She let out a long deep sigh, sinking further into the hot water of the copper tub. Ingrid had helped her settle the children into bed, Brenna was reading quietly in the sitting room having returned from visiting Chase at the encampment. Since the beginning of the games, she had taken advantage of her father's absence to pay Chase daily visits until finally Eidra had given her a choice.

"Go to the games one day in the very least. Watch your father. Represent the family as the eldest child and I shall pretend ignorance of your comings and goings."

Brenna had happily agreed, riding off to the city on Blackberry early the next morning while Eidra saddled Sally's horse, Lilac and headed in the direction of the encampment. Her arrival startled the guard at the front gates so thoroughly, he dropped his radio twice before he was able to call for his superior, Agent Kenworth who looked nervously about the encampment as she stated her wish to speak with Chase Wells.

"Ah, the boss...Mister Stark, I mean, he's in the city at the games. I'm not really supposed to let uh...you...Asgardians...on site without his okay."

Eidra had glared down at him from atop Lilac, her arms crossed, "Am I to ken this would include my daughter, Brenna? For she has been making regular visits here to see Master Wells though I am sure Master Stark is unaware of such indiscretion on the part of his guardsmen."

Kenworth had shifted from one foot to the other, the guard at the gate drifting into the background until he was inside the white booth where he'd been sitting when she'd arrived. A minute later, Kenworth was holding the radio in his hand.

"Chase Wells report to the west gate house."

"On my way," came the static filled reply.

She smiled to herself, recalling the look upon his face when he at last arrived at the gatehouse, giving her a short bow.

"Milady, I...I wasn't expecting you."

"Of this I am sure," Eidra dismounted to the ground, "I would have a word with you alone."

Chase had walked her into the encampment, stopping at the corner of longhouse one, a distance away from the gatehouse and the two agents staring at them.

"What can I do for you?"

On the way to the encampment, she had weighed her words carefully, hoping she wouldn't come over as demanding or threatening but every scenario she played out in her head brought her to one single conclusion. She would need to be firm, moreso than she had been the day of the opening of the games when she'd watched Brenna and Chase judiciously avoid contact with Loki, wandering the square during the celebration, sitting in the stands at the ceremony, riding together on Chase's horse at the rear of the caravan on the way home.

"Since your return to Asgard, I have witnessed my husband's daily struggle with our eldest daughter's decision to return to your side and it grieves me. Brenna has confessed only to me, mind you, that your return was based solely on your wish to continue your relationship with her..,"

"Well...I mean it was a big reason on my part but Stark, he offered me the chance because he knew I'd been here...,"

When she held up her hand before him, his mouth clamped shut as quickly as if she'd used her husband's spell magic.

"Brenna is a grown woman now, able to make her own choices but this does not mean they do not affect us and her secret," she paused, giving a dry laugh, "...visits to you leave us feeling as if she is endeavoring to hide from us a situation of which we are already aware. Therefore I am formally inviting you to dine with us at the manor on the day of Winternight where you will once again announce your intentions toward Brenna to my husband and lay his fears to rest."

Chase had fidgeted about, rubbing the back of his neck, staring at the ground until she took his hand in hers, "Or if your intentions are of the moment only you must be honest, with Brenna and with Loki. 'Tis better to break a heart sooner than to wait until it cannot hope to be repaired."

"What if he won't allow us to see each other? What do I do then?"

She had given his hand a squeeze, "I cannot tell you. Would you go against him willingly?"

He had fixed her with a hard stare then, "For Brenna, yes ma'am, I would."

"Then so be it. You will be at the manor come Winternights."

"What if Stark says I can't go?"

She'd dismissed the possibility with a wave of her hand, "I will see to it permission is given."

She closed her eyes, content, swirling her hands about in the water, playing with the currents they made.. She had done what she'd set out to do, bring about a reconciliation or at the very least a truce, or put an end to the whole affair. Either way.

Vesta paused at the sound of the front door opening, leaning on the broom with which she'd been sweeping the sitting room floor, clamping her hand over her mouth to stifle a scream as Loki strode through the archway, looking about.

"Where is Eidra?"

"Milord, she is...," Vesta pointed toward the ceiling, "She is in the bathing room. Dear me, you...might I take your cloak?"

Loki winced as he unfastened the heavy cloak at his throat and draped it over Vesta's outstretched arm, glad of the weight off his shoulders.

"It will need to be cleaned. Do set out a fresh one at the door will you?"

Vesta picked the cloak from her arm, holding it out from her with a grimace, "Yes, Milord. I shall fetch my husband to attend to you at once."

