After finishing our meal, Homura and I lingered at the small wooden table, the remnants of food scattered between us. The warmth of the hearth crackled softly in the background, filling the room with a comforting glow, though unease gnawed at the edges of my peace.
Homura sipped her tea, her gaze steady. "Things have been difficult here since you left, Y/n. Without your healing, people have been forced to travel dangerous roads for help. The healers we have left are doing their best, but it's not enough."
A pang of guilt struck me.
"I didn't realize..." My voice faltered, the words catching in my throat. "I didn't know how much I was needed." My chest tightened as vivid images of sick villagers and desperate families flooded my mind.
Homura reached out, her hand warm against mine. "You've done more than enough, child. Your sacrifices kept Fjellheim safe. People miss you, but they know you're fighting for all of us."
I nodded, though her reassurance didn't ease the heaviness in my chest. The memories of war and my tangled ties to Asgard loomed large, making me wonder if I'd ever truly feel at home again.
Homura studied me closely, her voice softening. "You've changed. Stronger, yes, but burdened too. Tell me, child—how have the gods been treating you?"
I hesitated, then decided to tell her everything. My first meeting with Odin, the arranged marriage to Thor, the grand wedding, and the shocking truths about my lineage spilled out. As I spoke, the room seemed to still, the fire's crackle the only sound between us.
When I finished, Homura let out a dry laugh, though her eyes shone with sadness. "A Yggdrasil Healer wed to the God of Thunder... How cruelly fitting."
I leaned forward, my brows knitting. "Why didn't you tell me? Why keep it from me all this time?"
Her expression clouded, sorrow etching every line of her face. "Because I wanted to spare you, Y/n. I hoped... I hoped you'd have a chance at a life untouched by the dangers tied to your bloodline."
Her words stung, the vague answer only feeding my frustration. "Spare me from what? Please, just tell me the truth. I deserve to know."
Homura stood up and walked to the bedside drawer. She opened it and retrieved a small, worn photograph—the same one I had found earlier. Sitting back down, she placed the photo in my hands.
"This is how we found you," she began softly. "You were just a baby, abandoned near the tree you've always been so attached to. This necklace," she pointed to the blue stone in the photo, "was wrapped around your tiny body."
I stared at the necklace in the photograph, my heart pounding.
That stone... it looks like the one on my staff. Could they be connected?
Homura reached into her dress pocket and pulled out the very necklace. "This necklace links one of the Yggdrasil Healers to the World Tree and all nine realms. It's a powerful artifact, passed down through generations of the Yggdrasil Healer leaders."
As I held the necklace, the vision I'd had before I woke up struck me again. I was standing in a vast golden place, light streaming from every direction, and the old man whose face was obscured by light.
Who was he? Why did he feel so familiar, as if I'd known him my whole life?
I gripped the necklace tightly, my thoughts racing. "Homura," I asked, my voice faltering, "The old man in my vision... the one in the golden place. He knows you. How?"
Homura's eyes darkened, hesitation flickering across her face. She set her teacup down slowly, clasping her hands together. Her gaze drifted to the necklace in my hand before she finally took a deep breath. When she met my eyes, her voice carried both sorrow and strength.
"That old man," she said quietly, "is someone I knew very well. His name was Frode. He was the last leader of the Yggdrasil Healers."
My heart skipped a beat. "The last leader?" I echoed, my voice trembling. "But why... why does he keep appearing to me? And you said he knew me—how could he?"
Homura's gaze grew heavier. "Frode was my husband, Y/n."
I blinked, stunned. "Your husband?"
"Yes." Her voice softened, filled with a quiet grief. "Frode was the leader of the Healers, but to me, he was simply my husband... and your mother's father."
The full weight of her words hit me, and I gasped, the world slowing around me. "That means..." My voice faltered as the implications clicked. "He's my—"
"Your grandfather," Homura said, her tone firm yet tender. "And I... I am your grandmother."
My chest tightened, and my breath caught as her words echoed in my mind. Grandfather. Grandmother. The titles felt foreign, yet somehow... right.
Memories of Homura tucking me into bed or guiding my hands during healing lessons flooded back. All this time, she had been more than a guardian—she had been my family.
Homura's hand trembled slightly as she rolled up her sleeve, revealing a mark etched deep into her skin—the unmistakable symbol of the Yggdrasil Healers. My breath hitched. It was the same mark that now adorned my arm, the one I'd tried to make sense of ever since it appeared.
