Magni's body shook as he forced himself to stand.
Blood dripped from his arms, his flames sputtered, but still he walked. His knees bent, his shoulders sagged, but he refused to fall.
Ymir's body was half frozen, veins of ice crawling up his chest. His breath came in shallow bursts, his lips pale. He had collapsed against the frost, staring blankly at nothing.
Magni knelt and gathered Ymir in his arms. The motion was clumsy at first, his muscles weak, but once he locked his arms around him he would not let go.
"Listen to me, snow prince." Magni said, his usual booming voice softer than Hermes had ever heard it.
His tone was uneven, like he was unsure how to say the words.
"You are not hers. You are not anyone's to chain. You are mine. My friend. My master. My… my prince."
He buried his head against Ymir's frozen shoulder and let out a shaky laugh. "I know I jest too much, that I make myself a fool, but I am no fool now. Stay with me. Do not go where I cannot follow."
