00:00My boyfriend proposed to his servant in front of all Asgard.
00:03On the same day, I married someone else, and he didn't know until our carriages passed each other on Bifrist.
00:08The fire in Vallesjaf's Great Hall was burning hot.
00:11The pine from Jotunheim smelled sweet.
00:14My mother Frigg put down her weaving shuttle and looked at me.
00:17Throod, you've been saying no to that match for years.
00:22Why the change of heart?
00:24I've made up my mind, mother.
00:26Help me plan the wedding.
00:27She sighed, got up, and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
00:34You and Balder have been together for seven years.
00:38He won't even come see your father and me.
00:40We knew this wasn't going to last.
00:43I didn't say anything.
00:46Frager is a good match.
00:48Vongi, god of harvest.
00:50Nygard's son.
00:52Good family.
00:53Good character.
00:55Thank you, mother.
00:57Do you want to meet him first?
00:59No.
01:01Just plan the wedding.
01:03I was tucking my runestone into my belt when I turned around and Balder was standing in the doorway.
01:08The firelight stretched his shadow long across the floor.
01:11He wore a dark blue cloak with a silver brooch at the collar.
01:14In his hand was a honey cake, sprinkled with crushed walnuts.
01:18Wedding?
01:19Who's getting married?
01:20I looked at his face.
01:22Me.
01:23I'm the one getting married.
01:24But I didn't say it.
01:26No one.
01:27Just a friend.
01:29His shoulders dropped.
01:30The tension left his whole body.
01:32What was he scared of?
01:34That I'd pressure him into marriage?
01:36Or that I'd found out about him and Grodd?
01:38I brought you cake.
01:40Your favorite.
01:42I stared at it.
01:45A few days ago, Grodd's runestone had shown me the exact same cake.
01:50Balder had brought it back from Vonahem just for me.
01:53You don't mind, do you, third?
01:55He said it's my favorite.
01:56It wasn't just the cake, the dried fruit, the nuts, the jar of honey from Nidaveller.
02:03Every single thing he brought home, it was all stuff Grodd liked.
02:07Seven years.
02:08He never even remembered what I actually liked.
02:11I don't want it.
02:15What?
02:16You used to love these.
02:18My taste changed.
02:21Outside, Odin's two ravens flew past the roof of Vallasjaf.
02:25One east, one west.
02:27I turned and went to my room.
02:29Balder forgot my name day.
02:31I didn't really care anymore.
02:33A few days later, he must have felt guilty.
02:36You've been wanting to see Loki's prank, right?
02:39It took me forever to get these.
02:42Thanks.
02:47The night of the show, I stood outside the theater waiting for him.
02:52There was already a long line.
02:55Someone recognized my Valkyrie cloak.
02:57A young Vanir woman came up and asked if I was really Thread.
03:00I said yes.
03:01Her eyes got wet.
03:03She said her brother was the one I'd chosen for Valhalla in that battle against the Frost Giants.
03:08I talked to her for a bit.
03:10But my eyes kept watching the road.
03:12Balder didn't come.
03:13I waited about an hour.
03:14The gold of twilight faded to purple.
03:17The dwarf guards started checking tickets.
03:19My runestone lit up.
03:20Grodd had posted again.
03:22Bored.
03:22Thought I'd catch a show.
03:24Nothing better than having someone who's always there for you.
03:27Two tickets.
03:28Same row as mine.
03:29And a hand.
03:30I knew that hand.
03:32The scar on his ring finger.
03:33Balder got that scar saving me from a Frost Giant.
03:36He bled everywhere that day.
03:38But he stood in front of me and didn't take a single step back.
03:41I stood in the rain for an hour.
03:43Water ran down my cloak.
03:45My boots squelched in the mud.
03:47I was worried something had happened to him.
03:49Turns out he was sitting in the front rows with Grodd.
03:51My runestone lit up again.
03:53My mother's handwriting.
03:56Freya's ready.
03:57Wedding in two weeks.
03:58Want to push it?
03:59No.
04:00Keep it as it's.
04:02The rain got heavier.
04:03Asgard's sky was dark.
04:04But the light from Ballast Jaff reaches everywhere.
04:07Balder finally sent a message.
04:09You're not home?
04:10I'm at the theater.
04:12Sorry.
04:13Something came up.
04:14Couldn't make it.
04:15Stay there.
04:15I'll come get you.
04:17Okay.
04:18But I knew he wouldn't come.
04:20Sure enough.
04:21A few minutes later.
04:22Groddstone updated again.
04:24He didn't want me catching a cold.
04:26Made me hot mead.
04:27A picture of Balder's back.
04:29Standing at the stove.
04:30Fire burning.