Her gaze locked onto mine, steady but burdened. "No one can know I'm still a member of the Yggdrasil Healers," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's too dangerous. Our clan's past... it's a history of pain, sacrifice, and betrayal. If anyone discovered the truth..." She trailed off, her jaw tightening. "It would all be for nothing."
She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether to share the next piece of the puzzle. Finally, she sighed. "That's how I found you, you know. All Yggdrasil clan members are connected, no matter the distance. We can sense each other's presence... and life status." Her eyes softened as she studied me. "The closer one clan member is to another, the stronger the sense grows. I felt you were nearby, and I knew exactly where to find you. That connection is what led me to you."
The weight of her words settled in my chest like a stone. I touched the mark on my arm instinctively, the realization dawning on me that this connection, this bond, had been the very thread tying our paths together all along.
"But how—how have you been hiding this all this time?" My voice quivered as I tried to comprehend her words.
Homura nodded solemnly. "I had no choice. It was the only way to protect you—and the people of Fjellheim."
Her words hit like a tidal wave, and I struggled to stay afloat in the sea of revelations. Frode, my grandfather, had been the leader of the Yggdrasil Healers. And Homura—my grandmother—had been carrying the weight of their shattered legacy all along.
She exhaled deeply, her eyes glistening with emotion. "You look so much like your mother," she murmured, her voice thick with both sorrow and pride. "I knew this day would come. I've known for years. But it doesn't make it any easier."
My chest tightened, her words stirring emotions I couldn't yet name. "What happened to her?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
Homura's expression darkened, her gaze distant. "That day... the day he came to destroy us all..." Her voice faltered. "I thought I'd lost everything—Frode, your mother, the entire clan. But then I found you, near the tree you've always felt so drawn to. The necklace was wrapped around your tiny body, as if it were her final act of love. Her last sacrifice to save you, even as she..."
Her voice broke, and the silence that followed was heavy, like the weight of a storm pressing down.
Tears blurred my vision as I whispered, "Who was he? The one who came to destroy us?"
Homura shook her head, her voice firm yet filled with regret. "The time isn't right for you to know that, Y/n. But soon, everything will be revealed."
She reached out, her hand warm and steady as it closed over mine. "I know this is a lot to take in," she said softly. "But right now, there's something more urgent. I've heard whispers from the neighboring towns—Nordic troops are searching for you. If they come here, everyone in Fjellheim will be at risk."
Panic gripped me, but I nodded, forcing myself to focus. "I don't want anyone to suffer because of me."
Homura stood, moving behind me. I felt the cool metal of a chain slip around my neck. Looking down, I saw the necklace from the photograph—the blue stone glinting faintly, as if alive with its own light.
"It's time you had this." she said, her voice steady and resolute. "This necklace is more than just a relic. It's the legacy of the Yggdrasil Healers. Guard it with your life, Y/n. No one—especially Odin—must ever know you have it."
The weight of her words—and the necklace—settled over me like armor. I closed my hand over the stone, feeling its faint warmth. Without hesitation, I tucked the necklace beneath my shirt, ensuring it was completely hidden.
"I understand." I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Homura moved swiftly to her closet, her hands deftly opening a hidden compartment I hadn't noticed before. From within, she retrieved my staff—its polished wood gleaming faintly in the cabin's dim light—and pressed it firmly into my hands.
"This belongs with you." she said, her voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.
Then, without hesitation, she pulled me into a final, fierce embrace. Her grip was warm and unwavering, as if trying to anchor me to this moment. "Go now, before the troops arrive." she whispered. "The people here would be heartbroken to see you taken away again."
Tears stung my eyes as I nodded, forcing a small, shaky smile. "I'll come back. I promise, Grandma."
Her lips curved into a bittersweet smile, her eyes glistening with a mix of pride and sorrow. "I've always wanted to hear you say that." she murmured. "We'll see each other again, Y/n. I know it."
With a heavy heart, I turned and stepped out of the cabin, the familiar scent of pine and earth greeting me as I crossed into the forest. Each step away from Homura felt like another thread unraveling, but the weight of the staff in my hand and the necklace against my chest grounded me.
As I wove through the towering trees, my thoughts raced. The knowledge of my lineage was no longer just a secret—it was a responsibility. The air felt charged with purpose, even as uncertainty gnawed at my resolve.
Reaching the outskirts of the first neighboring town, I moved with quiet determination. The streets were eerily silent, the few villagers I passed casting wary glances before disappearing into their homes. The exhaustion etched into their faces mirrored the burden I carried in my heart.
