Chapter 11

Lagertha's vision went red. She rose to her feet and glared at the prince in a manner that caused his irate features to falter. "How dare you, don't you ever speak of my mother, you didn't know her." She yelled furiously. Loki was taken back by the ferocity of her aggression and pulled himself to his feet to take a step back. "I know you said those things to get me to leave again because of some misconstrued idea you have that it is safer for me to leave." She scoffed a small laugh at the guilty look on Loki's face. "Yes, I know what you were trying to do, I am no fool Loki. I get it, you feel guilty for my arm, and for everything that happened as a result. And I would wager that Thor insisted it was all your doing, and that we were lucky it was only my arm, but that does not now, or EVER give you the right to speak of her."

Loki swallowed and bit his lip, shocked that she had seen through his act so quickly, but also ashamed that he had caused her such anger at what he had said of her mother. She stated he had not known her, implying she was no longer around, be it by death or other manners. He knew that heartache all too well. "I apologise." He conceded, allowing his façade to fall completely. "Your claim is a legitimate one; I have no right to say such things, especially with not knowing her."

Lagertha eyed him carefully for a moment to check his sincerity. Satisfied that he was not being deceitful, she nodded silently signifying she accepted his apology. "You could not have known." She acknowledged.

"How?" Loki began to ask.

"I reheated the other half of the pie if you would like some." Lagertha rushed outside the door and retrieve the dessert.

Loki knew immediately the meaning of her actions. Just as with his reaction when she had queried his new appearance, she was deflecting. "Thank you, but I am not feeling too hungry at present." She nodded and looked down at the food on the tray, wondering what to do with it. "Why do you not have it?"

"I fear it will be some time before I retrieve my appetite."

"I would have thought you would have built up a good one with the fight you gave Thor. You look as though he had to restrain you with for the entire way." Loki again made note of her injuries and appearance.

"To be fair, he had some assistance with regards to them." She frowned. Loki's concerned inquisitive look spurred her to elaborate. "There is a positively horrid excuse for a man in the village by the name of Jarl. He has little respect for women, and even less respect for their personal space or their requests for him to desist." Loki's eyes widened and his jaw clenched. "I was unfortunate to have to deal with both him and your brother in the one afternoon, and the end result is looking like I have been in the woods for a century straight."

"How did you fend him off?"

"I was fortunate enough to have been aided by the Lady Sif. Although I feel that may have irritated Thor somewhat."

"What?"

"Well Sif actually listened to me when I stated I did not wish to have been removed from the palace, so she got me onto her horse and brought me back. Thor was anything but pleased by my returning or by her assisting me."

"How so?"

"He was under the impression that no matter what I said to the contrary, you had harmed me."

"But I have harmed you." Loki swallowed and looked to her arm.

"The salve worked well and now I feel nothing. The burn is healing and I have little doubt that in the not so distant future, it will fully healed." She smiled. "It was not intentional; you did not wish to harm me." Loki could not look her in the eye. "Thank you by the way." That caused him to look up in confusion. "For coming to my aid, again! You are making it some what of a habit of that, saving me from Thor."

"Most would assume it would be Thor saving a woman from me."

"Well we know different." She winked with a smile.

"What about your father, what had he to say of all this?" Loki asked. He noted how her face dropped immediately. "What happened?"

"He persisted that you were a monster and accused you of being the one to harm me, even when I stated it was actually Thor and not you that had done such."

"But I did worse than bruise you." Loki interjected; the look on Lagertha's face silenced him swiftly enough.

"He all but accused me of being mad, stupid and even being under a spell." She ranted. "And then he…" She bit her lips together as replayed his words once more to herself.

"He what?" Loki was almost apprehensive of her possible response. If he had disowned her and kicked her out of home, it would have been due to him, further adding to the injustices she had bore because of him. But it also made him wonder if she only returned to the palace out of a lack of anywhere else to go, and not because she simply had wished to return.

"He said something truly horrible, so I just left. That is when I had the misfortune to run into Jarl, literally, then Sif saved me and brought me back."

"And she willingly brought you here?"

"When she realised it was where I truly wished to be, yes, and did so without any further question."

"She is not my greatest fan; I am surprised by her actions if I am to be honest." He admitted. "You truly wish to be here?" he asked cautiously.

"I do." Lagertha gave another small smile. "It felt so wrong to even consider leaving. I am not sure I can fully explain, but honestly I am quite content here, is it alright if I were to stay?" She requested shyly.

"Well you do not tend to make a nuisance of yourself." Loki shrugged. When she erupted in laughter he looked at her indignantly. "What?"

"Nothing." She dismissed with a knowing smile. Loki eyed her cautiously. "And of course, I am a better cook."

"It is most certainly far more palatable now."

"Why were you never truly taught to fend for yourself?"

"It is hardly the most useful of information for one that would never have reason for such. I always have maids, servants and cooks."

"But now you do not, and it has meant you have had to fend for yourself."

"I survived long enough on what I know, I thank you."

"With a little assistance from that." She pointed to his hands, signifying she was referring to his seidr. "You do know that King Thor believes you no longer have any of your seidr."

"He really thinks he can curtail my power. I let him believe so, so that I may have some of it left." Loki scoffed, and frowned. "Bu t you said nothing to him."

Lagertha shook her head. "You had just defended me another time, and you previously saved my life. I owe him no favours."

"But he is your king."

"I care little for that. You saved me, you defended me, and you have not mistreated me in any way. He is not worthy of my allegiance."

"If any of his court heard you."

"I doubt it somewhat that you will be the one to inform any of my treacherous words."

"I am a lot of things, but I can assure you, a snitch is not one of them."

"How desperate I am to take the word of the God of Lies." She smirked again. Loki could not help but admire her quick mind as he could not help returning the gesture.