04:32On the wall hung the sword he bought when he first came to Asgard.
04:35Back when he was broke.
04:36Saved up for months.
04:37I looked at it for a few seconds.
04:39Then I turned off the stone.
04:41A dwarf passed by on an empty cart.
04:43Saw me standing in the rain.
04:45Stopped.
04:46Asked if I wanted a ride.
04:48I got on.
04:49By the time I got home, I was soaked through.
04:51The next day, I slipped on the wet stone steps and twisted my knee bad.
04:55The rain had made bifers slick as ice.
04:57My foot went out from under me getting off the dwarf's cart.
05:00I hit the stone steps hard.
05:02The next day, my knee was swollen purple.
05:04My mother came to see me.
05:06She touched my knee and frowned.
05:08Said she'd send for air.
05:09I said it was nothing.
05:11Just a bruise.
05:12Baldr heard I'd fallen.
05:14For once, he stayed home.
05:15He came in with a bowl of hot broth.
05:18I lay in bed, watching the soft gold light of Asgard seep through the walls.
05:21He set the bowl down.
05:23Drink this.
05:24It's just a fall.
05:25Go back to work.
05:27You used to want me here when you got hurt.
05:29What changed?
05:31I was young.
05:32I didn't know better.
05:34Thread, are you okay?
05:36I'm fine.
05:37Really.
05:38Go.
05:39He hesitated, then left.
05:41Rod's voice from outside the door.
05:43Baldr?
05:44Is Thruk okay?
05:46Yeah.
05:47Just a fall.
05:48Good.
05:49Hey, you said you'd take me to Vanisam to pick out fabric tomorrow.
05:52Still on?
05:53Yeah.
05:54Tomorrow.
05:55I closed my eyes.
05:57After he left, I actually felt better.
05:59A couple days later, the swelling went down.
06:02I still limped a little.
06:04I said I didn't want to be a burden and moved into the guest room.
06:07The room was small, north-facing.
06:10Window looked out at the stables behind the hall.
06:12That night, I went through everything.
06:14The drinking horn carved with runes.
06:16We bought that together on our first trip to Nidavellar.
06:19The fur blanket.
06:20I picked that from my father Thor's war spoils.
06:22The short soared on the wall.
06:24Odin gave it to me on my coming-of-age day.
06:27Everything had a story.
06:28A long time ago, Baldr used to stop and ask me about these things.
06:32He stopped asking eventually.
06:34They just sat there collecting dust.
06:36One night, I came home and found Baldr had thrown our old vellum journal into the fire.
06:40Seven years of memories.
06:42Drawings from our travels.
06:44Letters he wrote me.
06:45Rune rubbings we collected together.
06:47Everyone had a date and place written on the back.
06:50All of it burning.
06:51I lunged and pulled it out of the fire with my bare hands.
06:54My fingers burned.
06:56Hurt like hell.
06:58Are you crazy?
07:00Do you know how important that is?
07:03He had never raised his voice at me like that.
07:05But he was marrying someone else behind my back.
07:08Did he ever think about how important that was to me?
07:13It got moldy.
07:17I backed everything up.
07:19I'll make a new one.
07:21He calmed down a little.
07:22Later, he went to find ointment.
07:25Grod followed him with a jar of honey.
07:27I put the ointment on myself.
07:29That night, I sat in the guest room, staring at my burned fingers, thinking for a long time.
07:34Third.
07:35You've been off lately.
07:36You tired?
07:37I'll have Loki book you a boat to Jordan Hard.
07:40Get out for a bit.
07:41Just me?
07:42You're not coming?
07:44I'm too busy.
07:46Next time.
07:47Okay?
07:48I don't want to go.
07:50Come on.
07:51Boat's already arranged.
07:53Dwarjan longshope?
07:54Non-refundable.
07:55I didn't say anything.
07:57I remembered last night, half asleep, hearing him on his runestone.
08:01It was Hoedra, Baldr's twin, god of darkness, born blind.
08:08I'm not going to tell her.
08:10I'll hide it as long as I can.
08:12What about after the wedding?
08:13What then?
08:15You're just going to make her your mistress?
08:17Baldr was quiet for a long time.
08:19We'll figure it out when we get there.
08:21I lay there in bed, tears running down my face.
08:25Seven years.
08:26I stayed with him through the broke years.
08:28When he first came to Asgard, he had nothing.
08:32Rented a shack.
08:33I helped him manage his land.
08:35Stood behind him during negotiations with the giants.
08:38I did everything I could.
08:39If you don't love me anymore, just say it.
08:42Why the lies?
08:43You think I'd cling?
08:44Is that why you're shipping me off during your wedding?
08:47Don't worry, Baldr.
08:48I'll disappear.
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