Visitor In the Dark.
As the glow faded away, Astrid saw a shadow approach the fire. She leaned back against the log. Her hand drifted towards the handle of her axe.
It was a man. Fairly tall, with dark hair, and a handsome face, if one was interested in such things. He had the slim build of a man who did not wield heavy weapons for a living. He walked into the area near them. Astrid could see he was dressed in a fancy green coat, black pants, and strange, tall black leather boots. He carried no open weapon, but her hand slid around the axe haft anyway. There was no way he was from Berk.
Then he stopped by Toothless. Strangely, the dragon made no move. The Night Fury lifted his head and merely sniffed the man. The man then kneeled down and scratched the dragon on the cheek.
"Your kind was always my favorite, you know." He said in a rich voice. Astrid's eyes were wide. The blasted dragon was purring. Maybe he wasn't a threat, or maybe he was even more dangerous.
"Who are you?" Astrid asked. She was at a disadvantage sitting on the ground. She was trying to slide a foot up into a position where she could stand quickly. "Tell me! If I yell, there'll be a hundred men here to take care of you."
The man was still scratching the dragon, not even looking at her. "Yell away, sweetling." He stood up, and faced the direction of the campfires down the beach.
He cupped his hands around his mouth. "HELLO!" he shouted. "I HAVE A BIG SWORD! I'M GOING TO CUT THIS BOY INTO TINY BITS!" He lowered his hands and faced Astrid. "See? We are quite alone here."
He stepped over and stood by Astrid's feet. His hands were on his hips. His smile gave Astrid shivers. "Now." He said. "If we've gotten all that useless threatening gesture idea out of the way, can we start our… negotiations?"
Astrid gulped back her fear. "Wh… who are you? What are you? Are you a witch?"
The man slowly settled down into a cross-legged sitting position in front of her. He still smiled. "I've been called far worse." He rubbed his chin. "Tell me, girl. Why did you tell them to pray to me?"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Things got blurry for a second. Astrid's breath gasped as she tried to get the air she needed suddenly. Still trying to understand her new-found belief that the Gods sometimes actually listened, she wasn't really prepared to be sitting down with one. And Loki! The most dangerous one of all.
Loki watched the emotions play across the girl's face. If he wasn't so pressed for time, he could be having quite a bit of fun here. These people are so easy to impress.
He snapped his fingers in front of Astrid's face. "Hello. I really need you to pay attention here. We don't have all night." He watched her eyes slowly focus on him. Her hand had let go her axe, but her hands were both twitching, unsure of what to do. Astrid finally, slowly, nodded.
"Good." He said. He held up a hand, palm up. A small red bag appeared. He closed his hand over it. "Now listen, dear one. Your friend is dying. He is poisoned from within. He will die slowly, in a great deal of pain, before the sun sets tomorrow."
He sat up straight, hands on his knees. "Now, what will you give me for his life, little one?" He closed his eyes. He could smell the pain radiating from the young woman. The agony is so delicious.
Astrid was slowly slipping into shock. The world was tilting. The air was like trying to breathe water. This is what drowning must feel like, she thought. She had reached that point where she couldn't accept any more.
Loki reached over and lightly slapped her. "You must stay with me, now."
Astrid focused. She pushed herself upright against the log. Her mind was racing. How do you bribe a God? "I don't… have… we're not… but…"
Loki waved a hand randomly. "Humph. Gold and trinkets have no meaning for me. Wealth for its own sake is only a pursuit for those of the realms." He smiled, this time a more malicious grin. "But… a maiden has one gift she can give a man, doesn't she?"
Astrid froze. What? She stared at Loki. Slowly, his eyes travelled from her face to her feet, and back again. She felt naked, and no more to him than a yak quarter hanging in the butcher's shed.
She steeled her nerves. She had promised that whatever Hiccup needed, she would do. But she feared that Loki would extract a higher price from her soul than he ever could from her body.
Why would he want her? She was drawn and bruised from head to toe. Her clothes were torn and stained. Her face was grimy, her hair was a mess, and she stank to Aasgard itself. The word alluring had never been in her vocabulary. She didn't particularly consider herself any sort of prize worthy of the Gods at that moment. I will pay for every moment of pride I have felt in my entire life. So be it.
She reached up and moved a strand of hair from her eyes. She smiled, although it felt like the grim smile of one stepping to their doom. "I will give you that for him." she stated simply.
Loki leaned forward. He placed a hand on the log on either side of her. His face was mere inches from hers.
He smiled that horrible grin again. "You would."
Astrid tried to look defiant. "Gladly."
