Bound

by Lalaith Quetzalli

-AU to Nightingale.- Chains that free… keys that kill… the instrument meant to save the lady's life has also irremediably tied her to his match. When the time comes for the shadows to fall and trials of fire to take place, will both of them manage to remain standing till the end? How much of a difference can a bond of two souls make? First Thor movie rewrite!

2. Regent

Regent

Ruling is no gift and no game, it is an honor and a duty.

There is a position that few people in the Court know of, but is greatly coveted by those who do; it has many official names, but most people tend to call it and the person who carries it: the 'Crown Whisperer'. It is someone who has the ear of the King, who is his strongest supporter, his most trusted confidant, his first advisor. I had heard of that position for a long while, heard the names of those who'd been the Allfather's Whisperers in his youth, before Lady Frigg had come and surpassed them all; heard the murmurs of the names court members and even some highly trusted servants were betting on to be King Thor's Whisperer… never in my wildest dream did I imagine a day would come when the position was offered to me.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked softly, nervous.

I couldn't help but finger constantly the thick, heavy pendant I was wearing in that moment. It was pure gold, with Asgard's seal on one side, and Odin's on the other. I realized belatedly that it belonged to the Queen; it was her Crest… but of course, with such a sudden appointment, there was no way Loki could have gotten a crest made with his own seal.

"I can think of no better person to have my back." He assured me, placing a hand over the one I had on the Crest. "Mother knew that too…"

"Well, I'm no Warrior, but this is no battle, so maybe…" I wasn't even sure what the point I was trying to make was, I was too anxious.

"Oh, you're wrong about that." Loki half-smiled. "This is a battle, in some ways more vicious than even an all-out war. And you're exactly the kind of 'Warrior' I need." He held my face between his hands. "There's no one I would trust more to support me in this kind of situation. Not even Thor…"

Most wouldn't have seen that as a compliment, after all, we both knew that Thor hadn't a diplomatic bone in his body. However, we both also knew that in all their lives Loki and Thor had needed the support of no one but each other, no matter how hard or complicated the situation they got in might be. So, in the end it was a compliment, of the highest order.

"Do we have to do this right now?" I asked with a mock pout.

"The faster we get it over with, the better." Loki replied with a fake-exasperate shake of the head. "For all we know the Allfather might wake up tomorrow, but if he doesn't… the Court needs to know where the Royal family stands right now."

"You know I'll be with you every step of the way." I assured him. "No matter what."

"I know." Yeah, he did. "Any last suggestions before we go in?"

"If they know Thor was banished yesterday they will all be going crazy trying to think of what is going to happen, Jotunheim's threat of war only complicates matters." I pointed out, carefully considering things. "The last thing we need right now is for the Court to think you're usurping the throne, or something like that. It could be terribly harmful to us all."

"What do you suggest to avoid that?" He inquired, interested.

"I'm not sure what could be done exactly." I admitted. "But you need to make it pretty clear that this whole situation was not your will. That you're honoring your father and your brother, but do not seek to keep the crown for yourself once one or both have returned. At the same time, we have to convince them to support you for however long you need to hold the throne."

"Easier said than done…" He muttered under his breath before nodding purposefully. "Lets see what I can think of."

No more words were said, we were as prepared as could be.

All eyes were on us the moment we stepped into the Throne Room. Loki walked regally, in his best tunic, leathers and full golden armor, Gungnir held tightly in his hand; I walked one step to his right and two steps behind him, in my new elegant dark gown, hair half-up and half-down, the Crest hanging heavy off my neck. I measured my steps carefully to be able to keep up with Loki's elegant strides (who was controlling himself too) without making it seem like I was running or that he was walking slow (even though our difference in height was obvious to any and all who were looking at us).

Loki stood before the Throne formally, waiting until I was standing at his right, just beside the edge of the ornamented throne. Our positioning gave several things away immediately, and we could both hear the whispers about it, but neither of us said a word about it, waiting until the room was quiet once again, some people lowering their heads in shame after realizing the kind of disrespect it was to be speaking like that, especially in the presence of the Prince, or King…

"I will be brief, so we can proceed with business." Loki stated formally as he held Gungnir before him for everyone to see. "The Allfather has fallen into the Odinsleep, leaving the duty of ruling and guarding Asgard and the Nine Realms to his offspring. However, as some of you must know by now, Prince Thor is currently banished. While we all hope for his quick and safe return once he's learnt the lesson Father intended for him, it is important for Asgard not to present any kind of weakness. The Throne cannot be seen empty. Therefore I have accepted the right of succession and I stand right now, before you, as Regent to the Throne of Asgard."

Quiet murmurs had begun rising the moment his speech began, however, the moment he finished everyone was deadly silent. No one had been expecting those words, no one at all.

"Regent? My Lord?" The Head Councilman inquired, the only one daring to pronounce the question that was probably in all their minds.

"Yes." Loki nodded calmly, regally. "I realize I am not the brother you wished to take the throne, and it is not my intent to be King, ever. However, like I said before, Asgard needs to be guarded and due to my birthright, the responsibility has fallen to me. So I will sit on this Throne, as Regent, until such a time that Thor comes, ready and willing to take his place, or Odin Allfather is once again among us."

While still obviously surprised, the Court began nodding approvingly at that; if it was because they were happy Loki wasn't trying to force his way to the Throne, because they believed Thor would return soon, or a combination of the two, I did not know, nor did I care. It was of little importance, anyway, as long as we… as long as Loki got the support he needed as King… everything else was secondary.

Without further ado Loki sat on the throne, before making a dramatic gesture with his hands to motion for Court to begin. I was preparing myself mentally to stand there all day when, suddenly, I felt the edge of a chair (a very comfortable chair) right behind me.

*I can't have my Whisperer tiring herself out too early, can I?* He murmured straight into my mind, through our link.

I just smiled at him, not sure how to reply mentally without risking being overheard. Still, I could sense that the gesture was enough.

And thus, Court began.

The whole thing was entirely too tiring. Mentally if not physically. A lot of what was going on seemed to be mere formalities: like the Army Captains announcing the state of each of their platoons, passing on reports from the guards posted on different sections of the realm, informing of how a particular area was recovering after a recent magik storm… then there were those who had offers: most were simple things, offering of this or that child of their name, whom they wanted to serve in the palace, either as a handmaiden, a servant, a guard, etc. Those offers were recorded and other people dealt with them for the most part, unless the candidate was particularly promising, then the King would make his decision right away. Loki did none of that. Even though the offers of handmaidens hit a cord in both of us.

With me acting as Advisor, the handmaidens were down one number, and while I knew I would not be the Whisperer for long (just as Loki wouldn't remain on the Throne for long), a voice in the back of my head told me there was no going back to being a handmaiden, it just couldn't happen, too much was changing already.

The only truly serious part was the Eihenjar sent by Heimdall, reporting on the restlessness in Jotunheim, and the Spokesman for the Council who wanted to know how the possible threat of war would be handled.

"That is one matter I've taken into consideration." Loki informed the Court. "The last thing Asgard must want is war, however, we shall not be ill prepared if our enemies were to decide to attack us. So we will hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

It was something I knew he'd been planning in the back of his mind during most of the day, what to do regarding Jotunheim. The army would be in standby, however, he would still try to reaffirm the treaty, if such a thing was even possible.

"And how you do expect to achieve that?" A councilwoman inquired after Loki was finished with the basis of his plan.

"I shall go to Jotunheim myself, to speak to King Laufey and work out the best way to settle this matter without bloodshed." The Regent announced.

"The K… Lord should take a regiment, for safety." A councilman stated self-sufficiently.

"Is he insane?" I whispered under my breath. "Or does he want you to start a war?"

"Either, both." Loki answered quietly before turning back to the Council. "Absolutely not. The last thing we want is for Laufey to take our mere arrival as an act of war. Besides, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. I shall go, at most with two others. This is a matter of diplomacy, not of war."

The councilman didn't seem to like the answer very much, but he did not insist.

Eventually evening came and most of the Court took their leave. Taking advantage of the mostly empty room (only the Eihenjar meant to guard Loki and I remained) I took to walking the back of the Throne Room to work-out my stiff muscles (I couldn't begin to imagine how stiff Loki must feel, after sitting on that cold, hard throne all day).

I was still doing that when the doors opened abruptly to allow Sif and the Warriors Three inside; so focused they were on whatever was on their minds that they did not see me, standing in the shadow of a column; they did not even notice who exactly sat on the throne as they stood, heads bowed, fists over their hearts.

"Allfather, we must speak with you urgently." Sif called respectfully yet strongly.

When they finally raised their heads and saw Loki sitting on the throne, Gungnir in hand, they were shocked. I could see Fandral and Volstagg muttering quietly but didn't hear what was said exactly; and an instinct told me to stay where I was and call no more attention to myself.

"My friends…" Loki called dramatically. "I realize you were not present at Court today, with Thor's regretful absence and all that, but haven't you heard. I have been charged with Ruling Asgard, for the time being."

They pretty much ignored the Regent's words as they began walking down the steps getting closer to the throne, and Loki.

"Where is Odin?" Fandral asked almost despondently.

"Father's fallen into the Odinsleep." Loki informed them emotionlessly. "Mother fears he may never awaken again."

She did, even if the Queen refused to voice the fear, we knew it was there.

"We would speak with her." Sif called simply.

I couldn't help but bristle inside at the blatant disrespect from the so-called 'Goddess of War' towards her acting-King. However, the brief, badly-disguised look she shared with the Warriors Three commanded my attention instantly. I just knew they were going to be trouble.

"She has refused to leave my father's bedside." Loki informed them.

For the way his eyes narrowed I could tell he too had noticed the looks between those four, and the disrespect they were showing him. Thank the Spirits the Court had left! If they had acted like that in front of the Council, and the Nobles… I did not want to even consider just how much harder everything would have been.

