Chapter Eleven

Kalah stirred early the next morning as soon as the light began to trickle through the boughs of the tall trees. The soft, sweet song of nature filled Kalah's ears as the birds began chirping their morning greetings.

Loki would like this. The thought of him filled her mind, and a rush of sadness overwhelmed her. She had gotten used to waking up beside him, snuggling into his warm side as he ran his fingers through her long hair. She loved to nuzzle her nose into his neck, drawing his heady scent deep into her lungs, and letting it completely intoxicate her. Her eyes slowly opened but instead of seeing Loki, all she saw was her wall of greenery that shielded her from the elements. She decided it was time to rise and continue her journey, and as she lifted her head, she heard what sounded like horses galloping against the hard ground.

"What is that? Do you see that over in the brush?" Kalah gasped as she heard a man's deep voice echo against the trees. That voice didn't belong to Loki.

"What is it Thor? I don't see anything!" A lovely female's voice followed his closely.

At that moment, Kalah knew that someone had seen her shelter. Wait! The woman called him Thor… Loki's brother! Kalah remained as still as she could, even trying not to breathe— maybe they'll decide it's nothing and leave.

"No, that's strange, Sif— I've never seen that before."

'No, no, no… This can't be happening.' Kalah thought as she tightly closed her eyes, wishing she were anywhere else. Suddenly, a very large pair of hands clamped down around her ankles and dragged her from her resting spot. She could feel each thorn and bramble as they dug deeply into the skin of her stomach and chest, where her leather armor had come open during the night. Thor pulled her through the brush, and into the open, finally letting her rest on the leaves of the cold, wet ground. She hastily turned over, tightening the laces of her chest piece, as she took in the sight in front of her. Standing directly above her, was a giant man whom she guessed was Thor. His massive chest was heaving, and a bead of sweat rolled down his brow. His long blond hair trailed over his shoulder, thick chunks of it wrapped with deep brown leather strips. Three more men and one woman, who sat atop majestic, large horses, surrounded the pair.

"Who are you? What are you doing in Asgard?" Thor questioned, rather loudly. Thor and Loki were completely opposite in the looks department, but they both had the roaring, intimidating voice perfected.

"I'm sorry, sir… I'm just passing through! I just needed a place to sleep— I am on my way to Vanaheim."

"You have no horse? No belongings?"

"No, sir… nothing! Please have mercy on me!" Kalah got to her knees in front of the God of Thunder, and looked up directly into his light blue eyes. "I mean no harm. I will be out of Asgard soon enough!"

"Thor, watch out! Look at her ears! She's an Elf!" Kalah began to tremble when she heard the dark-haired woman shout those incriminating words. Sif dismounted and joined Thor, before reaching her hand out and pulling back Kalah's silver hair that had come loose from her braid overnight. "See? An Elf!"

Kalah watched as both of their faces turned into disgusting scowls. Loki had shown a bit of mercy on her when he first saw her in Asgard, but she didn't know what Thor would do— after all, he had a right to kill her here and now. He was a Prince, and she was trespassing on his land.

"What do you want in Asgard, Elf? Your kind doesn't just show up here for no reason. Are you a scout? Are you a rogue? A lone wolf? You shall answer me!"

"No, no! None of those things, I swear it! I have no family, and I am just moving through Asgard to get to Vanaheim— for a new home! Please… I'm begging for you to release me. I will be on my way! You will never see me again, I swear it!"

Thor knelt on one knee in front of Kalah, and studied her like he was trying to tell if she was lying. "Well, a couple of nights in Asgard won't hurt you, will they?" Thor turned to the red-headed man that was with him. "Let's take her in… I need to know who she is. Maybe you are being truthful, Elf. We shall see."

She collapsed into a heap on the ground. Those words had taken the breath from her body, and it seemed no matter what she did, she couldn't escape Loki's grasp. She didn't want to go back there. She couldn't face her silver-tongued lover… Not after what she had done.

Thor's large hands wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest tightly, before he mounted his horse with her and clicked his tongue, signaling for the horse to begin to gallop. It seemed like the group rode for hours before she heard the crashing waves of Asgard… and before she knew it, they had come to a halt at a stable. "You don't have much fight in you, do you, Elf? You haven't tried to escape yet." He had no idea. Thor retrieved a long, thin strip of rope, and began to wind it tediously around Kalah's wrists, binding her arms completely. "Now, come."

As Thor led her through the streets of Asgard, people began to take notice of the new prisoner. Some people said rude, hurtful things… some people turned their nose up at her… and a couple of people even spat on her. Thor was quick to admonish those people, however. No matter who she was, he was taught that most beings deserved respect, and she would get it while he was with her.

