Interlude - Ill Omens are Oft Ignored
The fields were flush with fruit and foliage as summer could make them. Every tree of the orchard spiraled thick and tall towards the blue skies, every branch burst with green leaves and twigs. The grass was pleasant to walk on without sandals or boots and the layers of leaves cast long patches of shade from the sun's hearty rays. Tiny honeybees buzzed busily about the multitude of tiny white apple blossoms. Their song colored the wind as they worked tirelessly about the fields.
Two figures stepped through the grass and the soft hum in the air.
"The Harvest will be excellent this year," Thor observed. The branches seemed to groan with the golden fruit.
He and his brother continued on through the soft grass together, quietly weaving around tree and honeybee. The day was pleasant and they were unwilling to break the peace in this place. Thor's hammer was turned so the side soaked in red was against his hip. Loki had drawn in all his powers of causing chaos and mischief, wary of misusing them in so important a place.
Of course, he thought with a wicked grin, all the greater was the temptation for the great need not to be mischievous.
As if drawn by the interruption in their thoughts, the orchard's hostess appeared.
"Hail, sister," Thor said at once, dropping his head in a gesture of greeting. Loki repeated the sentiment softer than his brother but mirrored exactly the inclination of his head as Thor had done. The goddess's eyes gleamed as they caught the sun.
"Hail, brothers," Indunn greeted in return, dropping her knees and raising the long white lengths of her skirt a fraction of an inch. She rose a hand and let them both draw near to take it in turn. Thor's kiss was warm against her knuckles and tickled. Loki's kiss was quick and cool but it also left her tickled. Her smile seemed brighter when the two Princes drew back.
"Long has it been since I had the pleasure of your company together," she said as she turned to lead them through the orchards, "Have you at long last set aside the differences which plagued you? Or is your peace bought only for the afternoon in which you would borrow your sister's company?"
"The peace is just begun," Loki answered as they folded in behind their host's footsteps, "but this one shall last the longest, longer than all the others."
"Good," was the goddess's bright reply, "I am always fond of your company. I shall be glad for your visits if they are to be as you say."
They spoke of matters bearing no importance. Indunn was confined to the orchards, for growing the golden Apples to keep the gods immortal was a task which could not be plagued by distractions, and so she delighted in hearing tales of the other realms. Loki spoke fondly of Alfheim and Thor warmed the air with his tales from Midgard. They took care not to mention anything unfit for the ears of maidens, for Indunn, old as she was, remained yet a beacon of purity and innocence. She had no care to hear of sordid or bloody tales and so they told only of their least gruesome adventures or endeavored to withhold what details could be omitted. It warmed Thor more than the sun on his shoulders to see Indunn's smile as they spoke and to hear her laughter ring between the telling of their tales and the buzzing of her honeyed companions.
She lead them to the far edges of her great garden and begged them pause a moment in their tale-telling so she might fetch them each an Apple. The golden fruits were as beautiful as ever Thor remembered them when they came away from the great tree's laden boughs. They caught the light of the sun and reflected its sheen with a golden glimmer. An Apple was placed in each of their hands when Indunn instructed they hold them out.
"Eat and rest," Indunn bid them with a smile like the summer sun, "I will away a while to water the gardens. If you are here when the task is done I shall make you each a pack to take with you on your travels."
"Then we shall be here when your task is done," Loki promised and they inclined their heads again when the golden-haired goddess excused herself to attend her duties.
Thor tossed his Apple up in the air several times when they were alone. Loki started in on his without pause, licking away what juices fell from the corners of his lips. He shut his eyes to savor the flavor. Seeing Loki's pleasure in eating, Thor caught his golden fruit a last time and took a large bite.
His face twisted and he looked to his Apple.
Loki looked up from his, curious at his brother's disappointment.
"There has been some mistake," Thor bemoaned, "A sour Apple!"
"Surely not," Loki hushed him, knowing the orchard's hostess was nearby somewhere, "There has not been a rotten Apple in a thousand years. Give it here, I will measure it."
Thor threw him the fruit and watched as Loki took a bite.
"You exaggerate," the chaos-god chastised his brother when he finished his morsel, "This Apple is as fine as mine."
"Lies," Thor accused, taking back his fruit, "Ever have Indunn's Apples been the best thing in all the realms. There is no fruit to match its sweetness."
At this, Loki rose an eyebrow, and looked down at his own Apple. Ever had they tasted tantalizingly tart, not sweet, to him.
Thor caught his brother's thoughtful expression.
"Loki?"
The Liesmith looked up at his name.
"Perhaps your tongue has changed since we have been away," he suggested mildly.
Thor frowned at his fruit.
"But why? I miss the sweetness I have ever known and loved." He looked slightly upset at his brother's suggestion. "Will all the Apples seem sour now? What an unkind change."
Loki rolled his eyes. He took a bite of his own Apple, too large to finish, and beckoned to his brother. Thor looked over to see Loki lean into the trunk of a tree with the Apple half in his lips and grinned.
He let his own Apple fall to the grass as he took the half from Loki's mouth.
The fruit was sweet again on his tongue when he took it from Loki's lips, sweet was the touch of Loki's fingertips along his hips and back. Thor forgot his disappointment and chewed with a smile. Loki smirked and licked the juice from the corners of his brother's mouth. They leaned into the tree trunk a while and kissed away any memory of sour apples.
Eventually a call from the orchards drew them apart. Thor let up his brother and looked to where his own Apple had fallen, forgotten.
None of Indunn's golden Apples ever should go to waste, he thought as he stooped to pluck it from the ground.
Loki was away already and called back to Thor to hurry, lest they keep their hostess waiting.
Thor started to follow. He took a bite out of his Apple unthinking.
Though he ate the entire thing to the core, Thor could not help but wonder why its sweet flesh had become so bitter.
FIN Interlude