The Warrior and the Trickster

Chapter Seven:

It wasn't easy for one to try and to stay astride the back of a fire breathing dragon, much less making an attempt to direct it's flight. However, Sif tried to do just that and once she saw the bleached out trees of a forest in the distance that became her preferred destination. Though,as they approached she worried about the wisdom of that decision. It seemed like countless ways to find herself impaled.

She heard Loki's whistle in the distance. Her stomach seemed to be swarmed by butterflies at the realization that her companion hadn't been picked off by the harpies - at least not yet. She hadn't realized that she'd been worried about losing him. He may have been untrustworthy and deceitful, but for better or worse he was the best friend she had in this cold, inhospitable world.

Sif stuck her blade into the dragon's spine and tried to direct it into a landing position hoping the beast's body would take the brunt of the impact amongst the dead trees. The dragon let forth a burst of angry, fiery breath and cleared a track amongst the forest. It landed roughly and upon placing his feet on the ground began to violently whip around his head and tail trying to dislodge Sif from it's back. She blew her whistle in answer to Loki's. Hopefully, the Trickster would be able to join her in conquering the beast. He could use his Mind Stone to influence the dragon. Perhaps Hela would appreciate such a gift and give them Balder without further bargaining.

A thick sheet of ice began to form around the dragon. Sif was quick to leap off its back tucking herself into a roll as she hit the ground that had recently been cleared of debris. The ring from Loki glowed a violent red instead of the calm green she'd grown accustomed to and she realized it must have a magical protective spell.

The fire-breathing dragon was completely encased in a thick crust of ice and yet Sif walked unharmed next to it. The earth she walked upon crunched under the pressure of her booted feet. The entire area was iced over all save for Sif herself. She pulled out her whistle and blew into it once more. It wasn't long before Loki approaching riding Sleipnir.

"Be careful of the ice," Sif warned. "Out of nowhere the dragon was enshrouded by a blanket of ice."

"And yet, you are unharmed," Loki said coming off Sleipnir's back and leaving the horse just outside of the copse of trees. "This area is known for its deadly ice blasts. You are lucky to have escaped unharmed."

"I doubt if luck had anything to do with it," Sif said. She used her sword to prod the dragon gently in the side. "I had hoped you could use your Mind Stone to encourage the dragon to transport us to Hela's Palace. I don't suppose that will work now. How did you find Sleipnir?"

"He wasn't far from us," Loki said. He gazed about the trees. "The ice is already starting to melt," he observed. The barren trees were coated in ice, but beads of sweat accumulated amongst their branches and trunks. "This freeze comes and goes in cycles. I believe your idea is a sound one." He took his scepter and the blue stone at its end glowed brightly as he directed it towards the frozen dragon's unblinking eyes. "This actually works out to our advantage. You were lucky," he said glancing up briefly. His dark hair had fallen across his eyes and his brilliant green eyes were a lovely contrast.

Sif shook her head violently. She wasn't about to see Loki as handsome. He was a means to an end. It didn't matter that when he wasn't being diabolical that he was quite clever and a fine looking Asgardian.

"What troubles you, Lady Sif?" Loki asked, his dark brows were knitted together in concern.

Sif quickly sheathed her sword and stepped back from the dragon. "Nothing," she murmured when it became apparent he was waiting for her answer.

"Sleipnir doesn't enjoy spending time near Hela. They have a bit of a sibling rivalry thing going on," Loki said as he concentrated on his task.

Sif had a hard time processing his words. Was he saying that the horse and the goddess of the underworld were siblings? Half of what Loki said didn't make sense. It was best not to ponder his riddles too deeply. At least, that had been Thor's advise. However, the god of a thunder had been fooled by Loki's false death.

"Do you think we will make it to Hela's palace before nightfall?"

"Time is different here, but we aren't far and especially having a dragon for our means of travel will shorten the distance even more."

The dragon's flesh began to glow red and the ice encasing it began to melt and steam. Sif backed away cautiously, but Loki remained at the front of the beast. "Maybe you should back up, just in case," she suggested.

"Your concern is noted," Loki said. He had his scepter directed toward the dragon's eyes and by the time the ice was melted in its entirety the dragon's eyes were glazed in blue. "Our chariot awaits," he said gesturing toward the dragon's neck with his scepter. "And I am grateful you didn't damage the goods too much in your earlier joyride," Loki said as he sat behind her on the dragon's back. "Herbert also is grateful that you didn't severe his spine. He'd have eaten you with his last breath if you had."

"Herbert?" Sif asked.

"It's our dragon's name. He wanted me to pass on his gratitude. Though he does warn that if my influence wavers he will roast us both and eat us in a heartbeat," Loki continued pleasantly. His arms banded around her waist and he sat very close. Sif would have complained, but she didn't want to risk him falling off and angering Herbert.

