Wait to start the song.

Much like every other day in the throne room, Tyler's seat remained unused. Jenna sat in hers, listening closely to two farmers, or karls are they were referred to here, who were disputing land rights. It was mostly by Josva's choice that Tyler's throne was empty. Because he'd promised Tyler that he could be with him all day, he'd pulled Tyler into his lap as soon as he'd sat down in his throne, and still had yet to release him.

This morning, Jenna had told Tyler that it was healthy for him and Josva to be clinging to each other more than usual after yesterday. Up until now, they'd both still had some reservations regarding their roles in this relationship. They'd started off just belonging to Jenna, and that wasn't the case anymore. They needed time to adjust-apparently very close together.

Now that the two men were more comfortable touching each other, it seemed to be all they wanted to do. Their hands were almost always gripped together, and Josva had kissed Tyler at least twenty times today despite the sun not even being in the center of the sky yet.

Jenna seemed just as happy about this development as her husbands were. They were still learning to balance the amount of attention they all gave each other, but she was very patient. She was allowing them this time to be a little lost in each other without complaints.

"Your relationship with Josva will not be the same as mine, just like your relationship with me will not be the same as yours with Josva. We all have different things to offer in this marriage. Explore. Take your time. We have eternity to figure this out," she'd told them this morning.

Maybe Jenna's support was what was making this easier for him. Jenna comforted Tyler more than anyone, always providing him with a loving and gentle presence. If she approved, it would be okay.

"Where did you two gain the rights for your territories?" Josva asked the two angry men before them, his thumb rubbing a soft circle on the inside of Tyler's thigh while he rested his head in his other hand, that elbow propped up on the arm of his throne.

"My father, your majesty," one of the men insisted.

The other glared at him. "No. He gave it to me."

Tyler's eyebrows raised just as Jenna asked, "Are you brothers?"

"Only by blood," the larger of the two brothers said, glaring at the smaller.

Josva sighed. "Which one of you did your father say would inherit the land?"

"Originally him, but he gambled away all of his money and lost the right to that responsibility," the younger brother explained.

The older brother scoffed. "Rights legally go to the eldest brother!"

Tyler glanced at Josva, who looked bored. He glanced at Tyler as well when the two men started to argue childishly.

"If the father gave him the rights, doesn't that mean it's his?" Tyler asked Josva in English. The hall started to quiet down as they struggled to figure out what Tyler was saying.

"Not always. It hard," Josva told him. He looked to Jenna, who was more capable of explaining this in English.

"The oldest brother should always get the land unless the father has arranged otherwise with his Earl or King. The father did not do that. That complicates things," she explained to Tyler, reaching over and taking his hand.

"So what do you do?" Tyler asked curiously.

Josva sighed. "Josva let Ellinor choose."

Tyler smiled. "What?"

"Josva do not know. They both babies, so Josva let baby choose," he told Tyler with a smirk.

He signalled with his hand for one of Jenna's servant girls to come to him before asking in Danish, "Will you please bring me my daughter?"

"Yes, sir," the young girl replied respectfully, bowing her head before hurrying out of the hall. She looked like she was probably Tyler's age, yet he felt separated from her somehow.

The two men were watching Josva in intrigue now. It occurred to Tyler that they probably thought he was summoning a much older daughter-one who would traditionally be qualified to make such a decision. They both were shocked to see a two-year-old be carried in and set down beside Josva's throne.

"Hi, Papa!" She said happily, going up on her tiptoes so he could pick her up and set her on the knee Tyler wasn't occupying.

"Hello, my kitten," Josva greeted with a smile. He kissed her forehead. "I have an important job for you."

Ellinor's dark eyes lit up with excitement. "What is it?"

"These two brothers both claim the same land, but it really could belong to either of them," Josva explained to her calmly. The two men were watching him fearfully. "I would like for you to decide who should get to keep the land."

The men both started to protest, but fell silence when Josva raised a hand. Gently, he set Ellinor down on the ground before wrapping both arms more firmly around Tyler's waist.

"Go ahead, kitten. May the gods guide you," he told her, smirking slightly.

Tyler grinned as he rested his head on the king's shoulder, pressing a kiss to his cheek before looking at the two brother again. Tyler lifted Jenna's hand to his lips as well, making her smile at him fondly.

