After the Axe Falls

"After the Axe Falls" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread started on [IRL DATE] and finished on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
[Write a summary of the thread's events here, including spoilers and important plot details. Check the Order of Threads to see if the thread you are placing already has a summary, to make less work for yourself.]
==Full Text==
The slight sounds of metal clinking on metal were the first thing to bring Milae to hazy consciousness, and he stirred slightly, feeling far too warm and uncomfortable in his position. His neck ached, and as he opened an eye, it immediately watered due to the diffused sunlight pouring through the tent. He heard the sound again, and his gut went cold as the memory of cascading chains doused him like ice water. 
The goat rapidly sat up, fumbling to keep his balance on the edge of the cot as he nearly slipped off. Across the small tent, Yun jumped, the plate in his lap slipping a little as he tried to keep it balanced and also keep the knife in his hand from making any regrettable errors. He looked immensely better than he had last night, sitting up just fine and appearing to be halfway through making himself a sandwich. He had his glasses on, and his eyes were bright and concerned at Milae’s movements. “Sorry,” he whispered.
Milae waved his apology away and looked back at Juro, who was as still as ever. He rubbed sleep out of his eyes and realized that the two of them were both under covers, and Milae’s legs were tucked in next to the Bookkeeper’s, the length of which made his entire body look tiny. His neck had still been draped over Juro’s arm, accounting for his soreness. 
“I tucked you guys in,” Yun continued, sounding apologetic. “Dario left, like, an hour ago.” He held out one half of the sandwich, and Milae saw that it had been stuffed with greens instead of meat. The goat accepted the food, but merely held onto it for the time being, keeping his attention on Yun as the seidkonur started eating ravenously. 
“You seem to be doing better.”
Yun nodded vigorously, cheeks full. “Soon as I woke up, I felt normal. Well, mostly.” He stretched out his left arm and shook it a little. “Seidr burns like Hel right now. I used a lot. I think that’s why.”
“I’ve never experienced it,” Milae said, a bit mystified, and Yun shrugged.
“You ever deleted a goddess before?”
“I have not.”
Yun nodded and kept eating. “Somethin’ to do with that, I guess.”
“Not an entirely incorrect judgment.”
They both jumped, and Yun’s sandwich fell apart on his plate as he dropped it. There was a well-built woman standing at the mouth of the tent, arms folded as she leaned against one of the support poles, which curiously didn’t seem to react to her weight. Instead of being inhumanly tall, she was a little bit shorter than Dario, long and lean and beautiful. She was wearing dark clothes that were foreign to the goat, but extremely familiar to the human. Milae immediately got to his feet, and Yun almost did the same, but Urdr raised her hand, and they both paused, halfway out of their sitting positions. “No need for athletics, please.”
Milae carefully sat down, but Yun continued to hover halfway until Urdr crossed the tent and sat beside him, and he scooted close, giving her a one-armed hug with his head against her shoulder, which she calmly returned. 
“Urdr, I…I wasn’t sure you would return,” Milae said faintly. “Not so soon…”
Her lips quirked very slightly. “I have passed through many eons in my absence. Rest assured, I have the time to visit my seidkona.”
“Is it truly over, then?”
“For the present. The ripples of this conflict have smoothed out the near future, as well, and the Rebellion’s path remains clear until further decisions alter its course.”
“That’s good, right?” Yun piped up.
“That can be considered beneficial.”
Yun beamed at Milae, who was unable to hold back a grin. “That is good.”
“So why visit us again?” Milae asked. Urdr tilted her head slightly, her dark hair falling perfectly straight over her bare shoulders. 
“To bring to light the remnants of this conflict.” Urdr hovered her fingers over Yun’s forearm without making contact. “You were very brave on the battlefield, young one. But as I said, what has come to pass has consequences.”
Milae looked sharply at Yun, who suddenly seemed tense. “What happened?”
“It worked,” Yun said defensively.
