The Throne I Left

Johan let out a breath of relief as Note disappeared out the door and immediately sunk down on the couch. Frey slowly sat down next to him, staying quiet for a long moment. Then he asked. “Do you always fight like that?”

“No.” Johan sighed, resting his head in his hands. “We never fight like that.”

He still couldn’t believe it. He had killed so many people, and Note had tried to hide it from him.

“I’m sorry,” Signe said silently but Johan just waved her off and leaned back against the couch, staring up at the roof.

“You didn’t know what he told me.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes until eventually Frey got sick of it and brought out his fele, mindlessly strumming the strings.

He didn’t actually play a song, but the sound was nice while Johan thought. He glanced around. Their house was so cozy now, a stark difference to when they first moved in. Now it looked like a home. From the dresser stuffed so full of clothes that closing the drawers was a daily struggle, to the random items they had gathered through their time there.

If they left, it would all have to be left behind.

Though, that was a small price to pay for the safety of the village.

“Wait.” Frey suddenly said, sitting up and spreading his arms. “Aren’t you going to ask me how I got my information? How do you know I’m not with the enemy? Maybe I’m a spy, relaying everything back to Heaven? ”

“You just called them your enemy.” Johan pointed out drily.

“You sent Runa to help us get in.” Signe said with a small laugh. “Obviously she and the other huldra are your informants.”

Johan pointed to her with a nod and Frey gasped, looking completely shocked that they had pieced it together.

“No, you didn’t know that.” Frey refused. “Did she tell you?”

Johan huffed out a small laugh but shook his head.

Suddenly the door flew open and slammed against the wall. Johan almost jumped out of his seat.

“You will not be going anywhere!” Odin thundered and Johan sunk deeper into the couch as the bigger man stormed across the room, Trym following closely behind him. Johan grimaced as Odin came to a stop in front of him, arms on his hips and breathing heavily. He must have ran all the way there. “Note told me what’s going on.”

Note closed the door silently behind him.

“It’s dangerous-” Johan started but was quickly interrupted.

“Johan.” Trym said bluntly and Johan looked up in surprise. “You saved us from starvation when no one else would. It is time for us to save you too.” Trym crossed his thick arms, voice hardening. “You are staying right here.”

Johan looked back and forth between the two big men. He got to his feet. “Chief, there’s no need.” Johan said comfortingly to Odin, trying to calm down at least one of the angry men. “We will be fine.”

“Child.” A heavy hand landed on Johan’s shoulder and suddenly he was back on the couch. He blinked in surprise. “You are staying right here, in the safety of our village. Do not forget, we are not just fishers. First and foremost we are fighters! You need to stay hidden. This is where you will do that, and if they find you. We will fight.”

“He’s right, Johan.” Note said from the entrance. “We need to lay low. If we go somewhere else we can’t do that.”

Johan swallowed. If they were found it would bring trouble upon the whole island.

“If we don’t do anything else then Greed doesn’t have any reason to kill us.” Note added.

“Wait-?” Frey made a confused sound next to him but nobody listened.

Note continued. “He already has Heaven. As long as we don’t do anything, we and the village should be safe. The village is already in danger from us living here for so long, if we leave that won’t change.”

“He’s right.” Signe piped up. “If we stay then we can protect each other. Unless…” She gave him a look. “You actually want to take back the city.”

Johan shook his head violently. How was that even an option?!

“Then we’re staying.” Signe concluded.

“It’s decided.” Odin said finally, nodding strongly in her support. “You will stay right here. You will not be leaving this island until it is safe for you out there. I will speak to the villagers, and I will have a chat with Erika.” Odin’s eyes lingered on Frey for a second before turning back to Johan. “Nobody will find you here, and if anyone in Solstad asks, they have never seen you.”

Johan looked around but found no support. They were all watching him for an answer, but it wasn’t just his decision.

Note and Signe both wanted to stay.

He sighed. “I guess..”

He closed his eyes as Signe and Frey cheered. Frey didn’t even live there, honestly…

Well, it wasn’t like Johan wanted to leave either.

