The duo find themselves in what appears to be Niflheim.  Ariadne, however, quickly identifies it as a possible future.  She supposes that somehow, the meeting of their two minds created a portal to a possible future.  This theory is confirmed when they suddenly encounter Skokan, who was apparently never banished from the kingdom.  He refers to Tristan as the king and entreats him to come to the court, where he encounters Quinn, Edwin, and Jaan as his courtiers.  Struggling to understand how Skokan could never have been banished in a future, Tristan and Ariadne learn that Tristan's queen is Insa.  Insa, in this world, agreed to turn Niflheim years ago, during Quinn's trial.

With Tristan as king, there is a court of appeals for symbol changes.  Any Niflheim who has lost his true love has the opportunity to try again, as judged by Tristan and Insa.  Unfortunately, there are some older traditional Niflheim who disapprove of Tristan's ruling style and of Insa's circle of Risan ladies in waiting.  They go before the court and demand that Insa's symbol be altered, under the mask of not wanting Insa and Tristan's child to have Risan characteristics.  Ariadne senses danger in the situation and urges Tristan to return them to their world, so that the Tristan of this world can handle it.  Tristan, however, is too content, having a version of Insa who is still lusty, outgoing, and active.  He ignores her entreaties.

As Tristan is enjoying this world, Skokan attaches a device to Ariadne.  She screams, bringing Tristan to her side, but as soon as he arrives, the device is activated.  It causes her to be transported away to another realm.  Tristan follows after her, but she disappears again.  Any time Tristan approaches her, the device activates.  As Tristan is chasing her around, Insa's trial is taking place.  Ultimately, it's decided that her symbol should be changed, to weed out the more Risan aspects of her personality.

Tristan finally asks Quinn to remove the device on Ariadne.  By the time Tristan, Quinn, and Ariadne are able to return to Niflheim, it is too late and Insa's been changed.  Her personality now reflects one of complete subservience, even worse than anything Tristan was having trouble with back home.  Finally, Airy convinces Tristan that it is time to go back.  They return how they came, Tristan reading Ariadne's mind.  Back home, Tristan allows himself to be a bit more patient with Insa, fully realizing that she really would never be accepted in his world.