Chapter Eleven

Thor and Odin sat in the throne room talking of Loki and the day's events. "Do you think he knows yet Father?" Thor asked.

"That he loves her?" Odin asked, Thor nodded. "I don't know my son. Loki has always been more difficult to reach in that area. But with today's events, I am guessing he will be considering his feelings quite seriously."

"Would you object Father, if he does love her?"

"With her abilities she could prove quite useful to me. I would not object."

He said it with so little feeling. Not seeming to care of Loki, or Lucy's feelings in the matter. It made Thor sorry he had asked.

I stood looking at Lucy's new library with a smile. She was going to cry when she saw it.

"It turned out beautifully, your Majesty. She is going to love it." Kayla said to me with a smile.

"The bedroom as well. Well done Kayla. I think we have both exceeded expectations."

I knew I was correct when my mother came to see the finished quarters. "Oh Loki! It is truly magnificent! Are you sure you don't want to be the one who shows it to her?"

"No mother, I think you should do that. She needs to know of your approval of her staying here. It will mean a lot to her. I need to go, Thor is waiting for me in the training grounds." I kissed her on the cheek, and turned to go.

"I am vey proud of you Loki." She said as I walked for the door. "And happy you have found someone who deserves you, and makes you happy."

I didn't argue. I just smiled and left.

I was in a good mood. I even let Thor win a couple of times as we were sparring. I was laughing at something Thor said, when I felt it. Fear. It was Lucy, I knew immediately. She was to my right, a ways off. I stopped and looked in that direction when I heard her screaming in my head. I flinched. Thor grabbed my shoulder, "Loki? What is it?"

I looked up at him in fear, "Lucy is in danger." I pointed in the direction. And disappeared.

I appeared directly behind him, and saw the relief in her eyes. I had never felt such rage. How dare he touch her? I threw him with close to all my strength. I didn't want him dead yet. Not until I had words with him.

The following moments were a blur. I was so angry I could think of nothing but killing him. Thor arrived within moments and did his best holding me at bay, but when Fuldaar opened his mouth and commented on Lucy I completely lost control.

Thor grabbed my face, I barely heard what he was saying. Until he said Lucy needed medical attention. Was I too late? I thought I had stopped him in time. I spun towards her, Sif let her go, and she ran for me. I scooped her up into my arms. "Are you alright?" She fell unconscious. "Lucy?" I hated how my voice cracked.

Thor touched my shoulder. "Take her to mother Loki, she will know what to do." He then turned back to the retreating guards. "Take this man to darkest dungeon room we have." I nodded my appreciation, and vanished, taking Lucy's lifeless body with me.

When I appeared at my mother's feet I was exhausted. Holding Lucy in my arms, I looked up into her face with anguish. "Loki! What has happened?! Bring her quickly, is she breathing?"

I nodded my head unable to speak. My mother raced down the hall in front of me, stopping briefly at Lucy's new quarters. "Take her inside, lay her on the bed, I will be right back with the healers." I was numb. I went inside, but found myself unable and unwilling to lay her down. I just kept looking in her face hoping she would open those blue eyes and smile at me. I walked over to the bed and stood there.

Frigga ran inside with the doctor and two apprentices in tow. They walked over to where I stood. The doctor reached for Lucy, and I pulled away. Holding her to me even tighter.

My mother approached me, "Loki. The doctor needs to examine her. I know you don't want to, but you need to lay her down, and tell me what happened." She reached up and carefully brushed Lucy's hair off her face. She gasped when she saw Lucy's bruised neck. "Oh Loki. Not again. I am sorry my love, but she is safe now. Lay her down carefully."

I walked to the bed and slowly put Lucy down. I kneeled by her side, her hand in mine. "I need to examine the girl, your Majesty." The doctor said to me quietly. I looked to my mother, and she held her arms out for me. I let go of Lucy, and walked into my mother's arms.

She walked me to the sitting room, and lowered me to the floor at her feet as she sat. I laid my head on her lap and whispered, "it's all my fault."

"Tell me everything love."

So I did. I started from the moment I sensed her danger, I fumbled through what I remembered of the fight, and finished with when I appeared before her.

"Loki my love, this is NOT your fault. You did not make this man's choices. He will be severely punished. And hopefully Lucy will make a complete recovery."

"I can reassure you of that." The doctor said, as he entered the room. "The girl will be in pain, but will recover. She has a small fracture in her left wrist, her neck is very bruised, and she has two cracked ribs."

