In King Arthur's Court
Chapter 1
Loki found himself lying on his back in the mud and blood of a battle field with many cadavers all around him. The smell of their rotting flesh was almost too much for him. He never could bring himself to become used to the stench. He unlike Thor had to wash himself after battle.
He wondered what had happened here in the green fields. What had caused these men to fight one against another? Loki had never liked war he would rather have peace. He thought that was where he had sent himself. But where was he and for that matter who was he?
When Loki had fallen he had hit a meteor on the way down. It had erased his memory and everything he knew. He was in the middle of casting a spell so he wouldn't be seen unless he wanted to, but it ended when he chanted silioth ciento (let me not be seen). Now Heimdall could not find him so Odin could send help and the healers could bring back his memory. Now he couldn't remember who he was and why he had come to this place. Had he always been here if so what did he do and what was his position in life?
He tried to get up to look around but his head hurt too much. He wanted to sleep but that might keep him asleep and in a coma, or as he would have called it an Odin sleep for the rest of his life. He closed his eyes as the pain reached its peak. He had almost drifted to sleep when he heard hooves and whinnying. Loki bent his head up to see eleven men on horses. The man in front wore a crown which meant he was a king.
"What are you doing on the ground?" The man asked
"I don't know." Loki said
"Well get up so we can take you to our healer." The man commanded
Healer sounded so familiar to Loki; he wished he knew why. He stood up but stumbled and almost fell. If this king's horse hadn't been in front of him Loki would have. The king grabbed Loki before he could fall to the ground again. Loki was grateful and was about to thank the man when his eyes rolled back and his head lolled back.
"Bring this man a horse and get Juliet!" The man yelled
One of the soldiers galloped his horse off to get Juliet. Another man brought an empty saddled horse to have Loki placed on it. Just as they were about to lift him on Juliet came over in her finest dress. It was a light violet with trimming on it that was a little darker. She was always there when she was needed even before anyone else.
"Don't put that man on the horse!" She shouted
The men backed away as she walked over to Loki. She checked his pulse and touched his head. It was hot and his breathing was shallow. Juliet cooled her hand and stroked his face. She called for water and a clean rag. Then she put the rag on Loki's forehead.
Loki opened his eyes and Juliet thought she had never seen such beautiful forest green eyes. Loki tried to get up but Juliet kept him down by pressing her hand down on his shoulder.
"You need to stay down and rest; just don't go to sleep. You bumped your head and have a concussion." Juliet said
Loki laid his head back down and let this woman named Juliet gracefully brush her cool fingers down his face. It felt wonderful against his burning skin. He wondered if he was in paradise. If not it was the closest thing to paradise he had ever known. He hoped he would never leave.
"Where am I?" Loki asked
"You are in England." Juliet said
"England?" Loki said
"Yes, where else would you be?" Juliet asked
"I… I don't know. Where is England?" Loki asked
"It is an isle in Europe; Earth." Juliet said looking at the confused look in Loki's eyes.
"Earth." Loki said as he closed his eyes
"Don't go to sleep!" Juliet said
Loki opened his eyes and glared at her. For some reason he felt he was not supposed to be spoken to that way by anyone. There was a part of him that felt he was of great decent. Who was this woman to talk to him like that? She had no right to when she didn't even know him.
Juliet smiled at him and shook her head. It was as if she knew something Loki didn't. She put her hand behind his head, lifted it onto her lap, then started singing a Celtic song called Dulaman. Loki lestened and it calmed him. It reminded him of a different place and a different time but he wasn't sure why. He just knew it made him feel at home; safe and sound in Juliet's arms.
"Bring me a horse." Juliet said
A beautiful red buckskin was brought to her. She had it lay down beside her then she side saddled on its back. She still had Loki on her lap; she positioned him on the horse so he wouldn't fall off. Juliet clicked her tongue and the horse stood.
"Good boy Sun now walk toward the castle." Juliet urged the horse
Sun started walking in a smooth gate. It was as if he understood what Juliet had said. Not even the men could get their horses to do their bidding all the time. Yet Sun always did as he was told. What did she do so he was so obedient? The soldiers all shook their heads in awe.
When Juliet reached the palace Sun laid down again. Juliet nimbly rose up carrying Loki making sure his head was lifted. She took him to her room and put him on her bed. There she put another cool rag on his forehead. She gave him and herb to ease the pain of his headache. Then she left him giving him a book to read. It was called Beowulf.