I could sense Loki contacting me through our link, trying to convince me to keep calm. He was as annoyed as I was at Thor's friends, but we had to take the higher ground, especially with the positions we had. If we wanted to prove everyone we were a good Regent and Whisperer we could not lower ourselves to bickering with people who were so lost in their misconceptions of one person they couldn't see the risk there was of them doing far more harm than good with their thoughtless, almost petty, actions and words.

"You can bring your 'urgent' matter to me." Loki declared in a deadpan, before standing and banding Gungnir on the ground to reaffirm his position. "Your King."

I covered my mouth so as not to laugh, knowing he had addressed himself as such only to rile them up. They were making it all too easy!

For several seconds nothing happened, it was as if none of them knew how to react to that. Until, finally, Volstagg pressed his fisted right hand over his heart and dropped to one knee in respect. Hogun, Fandral and finally Sif, imitating the gesture.

Loki didn't say a word, just stood there, watching the four, waiting to see what they would do next. Sif seemed to be at a loss for words; did she plan to ask Odin something against Loki? It was possible, though I honestly never expected her to fall that far. Loki had always said she and the others were Thor's friends, not his and yet… I honestly expected, and believed better of them, at least she and Hogun in any case… it was disappointing.

"We would ask you to end Thor's banishment." She said eventually.

The glint in Loki's eyes the moment those words were pronounced told me he'd been expecting something like that, even though it hadn't occurred to me. Really? Was she, were they that stupid? To think things were that simple?

"My first command cannot be to undo the Allfather's last." Loki said seriously as he approached them a bit. "We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim. Our people must have a sense of continuity in order to feel safe in these difficult times."

I couldn't help but sigh as I noticed the looks Thor's friends kept exchanging. Really, I knew Loki loved to play word games, but did he have to make them even more suspicious? Things were bad enough already, why not just tell them that even if he got Thor back, the power couldn't be returned just like that, Thor had to earn it, following whatever rules Odin had placed; Thor had to learn whatever lesson Odin intended for him, to be able to regain his birthright. On the other hand, with how precarious it all was, maybe it was better for us to find out already who might be a threat to us, to Loki, right away; as compared to finding out while trying some convoluted measures (because we always ended up using those) to protect Asgard.

"All of us must stand together, for the good of Asgard." Loki finished his speech.

Sif's reaction was so sudden, she just couldn't stop herself as she practically jumped to her feet; she might even have rushed Loki in her blind fury if it hadn't been for Fandral and Hogun reacting just in time and holding her back with one hand each.

"Yes, of course." Fandral spoke in Loki's direction, in an attempt, perhaps, to diffuse the precarious situation Sif had gotten herself into.

"If I may," Volstagg called next. "beg the indulgence of his Majesty, to perhaps reconsider…"

They truly were idiots…

"We're done." Loki practically hissed.

I waited in the shadows until they left, before finally walking to Loki. He was staring at the ceiling, tension rippling from him, and anger. I imagined it had taken all his will not to strike out at Sif with how obtuse she was being.

Standing to my full height (which, granted, wasn't that much) I waved a silent dismissal to the Eihenjar present. They knew who I was and the authority I held; that, along with the fact that we weren't expecting any more guests for the day convinced them to leave the Throne Room in silence. Though I was quite sure at least two were just outside the doors, just in case.

"They're going to be a liability." Loki stated, without even having to turn to look at me, the moment the echo of the closing doors ended.

"I know." And I did know, as well as he did. "I will keep an eye on them."

"I need you to do something first." He informed me, finally looking at me.

"Whatever you wish." I curtsied dramatically, all the while smirking at him. "My King."

The laughter that spilled from his lips told me I'd achieved my objective, which was to help him relax, at least a bit.

"I need you to go to Midgard." He informed me in all seriousness.

"Midgard?" I wasn't expecting that.

"I've been watching over Thor all day." Loki explained with a tired sigh. "I… I don't know what exactly is going on there, but he's no closer to getting back his birthright than he was when Father first banished him…"

I noticed, in the minute change of tone, that he had reached his limit, and it wasn't because of Court, or Sif… or not only that, in any case. Slowly I went up the first half of steps on the dais, to the level where he'd been standing since the argument with Thor's friends, no noise in the room in those few seconds except the brushing of my dress against the floor.

"Asgard needs Thor…" Loki began in an almost practiced tone.

I didn't let him continue his play of words, placing a hand on his lips, watching him, reminding him silently that he need not lie to me.

"You need Thor…" I finally said the words he didn't dare pronounce.

"Yes…" That sole word seemed to break him.

For what might have been minutes, or hours I just stood there, strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me as if I were a lifeline, the only lifeline… Loki on his knees, in front of me, head pressed to the middle of my chest; I noticed when he paced his panting breathing to mine, calming himself down.

"Find Thor…" He whispered against the folds of my dress. "Find him, talk to him, tell him… whatever you have to. Just make him understand that he needs to get his power back, he needs to come back I…" He shook his head. "If the plans for peace with Jotunheim don't work, if war breaks out…" He let out a breath. "He needs to come back."

"I know." I nodded. "I'll talk to Thor. I'll get him to wake up, to come back." I took a breath and then remembered something else. "And you better not even think about going to Jotunheim without me. Regent or no regent…"

"It would be safer…" He began.

"For me, but not for you." I countered. "While we might be able to separate considerably now, your magic stresses out whenever we aren't in the same realm. You need to be at 100% when you face Laufey, just in case… the last thing we need is for the Jotun to attack you and your magic not to be enough to protect you. Asgard wouldn't be able to handle the loss, nor would her Majesty, and I… I…"

I didn't even dare finish the sentence, I couldn't, the pain inside me was too great. In the end I didn't need to. Loki placed a kiss in the center of my chest, over my dress and it, along with the serenity he flooded our bond with were enough to calm me down.

No other words needed to be said. We stayed there for several minutes. With me just caressing his hair rhythmically, while he held onto my waist. For those few, precious minutes he wasn't Regent and I wasn't an Advisor, we were just two people supporting each other. However, we couldn't stay like that forever, regardless of how much we might want to, we'd duties to attend to, people, a whole realm that needed us. We couldn't let them down.

xXx

I stumbled slightly as I stepped out of the Shadow Paths in what looked like the middle of the desert; which meant I was nowhere near Maine, or Wales (the places I'd called home during my old life). Loki had guided my journey through the Shadow Paths (I could travel them, but was still pretty new at it, and hadn't yet learnt my way through Yggdrassil, so I needed someone to guide me whenever I was going someplace new).

It was cold, which was explained by the fact that it was the dessert, and it was nighttime. Still, I pulled the cloak (a dark-plum on the outside, soft lilac inside) tight around my form, pulling the hood to cover my face. Loki had made sure to conceal me with magic before sending me through, in such a way that others would only see me if I willed it so (and I only wanted Thor to see me, so…), but still, better safe than sorry.

I knew Thor was close, because Loki and I had anchored my travel to Mjolnir firstly, and him secondly (the hammer had to be the main anchor because, at the moment, had more power than Thor himself did). I was able to locate him magically almost right away, on the ceiling of a nearby empty shop (or at least it looked like it had been a store at some point). With a thought I jumped from the ground to the roof.

Thor was there, laying on his side on a sunbed and some cushions, I didn't imagine it would be too comfortable. And he wasn't alone, on a second sunbed was a woman, in her mid to late twenties, brunette, wearing jeans and with a jacket thrown over her arms and torso; she wasn't tall (though certainly not as small as me either).

"Who is she?" I couldn't help but blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

Thor reacted instantly, straightening up in the sunbed. He turned in my direction instantly.

"Who…?" He thought better before inquiring. "Nightingale?"

"It is I." I nodded before pushing my hood down.

"I was unaware that the Bifrost had been activated…" He commented quietly.

"I made use of means other than the Bifrost." I answered simply.

Thor just nodded absently. Loki had ways of traveling between realms without using the Rainbow Bridge, the Thunderer knew that; I wondered if he thought it was that simple, that anyone could do it, or at least anyone with magical capabilities… in any case, even if one of us were to try and explain it to him, it wouldn't make a difference, he would never understand, and it wasn't really of interest to him so, what would the point be?

"Why did you come here?" Thor asked, confused.

"Loki asked me to come see you." I answered honestly.

"Is he… is everyone alright?" Suddenly Thor became really anxious. "What has happened? Tell me please! Has Jotunheim declared war on Asgard? Please let me explain to Father what happened, maybe we could still solve…"

"I'm afraid there is no way I can help you contact the Allfather right now." I took a deep breath before stating in my most serious tone. "Your Father has gone into the Odinsleep, Prince Thor. According to what the Queen has said, he'd been postponing his rest for a long time, it was simply unavoidable. And of course, the stress of what happened the last few days… I suppose it didn't help matters any."

Thor winced.

"When will he wake up?" He asked, subdued.

"We do not know." I admitted quietly. "Like I said already, he'd put it off for a while, and the stress of your banishment, the threat of war… it didn't help matters any."

"Is Mother alright?" He asked next.

"She sits by the King's bedside." I told him. "She's sad, and fears for the worst, but keeps faith for the best." I sighed before adding. "If it means anything, Odin is a very powerful individual, there's no reason for him not to wake up, eventually…"

I considered painting things the worst way possible; but something told me that was not the way of convincing him to recover his powers; being depressed wouldn't help him, no, what he needed was to be motivated.

"Won't you ask me about Loki?" I inquired, noticing that little fact right then.

"You say he sent you here, he would have to be well enough to be able to do that." He said simply, though with a small smile.

Of all the things… I never expected Thor to use logic!

"Also, if Father is in the Odinsleep, and Mother has chosen to stay by his side… and I'm here. That would mean Loki has been made King…" Thor went on. "He's next in line, after all…"

"Regent." I corrected him.

"What?" The blonde certainly wasn't expecting that.

"You're the Crown Prince, Thor, Loki knows that, he would never try to take that from you." I explained to him as calmly as I could. "We suspected that at least some Council members, and a good part of the Court wouldn't take kindly to him being named King… so he has chosen to call himself Regent. He will protect the Throne, and Asgard until either the Allfather awakens again, or you go back and claim your birthright…"

"Go back…?" That seemed to shock Thor. "Can I come home?" His voice broke just slightly. "Can you bring me back with you…?"

