A gentle light filtered through the forest. The morning glow radiated through the trees and bathed the land in gold as glittering dew drops glistened as diamonds against the foliage. Beneath the sun, visages of stories of a kingdom long forgotten glimmered beneath the undergrowth of hundred years history. A past buried, a past forgotten, and a fable lost to time. It was not a forbidden place. But a place left to be forgotten in the annals of history.

Crags of old metal littered the touched kingdom of ruin as the forest retook what was always hers to have. As footsteps would trace this holy place, so too did footsteps resound against the metal of a lost kingdom. Twisted clanging beneath the cushioned softness of overgrown grass. Its only cries able to ring out.

It was in this hallowed ground of the Forest of the Sage that a child danced beneath that sunlight. Her arms were spread wide as her shadow danced across the foliage and forgotten shrines of mankind. Her footsteps would resound with metal clanks as she danced a well-coordinated dream, allowing the old kingdom to sing its song of life once more. Eyes kept closed in the embrace of freedom as she spun to the tune of the birds that sung in the forest.

In her radiance she sang the song that her mother had taught her. The words echoed through the forest. Her voice the only thing human in this place. Or was it Divine?

The birds ceased their singing, and so too did she halt her dance. Her open arms slowly came to her chest as she held her heart in her hands. In the silence, she allowed this moment of clarity to wash over her. And she felt her own Humanity. And for a brief moment, she was only a girl.

As she opened her eyes, however, that Humanity slipped away to reveal the Divine. The starkness of her eyes betrayed the Godliness stuck in her soul. It was only when she moved her long black hair threaded with the same golden streaks as her father did the markings of the Divine reveal itself to the world. And her form was fully revealed:

She was a God.

But here. Here she was not that.

Here she was simply Mortal.

Like all the rest.

Solemnity took a deep breath of fresh air. Her smile was wide as she filled her lungs with the air of this forest. So different than the staleness of the kingdom— her kingdom, Niðavellir, that seemed always filled with pollution and steam. Even with the comforts it offered, there was nothing better than the clean air of this forgotten place.

As she exhaled, her attention was caught by the weird shapes of the shadows. Tucked beneath an oak tree that seemed much too large to be any normal tree, stood a figure seeking his own respite. He stood with a vacant expression over his face as his gaze was cast towards the ground. Arms were kept folded over his chest as he stood close beside his Gullinbursti. But it was not for fear that danger would come. But for a different thing. As though he were waiting for something. Or someone.

“Uncle!” Solemnity called.

Ótr bit down on the soft flesh below his lips near his cheeks. It was to keep him from scowling, but even that expression of disgust showed in his eyes. Yet, the child was none the wiser to it. He glanced up from the particular spot on the ground and stared as Solemnity bounded over to him with an innocent smile. Ignorant to what was to come.

“Yes?” He somehow managed to repress the quip he wanted to say. But the darkness in his eyes and heart only grew colder as she neared him. He still kept that pretty smile. “Is something wrong?” This charade was only feasible because she did not want him to prostrate before her like the other one. But even a beguiling smile could begin to show the thorn from the rose.

“I love it when you take me here!” Solemnity stopped several paces away from Ótr. Her smile was kept bright and radiant even if she stood beneath the shadow of the oak and Ótr’s withheld contempt.

He glowered at her. Whereas she only stared with admiration to him.

She held her hands behind her back and swayed side to side. Her hair trailed behind her sways as she hummed another tune. It was different than how she would usually act within the castle. But, then again, her ‘Godliness’ required less Humanity.

He would have preferred if she suffered it here as well.

“I’ve always wondered why you take me here.” Her head lifted upward to stare at the large oak behind Ótr, then to his Gullinbursti that laid dormant behind him. “I think father would… do something terrible if he found out.” Her gaze lowered momentarily as a dark expression replaced her happiness.

Perhaps… that would be a good thing if that were to happen.

Ótr tried to suppress the smile at that thought. Instead, he tempered his gaze slightly. The curled grin was more welcoming than the dark thoughts that caressed his mind. “I know you have a difficult time in the castle.” He lifted his hand to gesture to the forest before them that glittered with strange. “And I know this place makes you happy.”

Solemnity gave a laughter in reply. “It makes me happy to be here with you, Uncle!” The darkness in her eyes receded as joy replaced it. She stepped forward and threw her arms around Ótr in the embrace of a warm hug. But the body who received such joy kept cold to the display of affection. This familial embrace.

As her head lay against his body, Ótr raised his hands up as if to return it. Yet, simply, he stood there. His fingers furling and unfurling. The leather gloves making his apparent paradox of emotions true to those ears that would listen. It should have been easy for him now to rid himself of one loathsome insect. To lay the blame on the commonfolk that it was them who assassinated the King’s beautiful, ugly daughter. To point the accusatory finger at another kingdom that would dare threaten the might of Niðavellir. To… To…

“I want to grow up to be like you.” She leaned back from him and stared up with a smile.

