I just had to include an awkward sibling-talk in this chapter. I really couldn't resist XD
XIV. Visits
Bright sunbeams filtered through the curtains of her four-poster bed when Ljosira woke from a strange dream. She had been playing with her eldest brother, the crown prince Vegr, down at the roots of Yggdrasil. A forceful wind had swept her around and she wanted to land and steady herself, but the roots suddenly turned into the barren wasteland of the Chitauri quarantine, Vegr morphed into Natta, whose claws grabbed her, spinning around and around… Ljosira blinked.
The dream fled away from her as quickly as sand scattering to the wind, leaving only a feeling of dizziness and confusion. With a jolt, she realized that Loki was not by her side anymore, the place where he had slept cool and empty. For an instant, she wondered if last night had been a dream too. But the state of her body spoke volumes of the truth. Muscles and joints were stiff and strained, her skin a little raw, lips still swollen from his many kisses. A burn lingered at the place where her thighs met, making her flush scarlet. And then there was the matter of being stark naked. Unseen by anyone, a near silly grin spread across her face.
Ljosira slipped out of the bed and glimpsed the robe she'd been ridded of, draped neatly over the back of a chair. A faint hint of his scent still hung in the air. He had not been gone for long. With the intention of disentangling the mess Loki had made of her hair, she walked to the dresser. Still in a daze, her eyes almost passed over the small black box placed on her vanity. A note written in elegant script had been pinned underneath. She pulled it free.
I recalled that we had this sitting in our vaults, unworn and going to waste. It reminded me of what you looked like last night. Imagine the guard's face when I asked him to have it fetched for you. If you wear this tonight at the spring festival, I might be distracted from the accusing stares people have grown so fond of giving me. I shall attend. Under heavy guard, needless to say.
The note carried no signature, but there was no point in one anyway. Ljosira did not have to use her dragon sight to sense his recent presence on it. She ran her fingers over the lacquered wood, before picking up the box and flipping it open. Her heart skipped a beat.
A necklace, bedded on black velvet. It was a stunning work of art, made from pure white gold, the dozen fine chains no thicker than a thread. It held a pendant of marvellous flowers, their petals adorned with tiny pearls and moonstones, like drops of dew. They cradled a flawless blue diamond – which fractured the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colours, dancing over the skin of her palm. Ljosira touched the burnished gem curiously. What precise handiwork it must have taken to create it! She smiled, knowing that Loki had made this choice for a reason. Perceptive as usual. Yes, she would definitely wear it to the spring festival.
A sudden knock on the door startled her and she hurried to soothe confused maid. They were not used to doors being locked around her quarters. There had been nothing to hide, not until now… Hopefully they would take her being wrapped into nothing but a sheet as an act of eccentricity.
While the maids brought bathwater and tidied up the place, Ljosira drifted off into deep thought. Her father had recently sent a message, the same way Aevi had spoken to her. He had complained about the increasing secrecy, the distance she kept to her family's life-bonds. And of course, he had known what she tried to conceal from him. The slowly expanding space in her heart, occupied by a mortal.
Such things have never brought our people anything but suffering, Ljosira. She'd sensed his disapproval like an unpleasant sore on tender skin. But how could something that felt so right bring her suffering? Loki had looked so peaceful. Seeing him so unburdened had made her feel... Happy, whole, as though something had fallen into place within her, a thing which had been lacking for a long, long time.
She doubted that her siblings or her father would understand, on the contrary. Aevi had been right. The whole experience, the thousand thrills, the closeness… It belonged to life. There was no deep magic in it, no transmission of thought. It was so much simpler, yet more intricate. And so incredibly good.
"You were not here." Thor's voice sounded less accusing than it was amused.
The comment made Loki lift his gaze from the book in his hands. Not that he had been reading it at all, just staring at it blankly while his thoughts were elsewhere. His brother strode into his chambers as though he owned the place, browsing around casually. He wore a humbler version of his usual armour. Loki set down the book.
"Beg your pardon?", he said, a little irritated by the intrusion. Thor fiddled with the spine of a tome, pretending to be very interested in the title. Then he turned to Loki, an explicitly suspicious expression on his chiselled features.
"Yesterday, I returned from Midgard. You know father has called me back to oversee the rebuilding efforts after we smashed our way through half of Asgard.", he began innocently. Loki had a rising apprehension that his brother was up to no good. He employed that typical, ominous tone that usually preceded a brawl. Or something less peaceful.
"So I have heard…", Loki replied in a drawl.
"And when I returned, I came to visit you.", Thor pointed at him, his blue eyes glinting humorously. "You were not here." Loki leaned back into his desk-chair, feigning inanity. His fingers traced the dark wood carvings absent-mindedly as he tried to look oblivious. It failed.
"Is there a point to your investigation?", he kept his voice quite bored.
"There aren't a great many places where you can go, you know. With all the barriers and such…" Thor rubbed his breaded chin, casting a probing look at the open bedroom door.
