Chapter 10

Loki and Elizabeth ate the leftovers from their candlelit dinner along with the torte. Then they watched Tangled. Loki liked it but looked at Elizabeth when Rapunzel used the cast iron frying pan as a defense weapon. He could see her doing the same thing if she had to; then Elizabeth said that it was the best weapon to use when being attacked. Loki was now very nervous and wondered who exactly he was dealing with.

Loki then thought about why Elizabeth was so guarded. He knew she could hold her own and that she was not one to be toyed with. The question was: How did she get that way? Loki wanted to find out but he knew better than to pick at Elizabeth's brain unless he wanted her to pick back. The only way to learn the reason was to ask her and she still might get defensive. Loki decided to chance it.

"Why do you keep a shield up all the time?" Loki asked bluntly

Elizabeth was taken aback by the question and it took a while for it to sink in. No one had ever asked that question before. They just assumed she only became guarded when someone pushed a wrong button. Then she turned to Loki not sure whether to be cautious or not.

"With men or people in general?" Elizabeth asked

"Why not tell me both." Loki said

"The first is because there was a boy I liked; the first ever and he knew so he used it to his advantage and led me on for a year and then told me he didn't like me that way. He had a girlfriend who pushed me to go on a date with him and I said no. I even told him if I bothered him I would leave him alone and go back to my other friends who I hadn't been getting along with. He said that would never happen. He even came to me for comfort when he had, had a spat with his girlfriend. One day we would just be friends then he would act all lovey - dovey with me. I haven't really liked a guy since then. I mean I've had crushes and then they seem to go away after two days. I've had lapses where I haven't had feelings for men at all. Now if I start to like a guy I keep my distance and I just stay friends with them; I wait and see if they feel the same way and if they don't I let it go. I just don't trust myself and my judgment anymore when it comes to liking someone." Elizabeth said the light gone away from her eyes.

Loki nodded in understanding. He had always loved Sif but she didn't seem to notice. Then there was Amora who had led him on. He didn't talk to her anymore after that. Loki had a feeling Elizabeth was the same way with this man.

"The other reason isn't so hard to explain. When your family is in law enforcement and you were a part of it for a bit; well you get the picture. That and watching crime scene shows all the time; I've become more wary now because of those two factors. But when a creeper tries to hit on me I can say I've been to jail and I'm not afraid to go back." Elizabeth answered simply with a small laugh.

"Wait you went to jail? Isn't that the other side of law enforcement?" Loki asked shocked

"No, I can just say that without explaining and they will run away. You still feel like you're incarcerated even though you're not in a cell though." Elizabeth said

"Oh, okay that makes more sense." Loki said

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and shook her head. She wanted to make a snide remark but knew Loki would become angry if she did. If she were to say anything it would be about his intelligence and she knew he prided himself in that fact. Elizabeth was not about to attack that only to have Loki become dead silent or come up with a harsh rebuke.

"Well, you didn't explain yourself; you just said you could say that wonderful proclamation of yourself." Loki jabbed

"That's the point. I just thought I had when I mentioned law enforcement." Elizabeth said

"There lies the problem with you Midgardians. You believe just because you say something everyone will understand. No wonder your realm has trouble." Loki said

"At least we try to work things out when we learn the truth." Elizabeth said

Loki felt the deep cut of Elizabeth's words. He recoiled and his eyes showed the pain and hurt he was feeling at that moment. Loki didn't think Elizabeth could be that cruel he was wrong. Elizabeth was crueler than Amora had ever been. Amora was very haughty and aloof but Elizabeth was cunning and her words bit through the soul. Loki just sat there silent holding in his sobs.

"Oh, I did it again I became defensive. I didn't mean to but whenever you say Midgardians you say it with disdain and it makes me feel small and worthless. And I know I'm not that and no one is allowed to make me feel that way. But I just did the same thing to you and that wasn't right. Can you forgive me and my big mouth?" Elizabeth apologized

Loki looked up and saw sincerity in Elizabeth's eyes. Although he had wanted to make her work to get his forgiveness he couldn't say no to her. He had planned on giving her the silent treatment or bringing up what she said every once in a while to spite her and make her feel worse about what she said. Now it wasn't even worth it because she was truly sorry.

