"Come on! We're almost there!" Hela said, running ahead of the group. She was anxious to check the stables. They reached the front of the palace and Hela dumped her pack on the ground right there and ran off. Thor smiled at her as she disappeared around the corner. She sprinted to the stables, hoping she was not too late. She pulled the gate open and ran inside.
Skadi was gone. But Hela did not notice this. She was too distracted by the sight of her father bottle feeding a baby horse.
"Daddy!" Hela ran to Loki, practically knocking him on his butt as her little arms flew around his neck. "I missed you! I missed you so much! I love you Daddy! Daddy did you bring me anything from your travels? Was it scary and dangerous? Does Mommy know you're back?"
"Yes! Yes, child. Shh. Shh." Loki rubbed Hela's back to soothe her as tears of joy wracked her body. She'd missed her father terribly.
"I've been a good girl! I've been taking care of Skadi. She's a pregnant horse and I'm going to take care of the foal!" Hela declared. A tight smile spread across Loki's face as he prepared to lie to his little girl.
He broke the news to her that Skadi was dead and that little Sleipnir was alone in the world and needed a mommy. Hela cried at the loss of Skadi, but when she laid eyes on her little eight-legged foal, she fell in love. Loki knew his son would be in good hands. Hela detached her arms from her father's neck and encircled Sleipnir's instead, vowing to love him and care for him until the end of time.
Loki heard the rustling of little running feet and Valeria soon joined them. His little carbon copy of a child broke down in tears as she snuggled into her father's chest. Valeria breathed deep her father's scent, his real scent. Sigyn soon followed and the little family enjoyed their reunion in the privacy of the stable.
XxXxXxXxXx
The feast later that evening heralding Loki's return was grand and ornate. Loki spun a ridiculous lie about how he traversed the wilderness of Alfheim to slay a made up beast at the request of Alfheim's King.
"It was as tall as a tree, with great horns and giant eyes." Loki said.
"Did it have a big tongue too?!" Vali asked.
"Oh yes, just like the toads you like to chase in the garden. Only this tongue liked to snatch people into that giant gaping mouth full of razor sharp teeth." Loki held up his hands like claws, and growled at the children. Vali and Hela were eating it up.
"What did you do?" Hela asked.
"Yes, Silvertongue, what did you do?" Asked Volstagg as he raised his ale to his lips. Loki sneered at him.
"The beast whipped it's tongue out at me and I used a sword to pin the tip to the trunk of a tree. Then I used an axe to sever it."
"A sword and an axe? You don't even carry those while here at home." Fandral called out. Loki flicked his wrist and turned his mead into a pile of writhing snakes.
"Ooh, like I haven't seen that trick before." Fandral said, unphased.
"Did it gush a lot of blood?" Vali asked.
"It did indeed. Black blood like tar." Loki said. Many children gathered around along with many warriors and courtiers. Half of the adults in the room thought Loki to be full of shit, and the other half was too entertained to care. No one noticed that Valeria was missing. Nor Sif.
The little girl was at the end of east wing, where foreign guests usually stayed. Though well maintained by the servants, this part of the palace still felt empty of life. The small rooms in the left hall were seldom used unless visitors from multiple realms were all staying in Asgard simultaneously, or when a Queen-in-waiting wanted some place private to cheat on her husband.
Valeria sat in the dim hallway reading her book, waiting for the door to open. She could hear the sounds of a distinct activity that she often associated with her parents. As the moans of pleasure died down and the sound of silence returned to the hall; she placed a bookmark in her book, closed it, and looked up at the door. Sif and Hogun came spilling out, looking nervous and guilty.
"Hello Aunt Sif." Valeria said. Sif blanched and Hogun looked surprised, a rare occurrence.
"Valeria! We…we were just…we were checking…"
"You were cheating on my Uncle." Valeria said. Sif closed her mouth and assessed the girl. Valeria had a small smug smile on her face and the body posture of confidence and power. It reminded Sif of Loki, in all the wrong ways.
"Now see here. You will not speak a word of this to anyone." Sif said.
"I know. I won't." Valeria said. Sif looked at her, waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was no way it would be that easy. The silence dragged out again and Sif broke it first.
"Just like that?"
"Well, no."
"What do you want?" Sif asked.
"I want to marry Vali. I want to be Queen." She said. She stood up and walked up to Sif and stopped, facing her toe to toe. She had to crane her little neck up at a steep angle just to meet her eyes. "I want your endorsement for my betrothal to your son over Hela."
"You're very perceptive for one so young."
"Thank you. Why him?" Valeria asked, pointing to Hogun. Her uncle Thor was the pinnacle of male attractiveness and power. She did not understand what Hogun had to offer.
"He gives me affection that my husband does not." Sif said. Valeria quirk her eyebrow, surprised by that response.
"I won't say anything. I know how to keep secrets."
"Really? And what would those be?" Sif said, barely reigning in her contempt. Valeria merely smiled and walked away. And then she started skipping.
"That little girl is a viper." Hogun said.
"Just like her father." Sif said.