Ellinor walked between the two brothers, eyeing them both through narrowed eyes. She lifted their arms, smelling them before dropping the limbs unceremoniously. One of the men squeaked when she shoved his shirt up and looked at his stomach. She then moved onto the younger brother, who simply watched her worriedly. She smiled at him before turning to her parents.

"This one," she decided, pointing to the younger brother.

The older brother swore angrily, glaring at the small girl. Jenna and Josva both swore back at him, chiding him for treating their daughter that way. Tyler was surprised to find that he did as well. One of the men from the crowd punched the older brother hard across the face, making him cry out.

Fearfully, Ellinor ran back up to the thrones, clambering into her mother's lap instantly. Jenna released Tyler's hand to cradle the frightened toddler. Josva just glared at the older brother.

"Given your reactions, I think Ellinor made the right decision." He looked around at the rest of the tribe present. "Do you all agree?"

Shouts of affirmation filled the throne room, making Ellinor smile proudly. Tyler smiled at her softly, and she seemed even more content with that.

"The youngest brother will keep the land. The older brother is lucky I am not exiling him for the way he treated my daughter," Josva decided. "All in agreement?"

Every hand in the room was raised, and Josva nodded. "Great. That is all for today then. Spend time with your families. The solstice is coming."

More cheers erupted from the crowd, and Josva smiled. He nudged Tyler, prompting him to stand up. Josva stood as well, carefully taking Ellinor from Jenna before helping his wife up with his free hand.

"Wait! I demand to know what made her decide to give the land to my brother!" The older brother shouted.

Josva sighed before looking to Ellinor. "What made you decide, baby?"

Smiling proudly, Ellinor pointed to the younger brother and announced, "He has the same bellybutton as me."

Cheers and laughter filled the hall, and the younger brother smiled. He bowed to Ellinor, making her beam.

"I am honoured," he told her. "Thank you so much, princess."

"You are welcome," she replied confidently.

Josva chuckled as he led his family down the steps in the throne room. Jenna took Tyler's free hand, rubbing the back of it with her thumb soothingly. Once again, Tyler was overwhelmed with love for his new family, feeling a bit guilty for being distracted from Jenna.

His guilt disappeared though when Ellinor was dropped off with the servant girls and her brothers, and Tyler was being led back to the adult bedroom. He was instructed to change his clothes into warmer ones, and he was grateful to see that Jenna and Josva were both changing as well. Wherever they were going, they were all going together. That was rare for them.

Josva helped Jenna to pull her dress over her head, and Tyler found himself avoiding looking at her. Although he knew it wasn't the case, he still felt like her body was solely for Josva to look at. He pulled a thicker shirt on over the one he was already wearing, startling when Jenna turned him to face her, fixing the collar of the shirt carefully. She was still wearing nothing, not seeming to think anything of it.

"You look handsome in green," she told him with a sweet smile.

He smiled shyly. "Thank you."

She chuckled. "Josva, he is getting shy around me again."

Josva smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and kissing her cheek. "It is only because you are so beautiful, my beloved."

That made Jenna smile as she leant back into her husband's chest. "Am I?"

"Very," both of her husbands responded without missing a beat.

She smiled proudly. "I love you both very much."

"We love you too," they both replied easily, smiling at each other as they spoke.

Jenna brought Josva's large hands up to her lips, kissing both of them softly. She slipped out of his grasp then, pulling a thicker gown out from her stack of clothing and pulling it over her head. It hugged her in all the right places, and the rich red colour was enough to take any man's breath away.

In England, she'd never have been allowed to wear such a bold colour. Josva didn't seem to think anything of it though as he helped Jenna into her dress.

Jenna pulled her fur cloak on while Josva wrapped Tyler up in his wolf furs. It was impossible not to smile when Josva kissed him, adjusting the fur cloak to block him from the cold that would no doubt smother him as soon as he stepped outside. Tyler kissed back immediately, smiling into the kiss as he went up on his tiptoes to get closer.

Josva chuckled at Tyler's eagerness, but pulled him in closer anyways. Tyler could feel Jenna sliding Josva's bear pelt over his shoulders as they kissed. Just like before, she didn't interrupt or act offended that the two men were doing this without her right now. She was just being patient and allowing them to explore what they were comfortable with in regards to each other.

The kiss broke softly, and Josva took Tyler's hand gently. He reached his other hand out for Jenna's. she smiled as she took it.

"You seem happier," she told the two men, looking at each of them. "Does it help to have time to adjust?"

