AN: Thank you to all of you who are continuing to read this story, and a special thanks to watergoddesskasey! Without further ado to the story!

"speeking"/'thinking'/ 'music, memory'

Ch.9

Mellonah grunted a bit as she picked up the heavy clay pot. She was currently helping an elderly man move some of his most sacred items. She had grown up knowing this man, he was the closest thing that she had to a grandfather on her father's side. This man had almost adopted her father when he lost his parents, and had done the same for her.

Kaleb was a strange man, he refused to speak much english, preferring to speak his native tongue, and often was the one telling of the old stories. He was called a medicine man by most, but only Mel' had been allowed to call him grandfather.

Mell' knew enough of the native language to translate it but barely enough to speak in compleat sentences.

So it was no surprise when one of the elders would speak to her and she would respond in a broken pattern of the two languages.

"Thank you Leotie, I am grateful for your help." She didn't see the thoughtful look pass over his wizened eyes, "Leotie come sit. Your eyes are troubled."

Mellonah was a bit startled, but Kaleb had known her for a long time, so it didn't really surprise her that he would see past her passive and happy front. Kaleb had already poured a couple of glasses of ice tea by the time she had sat down.

"Now little Leotie, what makes your eyes sad and troubled? I haven't seen such a look sence your grandmother's passing." his old hand gingerly picked up the glass.

Mellonah sighed as she held her own glass, "I've all ready told you that I have a friend staying with me, and that he was in a bad accident. Well a few days ago, some people from his past found out that he was staying with me, and were able to make it almost all the way to my home. He had met them so that they wouldn't bother me or know where I lived. I woke up to the sounds of fighting in the forest, and took off." she paused to sip at her tea, " I found him getting thrown into a tree by two unfriendly guys. He looked almost as bad as when he had first came to me. I acted without thinking, rushing to defend him, and to keep him from getting hurt further." she looked out his small window at the crystal blue sky, "I had to keep him safe, grandpa, I couldn't just let them beat him to death. I promised Loki that I wouldn't let him be harmed, he's a dear friend to me even thought we don't really know that much about each other."

"Did you defeat these unknown men? Did you succeed where he failed?" Kaleb's voice had a hidden knowledge in it; Mellonah could only nod, "Hmm, I see. and he's been acting distant and hard. Unfriendly and blind to you."

Mellonah could only stare at him. Kaleb had hit the nail on the head. Loki's distant manner had upset her. Sure they weren't close to begin with, but she had hoped that with not only her promise, that her actions had spoken for her and her ability to care for him.

Kaleb watched her as he drained his tea, "He is a fighter? A warrior of sorts?" at her nod he continued, "Give the boy time. Anyone with a warrior spirit will take offence to having others fight their battles. Your nature is to protect those whom are your beloved, but he must ask for your assistance for him to not dislike your very nature."

Mellonah hung her head as she ran a hand through her hair, "So it is our base natures that clash. Will it ever be possible for him to learn that not everyone is against him?"

She could feel tears rise to her eyes when Kaleb put his hand over hers, "Do you know why I call you Leotie? It is not because your given name is so long, if it were that I would call you by your nickname... no I call you this because you are like a flower of the prairie. Delicate to the harsh cold and winds, but in the end you are to survive to see the warmth of the sunrise. This Loki, if he is truly a friend, will see in the end how beautiful a gift your friendship can be." He then stood and took their empty glasses, "If he is unable to open his eyes and heart to your friendship, then he is undeserving of it, and it is his loss."

Mellonah fought the tears back, and continued to move the pot outside. Setting it down under the shallow porch roof, she held up her hand to block the bright sun from hindering her sight. Kaleb had a good point, never before had she despaired over anyone not wanting her friendship, and if he was resistant to it, oh well. But deep down she couldn't help but feel hurt from his coldness.

Across the street she watched a few kids playing a game of jacks. They were playing nicely towards each other, but when a younger child came up and asked two of the three started poking fun at the little one. The third child said nothing, nether helping nor stopping the teasing. Then he burst to his feet when the youngest started crying, shouting at them to stop being mean to his younger sister. Mel' couldn't help but smile at the scene. But as soon as it came it disappeared. Had Loki been treated like this? Did his brother, Thor, standup for him, or join in on the bullying? Was how he was treated in his younger days the reason he was so cold now, or was she reading too far into things that weren't any of her business?

