Vali walks the road from his home to the Bifrost, considering all that has happened as of late. He remembers showing his dear sister these trails and teaching her how to create projections, only to watch her master the sorcery skills much better than he. The memory of her young face, smiling in wonder to watch the fiery stars in the sky, only makes Vali all the more upset with Modi's trespass.

How could such a thing have happened with none of them knowing? Vali is scarred with the memory of death and carnage in Asgard's city, forever haunted by the screams that were so much like those he heard as a child in the Ragnarok. How he wishes that Narvi, his comfort at that time so long ago, could be here to help the family see the light of peace ahead.

Hela's screams ring in Vali's ears, not knowing him, forcing the young man to grow in despair. The light that he felt for Rigs is nearly dashed away at the thought that his sister may never return. What would become of this family now if she were to forever be trapped in her own mind? Would it mean that she would forever be a pawn to Modi, should he arrive to destroy us?

His thoughts are only interrupted by the slightest glimmer of hope. At Vali's feet grows a simple plant, one with small, white flowers. He recognizes it as a common herb used in love spells, and wonders if Modi came across it while deceiving Hela, tricking her into emotion. Whatever the case, Vali takes some with him, hoping to reverse Modi's influence. Perhaps the love of family might still reach her in this state.

...

The young man is gone for an entire afternoon, now armed with a myriad of plants to try on Hela. The bundles of cuttings that he carries are hodge-podged together, trailing dirt behind him when he enters the house. He heard the crash of the Bifrost during the day and knew that some visitor must have arrived, but is not concerned. Should Modi come, it would surely not be through such conspicuous means.

Vali raises his face to greet his mother, who usually can be found waiting in the kitchen. But he is instead met by his father, who is sitting at the table with a stern expression on his face.

"Hello, father. I brought much back with me. With luck, Hela will..."

"Where were you, Vali?" Loki interrupts harshly. His lips are pursed. Clearly, something is on his mind.

"What do you mean? I have been out gathering herbs to try new potions."

Loki continues to shake his head from side to side as Vali speaks.

"Not today. Where were you then, when you received the call from Asgard with Heimdall's son?"

Vali isn't sure how to respond. Wasn't it obvious?

"Were you on Dagheim?"

"Yes..." Vali trails, unsure where this is going.

"Were you cavorting with Ragfrieda? Were you distracting yourself from your duties?" Loki knows something. It makes Vali defensive and uncomfortable.

"Father, you knew I was on Dagheim, this is no..."

"Ah, but you left out something important, didn't you?" Loki places a piece of parchment on the table, neatly folded. In pretty script on the front is a single word, "Lokison."

Vali looks at it tor a moment, then back at Loki, whose eyes have become even more piercing with anger.

"A messenger brought this for us today. We assumed it was just for us. A sweet token of care from Ragfrieda, wishing us all the best in these hard times." Loki stops speaking just enough to glare at Vali. "But I suppose he did not get proper instruction, for we were handed this as well." Loki pulls out a second note, this one inscribed just to Vali.

"Tell me, Vali, why would Ragfrieda send two separate notes as a token to this family?"

Vali is frozen, not knowing the answer, afraid of his own father's wrath.

"Your mother didn't see it. Let's open it, shall we?"

Immediately, Vali drops the herbs he carries, stretching forward to grasp the parchment from the table. Loki is too fast, standing up, unfolding the note to read it aloud. It seems obvious this is not the first time he has read it.

"Ahem, 'My dear Vali, how long has it been since we saw each other? My brother tells me you are injured, and I worry so for your welfare. How I hope your sister is doing alright under the circumstances.' Oh, how sweet." Loki has an old sarcastic tone that Vali is not familiar with. "Let us read more!"

"Father, don't..." Vali cannot bear to see his father mock him so. Loki continues.

"'Your confession to me caught me by surprise. I hope I did not upset you by my actions. I am not offended by what happened, and I hope we might repeat it. I miss you. Please, let us speak again. With love and care, your Rigs.' Aww, what a sentimental little note from Heimdall's daughter. Seems almost like a love note, does it not?"

Vali is flushed almost pink, and has pursed his lips together in embarrassment and anger. Why should he have to answer to his father over such a thing? Loki slams his hands down on the table, startling Vali, angrily hissing his words.

"You should know better than this, Vali! After all the trouble you've seen with Hela these past weeks, why would you allow such a thing to distract you? It could lead to your death, it could doom our whole family, all over your selfish need to have a woman!"

"But she's not just any woman, father!" He is trying to appear meek, but is failing.

"Oh, they never are. They never are just any woman, but they cause trouble just the same! You have no idea the kind of danger you could put us all in, even her, by not staying away at a time like this!"

"And I have! Where do you think I have gone? I haven't sent her tokens, this one has come to me. I..." Vali is almost choked up, beyond upset that his innocent visit to Dagheim is just now coming to light. "I haven't even told her how I feel, father."

"Good. You won't, because clearly something happened. And yes, she will be disappointed that it cannot, as she says, 'be repeated.'. You will stay here and defend your home as you promised. You are not to pursue Ragfrieda, is that understood?"

"Loki, enough!" Sigyn has just walked into the room, shocked to hear her husband speak in such a way regarding the girl. They have known Rigs since she was a child, entertaining her and watching Vali's friendship with her bloom. Loki rolls his eyes at her, something he hasn't done in ages. "What in Valhalla has gotten into you?"

"Oh Sigyn, you are too like this young girl, so forgetful of the times we struggled together. Lust is a distraction, a dangerous weapon that the enemy doesn't even need to supply!"

"I love her, father! Does that mean nothing to you?"

Loki looks at his son in silence. Even Sigyn cannot fathom the pain her poor son must be feeling at such a rebuttal from Loki. She reaches out to touch her husband's shoulder, and he pulls away harshly.

"The only love that you should know is the love you hold for Hela, to heal her, and move forward. You don't know what love can do to you. You don't know what love will do to all of us. That's enough, it should be enough, and that is final!" Loki tosses the little note to Vali, and storms out of the room.

"Loki, stop! Why would you say such a thing?" Sigyn is awestruck at her husband's attitude.

"Because I remember a particular young maiden wanting to steal my attention away in a time of war, and it nearly cost us both our lives." Loki glares at Sigyn while he says it, no care in his eyes. Though the words come from a place of worry for his son, he finds himself in a place of past resentment.

Sigyn can only embrace her son, who is not sobbing, but cannot hide the emotions that well in his eyes. Vali feels as though the victory with Heimdall's words has been all for naught, for if he cannot love Rigs freely, there is no point in pursuing her at all.

The young man's mother pulls him away just enough to raise her hand to his cheek.

"Do you really love her, Vali?"

He doesn't look her in the eye while nodding.

"Let me deal with your father."