Chapter 3: Mendicancy
The sensation coming from his stomach area was disorienteeringly pleasant. He would've been surprised if it as much as hurt less than before, but pleasant was decidedly unexpected. Loki basked in the sense impression for a while, half conscious, keeping off from rationalising it. But with the feel of well-being, lucidity slowly starting to return too and he realised that the pleasant sensation originated from a pair of hands, sometimes two pairs, placed on his bare abdomen, casting ceaseless spells to soothe his pain. He was relatively sure that once the hands were gone, he would feel discomfort again. Still not completely cognisant, came his seiðr's reflex reaction to remedy the situation and with it, his magic healing his inflamed insides. And the fact that he could use his abilities for some reason, made him instantly alert and awake, agaze into his mother's apprehensive eyes, with the décor of the healing rooms clearly recognisable behind her, delicate hands set on his stomach still.
"Stay quiescent, my dear," she instructed with a sad smile.
"I don't need assistance," Loki stared pointedly at her hands.
"I know darling. But the moment you are able to use magic like that, you were supposed to be taken back to the dungeons, forthwith."
"I see," Loki sneered, "Odin has devised a special way to torture."
Frigga started, wishing she could differ. But fact was that being in that chamber below made the mage ill and he was only granted as much respite as it would allow him to mend enough to make it possible to incarcerate him again. Potentially, it could be an endless circle of him getting better just to get sick all over again. "You're not well enough yet," she finally conceded, "nobody has to know what you have done a minute ago. Restore your ailment half way and we will play on it for as long as possible."
"And how long could that be?" Loki scoffed, but complied with a wince as he let previous cramps rip through his stomach, "I don't see how either of these options could equal a win situation."
"I'm on your side and always will be. Your condition would deteriorate into a lot worse in a few days if we would let you being taken," Frigga reasoned, "now play the part, Igrun is coming to check on you," she managed to whisper before the healers' overseer reached them. The queen turned to nod at the royal healer, Odin's most trusted. "Loki is awakened."
"How are you feeling, my prince?" A reserved Igrun gave him his dues, but no real warmth.
"A little better than you wish me to," Loki gave his best to ignore her telepathic, investigative powers poking his chest and stomach. While the practice of medicine wasn't the most skilled part of his sorcery, he understood the mechanics of bringing up the illusion of his insides floating above him. It was also not hard to detect the abnormalities on the image, imbalances that were bound to make him and his magic weak, with crude unbalances and a distinct inflammation to his digestive system.
Igrun quickly dissolved the image with a wave and turned to her potion locker, "drink this," she handed him a small bottle with yellow liquid inside, "we need to settle your stomach and then you're ready to go."
"Ready to go where!" Frigga asked horrified, although she knew the answer. She glanced anxiously towards the door where the guards were waiting.
"If the prince can keep the medicine down, he is fit to serve his sentence," the healer nodded in the direction of the vial, urging Loki to follow through.
"He should rest before submitting his body to further hardship," Frigga announced with her chin up and her best authoritative voice.
"I will be back shortly," Igrun gave and retreated, although they all knew the time granted for them wasn't long. The guards would force the medicine down his throat if he didn't take it willingly.
Frigga reached out to get hold of Loki's hand again, lowering her head apologetically, barely able to keep back her tears, "I can't believe this," she shook her head.
"Odin's true colours?" Loki raised his eyebrows knowingly.
"I'm so sorry Loki, I'm sure he will see sense when your condition deteriorates again quickly."
"Dream on, woman," the fallen prince rolled his eyes, but didn't retract his hand from hers. Implications of genetics he did not want to think about. For the few moments they were allowed, he just wanted to enjoy her warmth and closeness he would normally associate with safety and affection.
"Loki, I promise you, I cannot watch you being made to suffer like this. I will change your situation, whatever it takes."
"Do not make promises you cannot keep," the once king looked at her dejectedly, "I'd rather have the wretched truth than any more falsehoods.
"You need to believe there's good in the world, that not everyone discounts and despises you. Have you forgotten what, who and how I am?"
Loki shook his head, "you don't want to end up on the wrong side of Odin. You don't know what he'll do with you."
"Have faith my darling," Frigga frowned at the approaching Igrun. "Please. You don't know how much I need you to," she squeezed his fingers.
Tbc