50

The Fire on the Hearth

The wedding feast continued well into the night as Loki and Sigyn danced, talked, and laughed with their guests then Loki noticed Hela, Balder, and Leif were getting sleepy.

"Let us put them to bed," Frigga suggested while she looked at Leif nestled on Odin's lap and the toddler's eyes were closed. Hela was yawning and Balder's head kept bopping up and down.

"Are you sure?" Loki asked.

"It's what grandparents are for."

He gave her a little smile when she walked to Hela and Balder and she whispered to them it was time for bed. Hela and Balder walked to Loki and Sigyn as they got their goodnight hugs then she led the children out of the room. Odin slowly stood while holding his youngest grandson in his arms and Loki wondered if he had done the same with him when he was Leif's age.

You always fell asleep in my arms, his father sent as if he knew what he was thinking and Loki smiled at him. With a nod, Odin walked away then he left the room and Sigyn slid her arms around Loki's arm.

Loki looked deeply into her eyes as a small blush moved over her cheeks and she slightly lowered her head.

"Why are you acting so shy? We're married now. I can look at you like this if I want to," he teased and she laughed.

"Sorry. Old habits," she said and he looked at their guests.

"Are you ready to bid them goodnight?"

"Wouldn't that be rude?"

"No," he said with a shook of his head. "Most of them are too drunk to notice if we're here or not and the others might be off to bed soon."

"What are you whispering about?" Tyra asked, appearing next to them.

"We are wondering if we should leave," Sigyn said and her sister laughed.

"Norns! You didn't notice when me and my husband left during our wedding feast!"

"You did?" Loki asked.

"Yes! We couldn't wait to get the wedding night started! Now, shoo!"

Tyra giggled when Loki carefully lifted Sigyn off the floor and he carried Sigyn out of the room. He did hear the whistles and cheers as he rolled his eyes and she softly laughed.

A short time later, the guards opened the doors to Loki's room as Loki nodded and he carried his bride across the threshold. He made a mental note to have the room redone now that he was married to reflect both of their tastes. Ravn had decorated the room with garlands of roses and fresh rose petals were spread over the comforter. There were tall beeswax tapers scented with lavender and honey for good luck. An entwined swag of purple brisingr—Asgard's national flower—shaped like bells with a golden center—and ice blue frost blossoms lay over the mantle of the fireplace, which burned logs of apple wood for warmth and passion.

A bottle of sweet wine was sitting in the ice bucket on the center table and a tray with cheeses, cold chicken and ham and crusty dark bread sat next to the ice bucket.

Loki set her gently down as Sigyn walked to the table and she poured the sweet wine into the crystal glasses sitting next to the tray. She picked up the glass, etched with the runes for happiness, and handed it to him.

They gently touched glasses when they took a drink of the sweet wine and he leaned over to kiss her lips. He tasted the sweetness of her lips and found them as intoxicating as the wine they had drank. He drew back, his eyes roving over her lithe frame, adoring her.

Sigyn felt heat blossom within her as she twined her arms about him and kissed him again, feeling as if she could never get enough of him. Her sisters had whispered to her of the passion shared between lovers but she had never known anything like this, not even when she was lost in the ecstasy of her magic.

"This has to be a dream. I don't remember the last time I was this happy," she whispered against his lips and he chuckled, his chest thrumming with humor.

"If it is a dream, I do not wish to wake," he whispered then he drew back. She saw the twinkle in her Trickster's eyes as he took her hand and he led her to the bed. He knew she was nervous as he kissed the back of her hand and he gave her a playful grin. "Shall we play a game, my love?"

"What sort of game?" she queried.

"A game of riddles. If you guess my riddle, then you may steal a piece of my clothing. Sound fun?"

She smirked. "I have always wondered what you look like without your shirt," she teased, running her hand down his neck.

He sucked in a breath. "Now you shall find out, darling."

And so they began . . .

Ten minutes later, most of their clothes and shoes were in a pile upon the floor and Sigyn was feeling very relaxed. Loki also accompanied the removal of their clothing with kisses, soft and sensual ones that made her burn from the inside out.