She saw, for the first time, Loki's face soften. "I think not so gladly." he whispered. "But willingly. And that makes all the difference."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
He was standing on his feet so suddenly Astrid jerked in surprise. Loki held down a hand. "Well, come on, girl! He won't wait forever." She took his hand shakily. Funny, she thought, his hand felt as warm as any person's. She was pulled quickly to her feet.
She was standing in front of him now. He reached out and there was a silver goblet in his hand. He whispered a few words over it, and then there was boiling water in it. As she watched, he opened his other hand. The small red bag was there again. He dropped it into the goblet. There was a faint bluish glow from it. He swirled it around a few times, still whispering, and the boiling died down, as well as the light. He held the goblet towards Astrid. "He must drink this now, before its power fades."
She reached out with both hands, since she was still not very steady. She stepped over and knelt by Hiccup. She lifted his head with her left hand as she guided the goblet to his lips with her right. She worked the edge of the goblet past his lips, trying not to spill everything. Finally, a few drops went into his mouth. As if he were awake, he began swallowing, draining the goblet as she tilted it upwards. When it was empty, he sighed and relaxed again. She dropped the goblet beside him, kissed his forehead, and lowered his head carefully back onto the furs.
She stood up again and faced Loki. Her hand was on the buckle to her spiked leather skirt. "I made a bargain. I will pay my share now."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Loki smiled at her, but now, it was different. Instead of the disdainful sneer he had been wearing, it was now the smile that reminded her of meeting a friend in the Great Hall. What changed in him? Then she thought; what had changed in her?
He waved a hand. "I have already taken what I needed. When I am reduced to blackmail to get women to my bed, little one, I will give it up entirely." He walked over and sat down on the log. He reached out and patted the spot beside him. "Now… come sit down, Astrid. We have a lot of gossip to catch up on and not much time."
Astrid tried to put everything together. Why all that? What did he really want? She was thinking so hard, she practically stumbled over to the log. She needed both hands to steady herself as she sat beside Loki. She looked at him, bewildered.
Loki looked out towards the fire. "Tell me, do they still tell stories about Thessa?"
Astrid blinked. She had to adjust a moment to the sudden change of subject. "Thessa? Thessa the Dragoness?"
Loki nodded. "What do you know about her?"
Astrid was still lost. "Well, she lived a hun… um, about two hundred years ago. She was considered very beautiful. I remember her because they say she carried a pair of daggers, with dragon's tooth handles, that some claim were made in Aasgard itself."
Loki rubbed his chin. "Pretty accurate so far. Any more?"
Astrid looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I don't know. There's so many tales. She really did exist. They say she cut off the hand of a man that grabbed her butt. That she killed several suitors." Astrid waved her hand. "Then there's the stories the men tell in Mead Hall when they've had too much, and try to out-do each other. No one knows how much, if any, is true."
Loki laughed lightly. His voice was really pleasant. Astrid found herself relaxing a bit, in spite of her fear.
Loki leaned in and said; "If you took a hundred warriors, and gave them an unlimited amount of ale, they could not tell any story that came close to her real life."
He winked at Astrid. "And she's the only woman I ever loved."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Astrid sat there, her mouth open, her eyes frozen on Loki's face. He smiled and looked back to the fire.
"Hmmm. Well, maybe you should know a few things. Yes, she was extremely beautiful. And she would talk to no man who couldn't defeat her in a duel. Courting her was the most incredible experience I ever knew."
He looked at Astrid and smiled. "And the most dangerous. Some mornings I woke up and she was in the mood for loving. And some mornings I woke up to her trying to run a knife through my chest." Astrid noticed he looked downright wistful. "And some mornings… it was both at once."
Loki sighed. "She did claim no mortal man was good enough for her… and I do love a challenge. I had never felt so alive!"
Astrid thought of something. "She never married. But some tales say she had a child."
Loki grinned at her. "Yes. One loses track of things over centuries. But I found the last known of that bloodline. It was a dark-haired beauty named Valka."
Astrid gasped. "V…Va… Valka?" She was having difficulty breathing again.
Loki winked at her. "Yes. She married some Chieftain somewhere. Stoick, I think his name was."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Astrid was vaguely aware of someone talking to her. Someone was shaking her. Words started reaching her brain.
"… on, now. As pleasant as holding a pretty girl is, we really don't have time for this."
Astrid opened her eyes. So much for it being a dream. Loki was holding her up, and looking concerned. "Ah, you're awake. Sorry… might have been a bit much for one shot."
Astrid blinked. "Hiccup… Hiccup is… he…"
Loki laughed. "Yes, dear. Hiccup is the descendant of Thessa and… myself."
Astrid pushed herself up on her elbows. "But… that means… you already knew that." She got shakily to her knees. "You knew that when you got here." She stood up and faced Loki, just as the last piece fit into place. "You intended to help him all the time, didn't you?"