He could not do it.

Ótr returned the smile. His hands shook as he laid them on Solemnity’s shoulders. He loathed to admit how much she was able to anchor him. It was as a God did. To give their flesh to the people. “I… am sure you will.”

It would be easy to snap her neck.

But they say that Mortals cannot kill Gods.

How many times had he seen Fáfnir kill Kiran?

Too bad it was never successful.

Slowly, he turned her around, and, as gently as he could muster, pushed her towards the forest.

“Go and play.”

Solemnity stumbled several steps forward. She looked over her shoulder with a raised brow. “Don’t you want to play with me?” She turned to face him. Her hand raising to mimic a blow with the axe. “I want you to show me how you use your Gullinbursti again!”

“Perhaps… another time.” Ótr flicked his eyes away from her pleading ones.

“Please?” She placed her hands together as though in prayer. “Father never lets me near his.”

Ótr turned from her. He pushed his hand against his Gullinbursti as if to steady himself from the rage that was burrowing itself deep in his heart. Her pleading and innocence were driving him to insanity. How could she possibly love him as family? He couldn’t understand. He could never understand.

“When we return to the castle...” It was difficult to keep his voice from shaking with rage. It felt as though he wanted to vomit. It was difficult to keep the façade so perfected with her beguiling words. She was just like her mother. Wicked. “I will show you.”

Her laughter cut through him. “Okay!” He glanced towards her as she wandered deeper into the forest. Her eyes were kept elsewhere as she clambered over the large moss-covered roots that were as wide as the trunks of trees themselves. And for that, he was thankful that she did not chance upon the malice that laid bare for all to see. “I can’t wait to see!”

Her songs resounded through the forest to join with the birds. And Ótr stood beside his Gullinbursti with unbridled rage. Droplets of sweat rolled over his forehead, and he found one of his hands thumbing the sword kept to his side. It would have been easy to do the deed. To take what was due. And it was when he turned from his Gullinbursti, one hand wrapped around the sheath of the sword, the other firm upon the handle, that he was suddenly stopped by another voice that called out to him.

Hardly a savior, in this regard, but one nonetheless in this moment.

“You brought her.”

Ótr glanced towards the voice. Another child sat upon his Gullinbursti’s saddle where Solemnity would ride atop when he would ferry her to and from between the castle and forest and back. Her appearance was still kept youthful through all these years of knowing her. Much like Kiran and, strangely, Fáfnir too.

“Yes.” Ótr’s reply was curt. “Again.” He let his hand fall from the sword. The hunt now ended before it even began. Annoyance flared over his features as he stared down Eitri from atop his Gullinbursti. Though he was not sure if he was annoyed by her sudden appearance, or the fact that she sat upon his beautiful mount without his permission. “You didn’t come the last few times.” He tried to ignore what he really wanted to say.

“I was busy with some experiments.” Eitri gave a rather nonchalant shrug as she kicked her feet slightly. Her eyes gazed upon Solemnity who watched at how the leaves moved with the wind.

Ótr dared not look. His eyes kept firmly planted on the Sage.

“Hmph…” he folded his arms over his chest. Perhaps in fear over what he might do if his hand were to brush against the sword at his side. “I thought you would have taken this a bit more seriously.”

“These things need time. And I was perfecting what needs to be done.” Eitri kept her stare upon Solemnity as she spoke. Then, calmly, she looked towards Ótr with an even grin. “She seems to like you.”

Ótr’s physical reaction would have been more than enough of an answer for Eitri’s statement for how he felt in regards to that worm. In that moment, a magical fantasy took hold of his mind: Him standing in front of his brother’s throne. In his hands, the dead bodies of Fáfnir’s so called ‘family’. And it was only a smile given from Fáfnir, as though his mind was broken free from the sickness of that delusion that Kiran had so wonderfully crafted for him.

Afterall, Ótr knew what was best for his brother.

He still dare not look at Solemnity.

“Her faith is misplaced.” Ótr finally mustered from his musings.

“So it seems.” Eitir replied. “I’m quite surprised you were able to sneak her out of the castle.” A hand thoughtfully rubbed her chin as she continued to admire the child from afar. “I would have imagined both her parents would be more protective over their first born.”

“That False God is currently in Askr conducting some sort of ritual for its pathetic king.” Ótr sneered in disgust. The details mattered little to him. He was only happy that Kiran was no longer in the castle. “And Fáfnir is preoccupied with his… other children.”

That would be another hurdle to deal with. But, allegedly, Eitri’s plans would deal with more than just Solemnity. He was not privy to it. As annoying as it was that Eitri deigned not to provide more information to him besides the task at hand, he understood rather well why it was the case. To kill a God was risky business. But to control one was even more difficult. And that was a matter not taken lightly by Zenith’s cosmetology. Though they had once attempted to summon gods and all-powerful creatures from other realms, the experiment showed… less than desirable outcomes. Of course, the matter was dealt with by his hand, only for the issue to be resolved because another Summoner from another realm, or perhaps even the Summoner of this one, had managed to summon those creatures in an appropriate fashion.