She shivered slightly as his fingers came into contact with her skin, for he was a few degrees cooler than she was.

"Cold, my love?" he queried, and then used some magic to increase the warmth in his hands.

"No . . .not really. You make me feel . . . like that apple wood branch there," she indicated the fire burning merrily.

"Ah," he grinned endearingly. "Do you know what you do to me?"

She gave him a quizzical look.

"You are the fire on the hearth, that warms me to my soul." As he spoke his lips trailed fiery kisses down her neck and shoulders.

She feared she would self-combust right there upon the bed.

Mine. He is forever mine, she thought as her heart thumped happily in her chest. "Loki . . ."

"Aye, darling?"

"You are . . . this is . . . magical . . ." she gasped. "I have never felt this way before . . ."

"Nor have I," he murmured in a voice of silk and velvet, as his fingers continued their dance, his emerald eyes half lidded with pleasure like a sleepy cat's.

"Where did you . . . how . . .?" she could not seem to form coherent speech.

"I did not learn this from anyone," he responded. "I am simply . . . following what my heart tells me . . . and listening to yours . . ."

"Loki?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you as well."

She never knew quite when the rest of their clothes came off, for she was lost to the sensations her magician of Asgard conjured in her. But at one point she muttered, "You're not wearing anything under your leather pants!"

He laughed huskily. "Let that be our secret, love!"

Magic swirled in the air, weaving glowing trails, as they surrendered to the passion between them and found their true selves within each other's embrace, coming together in a glorious conflagration, reborn anew like a phoenix from the ashes, upon love's fiery wings.

The candles had died to a flicker when they returned to themselves at last. Sigyn lay atop Loki, her head upon his chest, feeling it rise and fall as he breathed. Her fingers moved along his left side as he sighed contentedly, his heart thrumming in a steady beat against his sternum.

"Hungry?" he asked and she looked up at him.

"Yes," she said with a nod and she felt a pang of regret when he gently moved her off of him and he quickly got out of bed. He poured them some more sweet wine then he made a small plate of cheese, cold chicken, and some bread. He quickly got back in bed as he handed the crystal glass and the plate to her and pulled the covers up. She felt quite cozy, like a cat curled on the hearth. She snuggled against him then they took turns feeding each other while they sipped wine from the same glass.

Sigyn was in the middle of gently licking some cheese off Loki's fingers when a sudden weight landed right in the middle of their legs.

"Oh!" she yelped.

"By the Nine!" Loki gasped.

A startled mew erupted from the blankets and a whiskered face poked out.

"Axelle!" Loki cried.

The golden kitten meowed plaintively and Sigyn stared at her before suddenly erupting into laughter.

"Oh . . . oh . . . blessed Yggradsil!" she giggled uncontrollably. "I . . . think she's hungry . . .!"

Loki gaped at her then he too began to laugh.

Axelle crawled onto the pillow, trying to snatch what remained of the chicken from the plate, causing the two newlyweds to dissolve further into hysterical laughter.

"Wait," Loki said after he calmed down. He gently picked Axelle off the bed and he went to make her a plate of chicken. He placed her on the floor near her cat bed then set the plate down and the kitten began eating hungrily.

A small knock on the door made him sigh as he waved his hands and he was dressed in his dark green silk bathrobe. He opened the door and Ravn stood there with a sly smile on his face.

"Sorry to interrupt, My Prince, but it appears I misplaced your kitten," he began innocently.

"She's right here," Loki said when he walked back to Axelle, picked her and the plate up and handed her to Ravn.

"I do apologize."

"It's alright, Old Friend," Loki said and Ravn smiled. Nodding, he walked off with the kitten and the plate and Loki closed the door.

Sigyn giggled as he dropped the bathrobe on the floor then he quickly ran to the bed. She moved back as he dove onto the mattress crawled up to her.

"Now, where were we?" he asked and she placed a bite of cheese in his mouth.

Sometime later:

"What would you like to do today?" Sigyn queried after she had bathed and dressed in a comfortable set of loungewear that her sister Amaya had given her.

Loki shrugged lazily, also dressed in a pair of black soft trousers and a long green tunic with simple silver buttons. His bare feet were tucked up under him on the recliner by the fire, though his calf leather slippers were set beside the hearth.

