The morning had started out freezing cold but now as they stood outside the city limits at the edge of the palace fields, now barren rows of soil waiting for spring's planting, he began to warm up aided by Brenna.

"Pace yourself, remember what Gunnar told you," she rubbed his arms briskly, "Do not expend all your energy at the start of the race for it is a test of endurance not speed. Save your final push for the finish line."

"I will," Fen looked at her, "Thanks Bren."

"Thanks for what? I expect you to come in dead last," she smiled at him, "Worms are notoriously slow."

Fen shook his head, glanced behind him at their father, who gave him a quick wink.

A loud blat pierced the air and Fen pulled from Brenna's grasp, "They are lining up, I must go."

"Good luck worm."

They watched him race to where the other men were assembling at the starting line.

"Gunnar tells me he is fast."

Loki turned to see Silas standing there, arms crossed.

"Then so must Gunnar be to keep pace with him."

Silas laughed then, "True. He is a man to be proud of."

They started toward the line together.

"Second in his class at the academy. He is to become a Royal Guard next season. A high honor in Asgard. You have every right to be proud."

The men were in position. Anticipation, excitement was palpable as the people lining the road along the fields waited, their cheers held like wild stallions newly come to the bridle. At the sound of the horn once more, the men were off in a cloud of dust, racing past the roaring throngs who trotted along with them for some distance until they were lost to the forest as they turned down the assigned path.

"And now to wait," Loki squinted at the sun, shrouded in morning mist.

He kept even with men twice his age, watching as they tired, slowed and he passed them. Up ahead he could see Gunnar and another boy, Halfdan almost side by side. Closer and closer. He grew near until he was even with Gunnar.

"Was wondering...when you would …...catch up."

Fen sidestepped a large rock, "Was wondering when you...would slow down."

Gunnar laughed and for a while, they kept pace with each other, Halfdan falling behind a bit until it was just the two of them.

Fen chanced a look back at a rise in the trail. The rest of the group were some distance behind, Halfdan still lagging, holding his side with a grimace.

"Work through it," he thought to himself, "It will ease,"

They reached the turn which would send them back to where they began, to the finish line. People had lined up at the curve to cheer them on and with a stab of excitement, Fen spied Lisle jumping up and down waving at him like mad. As he passed where she stood, he heard his name called out, "FEN!"

He grinned, looked over at Gunnar who was smiling at him.

"It seems you will...have someone waiting...at the end for you."

Fen laughed, "It would seem so."

They approached the southern end of the palace fields with trepidation upon Fen's part. He did not expect to be vying for first place against his best friend. Halfdan had fallen far behind and another older man had taken his position, closing the distance between them rather quickly.

As the finish line became visible far ahead, Fen turned to speak to Gunnar when all at once he saw Gunnar drop to the ground with a roar.

Fen skidded to a halt, racing to Gunnar to lay on the dirt holding his knee.

"Gunnar! Gods what happened?"

"I wrenched my knee," Gunnar hissed through clenched teeth, "Why are you still here! Go!"

Fen could hear the footfalls of the man approaching rapidly behind them but he took Gunnar's arm, pulling him to the side of the trail as spectators ran to them.

"You are hurt. I cannot.."

"Hel and be damned. GO!" Gunnar cried, "GO!"

Startled to his feet, Fen dug his toes into the dirt at a sprint, listening to the labored breathing of the man mere feet behind him. Calling on his reserves, he pushed himself harder, feeling the stitch in his side start to take hold. He focused hard on the green pennant waving above the finish line, heard the shouts and cheers build into a deafening crescendo and he was passing the pennant, passing the happy faces of his sister, his father as he dropped to the ground in exhaustion.

"First place!" Brenna was crying in his ear, "You are the fastest worm I ever met!"

"Well done, my son!" his father was lifting him to his feet to embrace him, "Very well done!"

"Gunnar," Fen gasped, "Hurt.."

Silas was watching the runners cross the line, waiting for Gunnar when Loki motioned to him, "Silas!"

Silas ran to them, "What is wrong? Where is Gunnar?"
"He wrenched his knee," Fen pointed up the road, "Near the middle fields. He told me to keep going."

Silas clapped Fen on the shoulder, "As well you should have. My congratulations to you," he then turned, running along the line of spectators toward the middle fields.

