6
Dream Lord's Heir
"Are you happy, Brenna?" Loki asked his best friend as they returned to his chambers after celebrating the adoption with gingerbread cake and hot cocoa.
She nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "Did you know?"
"That Idunn was going to adopt you?" Loki guessed. "Not until Freya told me just after supper. Then I went to wrap your gift." He colored slightly. "You really liked it? You didn't think it was dumb?"
"No, dork! I love it! Now don't make me mad—or else!" she teased.
Loki laughed, knowing she wasn't serious.
"You would never use it on him," Thori remarked. "You would rather sniff his butt!"
"Gross!" both children yelled.
"Eeww, Loki!" Brenna looked horrified.
"I think I'm going to vomit," Loki grimaced.
"What?" Thori panted. "When I like another dog—"
"Shut up, Lucifer!" Brenna snapped.
Loki groaned. "He is a hellhound."
Brenna rolled her eyes. "Uh, Loki, does this mean eventually I'll go live somewhere else? Like does my mom have a home besides the palace?"
"She did. Back on Asgard, she had estates where her orchards were. Here though, she only has one orchard with the golden apples and the palace is her home."
"Well, I'm kinda glad because I like it here," Brenna said. Then something else occurred to her. "Loki, Gaia said I'm the heir to all her holdings. Does that mean the apple orchard too?"
Loki nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what it means. You are the next Orchard Tender. Once Idunn steps down. Which probably won't be for a long time."
"Good because I'm not ready for that," Brenna told him.
"I never would have guessed," he snorted. "Of course she wouldn't put you in charge now." Loki smiled. "You'll need to learn about how to care for the trees and protect them. But your mother will show you."
Brenna yawned. "Right now the only thing I want to be shown is my pillow."
"Uh huh. I guess we can watch Prince Caspian tomorrow," Loki murmured, suppressing a yawn.
They entered his chambers and within five minutes were both fast asleep, with the puppy curled on Loki's feet.
Castle of Dreams:
Lord Morpheus or Dream sat on his throne as he steepled his long thin fingers together and looked at nothing. His wild black hair stood out around his head and the stars in the blackness which was his eyes shimmered. He wasn't sure, but he felt something was wrong. He had checked the dreams, but there was nothing off. He had checked the House of Mystery and the House of Secrets, but Cain and Able assured him things were fine.
"Then why do I feel troubled?" he said in a soft voice. Standing, he felt his black robes float down around his lean muscular frame and he walked down the stairs. He left the throne room when he headed down the long hallway then he opened the French doors which lead out into the garden. The garden wasn't his. The garden belonged to his brother. He walked down the path when he stopped and looked at his brother.
Destiny was not a god.
Destiny was what was called an Endless.
He, Morpheus and their siblings had many names, but it was only Morpheus who was given god status.
Destiny was taller than he was and wore a long brown robe. His face was aged, but sometimes he looked young and, once or twice, he had a long white beard.
He was also blind.
He didn't need his eyes to see the world around him.
All he saw came from the large book chained to his right wrist and it was said no one, not even a god, could take the book from him.
In the book was the past, present and future of every living being and thing.
It was also known he never stopped walking the path of his garden.
"Brother," Morpheus said, but wasn't sure if Destiny heard him.
"You've finally came." Destiny said with a cold tone.
"You were…expecting me?"
"Yes," he said with a nod. "I have found her."
"You found who?"
"Your daughter," he said and Morpheus frowned,
"I do not have a daughter. Just a son."
Orpheus, the demi-god of myth and the son of Morpheus, was not happy when his father had found his severed head in a temple dedicated to him nor did he like the fact he had been brought to the dream realm. He barely spoke to him and Morpheus felt what happened to him and his wife was his fault.
"How do you know she is my daughter?"
"She can enter mortals' dreams and move about them."
"She could just be a witch."
"No, she is your daughter!"
"If she is, where is she and who is her mother?"
"She is in Asgard. As for her mother, that is for you to remember," Destiny said and Morpheus was surprised to see he was back in his castle. Morpheus hated it when his brother just dismissed him as he sighed then went back to the throne room.
If it was true that he did have a daughter, there was one person in Asgard who could help him.
Idunn!
Asgardia:
Brenna woke to Loki shaking her slightly. "Hey, princess, rise and shine!"
She opened one eye. "Too early! Go 'way, Loki!" she shoved the pillow over her head.
"Bre-e-nna!" he drawled the syllables of her name annoyingly. "Get up! We have to apologize to the walking idiot today. And I want to just do it and get it over with."
"Five more minutes!"
Loki rolled his eyes. "Norns! You are worse to wake up than my brother was! Fine. Five more minutes."
He timed her on his phone.
Then he went back to wake her up and she still refused. Exasperated, he grabbed a quill from his desk and pulled back the blanket and tickled her foot.
She jerked her foot back.
He tickled her other foot.
"Loki, stop!" she yelped.
"Then get up!" he was smirking. He waved the feather at her.
"You are so getting snow down your pants, mister!" she growled.
He laughed. "Oooh now I'm scared!"
She threw her pillow at him.
Thori barked, wagging his tail.
"Shut up, mutt!" Fandral yelled from the other room. "Before I get a muzzle!"
Brenna sat up. "Jeez Louise! What bug crawled up his butt and died?"
"The same one that bit you?" Loki teased.
"Shut up, Laufeyson!" she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Why are you so grumpy?" he asked, lofting an eyebrow.
She sighed. "I had some weird dreams last night. Didn't sleep well."
"What do you mean, weird?"
"There was this castle and some weird guy with a book chained to him and he kept saying, 'I found her.' Made no sense." She yawned.
