things we lost in the ice
The frigid wind – though it didn’t feel frigid to him – was picking up, causing Ronan’s shoulder-length hair to blow into his face. He shoved the black curls away, annoyed with their constant unruliness. He tightened his arm around Kennedy, who was bravely trudging along beside him. He knew she must have been nearly frozen to the bone, but he appreciated her efforts. Jotunheim was no place for mortals, but he hoped her superior genes would help her until they got to his father’s palace, which as located between two icy mountains, with pillars made of ice surrounding its walls like a sandcastle in the snow.
As they walked --- Thor’s portal had put them about half a mile away from the palace grounds, of course --- Ronan could sense Frost Giants all around them, dozens at least, though he could see none. They were either hiding from the stranger in their midst, or the flurry was keeping them from sight; but Ronan liked it this way. While he had no problem with them --- how could he? he was one of them, and he would rule them one day --- he worried over whether or not they would attack Kennedy, or if Kennedy would be afraid of them.
“Here,” he said finally, leading Kennedy down the long, icy path that led to the magnificently huge double-doors. Similar to the runes on the door he had opened when they first met, his hand opened the door with ease, and he led her inside quickly. The fires burned in sconces all along the walls, their heat not even touching the ice that built the palace. There was a large, buff Frost Giant standing near the door, his arms crossed in front of him. He eyed the two younglings with suspicion, but bowed to Ronan with a respect that shocked even the young prince. “Líka, þruma,” Ronan said, telling the Giant to stand with Norse, for his formal Jotunn was rusty at best. Once the Giant was at ease once more, he led Kennedy to the dining hall, which had been prepared with Midgardian-themed feast.
“I know you were probably expecting some different food,” Ronan said, taking her hand and leading her to the long table. “But, well… I doubt you’d like to eat raw meat, Kens.”