He led her to a large, blindingly white cell in the prison that was much nicer than the cell she had first been brought to when she arrived in Asgard. She was just thankful that she was by herself in the small room.

Thor unwound her arms, and after a moment the feeling flowed back into them. He spotted the blood that had dripped down the front of her leather breeches from underneath her top. "I will get a healer to come and heal the wounds on your chest. I am sorry. That is not befitting of my behavior… unless I find out you are lying. Then, you will be sorry, Elf. I need to alert my brother, Loki, of your capture. Expect a visit from him soon. I'm doubtful that he will be as merciful as me." Thor stepped over the threshold of the cell, and behind him the door hummed to life. The large expanse of space was as clear as glass, but buzzed with a force that made Kalah know better than to try and breech it.

She was terrified to see Loki, as last time led her to spending the night in chains. This time, there were actual feelings involved, and she realized that she didn't care what he did to her physically… it would hurt her far worse to see the pain weighing down his beautiful emerald eyes.

Her back found the corner of the bright cell, and she slid down until her backside met the floor. Other inmates' screams and curses flowed down the hall, prompting Kalah to pull her knees to her chest, and bury her face in them. She didn't want to be here. This place absolutely terrified her. The worst beings in Asgard were down here— monsters, both literally and figuratively. Disgusting creatures that had been convicted of the worst sorts of crimes.

Yet, here she sat. She had done nothing wrong… her only crime was being an innocent Elf, something she couldn't change.

"Kalah? I am here to heal you. May I come in?"

Kalah peeked up to see Althia, the healer, at the cell door. She couldn't make her voice work, so she just nodded at the radiant elf. Althia pushed a button outside of the cell, making the humming door cease and easily walked through it.

"Kalah, how did you get here again?"

"It's a long story Althia… I really can't get into it right now."

Althia nodded. "Please show me your wounds so that I can heal you, at least."

Kalah sat up straight as her fingers went to the laces on her armor, finally exposing her wounds to the healer.

"Prince Thor is the one who ordered me to heal you. He said that he gave you these wounds. They look quite deep, and I know it's painful. I thought you were staying in Asgard… staying in the King's chambers? What's going on?"

Kalah just shook her head, afraid to speak, for if she spoke, she knew that her emotions would come spilling from her eyes. Althia placed her fingers on Kalah's chest. With a few words, her skin had been healed.

"There you are, Kalah. I pray that I do not see you down here again."

"Me too. Thank you for healing me. It feels much better."

The healer nodded. "If you are threatened here… if you are being mistreated… please come find me. I will help you."

"It's fine, Althia… but thank you."

The night wore on… long and mentally exhausting. Kalah just knew that Loki would come rushing to her when Thor told him she was here— but he didn't. In fact, the night had to be approaching quickly because the guards had delivered dinner meals to the rest of the inmates. Everyone except her. Was she being punished for leaving?

Even though she didn't want Loki to embarrass himself by being with her, it nearly killed her to realize that he wasn't coming… he just wasn't.

"Lights out in fifteen minutes!" A guard yelled from the hall, but quickly approached the door of Kalah's cell. "ELF! The King ordered me to bring you these. I don't think you deserve them, filthy creature." He spat as he threw a bundle of items toward her.

She watched with fear as the large guard turned and continued down the hall, breathing out a sigh of relief as soon as he was out of sight. Slowly, she crawled toward the bundle and unbuckled the leather strap that went around it. A fluffy pillow rested in the center of the package, along with a thick fur throw and a large horn of wine.

"Oh, thank you, Loki." Kalah whispered, almost silently. Even though he didn't want to see her yet, he still wanted her to be taken care of. That made her a little less nervous to face him. She drank the wine quickly, laid her head on the fluffy pillow, and pulled the black fur up to her neck. The alcohol was definitely working, as she felt a little tipsy… and very tired. Even though the shouts and grunts of the other inmates rang in her ears loudly, she drifted off to sleep rather quickly, praying that Loki would come to her sooner rather than later.

The next morning began by the clanking of metal trays being shoved into each cell, and the loud protests from the inmates when they saw the food that was presented to them. That made Kalah a little thankful when the guards passed up her cell once again. She was absolutely starving, but that prison slop didn't even appeal to her. She would never be that hungry.

She rolled to her opposite side, turning her back toward the door, and pulled the fur over her head. She would do anything to block out the trauma of that prison. Without warning, the door ceased it's humming and heavy bootfalls entered the a bit of hesitation, Kalah turned her head toward the new sound. Loki.

As amazing as he looked in his leather armor, all she could concentrate on was his face. His green eyes were bitter and heartbroken with a deep crimson ring around them, and his thin lips were fixed in a tight, angry line. She tried to read his expression, but couldn't tell if he was angry or upset, and that worried her.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "You are free to go. I do not want to hold you here any longer than you need to be. I will get a guard to escort you to the front gate of the palace." His short words and indifferent tone broke her heart, but when he turned his back on her to walk away, her heart lurched into her throat.