"Maybe you should tell Idunn?"
"Tell her what?" Brenna shrugged. "I've almost forgotten it now. Hey, what did you mean before when you called me princess?"
"You are a princess now. Because Idunn is one of the AllMothers. Like I'm a prince because of Odin."
"Seriously? Holy Toledo!" she whistled. "Uh, I don't feel very princess like, Loki. My hair's a wreck and I can't dance."
"What does dancing have to do with being a princess?"
"In the movies, all the princesses can dance. I can't. Dance with me and you're gonna need crutches afterwards."
"Only because you never learned how. It's like skating."
"Let me guess. You know how."
"My mother taught me. You have to know at least the basic court dances. I can teach you."
"Once we get back, I'm taking a nap," she said, and rose from the bed, going to her trunk and picking out a soft rose colored skirt, white shirt, bodice and a matching shirt jacket. She went behind the screen to change.
She walked shyly out from behind it. "Uh . . . how do I look?"
"You look . . . pretty," Loki said. "Don't forget your diadem." He handed it to her.
"Right. Uh, where's breakfast?"
"On the tray," he waved a hand at it.
She found pancakes with syrup and bacon. "Yum!"
Loki sat across from her and nibbled another piece of bacon and drank some peppermint tea while he waited for Brenna. He gave Thori a piece of bacon and muttered, "Now don't say I never gave you anything."
"Pushover," Brenna chuckled. "So I guess now everyone will know I'm Idunn's daughter because of this?" she indicated the diadem.
"That's the idea. But even without it,they would know. Nothing happens around here like that without every servant in the castle knowing before dark falls. And what the servants know, so do their noble masters and ladies."
"Somehow I get the feeling that's not going to go over well with everyone."
"It might not, but there's nothing they can do about it. It was a binding adoption. Like mine. They might complain but not to your face. They wouldn't dare, not with the AllMothers watching."
"But they do to you and you're a prince."
"It's not really the same. You know why. And those noble boys wouldn't have dared to lay a hand on me if Thor were here. He would have punched them into next week. And well . . . it is against the law to hurt a royal of Asgard. Unless they can prove just cause."
"Like they would be thrown in jail?"
"Yes. Or flogged. Or if they tried to kill you, they would be executed." Loki told her.
"That is pretty mean, why not just have them told off?"
"Uh, what would happen if someone tried to kill your president? That's happened before, right? Didn't whoever did it die?"
"The guy who shot Kennedy was shot by a private citizen."
"Yes, but that criminal still died. Because you can't let people go around killing your rulers. Well, this is kind of the same thing."
"But I'm not a ruler," Brenna protested.
"Yes, you are. You're Idunn's heir and she rules Asgardia. So that makes you royal. By adoption or blood, it makes no difference. Remember the words of the oath? You inherit all her holdings and titles."
"Loki, my head is spinning from all this."
"All right. Just remember, nobody can harm you without getting in a world of trouble."
"Um okay. This gonna take getting used to. Do I have to go to school?"
"If Idunn doesn't teach you magic herself, one of the other Mothers will. For the rest, she will probably hire tutors to give you princess lessons."
"Did you have them?"
"Yes. In my last incarnation. And though I don't recall much about what I did then-that I do recall," Loki informed her.
"Good. Then you can keep me from messing up."
"I will help you. Stop fretting. You will pick it up." He gave her hand a pat. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, let's go," she stood up and followed him out the door.
When they arrived at the ice cream shop they found Bert sweeping the shop, much to Brenna's shock. "He's doing community service?" she whispered.
"What is that?"
"It's when you do things like pick up litter and work around town to pay off misdemeanors," Brenna explained.
"Ah. So he is in trouble too." Loki said as they approached.
Brenna grinned. "Looks like it."
Loki gave Thori's leash to Brenna to hold then went towards the bigger boy.
Bert looked up from sweeping the dirt into a pile and paled when he saw who was there. "You! You just stay away from me!" He backed away, almost cringing behind the broom.
Loki lofted an eyebrow in astonishment. He's scared of me after one punch?
"I will be happy to comply with your request," he began.
"Say what?"
"He means he'll do what you want," Brenna translated.
"You will? Then why not just say so?"
Loki cast his eyes heavenward. "I did. Listen, I will not bother you again. I'm here because my mother made me come here. I'm sorry I hit you." He held out a hand.
Bert nearly tripped over his own feet. "Stay away!"
"Very well," Loki shrugged. "I have kept my promise."
"Heard and witnessed," Brenna declared. "Let's make like a banana and split, Loki."
"As you wish, Brenna." Loki nodded. Then he took the puppy's leash back and they turned and went back to the castle.
"That was weird but cool."
"At least I apologized," he said.
"So now we're all good," Brenna stated. "What do you want to do now?"
Thinking, Loki kicked at a pile of snow. "What do you suggest?"
"We could go sledding," she said.
"Sledding?" He grinned, nodding his agreement. "That sounds like fun! I know a hill in one of the gardens that is perfect for that.
"Great!" she said and they headed for the gardens.
Idunn's Garden
Idunn watered the rosebushes when she felt tired and placed the watering can down. She walked to a bench near one of the weeping willow trees then sat down, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She felt herself drifting into the Dream Realm as she opened her eyes and blinked.
"Hello, Idunn," a soft voice said. Turning, she saw Morpheus standing behind her and he had his hands in front of him. His snow-white skin shimmered as his wild black hair floated around his head and he walked closer. The long black robe made no sound as he moved and she found herself getting lost in his eyes. It felt like she was looking at the night sky and the stars twinkled in the blackness.