"And have you leave your pretty friend over there…?" I couldn't help the coy smile.

"The Lady Jane is a very special woman… but she's not my family." Thor stated seriously, before returning to the pain topic. "So… can you…?"

"It's not that simple Thor." I sighed. "You can come back, make no mistake on that, but that is not dependant on me, but on yourself…"

"I know not what you mean, my lady…"

"I mean that even if I were to take your hand right now, pull you with me into the Shadow Paths and pull you all the way to Asgard… it wouldn't change the fact that right now you're mortal…"

"And mortals cannot set foot on Asgard…"

Well, that wasn't exactly true, as I was living proof of, but that was so not the point!

"Thor, you are meant to be a lot more than you are right now." I told him solemnly. "So much more… more than what you used to be before your banishment even… but you won't be any of that until you're ready for it. For the responsibility, and the honor: of your name, your family, your birthright… When you're ready, it will be there for you…"

For the longest time the banished Prince just stood there, looking at me with a mix of awe and respect, until he bowed to me respectfully.

"You are wiser than I will ever be, Lady Nightingale." He stated, before turning sly. "And you've been spending way too much time with my brother, if the way you dance and play with words is anything to go by."

"He's taught me a thing or two." I admitted with a shrug.

"Will you tell him thank you, for me?" He inquired. "For sending you tonight; and for keeping everyone safe back home."

"We're waiting for you Thor." I assured him. "I know you can find the way."

He nodded, though he didn't seem too convinced. That wouldn't do. We needed Thor! Too much for me to just give up.

"Thor…" I focused on my most compelling voice. "Make no mistake, Loki will do his best, for your family, and for Asgard… but there are some things that he just cannot achieve alone… Asgard needs you Thor, we need you… Loki needs you…"

The last part, if anything, seemed to have an effect on him.

"I will do all I can." He assured me with conviction.

It was what I'd been expecting. The moment when he finally made up his mind… I just hoped he would be able to solve the enigma of how to regain his birthright soon… preferably before the Jotun tried anything…

"Once again, thank you, my lady." He reiterated.

I smiled at him. Then, deciding I'd already said all I needed to, I turned to leave, however, in the move, somehow the crest slipped from the collar of my cloak.

"You are the Whisperer…" Thor murmured in a marveled tone. "I suppose I should have known. You are the perfect person for the job." He smiled. "You know, the day Father told me I would be King I decided Loki would be my Whisperer… it was only right, with him being my Brother, and as much Father's son as I am. And that way all of Asgard, all the Realms, would know I trusted none above him…"

I couldn't help the bright smile that came to my face. I'd always suspected something like that, but actually hearing it. It made me happy, and I knew it would make Loki happy too, to know how highly his brother regarded him…

"I must leave now." I told him.

"Of course my lady, I shall not take any more of your time." He nodded. "I imagine Asgard, and my brother need you, now more than ever."

I bowed my head to him, then, as I turned to leave, I couldn't help but want to leave him with something else before departing.

"You know… if the Allfather sent Mjolnir here, to this Realm, with you… I imagine there must be a reason." I commented in an almost flippant tone.

I did not wait for Thor to say anything about that comment. Instead I simply turned my back to him and jumped.

I landed on the street, silently, and began walking to the outskirts of the town. I'd pulled my hood back up; while no one should be able to see me, I felt better covering myself as fully as possible. Loki had told me that I needed to get as close to Mjolnir as possible before using the Shadow Paths to return, so its power might work as anchor on the return to Asgard as well (least I get lost in the Shadow Plane).

It took me a while but eventually I came pretty close to the temporary military facility that had been built around the spot where Mjolnir had landed; and, from what I'd heard, no one could move it from there. I got as close as I could without risking my image being caught by any possible cameras (I wasn't sure if the spell would cover that). However, before I could call on the magic running through my veins and step into the closest shadow, something called my attention: it was a black helicopter, with a round symbol, of what seemed to be an eagle with its wings spread, the initials S.H.I.E.L.D. painted on the bottom. However, that wasn't the truly shocking part. No, the shock came when I saw a woman with short chestnut colored hair and deep blue eyes, dressed in a charcoal-gray suit, step down from the copter. I knew that woman.

"Aunt Kathryn…" I couldn't help but breathe out in shock.

I didn't know if she could somehow hear me (maybe the spell did not cover that), or it was entirely coincidental, but she turned in my direction right then. I did not wait to see what (else) might go wrong, so I simply ran to the closest shadow, allowing myself to fall into it the moment I stepped fully on it. Then I was gone.

xXx

I did not tell Loki about seeing my aunt on Midgard, on the outskirts of the very town where Thor was spending his exile, or that she might have heard me… my mind just refused to process the possibilities, so how could I tell him anything? Instead I focused on other things: like our attempts to settle a truce with Jotunheim.

In the end it was decided that Loki and I would go alone. The council didn't like it. They kept insisting on us taking at least two guards. A moment came when one of the ladies said that if I was the problem, instead of taking me the Regent should take a guard he trusted.

"Stop that line of thought right there, councilwoman." Loki's voice turned dark as she spoke. "If it's a matter of trust I trust no one more than the Lady Nightingale, it's why she was chosen as the Crown Whisperer for the duration of my Rule. In the matter of security, it is no secret that I am a Sorcerer of enough ability to protect myself as necessary. And it has already been stated that if I were to arrive with a contingent of guards, the move could be interpreted as an Act of War… Which, Above All, We Want To Avoid!"

The Court had nothing to say to that. So plans were finalized, the trip would be made that very afternoon. Through the Bifrost so Laufey would see us coming and there was no room for a misunderstanding (or so we hoped); at least we knew if things got hard we both could use magic to protect ourselves and had a way of getting out quickly.

I slipped a bit the moment we landed in the middle of what, according to the registries, had once been the Main Plaza of Utgard, the capitol of Jotunheim. Loki reacted instantly, extending his arm to catch me and help me regain my footing. He turned to me, questions in his eyes, I just nodded silently. I could handle it, I would, I had to.

We just stood there, waiting for the Jotun we knew were coming, we didn't have to wait long. In less than a handful of minutes we saw a very big Jotun, who Loki telepathically identified to me as none other than King Laufey. Also, while we couldn't see them, both Loki and I could sense the dozens of Frost Giants surrounding us.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you." The King demanded harshly.

"We've come alone and unarmed." Loki declared simply.

Laufey took one look at me, small, curled inside my cloak, never moving from Loki's shadow (as we'd agreed I would stay).

"A princeling and a child…" The King of the Frost Giants muttered dismissively. "With what purpose have you come to our lands?"

"To talk peace." Loki replied simply.

"Peace…" Laufey repeated, then switched to shrieking. "Peace! You wish to talk peace! The last time you Asgardians stepped on our land the immature little crown prince was all for the slaughter; he, and the rest of you would have painted the black ice with your blood if it hadn't been for Odin's interference!" The ice seemed to almost shiver just by the sound of his voice. "I pronounce all Asgardians as Liars and Cowards!"

"It is true that our last visit did not go… well." There really was no better way of putting it, Loki knew even as he spoke. "However, the situation has changed."

"Really?" It was obvious Laufey did not believe.

"Thor has been banished to a mortal realm, until such a time as he's capable of understanding and attending to the responsibilities his birthright carries." Loki embellished.

"So the Allfather has finally done something about his oldest son's arrogance and recklessness." Laufey practically mocked. "How does that benefit me?"

"Thor is paying for his crime against your people." Loki stated. "In the meantime, I am here to renegotiate the truce between Asgard and Jotunheim."

"Only the King can make such negotiations…" Laufey muttered, mostly to himself, before focusing on Loki again. "So Odin has gone into his Sleep after all. With Prince Thor gone, that would make you King…"

"Regent." Loki clarified elegantly. "The Throne is not meant for me, it never was, but until such a time when the Allfather awakens or Thor recovers his birthright I shall guard the Throne, and Asgard with it."

"And what if I decided simply to kill you?" Laufey suggested flippantly.

Before either of us could move, Laufey lashed out, taking hold of Loki's neck; he didn't do it hard enough to break the prince's neck; but then again, we all knew the touch of a Jotun burnt (my situation notwithstanding) so he didn't expect to need to…

"You have no idea what I am." Laufey hissed with a smirk.

Then his skin began going blue, beginning on his neck, and expanding outwards, like a ripple. Until Loki was standing there, skin cobalt blue and adorned with tribal-like dark markings.

"Hello, Father." Loki hissed, voice full of sarcasm.

I expected Laufey, or someone else, to react at least somewhat violently to that, but none did. Laufey just cocked his head sideways, intrigued. Still, I stood my guard. At Loki's insistence I'd added gloves and a high-necked top to my attire, as well as changed my slippers for thick boots; all for warmth and to cover as much skin as possible to guard off the Jotun's frostbite (while I might be immune to Loki's touch, we couldn't be sure the same thing would apply to the touch of any other Jotun).

"Ah, the bastard son." Laufey nodded, as if it were nothing at all. "I thought Odin had killed you. That's what I would have done. He's as weak as you are."

"No longer weak." Loki retorted, holding back his true reaction to the offense. "I am now the ruler of Asgard."

"Only until either the King or the Crown Prince take the throne from you again." Laufey hissed almost malevolently.

"When they do I will still be a Prince, and one day I shall be Head Advisor." Loki was especially proud of that, ever since I told him. "Perhaps you should not have so carelessly abandoned me."

"Or perhaps it was the wisest choice I've ever made." Laufey declared in an almost malevolent tone. "I will hear you."

It was the best we could have expected, if we managed to survive the rest of the meeting I would consider it a victory.

Loki gave me a sign and, as we agreed, I stayed behind as he and Laufey moved some distance away to talk in some semblance of privacy. Loki wanted to make a show of their discussion being 'secret' from even his most trusted companion; but that's why trust was so important, I did not need to be with him, I knew he would do the right thing. So I just stood there, hidden beneath my cloak and hood, though I wasn't alone for long.

