AUTHOR'S NOTE:I am so glad and thrilled that you guys enjoyed the last few chapters which have been the surfacing and exploration of the feelings Loki and Barbara harbor for one another. Now that they have come to a new dimension on their relationship... you know what inevitably has to happen. After all, we are dealing with Loki here, are we not? The bringer of chaos, the God of Mischief, you know the drill. There is just no rest with this guy! ;-) Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favorites, and welcome to all new readers!

Game of Shadows

Chapter 44


The morning of their return had dawned, and a breathless Barbara lay wrapped in the embrace of her husband, her head resting on his shoulder, her legs tangled with his while he rubbed the soft skin of her back. Each minute lost in the bliss of his embrace, she could feel the slow winding down of daybreak as the sun began to peek over the mountains. Shadows soon began to recede over the walls of the chamber, and each moment enjoyed was a moment closer to their imminent return to reality.

They arrived late in the morning, riding through the streets of Asgard with a large entourage of royal guards. The citizenry crowded the streets, all trying to get a closer look at their new queen. She rode behind him on his majestic black stallion, rose petals raining as they made their way through the golden city. The roar of the crowd rose in the air, a deafening clamor of exuberance. Barbara held her breath as she drank in the excitement of the populace, finally exhaling when they passed through the gates of the palace and entered the courtyard.

Frigga was waiting at the entrance. Next to her stood Ragnar, the High Council and the legionnaires. She knew the gatekeeper's presence indicated an urgency that could not wait. She pushed her sense of uneasiness aside as the entourage approached the gate. She smiled upon seeing her son and Barbara once again after thirty days.

Loki noticed Ragnar standing at the entrance to the palace as he crossed the courtyard. He knew the gatekeeper was there to deliver the news he had been waiting to receive. A smile formed upon his lips.

The time had come.


"Was the hunting residence to your liking?" Frigga asked an enthusiastic Barbara as they entered the queen mother's private parlor.

"It was extraordinary!" she replied, taking a seat next to Frigga on a plush divan "on one side it faced the sea, on the other, the forest and the mountains. I'd never seen a place like that"

"Odin built it originally as a retreat for me when I first became with child" Frigga explained "he loved hunting those woods, and wished to stay close during my time of confinement. Had I stayed in the palace I would have been totally secluded to my chambers until Thor was weaned"

"And when Loki was born?"

Frigga smiled. "I stayed in the residence until he too, became of age to be presented at court. The time will come when you will use it for the same purpose"

Barbara grew silent at those last words. Frigga then scooted closed and began to untie the wedding ribbon that was still fastened to Barbara's wrist. She watched with sadness as the symbol of her newlywed status was reverently removed, then folded neatly and given to her. She ran her fingers over the golden sash, and marked it as a symbol of the happiest thirty days she had ever known.

"Your majesty..." she began.

"Mother" Frigga corrected "the title of queen now belongs to you"

Barbara smiled at the irony. Somehow, the word 'mother' brought about a deep sorrow she did not understand, nor could she remember the reason for it.

"Mother" she spoke after a moment "which race did Loki try to annihilate?"

Frigga was taken aback by the question. What had happened during the honeymoon that caused Barbara to return with such inquiries? Had she finally come to suspect the reasons for Loki's troubled soul?

"The frost giants" she finally said with a sigh.

"The inhabitants of Jotunheim?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

Frigga folded her hands on her lap before giving the customary answer. Not a lie, but not even half the truth.

"Their king entered Asgard through a secret path and attempted to assassinate the Allfather while he lay in Odinsleep. Loki saved him"

"That's not enough reason to wipe out an entire race!" Barbara exclaimed.

"The frost giants have always been greatly feared and despised" Frigga explained, trying to deviate the subject "my guess is he took it as an opportunity to rid Asgard of a fearsome enemy once and for all"

"Why are they hated so?"

The queen mother hesitated. To explain the reason why the Aesir looked upon the Jotun race with repugnance was to speak ill of her own son.

"I do not know, but they are not like us" she whispered then looked at Barbara with a perky smile "now come, you must see the surprise I have prepared for you in your chamber"

Barbara let Frigga take her hand and guide her out of the parlor. They conversed and laughed as they made their way through the halls, Barbara telling of the great moments she had spent on her honeymoon. Still, she could not forget the way Frigga's countenance had changed at the mention of Loki's past actions. Her change of demeanor had proved that there was more to the story than she knew.

