A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Helblindi and Býleistr

—-Thor—-

What just happened, what Sam just did, is something nobody would ever expect from Asgard in a literal million years. Asgard has always dealt with the Jotuns without letting emotions be shown to our enemy, we've always wanted to be seen as wholly unshakable and all knowing. The logic being if they could be convinced we were they would respect us and not dare to cross us or challenge our authority.

That's how Buri did it, that's how Borr did it, and that's how my father did it. But now Sam's broken the mold that's been cast for thousands of years by showing our enemies our vulnerability. Obviously I'm not the only one who's taken aback by Sam's actions as the others in our group are either looking equally stunned or looking to me to see if we're going to continue this endeavor further at Sam's unorthodox handling of the situation.

If father were here he'd consider what she's done as an embarrassment to Asgard. But the problem with that is the Jotuns weren't open in the slightest to listening to stoicism or a rational explanation. Understandably because of all the bad blood between us they're fully apathetic to our situation. Opening ourselves up and showing our desperation was really the only way to convince them to hear us.

Nevertheless I'm perplexed at the giant's tolerance of Sam. It was very strange to me how he seemed to actually show concern for her when she began weeping at his feet. I wouldn't have ever imagined that happening, in fact I had been afraid he was going to kill her when he turned back towards her.

With the obvious exception of my brother, a Frost Giant feeling sympathy for an Asgardian (or in this case a Midgardian posing as an Asgardian) is a far flung idea. There's so much hatred between our peoples that I had fully expected to have to flee for my life this day but instead we solved things with words rather than bloodshed. All because of Sam.

If not for Sam Helblindi likely wouldn't have even heard of our presence here until we were long gone. Now we have at least a chance. For now though all we can do is wait for Helblindi's decision.

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We're lead into Helblindi's throne room by the Jotun warriors that intercepted us. I sense fear from Sam and subtlety take her hand for a moment to steady her nerves. She smiles at me in anxiety looking both like she wants to run as far from the situation as she can and somehow at the same time like she's found new determination and hope from Helblindi's decision to hear us.

As the last set of doors are opened and our small army makes our way into the throne room we're greeted by the sight of Helblindi sitting upon his throne. He's quite a bit younger than Loki. I'd say he's somewhere between 800 and 900 years old (between 15 and 17 years old by Midgard's terms) at most.

Helblindi observes our group in silence seemingly both skeptical and curious about our arrival. He looks over each member of our group until finally he speaks.

"Asgardians... You must be truly desperate to come to me for help."

'No way!' I kind of loose it at that, my dam of stoicism breaking at the familiar words. Helblindi even sounds a bit like him. I begin to laugh but it's not a jovial laugh it's almost painful. Helblindi looks at me in genuine confusion and I see from behind his throne a younger giant, no older than 500 (only about 8 or 9 by Midgard's terms) peeking out in a similar confusion at my hysterical laughter, that has to be Býleistr.

The young giant stands at under 6 feet in height which means he's got lots of growing left to do. My laughter gradually shifts into sobs as I take in and observe his facial features... he looks almost exactly like Loki did at that age, besides being blue and the markings of course. His expression has shifted again and now he's even wearing the same worried expression I saw Loki wear a thousand times when we were young and he was frightened.

I didn't really realize the princes would be so young. Helblindi takes a moment to look over his younger brother seemingly both surprised that the boy was hidden there and concerned by his fearful look. He whispers something to Býleistr who then nervously passes us and leaves the room. Helblindi then looks back at us and sounds genuinely confused as he speaks again.

"...Odinson? What is the meaning of this?"

I'm actually having difficulty collecting myself so when Sam responds to the giant I resign to let her explain our presence here. Somehow I know she'll more easily persuade him than I ever could.