"Hello, Lord Morpheus," she said with a small curtsy.
"I do regret pulling you away from your work, but I do need to speak with you," he said, pointing with his hand to the chairs at his right. They walked to the chairs then sat down when she noticed the table set with a tea set and he poured some tea into a china teacup. She nodded, taking the cup and sipped on the rose tea.
"What do you wish to speak to me about?" she asked, placing the cup on the saucer.
"I need to speak to you about my daughter."
"I didn't know you had one."
"It appears I do. The problem is I have no idea who she is, where she is or who her mother was."
"That does tend to happen with gods and goddess," she teased and could just see a hint of a smile on his face. "How may I help you find her?"
"I am not really sure. If she truly is my daughter, she would have some of my powers."
"Do you mean she could enter the Dream Realm or other people's dreams?"
"Yes," he said with a nod.
"Would she be able to interact with those whose dreams she visits?"
"Yes," he said, raising an eyebrow and his thin lips spread into a line. "You seem to know who I am talking about."
"I'm not really sure," she said cautiously, wondering if she should tell him about Brenna or not. She had just adopted Brenna and she knew full well Morpheus would take Brenna away from her if she did tell him.
"I might. She is my daughter," she said and his eyes widened,
"Your…daughter? How can that be possible? You and I…."
"No, I have adopted her," she said and told him about Brenna, Loki and her adopting Brenna.
"I see," he said and she saw the stars swirling in the blackness of his eyes. She knew that meant he was angry and she regretted telling him. "I am not angry with you."
"That is good to hear."
"If this Brenna truly is my daughter, I would like to meet her."
"I was afraid you would say that," she said, lowering her head. Morpheus saw the sadness in her face. He remembered how sad her dreams were after she had lost her first daughter and he sat up straighter.
"Idunn, I assure you I have no intention of taking her from you," he began and she stared at him. "I am not even sure she is mine."
"Would you….? Would you like to meet her?"
"I would like that," he said with a small smile then waved his hands and Idunn woke up. She stood up when she turned and saw Morpheus standing near the rose bushes. His hair was brushed back and he was wearing a black suit, a white shirt, a black leather belt, black sunglasses, a black tie and black hard leather shoes.
"Is this alright?" he asked and she smiled.
"Yes," she said when she heard Loki and Brenna's voices coming from one of the snow-covered hills. "Follow me."
They walked toward the snow-covered hills as she looked at him and swore the God of Dreams was nervous.
"Oh! I almost caught you that time, Loki!" Brenna laughed as she coasted her sled to a stop. Her cheeks were red from cold but she was warm despite racing Loki down the hill. Her new Asgardian clothing kept her insulated and prevented her hands and feet from being frozen. She had lost her hat down the hill, but Loki promised she could get it later when they were done sledding. It showed up as a mauve blotch against the snow.
Loki laughed, his smile flashing mirror bright in his pale face. "Almost only counts in horseshoes. Want to go again?"
Brenna whooped and dragged the sled back up the hill. There was a clear cut path in the snow from her and Loki doing so for several times.
She reached the top and stood poised behind her sled. Loki was next to her, the green runners on his sled glistening with snow.
"Ready?" he called.
"On your mark, get set . . . GO!" she yelled and ran and jumped on her sled, landing in a kneeling position. She quickly sat down and held onto to sides, screaming as the sled picked up speed down the hill. "Yee-hah!"
Loki soon caught up to her, however, and she had no idea how he managed to pass her, but the next thing she knew she was staring at the back of his green coat as he sledded past her, his black hair blowing out behind him.
"Aww Jeez Louise! How does he do that?" she moaned. Then she laughed because she really didn't care that Loki was faster than she was. The fun was all in flying down the hill with her best friend.
Loki guided his sled to a stop about ten seconds before Brenna came to the bottom of the hill. "Norns! What a rush!" he yelled, his green eyes sparkling.
Brenna slowed her sled and stopped. "That was fun! But how do you manage to beat me down every time?"
"Ah, I've been sledding down this hill for months. And my frost sense tells me how fast the snow is,' he admitted.
"Frost sense?"
"Yes. I can sense how deep snow is and how hard or soft it is packed. How thick ice is somewhere and how much it will snow during a storm. It's part of my frost magic."
"That's neat!"
Loki wondered how neat she would think it if she knew he was really a frost giant? He longed to tell her, but he was afraid to. What if she thought he was a monster like the other Asgardian boys?
"Loki, do you think my mom can teach me how to use that magic I have with the wind?"
"Yes. She has Air Mastery." Loki replied.
The children stood up, ready to go back up the hill again, when they saw Idunn and a stranger in a black suit come towards them.
"Who is that?" asked Brenna.
Loki frowned. "I don't know."
She edged closer to Loki, feeling nervous of the stranger. "Maybe we should get someone. He looks creepy."
He put his hand on her shoulder. "Idunn is here. She would never let him hurt us."
She nodded but still looked nervous. "Cool beans."
As they drew closer, Morpheus saw the smaller figure was a girl with shoulder length brown hair wearing a gold diadem. The boy topped her by three inches, yet there was something spirited about her. She had a heart shaped face but it was the eyes which caused him to gasp in recognition. Pools of green and brown mingled, eyes that called to him and suddenly he remembered where he had seen those eyes before.
Over twelve years ago, he had seen those same eyes in a different face. A face of unearthly beauty.
Seraphina, he thought.
"Loki, who is he?" She asked, his black eyes still staring and making her uncomfortable. "Is he Death?"
"I don't think so."
"I hope he is nice."
"Brenna, Loki, may I present Lord Morpheus?" Idunn smiled at them.