"I did not want to leave him, father."

Loki nodded, "You are a loyal and unselfish friend...and so is he. There will be other games."

"Ahh, I missed it didn't I?" Colin stopped beside Fen, "Did you win?"

They stared at him for a moment before Fen found his tongue, "Um, yes, yes I won first place. Master Denehy, you are covered in mud."

"Aye," Colin chuckled, looking down at himself, "I was the loser in the tug o' war. I told you I was no great hand in the games."

"But you did garner third place in the wrestling match," Loki waggled a finger at him, "That is nothing to dismiss lightly here in Asgard."

"Only because I had longer arms than the poor man. He couldn't disentangle himself from me. Lucky I made third. It's been years since I hit the mat in school."

Loki glanced up the road, "I must beg to be excused from present company. My final match is at hand and I must prepare."

"Be careful, Papa." Brenna encircled his neck in a fierce hug, "And good luck."

Loki patted her back, "I will need far more than luck. I will see you at the arena."

As Loki started back toward the city, Fen tugged at Colin, waved to Brenna, "Come, I want to return to Gunnar."

"What's wrong with Gunnar?" Colin asked as they headed up the road past the other runners still trickling in.

"He hurt his knee," Fen called, "Or he would have been the victor this day."

"Don't sell yerself short, son." Colin sidestepped a man, "Always believe you can do more than you can."

Fen smiled to himself, "Yes sir."

Loki tried to focus on the hand floating before his face. His ears were still ringing, his lungs drawing in precious gulps of air, heart hammering in his chest.

"Milord?"

He propped himself up on his elbows as the shrieks and cheers of the crowd broke through.

"Silas, you must give me a moment. I am an old man now," he groaned.

"You are hardly old," Silas reached for his hand, hauling him to his feet, supporting him as he swayed unsteadily.

"Still you have won the day, nay the game," Loki raised his hand in the air as the arena erupted again, "And you may say you availed yourself of the opportunity to give outlet to old conflicts."

"Milord, do not speak so. I am ever your loyal servant...," Silas let go of his hand as he stood upright at last and Loki shook his head.

" 'Twas you witnessed unspeakable acts by my hand in your tenderest years."

"All made right by your equal compassion, Milord," Silas said as they started toward the King who was fast approaching them.

"You've a larger heart than most my boy," Loki murmured as Thor embraced Silas.

Loki winced as he extended a hand to help Brenna up into the wagon though she swatted it away.

"I am able to haul my behind up without help, Papa. Do not trouble yourself further. I do not want to bring you home broken. Mama has been certain you would perish every day this week."

Lightning pranced nervously beside the wagon, rearing a bit as Colin tried to mount him.

"Whoa, boy! Come to!" Colin cried as Loki stood from the wagon seat and climbed to the ground.

"Here let me ride him home, you take the wagon. He's likely upset by that abomination before us," Loki jerked a thumb at the tall ornate carriage parked before the wagon, a set of draft horses hooked to the front. When Thor had brought him to the carriage that morning, Loki had resisted the urge to throttle his oaf of a brother.

"I had it decorated in green and gold, your royal colors. And look, your royal standard is on the doors and the medallion at the rear. Go on step into it."

"Thor, I told you I did not wish for a carriage."

Thor had opened the door with a flourish, "And yet here it is. I am sick to death of seeing you roll into the courtyard in that wagon...,"

"It is far swifter than this contraption will be..."

"...and listening to the court laugh behind their hand, call you the Prince of Sheaves, royal farmhand and all manner of titles. It vexes me."

Loki had bit his tongue, holding his laughter in check as Thor threw his hands in the air.

"If you will not accept it on your own behalf, then do so for the comfort of your brood. It is well large enough to seat them all."

Loki had stood outside peering in until Thor practically lifted him into it and he had stared at the plush seats, imagining Eidra sitting on them, dressed in her finest gown.

"Very well, for my family then. I, however, shall continue to ride my horse."

Thor had broken into a wide grin and Loki knew he'd lost the fight then.

Lightning continued to prance nervously, jerking to a halt several times along the road home so that they were forced to rest a few times until Loki held him back from the carriage, slowed his gait and was able to keep him moving forward.

He watched the carriage far ahead bouncing along the rutted road, shook his head, stroking Lightning's neck.

