Hello dear readers! I know, it has been forever, and I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting. I know there's no good excuse to update more than 6 MONTHS after the last chapter, so I won't even try to explain. Just know that you guys are always on my mind, and I'm always thinking of this story and the direction I want to take it.
A quick thanks to those of you still sticking with the story and those who have read it despite no recent updates. Your input always means a lot, and I greatly appreciate comments (as long as they're not harsh!).
Anyway, here's chapter 10 in Loki and Ireth's tale. :)
Mandatory disclaimer: Ireth is the only character that I can claim as my own.
Thud, thud, thud. Loki opened a groggy eye and let out a sigh. It was no surprise who was currently banging on his door.
"Go away Thor. Do you even know what time it is...I'm trying to sleep," he said, grumbling the last part to himself, knowing perfectly well Thor would not be persuaded to leave. He appeared to be a man on a mission.
"Loki, if you do not open the door, I will enter by force." At this, Loki grudgingly left his heavenly bed, pulled on the nearest pair of breeches, and went to the door. He wasn't going to test Thor again, not after what happened last time he refused to open the door.
Thor was beaming when he saw Loki's door crack open, and without further ado, he invited himself in. "Brother! We must speak," he said, taking a seat on the nearby couch.
"Regarding…? If you are going to enlightening me about your "relationship" with Sif, spare me the details this time. If you think I'm going to sit through that again, you are sorely mistaken." Loki laid back down on his bed, burying his head in his pillow, hoping his brother would take the hint and leave soon.
Thor let out a hearty laugh. "No, brother. I merely wish to speak to you about how you plan to court your dearest friend...seeing as your only bed companions have been books as of late," he said, staring pointedly at the numerous books spread in between the comforters.
Loki's heart skipped a beat, yet his features revealed absolutely nothing. "What makes you think I haven't had companionship?" he said, closing his eyes and lying through is teeth. Had he not been talking to his brother, he would have gotten away with it, but Thor's knowing look proved that the God of Thunder was seeing through his pretense.
When Loki opened his eyes again, Thor was hovering over him. "I know you are lying."
"Why on Asgard would you say that?"
"We all know how you get when you've bedded a woman…"
Loki raised an eyebrow. "I could say the same for you, Thor."
Before Loki could start a quarrel with his brother, Thor brought him back to the reason for his visit. "My dear brother, I only want to be sure that your intentions with Ireth are pure. She is a good girl, and she deserves a proper courtship."
Loki let out a sigh, "I intend to do nothing. I intend to court no one." His voice was soft as he spoke to Thor. He knew Thor did not believe him. He couldn't even convince himself if the words were true or not. Since their stroll in Frigga's gardens, Loki had been giving Ireth lessons in magic. They would spend all of the hours they could spare in each other's company, even if the lessons had ceased for the day. And quite frankly, Loki had not been happier in a long time.
Thor cleared his throat, breaking Loki from his daydreams. "You're smiling," he stated. Immediately, Loki's pleased features became horrified. Thor chuckled at Loki's lowered guard. "Listen, when you decide what course you wish to take, do not hesitate to consult me. I wish only the best for you, I hope you know that."
"Yes, yes. I will tell you," Loki was slightly embarrassed at letting his façade crack, and he quickly ushered Thor out of his room. He let out a deep breath as he closed the door behind the God of Thunder and plopped back down on his bed. There would be no more sleeping, Thor had made sure of that.
Loki splashed some water on his face to ready himself for the day. Ireth would be at court all morning, so he would not see her until lunch. He strolled over to his impressive bookcase and started picking through the spell books. He wanted to try something more advanced with her today, and as always, he wanted to be absolutely prepared for the next lesson.
Lunch could not arrive fast enough for Ireth. She found herself counting down the minutes to mid-day, so that should could leave the courts and the petty quarrels for a moment to discuss this evening with Loki. At long last, the noon bells chimed throughout the city, giving Ireth a brief reprieve from her increasingly tiresome duties.
The woman carried herself as fast as she could without breaking into a run. As she entered the dining hall and scanned the scene, her smile slowly faded away. Loki was nowhere to be seen. The disappointment began to settle in. She was sure he would have been here, waiting for her, as they had so much to discuss! She grabbed a steaming bowl of stew and was heading toward a secluded corner table, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning to face the man standing behind her, the smile that had just left her lips brightened Ireth's face again.
"Loki" Ireth said, grinning widely.
"How was the morning?" asked Loki, as the pair made their way to the table.
Ireth rolled her eyes. "Excruciatingly dull. People can be exceedingly petulant."