"Hi." Brenna squeaked out.
Loki gave a short bow. "Greetings, my Lord."
"Hello. To answer your question, Death is my sister. After a fashion." Morpheus replied in a cool, accented voice. "My other moniker is Dream."
"Do you know a tall man with a book, sir? I dreamt him last night." Brenna blurted out.
Morpheus looked at her in surprise. " I do child, his name is Destiny. His book has the fates of all living beings written in it.
"Like the Norns!" Loki exclaimed.
"Yes. Like the Norns."
"In my dream he kept saying I found her. If you're the Lord of Dreams, what did he mean?" Brenna queried. "I almost never remember my dreams but if I do it must be important."
"He was speaking to me," Morpheus said.
"Why would he tell you he found someone?"
"He was speaking of my daughter."
"Your daughter?" Brenna asked with a suspicious look.
"He is speaking of you, Daughter," Idunn said and Brenna's eyes widened.
"Wait... what?" Brenna said, her voice showing her shock.
"Are you saying that you are Brenna's father?" Loki queried, his emerald eyes narrowed.
"I am. But I thought her lost."
"Lost?! It isn't like I'm a wallet or something!" Brenna half-shouted.
"Do you prefer the term misplaced, Daughter?"
"How could you misplace a baby?" Loki frowned.
"Yeah, and I have a name!" Brenna said.
"It is a long story," Morpheus said as he half-closed his eyes and tried to remember all the details.
"Ok, I'll make it easy for you. Who is my mom?!"
"Her name was Seraphina."
"Who was she?" Loki asked and Morpheus looked at him. Loki noticed the bright stars dancing in the blackness of his eyes and felt his mind being drawn into the darkness.
"Loki, you ok?" Breena asked as she gently shoved him and Loki blinked his eyes a few times.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said and Morpheus looked down at his feet.
"Seraphina was an angel," Morpheus softly said.
"Was? Is she dead?" Brenna queried.
"No. But . . . She might as well be. She is forbidden to have any contact with her former life." Morpheus sighed.
"An angel? What? This is way weird!"
"Why is it forbidden?" Loki wanted to know.
"Seraphina was one of the Guardians of the Silver City, the home of the Angels. She enjoyed watching mortals live their lives, but she was also very sad that she couldn't interact with them."
"Angels can't interact with people?" Brenna asked.
"Not all of them, no," Morpheus said with a shake of his head. "What mortals call "Guardian Angels" are the only ones who can."
"Did anyone else know this stuff?"
"Yes, but most were ignored or thought of as mad."
"From what I understand, they are similar to our Valkyrie," Idunn said. "Only allowed to interact with mortals at certain times and ways. They also are supposed to be above such things as desire and love. Except for love of their god. She certainly was not supposed to fall in love with you, correct,my Lord?"
"You are correct," he said then looked at Brenna. "You look just like her."
"How...? How did you meet?" Brenna asked.
"I met her in her dreams. I do not normally enter the dreams of angels. It is mostly bright lights and singing praise to God. But her dreams were different. She dreamed about being mortal and living a mortal life. I will admit I found her and her dreams...interesting."
"How did she react when she saw you?" Loki asked.
"She thought me a demon."
"Sounds familiar. But a real demon wouldn't be able to get into her dreams." Loki pointed out.
"It was because of this," Morpheus said and waved his hands.
His head was encased in a strange helmet with what looked like a long spinal column going down the front and his eyes were covered with dark tinted lens.
"Whoa!" Brenna gasped as she ducked behind Loki and Loki's eyes were wide. Morpheus sighed as he waved his hands and the helmet vanished.
"How did you convince her you weren't a demon?" Loki asked.
"I took the helmet off," Morpheus said with a small grin. "I wasn't sure how she would react to seeing the real me, but it appears she found me appealing."
"Gross! No! Don't tell me that part!" Brenna shouted, waving her hands for him to stop.
"So, by falling in love with you, she gave up being an angel to be with you?" Loki asked.
"Yes, though I did try to talk to out of it. For her to lose her place in the Silver City would have been catastrophic."
"What would have happened to her?" Brenna asked.
"She would have became one of the Fallen," he said with a sigh.
"She would have become a demon?!"
"Yes."
Great move, "Dad", she thought.
"She pleaded with the Trinity to become human so we could have our love. Finally, she was made mortal and was sent to Earth or Midgard," he said with a look in his eyes. "We were happy, but my duties kept us apart. One day, she told me she had to return to the Silver City, but she had left me a gift."
"Me?" Brenna asked.
"You," he said with a nod. "I had no idea our relationship had produced a child. She told me she had left you at a church and hoped I would find you there."
"Why didn't you go look for me ?!"
"I didn't go look because the necklace she had given you had been stolen. She told me it would be how I would be able to find you."
"What necklace?!" Brenna asked.
""She said it was a gold chain with a gold pendant of angel wings with a dream stone at the center."
"You're lying! The only thing that was in the basket was a pink blanket!"
"I didn't go look for you due to the fact, when I had gone to the church, the priest said you were gone. I invaded his dreams to see what had happened and discovered she had left you with a necklace which was supposed to tell me where you were."
"I was still around though!"
"Yes, I see that. If you still had the necklace..."
"Knock it off about the necklace! The fact is you abandoned me!"
Brenna's words hurt Morpheus to the core. Another of his children was rejecting him. Idunn noticed how hurt he looked as she glared at her daughter and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Daughter, you do not talk to him like that!" Idunn said.
"No, she has all right to be angry with me," Morpheus said.
"Like I need your permission," Brenna said.
