Glitter Queen: Can't reply to you directly, but I actually asked an American friend of mine for an alternative word because I didn't want to use diaper or nappy. She's got lots of knowledge of old English words, so although she said that Diaper would actually have been used back in Medieval England, Windel was an acceptable alternative. Also, FYI, I'm not British, I'm Irish. XD

Chapter 37 –The Spy

"Breaking news here at TMZ! Queen Sigyn has a brand new look and maybe a brand new beau!"

"After a disastrous private excursion for King Loki and his kids with an unknown man who looked super cosy with the Asgardian monarch, Queen Sigyn stepped out the next morning with a shocking pixie cut and none other than Captain America himself, Steve Rogers. Sources say that the ice queen has been melting for the hot retro stud ever since she first arrived and from the grin on Cap's face, he's doing the same.

"Rumour has it that the two have not only been spending all their time together, they've been discussing the possibility of 'going steady' to use a term Captain America would recognise, and the idea of marriage is already floating around. Earth may already have its first interplanetary celeb power couple-"

"What is wrong with these people?" demanded Berach, staring at the tablet screen Loki had wordlessly handed to him. "We're about to perform an untested magical ritual and they want to gossip about a haircut and a friendship?"

"Apparently," sighed Helblindi, looking at his brother. "You've got competition By."

"Shut up," grunted Byleist, but Loki was certain he was blushing.

The door to Berach's suite opened and Aetril walked in with Sigyn.

"Where have you been? We were looking everywhere for you!" demanded Berach.

Sigyn raised a cool eyebrow at her old mentor as she pulled off her gloves,

"I was out for a walk, the chill is bracing and Moscow is lovely. What exactly is the matter?"

Berach held out the tablet. Sigyn took it and replayed the video. They all waited with baited breath for her to panic or clamp down intense rage. Loki was tempted to duck, considering Sigyn's recent system reset he had been waiting for her to lose her temper explosively. To everyone's astonishment, Sigyn did not get upset by the video. Instead she grinned,

"They really are a nosy people, aren't they? Well, I suppose we can just let them gossip if it keeps them from causing delays on our side."

"… you're not angry?" asked Loki in disbelief. Sigyn shrugged, still looking amused.

"It's just gossip. I know it isn't true, and I suspect if it wasn't Steve it would have been someone else. Humans like to see women paired off, it keeps them in familiar boxes. Now, how are we doing with the location?"

"Um," Berach looked as wrong-footed as the rest of them, but he recovered quickly and said, "It's been a challenge to find the right spot. Already parts of Midgard are feeling the effects of the approaching Convergence, and that is delaying our search as we must eliminate them first."

"So my seiðr experts tell me," said Sigyn thoughtfully. "What have we learned about that place in Tibet that was oozing seiðr signals that we did not recognise?"

"It appears to be some sort of congregation of human seiðr users, probably a school, but when my envoy approached it, she was not able to get in," said Aetril.

"Nor mine," said Loki. "The seiðr is unusual there, but perhaps it is merely human seiðr and it is as different as mine is to Sutur's people's."

General Sina hummed in agreement.

"I believe the best place will be here, in a land called Syria," said Byleist, showing them a map on his tablet. "There seems to be a lot of energy there."

"Syria and the surrounding lands have been the centre of a lot of human conflict, culture and spiritual belief," said Sigyn thoughtfully. "It would make sense for it to have a lot of energy seeped in it."

"It's also a war zone at the moment," said Helblindi. "Many aggressive factions are doing battle there. It may not be possible to get to it."

"Perhaps proximity to it will suffice," said Aetril, "Where are things most stable in that region?"

Loki had to repress a snort of dark amusement. He had visited that region with Sigyn more than once. It had always been a tumultuous place, and did not appear to have changed. Regardless, that might have been the very reason it was probably the ideal location. A lot of energy had built up in there because so many faiths had battled on the soil. Such activities could leave behind more than blood on stone.

"Let us consult with the U.N. and see if we cannot find a place. We need to construct a structure within which we will perform the ritual. It needs to be a beacon, able to push the seiðr through the fabric of space-time to the rest of Yggdrasil," said Berach with a decisive nod.

"Have we agreed on who will be performing this ritual?" asked Helblindi, looking at his younger brother in open concern. "Whoever does participate will be vulnerable for the duration."

"I will be performing it on behalf of my people," said Sigyn at once. Loki thought he sensed some nervousness in her tone, but she looked calm.

"As will I," said Aetril, resting her hand on Berach's shoulder. "My children will do their part on Alfheim."

