The Journey to Find Mimir

Chapter Fifty-Seven: I Talk with the Worlds' Most Powerful Bath Bomb

To be completely honest, I was in shock. It's not every day you meet someone who is only a floating head. 

Mimir bobbed right offshore, his head turning this way and that way in the tide. His skin was wrinkled like a raisin. His wispy hair was plastered against his forehead. Water ran out of his eyes, nose, and lips. Bubbles churned up from beneath him, giving him the appearance of a bath bomb that never dissolved.

While he talked, a constant stream of tears ran out of his eyes.

"Welcome," he said with a watery grin. "I am Mimir, god of knowledge and wisdom."

Thankfully one of us had their head on straight. Hearthstone knelt before Mimir, then shot me a glaring look. I quickly threw myself onto the ground.

"Hello, uh, Mimir," I said. "We are... here."

I stopped talking. My mouth hung open. 

Hearthstone facepalmed. He reached over, pushed my mouth closed, then turned to the god.

Hello Mimir. I am Hearthstone and this is Blitzen. We have traveled through Jotunheim to see you. We are here to make a request for knowledge and pledge ourselves to you in return. 

More bubbles surrounded Mimir, as if he was pleased. I tried not to think of where all the air was coming from. 

"Hearthstone, son of Alderman," he began. "I have known of you for quite some time. We have much to talk about."

Unfortunately, Mimir's bobbing head submerged his lips underwater a few times while he was talking. Lipreading must have been impossible for Hearthstone. 

"Excuse me, Mimir," I interrupted, "I am not sure Hearthstone was able to lipread everything you just said. I am going to, uh, try and translate real quick."

I turned to when Hearthstone signed for me to stop. He was smiling. 

Look. Hearthstone pointed at Mimir.

Mimir bubbled, almost like a laugh. 

"Your friend is right," Mimir said. "I am not in need of a translator. There is no barrier to wisdom here."

I had almost missed it. As Mimir talked, there was a pair of translucent hands using ASL. I remembered back to our time in the clearing with the goddesses Sjöfn and Lofn. 

I grinned at Hearthstone. 

Nice, I signed to him. 

Mimir looked at us thoughtfully. At least I think it was thoughtfully. Mimir was a bit difficult to read - and that was coming from someone who hangs out with Hearthstone all day. 

"Who would like to go first?" Mimir asked. 

We shared a look. I hadn't expected for us to be separated. I could tell Hearthstone was also surprised.

"Right now?" I asked. 

"Did you have another appointment?" Mimir asked.

Heat rose to my cheeks. 

I turned to Hearthstone. 

You go, he said. He gave me a little push.

I shook my head.

You wanted to see Mimir first, I signed. You go.

Hearthstone stood thinking for a moment. Then, he nodded. 

"Come this way," Mimir said. "Let us see where you will go next."

Go... in the water? Hearthstone asked. 

Mimir grinned. Water ran from his eyes. 

"Your journey is forward," he said. 

Suddenly, the lake roared. The line down the middle of the lake parted, revealing a sandy path. Walls of water rose on either side. Down in the distance, on the floor of the lake, I could see a circular clearing outlined with white rocks. 

"Don't worry about me," Mimir said. "I can breathe underwater. And the bubbles from the well will keep mortals like you alive. Well, at least for fifteen to thirty minutes. But who's counting?"

Hearthstone nodded. The two of us looked at each other. Somehow, this moment felt like the end of our journey. We had done it. The two of us had found Mimir. 

Without thinking, I stuck out my hand. Hearthstone looked at me carefully. Then, he stuck out his hand. 

The two of us shook.

I almost signed, thank you, but somehow, that wasn't enough.

I saved his life, and he saved mine. Nothing, not words or signs, could ever show my gratitude for him. 

Good luck, I signed to him. 

Hearthstone nodded. He began his walk down the path. Mimir had already disappeared into the water, so he walked alone. 

Suddenly, the walls of water began to fall back into place. 

Hearthstone turned and caught my eye one last time just as the water submerged him. 

The lake returned to normal. 

For a moment, I sat on the empty shore, wondering if I had dreamed the whole thing: the giants, the cold, Brokkr, the gods and goddesses, Utgard-Loki, the sisters, Hearthstone. But I knew it was real. Hearthstone's footprints on the sand were proof enough. 

Hearthstone and Mimir only had enough air to talk for thirty minutes, but it felt longer. I continued to sit and stare at that unnatural line down the middle of the water. 

I thought of my dad. Would he be proud of me?

I thought of Náinn. Would he be relieved that I had reached Mimir? Or worried about the consequences of the choice I was about to make?

Finally, I thought of Hearthstone. I worried and worried. I thought of the runestones. I thought of Andiron. I hoped everything was going well. 

Finally, the lake parted. I jumped to my feet and ran to the shore. Hearthstone stepped out of the lake, perfectly dry. He seemed dazed. 

Are you okay? I signed, desperate for any hint of what had happened. 

Fine, Hearthstone replied. But he wasn't looking at me. He was busy examining our surroundings: the waterfall, the waves lapping the shore, the leaves moving outside the cave. 

A voice in the water made me jump.

"Hearthstone has a decision to make," Mimir said. "I am going to give him some time before he decides to drink from the well."

The water parted for me. 

This was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment I would avenge my father. The moment I would learn how to gain the respect of every dwarf in Nidavellir. 

But I couldn't keep my eyes off of Hearthstone. He looked stressed and unwell. 

I was about to ask for a moment alone with him when Mimir spoke again. 

"Come this way, Blitzen, son of Freya," he said. "Your future awaits."

Focus, I thought to myself. 

I stepped onto the sand and made my way down the path. This is what I had wanted. Even before I had met Hearthstone, this was my goal. But I couldn't help thinking of Hearthstone as I walked. 

I only turned around once, as the water was closed in. 

It was just a glimpse. 

I didn't even expect Hearthstone to be watching. 

But, to my surprise, he was looking at me, too.