"And you are right. I was lying.," he said with a sigh. "Your mother wasn't just granted a mortal life. She was considered a Fallen. Her wings had been stripped, as well as her powers, and she was cast down to live as a mortal just for loving me. She begged and prayed for forgiveness after she became pregnant with you. Her prayers were finally answerd and she was reinstated. The last thing she told me was she had to leave you behind."
"Great! I was abandoned by both of my parents!" Brenna said.
"She had no choice and I..."
"I don't care! I spent eleven YEARS on my own! I was called a demon spawn and a freak! I was persecuted and treated like garbage! I had no home! I had no family! No one cared if I lived or died! Now you show up and tell me you're my dad and that's supposed to make things better?!"
"Daughter...," Idunn sighed.
"No! Leave me alone! All of you!"
With tears in her eyes, Brenna ran off as Loki looked from Idunn to Morpheus then ran after his best friend.
"Brenna! Wait!" He shouted, running through the snow after her.
She was so upset she did not hear Loki. Her feet took her up into the foothills, that overlooked the palace complex.
"Brenna!" He chased after his friend, not wanting to lose her.
Finally exhausted, Brenna sat down in the snow and placed her face in her hands. She bent her knees up as she cried and the hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
Loki ran through the snow, catching his breath. He sat next to her and waited for her to see him before talking.
Brenna looked up and saw him sitting there, eyeing her with a mixture of understanding, sorrow, and concern. "Loki?" she sniffled.
"I'm here," he reached out a hand and she clasped it.
They remained that way for long moments before Loki said, " You know, I felt the same way when Odin told me about Laufey. Angry, shocked, and scared."
"You did?"
"Yes. Because I thought I was a monster."
"Why?"
"Because Laufey is a frost giant. And he left me to die."
She gaped at him. "YOU are a Frost Giant!?"
He nodded heavily. "So Odin told me. Rejected because I was small. Frost giant and master shapeshifter. You gonna run screaming from me now?"
"Why on Earth would I do that?"
"You're not afraid of me?"
"No! Are you afraid of me because I'm half Angel and god?"
"Demi-goddess. And nephilim. And of course I'm not."
"Well, there's your answer, dork! I don't care if you're half-dragon. You're still my BFF." Then she hugged him.
Astonished, he murmured, "You really don't mind? Most of the boys in Asgard think I'm a dangerous monster."
"Then they need their heads examined!" she flared.
"Not much there to examine," he chuckled.
"Yup! You have ten times the brains they do. Is that why you have frost magic?"
"That's why. And there's one more thing. My magpie, Ikol." He told her about the bird who was actually a piece of his evil first incarnation.
"So you trapped him in the magpie?" Brenna queried.
"Yes. It was all I could do." Loki replied.
"Then where is he now?"
"I have no idea. Ever since the Yule feast, he went missing."
"Maybe he won't come back." Brenna said hopefully.
"I fear that more than I do him being with me," the young Jotun murmured. "Because if he's with me he isn't somewhere causing trouble."
Brenna nodded. Then she stared at her boots, wondering what she should do about Morpheus . . . her father.
"I think you should talk with him," Loki interrupted her thoughts.
"Talk is cheap," she snorted. "He's a god . . . why didn't he look for me?"
Loki smiled sadly. "Because even gods screw up. We're not as all-powerful as we like to make you mortals think. Nobody knows that better than me. Odin messed up big time with me. He should have told me from the first that I was his adopted son. Instead he let me live a lie . . . a lie that led me to my own destruction in my first incarnation. But NOT this one. As much as I can, I am trying to have a second chance."
She eyed him warily. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying you ought to give Morpheus a chance. He can't make up for the past, but he sure can give it a try now. He wouldn't be here if he didn't want to get to know you. At least you have that now. My real father doesn't want spit to do with me. Then or now. " He heaved a sigh. "Take what he offers, Brenna."
"What if . . . Loki-what if he wants to take me away from Idunn and Asgardia? I don't want to go!" She clung to him.
"Hey, I don't think that's what he wants. But . . . don't let him walk all over you. Make him a deal. Like when Midgardians get divorced. Tell him you will agree to see him on certain days, and make him teach you how to control your dream magic. That way he's a part of your life but you don't need to live with him."
She stared at him, hope blooming anew in her heart. "Loki, that's brilliant!" She hugged him.
"What can I say?" he grinned at her.
She shoved him playfully. "Don't let it go to your head, dork!"
He laughed. "So shall we go back and tell them of your new terms?"
Before Brenna could agree, a new voice declared coldly from behind, "Well, well. If it isn't the rejects! The monster and the witch!"
Loki stiffened and they turned to see four much older boys, around seventeen, surrounding them. "What do you want?" the Trickster prince asked, hoping to bluff his way out of this, for he knew who they were and they clearly intended worse mischief than any he had ever done.
"We want you and your little witch girl to get what;s coming to you, Trickster!" snapped the biggest of them, a sandy-haired lout with muddy brown eyes called Tolk.
"What are you, brain-dead?" Brenna remarked sassily. "You can't hurt us. We're royalty."
"Says who?" snorted a second boy with bones tied in his greasy locks. He was Vashti the brother of Olaf.
"She was adopted by Mother Idunn yesterday, Vashti," snapped Loki. "She is a princess of Asgard."
"Another one of your tricks!" sneered a red-head with braided hair, Rolf the brother of Vidrun.
"And we aren't falling for it!" mocked the last boy, Wulfstan who was the cousin of Ragnar. "You cost our families wereguild, Trickster and we're gonna take it outta your hides!"
Brenna looked at Loki, beginning to be scared. "Are they serious? Their daddy musta married his sister!"