I was seething. I had never felt this kind of anger before. It consumed me. I wanted to rip Fuldaar apart. I climbed to my feet, my whole body shaking. "Loki calm yourself." My mother stated simply. "Losing control now, will not help Lucy. Stay here with her, I will notify your father, and return." She nodded to the doctor and said, "if you will join me in explaining Lucy's injuries to Odin please."

They left me alone with the apprentices still hovering over Lucy. Bandaging her arm, her ribs already done, they nodded that I could enter the room. I went to the library and dragged one of the chairs into Lucy's bedroom. I sat next to her, holding her uninjured hand, as they worked. I was silent. Sending her messages in my mind, and trying to listen for anything coming from her. It was silent.

At some point the apprentices left me. I sat at her side, as the room darkened. Staring at her face. Listening to her breathe. She was alive. That is what mattered now. I needed to keep telling myself that to stay under control. If she had been awake, she would have calmed me. Taken these reckless emotions, and replaced them with something more useful. But she still slept.

I have no idea how much time had passed when my mother returned. It was dark, the sun having set a while ago. She turned on a light in the sitting room, and another on the opposite side of Lucy's bed.

"Loki?" she said quietly. "There is nothing you can do here my love. She needs to rest. And your father is waiting to talk to you."

"I don't want to leave her. What if she wakes while I am gone?"

"If she wakes, I will call for you. But the doctor gave her some pretty strong pain medication, she shouldn't wake until the morning. Loki, go to your father. Explain what has happened. And then clean up, and get a good night's rest. If anything changes, I promise I will let you know."

She was right. I was absolutely exhausted. I asked for time alone.

I told her how sorry I was. I was tired and weak. Angry at myself, for not protecting her. And before I could stop myself, telling her I loved her. I left after I said it. Not knowing if she heard any of it.

My father and Thor stopped talking when I entered. I stood in front of my father, and gave him a small bow.

Thor spoke first, "I was glad to hear Lucy will recover quickly brother. Rest assured Fuldaar is not comfortable."

"Thank you" I replied. I wanted to get out of there. I wanted to wash off this day and sleep. I looked at Odin waiting for whatever it was he was wanting to say to me.

He looked at me for a moment. "I can see you are tired my son. Your mother has explained Lucy's story in detail to me. And I have heard about what happened today from Thor. I will not ask you to repeat what I already know. What I do want to hear from you, is what you believe Fuldaar's punishment should be?"

I looked into his face, "you do not want me to answer that right now Allfather. Trust me. I would kill him where he stood if he were here."

"I understand your anger Loki. I will give you a few days to think it over. But I believe it is important that you be a part of the decision. I am sorry for Lucy's injuries my boy, go and rest now."

I went to my quarters started to undress to take a shower. Got down to just my pants, looked at my bed, and fell on it immediately falling asleep.

I heard her scream my name. It woke me from a dead sleep. The room was still dark. I jumped to my feet, confused for a moment. Was I dreaming, or did she call to me? I didn't wait to find out, I ran for her room.

I burst through the door, finding my mother, and Kayla, hovering over Lucy's bed. I could hear her sobbing uncontrollably. My mother turned, hearing the door. "Oh Loki! Thank goodness, come over here quickly. She is beyond my reach, and talking nonsense."

I ran to Lucy's side, Kayla moved out of the way, as I approached. She looked up at me with such relief. I sat next to her on the bed, and took her hand. But it wasn't enough for her, she winced in pain but climbed up on my lap wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

"You're alive. You're fine. Everything is fine." She took my face in her hands. "Don't leave me Loki, okay? Please don't leave me." Tears streamed down her face.

"Of course not Lucy. I am sorry I wasn't here when you woke. I planned on being here." I looked up at my mother in confusion.

"I think Lucy may have had a nightmare. She woke up crying. How did you know she was awake?"

"I heard her screaming, I'm surprised the whole palace isn't here."

Frigga and Kayla looked at one another. "She didn't scream," my mother said. "At least not out loud."

"Well she must have done it subconsciously. Because it woke me."

She stirred in my arms, "I woke you up? I am so sorry Loki. I dreamed... Well it's sort of foggy now, but I lost you, and I was terrified. Why am I still so tired. I can't keep my eyes open, but I'm scared to close them."