"No," Loki looked up at the ceiling, "I will speak with Eidra first. Do not trouble yourself. I will call for him as needed."

He pivoted about and trotted out of the sitting room as Vesta, shaking her head, strode toward the kitchen holding the filthy cloak out before her.

Eidra stretched again, her feet just brushing the other end of the tub. The water was starting to lose its heat, she would have to get out soon so they could freshen the water for Loki when he returned from the games. She frowned to herself. The night before, he had refused to allow her into the bathing room with him. Observing how he held himself gingerly on his right side, she was sure he sought to spare her from seeing the wounds he'd sustained earlier that day but no matter what she said, how piteously she begged or chided him, he remained firm, merely kissing her forehead before he shut the door behind him. The evidence was found later in the bloodstained tunic she spied Vesta carrying down the stairs that following morning.

She shifted position once more, felt a hand grab at her toes and let out a screech, flailing for purchase as she kicked hard against it, sloshing the water up over the edge of the basin where it fell with a splat onto the hardwood floor. She clutched at the sides, pulling herself up to sit staring at what this morning had been her husband but now looked a disheveled madman come from the forest after a fight with a bear. His one recognizable feature, his smile, beamed even brighter from the dirt and paint covering his face.

"Loki! Great Freyr! Do you mean to drown me? What possessed you?"

There were rapid footsteps and the bathing room door was flung wide as Ingrid rushed in.

"I heard the scream from the sitting room! I...I thought you had fallen."

Loki looked at her and her eyes grew wide, "She is well. She only suffers from a mischievous husband. Thank you for your concern, Ingrid."

Ingrid curtsied, "Of course...Milord...do you need me to fetch Hal?"

"No!" Loki laughed, "I would spend a moment with Eidra."

"Yes, Milord," Ingrid curtsied once more, hurrying out of the bathing room with a backward glance at Loki.

Eidra gazed at him as he knelt by the basin rubbing her feet beneath the water. His hair he'd let down into a ponytail though it was dislodged from the leather strap in various places. He'd painted his face black and green that morning but now it was smudged together, wiped clear in some spots. A purple bruise bloomed along one cheekbone, dried streaks of blood striped his chin and his upper lip. The left arm of his tunic was ripped open, a gash traveling up his forearm staining the edges dark red. She dared not examine the rest of him.

"I would you had rather spared me again today. Why do you delight in worrying me so?" She fished for the washcloth which had floated to her, wringing it out as she slid to the far end of the tub and started to wipe his face clean of the paint and blood.

"Ah, gently!" He moaned, flinching as she brushed along the bruise.

"Gently says he. Next time do not put yourself in harm's way says I. Now turn your head..to the right. Better."

She worked in silence for a minute until curiosity drove her to break it, "Must I now plead for you to tell me what all this suffering has wrought?"

When he gave a soft chuckle she wanted to shove his head beneath the water and kiss him all at once, "Am I to ken you wish to know how I stand in the games?"

"What else?"

He leaned back on his heels, drawing his tunic carefully over his head and dropping it to the floor beside him, "Indeed. Then you should know I stand second only to the warrior whom I must best on the morrow."

"And who be first?"

He tipped forward again, splashing the water at her playfully, "Why young Silas."

"Oh Loki!" Eidra cried, "Oh do not hurt him!"

Loki came around the side of the basin to cup her chin in his hand, "Whomever the Gods see fit to raise on high will be victorious. I cannot promise I will not hurt him nor may he promise the same but know that I shall do no more than I must."

Eidra smiled, pulling herself up to stand and stepped out of the basin to the floor, pulling a linen towel from the chair beside her.

"Here, take the greater share of dirt from you with this water and we will draw you more," She tucked the towel about her chest and started to unlace his breeches, "It pains me to see your body gather yet more scars. Soon there will be not one place upon you left unmarked."

He shivered as she let the breeches drop to the floor and guided him to the tub, steadying him as he stepped into the water, averting her eyes from the red streak along his ribcage.

"I will return with Ingrid and fresh water," She turned toward the door where her robe hung but he held fast to her hand.

"Do not be so eager to leave my side," He tugged at her, "But join me here."

He kicked at the water with his feet, a sweet grin lighting up his face, darkening hers with a crimson bloom.

"I will stay if you like only let me tell Ingrid to heat more water," she made to work her fingers from his grip, stifling a laugh as he held tighter.

"Leave Ingrid to herself. I wish you in here," He pointed to the water in which he now sat.

Eidra yanked her hand free, gaping at him, "Both of us in this tub at once? Loki, really, the basin is fit for one and you are filthy!"

At this he frowned sadly, "Please, my heart. I rushed home because I longed to see you."