Loki nearly strangled on his laughter. Because Brenna didn't realize just how bad an insult that was to an Asgardian.
Rolf sneered. "Someone grab her, I am going to teach her a lesson first."
"Don't touch me, you bastard son of a goat!" Brenna cried, pointing to her diadem. "Or else you're going to end up on a chain gang busting rocks the rest of your life!" She tried desperately to summon the wind she had before, but it would not come.
"Leave her alone, Rolf! You know the penalty for harming a Blood Royal!" Loki warned, calling a snowball to his hand.
"Which she isn't!" brayed Wulfstan. "She's just your mortal friend! Like YOU aren't blood either, Jotun bastard! You are vermin we need to exterminate!"
Loki gulped. He knew they were in serious trouble. "Brenna!" he hissed out of the corner of his mouth. "Run when I tell you. Get help!"
"Whispering sweet nothings to your girlfriend, Loki?" mocked Vashti.
"Him? He's not even old enough to shave, much less know where to dip his wick!" laughed Tolk. "Like any proper maid would have him!"
'Maybe we'll save them the trouble of asking!" Rolf growled, slamming one meaty fist against the other. "You are going to get hurt."
"Look over there! It's Volstagg!" Loki shouted, pointing behind then while casting a simple illusion.
The four turned to look and Loki slammed them with some snowballs. "Run, Brenna!"
"You run too." Brenna said, running down the hill.
But Loki knew that he could not slip past them and so he stayed to make sure she got away safely. Just as Thor had done for him so many times.
"We will get her later, monster." Vashti hissed, the four boys surrounding Loki.
Brenna glanced over her shoulder and saw her friend standing alone against all four of the larger and stronger boys. She knew quite well what they would do to him, having seen what gangs of boys did to victims. They'll kill him! she thought in terror. I can't leave him!
Clasping her crystal she yelled, "Mom! Help us! They're killing Loki!" into it. She felt the crystal heat up. Then she turned and drew the barbeque fork from her belt.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Brenna screamed, charging back up the hill with her fork clutched in her hand.
The wind came then with a howl of thwarted vengeance and slammed into Tolk, knocking him from his feet. Brenna stabbed one of them with the fork in the thigh, making the boy scream.
Rolf lunged at Loki, hitting him in the eye and knocking him down. "Where's your tricks now, bastard?"
"Behind you, and with a fork."
"Yeeoow!" Wulfstan howled. He spun around and saw his tiny adversary armed with a two tined barbeque fork. "I'm going to break your fingers, bitch!"
Rolf snorted. "You're done, Laufeyson! And when we're through with you, Odin won't have enough to put on a bier to burn you!"
Tolk got up from the ground and ran at Brenna. The wind had bruised and shaken him, but he was not badly injured. His hand came out and grabbed the slender girl by the hair, lifting her off the ground. "Looky here, boys! I caught me a witch!"
"Let me go!" Brenna yelled, the fork falling from her grip.
"Beat her!" Rolf shouted.
Brenna screamed and struggled in his grip, yelling for Loki and Idunn.
"Like Hel!" Loki felt his temper explode.
Wulfstan walked to the struggling girl, cocking back a fist and let it fly toward her face.
Loki blasted him with a cone of frost, freezing him where he stood.
"Good shot!" Brenna shouted.
"You'll pay for that, Trickster!" Rolf bellowed and suddenly he found himself knee deep in snow as Loki used his frost magic to increase and drift it.
But Vashti was still free and he went to punch Brenna.
"WHAT THE HEL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Idunn appeared with Morpheus just in time to see Vashti attempting to assault her daughter who was being held by the hair. The sorceress' eyes darkened wrathfully and she made a single sharp gesture.
A nearby small oak tree suddenly came alive and grabbed Vashti in its branches and proceeded to beat the crap out of the boy.
Tolk paled and dropped Brenna into the snow, holding his hands out. "Please, AllMother! Mercy!"
"You so messed up!" Brenna shouted, grinning at the boys.
"You DARE harm my daughter?!" Morpheus yelled, starting for Tolk.
"Who the Hel is that?" wailed Rolf, falling backwards into the snow.
"That is her father, dipstick!" Loki cried.
"Please, sir! I didn't touch her!" Rolf whimpered. "I only hit Loki!"
"Who is my friend." Brenna shouted.
Idunn held out a hand. "Morpheus, hold! They fall under my jurisdiction as leader of Asgard. I will see to their punishment!"
Morpheus pulled his magic back. "As you will, Idunn."
Idunn released Vashti from the tree, ignoring his sobbing. "Now-let us all retire to the throne room." She contacted Freya and Gaia mentally to come there also.
Then she called up a portal and everyone reappeared in the throne room.
"Neat trick." Brenna whispered to Loki.
"I told you she was a powerful sorceress," he whispered back, cupping his eye.
"Does that hurt?"
"Some," he admitted. Actually his whole left side of his face was throbbing.
"We will get you some ice afterwards."
"Sister, what has happened here?" Freya asked, surveying them.
"They tried to beat us up!" Brenna shouted, pointing at the boys.
"These four wretches I found attempting to assault my daughter and Loki!" Idunn declared angrily.
Gaia frowned. "Loki, what happened to your face?"
"Rolf punched me,' Loki replied, removing his hand so she could see his eye which was swelling shut.
"It needs ice."
Loki conjured some snow and held it to his eye.
The goddess whirled on Rolf. "You DARE strike a prince of the blood?"
"I hit a monster!" Rolf shouted back, crossing his arms.
"I . . .he's not . . ." sputtered Vashti.