She shouted; "Then Why in Hel did you put me through that?" She was forgetting her fear, filling with rage at the fact that he had her crawl… no, beg… to give herself to him to save Hiccup.
Without thinking, she swung and hit Loki in the mouth as hard as she could. "You bastard!"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Before she had even finished swinging, part of her brain tried to warn her. I just punched out a God! He's going to kill… my family… everyone!
She dropped to her knees, head bent, hands clasped together in front of her. She was shaking terribly. The old stories of those who had incurred the wrath of the Gods ran through her mind. None of them ended well.
But all she had heard was… laughter? After a few moments more, she dared to look up. Loki had moved away, now kneeling by Hiccup's side. He was looking at the boy, smiling slightly. His hand reached out, and with the gentlest touch, brushed his hair away from his closed eyes. Loki looked around towards Astrid. There was a sadness in his eyes.
"He's very lucky, you know. The blood of Aasgard does not always… mix… properly with most on Midgard." He traced a finger across Hiccup's forehead, and down one cheek. "Most are driven mad by visions. Some have to be put down like an injured animal. Some just… fade away, staring elsewhere until they starve to death." Loki sat back. "But sometimes, they find a strength. They embrace the difference. Those are the ones that change the face of the world."
Astrid slowly crawled on her hands and knees to them. She looked into Loki's eyes. "Why?"
Loki looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
Astrid rocked back and sat on her heels. "Why do it? If it causes so much suffering, why…" there really was no other word. "…breed with us at all?"
Loki sighed. "When the war spilled over into Midgard, it was at its peak. We unleashed forces beyond anything anyone had dared before. Whole areas, hundreds of miles across, are now lifeless desert from the weapons we used on each other." Loki leaned back and drew his knees up. "The losses were horrendous on all sides. We thought to use the peoples of the realms to aid our armies. But Midgard… you were little more than a smarter kind of animal then… living in caves, and killing each other with rocks. You never advanced."
Loki waved a clenched fist at Astrid. "But you had such potential!" There was the touch of Aasgard about the place. You were the closest to us in appearance. You were clever when given a new idea. So we made it happen." He relaxed a little. He placed a finger under Astrid's chin and lifted her face.
"But every thing you built… everything you learned… you turn to mayhem. For every hammer you make, you make ten swords. For every fishing boat you build, you build five warships. Your entire race was on a path of self-destruction. Siege engines, catapults… everything you learned, you turned to death."
"So we decided to… inject… if you forgive me for saying, new blood into the race. You needed a new kind of idea, if you wanted to survive." He moved until his eyes were inches from Astrid's. "Tell me… without Hiccup, what would your people be doing?"
Astrid swallowed. "Fighting dragons forever… dying… killing." She whispered.
Loki sat back up. "Exactly. And that is why he is here. Someone must cut a new path through the forest. And Midgard is pretty much incapable of doing that on its own."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Loki stood up. He offered Astrid a hand, and pulled her to her feet. "And as for why I demanded a payment from you, hear me now. Dark forces are beginning to stir. He will need allies… friends… people he can trust."
Loki took both her hands in his. "You do not find out these things by asking senseless questions. Only by feeling the pain of you, yourself making the choice, could I trust him with you. If you had failed in that, how could you be counted upon in real danger?"
He looked up. "My time is short."
Astrid frowned. "But you're a… God! Why do you keep talking about time?"
Loki smiled. "I'm not the only God involved here. Freya wants your young man. I believe several of her Valkyries are watching even now. We are protected for the moment."
Astrid gasped. Her hand went to her mouth, and she bit her knuckles until they bled. No! Not them! They've come for him!
She choked; "But… you gave him…" Dammit, breathe, girl! "He'll live… won't he?"
Loki put a hand on her shoulder. "He is safe for now. Calm yourself. Even Freya has to follow some rules." He tilted his head and looked at her closely. "Besides, aren't you a shield-maiden? Isn't that your greatest desire? To be chosen as a Valkyrie? The bravest of the brave? Chooser of the slain?"
He smiled. "Have you started your training yet?"
Astrid shook her head. "No. In a few months, when I turn sixteen, I get a tutor."
Loki smiled even broader. "Then you may not know." He leaned in, and whispered in her ear, barely loud enough to hear. "To be chosen as a Valkyrie, a shield-maiden must remain chaste… unblemished… unviolated… un…"
Astrid gasped and jerked away, face red. "Okay! I get the sketching! No men!" She froze, dropping her hands to her sides. She looked down at Hiccup. "No… no men." she whispered.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Loki brushed dust off of his jacket. "Well, I've really enjoyed our little chat. You must stop by for some mead sometime." He smiled. "Oh… sorry. You'd have to be dead for that."
