So Not Good. At All. (narrative)
Hermes was used to trouble. Usually, he instigated it, or at least had a hand in it somewhere. Occasionally, however rarely, it had little to nothing to do with him. This was one of those cases. He wouldn't even be involved if not for his father's request.
The Norse were still all up in arms (figuratively, so far, thank all that was holy) over their missing god. To the point where Zeus thought it was worth at least a show of concern and sent Hermes off to double check the Underworld. It made sense; he was a messenger there, and no one would suspect his presence.
Even so, he made a quick stop off at Hades' for the cap. He really didn't have any idea where the Underworlder was at, but he wasn't in his temple, making it almost too easy for Hermes to lift the invisibility weilder. He'd had harder times than this, making him think everything was so easy there was no way he would find anything. And for a while he didn't.
One thing about messengers, though, was there ability to find people. It was a necessary skill when one spread the word of the King of Olympus. Yet it was with a small amount of surprise that he first felt the twinge that spoke of the Northern gods. Here, so far removed from Asgard, it was a strange sensation, so strange he almost wondered if he had imagined it. Silently and invisibly he flew through the Underworld, seeking the source of that odd feeling, as it grew stronger all the time.
Perhaps, had he been required to delve this far in recent months, this all could have come to an end much sooner. But he'd had little need to communicate with Hades' subjects. And he seldom had reason to visit the goddess whose home seemed to be the source of the frigid sensation that was now so strong it was undeniable.
He crept through Hybris' temple, following his nose, so to speak. At last he entered a room where, to his horror, he saw not one, but two Norse deities bound. Bragi and his wife, the sweet Idun.
While he wanted to release them himself, he knew he could not. Hybris might suspect they somehow got away and go after them. Whatever possessed her to trap first the husband, then the wife- a bit extreme even for her- she was obviously in no hurry to let them go. Better to let someone else handle this properly.
Not to mention Zeus had sent him, and Hermes had been around as long as he had because he knew his place when it came to the King.
Simply releasing them would not solve all their problems. Zeus would want to be involved so he could look all heroic when the Norse finally found out where they had been. There could still be a great deal of trouble on the horizon before this was all fixed.
It took everything in him not to send a silent message to the Skald and the Apple Maiden. But giving them any sense of hope would be reflected in their behaviors when next they saw Hybris. Hermes left as silently as he arrived, knowing Zeus would waste no time once his messenger let him know the bad news.
This was going to get ugly, he just knew it. Maybe it was a good time for a vacation.