"Where do you get off saying who is and is not royal, boy?" Gaia demanded. "He is still Odin's son! As Brenna is Idunn's daughter! By law of adoption they are kin! And to strike a member of the royal house is both a crime and a disgrace! You are lucky that this was not the days of Bor else your hand would be forfeit!
On thy knees, knave, before the AllMothers!"
"They so messed up, Loki." Brenna whispered to him.
Trembling Rolf and the two other boys dropped to their knees. Wulfstan was still frozen, so Freya waved a hand and released him. "Kneel!"
Wulfstan obeyed, whimpering.
"Now, we must have facts before we render a judgment," Freya declared. She looked at Loki. "Prince Loki, do tell us what transpired as far as you are able."
Loki told them everything, saying he had gone to speak with Brenna concerning her father, Lord Morpheus, whom they had just met. "We were going back to the gardens to talk to him when Rolf, Vashti, Tolk and Wulstan came upon us . . ."
He related nearly verbatim the words they exchanged, making sure to stress that the four had been warned multiple times by both himself and Brenna about harming them. He also stressed that all four of the boys insisted they were lying, that they wanted to harm them out of revenge and might even have gone so far as to maim or kill them.
Freya turned to Brenna. "Princess Brenna, do you agree with these statements?"
"Every word," Brenna said. "We did nothing to them. They attacked us just like Loki said."
"Morpheus and I saw them as well," Idunn confirmed. She pointed to Vashti. "That one I have dealt with already."
Freya eyed the other boys coldly. "And you? What have you to say in your defense?
Wulfstan stood, glaring at everyone.
"We did Asgardia a favor! That monster deserves no succor from any of us and should leave before someone dies at his hands!"
"He is right! It is only a matter of time before Loki does what he did in the past again!" Rolf shouted, feeling bold.
Idunn glared at him. "The only pair of hands I see someone in danger of dying at is yours and your friends! You attacked two children half your size without provocation and threatened to seriously injure or kill them. What did my daughter ever do to you? Nothing! Furthermore, YOU are not sanctioned to pass judgement on anyone as to whether or not they are a threat to this kingdom."
Freya scowled. "Might I remind you that Odin himself decreed that Loki was still his son and prince of Asgard. And Thor brought him back here because this is where his brother belongs. Many in Asgardia are not original denizens of this realm-myself included. Yet we are no less loyal to it than those born of it. "
"Odin and Thor are fools! He can't be trusted!" Tolk shouted.
"They should both move into cages!" Rolf shouted back, glaring at them. "They are less than animals."
Gaia scowled. "You are the fool for insulting the judgment of your leader, who has lived thousands of years more than you have and seen more than you shall should you be lucky enough to live so long. Do you know how many tyrants and evil beings the AllFather has faced? More than you can count! His own brother was destroyed because of it.
Forget not that the Norns themselves judged Loki worthy of rebirth and granted it. Who then are you to argue with them?"
"The Norns are fools! As are you!" Tolk replied, crossing his arms.
"Enough!" a familiar voice boomed as they turned and saw Thor standing there. He was shimmering in a white light while an invisible wind blew through his hair and Loki's eyes widened.
Morpheus titled his head to one side when he felt something tap his back and he turned. Behind him was a young woman with a beautiful face and a flawless body and she was wearing a black lace vest over a white silk shirt, black leather jeans and black leather boots. She held a black lace umbrella in her hand and a black silk top hat was on her head. Her violet eyes sparkled as she grinned and he smiled back.
"Thought you could use a little help," Death said with a nod toward Thor. "Just tell the kid I can't let him come back. He's just visiting."
"Thor...?" Loki said with tears in the corners of his eyes. Before anyone could stop him, Loki ran for his brother and Thor held his arms out. He wrapped his arms around his little brother as they hugged then he moved back.
"Hello, Brother," Thor said.
"How?! What?!"
"Lady Death sent me," Thor said, pointing at Death and she waved at Loki.
"She sent you back?!"
"No, I am just visiting," he said then looked at the boys.
Brenna gaped in confusion. "What is going on?"
"Prince Thor!?" Rolf gasped.
"How can this be?! You're dead!" Wulfstan shouted.
"He did it!" Tolk shouted, pointing to Loki. "He brought him back as a demon!"
"Are these guys for real?!" Death asked, looking at her brother.
"They are foolish idiots hoping to delay their own just punishment. They grasp at straws as the floor crumbles beneath their feet," Morpheus remarked.
"Whoa! They really have gotten you mad, haven't they?!" she asked then stuck out her tongue at them and gave them the Evil Eye.
"They attacked my daughter," Morpheus replied.
"Oh. Right. Destiny told me that you have one now ," she said and looked at Brenna. "She's got your temper."
Loki didn't want to let go of Thor. He wanted to hold onto him forever. He couldn't stand the idea of Thor having to leave him again and Thor felt his body trembling against his.
"Loki, look at me," Thor said and Loki looked up at his brother. "It is true that I am only here for now, but I promise we will be together again."
"I want us to be together now! Look at what's happening. No one wants me! No one cares! They just want to kill me!" Loki said with a gulped breath and tears rolled down his face.
"No, Brother, you are not alone," Thor said as he moved back then knelt down. He placed his hand against Loki's chest over his heart and Loki looked down. "I am right here. So is Mother. And you have an amazing friend."
Loki glanced at Brenna then looked at Thor and Thor smiled.
"Hey dingbat patrol!" Brenna glared at her tormentors. "You might wanna shut up with all the Nazi talk. Because in case you haven't noticed, you are up the creek without a paddle for breaking your own laws."
"See what I mean?!" Thor said with a chuckle.