"Who are you?" A thick voice asked suddenly from behind me.

I reacted instinctively, spinning around, one hand already working on drawing a rune in the air, while my eyes swept the place, finding the best place to jump if I was attacked.

"I intend no threat to you, lady." He said right away.

It took a few seconds, but eventually I was convinced that he truly wasn't about to attack me, so I straightened up. When the Jotun let out a strangled sound that I could almost call a gasp I noticed a tiny detail: the hood had half-fallen off my head, revealing most of my features to him. I took a deep breath so as not to show my panic before pulling the hood back into place.

"You're no more than a child…" The Frost Giant muttered in shock. "Just who are you? What's so special about you that the Acting King of the Realm Eternal would bring you and no one else to a meeting with the Ruler of a realm threatening war… shouldn't he have brought the High Commander of the Army, or at least his most Trusted Advisor…"

He broke off at the end of the last word, and while the darkness was such that I had a hard time reading his emotions (I could only see as much as I did thanks to a night-sight spell Loki had placed on me before we left Asgard).

"I am the Regent's First Advisor." I informed him in my most formal tone.

"But you're just a child!" The Giant insisted.

"All you see is not all I am." I told him cryptically.

"Indeed, there must be something extraordinary about you, lady." He nodded.

"Was there a reason you chose to approach me?" I inquired, intrigued. "Considering that the rest of your race either wants to kill us, or ignore us, I find your actions… confusing."

"A reason I have." He nodded. "Regarding your 'talks of peace'… I hope you realize our King will betray you at the first opportunity."

"Oh, we know." I nodded calmly. "And I hope you realize the first opportunity might not be his."

The look he directed at me showed he wasn't expecting me to be so blasé about it.

"We want nothing but peace, the Regent was truthful about that." I elaborated. "But we are no fools, and Laufey's penchant for double-crossing, as well as his blood-thirst are well known. That we want to handle things peacefully means not that we are unprepared to deal with matters if your King, or anyone else, were to turn against us, against Asgard."

"I hope you are right." He admitted quietly.

"It is one thing for us to be prepared for someone double-crossing us." I told him suspiciously. "Yet for one of you to want to warn us…"

"Regardless what you might think about me and my people in general, my lady; most of us wish not for war." He stated calmly.

That comment did nothing except intrigue me further, I observed him silently, intently; there was something about him that nagged at me, something familiar, but I had no idea what it could possibly be. I only knew that that strange feeling of familiarity was, somehow, strong enough to set me at ease, somewhat. I wished for us to converse further, to see if that would help me understand the feelings the Giant was evoking in me; however, I did not get the chance as Loki and Laufey approached us once again right then.

"If anything changes the current plans I will send the details to you with my Advisor." Loki told Laufey as he signaled in my direction. "It is unlikely I will get another chance to visit Jotunheim with how jittery the Court is right now."

"Of course, the crowds must be kept happy." Laufey seemed to be smiling almost malevolently as he said that. "It's the greatest and most tiring truth of a ruler… or an almost ruler."

Loki did not let the jibe get to him, though I could sense it annoyed him greatly, but he ignored that, choosing instead to keep walking regally, as if unconcerned, he moved past me and in the direction of the Bifrost site. I knew better than to say anything in that moment, simply nodding at the Jotun I'd been talking to, only then realizing that I had never asked his name; still, I turned around and fell in step with Loki. We left Jotunheim almost immediately.

"We should have gone with the original plan and set him up for assassination." Loki muttered under his breath, right before the Bifrost was activated.

I closed my eyes so as not to roll them. I knew that had been his first plan, and while it was a good one (even if I would usually be against such things), there was too much risk of someone finding out something before everything was over and then there would be a risk of either the plan going south, or Loki being accused of treason (we disagreed on which would be worse). So I'd insisted on a different course of action (though I knew Loki was quite willing to resort to assassination the moment Laufey tried to turn against us). I just hoped that, whatever happened, things would go alright in the end.

As if Loki wasn't already stressed out enough from whatever had been said between Laufey and him… Heimdall just had to go and make things worse, complaining that he couldn't see Loki and I when we were in Jotunheim. And what made him believe that he had the right to see everything, everyone, all the time?! Then he had the gall to accuse Loki of treason… granted, Loki had done the things Heimdall accused him of, but the Gatekeeper saw everything just in black and white, he wasn't seeing the full picture… and I was probably too emotionally involved to be objective about anything related to Loki…

xXx

Thankfully, regardless of how tense the status quo might be (or maybe for that very reason), Loki wasn't expected to hold Court all day, every day. He spent some time either in the library doing research (mostly about Laufey, Jotunheim, the last war), planning for any possible outcome of the 'peace talks', he visited his mother, or would check over the Asgardian defenses and armies. During those times, when the 'Whisperer' wasn't expected to be shadowing him I would either visit the Queen (though Rue and Karin were taking good care of her, to the extent they were allowed at least), and the rest of the time I spent keeping an eye on Heimdall, Sif, and the Warriors Three. I wasn't sure which of them would be the first to turn against Loki and do something stupid; but they all were as likely to try, and I needed to keep an eye and be ready to stop them when the time came.

As it turned out, Thor's friends were the first ones to 'fall' (figuratively).

I watched from the shadows, while I could have occluded myself with magic, it really wasn't necessary. Even after five years knowing me, the four were still so blind that they wouldn't notice my presence unless I called their attention to me, myself. So I took advantage of that, keeping silent watch over them.

That particular afternoon Volstagg had spent most of the time I'd been watching eating, while Fandral paced the room, frustrated; Sif and Hogun just stood to a side, saying not a word. Then, right as I began to believe that things, that all of them, might not be as bad as I'd expected, they finally began talking:

"Our dearest friend banished, Loki on the throne, Asgard on the brink of war, yet you manage to consume four wild boar, six pheasant, a side of beef, and two casks of ale." Fandral practically snarled at his friend. "Shame on you! Don't you care?!

The blonde went as far as to attempt to throw the platter of food the broader Warrior was holding, however Volstagg stopped him.

"Do not mistake my appetite for apathy." Volstagg stated, annoyed.

I could have laughed at him, if it hadn't been for Sif's interference right then.

"Stop it, both of you!" She snapped. "We all know what we have to do, we're just too damned afraid to do it!"

Which meant I too knew what I had to do… It wasn't going to be easy, no, all the opposite. I knew those four were going to hate me before the end; and while they weren't my best friends, they were still dear to me, and I hated the idea of hurting them. However, I had made my choice, to stand by Loki, come what may; and I would do it, even if that meant having to act against others I called my friends… it was likely they would never forgive me, but as long as I had Loki, I could survive anything.

Still, even as I felt the Eihenjar standing just outside the room, waiting for my orders, I couldn't help but wait, wait until the last possible moment; hoping that the intervention would prove unnecessary in the end… all the while knowing I was hoping for the impossible.

"We must go." Hogun's declaration pretty much sealed the matter. "We must find Thor."

"It's treason, Hogun." Fandral muttered, he sounded almost scared.

I couldn't help the surprise, Fandral being reasonable?

"To hell with treason, it's suicide." Volstagg hissed in turn. "Now, shh! Heimdall may be watching! It's said he can hear…"

"Yes, yes, we know!" Fandral interrupted him with a snap.

"Thor would do the same for us." Sif insisted.

I decided they'd buried themselves deep enough by that point; it was one thing to accuse them of disobedience; if they went on I might have to charge them of treason, and that was one thing I did not like, and I was sure neither would Loki… or Thor.

"Heimdall shouldn't be your greatest worry right now." I declared, stepping out of the shadows.

All four of them froze in place instantly.

"Lady Nightingale!" Volstagg almost seemed to squeak. "You are here…"

"I am." I arched a brow, waiting to see what they would do.

"You know we're right, don't you?" Fandral asked. "All that's going on… it's insane. Thor needs us, we need to get him back…"

Sif stopped Fandral before he could bury himself deeper, directing a cold stare in my direction. She would be the first to realize that I wouldn't be on their side.

"Thor's needs should be of no concern to you." I informed Fandral emotionlessly. "As for the rest of what I heard… They are things that should have never been talked about so openly. Something you all know perfectly well. Really, I expected better of the dearest friends of Asgard's Crown Prince…"

"You know Thor is the heir to the throne, and Loki…" Fandral blurted out in a rush.

"Shut up Fandral!" Sif spat at him before turning to me. "You forget who you are talking to."

"The Crown Whisperer…" Hogun added quietly.

Fandral seemed to be too shocked to fully process what it all meant, though Volstagg's wide-eyed look showed that he did know.

"Guards…" I said simply, emotionlessly.

In an instant a dozen Eihenjar filed into the room and went to flank each of the Warriors.

"What's this…?" Fandral was in complete disbelief.

"You're charged with slander and blatant disobedience to directives laid down by the Lord Regent, guardian and holder of the Throne of Asgard." I stated solemnly.

Something in my words seemed to throw them all further into shock, a part of me wondered if they hadn't known about the Regent part… maybe if they had, they wouldn't have been so worried about Loki 'usurping the throne'. In any case, actions had to be taken, the situation was too precarious to just leave things alone.

All four Warriors tensed, but neither tried to fight back, or run away.

"Your orders, my lady?" The leader of the Eihenjar inquired.

"Take them to the dungeons." I ordered after a beat. "They are to be treated with the respect their position deserves. I truly believe their faults are naught but mistakes caused by the current stressful situation and their worry for Crown Prince Thor. And while it is understandable, laws cannot be ignored, not even for them. I expect that a night or two in the dungeons will be enough to cool their tempers."

"Of course my lady." The captain nodded. "Shall we inform the Lord Regent of this?"

"I shall inform him myself." I stated.

Or not… if I found a way to make things right on my own I was not going to worry Loki needlessly, he already had enough on his plate.

"Lady Nightingale." Another Eihenjar approached me then. "Heimdall wishes to see you."