"Loki! Wait!"

He stopped in his tracks, but made no motion to face her. "You are a prisoner here no longer, elf."

"Loki… please… just give me a chance to explain. Please! I just want to talk to you for a little while. I won't leave here without speaking to you."

He got the attention of a guard and whispered something to him, before walking away. She assumed the worst, as Loki didn't even give her one last look before leaving.

The guard walked into her cell and pointed toward her. "Gather your things, and we will be on our way, Elf."

No. This can't be happening. "But I wanted to talk to Lo-"

"Come. I am only following orders. Gather your things."

She did as the guard asked, and soon they were walking down the hall of the prison, and finally up the winding stairs to get into the main part of the palace. Instead of leading Kalah toward the front gate, he led her the opposite direction.

"Guard, where are we going?"

"I was ordered to take you to the King's Chambers, and wait outside the door until the King was finished with you." Even though that sounded ominous, she was grateful that he was going to let her explain herself.

They arrived at Loki's chambers, and when Kalah entered she saw Astrid on her knees picking up books. The room had been destroyed— Loki's desk and bookshelf had been overturned, sending books, parchments, and black ink flying across the room.

"Astrid?"

Astrid jumped and looked back at Kalah. "What are you doing back here, dear? Thought you were leaving!"

"That was the plan… it's a long story, but I'm back here again. I'm not staying, I just wanted to talk to Loki for a few moments… you know, before I left for good."

Astrid nodded and went back to stacking up books, and sorting through parchments.

"What happened in here?"

"My master is what happened in here… He was so upset when he found out that you left. I told you it would break his heart!"

"He didn't hurt you, did he Astrid?"

"No, dear, he didn't. Well, unless you count cleaning this ol' big mess up as hurting me… I do." Astrid winked at her.

Kalah smiled as the door forcefully swung open, startling both of the women.

"Astrid, please go to the kitchen and get Kalah a tray of food." Loki ordered.

"Yes, My King."

He slowly advanced on Kalah until they were toe-to-toe. Being this close to him made her want to succumb to her desires, but she had to remain strong. His forefinger slid underneath her chin, tilting her face up to look into his eyes. She swore she could see everything perfect and beautiful in his eyes at that very moment… and then she saw them begin to water.

"Why did you leave me, little one?"

"Loki, I…-" Her words stuck in her throat. She needed to tell him that she was leaving, and that she was sorry— but she couldn't. She just couldn't tell him goodbye. "I'm so sorry. I've done nothing but put a burden on you since I showed up here. I knew that being with me would tarnish your name… you are the King!"

Loki began to smirk and eventually he doubled over in laughter. "My darling, if you think being with you would tarnish my name further than it already is, you are mistaken. Do you think I am worried about my name?"

"But, Astrid told me about the Elf invasion… how that is the reason people don't like me."

"Yes, darling. Some people will never get over that. That was a dark time for Asgard. I want you to listen to me, Kalah. Our love would surpass all of their judgment… if you would just let me love you. You cannot spend the rest of your life running, when your home is here, my love. My life is a constant, whirling storm… you bring me peace, Kalah. Please stay with me. Do not worry about what others say, for they mean nothing to me. You do."

"Loki, I-"

He held up his hand, effectively silencing her. "However, if you do not want to be here with me, I will not force you to stay. I do not want your pity, so if you want to leave, then go. You are free to fly, little bird."

"Loki, the Queen came by to see you yesterday morning. She walked in on me… naked."

He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, as he could see that she was actually upset about what had happened.

"She seemed to think you had been neglecting your duties as King, because of me. She said you were addicted to me… She was disappointed that you had been spending so much time with me."

"I know, my darling. She told me all about it. You surprised her, is all. I took care of it. Do not worry, she will treat you with respect from now on."

"That's all she said? I was so embarrassed! She doesn't hate me?"

"No, she doesn't hate you… she will get used to you, should you stay. She did mention that she thinks I am very lucky." Loki winked.

"And what about Thor?"

"What about Thor? I don't care what that half-wit thinks."

Kalah sighed. "I don't know, Loki…"

"Do you love me, sweet girl?"

"Yes."

"Then that is all we need. At least tell me that you'll stay with me for a couple of days and think about it. Look at me, darling. Can you bear the weight of my love?"

Kalah looked into his eyes once again, and knew what she wanted to do. "I will stay. At least for a little while."

Loki smiled a large, toothy grin as he grabbed Kalah and pulled her against his lean chest. "Thank the norns… I'll make you happy, little one. I swear."

"I know you will, Loki. You already have."