It really did. The more time Tyler spent around Josva, the more comfortable he felt in his presence. The more they touched, the less overwhelmed Tyler felt when Josva took his hand or kissed his lips. Although Tyler was equally smitten with both of them, being around Jenna came more naturally to him. He'd never been taught not to be attracted to her. The same couldn't be said for Josva. If anyone in England knew about the type of relationship Tyler had found himself in, they'd be disgusted. He needed to adjust to this.

"It helps," Josva answered for both of them.

Jenna nodded her understanding, smiling softly. "I think this will help you as well," she said, looking mostly to Josva.

Start the song. Its Rop Fra Røynda - Mælt Fra Minne by Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik.

At first, Tyler didn't realize that she meant where they were going now. He didn't understand until they'd already walked through the ice that seemed to be shooting out of the sky in blistering arrows. They made Tyler's skin sting and his ears ache. He was grateful when he was led into a small building with a warm fire burning. He was less grateful when they had to walk through strings of bird skeletons and runes carved into bones much too big to belong to anything avian.

Any and all residual relief left Tyler when he saw the man before them. His eyelid were scarred shut, sunken in as if the sockets that should've contained his eyes were empty. All of his skin was scarred really, and it hung from his bones like dough that had been stretched too thin. A dark cloak hid him away partially where he sat motionless on the floor, and Tyler thought fearfully that he might have been brought to the home of a dead man. That is, until the disfigured man spoke in a slow, scratchy voice.

"Josva, my boy. I have been expecting you." The man reached a hand up to them, palm facing up. "Please, have a seat. Your lovers may sit as well. The gods have been telling me that the three of you were in need of my assistance, but I have not been permitted to help until you sought assistance yourselves."

Josva and Jenna sat down without hesitation, and Josva took the repugnant man's hand. The man's fingers curled like talons around Josva's, and his head tilted. Slowly, Tyler sat down in the space between Jenna and Josva. Jenna took his hand, but she was watching the strange man closely.

The man took in a laboured breath, patting Josva's hand with his free one before releasing it. "A little bear walks across the ice," the man began, making Tyler's eyebrows raise. His Vikings were listening closely though. "The ice is thick and stable, yet it still begins to crack beneath the cub's paws. Alone the cub walks, making its way toward the shore as quickly as it can."

The hideous man paused, taking in another wheezing breath. His unseeing face turned to Tyler then. Fearfully, Tyler scooted closer to Josva.

"Why does the ice crack if it is sound?" Josva asked, and there was more respect in his voice than Tyler had ever heard before.

The man hummed, still seeming to look at Tyler although he had no eyes. His head turned back to face Josva's. "Within the little bear's paws is flame. This flame came not from the little bear's birth, but from its transfer."

"Transfer?" Josva asked.

The old man picked up a wooden carving of a hammer from the ground beside himself. He held it up for Josva to see. "Thor plucked the bear up and carried it across the ocean, setting it atop the ice. The thunder of Thor's mjölnir is trapped in the little bear's paws, making the flames of lightning strikes."

It was Jenna who asked the next question. "Can the bear make it across the ice?" She asked nervously.

The man chuckled, which sounded more like a guttural choking noise. "That depends, sweet Jenna. In order for the little bear to cross the ice, it will need to find a bear with still water in its paws, and another with enough ice to freeze the water left and to soothe the fire.

Josva smiled then. "The little bear needs two big bears to help it across the ice. Is that what you are saying?"

"Is that what you are hearing, Josva?" The man asked with a smile, revealing very few twisted teeth.

"This is not our future, is it? This is our present. The gods have brought our little one here, and now we must help him to survive the ice," Josva decided.

Tyler was surprised by the warm and comforting feeling he felt swell within him at the words. The man's head turned to Tyler. He reached a claw-like hand out and pressed it against Tyler's chest, making Tyler look fearfully at Josva.

"Seer, what is it?" Jenna asked interestedly.

"The gods have touched this boy. He feels them within him. Thor's fire burns within him." He smiled at Tyler, making him feel more scared than comforted. Finally, the seer retracted his hand. "Josva, when you received your arm band, do you remember what you asked me?"

The large Viking seemed to contemplate that for a moment before shaking his head. "I do not remember."

The seer chuckled. "Two days after you became a man, you came to me asking why bears kept visiting you in your dreams. I told you to be patient and listen to what they had to tell you. The next day, you were carried back to the village by your father, with your chest ripped open."