A smirk appeared on her lips as she moved towards the open area. These people were her people. They were connected by their ancestors. This was the very same land that her ancestor, the child of Midgard, had become stranded in. She had encountered many tribes that called this desert home, as she called it home, but none dared to wander on the now lush hills. Then it had been the demon's land, dry and filled with evil, but she had claimed it as her land. Pushing out the evil and making it a holy place to these people. None dare to approach it even now, not unless they are truly in need, for the magic of the place still give a foreboding feeling. Mellonah knew where the hills were, but they still remained hidden under that magic. The very same magic that was foreboding, also hid the hills from the eyes of man. Mellonah believed that the magic was put over that land to protect her ancestors from harm, to protect the land from harm, for humans were a destructive race.

Shaking her head at her wandering thoughts, Mellonah gathered up some baskets full of homemade bread to take it to the gathering place. She wasn't paying anyone any mind when a very familiar whinny cut the air. Most of the people around her, including herself, stopped and turned towards the road that led to the sacred hills. The lone horse and it's rider slowed as they approached the village.

A small laugh escaped Mellonah, for even at this distance, she could see that it was Loki. His very being spoke of one who was royalty. Proud to the point of arrogance, and yet he let nothing escape his notes. Head tall, back straight, and a bland look of indifference even on horseback, he was truly a prince of gods among mortal commoners. Not even the neutral colors of his dress could counter it.

Many of the people stared at him as he passed them not giving a second glance to any, his eyes seemed locked on some distant destination, and even then he only gave pause when a small child foolishly darted in front of the silver-gray mare that bore him.

She was about to call out to him when the thundering hooves of horses raced past her, revealing a group of young men barely out of their teens heading to meet the 'unknown' rider. Anger rolled deep in her when they started to harass Loki, accusing him of stealing the horse, and throwing other accusations at him. Yet she calmed when all Loki did was stop his horse and stare impassively at them. Both her and Loki held their ground; Mellonah did so remembering the words that Kaleb had spoken to her not an hour ago, and Loki... well she couldn't tell why he didn't push pass them.

Thankfully a couple of the contestants to the horse raise that was to be held later, road up alongside Loki, and just their presence alone spooked the punks off. The one on Loki's right apologised to him, and held a small convocation with the impassive god. After bowing his head to Loki, both of the riders moved off towards where the race was to start later, and Loki continued on his way... straight towards Mellonah.

When he reached her frozen form, she watched him dismount Isis, and she was ashamed to say that most of her brain went blank. Mellonah had seen plenty of decent and good-looking men over time. The overly muscled football players and wrestlers, the tall and lean basketball players and track members, and lets not forget the resident bad boys and heart-breakers of her school days. Yet! He looked nothing like them, he was a fighter. His slight build belied the physical strength he possessed. He was tall, being a full head taller than herself, but he wasn't award. And, she wasn't even going to start thinking on the aesthetics of his...

'WHOH! Ok Mel' just stop!' Mellonah smiled at him and made a movement with her head for him to follow, 'Yes he is attractive. You're also his friend, whither he likes it or not, you are not trying to be anything more. If, and that is a very big if, it evolves into something more it will be on his terms.'

They had reached an area that was covered in picnic tables and folding chairs, and Mel' set the basket on the table, "I have to admit, that I'm surprised you came. Though I'm not going to complain."

Loki's voice was a bit stressed as he spoke, "I'm beginning to regret coming." Mellonah gave him a curios look imploring him to continue, "I was not expecting the heat to be so..."

Mellonah smiled at him, "Oppressive?" shaking her head at his slight glare, "come on, Kaleb will be more than happy to let you have something cool to drink."

Glancing at Isis' rains in Loki's hand, she couldn't help but wonder if he would want to join in the raise. Purposely grabbing and pulling him along by his unoccupied hand, she started leading both god and horse to Kaleb's house. It was a bit of a surprise that he didn't reclaim his hand from her grip.

He easily fell into step with her, "Who is Kaleb?"

Mellonah glanced at him from the corner of her eye as her smile grew a bit, "Kaleb is like a surrogate grandfather to me. You see when my father's parents passed Kaleb was there for him, helping him, listening to him, supporting him." unconsciously she stepped closer to him, "He became a silent member of the family. Always just there when he was needed."

They fell back into a more comfortable silence as Mellonah continued to lead them through the streets. Seeing the small house at the far end of the village, she had to force herself not to run up to old Kaleb, and enthusiastically introduce them. Kaleb, it seems, had brought out a light wooden stool to enjoy the sun.

"Grandfather!" Mellonah couldn't contain the excited shout as they got closer to the elderly man, but she lowered her volume now that they were only a few feet away, "I'd like you to meet my friend. This is Loki. Loki this is Kaleb, he's the resident medicine man of the village."

She stepped back to observe the two men. She already expected Kaleb to give Loki a very shrewd look over, he was a careful man and his trust thought hard to earn was easily lost; but Loki... Mellonah didn't know what to think on how he'd react to Kaleb. She could only hope that he was respectful.