I allowed my brow to furrow slightly, whatever the Gatekeeper wanted with me it couldn't be good. Still, I couldn't exactly refuse to see him, especially when there was no reason to do such a thing. Then there was his position, the kind of power he possessed; I was already keeping an eye on him, waiting for when he might turn against Loki, the last thing I needed was to provoke that very thing through my own actions.

A horse was readied for me soon enough. While I didn't actually have one of my own, there was one I favored: a gray mare with a mane of the lightest whiteish-silver.

When I reached the Observatory I found Heimdall standing near the edge of it, eyes fixed on the starry horizon; and while that was usual for him, I didn't enjoy being fetched like a disobedient child, only to have him ignore me when I arrived!

"You had Lady Sif and the Warriors Three arrested." He finally said.

No greetings, no pleasantries, straight to complaints… well, at least I knew where I stood with him. The very same spot I always had. Heimdall did not like me, and it wasn't hard to see why. The Gatekeeper prided himself on knowing when anyone, anything crossed into and out of Asgard, but he hadn't seen me coming. He had no idea who I truly was or where I'd come from. Only the fact that I was under the Queen's protection kept him from trying anything. However, we both knew we were playing in a different field, and for entirely different stakes now. If Heimdall decided to turn against Loki at some point, he would be turning against me too. There was simply no chance of any of that going well.

"The actions they were planning would have affected Asgard adversely." I replied simply.

"Asgard, or Loki?" The Keeper inquired purposefully.

"Is there a point to that question?" I asked in turn, knowing what he was insinuating but refusing to rise to the bait. "Loki is Lord Regent right now, he represents Asgard. Anything that would affect one, would undoubtedly affect the other too."

Heimdall just stared at me in silence, showing clearly how much he did not believe a single word I'd just said. Technically it was the truth, just not what I'd really been thinking when I'd decided to call the guards on those four. However, due to the position I held, the fact that I had the trust of both the Lord Regent and the Queen, Heimdall couldn't just countermand my orders (though he had some serious authority too); besides we both knew how little such a show of disrespect and rebellion would benefit Asgard.

"What they wish to do… it wouldn't have helped matters any." I tried to make him understand. "The last thing Thor needs right now is for those four to go and distract him; no, he needs to focus on the lesson the Allfather intended for him to learn, if he's to reclaim his birthright and return to Asgard soon."

"Do you really want him to return?" The Gatekeeper is challenged.

"What kind of question is that?" I honestly wasn't expecting such a veiled accusation. "What exactly are you accusing me of Gatekeeper?!"

"You know what I'm accusing you of, Lady Whisperer…" He practically hissed at me.

"Then let me be extremely clear on this matter: yes, I want Thor to come back, safe and sound, with his power and birthright. I want the Allfather to wake up. And for Jotunheim not to declare war on Asgard! However, as that's what you're accusing me of, or more precisely, what you're indirectly accusing Loki of; lets focus on Thor, shall we? Yes, we want Thor to come back."

"You are the reason he's gone. I don't know how… but I know that, somehow, you're connected to the Jotun that invaded the Realm Eternal the day of the coronation. It is no secret that Loki wishes not for Thor to become King."

"That's because Loki doesn't think Thor's ready to be King! And, regardless of his, or my, opinion on the matter; we would never do anything to hurt him! Much less to hurt Asgard." My voice turned cold in my anger. "It is one thing to distrust us, even think less of us, because we don't give you carte blanche when it comes to spying on our lives… but a very different one to so much as insinuate we have anything but the best and purest intentions regarding Asgard!"

"Loki is the God of Lies… and you seem to have learnt well under him, my lady."

I was quite sure I wasn't imagining the double-entendré but chose to ignore it, there were other, more pressing matters to focus on, instead of a slight against my honor and virtue.

"First Sif and the Warriors Three, and now you?" I asked testily. "Do you all intend to turn traitors against Asgard and the King?"

"Loki is not our King." Heimdall pointed out with a near smile. "He's not anyone's King, far as I remember, he refused the title, naming himself Regent."

"He's the current holder of Gungnir, guardian of the throne of Asgard, which makes him as good as your King." I retorted, before shaking my head. "You would betray him now, when he's trying so hard to protect the realm?"

"Better now than when he might get it into his head to turn against Thor, and Asgard…"

"So what? You think it's a better option to betray someone, in case he decides to betray you at some point? What if he was never planning on such a thing? What if, in the end, you turn out to be the only traitor? Or are you so self-righteous you cannot see how twisted your thoughts are?"

"With all due respect, you are biased, my lady."

"You are as well, Heimdall. Think I don't realize it? You know the truth about Loki's origins, I imagine you might have known all along. Is that why you distrust him so? Why you are so insistent on doing anything you can to make life harder for him? Have you considered the possibility that Loki might not be as bad as he is towards you if you didn't act the way you do?" I remembered something right then. "You claim this whole mess is Loki's fault, but tell me one thing, Gatekeeper, who allowed the six of them into Jotunheim, when there was a specific law prohibiting it? A law proclaimed by the Allfather himself, too! Most of the mess we're currently in derives from that very moment, from the mess that took place in Jotunheim, and you were the one to let them pass!" My voice turned harsh and cold. "You were so quick to send them through, didn't even give Loki a chance to speak, to stall, to give me time to find the Allfather and let him know what Thor was attempting so they could be stopped! Maybe I should be the one presenting accusations, asking if you wanted them all dead… because that's exactly what would have happened if the Allfather hadn't found them when he did!"

Heimdall didn't reply; I could only imagine he had nothing to say. It made me wonder if he'd never stopped to consider his own actions in the last few days, the degree of guilt he himself held regarding everything that had happened in the last few days…

"If you're done throwing useless and unfounded accusation around, I shall take my leave now, Gatekeeper." I told him stoically.

I didn't wait for him to say anything, I just left.

I went to see the Queen after that. Rue had just left a tray with tea and pastries just outside the King's chambers (even if she was chief handmaiden, she wasn't allowed inside). I nodded at her as I passed, taking the tray and carrying it into the bedroom. The Queen barely acknowledged my presence but that was alright, I knew she had other things on her mind. Eventually Loki joined us, he had with him a tray full of dinner (someone, probably one of the handmaidens) had told him where I was. We shared dinner in silence, keeping the sleeping King company.

I never did tell Loki about what had happened with Sif and the Warriors Three, or my tense conversation with Heimdall.

xXx

The next day there was Court in the morning. Then I dropped by Jotunheim (using the Shadow Paths) to spy on Laufey and his warriors a bit, confirm what we already knew (that they were planning an attack), and that they weren't fully ready just yet. I could also see that not all the Jotun seemed as eager for war as Laufey seemed to be, something the Jotun I'd spoken to before confirmed when I revealed myself to him briefly. I wasn't even sure I'd revealed myself to him, but there was still that sense of familiarity that made me trust him, at least to an extent.

Loki had asked me to dine that night with him, several highly influential members of the Council and the Generals of the army. It was to be a mostly informal affair, though we expected some questions to be asked regarding the 'talks of peace'.

However, before the dinner, I decided to go pay a visit to Sif and the Warriors Three, see if the day spent in the dungeons had helped calm them down (I did not know if the conversation with Heimdall had changed any, but at least he wasn't sending for me like an unruly child to insinuate Loki or I were traitors…).

The Warriors Three were in one cell, with Sif in another, though they were side by side and the wall dividing them was transparent like glass, allowing them to keep an eye on each other, and even talk if so they wished. Each of their cells had some basic comforts: beds, a small window to the outside, toilet (enclosed behind a low wooden wall for privacy), and on a table a tray that refilled with food and drink three times a day. The cells were on the first part of the prison, which was meant for low-threat prisoners, mostly drunks and the like who needed a night in a cell before returning to their senses.

The moment I stepped into the room I signaled for the Eihenjar to leave. While all good soldiers were expected (and could) keep certain things secret, I had decided beforehand that it was better if I kept the upcoming conversation as private as possible.

With a wave of my hand I deactivated the enchantment that kept the cells soundproof; it existed, on one hand, so prisoners wouldn't annoy the guards (especially the drunk ones who wouldn't stop singing idiotic songs, even though they couldn't even carry a tune), and sometimes so they wouldn't yell sensitive information in a fit of rage (like their notions of what Loki, and I, were 'really' doing). I waited until they'd seen me before speaking.

"Are you willing to be rational today?" I inquired.

"Rational...?" Sif practically hissed.

"Yes, rational, as in talking like civilized people rather than screaming false accusations at one another." I couldn't help but drawl at her.

For all answer she began screaming imprecations at me, seconded by Fandral. Volstagg looked like he wanted to say something but was too confused, and Hogun just watched the proceedings in absolute silence. When, after a full minute, Sif still wouldn't shup up, I made my decision.

"Very well, we shall have to try this again tomorrow, I guess." I informed her calmly.

Then I reapplied the silencing spell and left the dungeons with the same levity I'd arrived. Truth is, I wasn't as unaffected as I pretended to be. Despite Loki's efforts of reaching a new truce with Jotunheim, I'd seen him preparing a number of his warriors for battle. And while the Jotun I'd spoken privately with assured me that most of them did not want war, fact of the matter was that was exactly what we were going to get unless we could find a way of stopping Laufey without the rest of the Frost Giants turning against us... I was beginning to wonder if I should have let Loki go through with his assassination plot. I had thought it to be too much, and definitely a bad idea at the time, but in the current situation I couldn't find any other solution! And having four of the best warriors behind bars because they weren't capable of being reasonable and trust Loki wasn't helping matters any!

At least dinner with the council and commanders of the army that night went well enough. There were a few isolated comments made regarding my presence, both at the table and the fact that it had become known I was the Whisperer. Someone also commented about how no one knew anything of my past, but as it wasn't really the first time that someone was taken under protection of Asgardian Royalty and their past pretty much erased I knew that comment was mostly meant in jest. Even the hardest men were convinced by that night that I deserved my post and the Regent's trust (not for nothing I'd spent every free minute in the last few days preparing for anything that might come, not to mention all the history and law I'd read upon my arrival to the Realm Eternal, to make sure I wouldn't mess up somehow).