"I will be enacting my part here," said Loki, "My mother and other seiðrkona will be working it on Asgard."

"My master has not yet revealed who he intends to send here for it," said Sina, "I shall press him for a decision."

"What of Jötunheim?" asked Sigyn, smiling at Byleist who shifted on his feet. It was still very strange for Loki to see him in Aesir sized form, even if he was still blue and horned.

"We have few seiðr users these days, we are seeking them across the planet so we will have enough," said Helblindi. "Byleist insists on staying here and doing our part for the ritual."

"Really?" asked Sigyn, sounding delighted. Byleist inclined his head.

"I wish to do my part."

"And you surely will," said Sigyn, reaching out and touching his shoulder affectionately. Byleist looked startled, but pleased at the motion. Loki tried to strangle his jealousy before anyone saw it on his face.

"What about you, Dökkálfar?" growled Berach, his wings beating slightly in a threatening manner. Enfys squirmed where he stood, then said in a dignified voice,

"We have found several willing participants for the ritual on this world, and many more to cover our own planet. Svartalfheim will be ready when the time comes."

"Good," Berach snapped, turning away as if he could not stand the sight of the dark elf anymore. It seemed that the more time passed, the angrier Berach grew over his distant relations' actions on Vanaheim. Sigyn actually rolled her eyes at him, before sweeping her bangs out of her eyes. The faintest silver flash in the light was all Loki could see of her facial scar. He did not know why she had healed it so far and then stopped, but she did not seem worried about hiding it. She had stopped wearing so much make up and colours, her hair was the same shade of cream all over, the streaks of her parents, Svana and Ey were gone. Even her clothing seemed less imposing and much more practical. This was the way Loki had remembered her, and he was glad to see her this way.

Even if it did mean he had a… rising problem every now and then when he stared too long.

"So, unless we have any unexpected delays, we should be ready when the time comes," said Sigyn in a satisfied voice.

"Indeed, it looks like we're actually going to pull this off," said Aetril, shaking her head in wonder. "It will be an event that will still be talked about when all of us are dust."

"I'll settle for a decent harvest next year," said Sigyn.

"And what then?" asked Byleist. They all looked at him and he said, "What comes after? It's all very well to take advantage of this rare event but are we just going to go back to the way things were before? Jötunheim cut off, Asgard shining in the centre as if it didn't get there through blood and death?"

Loki scowled but Aetril cut across him,

"Of course not. I for one would be very disappointed if Jötunheim was left out, or Alfheim considered unimportant."

"Things have changed too much to go back," said Loki, perching himself on the back of the couch. "They will never be that way again. They can't be."

"I ask again, what comes after the convergence?" said Byleist. Loki regarded his half-brother, seeing his own frustration and anxiety looking back at him.

"I suppose that's up to us," said Sigyn quietly. "We who are gathered here have a terrifying number of people looking to us for guidance, protection and prosperity. I think the fact that we can all stand in this room together is a good sign for the future."

"Agreed," said Berach, "Personally I'd like more trade and exchange of knowledge and people."

"My world hasn't exactly benefitted from that," said Helblindi, his voice low and almost morose. It reminded Loki of the tone Laufey had used all those years ago, when Thor had gone to Jötunheim spoiling for war.

How things had changed.

A silence fell among them and they all looked at each other, as if they all had the same idea, but did not want to be the one to voice it. Loki said nothing, because he knew it could not come from Asgard, so he looked to Sigyn. Sigyn's lips twitched and she looked across the room to Byleist, seemingly passing the chance to him.

Finally, it was Sina who spoke,

"My master Sutur believes that there should be more regular communication between us. Perhaps after the Reset we can reconvene at regular intervals and attempt to form a more regular process of interactions."

"I agree," said Aetril, looking around at them all. "We must enter into a new form of cooperation."

"Agreed," said Sigyn, though Loki thought she threw Enfys a strange look as she said it.

"What say you, Asgardian?" asked Helblindi coolly. Loki arched his eyebrow at him, then said,

"An exchange of knowledge between the worlds? Sounds like Valhalla to me."

Aetril chuckled quietly and Sigyn rolled her eyes again, looking faintly amused. As the group broke up, Sigyn came up next to him, and said in a quiet voice,

"I seem to remember when you were crowned you spoke about forming a Council of the Nine. Looks like you got your wish."

Loki looked at her, and she smiled wryly at him. He had to think for a moment, it had been six years ago, but then he remembered the conversation they had had in his bedchamber. About preventing war with Jötunheim, about undoing the damage done by Asgard's heavy hand. It felt odd to think about now.