Keeping to the shadows, I tugged my hood low and slipped between narrow alleys and behind weathered buildings, my eyes scanning for any sign of the Nordic troops. But the search was fruitless. The streets blurred into one another, and with each passing hour, frustration tightened its grip on me.
I reached the edge of a dense clearing, my chest tightening as the sinking realization hit me—I was completely lost.
Lowering myself onto the gnarled roots of a towering tree, I rested the staff across my lap and rubbed the back of my neck, muttering under my breath, "This sucks. I think I'm lost."
The silence pressed down on me, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. I tilted my head back, staring at the canopy above as Thor's words surfaced in my mind.
"If you're ever in a dire situation, you can call my name, and I will appear."
My fingers curled around the staff, hesitation anchoring me in place. It wasn't life-threatening—yet. But the sun was slipping below the horizon, and navigating the forest in the dark would be a challenge I wasn't sure I was ready for.
I let out a long, resigned sigh, weighing my options. As much as I hated to admit it, I had little choice.
Steeling myself for the inevitable lecture I knew was coming, I took a deep breath and called out, "Thor!"
In an instant, a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of me, and Thor appeared, Mjolnir firmly gripped in his hand.
We stood there for a moment, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel his gaze on me, sharp and assessing.
Finally, I broke the silence with a nervous laugh, my voice betraying a bit of unease. "Hey, Thor. Long time no see."
Thor's expression remained serious, and his voice was low but firm as he asked, "Where have you been?"
I gulped, feeling the weight of his gaze bearing down on me. "I just woke up a few hours ago." I replied, trying to keep my tone steady despite the nerves that rattled through me.
Thor raised an eyebrow, his suspicion palpable. "You've been asleep for three whole days?"
My eyes widened in shock. "Three days?!"
Thor sighed deeply, setting Mjolnir down with a soft thud and pulling a small communication device from his pocket.
He spoke into it, his tone authoritative. "Y/n has been found. Call the troops to return to their stations."
The voice on the other end responded quickly, "Yes, Lord Thor."
Thor turned his attention back to me, kneeling down to check me for injuries. His touch was gentle yet firm as he inspected me, but I caught his hands before he could do more.
"I'm fine." I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady.
Thor's expression hardened. "You shouldn't be so cocky simply because of your healer lineage." he said, his voice sharp. "You can still get seriously injured or killed."
"I know that." I muttered, the guilt starting to settle in my chest.
Thor's eyes flashed with frustration. "No, you don't. You performed a spell that could have killed you. You're reckless, thinking your lineage makes you invincible."
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died in my throat as I realized he was right. Instead, I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead gently against his, my breath shaky.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, the words feeling too small for what I felt.
Thor sighed, lifting his hand to gently grab my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Don't tell me you're sorry." he said, his voice low but intense. "Show me. Don't do something like that again. Think about how it affects those around you."
My heart skipped a beat at his words, the implication not lost on me.
Is he saying he cares about me? I wondered, my pulse quickening.
"I was thinking about everyone else..." I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "My last thought before I passed out was about you."
Thor's eyes widened, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
"Three days ago, I felt as if you were calling to me." Thor said softly, his tone shifting to something more vulnerable.
As he spoke, he reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered, his thumb brushing my cheek before he let it fall back to his side. "That's why I came. Captain Ragna filled me in on everything else."
I nodded, unsure of what to say. The warmth of his touch after months of not feeling him sent a shiver through me, and my confession hung in the air, heavier than I expected.
Thor stood, picking up Mjolnir with a smooth motion, and extended his hand toward me.
"Let's go." he said, his voice still firm but gentle.
I hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. Without another word, Thor pulled me close, lifting me effortlessly into his arm as though I weighed nothing. Mjolnir remained secure in his other hand, a testament to his unmatched strength and ease.
"I can walk." I protested, though I didn't pull away.
Thor shook his head, his jaw set. "You'd be too slow."
I didn't argue, instead wrapping one arm around his neck for support as he took to the air. The wind whipped around us, and I felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety coil in my stomach.
I was heading back to the battlefield, but this time, I wasn't alone.
Author Note: Hellooo beautiful people!! I hope you liked this chapter. Writing this one was such an emotional journey—there's just something about diving into Y/n's past and unraveling her deep connection with Homura that makes it so special. The big revelations about Y/n's lineage and her grandmother's hidden identity as a Yggdrasil Healer were some of my favorite moments to write, and I hope they tugged at your heartstrings as much as they did mine! As always, I want to thank you for your continued love and support for this story. See you next Friday then!