For all she had learned this night, he could still draw a smile from her. She thought a second. "Ummm, Loki?" She looked into his face. "I don't get it. You've been… well… nicer than I thought you were. I mean, you're the God of…"
Loki raised a palm to her. "Darkness? Lies? Chaos? Destruction?" He smiled. "They fill your head with all the old tales of the Prophecy of Ragnarok still, don't they?"
Astrid nodded, confused again.
Loki grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Oh, yes. About how I, the devious trickster, will lead our ancient enemies, the giants, into Aasgard. This is only after, mind you, that Freya has filled her halls with Heroes of Midgard. Then Odin and I kill each other, Aasgard falls, and your realm is plunged into destruction, darkness, and a severe lack of mead."
He looked at Astrid. "Does that about sum it up?"
Astrid stared at him open-mouthed. Then she slowly nodded. "Does that mean that it's all just a… story?"
Loki gave a short, mirthless laugh. "No, my dear. It is completely true!" Then his face became serious. "The part they don't tell you is that I don't want to do it!"
Astrid was stunned. Speechless, she could only stare at him with huge eyes as she tried to overturn a lifetime of teachings.
Loki winked at her. "Look, if you take the prophecy as written, there are so many things that have to happen at certain times. But what if they don't?"
He began pacing back and forth. "If Odin truly believed that I wanted to bring about Ragnarok, he would have my head on a golden tray for his morning meal." He began counting off points on his fingers. "Freya will have her Hall of Heroes filled to the last place… Oh, come on! If I was going to attack, I would have done it centuries ago! Why would I wait for her to gather forces against me?" He counted another finger. "I know it will bring about my death, so why would I want to start anything?"
He looked back to the stunned girl. "No, my dear one, the prophecy is quite true. And my task is to make sure it never happens." He winked. "Besides… the dead are out of my power. I can only torture the living. It would take away all of my fun!"
He stepped closer to Astrid. "Listen closely. The best way to frustrate Freya is to deny her the souls she needs to fill her Hall of Heroes at Valhalla. This young man is very valuable to me, and not only because he carries my blood. You seem smart, now. Tell me why."
Astrid thought. Her mouth worked. Her eyes were narrowed to slits. She glanced at Hiccup lying peacefully by the fire…
"Peace. He… he brings… peace." She looked to Loki's face, her eyes wide. "He stopped the war! He could stop all the war!"
Loki nodded, smiling. "Yes, you begin to see the larger sketching, don't you?"
Astrid wobbled on her feet. Loki guided her by the arm and sat her on the log nearest Hiccup. She was gasping for air again. She thought herself such a fighter! Such a warrior! She suddenly felt very small again. She was a stupid, skinny nothing in this matter. When Gods fought over him, what could she possibly do?
"How can I… what…" She stuttered.
Loki knelt in front of her, hands on her shoulders. "You're not alone in this. You just help us with any… mortal problems. You already know my step-brother is watching you. You have help." He smiled. "Besides, you should know by now, the person Hiccup needs the most protection from is himself!"
Astrid gave a weak smile. "I can do that."
Loki nodded. "Now tell me… why have them pray to me?"
Astrid shrugged. "It just seemed right." She waved a hand at the sleeping hiccup. "Bad as it sounds, I don't think Thor ever paid any notice of him. His entire life seemed to be filled with chaos and destruction. I figured that if any God was paying the least bit of attention to him, it would be… you."
Loki stood up. "Good. The right thing for the wrong reason, but good none the less. Do not feel bad for such thoughts. He surprised everyone this day, even Odin himself." He looked up to see the moon passing its peak. All his magic could only do so much.
He smiled to the sky. "We're still good friends, you know."
Astrid looked up, confused again. Gods, how his mind skipped around. "What? Who?"
Loki looked down at her. "Thessa, of course. She stops by now and then to try and run a knife through me." He winked and sneered wickedly; "And for me to… run something through her."
Astrid thought she had lost the decency to blush at all this night, but felt her cheeks grow warm still.
Loki frowned, and began patting his jacket, like he was looking for something he forgot. "Ah." He pulled out an object wrapped in gold cloth. He tossed it to Astrid.
He turned and began walking away the same direction he arrived. Toothless merely tracked him with his eyes.
Astrid unwrapped the cloth from what he had absently thrown to her. She gasped.
It was a dagger. Impossibly thin. The metal gave strange images of fire reflected in its blade. The handle was a dragon's tooth, tapering from the hilt to a curved point. It was an incredibly beautiful weapon. Was it really…
Loki's voice came to her out of the darkness. "She wants that back, I'll have you know. She says to use it to spice up your love life!"
The glow returned for a few seconds, then died again.