"Thor…", Loki warned, annoyed now. "You are jumping to conclusions –" But his brother made a placating gesture, cutting him short.
"Alright, alright. I understand. Forget I ever said anything." And yet he went on after a moment: "I mean you can ask me for advice, anytime. I have some experience with women. Real women."
"Is there any other kind?", Loki wondered, groaning inwardly. This had to be the most awkward conversation of his life.
"I mean to say that if you have problems with a particular lady or just… any part of her – I'm sure I can handle it –" Seeing his brother's glare, Thor cleared his throat. "Alright even I admit that came out wrong. I have a girlfriend. She seems satisfied."
"Please just stop talking.", Loki buried his face in one palm. Had he only stayed with Ljosira this morning – instead of having to endure his brother offer uncomfortable relationship advice. It was thoroughly embarrassing. "Just… no more words. About women. Or parts of them."
"Fine, fine. Actually, I came here for another reason, but well… I couldn't help but notice…", he trailed off distractedly, making Loki wonder if he was thinking about Jane. A moment of silence passed, then Thor pulled out a folded parchment and handed it to his brother, who read it with raised eyebrows. It baffled him that Thor would seek his advice about anything. And at the same time, he felt a strange, pleasant sensation about being valued.
"So, Alfheim reports strange occurrences since the Convergence. Parts of forests dying without visible cause, disturbances in space… Miniature black holes, seriously?", Loki inquired while scanning the note. Thor shrugged.
"It sounds like something sprung from Stark's encapsulated mind. I wondered about that too. Would it be possible?" Loki walked to the bookshelf and pulled a small tome titled 'Phenomena of Spontaneous Sorcery' forth from it.
"Well… You defeated Malekith, but the Aether managed to reach through each of the realms before that.", Loki began, flipping the pages. "An energy source like that leaves residual magic behind. Any number of strange things. But black holes… I don't know. Nothing in here about them."
He closed the book and looked deep in thought, his gaze distant. Where had he read about black holes? There had been something, even recently. It lurked at the edge of his memory, but slipped through his fingers as he tried to grab hold of it. Which irritated him. He could usually recall any knowledge he'd gathered from books flawlessly.
"Alfheim calls us to caution about approaching such disturbances if we find them in Asgard. That means they expect us to stumble upon them too. I wished to consult you about it. I don't even know if this is something to worry about, but since…", Thor paused and threw him an oddly sympathetic glance. "… since mother, you are the only capable sorcerer around." The praise caught Loki unaware. He shifted awkwardly on the spot.
"What about Odin? Or Ljosira. You could have asked them." Why did he always do that? Instead of just taking the compliment, he sought to dismantle it. He jerked his head, annoyed at himself.
"Father wants nothing to do with the Aether. He is increasingly… withdrawn. Shuttered. And I think he still does not take kindly to our little joyride.", his brother answered, bitterness tinting his words. "And Ljosira just completed her rite of passage. She deserves a little peace. Instead of being handed the next mystery to resolve." They both fell silent, occupied with their own thoughts. Loki went over the report again.
"It says here these disturbances occur in remote places. If we have them in Asgard, they would not appear close to the city. The highlands, probably. The mountainside. Those would be my best guesses.", he mused.
"Should we investigate?", asked Thor.
"Well, I think it would not hurt. Not a great many people live close to the mountains. They might not come across anything unusual, or overlook it.", Loki answered pensively.
"Good. I'll dispatch a small party to investigate.", Thor decided. When Loki handed him the parchment, he shook his head. "Keep it for now. Maybe you should really ask Ljosira if she knows anything about the magic of black holes." His brother was already at the door when Loki called after him.
"Why me? You could ask her just as well." Thor merely turned halfway, smirking in a meaningful way.
"Why indeed?", he pondered as though talking to himself. "I shall see you at the festival tonight. Wear something nice. Jane is coming too." And then he was gone, leaving Loki with the report still in his hand, baffled into silence.
The soft knock on the door made Ljosira cease her twisting and turning to check if the maids had fastened her dress properly. Especially today, she didn't want to look dishevelled. Could that be Loki, come to pay her a visit before the festival? But he usually didn't bother knocking. Instead, Jane stood in the hallway, nervously shuffling her feet.
"Jane! You are visiting Asgard again? Please come in.", Ljosira exclaimed, ushering the other woman into her quarters.
"Thor told me you lived here.", Jane said, her gaze wandering over the exquisite room in amazement. "It's still a whole lot to take in, all of this." She indicated the rampant luxury.
"Asgard certainly becomes you.", the dragon princess complimented. It was true. In her deep burgundy dress, Jane looked as though she belonged here, for sure. The shawl around her shoulders wore a pattern of gold and brown leaves. It suited her natural beauty. Ljosira had chosen something subtle today, for the sake of her necklace – a steel blue robe adorned with a faint motif of ocean waves. They seemed to ripple against slate cliffs, shattering into silver spray at the seam.