The remains of a breakfast repast were on the table, next to cups of fragrant jasmine mint tea.

She walked to the recliner when she slid onto his lap and he wrapped his arms about her, burying his face in her hair.

Her hair smelled of roses and lilac and he gently brushed his fingers through her hair.

"We could stay here and read to each other," he suggested. "Or we could take a walk in the Lover's Knot maze."

"A walk sounds wonderful."

Her fingers lightly stroked the tunic as he shivered and he tilted her face towards his so he could kiss her sweet lips.

You fool. Why do you want to go for a walk when you could stay here and do this? a voice in her head demanded and he felt her smiling against her lips.

"What is so funny?" he asked.

"Maybe we could go for a walk later," she said and he saw a twinkle in her eyes. She felt him move off the recliner as he scooped her up into his arms and walked towards the bed.

Viva's chambers:

She was walking down a hallway she didn't recognize when she entered a library and she was amazed by the volume of books, scrolls and documents on the shelves. She felt the magic coming from them as she saw a man with a round face, a bald head, and dark eyes sitting at a wooden table.

"Is he a monk?" she thought while she watched him then she saw a small orange rimmed portal appearing to his left and a hand removed one of the books off the shelf. Another portal opened to his right a few seconds later and a hand removed a book from the shelf. For some reason, she giggled, then left the room. She walked down the hallway when she entered a different room and she saw him.

He looked different, but he also looked happy. He was sitting cross legged over the floor as she watched him open one of the books and she realized he was the one who took them.

"Pretty sneaky, yeah?" he asked and she was startled. He had seen her.

"Yes," she said and he smiled, giving her a wink.

Viva woke with a gasp, her heart thundering in her chest like a runaway locomotive.

"Who are you?" she asked, arising and going to dress for breakfast.

She opened the door when she saw Thor standing in the hallway and he smiled.

"Morning, Sister," he said.

"Morning. I'm surprised to see you up. Not after all you drank last night," she teased and he softly laughed.

"I do feel a little hungover, but it is nothing I can't handle."

"Then shall we go get some breakfast?"

Nodding, he held his arm out and she slid her arm around it. They walked down the hallway when he noticed the look on her face and he arched an eyebrow, frowning in concern.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked. Sighing, she told him about her dreams and he nodded his head every now and then.

"Well, if you need to find him, maybe the Avengers can help you," he suggested and she sighed.

"I don't want to be a bother."

"You are never a bother. Besides, it sounds like he needs you."

"You're right."

"Then we will speak with them during breakfast."

"Thank you."

Smiling, he nodded and they walked down the hallway.

Loki's chambers:

Loki braided Sigyn's hair as she happily sighed and he leaned over to kiss her neck. She stroked his cheek when he stood and he held his hand out. She took his hand as he helped her to her feet and she wrapped their fingers together.

"Shall we go for that walk now?" he asked and she nodded. They had just opened the door when something grabbed onto his legs and he looked down, seeing Leif looking up at him.

"Papa!" he said.

"Morning," he said as Loki bent down and lifted his youngest son up.

"Morning, Papa," Hela said when she looked at Sigyn and she grinned. "Morning Mama."

Sigyn's breath caught in her chest as Loki looked at her and Sigyn smiled.

"Morning," Sigyn said.

"Where are you going, Papa?" Balder asked. "Uncle Thor said you and Mama were going to stay in bed. Are you sick?"

Loki nearly swallowed his tongue before he could reply. Quick, think of something to tell him! "Uh . . . no, we're feeling better now. We were just a little tired from the wedding party last night. So we decided to sleep in."

Balder cocked his head. "But why was Mama in your room?"

"Now that we're married, Mama sleeps in my room."

Balder frowned. "Is that what happens when you're married? You gotta sleep with a GIRL? Aww, gross!" The boy looked disgusted.

Loki felt his stomach hurting from not being able to laugh and he lightly ruffled Balder's hair.

"Mama!" Leif said as he reached for Sigyn and she carefully took him out of Loki's arms. Leif gave her a hug as she kissed his cheek and he giggled.