“Now. Since I’m already here.” Odin started, voice low and Johan opened his eyes to see the chief watching Wrath where she was still sitting on the couch, in the same spot Signe had left her in. “I heard something I did not like and I thought I should do something about it.” His arm muscles grew. “I heard Signe was kidnapped. By a woman with bright orange hair. I suspect that’s you, stranger.”

Oh.

Johan paused. Should he intervene? Though…he wouldn’t mind seeing Odin yell at her a bit. Then again, if he made her angry-

“How did you know that?” Johan asked, deciding to deter the attention away.

“Emil told me.” Odin said, not taking his eyes off of Wrath for even a second.

“Oh?” Johan couldn’t hold in his surprise. Of all the people, how would Emil know? He didn’t even leave his house, how would he know what happened all the way in Solstad?

“I did not get kidnapped. Also, how does he know that?” Signe frowned, voicing Johan’s question before he could.

“Yeah.” He agreed brainlessly, nodding along.

Trym let out a deep soulless sigh. “My son has been following you around to get inspiration for his ‘craft’.”

“Hold on, what?!” Note yelled, protective gears suddenly kicking in. Johan could only sit there. Today was a lot to process. “Where did he follow us?!”

“Not anything too dangerous, thank the Jotun.” Odin replied instead. Trym looking about as given up as a parent could, where he stood, his head hanging. “He got back home the day before you came with all the giants.”

Johan froze, jaw dropping.

“He followed us to Heaven…” Johan muttered. How did Emil survive that? Did that guy have no common sense?! Did that mean he saw them in the club outfits? Oh please, no.

“He followed us to Heaven?!” Note yelled at the same time.

“Heaven?! He followed you to Heaven?!” Trym suddenly bellowed out. He turned on his heel, storming right out the door. “Excuse me, I need to go teach my son some common sense.”

Odin nodded seriously. “It sounds like he needs it. Don’t worry, I will take care of this.”

The chief whipped around, his beard swinging in the wind as he pointed an accusatory finger straight at Wrath. She eyed it tensely.

“You hurt my niece.” He said with a dangerously low voice. He ripped his axe off of his back with a big, practiced movement. “Die!”

Johan jumped to his feet. Since when was Signe his niece anyways?!

“Wait!” Signe ran between the two before Johan could but the axe kept swinging down. A light flashed and Johan’s eyes widened as a very familiar axe clashed against Odin’s.

That was her old axe! When did she get that back?!

Wrath on her part hadn’t moved at all the entire commotion, probably having already activated the shield around herself when Odin first laid his eyes on her. Now though, with Signe between them, she jumped to her feet, her spear appearing in a flash.

“Don’t hurt my fianceé or I’ll kill you.” She snarled, blue eyes wild with rage, like a predator. Odin flinched back at the words. The two stared at each other over Signe’s head.

“This is so fun.” Frey laughed with wonder, still sitting relaxed on the couch.

“Shut up.” Johan hissed back.

“Fianceé?” Odin whispered, eyes wide. He looked down at Signe. “You’re getting married?”

Signe nodded. “Yeah.”

Johan didn’t know what reaction he was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this.

The chief’s head fell forward, hiding his face in the shadows of his hair. Then suddenly he threw it back, facing the roof and a full on sob filled the air. His axe fell to the ground, imbedding in the wood and Johan grimaced at the damage but didn’t say anything, he only watched in shock as Odin’s eyes welled up with tears.

Suddenly he threw himself around Signe, picking her right off the ground and spinning her around. “We’re going to make you the best wedding!”

Tears ran down his face when he turned to Wrath next, she took an alarmed step back at the attention. “You, young lady. Do you have family?”

“I do,” She said strongly, if not a little hesitantly. ”But they won’t be able to make it.”

“Don’t worry. We will make the best wedding for you two. We will all become your family!” And with that, Odin practically skipped to the door. Like a small child picking flowers. “I’m leaving, I need to tell Hilda right away!”

Signe was beaming, her happiness glowing.

Frey laughed from his seat. “He’s fun!”