OoO

It was fairly easy to hold Herbert the fire-breathing dragon under the control of the Mind Stone. What was difficult was for Loki to stay calm after Sif's near death experience. The foolish warrior woman hadn't the faintest idea how close she truly had been to becoming a frozen statue for Hela to add to her collection. If he hadn't had the foresight to give her that protective ring she'd be dead right now instead of flying about on a dragon heading straight for the heart of the underworld.

He prided himself on his ability to bargain, but even his sly tongue would have been powerless against certain powers. He noticed the flocks of crows flying along their route, or rather a murder of crows as was the proper name for a flock of such birds. They were the eyes of Hela so there was no doubt that she was aware of their presence. It would be hard for the ruler of the underworld not to notice a a trio of living souls in her realm of the dead. He would send Sleipnir off toward a less violent section of the realm. They would reconvene after they'd collected Balder.

"Do you think Hela knows of our presence here?" Sif asked glancing at him over her shoulder. Her dark hair whipped violently in the wind as their dragon soared through the air. He didn't mind her hair flying about them as long as it didn't hit him in the face. So far, he'd been spared from such attacks.

"There is no doubt that the mistress of this world knows of our presence," Loki said. And he wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make it to the palace before Hela graced them with her presence.

Speak of the devil, he thought to himself. The gray, smokey sky began to darken to a deep purple-green color. The dragon was surrounded in the smokey mist and suddenly they were no longer flying in the sky. They were inside an onyx castle in the middle of a great hall.

Hela in all her majesty paced before them. Her skin was as onyx as the castle, she wore a cloak of green the same color that Loki favored, her body was encased in a skin-tight green sleeveless dress that had a skirt that dragged upon the floor as she moved trailing behind her like a silky serpent's tail. Upon her dark hair was a crown with two stag horns, also like Loki's but in all green.

"Why do you trespass? Your hearts still beat and your lungs still fill with air. Have you come to beg an early end to your miserable lives?" Hela rasped. Her voice was akin to that of a heavy smoker.

"We bring you an offering, honorable Hela" Sif said, leaping off the dragon and falling to her knee before the goddess of death.

"Ah, Sif, the woman who would be a warrior. You toy with death often, do you wish to meet it so soon?" Hela asked circling about her.

"We are bringing you the dragon Herbert as a gift, Hela," Loki said sliding off the dragon's back to the floor, but remaining on his feet. He bowed his head in respect to the goddess. "We have come to ask a boon of you."

"Oh? A boon? Why should I grant such a thing?" Hela asked, she waved her hand in the air in a circle and a dark green mist surrounded the dragon before it burst into green flames that consumed the beast. "Do not offer me the life of that which is already mine!" she screamed. The dragon was gone. All that remained of Herbert was a pile of blackened ash.

"That was harsh. He was a good dragon," Loki said with a frown.

"He was a dead creature. He will be reborn of the ash by morning," Hela said with a shrug. "You, however," she said standing before Sif and reaching for her chin. She jerked up the woman's chin with her hand looking directly into her face. "You are alive. You offered yourself to me once before to save the life of Thor. Are you in the mood for the same bargain? It would bring me great pleasure to rob Valhalla of your noble soul."

"Sif isn't the trade," Loki said sharply.

"Oh?" Hela said releasing Sif's chin. The latter immediately stared back at the ground and didn't move from her kneeling position.

"We want Balder. We want to restore him to his rightful position as King of Asgard," Loki said.

"Asgard has a king. The one-eyed Odin is king. Why do you want my princeling? Why should I give him to you? What have you to offer? Both of you have escaped death, therefore escaped me more than a dozen times each," Hela said.

"If it is my life that you require then I will gladly pay the toll," Sif interrupted before Loki could answer.

That stupid selfless woman was going to get herself killed. Hela arched her eyebrow at Loki before turning her attention back to Sif.

"What is it that you would want?" Loki asked.

"Slay the serpent Nidhogg. He eats the corpses of Niffleheim and when there are not enough corpses for him he gnaws on the roots of the World Tree Yggarasil," Hela said.

The task was impossible. The serpent was nearly as ancient as the World Tree itself. "Another suggestion perhaps," Loki answered.

"Very well. I suppose without the aid of Thor such a task is impossible for the likes of you," Hela agreed.

Loki bit his tongue to hold back his retort. Even the Mighty Thor wouldn't stand a chance against that serpent. "How about something a bit more realistic? The dragon was not to your satisfaction, would something else suffice?"

"I need a pet. Something that will die, but be reborn without my interference," Hela said.

A riddle — great. That was Loki's speciality. "If Sif and I can find you such a creature you will give us Balder?" he asked.