Eidra closed her eyes, "I cannot fit. It is not like the basin at the palace,"

She opened one eye a bit to see him still gazing up at her, "You will not be denied?"

His response was to tug at her again. She hesitated but a moment before untucking the linen towel and tossing it to the floor.

"This shall be a disaster, I tell you," She bit her lip as she steadied herself, easing one foot into the water, squealing as she felt herself slip a bit.

"All will be well, come lift the other foot,"

As soon as she was firmly stationed above him, he pulled her down to straddle his legs.

"Ow! Oh my knees, this will not work...Lo..."

Her words were cut short as he covered her mouth with his, her struggles slowing as he slid her forward to press against him, her arms encircling his neck, the only sounds in the cavernous room the gentle slosh of water, the swift intake of breath, a moan heavy with lust.

"My head was filled so with thoughts of you today," he nipped at her collarbone, "I could scarce keep my wits about me.."

She shook her head, her hand dipping into the water to find him ready, "As evinced by your...oh my...your...,"

Grasping her buttocks, he lifted her up, felt her hips tilt back ever so slightly as the tepid warmth of the bathwater was replaced by silken heat and the weight of her full against him.

"My heart," she whispered upon the skin of his shoulder, her fingers gripping the flesh at his biceps, their ability to form coherent speech all but lost as he thrust upward to meet her, replying with an animal growl. Where her knees had sat uncomfortable upon the hard copper, they were now buoyed by the action of their lovemaking and she held tight to the sides of the tub, watching him worship her body with his own, hands covering her breasts, palming the nipples into exquisite hardness, kissing wherever he could reach. Her throat, oh her throat, making her to tighten around him, her chin, cheeks, the tip of her nose causing her to giggle. When his rhythm began to break he could only gasp, "Rise."

With a whimper, she lifted herself from him, reaching into the water to feel him pulsing into her hand, his hot seed mingling with the cool water.

"Oh so wonderful," she sighed as he reached for the sides of the basin to regain his seating.

"Ah 'twas much too quickly finished for both of us I fear," he looked down.

"Indeed, you shall remedy it anon when you come to bed," Eidra laughed as she leaned in for another kiss, stroking his brow. As their eyes locked, she threw her arms about his shoulders, pressing her cheek against his.

"An' this water has all but lost its cleansing power," he sighed as he rubbed her back though she seemed not to hear him.

"I must confess I find it hard to let you withdraw from me even now. Were it that we could have another child. My heart aches whenever I spy a mother and her baby and woe betide me should I have cause to hold it."

Loki pushed her from him, "I would not wish for another child. I would not exchange one life for another only imagined. I could not survive losing you again. When Vesta is delivered of her child, you may play nursemaid to it. I am certain she will be ever grateful."

The click of the bathing room door and a resulting high pitched scream caused them both to jump, sinking into the tub as Ingrid covered her eyes with her hand.

"Oh Eidra why did you not tell me? Oh Odin's beard!"

Loki sat up with a roar, "Ingrid, you are turned scarlet!"

In response, Ingrid turned around, her back to them, "I only came to tell Milady the hot water is ready for the tub. Forgive me."

As Loki continued to laugh, Eidra gave him a slap on the chest, "Do not tease her so, you imp! Ingrid, please do have Hal help you with the water, this tub must be emptied. I will need unguents and linen strips for Loki's wounds."

Eidra climbed from the tub, retrieving her towel, casting a concerned look at the gash on Loki's arm which had broken open again and was now oozing blood.

"Get you out of that filthy water. I will be back," ignoring Loki's renewed outburst of laughter she reached for the robe on the peg and wrapped her arm around Ingrid's waist, "Come, let him regain his senses." She shut the bathing room door behind them, the ghost of a smile playing about her lips.

After Eidra dressed the wound on his arm he sent her to the bedchamber, promising her he'd soon join her though the hot water so soothed his aching muscles he spent more time in the basin than he'd intended.

Upon entering his bedchamber, he spied Eidra draped across the bed, sound asleep, still dressed in her robe. He tenderly slid the heavy garment off her and turned down the lantern on the bed stand, resettling her beneath the covers beside him, gazing at her face, peaceful in the glow of the moonlight streaming in through the window. For these past twenty seasons, his first thought upon waking in the morning, his last thought before closing his eyes each evening had been of her. Through the darkest times when she was lost to him, through the happy days after they were once again united, she was his greatest joy. He stroked her cheek, felt her stir though she kept her eyes closed.

"Mmm, better now?"

"Yes, my heart."

He draped his arm across her stomach, watching her sleep until her silhouette blurred, fading into dreams.