"Jane, you lazy and useless child! Quit standing about and get to work!" the healer snapped from inside the cottage. Jane rolled her eyes and sighed, going back inside.
"Sorry, I was just—"
"No excuses, you sorry girl! There's work to be done, and sick people to tend to!" the elderly woman said, cutting Jane off.
"I'm sorry, Edrun. It won't happen again," Jane replied, gaze dropping to the floor. Edrun sighed and closed the distance between the two of them. She rested a wrinkled hand on Jane's cheek.
"I don't mean to snap at you, Jane, but there's work to be done. You're a smart girl, but you can sometimes get lost in the clouds. Do you understand?" Jane nodded, and Edrun patted her cheek. "That's my girl. Now come and help me."
Jane followed the elderly woman without another word. They walked to the back room, where a young child lay unconscious. His messy brown hair stuck to his forehead, yet he shivered violently.
"I don't really blame you, child," Edrun continued, busying herself with taking out medicinal herbs and mixtures. "It's that no good man Erik Selvig. He doesn't take care of you, as he should. Your papa shouldn't have left you with that drunkard."
"He's really a good man, Edrun; he just…doesn't know any better," Jane replied, sitting beside the boy. She stroked the hair from his forehead and picked up the rag from where it sat by the water basin. She proceeded to press it to the boy's forehead gently. He seemed to respond well to the cool rag, and his breathing slowed.
"Precisely! He doesn't know how to take care of anyone but himself! Selfish bastard. One day Jane, mark my words, he'll do something he'll really regret. Just you watch."
"What's the boy's affliction?" Jane asked, changing the subject. Edrun sighed and walked over to the sickly boy, motioning for Jane to move. She obliged, but stayed close.
"He's got the fever. He's Carita's boy; she brought him in this morning. He's been sweating and shaking all day. Here, hand me that tonic," she said. Jane did as she was told, and handed the healer a clear bottle containing an opaque liquid. "And don't think that changing the subject is going to make me think any less of him, Jane. Don't go defending that man," Edrun continued as she lifted the boy's head up to give him the tonic.
"Edrun—"
"I won't have it." Edrun stood up and put the cork back into the tonic bottle. She turned to face Jane, and put a hand on her apprentice's forearm. "I just want you to be careful, you hear me? You always have a place here should you need it, child. You're a good girl; your papa raised you well, gods rest his soul." Jane smiled at the elderly woman.
"Thank you, Edrun. You're very kind," Jane said with a reverent nod. Edrun returned her smile.
"Think nothing of it, girl. Now, I need you to tend to this boy while I'm gone. See that his temperature is kept as low as you can get it, and make him drink as much water as possible. I'll be back in a few hours. Be good," Edrun said before kissing Jane's forehead.
"I will," Jane replied. Edrun smiled and as she headed toward the door, Jane stopped her. "Edrun! Wait!" Jane took her shawl from the hook by the kitchen. "It's cold outside; you'll want this," she said, draping the shawl over the healer's shoulders.
"Thank you, child. I'll see you in a few hours."
oOoOo
The village was quiet as the snow fell on the ground. If people weren't in their homes, they were in the mead hall. Night had fallen some time ago, and the street lamps burned dimly in the darkness, barely illuminating the ground. A biting winter wind howled, seemingly determined to bring down anything in its path.
Loki smiled to himself. So far, he'd been successful with creating one of the worst winters this village had seen, and he'd caused the fever that ravaged its inhabitants. The snow crunched beneath his boots as he walked through the dark village. He loved these nights; in fact, he reveled in them. There was so much promise, so many opportunities to make mischief.
Here comes one now, Loki thought to himself with a smirk as he saw a young child running alone through the streets. The falling snow stuck to her, and her hair whipped about her face. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, and continued to walk toward the center of the village. She was utterly oblivious to the world around her.
Perfect, Loki thought to himself with a smirk. He'd already had something in mind as he approached her. This will be too easy; children are too easily led.
Loki stepped out of the shadows and walked toward the girl. He made his form less conspicuous, shifting into the form of a wizened old woman. She froze in her tracks, and slowly turned to face him. She shuddered visibly, but she was unable to tear her gaze away from the mysterious newcomer. She clutched her shawl around her shoulders and stared at Loki as he approached.
"Are you lost? You need not be afraid, child." He held out a hand to her, and gave her a sweet smile. "You can trust—"
"Ketty! What have I told you about walking alone this late at night?" a young woman admonished. The sudden intrusion took Loki by surprise. He scowled and turned toward the source of the voice.
A young woman with a slight frame, fair skin and light brown hair approached the little girl. She took her sweater off and wrapped it around the young girl's shoulders. The young girl, Ketty, did not move; her gaze still trained on Loki. He watched the older girl, clearly frustrated. The newcomer followed Ketty's gaze, and her amber eyes locked with Loki's. She narrowed them in suspicion.
"Who are you?" she asked. She pulled the young girl behind her.
"I was only offering to take this child to her home. She looked lost," he lied easily.
The young woman's suspicion did not fade. "That's…kind of you. Though, I've never seen you in Tønsberg before; might I ask your name, ma'am?" she asked. Loki's mind raced.
"I am only a passerby, girl; my name is of no importance," he replied with a smile. The young woman raised her eyebrow. She grasped the hand of the young girl and began to turn away.
"Well, I can take care of her for now, thank you. Have a good night," the young woman said before turning away quickly. Ketty turned to look at Loki, still transfixed with him. He smirked to himself before turning back into the shadows.
The night is young.