Hela laughed, it was a dark rumble of bells. "Of course not! I shall keep the Lady Sif until you bring me such a creature. You have two weeks time by the counting of Midgard. However, I shall grant you the aid of the prince you seek. Balder shall help you on your quest." Hela flicked her hand into the air and the prince of Asgard as he was remembered appeared before them. At the same moment that he appeared, Sif was surrounded by a stone cage, a chain around her neck and manacles at her wrists and ankles.

Loki grit his teeth to keep from screaming out his outrage. "What happens if I don't return within the allotted time?"

"You keep the would-be king regardless," Hela said having grown bored of the situation. She pulled up a chair in front of Sif's new cell. "I will be content either way." Hela snapped her fingers and an hour glass appeared on the floor at her feet. "When the last of the sand falls if you have not returned I keep Lady Sif." She glanced over at Loki. "What says you?"

He would rather trek through the world of flame and fire with Sif than with Balder at his side. However, Hela was being more generous than he anticipated. "I accept your terms," Loki said with a quick bow. "Sif," he called. The dark-haired woman turned to him, the chains about her body rattling in the process. "I will be back for you."

"I promise from the Trickster isn't something I would hold my breath for, my dear," Hela said giving Sif a sad smile.

Loki would make sure that this was one promise he would keep. "Come, Balder," he said to the beast of a man at his side. He made Thor seem like a runt.

Balder blinked his cloudy blue eyes and they cleared, but the confusion remained. He looked around at their surroundings and then settling his gaze on Sif. "What is going on?" he demanded.

"I will explain it to you later, King Balder," Loki said. "We must complete a quest for the goddess Hela so that we might have Lady Sif returned to us."

"Sif?" Balder called starting toward Sif's prison.

Hela stood abruptly and both she and Sif were transported a great distance away to the top of a large stairwell that had materialized in the middle of the great hall.

"Go with Loki, Balder. Work together!" Sif advised. "He is a valuable ally. Trust in him."

"Trust," Hela scoffed. She shook her head and smiled with a cruel twist of her lips towards Loki. "Your time is running out, father. I suggest you hurry."

"Wait, Hela, please," Sif called. "I wish to give Loki something to aid him on his quest."

The goddess of death rolled her eyes in exacerbation like an annoyed teenager. "Very well," she said. The cage and chains around Sif vanished and she was transported to stand right in front of Loki at the base of the staircase.

Sif reached for the strap across her thigh. There was a long dagger sheathed inside the strap. She removed the entire device and handed it to Loki. "I know you have a fabulous dagger, but this one belonged to my father. It has saved my life many times when dangers have been brought too close. Please, take it. I cannot be at your side to help fight against these dangers at least let the spirit of my father protect you."

"That's two gifts now, Sif. One might think you're trying to woo me," Loki said as he accepted the sheathed blade, his fingers brushed against Sif's. No sooner had the dagger left Sif's hands then she was transported back to the prison at the top of the stairs latched down by the chains. He held the sheathed blade close to his chest. It was the second gift Sif had given him. This gift, he would return to her though. "Come," Loki said grabbing Balder's arm and dragging him out of the palace. He drew his fingers to his lips and whistled as loud as he could. Sleipnir was waiting for them just outside of Hela's palace. "We must reach Muspelheim."

"Why would we go there? Why did we leave Lady Sif behind with that woman of death?" Balder asked. His heavy light brown eyebrows were furrowed in concern and worry.

"First of all, we left Lady Sif in the hands of the goddess of death. We have a mission and I know how to achieve it, but we must hurry," Loki said forcing himself to be patient. "Get on the horse. We need to hurry. As you may have noticed we are on a time table."

It was hard enough to find the creature Hela was referring — for only one type of creature existed in the nine realms. The creature used to venture between the realms, but for many centuries it hadn't strayed from its home world of fire and flame.

"We will come back for Lady Sif, will we not?" Balder asked.

"Even if we fail to find the creature, we will return," Loki vowed. Though, knowing Hela that would mean she'd either take his life of Balder's again. There was very little nepotism when it came to the goddess of death. If Balder was truly meant to be king, he would have to prove himself on their mission.

Loki would have to console himself by knowing that he gave Sif the soul link ring. As long as he lived, she couldn't be killed. It was a magic much older than Hela. Hopefully, the goddess of death wouldn't discover a way to break the magic. And hopefully, Loki didn't meet death on his mission with Balder to the world of fire and brimstone. If they could just avoid Surtur and his minions and find the appropriate portals between worlds in the allotted amount of time they'd be fine. As the Midgardians were known to say it would be a piece of cake.


A/N: Anyone care to guess what the mysterious creature Loki must find is? As always, your reviews are appreciated. Please take a moment to let me know that you are enjoying this story so that I might be motivated to continue sharing it! BDN