Chapter 3

Loki's hand went slack in her grip. Elani smiled down at her fiancé; he had finally fallen asleep. He had stayed awake a little longer than usual this time. She took it as a good sign that he was improving. She leaned back against the couch. She was tired; and dirty. She kissed Loki's forehead before heading back to her room.

She needed to take a bath badly. She made there were fresh towels in the bathroom, and washing things, before she drew the hot water. She slowly peeled off her sweaty, crinkled clothes. As she sank into the tub she sighed in sweet relief. She loved the water; she always had.

With a stretching of her fingers a stream of hot water moved up her shoulders and massaged their heat into her. She stretched her legs out over the lip of the tub and sank down into the water. She opened up a pocket of air around her nose and mouth; she was luxuriating in the heat.

She grabbed some soap and quickly set to cleaning her hair and body. She didn't want to leave Loki alone for any longer than she had to. She hated the idea of him waking up by himself. What if he forgot where he was, and thought the Chitauri still had him.

She washed the soap from her body and emptied the tub; she dried off her body with a flick of her wrist. She grabbed an old white shirt of his and buttoned it, tucking into her own black pants.

She ran through the hallways back to his healing room. The door closed, no one else inside. Light filled the room when she entered. She smiled and took a place sitting on the couch. She was just settling down to sleep when Loki started gagging.

She sat straight up and leaned over. He was convulsing on the bed, coughing up blood, choking on it. He opened his eyes and they were terrified, his hands clawed at the air while his body shook on its own.

Elani ran out to the hall and screamed.

"Help, somebody please! Help him!" She shrieked loudly enough for anyone to hear. Healing attendants rushed past her into the room.

They started shouting orders in the room. Someone left to get the head healers. She tried to get back in the room to see what was going on, what was happening to her fiancé. Rough hands pushed her back, elbows jostled her and she was pushed into the hallway, falling down. The healers all rushed past her into the room.

She could only hear faint whispers from inside the room.

"Stop the bleeding….won't make it…dying…"

Elani didn't even try to stop the strangled cry that tore its way out of her throat. She sat in the middle of the hall, crying like a wounded animal, and rocked back and forth, holding herself. She shook her head while the tears fell. Loki wasn't dying; he would make it. She ground the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to stop the fresh onslaught. He had to make it.

~O~

The guards turned as one, looking at the door to the weapons vault. Their grip on their weapons stiffened.

"Maybe we just imagined it?" Said one.

"Maybe." Said the other, not as convinced. "I'm checking it out. Stay here and guard these."

The taller guard approached the doors cautiously; but not cautiously enough. The doors burst in and the guard was thrown back, cracking his head on the hard floor. Blood pooled around his head. The younger guard was frightened, but he had a duty. He held his weapon at the ready and waited for his enemy to appear.

He nearly dropped his weapon when they did. He had never expected to see them anywhere near Asgard. His shock killed him; the leader of the small group thrust out his hand and sliced open the guard's throat.

"Find it." He growled to his followers.

They immediately scrambled to obey him. They checked every crevice of the weapons vault.

"Malekith, I've found it!"

Their leader turned at the sound of his name. A wretched grin found its way across his face. The Tablet of Life and Time was theirs.

"Hurry, we must go now."

He urged his followers out, and they were gone before anyone knew they had been there.

~O~

Frigga stood behind Elani, holding the girl to support her. Frigga felt she might collapse at any moment. The head healer continued to speak.

"His condition has suddenly worsened, become more fragile. We need to stay with him constantly now, monitoring him. He isn't allowed any visitors for the time being. Not until he starts getting better. I'm sorry." He added, almost as an afterthought.

Elani collapsed against the older woman, the air leaving her lungs. How could Loki have gotten worse? The tears threatened to spill over her cheeks again. Frigga grabbed her hand and dragged her down the hall.

"Let's start planning your wedding, shall we? It might be a good thing to take your mind off of…the situation."

Frigga spoke quickly, all the while dragging Elani through the palace. She let her; she had nothing better to do.

~O~

Loki knew when someone entered the room. It wasn't his healer that much he could tell. He tried to roll his head and open his eyes but it was too much effort. He couldn't even cry out in pain when something stabbed him in the arm. He let out a little whimper and fell back asleep, golden waves washing over him, gently lulling him back to the land of dreams.