arms crossed, and eyebrows knit together. Oliver can feel his anger all the way across the boat, over ten feet away.

Is this how things are going to be, he wonders bitterly. Melody worked so hard to free him, and now they won't even talk to each other. He remembers their reunion, how full of pain and emotion Melody's voice was. How awestruck Marcus looked at seeing her. Oliver could swear he looked happy - even relieved. He feels warmth on his leg, making him jump. Caduceus glows with soft white light, and Oliver stares at it curiously. The staff hasn't glowed on its own since he accepted the power of Hermes that it held. So why is it glowing now?

"You just going to stand there?" Marcus calls. Oliver yelps, backing away carefully. Marcus is staring at him, eyes narrowed. Oliver shivers, wondering why he looks so angry. He's not still upset about the rebellion, is he? He can't still be angry at me for that, right? Marcus sighs, looking down and rubbing his eyes. "Stupid..."

"A-Are you okay?" Oliver says, carefully approaching. Marcus glares at him again, making him freeze, then returns to rubbing his eyes.

"It's the sun," Marcus mutters, shielding his eyes with his hand. "Not only can I barely see anything, but I was underground for three weeks straight. The light hurts my eyes." Oliver looks up, nodding slowly.

"So... you're not mad?" He tries, taking a careful step back. Marcus raises an eyebrow, watching him for a moment.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" He grunts, leaning back on the figurehead. He sighs, sliding down it until he's sitting on the deck. "You of all people?"

"I'm sorry!" Oliver squeaks, shrinking into himself. He glances at Marcus when he keeps playing with his eyes. Carefully, Oliver looks up. He touches Caduceus, waving his hand subtly. Clouds form in the otherwise clear sky, hiding the sun. Marcus perks up, looking around slowly. His scowl fades until his eyes land on Oliver.

"That was you," he says accusingly. Oliver winces, slowly nodding. He prepares for Marcus to lash out, or yell at him, but instead, he sighs, thumping the back of his head against the figurehead. "Why are you even doing this? I'm sure you'd rather I rot down there than be here with you." Oliver blinks at him curiously, stepping closer.

"N-no, I don't-" He stops himself when Marcus shakes his head, his hair falling into his face.

"Look, you don't have to pretend you like me. I get it. It would be easier if you just told me you hate me and stop being so stiff." Oliver shifts awkwardly, his eyes sinking to the deck. He stares at his winged shoes, wondering if he should just fly away.

"I don't hate you," He mutters sheepishly.

"Sure you do," Marcus counters with a sigh. "After everything I did and all the people I hurt, I'm sure most people do. Not to mention, I'm the reason you had to become Hermes in the first place. I attacked you. Killed your girlfriend. I messed up your whole life." He seems to deflate, extending his legs out in front of him. Oliver's mouth falls open. "Now here you are, stuck with me again."

"Emelia is alive," Oliver says quickly, taking a few steps forward. "You didn't kill her! Kayla - I-I mean, Aphrodite - she saved her." Marcus's head jerks up, a look of bewilderment on his face. He lets out a couple of confused grunts before shaking his head.

"Don't lie to me," He hisses darkly.

"I'm not."

"You are!" Marcus roars, slamming his fist against the low rail. "I shot the Mistletoe Arrow at her! A god-killing weapon! There's no way she could have survived!" He hangs his head, his shoulders slumping. "Stop trying to make me feel better." Oliver steps up, raising his head high.

"You didn't kill her," he says firmly. "And I don't hate you." Marcus balls his hands into fists, sitting silently for a time. Finally, he leans back, staring up at the clouds hanging over them.

"...you really aren't lying, are you?" He breaths, closing his eyes. "You better not be." Oliver can't help but smile at the relief in his voice. Marcus seems to relax, leaning his head against the figurehead peacefully. This was the right choice after all, he thinks. He really doesn't want to hurt anyone. Mel was right.

"If you're supposed to be standing guard, don't worry. I'm not going to try anything," Marcus says after a few minutes. "At ease, or whatever sailors say. Go figure out the plan with Mel and let me know what I'm supposed to do." Oliver glances back at the stairs. Melody hasn't surfaced since setting sail. He sways back and forth on his feet, touching Caduceus again. Steeling himself, he plops down a few feet from Marcus, eyes locked on the deck.

"It's probably none of my business, but..." He says awkwardly, checking the stairs again. "Mel said you two were really good friends, and you haven't seen each other in a long time. So, shouldn't you be...?"

"You're right, it's none of your business," Marcus growls. Oliver flinches, sliding away timidly.

"R-right," he says, squeezing his shoulders together. They sit in silence for a few minutes, the salty breeze and lapping waves the only things to break the silence. Finally, Marcus sighs, shaking his head.

"How much has she told you?" He hisses. Oliver jumps, his fingers twitching.

"I don't know?" He says nervously. "That you two used to play together. And would meet in secret after she became an apprentice?" Marcus nods to himself, picking at the scars on his wrists.

"I assume you know that she helped me plan the rebellion, then," he says. "We spent days talking about how we would fix things, no matter what it took. I was sure we could do it. But then, one day, she just stopped showing up at our meeting spot." He flinches when a scab peels off, and tries to press it back into place, to no avail. "No word of why. Nothing. She just disappeared." Oliver's eyes drift upward, Melody's choked sops ringing through his head. If I hadn't been caught trying to sneak away, I could have been there! But Zeus said he would capture Marcus if he found him in Greek Territory again!

"She didn't-"

"She could have joined me. Even if she didn't like how I was doing it, she could have told me. I would have listened. But instead, she didn't do a thing." Marcus growls, ignoring Oliver as he stammers to explain. "She knew I was behind it. She must have. But I'm sure she helped stop me instead."

"Marcus, she would have-"

"Just stop," Marcus says, climbing to his feet. He slips one hand into his pocket, running his fingers through his hair to comb it out of his face. "It's in the past now. There's no changing it." He stomps down the deck, stumbling every few steps as the boat rocks gently on the waves. Oliver watches him, feeling Caduceus heat up again. He jumps to his feet, his whole body trembling.

"W-why didn't you go to her, then!?" He snaps, his voice cracking. Marcus freezes mid-step, his foot hanging in the air. Oliver swallows his fear but can't drag his eyes off his feet. "You knew where she was, right? If you wanted to see her, why didn't you go to Mount Olympus?" Marcus lowers his foot, his head sagging. He half turns back to Oliver, letting out a sad sigh.

"It's not that simple," he says softly. "If I could have, I would have. But even going to the Greek underworld was too risky." Oliver cocks his head to the side, standing up a little straighter.

"What do you mean, too risky?"

The boat suddenly lurches back, sending Oliver crashing onto the deck face-first. He rolls onto his side, holding his nose painfully as the deck rocks back and forth. Marcus stumbles, his eyes flashing green as he regains his balance. Oliver sits up, drawing on his own divine power to steady himself. The sky is still clear, except for his illusionary clouds hanging overhead. The ocean is calm, and there's only water as far as the eye can see.

"Get Mel," Marcus rumbles, flicking his wrists. A pair of ornate daggers appear in his hands, and he squints, scanning the horizon. "We're under attack."