I needed a good push for my next chapter. I was ever so impatient and annoyed. I was not happy with the previous writings but I got something out of it. Thank you all for waiting ever so patiently.
Loki sat in his room writing and learning his new studies, it was a very boring night with nothing to do. Their lessons were placed on hold since Rowena was still in her coma. It was boring, he admitted. Everyone admitted it. Even though she had been teaching them for few days, they were still very much interested in her lessons. They wanted more. It was not what they had expected; the lessons were anything but boring. They had questions; she had the answers to fill their curiosity. Loki, may have not said much in the room but he learned as he listened to the questions and answers.
Putting down the book he walked away from the desk.
Suddenly felt a very light tug in his mind.
Loki stopped. Stood still and waited again. Did he imagine that?
Then a tug.
"Rowena." He called out and there was nothing.
Again he felt the tug, it was Rowena! 'Where are you?' he asked her. It guided him, using the connection he pulled on it very delicately, closing his eyes, finally he found her.
Rowena was in her library. The books were a mess; some were stacked on the floor some were organized. Some posters on the walls that had been torn and some of them were new. A map of the world with pins on them, all the places she wanted to go. He was in her deepest thoughts and secret, it was all here. He could hear whispers coming from the books, passing them, there were a few that were hostile and some that were calm and happy.
Loki walked up to her and saw that Rowena was sitting in the middle of it all. She was uninjured, not a single scratch on her. Remaining very calm and reserved while flipping through the pages, she looked at peace. Paying no mind to him she continued to read.
"Rowena." Loki called to get her attention but she didn't respond. "Rowena, look at me." He told her but she never did.
"Rowena, get up."
"No. I won't." said a crying Rowena. The sound was coming from one of the books. "I don't want to be punished. I didn't do anything!" the voice screamed.
Loki was looking for the source of the sound. It was a distressed Rowena but young. It started screaming and crying. 'I promise, I'll be good! I didn't want to hit him but I had to protect myself. Don't leave me here!' the young Rowena screamed and the sound echoed.
Loki found the source, it was a book, covered and tattered, there was blood on the cover. Opening it he heard the screams and lashes hitting skin. 'Stop please!' she screamed. Pleading with her life, he still heard the lashes hitting her harder and screaming harder. Placing his hands on the cover, opening it.
A hand instantly grabbed the book and disappeared. The room went completely silent. The room vanished and Rowena stood in front of him.
"You're not supposed to be here." Rowena said in a low voice as she stared hard at him.
"And yet I am." He paused to watch her reaction as he took a step forward, she wasn't afraid nor was she holding back, she was in her own comfort and strong. Loki liked seeing her like this, but knew it would end soon.
"Come back." Loki said calmly.
"To where? To your world? I quite like where I am." She told him with a small laugh and walked around him. Rowena was taunting him and Loki reacted calmly to this. It was obvious that they were in her mind and he needed to remain calm, if she knew anything about controlling anyone who is in her mind, she could very well hurt him. Staying calm was the best solution but he knew he had to tell her the truth.
"Liar. You dabble in your memories and in your pain, just so you can escape from us? Why are you here?"
"No, the question is why are you here?" she retorted back, "Why are you in my mind? Am I dreaming or are you messing with my head? For all I know you could be violating my body? Why can't you leave me alone?"
"You called to me."
"Called? What are you talking about?"
"Come now, don't act cute."
"I am not cute."
"You are when you're angry."
"Call me cute one more time!" she said as she raised her hand waved her hand, a book quickly came flying to his face, slapping him hard. "I didn't call you." she growled at him, making the room shake, causing Loki to temporary loose his grip on her as he recovered from the slap/
"Yes you did." he quickly intervened as he tried to grab her but vanished and reappeared behind him.
"I didn't! I never did such thing!"
"Then why are we connected still?"
"I don't catch. Why is it only you who can latch on to me? Why can't Thor or Frigga?"
Loki remained silent and shook his head, "I wish I had the answers. I wish I could detach myself from you-"
"Then try!"
"I can't."
"Well you better try harder." She said with fury making the ground shake.
Loki placed his hands up to show he meant no harm. "I can't! I can't, even if I tried." He told her with truth, as they remained silent and staring at each other. Loki could see that she was in conflict with herself. There were echoes of voices in the background, talking to her and fighting her. They were quiet but he could hear them and their words.
"Come back with me."
"No." she said bluntly.