"Yes, just don't let it happen again." Loki said

"I won't." Elizabeth said

Suddenly a voice came into both their heads. It was a woman's and it was deep, gravelly and booming. Elizabeth and Loki put their fingers on their temples and over their ears. Neither knew where it came from but Elizabeth was pretty sure she knew who's it was when the voice started speaking.

"How dare you accuse him of not knowing his lineage?" Farbauti said

"It's about time you answered back." Elizabeth said rubbing her temples

"I have been listening in and that was the last straw I believe is the way you put it." Farbauti said

"Yes, that's correct." Elizabeth said

"I will say this Loki you are not a Frost Giant that was just a way to protect you so you wouldn't freeze as a baby." Farbauti said

"Then where am I from?" Loki said

"That is all I can say for now. I just want you to know Laufey and I did take care of you but he would not allow you in our bedroom because he feared it would cause bad luck." Farbauti said

"What do you mean none of this makes any sense!" Loki said

"I am sorry; I must go if Laufey's children catch me I will be in grave danger. Goodbye." Farbauti said

"Wait!" said Loki

"It's alright she will come back when it is safer. Besides she gave me a lot of information while talking to you." Elizabeth said.

"What kind of information?" Loki said

"It has to do with your real parents and what happened when you were a baby." Elizabeth said "But it's not all clear only bits and pieces."

"But do you have enough so I will know who I am?" Loki asked anxiously

"I don't know."Elizabeth said

"Come here." Loki said

Elizabeth moved closer to Loki. He took her face in his hands and put his forehead to hers. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt Elizabeth's wavelengths as he connected with her mind. All of the sudden his eyes opened as pain shot from the front to the back of his head. Elizabeth seemed to be fighting back whether it was consciously or not.

"Close your eyes and concentrate on what you've just learned. Good, now relax." Loki commanded Elizabeth.

Elizabeth did so and breathed slowly putting all her energy into transferring what she knew to Loki. She shook from the effort but she succeeded. She had never felt such a surge or connection with anyone before. She had a feeling sharing thoughts was a very intimate and sensitive connection only done with a significant other or a close family member.

The vision was vivid. There was green and blue everywhere but it was blurry. There was a woman's scream it sounded familiar to the both of them; but they didn't know why. Then there was a tall figure in a black cloak overhead. There was a baby's cry and then the cloaked figure took the baby away. While another wail cried out from the woman and what sounded like another baby. The scene changed and the cloaked figure was somewhere covered in ice. He was walking to an ice palace. He went through the doors and headed to a blue woman who was be unmistakably Farbauti.

"Charles what are you doing here and with an infant?" she said

"Gallana had the children this is one of them. She screamed out his name before she lost consciousness. His name is Loki. The other one's name is Cronus named after me. I am going to get him and take him to Ouranus and Gaia. But you must take our eldest." Said a very raspy voice.

"Does she know about him?" Farbauti asked

"No, she only knew about Cronus because he was conceived first but Loki was born first which means he is the elder of the two." Rasped Charles

"Farbauti who are you talking to?" Luafeys voice rang out.

"No one!" Farbauti said all too quickly.

Laufey came over and was infuriated when he saw who was in his home. He gave Farbauti the most menacing look. Then he turned to Charles his face livid. He approached him but then a scythe came out with only a white bony hand holding it. Laufey immediately backed away."

"What do you want?" Laufey hissed

"I wish for you and your wife to take care of my son Loki." Charles said

"No, he is just as cursed as you!" Laufey said

"I assure you he is not. She only cursed me and made sure it would not pass to any of our offspring." Charles answered

"Why should we trust you? She cursed you to be Death for a reason. You made a pact with the devil and she found out." Laufey spat at Charles.

"You backed down on your word and attacked her friends so she put you here." Charles rebounded Laufey's comment.

"Laufey please it is the least we can do and maybe she will have mercy on us and we can go back to the way we used to live." Farbauti said

"Fine." Said Laufey "But he cannot stay in our room he will stay in the weapons vault and we must turn him blue and keep him concealed."

"Thank you I tried to give him to Odin but he refused even when Frigga begged him to keep him." Charles said "I promise he won't cause you any trouble; in fact I will make it so he stays an infant until someone is willing to take him in as their own. Just make sure he stays warm and gets nourishment." Charles rasped and then coughed.