She decided that if she was to have the answers, she would have to find them on her own.


"My king" Ragnar finally spoke as Loki took his seat upon the throne "the Jotun ruler desires an audience to discuss an alliance"

Loki ran his finger over his lip pensively as the men below erupted and began to squabble among them.

"An alliance?" mocked a legionnaire "with those monsters? We should submit them as we did once and have them aid us in destroying Surtur's forces once and for all"

"It is imperative to forge an alliance with Skurge if we are to defeat Surtur" a councilman responded "the frost giants will not fight against their will. Particularly when forced by the one realm who took the source of their power"

"This will be one of the greatest battles the Nine Realms have ever seen, we need the greatest warriors" a legionnaire agreed.

"Skurge is half Aesir, he might attempt to double cross us in battle and usurp the king's throne!"

"No Asgardian will submit to one who carries Jotun blood!" a councilman retorted vehemently.

Loki instantly put his hand down on the arm of the throne and laughed inwardly at the foolishness of the old man.

"The dwarves?" he finally spoke, instantly silencing the argument below.

"They have nearly completed their work, my liege" a legionnaire answered "We shall soon have enough powerful arms to protect our warriors. They have finished forging the cage out of the Scabrite stone"

"To defeat Surtur we must engage him at Jotunheim" he reminded the men below "as an enemy of Asgard, Skurge must fall in battle and in consequence the frost giants must recognize Asgard as their ruler. Let us not forget, this quest is not simply to defend the realm from a demon king, but to unite all under one ruler. How are we to protect the Nine Realms if they stand divided and under the control of those who plot ill against us?"

The legionnaires and councilmen stood silent. Loki's gaze then fell upon the gatekeeper.

"Let Skurge in. Ensure he arrives alone and keep him heavily guarded"

He stood and looked down upon the officials present.

"We are done"

As the men turned to exit the throne room, Loki motioned for one of the legionnaires to approach. The warrior came to kneel in front of the platform as Loki descended to the bottom step.

"Once the dwarves have finished their work, kill them, but keep Dvalin imprisoned. We cannot have any breathing a word of what we have devised to ensure victory, and we will need the master craftsman in the days to come"

"It shall be done, my liege" the legionnaire whispered "it shall be done"


The grand library of Asgard opened before her as she set foot inside. Barbara looked around the grand foyer and the endless rows of shelves. Somewhere inside was the information she sought. Vardlokkur stepped out from behind one of the shelves and approached.

"My queen, you grace our hallowed walls with your presence once again" he bowed "may I ask, what knowledge do you seek on this day?"

"Greetings Vardlokkur" Barbara replied then stepped close to the keeper and whispered "I wish to learn the history of the Nine Realms"

"A vast abundance of knowledge" he contemplated as he stroked his long beard "this way, follow me"

He led her to one of the upper floors of the library, pointing out the different sections into which the texts were sorted. On the bottom floor were the archives of Asgard's ancient history, traditions, laws and civil records. At the end of the first floor was the sacred chamber where the gifts of language were kept. Barbara remembered being there upon awakening from her transformation to receive hers. The second level contained the archives of all battles fought by Asgard's warriors, truces of alliances signed, and knowledge of races beyond the Nine Realms. On the third floor was all there was to know about the known worlds, from their history, their people, the makeup of their planets, to the powers found in each. The highest level of the edifice was dedicated to sorcery and magical gifts.

They entered the third floor and he stood at the top step, letting her walk in and admire the infinite amount of texts contained within.

"How am I supposed to read all this?" she gasped.

He smiled as he offered his hand. "If I may, your majesty, I shall grant you with a gift to ease your search"

"What gift?" she inquired as she placed her hand in his. He took it and covered it with his other, then she felt the familiar warmth rush through her as he closed his eyes. He opened them once again, and the feeling dissipated.

"The gift of knowledge" he replied "if you please, take out a text"

She reluctantly walked to one of the shelves and took out a leather bound book. The instant she opened the thick cover, she quickly flipped through the pages until she reached the last. She closed it and looked at the keeper in awe.