"Yup. Definitely your temper, brother," Death laughed.
"Yes," Morpheus said and felt proud of his daughter.
Thor stood then he walked to the AllMothers then bowed and Loki came to stand next to his brother.
"It is good to see you again," Idunn said and Thor nodded.
"It feels good to be seen," Thor said then paused. "If only for a short time."
The four boys looked at the former Thunder God as they wondered what he was going to do and Thor glared at them.
Brenna nudged Loki. "Your brother is pretty cool."
"Yeah. He is," Loki whispered and smiled up at Thor.
"We are not afraid of you, Demon!" Rolf cried.
"We'll destroy you just as we'll destroy these monsters!" Wulfstan bragged.
Brenna facepalmed herself. "I swear, they are the product of incest!" she whispered to Loki. "Because nobody can be that dumb!"
"Silence!" Freya shouted. "We have decided! Since you harmed the son of Odin, have threatened a hero of Asgard and have harmed a princess of Asgardia, we will let your fates lie in the hands of her father!"
"Whoa! They're going to let YOU decide what to do with them?!" Death asked then made a low whistle. "They are doomed."
"What can he do?! He's nothing, but a second-rate demon!" Tolk said.
"She's right. They are that dumb," Death whispered.
Morpheus gave them a blank look when an invisible wind moved through his wild black hair while his clothes changed into his black robe and his helmet appeared in his hands. Slowly, he raised the helmet as he placed the helmet onto his head then he seemed to float off the ground.
"Wow," Brenna whispered and Loki nodded.
The boys couldn't take their eyes off of the Lord of Dreams as he waved his hands and they were encased in darkness.
"I am not a demon," his voice said in the darkness. "I am Morpheus! I am Dream! And I will show you true demons!"
Screaming came from the darkness surrounding the boys when the darkness faded and the boys were huddled on the ground, holding onto each other. Morpheus lowered himself to the ground when he removed the helmet and Death poked him with the tip of his umbrella.
"You don't do things half way, do you?" she whispered and he glared at her.
"They have learned their lesson." he said in a cold tone as the boys looked at him and he arched an eyebrow. "Apologize to my daughter and her friend."
The four obeyed, all the self-righteousness bravado gone from their tones.
"What happened?" Brenna asked Loki.
Loki shook his head. "He did something, showed them something, that scared the Hel out of them. I doubt they will come near us again."
"Good. I hope they got super scared." Brenna said, crossing her arms.
"I warn you," Morpheus said with a cold tone. "If any further harm comes to my daughter or her friend, I will know who caused it or who provoked it. Am I understood?!"
"Yes!" Rolf said.
"We will never speak ill of them again!" Wulfstan said.
"Then go!" he growled and the boys ran off.
"Good going, Little Brother," Death said with a grin then placed the umbrella against her shoulder. She looked at Thor when she frowned then sighed. "Ok, Big Guy, time to go."
"No!" Loki pleaded, giving her puppydog eyes.
"Please! Can't he stay a little longer?!" Brenna asked.
"Well..." Death said as a smile spread across her face. "I can't see the harm in letting him stay for just one day."
"You have gone soft, Sister," Morpheus said.
"Soft? How about I shove my umbrella up your butt and open it?!" she said and the kids laughed.
Blowing a kiss, she vanished as Morpheus walked to Brenna and she looked up at him.
"Do you wish me to stay as well?" the Lord of Dreams asked.
"You can . . . if you want to. But when you go does it mean you take me with you? Because I want to stay here." Brenna said honestly.
Idunn had heard her words as she looked at Morpheus and he pressed his lips into a thin line.
"No, you do not have to go with me," he said, placing his hands on Brenna's shoulders. "But you can, when you learn how, visit me in the Dream Realm. There is so much I would love to show you."
"Can I bring Loki?" Brenna asked, looking at Loki and Thor.
"Only if he promises to behave. I don't think the nightmares would like being tricked," he said with a smile.
He was surprised when Brenna suddenly hugged him as she placed her head against him and he blinked. No one had ever hugged him except her mother and he slid his arms around her, giving her a hug.
"Can you teach me how to control my Dreamweaver powers? And is that where I get my power to call the wind too?"
"Yes, I will teach you how to control your Dreamweaver powers, but, no, you did not get your wind powers from me. Those come from your mother," he said.
"Do you...? Do you think she knows we've finally met?"
"I believe so," he said, looking up. "She is always watching over you."
"Why doesn't she visit me?"
"How do you know she hasn't visited you? If you think about it, she might have led you to Loki."
Brenna never thought about that. She looked up at the sky then at Loki and Morpheus lightly squeezed her shoulders.
"Would you like to start your lessons now?"
"No, I have a better idea," she said as she took his hand and they walked away.
Loki had seen Death vanish then he looked at Thor and Thor saw the sadness in his eyes.
"I am so sorry," Thor said.
"No, I understand," Loki said with a nod. "If you hadn't have died, the Serpent would have won."
"Yes."
"I was so angry at you."
"I know."
"I wanted... I wanted to go and be with you."
"No, you should never think killing yourself is a good idea. It is never the answer."
"I miss you."
"I miss you as well."
"So...," he said as he looked at his feet. "What would you like to do now?"
Suddenly a large snowball hit Loki in the back of his head when he turned and saw Brenna and Morpheus with snowballs in their hands.
"Gotcha!" Brenna said with a laugh and Morpheus gave him a smug look.
"Shall we show them how to really snowball fight?!" Thor asked and Loki smiled and nodded.
A/N: So Thor is back for a little bit right now. But maybe he will come back to life soon!
Next chapter: Some fun with Thor, Loki, and Brenna.