Chapter 21

Loki sulked and wasn't feeling well again. The weapons vault was still only a fourth of the way done. He didn't feel the vigor or conviction to finish it. He missed Gallana and knew he could never see her again. There was no comfort for him except to go to Gallana's room and sit in her rocking chair, holding his dragon, and singing one of the lullabies he had learned from her.

He was sitting in it then when he heard a voice. He knew it and started looking around but could not see the person. He dropped his head again. Then he heard the voice again and looked up.

"Don't be discouraged Loki." The voice said "Oh no, Loki I'm not in Asgard but I am watching over you. You won't see me but know you can look up and be sure I am looking down upon you."

"When will I see you again?" Loki said

"I don't know hopefully soon." Gallana's voice rang out.

"I will wait for you." Loki said

"I know you will love. I will check up on you when I can. Goodbye my love; I love you." Gallana said

"Farewell, I love you too." Loki replied

Loki was happier after that. Everyone noticed and wondered why. Only Heimdall knew and he would tell no one because he told Gallana he wouldn't. He watched Loki and befriended him. They would talk for hours; sometimes Gallana would join in.

Loki went back to building the weapons vault it was finished within the next two weeks. He read and played like he used to. He even learned how to use knives. He carved, and used them when in combat. His magic had become more enhanced as well. He could do anything he put his mind to.

Odin wondered what it was; he liked to think it was the fact that he was paying more attention to Loki and now saw him as one of his own children. This was partly true; Loki had noticed that Odin had taken a great interest in him. Loki was glad of this because now Odin spent part of his time with him as well as Thor.

But Loki's happiness was not to last. He was nine years old by human years. He and Thor were tussling when Odin came over. They both came up and knelt looking up at their father. He came and tousled Thor's hair and patted Loki's shoulder. Then he hugged them both.

"It is time to give you a lesson in politics and history." Odin said

Thor sulked but Loki thrived on these lessons. He loved learning about Odin's past and successes as well as the history of the other nine realms. He loved learning about Midgard most; he didn't know why but he felt a connection with the middle yet lowest realm when it came to power. He hoped the lesson was about Earth.

"Do we have to?" Thor asked

"This time we will be in the map room and weapons vault." Odin said

"Why?" said both Loki and Thor.

"I am going to tell you of the war in Jotunheim. It started in Midgard." Odin said

Loki's smile was erased from his face. He hated learning about wars; he hated them altogether. And hearing about Jotunheim gave him a cold, dark feeling of despair. It was his least favorite realm to learn about but it had almost as much power as Asgard. And the Jotuns were waiting for the day that they would so they could take the Casket of Ancient Winters back.

Odin told of the history. How Laufey went to Midgard and tried to make it an Ice Age. Then Odin and his army came to the aid of the mortal Midgardians. This was how he lost his eye. Then the war went to Jotunheim and Odin defeated Laufey. He took the casket so the Frost Giants no longer had power and could not harm any realm ever again.

"Do the Frost Giants still live?" Loki asked

"When I'm king, I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all! Just as you did Father." Thor said confidently.

"A wise king never seeks war, but his is always ready for it." Odin said and walked away.

Thor and Loki looked at each other smiling; both thinking the same thing. They thought how proud their father would be when they became king. Then they raced to their father and fell into stride with him.

"I'm ready Father." Thor said

"So am I." Loki said

"Only one of you will ascend to the throne but you were both meant to be king." Odin said

He looked at Thor when he said this. Loki noticed and immediately knew Thor was still his choice to be king. He wanted to change that and would do his best. But now he wanted to go to his room grab a book and his dragon and go to Gallana's room.

Then Loki felt a presence he looked up and saw two dark brown eyes staring down at him. He smiled a full toothed smile for the first time in years. He knew those eyes, they were Gallana's. Her eyes smiled back but they looked tired.