Rowena just looked at him and walked away, "I've been hurt enough and I am tired of these games. I am tired of trying to work with all of you and I end up getting hurt."
Loki advanced forward but she disappeared. Looking around he knew she was there, "I will find you!" he said as his voice echoed.
"And I will run. I will run as long as I can." The voice echoed back.
Loki knew he needed her to come back and he was going about it the wrong way. Force was not something she took lightly, he should've known that from the start but it was what he knew.
"Rowena, please, hear me out." Approaching the fiery situation in a calm manner. "I don't want you to be afraid. I want you to be comfortable with me." He said to her, but there was no answer.
"You can run. You can run for the rest of your life, unless you fight the one thing that you fear. If I am it, then you may fight me. I will not harm you. All I ask, is that you come back and wake up from this deep slumber." still no answer from her. "Rowena. . ." he called to her again and still no answer.
"When my mother is set with a plan, she will see it through. It is meant with good intentions, of course. I can see why my mother insisted we learn about humans. To strive for survival and knowledge is nothing short of a willingness to fight has shown me how humans will do what it takes to survive. For us Gods, we are learning to honor and appreciate the way you are." He said to her and sat down and crossed his legs, as if he was waiting for the right time. Still there was a stiffening silence. He could feel her but he couldn't tell where.
"My mother is trying. Don't punish her for trying to give us an education and with a teacher she hand picked." he pleaded in a low voice.
"Kidnapped." Rowena corrected him.
"Ah, yes, kidnapped. Well, if you see it that way-"
"What are you trying to say? Get to the point!" Rowena asked him.
"Don't punish my mother for our mistakes. We are learning from you and I am sure, you are too." He said with a childish grin.
"You're trying to convince me, aren't you?" Rowena said from behind and she was behind him, with her arms crossed. Loki quickly turned around and grabbed her arm, "Caught you!" he said as he jerked her in his arms. And in an instant in that struggle he rushed her into his mind. Why? He didn't know why, he just knew he needed to find a place where he could control her and convince her.
It was a hard crash into his mind and it wasn't what Rowena thought it would be. They had landed in Garden. It was a beautiful garden, with flowers blooming of all colors and types. Some she had never seen and some she was familiar with. Far away she could see Asgard, they were outside of the city.
Loki stood next to holding her arm, it wasn't a tight grip but it was there if she would run. Rowena felt a bit dizzy from the exchange and leaned on Loki to stabilize herself. "What? Where am I?" she said as she looked at Loki than to herself, he had dressed her in a long flowy dress, navy blue color, it hugged her body so well it ended by her hip and it flowed nicely, with her hair down. He didn't want her any other way, just as she was.
"This is-" she stopped to admire the scenery, there were no words for this and it made Loki proud. For once, he had her silenced and then she said, "How did you do that? How do you get off on controlling me?" she asked him, stepping away from him.
Loki rolled his eyes, 'Why can you just enjoy the moment?' he thought to himself.
Then she heard a giggle not far from them. It was Frigga, looking very much the same with but with a young boy, about 5 years old. He was a very cute child, with black hair and blue eyes, he wore a green and black tunic. Walking hand in hand while giggling and admiring the flowers.
Rowena couldn't believe what she was seeing, this was a vulnerable moment and he was sharing it with her. Frigga looked exactly the same, which came as no surprise, but Loki, he looked so small and so innocent.
He ran towards Rowena, but stopped as he looked passed her. It was obvious he couldn't see her but she it was almost too good of an act. Rowena looked behind her to see where he was looking, it was the sunset with moons in the galaxy. Loki pointed to them and said, "Mother, I want to go there."
Frigga kneeled by him and smiled, "We can and we will. First, we must learn about them."
"How will we learn? Do they have magic? Can I be as powerful as you?" Loki was set on asking so many questions, that Frigga gently grabbed his cheek. "My dear Loki, I will give you all the knowledge I can give, if it means protecting you. However, if I find that you are causing mischief, I will not teach you magic. I heard what you did to your brother, Thor. It was not nice of you to turn his drink into dirt."
Loki just gave a small innocent smile and batted his eyelashes. "I apologized to brother."
"Yes you have but he was still unhappy. You are brothers and you must learn to love one another. Remember that."
"But what if he pushes me around?"
"Then you come to me."
"Yes, Mother."
Rowena was surprised to see how much love Frigga harbored for her sons, in a way, she envied them because that was a love she had never known. It was strange to see this, almost awkward. Her heart felt a tug of sadness she had to look away.