But this one, this… Solemnity… needed not be summoned by such experimental means.

The god that was needed was right at their fingertips.

That was what was what he understood from the time working with Eitri and his own contemplations over these gods' blood.

But the truth of it all did not matter to him. It was the results of it. And if Eitri required him to bring Fáfnir’s child to her, so be it.

Because that thing was hardly even family to begin with.

“You don’t care what happens to her?”

Ótr glanced up towards Eitri. Brows furrowed at the comment as though appalled that such a thing needed to be asked.

“She may be Fáfnir’s blood. But she only exists because of that thing’s trickery.” Finally, he craned his head towards the forested stage. She was farther away now, but still close enough that he needed only to jump into his Gullinbursti to catch her. And she wouldn’t get very far if she tried to escape. Eitri’s traps would see to that.

“I only ask because I don’t need any personal feelings getting in the way of my plans.” Eitri furrowed her brows. “You have a tendency of doing that.”

Ótr scoffed as he closed his eyes with a grin. “Do you think what I told her was that convincing?”

He was good at that. But what was one or two lies to ensure the happiness of his brother? Ótr saw how much Fáfnir despised Kiran. Saw how he would stare at that ‘God’ with feelings of hatred and disgust. Saw how he would wrap his hands around its neck and it would only stare with the same hatred he shared with it. How he would bring his lips to Kiran's and… And…

No.

There was no love there.

There never was any…

Right…?

No… No… Of course not. Of course not! Ever since Solemnity was born, they only shared hate for one another. Everything that ever was done for Fáfnir was because of Ótr! Never because of Kiran, or Reginn, or those other spawns of falsehood. Only. Because. Of. Him.

And all this was for… was to protect his brother. That’s all that it was. Even if he were to hurt Fáfnir in the pursuit of his happiness, it would all become clear to his brother with time. Afterall, to mend a bone meant to cause some amount of pain before the healing could begin.

That was all this was.

“Uncle…?”

Ótr opened his eyes. Solemnity stood several paces away and stared at Eitri who still sat perched atop of his Gullinbursti. She shared the same look that Kiran would often give when there was uncertainty. The apple truly did not fall far from the tree.

“Who is that?”

Ótr smiled at her.

“This is my friend.” He motioned up to Eitri. “I’ve known her for a long time.”

Solemnity wrung her hands together as she shyly stared up at Eitri. “O-Oh…” she twisted her foot into the dirt. “Hello… It is nice to meet you.”

Eitri smiled. Carefully, she jumped off Ótr’s Gullinbursti and strode towards Solemnity. The child, surprisingly, kept her ground. But her eyes never met Eitri’s.

“Your uncle told me a lot about you.” Eitri began as she stepped around the young god. “And that you love your parents very much.”

Solemnity’s eyes widened at Eitri’s words. Hers were almost as beguiling as Ótr’s. Perhaps, even more than Solemnity’s mother. He had to give credit where credit was due. She was a brilliant mastermind in that regard.

“I-I do!” Solemnity stared up at Eitri. “I love my family more than the world itself! I’d do anything for them!”

Anything…

Ótr’s features darkened at her words.

She did not truely know the meaning of it.

Yet.

“What if I told you that there is a way to make them very happy for a long time…” Eitri paused besides Solemnity. Her smile taut on her face as she stared down at the child who looked up to her. She noted how Solemnity’s hands twisted and turned in themselves. And how she would occasionally glance towards Ótr as though gauging his appearance for how she should reply to the sage.

But Ótr was not one to help gods. Let alone those that try to act Mortal.

“T-There is…?” Solemnity stared at Ótr. “Is that true… Uncle…?”

He took a step forward. His steps calculated as he approached Solemnity. He paused beside her, and looked upon her features, and felt that urging to kill her return. It was only the reality that the Mortal hand was unable to kill a God that his wicked thought was stayed.

He raised a hand. Fingers twitched to graze her neck. But all they did was lay upon her shoulder in a comforting fashion.

As if he were truely her family.

“Eitri always has our best interest at heart.” Ótr smiled softly at his niece. “She would never lie to us.”

Ever so gently, he guided her down the hidden path to the Sage’s home. Eitri stared with a smile.

“Why not hear what she has to say?” Ótr’s voice was gentle—welcoming, in fact. It almost surprised him by how calm he managed himself.

“Okay…” Solemnity glanced backwards to Eitri who slowly followed behind the two of them. “If you think that is a good idea…” She glanced back towards Ótr. Even with her anxiety plain on her face, she still stared up at her uncle with a warm smile. Unknowing what was to come.

“I think it would be a great idea.”

Ótr looked away as that darkness settled over his eyes once more. He moved his hand from her shoulder to her back. The weight of his sword at his side growing heavier with each step.

“Don’t worry.”

His voice was almost shrill with joy.

“I’ll be sure to keep you safe.”