Then he gave Farbauti the baby and disappeared. Farbauti put a spell on Loki to turn him blue and to keep him quiet so no one would ever find out about him. Then Luafey took him bundled him in blankets and hid him in the furthest corner of the weapons vault so no one would ever see him.

Day by day went by and Farbauti or Laufey came to check on Loki and made sure he had milk and was clean and warm. They looked grave every time they came in because Loki was getting weaker by the minute. He needed to grow yet he was stuck in this infants form. They knew that he would still go through the stages of growing up when someone who did want him came.

"It has been five hundred years now and no one has come Laufey. We are also under siege by the Asgardians because you went back on your word of ever going over and taking over Midgard again. Gallana said she would get back at you and she would have the help of Odin." Farbauti said

"I know." Said Laufey. "And if we lose this war he will no longer have protection and will die. If Gallana ever learns she had another son before Cronus and that we were charged to take care of him she will destroy us."

"What do we do?" Farbauti asked

"If Odin wins this war he will take the Casket of Ancient Winters. Take the spell off the child so he will cry out. Odin will find him and hopefully take him in. Gallana is with him she will persuade him I am sure of it. The other spell should wear off once he is touched by her. She will most likely touch him first so the blue will disappear forever along with the fake markings we gave him if anyone was to find him. Then he will turn to his original self." Laufey said

Odin stormed into the weapons vault and had the casket taken away. Gallana was with him and said they should not take it there was another reason they were there. Odin did not care he would not have the Jotuns take anymore lives with their prized possession. Gallana tried to reassure him that she would take care of it but he did not listen. Right as Odin was about to leave he heard a blood curdling wail from the furthest corner of the vault. He and Gallana ran over and saw Loki. Gallana tried to pick him up but Odin moved in her way.

"Let me see the child." Gallana said

"No, it is a frost giant's left here to die." Odin said

"Yes, so I am going to take care of him as if he were my own." Gallana said

"I will not allow it as the king of Asgard I condemn you from touching him." Odin said harshly

"Then you take him." Gallana said

"No, he is the child of our enemy." Odin said

"You may be king of Asgard but I am Mother Nature and you descend from my line through the Greeks and they're so called gods and goddesses my grandchildren!" Gallana said "I command you as your great, great, great, great grandmother and Mother Nature to take this child as your own!" Gallana bellowed as she grew in size. "Besides if Thor had been abandoned or you couldn't reach him you would want someone to take care of him."

Odin had no choice but to take the infant and the last part had put compassion in his heart. He took Loki and the skin immediately started turning pink and the markings went away. But they started to come back so Odin put a spell on Loki so his skin would stay pale. Then he turned and left.

Gallana went to Luafey and Farbauti enraged by the fact that they had abandoned their own child. She and Odin could tell the markings on the boy were royal markings. She paced up and down in front of Laufeys throne she was still her enlarged size bigger than Laufey himself.

"How dare you put your heir in the weapons vault? That's the one place he could have been killed! I know he is small but that is no reason to throw him out!" She yelled her voice shaking what was left of Jotunheim.

"We did it to protect him we knew no one would find him there until he cried; and if we died they would take compassion on him and raise him as their own. He was very weak and the sounds outside were not helping he was terrified and almost died of fright. So we put him in the one place he wouldn't hear anything and would be safe." Farbauti lied

"Is this true?" Gallana turned to Laufey.

"Yes, where is he?" Laufey said

"Odin has him now." Gallana said

"Then he is safe." Both Farbauti and Laufey said

"Yes, and when he is older if you want he can return here and be king." Gallana said

"Well, he isn't actually our child he was brought to us by a stranger who said to keep him safe until the time came that someone else would come and get him. It seems Odin did." Farbauti said

Laufey was nervous if Odin had touched him the markings and blue would stay. Then Loki would think he was one of them. Odin would teach him that the Frost Giants were their arch enemies and if he turned blue he would think he was one of them. But he said nothing to Gallana lest she become even more infuriated.

"Do we know who is parents are?" Gallana asked

"No, only that his name is Loki." Laufey replied

"Then I will tell Odin this." Gallana said as a pang shot through her heart when she heard the name.

Then everything ended.