"You have nothing to fear from that overblown wagon. When we are home, I shall brush you down and bring you a pail of apples."

Lightning shivered, gave a soft whicker as they cantered alongside the wagon.

"So tomorrow is the award ceremony then?" Colin eyed Loki, "What, pray tell does second place garner?"

"All places afford their bearers great honor among the realms. Each place will receive ceremonial swords inscribed with their achievement. Those in first place will furthermore be awarded five thousand gold coins..,"

Colin whistled, "Nice. That's a hefty sum here in Asgard."

Loki nodded, "Indeed, it is two seasons wages for a royal guard. Second place will earn twenty-five hundred gold coins, third will earn a thousand gold coins so you, Colin, will receive a sword and a thousand coins for your performance in the Toga hӧnk."

Colin grimaced, recalling how many men he'd pulled into the muddy pit before be himself had been yanked into the foul smelling soup.

"I must say I'm proud as a whitewashed pig. Third place, not bad for a Midgardian, eh?"

Loki grinned, "Surprising to say the least. You must have untold reserves of strength to have lasted so far into the competition. Will your assignment allow you to keep your prizes? I know you have certain protocol you must follow."

"Ha," Colin glanced at Loki, "What prizes?"

"Why the very prizes I mentioned...,"

"Papa," Brenna cut him short, "Colin means he will not necessarily tell his superiors of the prizes, therefore negating the need to refuse them upon principle."

Colin's lips quivered as he fought a smile, Brenna poking him playfully in the side.

"Ah...I see. You were toying with me. Well played."

Up ahead they could see the road to the manor house. They watched the carriage turn in to disappear behind the trees and Loki kicked Lightning into a trot. All at once, Lightning reared up, back legs stamping the ground, his forelegs kicking the air. Loki reached for the pommel, his fingers closing about thin air as he fell away from the horse, trying, in the fraction of a second he was afforded, to brace for the impact as he landed in the dead grass at the side of the road. Air rushed from his lungs in one great whoosh, screams assailing his ears, the thunderous vibration of a hoof as it shook the ground inches from his right leg. He took a ragged breath in, heard Brenna's cry, "Papa!" and looked up to see the side of the dappled horse as it rushed down at him.

"Papa!" came Brenna's scream again, moving his legs to push at the ground, spurring him to scramble to his left as Lightning's body met the hard packed dirt of the road. The sharp edge of a hoof flew by his shoulder, a scant inch from kicking him across the jaw, another passing between his legs as he crawled clear of the flailing animal.

Brenna and Colin were out of the wagon followed by Fen who had been asleep in the wagon bed seconds before.

Lightning gave a high pitched shriek, his massive head flopping about in the dust of the road, legs kicking as if he were running from some unseen assailant until, abruptly, he stiffened, shuddered and lay still.

Loki pulled himself up by the stone wall edging the manor grounds, looking over Lightning to where Brenna stood, hands across her mouth, tears running down her cheeks, Fen, stunned, staring at the horse as Colin knelt down, put his hand on Lightning's neck.

"Ah fuck," he muttered, "He's gone, Loki."

Loki walked to where Lightning lay, dropping to his knees beside his head.

"Valiant, loyal steed...," Loki whispered, "He was old. I had thought to leave him to pasture but each time I would come to saddle Agathon or Blackberry he would stretch his neck out and nip at my cloak, tug on it as if to say "Master, you have missed your mark. I am right here" and I would choose him...every...," his words catching in his throat, he leaned down to press his forehead against Lightning's soft muzzle, heard Brenna's soft sobbing.

"I'm sorry, Loki. Damnit," Colin wiped his eyes.

Loki brushed the velvet that would nuzzle at his hand for treats every morning, breathed in the sweat, damp leather that was comfort, joy to a horseman and at last sat back on his heels.

"Fen, take the wagon and fetch Eldred to help. Bring the horses, harnessed, back here. We cannot leave Lightning here in the road. We will bring him home and build a pyre for him. Brenna go tell your mother what has happened."

"Oh Papa, I am so sorry," Brenna swallowed hard, racing down the road toward the manor.

Eidra came running up the manor road to where Loki and Colin now stood.

"Oh no, oh no! Oh Loki!" She cried, dropping to the road beside Lightning's body, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her cheek to him.