Kaleb said a few words in his native tongue, as was his way, but clearly Loki didn't understand a thing.

Mellonah had no choice "Loki, he said that you appear to be strong and healthy and that he wishes that to continue." Loki's raised brow in her direction and incredulous look almost had her in giggles, "I'm just translating."

Loki looked back to the old man in front of him, "I thank you and wish health upon you."

To say that she was a bit shocked wouldn't have been a lie. Mellonah hadn't planed for Loki to not only be courteous but to also sound it. Both men continued to observe each other, when out of no where Kaleb started to chuckle! He stood and walked right up to Loki extending his hand.

When Loki clasped his own with the older man's, Kaleb spoke, "You are proud, with a strong spirit." Kaleb's face went from cheerful to solemn, "Do not think that your spirit is limitless, boy, everyone has a counterpart. It is they that make your spirit limitless."

Kaleb stepped back and turned to Mellonah as a loud low drum beat sounded, "It is about to start. Are you to dance again Leotie?"

"Yes grandfather. I do hope you will feel up to telling your stories tonight after the horse race." Mellonah turned to fall into step with the elderly man when she caught Loki's eye, "Loki? You seem to know how to handle a horse, do you want to enter the race?"

Loki glanced at the mare beside him. "I will... consider it."

She couldn't help it, a large grin broke out at the thought of him racing against these young men. If he did it wouldn't be hard to spot him out there.

The three of them made their way back to where all the tables and food were set up. Mellonah noticed that Loki was attracting a lot of attention, but considering his differences in appearance it was to be expected.

Her mind wandered back to when she had been staring at him, to when she had been healing him, ending on one of the few times they had both been in the library.

She remembered thinking about how at ease he seemed with a book in hand and the pleasant stillness that came with a library. Mellonah's mind fast forwarded to when he had grabbed her hand to 'show her the monster'. She had at first been shocked by the cold that radiated off of him, but her reaction to his physical appearance, thinking back on it, was surprising. Her heart rate speed up even now, just as it had then, and all she had wanted was more, more contact, more time to learn about him, more of his trust, just more of him.

Glancing at him as they reached the clearing, she was tempted to pull him into a hug, even if he shoved her away. It was in that moment Mellonah realised at how attached she had become to Loki. It was dangerous and foolhardy to give her emotions free rein. She didn't trust easy, but here she was now wanting to give this man, no god, everything.

Everything he needed, everything he wanted, 'Everything that I am... Oh no. What has happened?' Kaleb gestured for them to sit as he left to speak with the other elders. Loki ended up releasing Isis to graze as he sat next to her, 'We're barely friends and now I'm emotionally attached to him in a way that I've never been before. What have I done to myself.'

Pushing her revelation to the back for her mind, Mellonah decided to focus on the elders. Whom were now starting the games and contests that would span over the next few days. It was expected that most of the young men would compete, only a few of the women would join in as well.

Turning to Loki, noting that he looked board, she pursued an earlier inquiry, "So did you think on joining the first race? I have a feeling you and Isis would make a good team."

Mellonah gave a small smile at his sigh, "Vary well. If it will cease your questions, and satisfy your need to have me participate."

"I only asked twice," her smile completely dropped, "If you don't want to, Loki, I won't pressure you into it."

A startled look made an appearance before it was replaced by a mildly amused one. Loki gently placed his hand on her shoulder as he stood to whisper in her ear, "Forgive my harsh words, m'lady. It appears my mind has been troubled as of late."

A shudder rolled over her after he left to speak to the rider that had helped him earlier, 'Yep! I'm in trouble. I can only hope that he doesn't hake note of my reactions to him.' sighing and hiding her head, Mellonah thought back on the few boyfriends she has in highschool, 'I never felt like this with them. What's different with Loki compared to them?'

She watched as people milled around her for a time when it hit her, 'He maybe a god but is still flawed... those others hid their flaws, but Loki... he lives with them. He doesn't try to be perfect. He is just simply Loki, God of Mischief and Lies.' Mellonah's eyes fell on him, "He's true to himself."

She knew better than to think he was perfect. He was flawed, scarred, and just a bit twisted. He lost his cool, and became frustrated with the foolishness of humanity. Though he had his good moments... even if he did his best to hide it. He did on occasion show her consideration and curtsy.

'Odd,' Mellonah watched as the rider from earlier laughed and slapped Loki on the shoulder, 'It's the one who is known for trouble that I fall for. Must be all that charismatic charm.'

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AN: FYI I will not be saying which of the many native american languages I am having the minor character Kaleb speak, only for the simple reason I do not wish to offend anyone. Safe to say if you need to have a region that the reservation is in think South-West USA in or near the desert.