"I know the history of the Great War of Vanaheim" she exclaimed.

Vardlokkur smiled and bowed. "May you find the knowledge you seek, my queen" he said, then walked into one of the aisles and was gone.

Barbara looked up at the golden shelves and noticed they were divided into realms. She walked in front of the entrances between each and read the sections: Vanaheim, Alfheim, Nidavellir, Midgard...

Jotunheim. She stopped and walked into the aisle.

The once beautiful, icy realm of Jotunheim was divided into three major provinces: Gastropnir, the land of rock giants, ruled by Menglad. Prynheimr, the home of the beautiful Ice Maidens, ruled by the sorceress Skaoi. And Utgart, home of the frost giant warriors, ruled by king Thrym and his two sons, Hofund and Laufey.

The majesty and beauty of the land was unsurpassable. Grand ice buildings rose to the clear sky, glittering like shining jewels in the distant sunlight. In the month cycles of light, the land was rich, and the mountains full of hunting game, allowing the people of the realm to prepare for the darkening months, when the sun was most distant, and the days turned into endless night. But it was during these dark months when life was renewed, and when the light returned, not only did crops grow, but the new generations were welcomed and raised. Then one year the darkness came once again, never to recede.

King Thrym was dead, and his two sons Hofund and Laufey laid claim to the throne. Utgart was plunged into civil war, and in the end, Laufey and his fierce warriors became victorious. But the new king was not satisfied with his victory over his brother, he wished to rule all. He and his army descended upon Gastropnir, crossing the river Ifing into the lands of the North. He decimated their province, leaving the survivors to die, languishing in the destruction. As Laufey's army descended upon Prynheimr, queen Skaoi placed a curse upon the ice world. The sun would remain far away, and the darkness would not lift from the land. She was slain in battle, her Ice Maidens taken as spoils of war, dragged to Utgart to be displayed as trophies. The beautiful Ice Maidens of the East were now no more than concubines in the harem of the king, their small and beautiful offspring disposed of to die in the cold.

Jotunheim was now an arid, icy wasteland. King Laufey then set his eyes on distant realms, closer to the sun, where crops could grow. He gathered his armies and moved to conquer a realm that had survived a long age of ice, where game still frolicked and crops grew even in temperatures as cold as the ones in Jotunheim.

He set off for Midgard...

Barbara closed the book, her breathing heavy and labored as she made the connection: The Ice Age, the cold regions of the North, the Viking era, the worshipping of Norse deities...

She walked into the section that held the history of her home planet. She searched for texts that described the great age of ice Earth had endured, and the invasion of frost giants that threatened to plunge her world into another.

Midgard was once an empty realm. Its reigning species were giant beasts that roamed the large masses of land, surrounded by sea. During the invasion of Muspelheim, a great explosion caused by the eruption of the biggest volcano in the land sent giant shards of Scabrite metal into the cosmos. One of these megaliths hit Earth, destroying nearly all life and covering the world in darkness for many a century. But not all life was destroyed, and as millennia passed, life began anew.

Midgard lived through an age of ice that covered nearly half the planet. New species roamed the world, while some migrated to the South, where the climate was warmer. As the cold receded, the Northern lands became rich again. Asgard looked on as this convulsive realm became ripe and perfect to accommodate intelligent life. The new king Odin and his dying father Ve decided to fill the planet with a sister race, one that could stand beside them, yet with no access to Idunn's apples that sustained life to prevent the human race from rising against those who engineered them.

Humans and their Aesir brethren were not strangers. The new race was often visited, and taught to survive. They revered the powerful beings that descended from the heavens in a burst of rainbow light, and received new knowledge. Soon mankind thrived, new civilizations rose and fell, and Midgard became densely populated. As they grew in numbers and dominance over their world, they also became avaricious and evil. As a result of the darkness of the hearts of men, Asgard retreated from the human planet, and became a distant memory, remembered only in the telling of myths and legends, worshipped as deities that were meant to be feared and revered, lest great desolation came upon the land. They took many forms, from gods that resembled beasts in Egypt, to large, mystical beings in Mesopotamia, to humanoid deities in the East and the America's. Asgard only looked on, letting the human race become the forger of their own destiny, until a great and terrible danger threatened to annihilate the young race. Asgard would return to Earth, and the cold regions of Iceland and Scandinavia would be the ones visited.