Loki felt her emotions, turning to her he said, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She lied to him and he knew it.
"No, you're not."
Rowena didn't say another word as she watched Loki and Frigga walking hand in hand away from them. The love they had shown for one another was not overbearing but it was enough to show how caring they were to each other. She had nothing to show for it.
"Rowena, what troubles you." Loki asked.
"Everything." She whispered as she folded her arms, guarding herself. Loki reached to grab her arm for reassurance but she stepped away from him and shook her head. "Don't." was all she could say as she looked away.
"Please don't act this way." Loki said as he reached for her again but thought better of it.
"So you brought me here to show how much your mother loves you. That's nice." There was no distasteful tone, it was calm, meaning every word of it.
"My mother always thinks of us before herself, always has and for that, I love her for it." He told her, facing her and looking at her. "Come back. Please."
"I can't-" Rowena quickly interjected, this was not easy for her. It was not her place and she was not ready. She harbored too much fear and anger at all of them and she was more afraid of what she would do. Not to them but to herself. Shaking her head she protected herself from Loki's words.
"I will not force you but if it is too long, then I must." He said in slight harsh tone and yet Rowena, said nothing. "Do you prefer solitude? Do you hold loneliness as a friend?" Loki asked.
"Loneliness has been my friend for many years and because of it, I have learned a lot. I am an introvert by nature. I don't just let anyone in; you don't get to shuffle my life to accommodate you and your wants and needs. Trust is important and I need time to gain it. What happens if I come back? Will you hurt me? Will you still treat me like I am worthless? Because I know I am anything but! I just say things you want to hear so everyone can back off and stay away."
Loki remained silent as he observed her, there was a point she had made and he wasn't arguing with it. She was almost one in the same as him. Still a God but an outsider in many ways but nothing he couldn't handle.
The flowers started blossom more as night fell, Rowena watched far in amazement and gave a small smile. Loki could not help himself as he gently reached for her face and traced her jaw line. Rowena stood frozen as she stared at him. His eyes traced her face where his fingers touched. Stroking her cheek with his thumb and cupping her face with his hands, she felt warmth. Instinctively she closed her eyes, even her face showed a great deal of pain. It was hard not to ignore it.
There was a moment of wanting her but he knew he couldn't just grab her. He needed to gain her trust that feeling of their connection seemed to have gotten stronger. Loki could feel it, it was rushing through his body so quickly he was breathing hard. Placing his other hands on the other side of her face, he felt her lean in to his hand. Rowena wanted to embrace him but she was too afraid. Opening her eyes, she saw his blue eyes turn green, taking another step to her, still hesitant she stayed where she was. There was no way she would touch him without breaking her barriers.
"I am-" Loki started, he wanted to tell her something but how could he put it in to words.
Rowena had suddenly taken a step back. Loki was taken back, what did he do to scare her?
Suddenly she was jerked backwards, making Rowena grunt and fall to the ground. "What are you doing?" she cried to him as she felt a strange sensation in her stomach, it scared her for a moment. "I am doing nothing!" Loki confessed as he grabbed her arms to pick her up but before she knew it she was being dragged and it was a very painful experience. "Loki! What are you doing?" she yelled, as she had no control.
Loki was lost for words, he ran after her, stepping over the beautiful flowers as Rowena was being dragged by an invisible force. Being abruptly stopped and so did Loki. He wasn't sure what kind of magic this was; he had to approach her carefully. Rowena could see in his eyes that he was confused.
"Stay where you are and look at me." He told her.
Rowena inhaled and exhaled to regain composure,"I am trying, but something is pulling me and it hurts! What's happening Loki?" her voice broke a bit, this was not a joke or a trick she could endure. This was something she had absolutely no control of.
"I am not sure but you must remain calm. Where does it hurt?" he said in calm tone.
"My stomach. On my left-" in a blink of an eye she was pulled away from the ground and into the sky, "Loki!" she screamed while reaching for him but to no avail.
Loki jumped to try and find her but she was not there. Rowena was gone from his mind. Closing his eyes to find her, he felt the connection and followed it. He could feel her but he couldn't see her. As he flew, there was a moment of desperation. Then it happened ever so subtle, he was blocked. It wasn't Rowena's doing, she was in his mind and he had the control. This was not something he had not known and never had their connection be interrupted by an outside force.