"It seems that medication hasn't quite worn off yet. You should go back to sleep. You will feel better in the morning." She looked up at me in fear. "Don't be afraid. I am not leaving."

"Loki," my mother started, "you need your rest, just like Lucy does."

"I am not leaving her again, not until she is awake for the day. Kayla, please light the fireplace in Lucy's library. Mother, you can go. I will stay here. Kayla can stay too, if it will make you feel better."

Kayla ran to do as I asked. My mother looked worried, but knew my mind was made up. She nodded. "I will be back in the morning to check in on you. I love you Loki. Good night."

"Good night, I will see you in the morning." I smiled at her worried face, in hopes of putting her mind at ease.

I looked down at Lucy, her eyes were closed. I laid her next to me on the bed and checked on Kayla. She had the fire lit, I gestured to the giant overstuffed chair in the room. "I will sleep here, you can either go back to your quarters, or go back to the couch in the sitting room if you wish."

"I will stay, your Majesty. I want I make sure Lucy is alright." She bowed before me, and turned back to the sitting room.

As I sat down in the chair, and put my feet up in the ottoman I heard her in my head. 'You said you wouldn't leave me. Where are you?'

'I am here. Just in your library. You need to sleep.' I responded.

'I can't. Please Loki, I'm scared.'

I walked back through the sitting room, Kayla sat up, a confused look on her face. "It's alright Kayla. Go back to sleep, I am going to bring Lucy into the library with me." She nodded, and laid down.

I went to Lucy's side. She looked up at me, and I reached my arms out towards her and picked her up carefully. Her right side against me, so as to not hurt her ribs. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I carried her back to the chair in front of the fireplace. I sat with her on my lap, I leaned back, and she laid against me, almost immediately falling asleep. I fell asleep soon after, the warmth of her covering my body.

I awoke hours later. I didn't move though, I laid there feeling her lightly running her fingers over my chest. I realized for the first time, that I had no shirt on. I chuckled.

She looked up at me. "You're awake. I'm sorry, did I wake you."

"No, the realization that I am half naked did that." I smiled at her, when she looked up at me and smiled. "I am glad to see your smile. You frightened me little one." I took her bandaged hand in mine.

"I'm sorry, I ..." I stopped her with my finger on her lips.

"NEVER say you are sorry about this. This was my fault." I looked into the fire. It was burning bright, Kayla must have refreshed it at some point.

She moved my hand, "No. THIS is Fuldaar's fault." She held up her bandaged hand. She winced as she sat up on my lap. She took my face in her hands. "Look at me Loki." I looked into her big blue eyes. "Never ever say this is your fault. You were right, neither of us should be apologizing. It happened. I am alright, well, I will be. He will be punished, I am assuming?" She looked to me, and I nodded. "Then this is where we are. So stop looking at me with your perfectly green, puppy dog eyes. And smile because, well, because..."

She paused, and in my head I heard her whisper. 'I love you Loki.'

"It really is not fair that you didn't say it out loud. It kind of feels like I am being cheated." I smiled at her.

"Was it real then? Did you...say it?" I smiled at her. "I thought for sure I dreamt that part." She took a deep breath, and winced. "Well then," she cleared her throat loudly, "Loki Odinson, my King of All, I love you." She wrapped her arms around my neck. And kissed me softly on my lips.

The moment our hands touched the first time, was nothing compared to this. Every nerve in my body stood at attention. I felt her magic move through me. It was astounding, and made me wonder what it might feel like to...she interrupted my thought.

"WOW." Was all she said, she looked me in the eyes, and pulled me towards her again. She kissed me deeply. Passionately, her hands in my hair. Me trying not to put my arms around her, for fear that I would cause her pain. I don't know how long it went on for. I didn't care. I found myself pulling her closer to me, my hand sliding up her thigh. I could have stayed there forever. But she stopped, and looked up.

"We should probably stop." She put her hands on my chest.

I reached to pull her back to my lips, "why ever would we?"

"Because I am pretty sure Frigga is about to catch us." The door to her quarters opened as she said it.

"That was impressive, you are getting better at sensing other people besides me. Maybe someday I can use that to my advantage, and try sneaking up in you with someone else." I winked at her and lifted her carefully down to the floor. Her hand in mine, we went out to greet my mother.

A/n. Thanks so much for reading everybody. Big thanks to the new reviewers! Angsty Loki is coming. But I hope to throw in at least one more chapter of happy Loki first. Thanks for your support everyone!