“What did you do?”
Yun scratched the shorn hair of the back of his head, looking at the ground. There was almost a full minute of silence. “Um…the fyrirgefðu…thing…” he finally mumbled. 
“Gods almighty…” Milae thought he might pass out. “H-how? You’re still here, you’re not dead…”
Yun tucked his hands between his legs, trying to keep them from fidgeting further. “I kind of…was? Or almost was?”
“He sacrificed his soul in Frigga’s realm,” Urdr explained serenely. “We expended our resources to capture the blessed essence and return it to his body to finish his work, but all of it required to be extracted before it could be restored.”
“So what does that mean?” Milae was less panicked, but still grim. He knew the weight of the Norns’ rules; he thought Yun did, too. 
“He retains everything he had before. However, the reserves of seidr that carried from your soul to his were completely drained, and the battery that he once carried, that drew Frigga to him, is empty.”
Milae’s stomach dropped. “You…no longer have your powers?”
Yun shook his head. “No, not that, it feels…empty. Like I still have a bucket, but it’s not full any more. Just a little at the bottom. I have to kind of…” He flexed his arm, and his tattoos only glowed gently, not with the fierce light from only a few days prior. “Start over from scratch, I guess?”
Milae pressed his muzzle into his hoof, his thoughts racing. “You can still travel, then?”
“Yeah, it’s just more like, starting out back when you first got your seal.” Yun looked at his fingers, though they hadn’t appeared to have changed at all. “But it means I can’t elevate. Not any time soon, at least. I have to work back up to it.”
Milae gestured noncommittally and then returned to supporting his chin. “That could be seen as either positive or negative. I suppose we hope that you have nothing you need to elevate for.”
“Yeah, same.” Yun looked back at Urdr. “Will I be able to make it back to modern?”
“You will, but such a distance will likely consume what little you have left, and then you must concentrate on building your reservoir over time.”
Yun looked regretfully back at Milae. The news was good, but he felt guilty over how it was affecting those around him. “So, a one-way trip, for now.”
The goat’s frame lifted and sank with a sigh, and he continued to study the ground in front of Yun’s shoes. The mood had grown bittersweet. “I understand. In that case, I want to make sure you are fully prepared before returning.”
“I know. I’ll be patient.” Yun looked anything but patient. His fingers were tapping the inside of his knees rapidly, and he was having trouble sitting still. Milae watched him, and realized just how large of a space the young man took up in his heart. It hurt–in a good way, but still extremely painful.
Milae’s slit-pupiled eyes flicked up to meet Urdr’s black ones, and she regarded him steadily. If you ever hurt him as you did me… he thought threateningly.
You claim ownership over him? Her tone was cool.
I claim kinship. And I will pursue retribution however I can if you make his life Hel.
There was a stiff breeze, even though Milae could see no trace of her valkyrie wings. She seemed to remain calm despite her next words. Do not forget yourself, Yun Milae. And do not forget whose power it was that saved your Bookkeeper.
Milae put a protective hand on the unconscious man’s shoulder and frowned at her. He saved himself.
She offered no response. Instead, she stood, and ran a hand over Yun’s head, who hummed appreciatively. “I must return once more. I may not visit again for quite some time.”
“I think we will survive,” Milae said quietly.
“Yeah, we’ll be okay. Thanks, Urdr.”
The Norn walked casually out of the tent and into the sunlight, and Yun bounced his leg nervously as he looked at Milae. “How much longer…?” He nodded at Juro, and Milae shook his head unknowingly, getting to his feet. 
“We can only wait. In the meantime, I will see who may still need to speak with us about what happened. Stay with him.” He went to leave, and he caught Yun by the wrist, and the two looked at each other, sharing an indescribable emotion. “Please don’t leave,” Milae said softly. You’re one of the few things I still have…
“I won’t yet.” Yun stood and hugged Milae tightly, solemnly. “I promise.”