"Where are you going?" Hela asked.

"For a walk in the Lover's Knot maze," Loki answered.

"Can we go with you?!" Balder asked.

"Maybe another time," Loki demurred. "I think your Uncle Thor wanted your help showing his friends from Midgard around here."

"But I wanna go with you and Mama," Balder said with a pout.

Hela elbowed him. "Come on, Balder. Don't you know that when you get married you wanna be alone together?"

"What for?" her little brother demanded sulkily.

"So you can kiss each other! Duh!" Hela rolled her eyes. "Don't you know anything?"

"Gross! You can get germs!" Balder gagged.

"Oh, for Frost Lady's sake! Married people have the SAME germs!" Hela said exasperatedly. "Everyone knows that!" She tugged on his hand. "Now come on! I'm hungry and we're having pigs in a blanket and lingonberry muffins for breakfast!"

"Muppin!" Leif said, clapping his hands. Sigyn placed Leif down as he ran to Hela and he pulled on her hand. "Muppins!"

"I think you better go get him some muffins," Loki teased. Nodding, Hela led her brothers down the hallway and Loki saw the pleased look on Sigyn's face.

"They are precious! And too funny!" she grinned. "The things they say!"

"True," he said and he led her down the hallway.

They left the palace by one of the side entrances and Loki walked arm in arm with his new wife to the Lover's Knot maze, which had stood for thousands of years since the time of his grandmother Bestla, who had commissioned it when she became queen.

The leafy hedges were full of flowering shrubs that gave off a heady aroma as they walked down the paths, which were arranged like a lover's knot, and sported soft white stone pathways that glistened in the sun. The maze was interspersed with smooth stone benches and hidden arbors where ardent lovers could indulge in a kiss or two as they strolled.

"Have you ever been to the center of the maze?" Sigyn asked as she strolled along.

"Of course. Thor and I used to play here as boys," Loki chuckled. "Though Thor was a terror-he was forever trampling the flowers and putting holes in the hedge with his toy hammer. I thought Valis the Head Gardener was going to murder him once for it."

"And what did you do?"

"I played hide and seek among the hedges and dared Thor to find me. But I didn't tell him I would be hiding in a different shape!"

She imagined Loki as a little boy, hiding in the hedges, and she laughed.

They walked along when she saw some mourning doves in a nest sitting in a hole in the hedge and the doves gently cooed.

"Oh!" she said.

"Morning," Loki cooed.

"Morning," the male mourning dove cooed.

They walked down the path when they came to the center of the maze and she saw the large gazebo.

It was beautifully fashioned of white ash wood and marble, with trellises of pink and blue trumpet vines around the four pillars. The roof had hanging flowers in all the shades of the rainbow and inside it was cool and pleasant, with plump white leather cushions on the benches and a low prism glass table with an arrangement of gold and peach roses.

"How gorgeous!" Sigyn gasped.

Various kinds of butterflies and gentle fuzzy bees flitted around the vines and flowers.

She felt the green magic as she walked toward the gazebo and Loki swore she was glowing in a white light, and so too were the flowers and plants nearby.

Norns, she is so beautiful, Loki thought, walking toward her.

They clasped hands and sat together on the white leather bench, sunlight glinting in Loki's hair and making blue highlights glitter in it. It turned Sigyn's to flame, which was what Loki felt his blood doing everytime he touched her.

She moved closer as her lips brushed against his and a cool tingle swept through him.

Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his silky hair and he lightly gripped her shoulders.

His green eyes shimmered as he kissed her, his hand gently cupping the back of her head.

She felt a fire curling through her as he deepened the kiss and she wrapped some of his hair around her fingers.

"You bring me to life," she whispered, her breath tickling his cheek.

"You restored mine," he whispered, kissing down her neck.

The humming of the bees and the twittering of the birds surrounded them as they remained in each other's arms, content just to be with the other, their bond deepening as the sun made its way across the sky.

Images of their life together moved through his mind as he smiled and she leaned back against his chest.

They drowsed sitting there beneath the fragrant canopy of flowers, meanwhile Viva ate breakfast with her family and waited to see what Thor could find out about the man in her dreams.