"It wouldn't have happened without you," he said honestly.

"Probably not," said Sigyn with a shrug and that little smile. Loki smiled in return.

"You seem to be feeling better, I'm glad to see it."

The smile slipped a little, becoming something more pensive,

"It's like I've been in a sort of half dream for so long, but I didn't realise I was asleep." She looked down at her gloves, toying with them a little, then looking at Loki again, "I still feel the same way about many things, but it's not as raw as before. Steve's been very good, he lets me talk myself out.

"Then I'm glad he's there for you," said Loki.

"Are you really?" asked Sigyn, arching her eyebrow at him. Loki considered the question, then nodded,

"Yes. I wish I could help you as much as he is, but I'd rather he be there than no one."

Sigyn rolled her eyes, but looked amused,

"You know I'm starting to believe you."

"Well, I'm glad someone is, because I still don't," Loki quipped, winning a chuckle from her.

"You're a ridiculous man, Loki Odinson."

"Ah, but it keeps things interesting!"

Syria was declared an absolute no go, so a city called Jerusalem was offered. It was decided that it too would not work, as it was not close enough to the location in Syria to make the most of it. The next best choice was in the heart of Mexico City, in the main square known as Zócalo. It was kept quiet to keep people from massing, either for or against the ceremony. Also, it was hinted that certain neighbours of Mexico would not take the selection well, regardless of explanation.

Now came the part where all of their collaboration on seiðr theory was brought together. Loki found himself forgetting his worries while they planned everything out. It was going to be the most fascinating working he had ever participated in, and it was hard to suppress his giddiness. The others who were similarly minded, like Berach and Sigyn, seemed equally excited. Long days of discussion were had, going over and over the plans, until, one evening, Loki noticed something.

Raising a hand to ask for his fellow scholars' silence, he considered for a moment, then threw a binding spell right at the space between Berach and Byleist. It collided with someone and knocked them to the ground. Several curses escaped the man as he struggled against the bonds, but he quickly froze as they all gathered around him.

"Well, it appears Midgard does indeed have magic users," drawled Aetril, her eyes raking over the man's face. He was a tall, thin man, with a neat beard and hair.

"We prefer the term sorcerers," he grunted.

"And we prefer not to be spied on," said Sigyn curtly.

"You people are about to perform god knows what kind of magic on our planet, did you not think we would be concerned?" demanded the man impatiently.

"Why not simply come to us openly?" asked Berach.

The man scoffed,

"I'm not sure the revelation of magic would go down well on this planet."

"Really? We seem to be doing alright," said Byleist just before Loki said the same thing. Irked, he snapped,

"What's your name sorcerer? And consider how much of a waste of time it would be to be silent."

The man looked Loki up and down, and Loki had the odd sense that he had been assessed as the most important of the group. The only reason he could guess for that was that Loki looked the most like the man stuck on his back. Didn't that say everything needed about the man's ego?

"I'm Doctor Steven Strange and-"

"You're not actually called Strange, are you?" asked Byleist with a snigger. Strange stiffened and seemed to be trying to find some dignity in the situation.

"It's been my name since before I became Sorcerer Supreme."

"Oh now he's the Supreme Sorcerer," Sigyn crowed. They all made noises of amusement, then Aetril pressed her foot to Strange's chest, looming over him with her most intimidating smile.

"Now, little one, why don't you start again?"

"I'm Dr Steven Strange, and I wanted to know what exactly you were going to do."

"We have had dozens of meetings already about the process, and yet you show up now?"

"I was trying to gather more information."

"You were waiting to see if we would turn on you," said Loki, "You hoped by keeping silent, if we suddenly turned into an invading hoard you would have the element of surprise."

"That's a very rare and fragile element," said Byleist.

"Ha. Ha," drawled Strange, trying to sit up, but Aetril kept him down. "Look, I want to help! You said that this spell would counteract man made climate change, and I want to make sure we get all the time we can to fix our mess."

Aetril looked around at the others and by silent agreement, she lifted her foot. Strange gasped and rubbed at his chest,

"You're heavier than you look," he grumbled, then froze as he realised what he had just said. Lucky for him that just made Aetril laugh.

"Come," she beckoned, "Let us see what you can comprehend."

Looking rather affronted, Strange joined them at the table.

There was a strange sense of nostalgia stirring in Loki's chest as he led Jörmungandr down the steps of the Vault. Long ago memories of being brought here by Odin and being told of how they had acquired the Casket of Ancient Winters. Now Loki knew it was also the story of how he had ended up as Prince of Asgard.