Laufey invaded Midgard, using the power of their Casket of Ancient Winters to plunge the world once again in the cold grasp of an Ice Age. Entire areas and villages on the shores of the Norwegian Sea were reduced to icy wastelands. Populations were wiped out, frozen under layers of thick ice. But mankind was not to be annihilated. Odin and his armies once again returned to Earth and drove back the throngs of Jotun warriors back into the dark recesses of their homeland. Laufey was defeated, his heir Gymir killed, and the source of their power, the Casket of Ancient Winters, was taken. Earth would never again see the visitation of an Aesir, until one day, a boisterous and arrogant prince landed on a desert in New Mexico, triggering events that would once again reconnect Earth with those they had once worshipped as gods...

Barbara sat down on a chaise that rested in an alcove of the library. She was now more confused than ever. She closed her eyes and shivered as she imagined the horrors experienced by those who perished under the icy rage of Laufey's conquest. No wonder the Scandinavians had great fear for the gods they worshipped.

With a sigh, she stood again and placed the leather bound books scattered on the table back in their place. As she began to descend the staircase, she looked up at the highest floor, where the knowledge of magic and sorcery was kept. She felt the tingle of curiosity tug at her senses as she began to descend. She would return, and visit the fourth floor.

She exited the library and began to make her way towards the main halls of the palace, en route to her chambers to prepare for the night. Evening was falling, the sky changing into hues of red and orange, the last vestiges of light streaming from the open terraces of the palace. As she entered the main hall, she stopped dead in her tracks.

The courtiers had now gone, leaving the palace empty. She expected to walk into a hall filled only with royal guards and servants, not the sight she beheld. Entering was a large entourage of royal guards, and in the middle one figure stood above them. He was gigantic, though his skin fair, and his build imposing. He was covered in armor, though his head exposed. His head was shaved, with only two bands of hair covering each side of his skull. He had a goatee, and his countenance was menacing and terrifying. He turned to look in her direction. From his position, Skurge the Executioner noticed the beautiful woman that stood at the entrance to one of the corridors. Her luxurious and extravagant garments indicated that she was none other than the new queen of Asgard. He fixed her with a stare and saw the way she recoiled. He smiled.

That instant was the moment that marked the onset of the madness.

End of Chapter 44


Landon: It truly is odd for some women to prefer men that are that way. I am always amused though astounded at seeing some of my fellow women with men who are so shallow and to a degree, ignorant. Cariño, I do understand completely your reason for abandoning our little game. I am truly sorry. Please know that your feelings on the matter are totally valid, and I respect them, though the outcome of my small and ridiculous moment of uncertainty has now placed us in this rather awkward position. Landon, I wish to ask something very important: Is the guest message without a name attached from you? If so, I wish to say this: I am totally at fault and there are no words to describe how horribly I feel about this. Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt apologies. My intentions and thoughts behind my words were NEVER meant to offend you in any way. I understand how you have come to feel this way, and I am so deeply sorry for having been the cause of it. Please know that this last message I received filled me with great sadness and remorse. I am only human, and as such, riddled with faults of character. I will not always say the right thing, but know that the distance you claim I have placed between us is a breach that has NOT been deliberately created. I'm still here, aren't I? I do wish to ask though, what exactly causes you to deem my thoughts as irrational?

Vermillion: "Dividido en tres estoy en el sur"? hahaha... eres de Chile, no? si? no? si? Espero que tenga la respuesta correcta. Gracias por tus comentarios en el ultimo capitulo. Yo casi siempre añado un update dos veces por semana, no me gusta mantener esperando mucho a mis lectores, asi que espero que no sientas mucho el tiempo entre capitulos! Trato de hacer cada detalle importante hacia el trama, y aprecio que hayas notado ese detalle!

Kat: Thank you so much for your positive comments! By "E." did you mean E.L. James by any chance? I am glad you are still along for the ride, as it is about to hit a loop and go a gazillion miles per minute! Hehehe Hang on, it's about to get crazy!

A fan: I wish I was there so I could pinch your cheeks, you're too darn adorable! Thank you darlin'!