"Excuse me," a voice said when Viva looked up and Tony Stark sat on the chair across from her. She did admit the mortal was handsome, but he wasn't the man from her dreams and he saw the look in her eyes. "Hi. I'm Tony. Tony Stark."

"Are you a friend of Thor's?" she asked.

"Yeah, I am. He told me you were looking for someone."

"Yes, I am."

"Do you know his name?"

"No, I don't."

"Do you know what he looks like?"

"Yes," she said as she described the man in her dreams then she sensed something wrong with Tony. "Are you alright?"

"I think I know who you're talking about."

"You do?!"

"I think so. We only met once, but I think you're talking about Stephen Strange."

"Who is he?"

"He's a doctor on my world."

"Do you know where he is?!"

"I'm not sure. It's been a long time since I've seen him. Last I heard, he was in some sort of accident."

"What kind of accident?"

"It was a car accident."

Her first dream replayed through her mind as she shivered and he arched his eyebrows at her questioningly.

"You ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Are you sure about the accident?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said with a nod. "Why?"

She told him about the dream of the accident and Tony gave her a doubting look.

"Are you saying you somehow became connected to him?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. For some unknown reason, the Norns have bound our fates together—why I do not know. But he comes to me in dreams—and has since he had his accident." She considered carefully before telling him about the unusual dreams she had of the man she now knew was named Stephen Strange—the man was yet an enigma to her, ironically.

"These dreams . . . you believe they have power?" Tony asked skeptically.

She lofted an eyebrow, looking remarkably like her twin about to deliver a lecture in that instant. "My dreams are not ordinary ones, Tony. I am a Seer and my dreams show me what may be or can be, if I choose the right path. I have never felt such a strong connection to anyone before—save for my twin. This must mean he is my destiny in some fashion."

"Have you seen that?"

"In a way, yes. I know that we are destined to meet someday. And soon. Can you help me locate him? I sense that it is urgent that I do so. He needs help . . . perhaps help only I can give him." She found herself growing agitated and twisting her napkin in her lap. Would this mortal help her? Could he do so?

Tony could feel her uneasiness and it made him squirm uncomfortably. Never one to ignore a damsel in distress, though he suspected this lady could probably take him and half the Avengers apart in an eyeblink, he slowly nodded. "I can help you . . . I think. But there's one condition. You'd need to stay on Earth for awhile. You willing to do that?"

Viva felt a slow spark of hope brighten in her chest. "I am. I may go where I wish."

"Very well then. Come with me when we return to Earth and I'll see what I can do about helping you find Stephen. I just hope he doesn't try and commit you to the crazy ward once he hears your story." Tony warned, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, I doubt that," Viva chuckled. "I can be very persuasive when I wish to be."

"Of that, lovely lady, I have no doubt," he grinned. Then he thought, Man, maybe I should try and romance her myself! She sure is a looker! And savvy too! What's she want with old stick-in-the-mud Strange anyway? He's a great surgeon but he's married to his work . . . or at least he was.

Then he shrugged. If things didn't work out with Stephen, perhaps she would be willing to give him a chance. He'd never dated a princess before, and wouldn't mind getting to know Viva better.

Viva felt excitement flow through her veins at the thought of finally being able to meet the man of her dreams—literally. She prayed that the Norns would be kind and allow her to help him. But only time would tell. She quickly finished the rest of her breakfast, then rose and went to her room to pack. She would need to inform Odin and Frigga of her plans to return to Midgard with the Avengers and also Loki and Thor. She did not anticipate any problems with her decision from her family—at least she hoped not.

She reached her chambers and found Kiva asleep on her bed. Laughing, the Mind Healer picked up her cat and hugged the sleepy feline. "We're going on an adventure, Kiva! To see a doctor . . . who may also be a wizard! What do you think of that?"

Kiva purred and yawned.

Viva grinned and rubbed the cat under the chin. "You lazy old thing!" she said affectionately before starting to pack, humming an old Jotun traveling tune as she did so.

A/N: Thanks everyone for sticking with me on this journey! And there's more still to come! What do you hope will happen between Viva and Stephen?