Loki let out a chuckle. He knew how bored Ireth was getting with her life here in Asgard, and it had only worsened since their little adventure. "Perhaps dull is what you need, after so much, shall we say, excitement?" He countered, jokingly.
Ireth scoffed, "Absolutely not!" She paused and let out a sigh. "I crave adventure, Loki. More now than ever."
Loki nodded in agreement. He understood how she felt. The adrenaline rush from being somewhere unknown and dangerous left a mark on her. She would not be able to adjust to back to her quiet life for a long time. Suddenly, a brilliant idea appeared to him.
"Ireth, what do you say we try to locate the cave after your lessons this evening? It may help answer some of our previous questions. Will you be wanted anywhere?"
Ireth's face perked up at hearing this suggestion. "Yes!" She exclaimed. "I mean, no. I mean, I don't have anywhere to be and yes I would love to go."
Loki smiled at her with a fondness new to him. As the remainder of the lunch hour passed on, the pair remained deep in conversation, without a care in the world.
Winter in Asgard was a sight to behold. The snow made the entire city look magical, the sunset making the ground shine and sparkle as if littered with diamonds, and the residents were ever so cheerful. It was a busy evening, citizens bustling here and there, and none seemed to notice the royal prince and his friend amongst the crowd, much to Loki's relief. Ireth, dressed in furs to avoid the bite of the wind, walked contently next to the raven-haired prince as they paved their way through the city roads. They had just finished another lesson, which she thought ended successfully.
It was Ireth who broke the silence. "This is nice," she stated. She spared a quick glance at Loki, whose eyes were glued to the pavement. He opted to not wear a coat, despite the constant snowfall that had recently begun, claiming his indifference to the weather. Ireth, on the other hand, and put on her largest fur cloak and her thickest pair of gloves as to protect as much of her body as she could. As nice as the winter looked, she still preferred a warm, sunny day.
Loki's bright green eyes met her own as he heard her words. "Hmm?" he had been lost in thought and had not quite heard her remark.
"This is nice," Ireth repeated. "The city, this walk to the woods, the lessons. Especially the lessons." The smile she shot Loki sent a shiver of desire down his spine. He cleared his throat in attempt to gather his thoughts.
"I am glad you are enjoying yourself, my dear," he replied with a dashing smile of his own. Before he could say another word, Loki was interrupted by a large, boisterous Asgardian.
"Just where do you think you two are off too?" Questioned a curious Thor, who was more than happy to block the pairs' path.
Loki let out a disappointing sigh. Just what I need, he thought. "Nothing, brother." He said, as he shot him a murderous glare. The stupid oaf is going to ruin this evening.
"He's right," Ireth piped in. "We're just taking a stroll through the city. I love Asgard when it snows and I did not want to wander by myself, so I asked Loki to join me." Loki raised a questioning eyebrow at the woman. Her smooth lie impressed him, and that was no easy feat.
Thor decided to push between the pair and wrapped his mighty arms around their shoulders and led them forward. "Then I must insist you join us for a round of ale."
Ireth playfully rolled her eyes at her friend as she and Loki were dragged along. "Thor, you know a round of ale means an entire night of revelry with you and the others. As much as we would love to, I must take your leave. I cannot afford to partake in such merriment when the Allfather is keeping a close eye on me." There was no lie in her words this time. She had to be careful with her duties, having been reprimanded once already. A night of drinking would waste away the following day.
Thor let out a sigh and stopped just a few yards from the Tavern they frequented so often. "Then here is where we shall part ways. Farewell to you both." The prince leaned to speak to Loki under his breath, "Be careful, brother. And good luck." He gave Loki a knowing wink and a pat on the back before waving to Ireth as well, and disappeared into the noisy tavern.
"Finally," Loki said, eliciting giggles from Ireth with his exasperated tone. He stared at her blankly, as she continued to stifle her laughter. Seeing her so delighted melted away Loki's irritation towards his brother, and before long, he was smiling as well.
"So tell me, why did you lie to Thor?" Loki questioned.
Ireth gave Loki a knowing look. "Well, you and I both know how Thor would react if he knew it was your idea to bring me out of the castle tonight. I thought I would spare you the embarrassment. You are, after all, my best friend."
Best friend. The words rang in Loki's ear as his heart sank. He knew it was not a surprise, but he so desperately wanted to be something more, though he dared not make the first move again. He forced himself to smile at her considerate gesture and managed to utter a thank you.