Tyler's eyes widened, but Josva's lit up. "That was the day the bear came to our farm. I had to keep it from my sisters."

"It nearly killed you, Josva. You were only just a man at ten years old. What did the bear tell you that day?" The seer asked, reaching for Josva's hand again. It was given to him without hesitation. "Do you remember?"

Josva smiled. "After it attacked, it sat down beside me until my father came. It did not finish its fight and kill me. It did not continue to pursue my sisters either. Why would it do that?"

"Perhaps it was the bear who fought in place of the sleeping warrior Bödvar Bjarki. He found another warrior worthy of respecting. Bears are not able to be tamed, Josva. That is why the berserkers wear their fur. In fact, you are the only non-berserker I have ever seen wear the coat of a bear. Why do you think that is?"

Once again, Josva couldn't answer the seer's question. He shook his head. "I do not know."

"You will, Josva," the seer promised. "Until then, hold the bear close to your heart, and do not let any harm come upon your little bear. Jenna, you must protect him as well. He belongs to the gods, and he is special enough that only an untamed and hostile creature is able to protect him from whatever is coming."

"Our little one is in danger?" Josva asked worriedly, wrapping an arm around Tyler protectively.

The seer smacked his lips as he considered the question. Finally, he reached out a bony finger and touched Tyler's forehead. He traced a symbol onto it before pressing his palm against he skin instead, rubbing Tyler's forehead harshly as if that would make the invisible mark sink into his skin and stay there. Tyler clung to Josva for protection from the strange man.

"Ice falls from the sky and forms in the air. It covers the water we drink and grows in the hearts that seek no flame. The ice cracks beneath the little bear's feet, but where else?" The seer asked. There was finality in his tone. "That is all the gods have provided to me in this moment. Trust in the gods, and do not let the flames go out."

With that, the seer held out both of his hands, palms up. Josva and Jenna each took a hand, and Tyler's eyes widened in horror when each of them licked the palm presented to them. The hand Josva had licked was then presented to Tyler. He looked anxiously at Jenna. She smiled encouragingly, and he regretfully licked the deformed man's dirty hand.

The ancient man sighed as he set his hands down on his lap. "Safe travels. The Jötunn are coming to visit. They will trample the village with their great white feet and freeze the water with their breath. Stay warm. Lives will be taken by the Jötunn, but they will take not from your family."

Josva nodded. "Thank you," he replied, bowing his head respectfully before standing, helping his lovers to their feet. "You are always welcome in our home if it gets too cold here."

The man chuckled. "I cannot die, Josva. I already have. The gods have kept me alive for centuries just to protect your people. The Jötunn cannot take me."

The king smiled. "But that does not mean you would not appreciate hot food and a warm bed when the snow comes. The offer stands. Thanks again, great one."

"May the gods always favour your home and your kindness, Josva," the seer said in a slow and almost sleepy voice. "May you all enter Valhalla and be reunited someday."

Josva smiled, bowing his head respectfully before leading his lovers out of the small hut. He took their hands as they walked through the village.

Tyler glanced at Josva and Jenna. He still didn't know what had sent Tore to Valhalla. How had they lost their baby? Jenna had said he was born too early and Josva had said he was small, but was that what he'd taken the infant so early in his life? Maybe it wasn't any of his business, but he still wondered. He didn't ask though.

"Do you still want to learn of raids?" Josva asked Tyler curiously.

Instantly, Tyler nodded. "Yes please."

Josva nodded as well. "Then must find Brad, Mark, and Jon. They can explain."

Tyler's eyebrows raised. "Those are English names."

Josva chuckled. "Only Brad. Jon is Norse, and Mark is short for Markþór." When Tyler looked confused, Josva explained, "Mark is from Iceland. Brad's mama is from England like Jenna's. Norsemen are all over Midgard, little one. We do not stay in place like Saxons."

When they were passing their home, Jenna hugged and kissed each of the men before disappearing back inside once again, she was giving the two men space. Josva's hand was warm in Tyler's despite the biting cold all around them, and he was grateful for his husband's gentle touch as they walked through the village in search of the other Norsemen.

Nerves nipped at the lining of Tyler's stomach, but he had to know. He had to know if his family was alive. He had to know if they'd suffered. Surely the two people who'd been with Josva at his home and one of the men from the ship could enlighten him. He hoped and prayed that that would be the case.