The Casket was gone. Odin slept on, and Loki led his small son towards his own creation. The Casket of Primal Fire. It spun slowly on its point without help, the colours of red, yellow, white swirling within, with the occasional blue flare.

Jörmungandr stared up at the Casket, face clear of any scowl, he looked fascinated and tempted to touch. Loki held his hand to be safe.

"What is it Papa?"

"It's a knot in subspace, a physical manifestation of an elemental construct," said Loki. He looked down and saw the unimpressed look on his son's face. "… it's pure fire. Very hot."

"And you made it?"

"I did. I had a bit of an… accident and in order to get myself out of it, I had to make this." Loki had debated whether to mention Fenrir had bitten his arm off, but decided that was a story he could leave out forever.

"And it's super powerful?" asked Jörmungandr.

"Incredibly. If I unleashed it, I could probably burn all of Asgard to ash in moments."

"Wow…" Jörmungandr stepped closer, greedy eyes wide. Loki arched an eyebrow at the look. It was a little too familiar for his own comfort, so he tugged Jörmungandr back. His son looked up at him curiously, "Can't I touch it?"

Loki was going to say no, but those big grey eyes were staring up at him hopefully, so he said,

"Stay there, I'll bring it to you."

Jörmungandr beamed at him. Loki let go of his hand and walked to the pedestal it rested on. He called his seiðr to his hands, coating them in a layer to protect them. He had never really been able to study or toy with his creation, and he mourned the fact that now he never would.

He picked up the Casket, the heat coming off it making him feel like he'd stepped into a warm bath. He carried it to Jörmungandr, kneeling in front of him and holding the Casket between them. Jörmungandr's face was illuminated by the lights coming from the Casket, and he looked enraptured. His hands came up and hovered close to the glass,

"It's warm…" he sighed, and Loki realised that as a person who favoured being a reptile, of course his son would be drawn to heat. "It's very pretty."

"Yes, it is," Loki agreed softly. "But I'm afraid that this will be the last time you see it."

Jörmungandr looked, a pout immediately forming.

"Why?"

"Because this is a thing that should not exist. It is an example of playing with seiðr in a way that is dangerous. I created this by accident, because I was foolish, and careless. So now I must destroy it, to ensure that nothing interferes with the Reset."

"Why?"

"Because we have a duty as seiðr users to ensure that what we do does not harm the natural order. We can explore it, and we can work with it, harness it to our benefit but we must not abuse it. I made this in a moment of panic, but I should never have kept it. It might take centuries, but like the Casket of Ancient Winter that stole the seiðr of the Jotnar, altered their planet and condemned them to addiction, this beautiful thing would eventually have terrible repercussions, the like of which I cannot imagine."

"Maybe it wouldn't. How do you know?"

"Because the Casket of Ancient Winters was a twin of this, and it did terrible things. We must learn by example."

Jörmungandr looked down at it, remorse clear on his face.

"I wish you didn't have to destroy it. I'd keep it."

"Even if it meant a lot of people would be hurt or even killed?"

Jörmungandr frowned, and Loki watched as he moved his hands up and down, revelling in the heat of the Casket. Finally, his son gave a heavy sigh and said in a sulky voice,

"No, I guess not."

Loki smiled at his son, proud of his choice, even if it had taken him a while.

"So, do you want to come with me now to see it destroyed?"

Jörmungandr nodded, some of the excitement coming back into his face.

"Yeah!"

Loki grinned and straightened up.

"Come on, we're off to the Bifröst. There's a massive star whose heart is waiting for this."

So we bid farewell to the Casket of Primal Fire, an item I thought was an awesome idea at the time, but honestly couldn't find space to work with as the story went one. I had a whole plan for it that it would start to turn Sutur's people into the same addicted people that the Casket of Ancient Winters did to the Frost Giants, but there was already so much going on I could never fit it in. It's a shame, I liked the concept of the thing, and wanted it to be more significant than it ended up being, but ultimately it still would have been destroyed for the sake of the Reset, because it is a thing that should not be.

Speaking of things I couldn't fit in: Hi Strange! Dear God I completely forgot about this guy, and realised that it was honestly very weird that no magic users had come forward to help, so this is me trying to fix that very poorly. Strange might pop up again in the future, but it'll probably only be a cameo, because this cast is big enough! Disney might be able to manage those numbers but this series is already half the length of all the Harry Potter books combined and I'd like to finish it sometime this decade! Seriously I just realised it's been nearly 6 years since this story was first started –there was only 1 Thor movie back then! It's half a million words long! *has existential crisis*