"Thank you…", Jane mumbled, fiddling with the fabric. "How have you been? I'm still so sorry that I hurt you when all that Aether business went down… You were so kind to me and –" Ljosira made a halting gesture.
"It was never your fault.", she denied firmly, but the other woman didn't seem reassured. Her expression turned into a pained sort of regret.
"But the queen…" Drawing Jane to sit down with her in front of the heating pan, Ljosira shook her head.
"The queen never faltered. She died defending what she believed in, her heart of hearts. Home, family. We all grieve over her passing. But every selfless act leaves an imprint on the great tree. There is this saying on Yggdrasil: The stars remember. When you are at the festival tonight, look to the sky. You will see the image the Allfather painted there so Frigga's memory will never fade. She will watch over Asgard and her sons forever."
Then Ljosira leaned in and added in a conspirative tone: "I'm sure she is frowning on their quarrel. Which is also endless. And juvenile." That made Jane laugh.
"How can we stop now? It's too much fun." Both of them flinched at the sound of Loki's voice. He seemed to appear out of thin air, in full ceremonial garb, a mocking smile on his lips. Jane instantly looked alarmed.
"What is he doing here?", she asked, inching farther down the sofa cushions. Delight brightened Ljosira's expression for an instant, followed by a hint of reproach.
"What he usually enjoys doing – sneaking up on people without announcing himself.", she scolded. It lacked true severity.
"Shouldn't he be in prison? Wait – shouldn't he be dead?", Jane made no effort to make her words sound less upset or insulting.
"Someone here is surely not getting acclaimed for courtesy." Loki smirked, dripping with sarcasm. He fell silent when Ljosira threw him a cautionary look.
"You are the one who just barged in here, you sanctimonious –", Jane piped up in a temper.
"I live here. Technically, you are the one doing the barging-in.", Loki cut her short arrogantly. "Excuse us?", he then added with such deceptive innocence, both women stared at him. Jane turned to Ljosira, her doe-brown eyes searching for a sign that her friend needed to be rescued.
"It's fine. I will find you later at the festival. We should catch up over a glass of wine.", she assured the other woman, who blinked in surprise.
"Oh… Of course. I should meet with Thor anyway." A little hastier than necessary, she took her leave. The instant the door fell shut, Ljosira startled when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and Loki pulled her close. A humorous quirk still lingered on his lips as they descended on hers. An unmeasured time passed before they parted again, a little breathless.
"Did you have to be so irascible? You scared her…", she admonished, her expression somewhere between accusing and amused. Loki traced the neckline of her gown, like a man who could not hurt a fly.
"That was just a little good-natured mischief.", he replied, a spark dancing in his emerald eyes. Unable to resist the allure, he leaned in and pressed his lips to the soft ridge of her collarbone. He felt the voice vibrate in her chest as she spoke.
"By definition, those two terms contradict each other.", Ljosira pointed out, although she was getting increasingly distracted. "You aren't listening, are you?" She took a breath to muster some concentration. Loki lifted his head and regarded her with such a playfully blameless expression, it was maddening how handsome he looked.
"No.", he admitted in earnest. "That is what you get for me not seeing you all day. When I looked around midday you were already gone, and now I have to make up for lost opportunities…" The way his voice deepened, his warm breath fanned over her cheek, reminded her all too vividly of his heated skin last night, how his body had shuddered above hers… A tremble went through her in response, making his eyes glitter victoriously.
"I like it when you blush. It gives me a sense of achievement.", he murmured against her temple.
"You are eluding. You were gone in the morning." Her tone held just the slightest hint of hurt. He gave a sigh.
"True. I wished to be inconspicuous. I do not like private matters to be dragged out into the open."
"Hmm.", Ljosira hummed vaguely. Loki lifted his fingers to the slight recess below her throat.
"You are not wearing it.", he mused, sounding disappointed. Ljosira extricated herself gently from his arms and walked to her dresser, facing the large mirror trimmed with golden flowers. She beckoned him over.
"I can't see behind my back, remember? Besides, I couldn't open the clasp…" His expression relaxed as he joined her, picking up the jewellery to drape it around her slender neck. He handled the contraption so effortlessly. Just like that. Ljosira had given up on it after fumbling with it for half an hour.
"You could have used an enchantment.", he suggested. Ljosira eyed him in the mirror.
"I prefer this over an enchantment."
"So do I. This way, I am the first to see the outcome of my choice. It suits you perfectly.", he said after a moment's pause, making her cheeks turn pink. The blue diamond seemed to twinkle in agreement.
"So…" Loki turned her around, his eyes serious all of sudden. "Should we see how Asgard takes my return to society?"
Before they left for the festival, they both looked up into the night sky, where the first stars peeked through the fading veil of dusk. A faint, sea green ribbon wound between them, like the cloak of a kind goddess.