The next day went pretty much the same, until after the dinner, when Loki and I retired early with the excuse that the work of a Regent and Whisperer never stopped and we needed to discuss some of the security measures that were to be put into effect in case Jotun managed to infiltrate Asgard again (unlikely without Loki turning a blind eye this time, but miracles could happen, even for them).

We made it to what I'd begun seeing as Our Private Gardens, when he fell silent abruptly. I knew then I was right in my suspicions that he wanted to talk to me about something that had nothing to do with Jotun, battle, or Asgard...

"How was your latest visit with our 'friends'?" He asked suddenly.

There was no question about exactly what 'friends' he was referring to, I just sighed.

"Think, you did, I would not find out?" He inquired next.

"I was hoping..." I admitted, then quickly added. "And before you find a way to twist that into something awful, let me explain. It's nothing against you. I wanted not to bother you with something I believed I could handle on my own..."

That seemed to be enough to make him relax. I'd known my actions could turn against me, make it seem like I was keeping secrets for him because I did not believe in him, did not trust him; at least he knew me enough to believe me when I told him that was not the case...

"Still think you can handle it?" He asked, much more calm.

"I believe so, yes." I nodded, before adding in a lower tone. "What I know not is if they will be able to let go of their prejudice and their anger and be reasonable in time to be of any help..."

"Even if they refuse to see reason, we have enough warriors ready to fight for the protection of Asgard." Loki reminded me.

"True, but we both know they're some of the best."

"True. Lets hope they'll see reason then."

"You hope? Who are you and what have you done with my Maverick?"

"Yours, huh?"

I wasn't even fully conscious of what I'd said until he pointed it out to me.

"You know that would make you mine too, right?" He snaked a hand around my waist, pulling me flush against his body.

"Maverick..." I was caught completely off-guard by his move, left absolutely breathless.

"Tell me to stop..." He whispered in my ear. "Tell me this is not what you want.."

"I want... this... you..." I wasn't completely conscious of the words coming out of my mouth anymore, though I knew what I wanted. "Don't stop..."

I never made it to my chambers that night.

xXx

I woke to a cool hand lightly caressing my back. The feeling, while very soft, seemed absolutely perfect, so much I burrowed further into the covers. I didn't go back to sleep, but it still took a while for my still half-asleep mind to catch up to the fact that it wasn't normal for me to wake up to someone caressing my naked back... or for my back to be naked at all! (I had made a point on always wearing long nightgowns, in case there ever was an emergency such that I didn't get the time to pull my nightrobe on).

"Nightingale..." A husky voice asked me softly. "Good morning, lover..."

I allowed my mind to panic all of three seconds before quieting it rather forcefully. While I'd never planned on a situation as the one I found myself in that morning, it was in no way unpleasant or undesired. I'd loved Loki almost for as long as I'd known him, first as a dearest friend and confidant, later on as the only person I knew for sure I could trust in an entirely new world and then... as everything, my One and Only.

"Good morning, my love..." I whispered eventually, with a lazy smile.

I noticed how Loki's expression softened, realizing I'd kept quiet for longer than three seconds and Loki, being how he is, had probably begun to believe the worse. It wouldn't be the first time. So I reassured him with a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Do you call that a kiss?" He challenged mischievously.

What followed was something I would have called by many names, but far beyond a kiss, though, what do I know?

We couldn't actually stay in bed and have a repeat performance of the previous night, though I knew we both wanted it. Once again, our duty to Asgard had to come first. It was late enough that there was no time for me to return to my quarters, so I ended up taking a shower in Loki's bathroom.I knew enough magic to summon a change of underclothes from my own closet, and when I stepped back into the bedroom in my sleeveless slip Loki showed me the dress he'd conjured for me: it was dark violet, pure velvet, floor-length, wide-v neck; the sleeves, like in the other dresses, were tight to the elbows and wide from there down (they reached my fingers); as an additional detail, the new dress had a sash that looked like a strip of the same fabric of the dress embroidered with a gold celtic design; both sleeves had similar designs, though thinner, right above the elbow. Golden slippers complimented the dress-

"It's beautiful..." I whispered in awe at the attire.

"It's a gift." Loki told me, emerging from his closet.

I had to keep myself from staring after noticing he was wearing just the thin jade-green tunic he wore under his leathers and armor and black-leather breeches, bare feet on the carpet; his hair was still damp from his own shower.

"It's not conjured." He clarified. "I had mother's favored seamstress make it exactly in your size, in your favorite color."

It was, indeed, my favorite color. While some people had told me I looked well in green, as it brought out that shade from my hazel eyes; I prefered violet.

"Thank you..." I whispered in delight.

He helped me tie it up once I'd slipped inside it. It was truly a work of art, as magnificent as some of the gowns I'd seen the queen herself wear. While it seemed a bit much even with my position as Crown Whisperer, I loved it.

We had breakfast in the bedroom. Loki had arranged for a servant to deliver it while I was showering (so the servant wouldn't see me and gossip about my presence in the prince's chambers in my underclothes, so early in the morning). Then, right as we were about to leave, my lover stopped me in my tracks.

"Before we leave this room I want you to understand something." He told me with a quiet intensity. "About what happened last night."

"I have no regrets." I assured him with a smile, taking his hands in mine. "No matter what happens today, tomorrow, or in the times to come. I will never regret last night."

"I must express a regret then, if my actions have led you to believe that I wish to keep last night as a one-time thing..."

"You need not regret a thing." I assured him. "I just... I have no expectations."

"You should." He insisted, twisting the hold so my hands were in between his. "We did not talk about this beforehand, though we should have. What you gave me last night was something very precious, Nightingale; and I place on it the value it deserves."

"I don't understand..." I admitted quietly.

"I do no wish for this, for us, to be a one-night-stand, as midgardians are so fond of calling it. Nor do I wish for concubine. I want more..."

"More..." I could hardly breathe thinking about what he might be implying.

"I want you to marry me." He finally stated, pulling my hands to his face to kiss my knuckles. "Will you give me that honor, my Nightingale, my love. Will you be my wife?"

"Yes." I didn't even have to think about it. "I would love nothing more than being your wife Loki, my Maverick..."

He needed no more words, did not give me the chance to say them either, as he pressed his lips to mine and in seconds I was lost in a long, tender, yet somehow also very passionate, kiss.

It was almost a tragedy that we didn't get the chance to celebrate our engagement... but there were people who needed us, and we couldn't fail them.

xXx

We spent the morning in Court and, thankfully, either no one had noticed I wasn't in my chambers the previous night, or whatever servant did was keeping it quiet. After what would classify as a 'business lunch' we went to the training fields to supervise the activation of the protective measures Loki had planned in the last few days. Mostly it had to do with rotations of guards that would be keeping watch over Asgard as a whole (in case Jotun managed to infiltrate, someone would have to notice before they got anywhere close to the palace, or at least that was the plan... I hoped it would work).

Once that was done I decided to travel secretly to Jotunheim one more time, while Loki checked over the soldiers who were on standby in case of an attack.

I stepped out of the Shadow Paths in the same spot as I had the last two times I'd traveled in secret to the Winter Realm. What I wasn't expecting was to see the Frost Giant I had talked to before, seemingly waiting for me. I did not even get the chance to make myself invisible (though I was already occluded), he turned to me the moment I set both feet on the ice.

"We meet again, little lady." He nodded with what I could call a smile, in his lips.

He cocked his head to a side, as if considering something, before speaking again.

"You're different..." He murmured, still contemplative.

"Different?" I inquired, not understand.

"Yes..." He straightened up as he seemed to finally understand it. "The Touch of Winter."

"Touch of Winter?" I repeated, feeling especially confused.

"Yes," He nodded, sounding almost eager. "It's a mating mark."

"Mating mark!" I practically squeaked at that.

"Yes, it tells me that you're mated to Prince Loki..."

"Will everyone here be able to... to tell?" I didn't know how to put it.

"Not really." He admitted to my relief. "I can tell because I've been in close proximity to you several times and can notice the difference. Also, because of your Loki's own connection to me... it makes it easier."

"Loki's connection to you?" Yet another thing I did not see coming.

"I thought you would have realized it already, because of the similarities in our markings." He commented, signaling to his body in general.

And suddenly it dawned on me. The familiarity I'd picked up on from the very moment I met the Jotun, the very (subjective) reason I'd chosen to trust him (to an extent at least). I'd seen Loki as a Jotun just once, and I hadn't really memorized everything about him, but my subconscious had remembered enough to know that those markings were good...

"Yes..." I answered eventually. "I have... I did notice. I knew there was something familiar about you, I just hadn't made the connection yet."

"I am Helblindi Laufeyson." He introduced himself for what I realized was the very first time.

"Pleasure. I'm Nightingale." I introduced myself in turn. "Some have taken to calling me Lady Whisperer recently, due to my position as Advisor to the Lord Regent."

"Then the pleasure is all mine, Lady Nightingale Whisperer."

Done with the pleasantries I turned to the side, the direction I usually went when I wanted to spy on Laufey and his warriors.

"It's not a good idea for you to go there right now, little lady." Helblindi told me quietly. "While I know your magic is strong, there is a chance Laufey would be able to pick up on the Winter Touch on you, just like I did, and for even more reason."

"More reason?" I felt like a parrot, repeating so many things.

"Yes, you see, Loki is his first-born." Helblindi clarified. "If he'd been the child of Farbauti, our King's mate, Loki would be next in line to be King."

I remembered Laufey's words from that day: Bastard Son, apparently he'd meant them more than I imagined at the time.

"Do you know who Loki's birth-mother is, or was?" I asked, imagining it was something he would want to know.

"That's is something no one but Laufey himself knows." The Jotun replied. "Though, whoever birthed him, I imagine was not Jotun."

Which would explain why Loki was a runt (at least compared to the Giants). I began considering if I should just leave, when I noticed something else.