"Thanks are not necessary. Anyway, what are we waiting for? Come on, let's go!" Ireth said as she took Loki's arm and pulled him in the direction of the forest. "Shouldn't be long now!"
The woman was right, they were not far from their destination. The closer they progressed, the stronger the pull became, like a magnet being drawn to metal. The previous humming had returned and was getting louder with each step. "Can you sense it?" Ireth asked, wide-eyed and bouncing with energy and excitement.
Loki shook his head. "I'm not sure what it is you sense…" He was becoming increasingly frustrated. For one, he realized that he could not recall the exact path to the cave, an unfamiliar problem. Second, he could not feel the presence that Ireth seemed to feel, not in the slightest. It pained him to admit it, but he knew he would not be able to find the place easily without her aid.
"Come on, it's this way!" Ireth let go of his arm and broke into a run through the trees, leaving the trail behind. Loki had no choice but to chase after her. The girl twisted and turned through the trees, as if she knew the directions by heart. Suddenly, the trees cleared away and they burst into an opening, the cave straight ahead. Ireth halted just at the mouth, Loki joining her side.
"I-I found it," she whispered, in awe. She took a few deep breaths, clouding up the frosty air, in attempt to steady her thundering heart. Nervousness began to join her excitement. "Loki?" she murmured, glancing up at the prince standing beside her.
Loki looked into the girl's bright green eyes and saw uncertainty. An overwhelming desire to protect her at all costs washed over him. "I'm right here," he reassured. Taking her hand, he gave an encouraging squeeze and noticed the corners of Ireth's mouth tilt upward at his confirmed support.
Together, they stepped into the darkness of the cave. Loki conjured up a flame in his free hand to brighten the way. Much to Ireth's relief, the shallow, dimly-lit cave had not changed in appearance. Ireth pointed to the black hole in the corner, still beckoning to her. "It's loudest over there. It's pulling me towards the hole," said Ireth, trying to clarify her thoughts to Loki.
"That's where the portal is," Loki explained. "The Bifrost magic…it has to be connected here." He dropped Ireth's hand to bring more light to the cave for a better view and stepped closer to the blackness.
"Careful!" Ireth did not want Loki to take another accidental trip on her behalf, not again. "Wait…what are those?" she pointed a gloved finger to the symbols around the portal. She had missed those last time, with her reckless behavior. "They look…familiar."
Loki stepped back to where Ireth was standing, safely away from the pull of magic. "Those are the markings of the Bifrost. The same symbols you saw when you tried to access the magic."
"Then, does this not mean we were successful?"
"In a way, perhaps. This journey has helped me piece together some pieces of our puzzle. I cannot say with absolute certainty that I am correct, but my suspicions remain unchanged. Your attempt that night left you connected to the Bifrost in some way, which is allowing you to sense this hidden pocket of magic." Loki paused to glean Ireth's reaction.
"Go on, I'm following," urged Ireth.
Nodding, he continued. "I could not sense any of this magic on our way here. I felt nothing, where you felt…well, everything. I would not have found this place without your guidance. That tells me that I am not connected to the Bifrost, and what I sensed the other day was you. The only explanation I have for that is, when I tore you away from the Bifrost, some of your own magical essence transferred to me, and I could sense when you were in danger."
Ireth did not say a word for a few moments. Loki was starting to regret sharing his thoughts as the heavy silence hung in the air. He needed her to say something. Finally, Ireth let out the breath she was holding. "So…you can sense me? What is that like?"
Loki let out a chuckle, "I can't always sense you, if that is what you are wondering. And I can't tell what you are up to."
"You can't read my thoughts or anything, right?" she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"No, and being that you are probably the only person in Asgard who willingly calls me friend, I think I would spare you and try to preserve the relationship," Loki replied playfully.
"Well, that is a relief." Ireth flashed him one of her gorgeous smiles before putting on her serious face once more. "So, now what?"
A look of mischief spread across the God's face. "That, my dear, depends on you. Where shall we begin our journey?"
Alright, please don't be mad. I know this not my best chapter...not even close. It's 3am here and I'm halfway across the world right now, so I ask you to bear with me. This chapter is the unedited version (my beta and I are both out of the country at the moment), so rest assured there will be an updated version of this chapter at a future date (not too far in the future though!). I wanted to go ahead and post this since I've kept you all waiting for so long.
In the meantime, I'm currently working on the next chapter, and I promise there will be more excitement! Also, if there is ANYTHING you would like to see added or changed in this chapter, please let me know and I will try my best to accommodate (since technically this chapter is still under construction).
As always, please leave a review and let me know if you're enjoying the story :) Love you guys!