"Hello, my Loki." Gallana said

"Hi, Gallana!" Loki said

"How are you love?" Gallana asked

"Okay." Loki answered

"Just okay?" Gallana said

"Yes, we had to learn about Jotunheim and father talked about Thor and I being king but looked at Thor when he said it." Loki said

"I think I can fix that. I am planning on dropping by." Gallana said

"Really?" Loki asked jumping up and down on the rainbow bridge.

"Yes." Gallana said

"Why do you sound tired and out of breath; are you sick?" Loki asked

"No, I just need a rest and some time away from Midgard." Gallana said

"You're in Midgard?" Loki said

"I am but I need to take a vacation and I want to see you and Frigga." Gallana said

"When will you be here?" Loki asked

"Soon." Gallana said

"Okay, I will be in my room waiting!" Loki said

"Good, I will go there first." Gallana said "I will see you soon good bye my love."

"Good bye." Loki said

"Loki hurry! What are you staring at?" Odin said

Then Odin looked up and saw the eyes disappear. It was just as he feared. Gallana had been watching Loki the whole time and was planning to come back. He smiled at Loki as he ran toward him and gave him a hug. Then he had Thor and Loki go run off to play together.

Odin grabbed Gungnir and closed all portals to get in and covered all ways to look into Asgard. If only he had thought of asking Heimdall if he knew anything about Gallana checking in on Loki. He wasn't worried about that though; Heimdall listened to him and never crossed him.

Heimdall knew it was now time to start his mission on keeping an eye on Loki for Gallana. The portals and skies would be opened in a week but Heimdall knew that Gallana was very sick and only had one try to get into Asgard. She would use the rest of her strength and then find out she couldn't get in. she would be sick for months. Heimdall knew this and wept for both she and Loki.

Neither would see each other for a long time. Loki would lose trust in everyone and Gallana would not come until Odin was unaware. They would be together for a time and then they would not see each other for millenniums.

Heimdall set to work knowing Loki would come to him and ask what happened. He had to be prepared. He would be Loki's only comfort for a while now.

Loki waited. He sat in his room not even leaving to eat. He was too excited to do anything else. It was now late at night perhaps ten in Midgard. Loki realized Gallana was not coming and his head sank towards his chest. He knew what he had to do.

"Heimdall, where is Gallana she said she was coming?" Loki ran over to him

"She was not able to make it." Heimdall said

"Why?" Loki asked

"Gallana was detained." Heimdall said

"But she will come." Loki tried to reassure himself.

Heimdall just gave Loki a sad look.

"No!" Loki cried and crumpled to the floor.

Heimdall knelt to the ground to comfort Loki. Loki clung to him and let all his misery and woe out. Why hadn't Gallana come and why had she not given him word ahead of time?

"Odin closed all passageways and Gallana was weak. She couldn't get through. I don't know how long it will take for her to get better but when she does she will check on you. It may be a while before she tries to come back though. She doesn't want to be shut out again." Heimdall said

"But she could have broken through the protective shields." Loki sobbed

"Not this time. She is very sick even if she did make it to your room she would have collapsed; and once she was well enough, to leave but still not strong enough to get through the strongest shields, Odin would send her away again. He wouldn't let you see her." Heimdall said

"But why? Gallana is the only one who has pushed me to do my best and helped me to keep going when I didn't want to." Loki said

"Because he believes she influences you too much and he wants you to grow up like Thor and your fellow Asgardians." Heimdall said

Loki took this all in and decided to concede to Odin's wishes; but from that day on he became cold hearted and untrusting of others. He played tricks and became more mischievous but he stayed in the boundaries of Odin's watchful eye.

He stopped going to Gallana's room. He no longer believed she would come back. He now lived by his own instincts; this is what made him a great master of magic. He had also found that he was an eloquent speaker and could make anyone believe him. People started saying he had a silver tongue.

There was only one thing that made him happy and that was his books. That would change though when he was aged sixteen in Midgardian years.