"You do not call Laufey, father." I commented abruptly. "Is that common in this realm, or is there some other reason for your choice?"

"Curious you would catch up on that." Helblindi commented, before finally answering. "It is a choice, I give him no title he does not deserve. Truth is, I hold as little respect for Laufey-King as he does for me. As far as he's concerned I'm a disgrace and no son of his, only because I have not his thrist for blood, war and destruction."

"A King should be wise enough to think about his people and not just his own desires." I could not hold back my tongue. "And should know better than to desire things that will do nothing but bring pain and ruin to his people."

"I believe as you do." Helblindi agreed, with another of his smile. "Regretfully, not everyone does." He stared at me seriously. "You came here to find out about Laufey's plans: he plans an attack. His youngest son Byleistr will accompany him, and with them at least a half a legion of warriors. They are foolish enough to believe they can catch Asgard unaware, that they can survive, even win this war they insist on instigating!"

"Even if I wasn't here right now, if I hadn't been here the last few days, it wouldn't work." I let him know. "Asgard is ready for an attack. It has been since Loki and I returned after our attempts at talking peace with Laufey."

"I imagined as much." Helblindi seemed to almost smirk as he added. "Whoever your Loki's bearer was, he must have gotten his brains from her, it certainly wasn't from our King."

"Ha!" I couldn't help the half laugh, half snort that escaped me at that comment, but then I had to say something else. "Whoever gave birth to him matters less than the one who sired him. And Queen Frigg is one of the wisest women I've met in my life..."

Helblindi nodded half-absently at that.

"They will attack soon." He pulled our conversation back to the topic of importance. "I know not the details. Since I have no interest in war unless it is to protect me and mine, they see no need in keeping me informed. It is possible I will find out once they're ready. After all, and regardless of how much Laufey might hate it, hate me; with both him and Byleistr leaving for battle, someone has to stay and keep order. And that person is going to be me."

Something occurred suddenly to me as my brain processed that, however, I didn't dare to so much as voice the question in my mind.

"If they were not to return, I would be King." He answered anyway.

It was a hope I wasn't expecting; one I was almost sure Loki would be surprised by as well. It meant there was still chance for peace with Jotunheim... we only had to make sure Laufey and Byleistr were gone first... once again I wondered if I should have Loki run with that assassination plan of his... In any case, it was too late to change plans. We'd have to make due with the one we were already on.

"Lady Whisperer..." Helblindi was abruptly very solemn. "I have given you all the help I possibly can in the last few days..."

I did not need him to finish the sentence, I knew already what was coming, it was only to be expected really. It was not a matter, like some might believe, of 'no one doing anything without expecting something in return'; no, it was a matter of honor, of debts and the payment of those debts. The help Helblindi had given me in the last three days had me in his debt, and if that help ended up saving Asgard the debt would extend to the rest of the realm indirectly. So it was only right for me to pay back that help in a way that satisfied the honor of both of us.

"It is true, you have helped, and honor demands I pay back my debts, Asgard's debt." I told him with all seriousness, so he would know I knew what was going on.

"I ask something, not for me, but in the name of another, who cannot ask for himself." The Jotun told me cryptically. "I can give no details at this time. But it is someone, an innocent, who will need your help before the end."

"Someone innocent? A woman? A child?" I inquired, wanting more details.

"The details I cannot speak of." He insisted. "I know it is not right, for me to ask so much while giving so little... but this person is innocent..."

"I will always help an innocent." I finally told him. "Even without knowing everything, I can promise you right now that whoever this person is, if they are innocent I will do everything in my power to see to their safety."

"And then our debt of honor will be repaid. I knew I could trust you, my lady." Helblindi bowed his head at me. "When the time comes, they will carry the warning. Then you will know all you need to know."

More cryptic words, but there was little I could do about it.

"May the winds carry you to your destiny in safety and the water look after you with every step you take." Helblindi spoke in a very ceremonial manner.

I realized subconsciously that those words were important, to him, to his culture. And I couldn't help but respond in kind, not with words of Asgard, but words I remembered from the far past, from the mouth of the mother I'd hardly any memory of:

"May the blessing of light be on you, light without and light within..." I whispered, with a thick accent and a cadence of almost forgotten whispers.

Helblindi didn't reply to my words, I wondered if he did not understand them, did not care for them, or just did not find a need for a reply. I said no more, simply focusing and letting myself fall into the shadow I was already standing on (most of Jotunheim was always in shadows).

I had no idea who exactly Helblindi intended for me to protect. The appellative of 'innocent' seemed to imply that it was a child but, why would he think that a Jotun child would be safer on Asgard than on their own home-realm? And if it wasn't a child, who then? A woman? Same doubts. Unless, could he be talking about someone from another race? A prisoner of Laufey's perhaps. I had no idea, and I would likely not know until the fight was about to begin.

Knowing that we were running out of time I rushed to find Loki.

xXx

As it turned out, the lunch had been a late one, and I'd spent more time in Jotunheim than I ever planned to, so it was already night by the time I made it back to Asgard. Loki, of course, hadn't gone to sleep yet; I knew that aside from the night we'd spent together he'd spent most of that time in the last week making plans and contingency plans to make sure we were prepared for the Jotun attack when it came (as we always knew it would).

Rue told me that the Queen had retired for the night already, and she'd shared evening meal with her son, so I decided to go to the kitchens for something to eat. It was until I was there that I realized it was even later than I expecting, around midnight even. It made me ponder if I should go looking for Loki either in the library or his private office, or go straight to his bedroom... or mine. While we may consider ourselves engaged, no announcement had been made, and I did not even want to begin to imagine the kind of rumors that would be going all around if anyone noticed me spending two nights in a row in Loki's chambers.

It had been bad enough with the room I was assigned, the fame it had. The rumors had run rampant then, until Loki, Thor and his friends had stopped them, defending my honor and my virtue with words, and even fists when necessary. It had not mattered how young I was, on one side because no one knew my age, and on the other because a child would have never been sent to be a handmaiden, so I was always treated as an adult. However, a lot had changed, Thor was gone, his friends hated me and Loki... he had enough on his plate to worry about petty people gossiping behind our backs.

In the end I decided to go looking for my love. I told him everything I'd talked about with Helblindi. He didn't seem surprised about the Jotun being his brother, though he was honestly surprised about there being a chance for peace. My Maverick was more reticent than I about the open promise of helping protect Helblindi's 'innocent', but he agreed that the honor debt needed to be paid. If it became too much of a problem we would have to consider alternatives, like arranging safe passage to Midgard or some other realm, or keeping them hidden; though there was no way we would allow whoever the innocent was to end up hurt. According to Loki there was serious Ancient Magic in things like honor debts, and in promises related to them, the last thing we needed was to renege on the promise of payment of one, there was no way of knowing how far the consequences of such a thing would go; on the positive side, it also meant that Helblindi would be helping us with the warning, and later the peace treaty.

After my recounts of the talk with Helblindi, Loki grew even more focused. Drawing battle plans, constructing scenarios, preparing contingencies. I stayed with him, even though I was no strategist (I simply despise war too much to even try and plan something related to it... unless it's something related to shielding, evacuation and such). In case of battle I was to keep an eye on the healers and the spellweavers in charge of shielding and covering whoever needed to evacuate, keeping Loki informed of any changes that might be made to his plans so he could adapt (We all know no battle plan survives contact, but we could still do our damn best to try).

I knew not how long I was there, but at some point I began drifting off. Loki woke me up with a kiss and a cheeky smile, telling me to go to bed; his or mine it did not matter, as he'd little hope of retiring any time soon, not with the threat of an attack at any moment. I had every intention to do as he'd bid, but somehow, in the end, I didn't. Instead of going to my chambers I wandered down, into the dungeons. I wasn't sure why I was doing it when, by all means, I should have expected the Warriors to be sleeping already. And yet they weren't, and it was as if a part of me had know they wouldn't be.

With a wave of my hand the Eihenjar on guard duty left and the silencing spell lifted.

"Good evening." I nodded politely at them.

"I think it's actually closer to morning by now." Fandral commented in a deadpan tone.

I shrugged, I did not know, it wasn't like I had a watch and could check on the time... though I did not doubt his words. However long I might have been with Loki, it was long past midnight; the Spirits know how long before dawn, though certainly closer than dusk, by that point.

"We did not believe you would be coming anymore..." Volstagg commented quietly (for him).

"Whatever you might think, my absence had nothing to do with you." I told him honestly. "I've been terribly busy all day, we all have."

"What's happening?" Sif inquired. "We hear people moving around all day, orders being shouted, but we know not what's going on."

"So you've decided to finally be reasonable and listen for a change." I couldn't help the verbal slap before shaking my head and moving on. "We're getting ready for battle."

"Battle?" Fandral was the only one able to speak past his shock. "Has Jotunheim declared war after all then?"

"Not exactly." I sighed, knowing I couldn't exactly explain things to them, I did not trust them enough. "We know they will be attacking though. And it's not even all of Jotunheim. Laufey is insane, and he and one of his sons have managed to pull together a group of warriors, have been readying them for an attack against Asgard. The rest know the endeavor is doomed to failure, but Laufey just won't see reason. So we've been getting ready. There are guards patrolling the streets, to make sure that if anyone manages to infiltrate the realm, we will know before they get to the Vault, or worse, the Royal Wing! Legions of soldiers are on standby, the healers are ready, and spellweavers stand guard by shields and evacuation routes to aid in the protection of the women, children and anyone else who may need help in case of war. According to my 'informant' we can expect an attack in the next twenty four hours, seventy two at the most... though I'm betting for it to happen before the day ends."

"Then why are we still here?!" Sif demanded. "We're warriors, some of the best. We should be out there, preparing for battle! Not sequestered in these cells with nothing to do."

"True, you would be of great help in the battle to come." I agreed.

"Then why..." Sif began.