"He was our first horse. We bought him as a two season old stallion in Cole our first season on the farm in Rialo."

Loki bent down, lifting her from the ground to enfold her in his arms, "All lives end, my heart. Hush now. Remember him as a fine steed."

Eidra nodded fiercely as she burrowed into Loki's arms, "An excellent steed."

The jingle of metal echoed up the manor road as Eldred and Fen drove the team back to where Lightning lay, Eldred running on ahead until he spied the old horse and ground to a halt, his hand to his chest.

"Ah no! He had been acting off the past couple morns. Refusing his feed, stamping at the ground," Eldred rasped, "He knew, he knew sunset had come for him."

Loki and Eldred secured Lightning's body while Colin and Eidra stood off to the side of the road, quiet, somber. A couple riding by on their horses, nodded, watching the proceedings with sad countenances. When finally they began the drive down the road to the manor, it was almost full dark with a biting chill to the night air. Loki could see lights in the windows and a lantern on the front steps illuminating Brenna and the rest of his brood. He thought to chide her for letting the children see such a sad end to their old friend but in truth it was better this way than having to field the questions as to where Lightning had gotten off to later on.

Cait broke from the group, running to him as they made the dooryard, "Papa! Poor, poor Lightning!"

She stopped beside him and they watched the procession pass by on their way to the stable.

"What will happen to him now, Papa?"

Loki looked about at Colin, Eidra, his hand atop Cait's head, "I will send him on his way to the afterlife where there is nothing to do all say save run about in the fields, eat green grass and frolic with the fillies."

Eidra drew Cait to her skirts stroking her hair as she murmured, "But Papa, who will take care of him then?"

"Your grandfather Odin shall see to it he is well cared...for," Eidra's voice cracked, she bit her lip tight. When Cait turned to see Loki following Fen and Eldred, she tore free, racing after him.

"Wait! I want to go with you!"

Loki caught her up in his arms, "My little sparrow, I will be out very late. We must build a pyre and send Lightning on his way. You stay here at the manor with your mother."

"But I want to tell Lightning good bye!" Astrid cried as he set her down before Eidra and behind them he heard Astrid start to sob.

"No. Stay with your brother and sisters and comfort them. You will be a great help to your mother."

Cait peered up at Eidra who nodded, "Come, we shall see if Gretten will warm us some cider and we will have shortbread before we retire to bed."

"Might we lay with you for a bit, Mama?"

Eidra bent down, brushing a stray hank of hair from Cait's face, "Yes you may now let us leave your father to his task and get inside. It is freezing cold."

Loki leaned in, pressing a kiss to Eidra's temple, "Do not wait for me, my love."

Eidra gave him a sad smile as she herded Cait toward the doorstep, "You will be exhausted come the morrow and we must be in Asgard before the sun is half past its journey across the sky."

Colin raised his hand then, "I'll be helping them, Milady. Many hands make light work."

"Thank you Colin, most sincerely," Eidra called to him as they started for the stables.

He waved a response, trotting down the road beside Loki.

At the doorstep, Eidra's eyes flitted to Brenna's, her throat stinging as she saw the anguish in her first born's face. She had always been a sensitive child. Eidra locked arms with her as they stepped inside.

"Yes, warm cider will raise our spirits I do belive."

"I do hope so, Mama," Brenna sighed as they headed for the kitchen where Gretten and Beth stood, concern plain upon their faces, "For our spirits are powerful low this eve."

As gray dawn broke the horizon, Eidra found Loki asleep on the divan in the sitting room, slumped against the arm rest, his boots still on, cloak draped across his lap. Had she not known how upset he would be, she would have let him sleep the day away in recompense for the sad chore he'd been about half the night. Instead, she shook him awake, drawing his head against her chest as he swallowed away his tears.

"Go upstairs and get out of those garments, I will be up with hot water for you to wash up then we will rouse the children."

She listened to the creak of the stairs, nodded to Gretten as he came out of his room rubbing his eyes.

"Here let me get the fire to going, Milady."

While Gretten fanned the coals in the fireplace into flames, she glanced out the window near the stone sink, looking toward the distant stable. Satisfied she could discern no burnt patches along the ground, she shoved such drear thoughts from her mind as the events of the day took their rightful place at the head of the line.