"Yet you're still here." I continued, ignoring her. "Because I do not know if I can trust you. Will you follow my orders, Loki's orders, or fight against them, maybe even try to countermand them? Will you focus on the enemy, on Laufey and his Warriors as the enemy, or will you still see Loki as such and put his life, all of ours really, at risk in the middle of battle? Worse even, will you bite your tongue, keeping your pernicious thoughts to yourself, or will you run your poisonous tongue and harm Loki's reputation, now that Asgard needs him more than ever?"

"What about you?" Hogun seemed to be the only one to notice that little detail.

"I'm not the one on charge." I retorted easily.

"Maybe not officially, but you're the Lady Whisperer." Hogun insisted. "In the event of a catastrophe the people of Asgard will turn to you as much as they will turn to their Regent."

"I am of little importance in the grand-scheme of things." I replied blankly. "My reputation, my standing, and anything else you might think of, is of little concern to me as long as it affects not others like Loki, and my Queen, negatively."

"You're the one Loki holds dearest." Volstagg commented, in a tone that suggested it was something he was realizing just then.

"And I hold him in the same regard." I nodded with no hesitation. "But such things are of no importance in the current circumstances."

"So, we are to stay in these cells, unable to help in the war to come, because you do not trust us to be the Warriors we've been trained to be?" Sif challenged.

"If it were Thor in charge your loyalties wouldn't be in question; if it were practically anyone but Loki ruling, really." I retorted with a tired sigh. "But the fact is that the current Lord Regent is, indeed, Loki. And I have to make sure that no one threatens his standing, not right now." I shook my head. "So then, convince me to trust you Sif, if you can. Or better yet, tell me this, were you in my place, would you trust yourself?"

She did not answer, but she did not need to, the silence was answer enough.

"What is to be of us then?" Volstagg asked quietly.

"You will probably stay here until either the Allfather awakens or Thor comes back, whichever happens first." I shrugged, it wasn't something I hadn't planned, exactly. "Then we will all deal with the consequences of our actions."

"Is Thor alright?" Fandral chose to focus on that detail. "You speak of him coming back. Is such a thing even possible?"

"He was banished..." Sif began.

"It is possible." I interrupted her calmly. "Like the Queen said, the Allfather never does things without a reason. He expects to gain something, or more precisely for Thor to gain something, from this experience. Once Thor has learnt whatever it is he is meant to learn, he will regain his birthright and power, and will be able to come back. We do not know what the lesson is supposed to be exactly... but we do know that Mjolnir will return to his hand when it has been learnt. Also, you need not worry about Thor, he has found friends among the people of Midgard, people who are willing to help him in his quest..."

While I hadn't been there long enough to find out much about the humans Thor was staying with, Loki had told me of the things he could see from the throne, of Jane Foster, Darcy Lewis and Erik Selvig; also of the secret agents standing guard by Mjolnir. The three first knew who and what Thor was, they believed him, at least to a point, and were willing to help; Jane especially, according to Loki, seemed to be sweet on the blonde. I had hope for Thor, and for all of them, to come out of that particular 'quest' much better than they went in.

I stood there, in complete silence for a few minutes, until eventually I decided there was no point. So I simply waved the spells back into place and left the dungeons without a word. One question kept spinning in my mind: what good is it to know what you've done wrong, when you're so completely unwilling to make things right? In the end, knowing meant nothing when they were not willing to help make things better.

Right after leaving the dungeons I couldn't help a desperate need for air and rushed to the closest door outside, ending on a platform/veranda of sorts (I was on a side of the palace that was several feet above street level). There I stood against the wall of the palace, looking at the stars, trying to focus myself again.

"Stupid, proud Sif..." I muttered out-loud.

While a part of me understood her, the fact that deep down she had (or believed she did) nothing but the best intentions... but she wasn't helping me, wasn't helping anyone. Without her and the Warriors Three I had no idea who to put in charge of palace security, that was supposed to be their post (I couldn't really send them with the army when they didn't know the plans).

It was depressing that even when Sif, Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun finally deign to be reasonable and talk to me, they still couldn't see that Loki and I were only trying to help. They still saw us as the enemy, my Maverick especially... made me wonder if they'd so easily forgotten all the times my love had been instrumental in them surviving something, in 'winning' their battles and being successful in their 'adventures'.

I was still half-lost in the thought when, almost without noticing, I reached for the object I kept hidden in the folds of my dress (I always had it on me, hidden somewhere in whatever clothes I wore; though that gown Loki had given me had a small, resistant pouch sewn in specially for it). The object was a dagger, a very elaborate dagger. It had been a gift from Sif, who said they'd found it during an adventure of theirs in Alfheim (or something like that); the Sword-maiden had decided to gift it to me because she connected the design to me. And it was that the guard of the sword was carved into a triquetra, like my earrings. The pommel, just big enough to hold the dagger with one hand, was smooth, and both it and the handle seemed to be made from bleached bone. Aside from that, the most amazing detail of the dagger was the fact that the blade (double edged, smooth, the length of my open hand) was made completely of crystal, the hardest, most resistant glass I'd ever encountered, but still.

It was absolutely beautiful. Almost seemed more like a decorative piece than an actual weapon. Still, Sif had insisted on teaching me how to wield it; teachings Loki had expanded on, as he was the one most experienced in using daggers as weapons. I was no warrior and would never be, but at least I had a weapon I knew I could use effectively if it was ever necessary. It also made me think of the friendship I'd once believed was forming between the Warrior-Lady and I... had it never been there, or was her hate of Loki so great she couldn't even consider the possibility that she might be wrong about him?

Truth was, neither Sif nor the Warriors had ever trusted Loki, I knew that; more than once it had been the topic of conversation between my beloved and I. It was the main reason why Loki, and even I, referred to them as Thor's friends... Thor's, never ours. Maybe, like Loki claimed, it was because we weren't warriors like them; though Loki certainly was warrior enough, even if he chose to do war with words and magic rather than with blades and fists. I was inclined to believe the former to be harder and more worthy of praise than the latter, but maybe I was just biased, like in everything else that concerned Loki.

A part of me wondered if there was something we could have done differently, any of us, but especially Loki and I, something that might have helped make people like Thor's friends trust us, support Loki when he needed it the most; another part of my brain insisted there was nothing to be done, and even if there was, why should we be the ones to change? In any case, it was much too late to dwell on such things.

I was so very close to falling asleep, right there, on my feet, leaning against the palace's outer wall, when I suddenly became aware of someone calling me:

"Lady Whisperer!" They were calling repeatedly, like searching for me. "Lady Whisperer!"

I realized then that the spot where I'd gone to take some air wasn't very well-known; even more, one could easily miss the door out, so I returned inside the palace, right in time to see a servant rushing by, he was the one calling.

"Yes?" I asked calmly.

"My lady!" He exclaimed, bowing to me instantly. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

"I had stepped out to get some fresh air." I half-explained, though I knew I need not. "What seems to be the emergency?"

"There is a visitor, my lady." The servant informed me. "An individual wearing a thick cloak and hood, even with the heat; they refuse to reveal themselves to the guards, stating they will speak with no one but the Lady Nightingale Whisperer..."

In an instant I knew who that hooded individual must be, only one person had referred to me combining Loki's nickname for me and my newest title...

"Take me there." I instructed the servant immediately.

On the way the servant explained that the newcomer had seemingly 'come out of nowhere'. Most hadn't even noticed him/her until he/she insisted on getting into the palace, and when the guards refused to allow entrance, the visitor demanded to meet me. He/she was escorted to one of the smaller visitor-rooms, and was surrounded by a contingent of guards, yet still refused to say a word, or show his/her face until I arrived. The Eihenjar believed he/she was carrying something, judging by the shape beneath the cloak, which only made them all the more nervous.

The moment I entered the room where the unexpected visitor awaited, I noticed several things: the figure, while somewhat bloated in the front, still looked slim, much too small to be a Jotun, though still about as tall as most Asgardians (it lent credence to my theory of someone from another realm having been in Jotunheim... maybe a prisoner of Laufey's? Someone Helblindi wished to save, for whatever the reason). That wasn't all, the cloak was a mix of gray, blue and white, obviously meant to help the wearer camouflage in the snow and ice of Jotunheim.

I waited in the shadows for a second, just enough to make sure I looked presentable enough (the last thing I needed was for a foreigner, messenger, innocent, or whatever else they might be, to see me as anything less than I was meant to be), then I stepped forth, standing in front of the newcomer, who seemed to be somewhat curled upon him/herself...

"I understand you called for me." I said seriously.

"Are you the Lady Nightingale Whisperer?" A voice from beneath the hood inquired.

I noticed that while the voice sounded hoarse, it seemed almost faked, as if the individual were trying to keep his/her true voice concealed; and yet some of it slipped through, a certain rhythm to the way she/he spoke, a cadence hidden in the words...

"I am." I nodded calmly. "I suppose Helblindi sent you, for he is the only one who's ever addressed me by my name and title together."

"You suppose well, my lady." The newcomer agreed.

The voice lost all its roughness, suddenly sounding tilting, almost musical. The Eihenjar took notice of that, and by their expressions I could tell the voice was telling, as far as they were concerned, even if I still could not understand.

"My name is Elanor." The female announced proudly as she pushed back the hood of her cloak, revealing porcelain skin, golden hair and sapphire eyes. "And this is Hákon..."

The moment she let go of the cloak covering the object in her hands, the baby in her arms, with its light-blue skin and a tuft of black hair on his head, I was rendered speechless.

And then the blaring sound of the war bells broke the silence.

---

Hope you liked this and will like what's yet to come.

People must have noticed by now that Nightingale is quite different in this fic than she is in others. She's just nineteen, yet she has an attitude that the 'other versions of her' never had; that's due to a quite simple fact: Silbhé was pretty much ripped out of her old life at fourteen. And not only that, at that age people began treating her as an adult, gave her rights and responsibilities as one, that has had an effect, as you've thus far, and will see in the chapter yet to come.

Coming next update: the Jotun's are attacking on several fronts and our main characters will need to make use of all their gifts to stop them in time. And regardless of how much changes... some people just are meant to end up involved in the mess!