Party 8

So far Dionysus was rather pleased with how the party was progressing, although it could still be better. And everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves and not getting too far out of control, that is save for one.

When he saw the shopping trolley standing on its own and when he sensed its unhappiness he knew that he had to intervene. After all it wasn't difficult to work out what was going on. No, he was going to march over there and tell it that all of it's troubles were over.

He took one step forward and fell flat on his face for he had drunk much, so he crawled instead.

'Hello, my dear, are you enjoying the party?'

[Yes, very much. Thank you!]

'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,' said Dionysus, having already lost the thread of the conversation. 'But, was it not I who gave Midas the golden touch and so taught him the important lesson of contentment?'

[I don't -]

'Well, it was. And he lived happily ever after...until he angered Apollo, who gave him asses ears. He ended up committing suicide, but that's by the by. The point is, my dear, I can give you the gift of confidence with no strings attached whatsoever. You will be free from self-consciousness to declare your love for the princess.'

[You know about that?]

'I know many things. What do you say?'

Sigyn thought about it very briefly. It seemed to her that it would be a foolish thing to do, to accept the magical help of a stranger she did not know at all.

[Please, help me.]

It also seemed to Sigyn that she must be the foolish type who would accept the magical help of a stranger she did not know at all. After all it was the reason that she was at the party and not still stuck in Starsbury's.

[Do what you have to do.]

Thor was on a mission. The party was lively and fun, but was disappointingly devoid of Hercules. And if Hercules continued in his stubborn absenteeism then Thor had no chance of redeeming himself by challenging the son of Zeus to a new match.

She rose elegantly out of the pool. Long, dark hair hung over her shoulders and trailed down to her ankles, dripping and pooling water at her feet. She turned to dismiss her entourage of seals and narwhals with a wave of her hand before turning to smile a chilling smile at Thor.

Thor smiled back.

'I-I've heard of you.'

'Oh, really?' She flipped several strands of her long, long hair over her shoulder, splattering Thor with cold pool water.

'Yes, of course. You're the mighty Sedna, Queen of the Icy Seas and all its animals. You're power is truly awesome. My mother used to tell me of your exploits as bedtime stories.'

'I don't think that my stories are suitable for little boys.'

'Heh, they did keep awake. I've always been in awe, your majesty, but I never hoped I get the chance to meet you in your person.'

She smiled once more, running her index finger over his chest plate.

'You're a king too, so why don't you just call me Sedna and I'll call you Thor,' she said in a husky tone.

Thor forgot all about Hercules.

'You know me?'

'I've heard rumours.'

'You're always welcome among my people.'

'So, you're interested in making an alliance, Thor?'

'A wise ruler never seeks war, but friends everywhere he goes.'

Her smiled froze on her face. There was a small crease between her eyebrows.

'Wait, are you Thor as in Thor Odinson?'

'I don't know of any other Thors.'

Her eyes lit up. 'Ah, so you are Loki's brother! Is he here now?'

'Well, unfortunately yes -'

'It's been so long! And we used to have such fun together! Where is he?'

Thor took a step back and pointed Sedna in the wrong direction. She dashed off, stepping on his foot in her hurry.

It was always the same. No matter if they were at home or a party it was always, "Oh, Heimdall, dear, can you tell me where my keys are? I've misplaced them again," or, "Heimdall, mate, can you can take a peek at my husband for me? I think he's been sneaking to the tavern instead of the library like he promised!", or in this case, "Keep an eye on the children, will you, Heimy? Keep them out of trouble while we have a drink."

Yep, things would never change for Heimdall. He would always be the All-Seeing One, the Gatekeeper, the Lost and Found man, the ruin-er of Secrets in Marriages, and now, the Babysitter.

'Arthur, come back here!' he shouted over the music, but to no avail. 'Di, watch were you're going!'

The kids were running wild as usual, only this time it was much worse. Now they were filled up on fizzy pop and fairy cakes and only Dionysus knew what else. They were charging all over the dance hall, screaming and shrieking at the top of their lungs, crawling under some tables and jumping up on others, skidding across the floor, diving through people's legs, throwing food and spitting out pop, smashing each other with balloons, running around with animals from the petting zoo on top of their heads, and throwing up in the paddling pool. Frankly, it was an embarrassment.

Arthur had tried running off, once again, and Heimdall had no choice but to follow. His all-seeing eyes allowed him to track the boy, but he still had to actually chase after him. He pushed his way through a throng of centaur, who were all guzzling down barrels of Ambrosia. On the other side Arthur was talking to someone. He was talking to an old, scrawny looking man, with a long white beard and wrapped up in a deep purple robe, dotted with stains of unknown origin.

The old man suddenly straightened up, pushing his half-moon glasses further up his nose. He turned his head to stare with piercing grey eyes in Heimdall's direction.

Heimdall felt a chill run down his spine. He had only known three people capable of sensing him looking and two of them were dead. The third was balancing a tumbler of whisky on her forehead, while playing Limbo.

'Hello,' he said, cautiously.

'Greetings,' said the old man and nothing more.

Arthur giggled and ran off once more. Heimdall took a few steps forward but was blocked by the arm of the old man.

'I don't think that we should talk here, do you, Heimdall?'

The old man clicked with two bony fingers. Heimdall felt himself being sucked through the floor. He fell through the ceiling of another room, landing in a padded armchair.

'That's better,' said the old man with a happy sigh. He lent back in his chair with his feet up on a stool.

'For you maybe. Who are you?'

'Oh, isn't it obvious? I am Merlin, Sorcerer Supreme of the Other World and guardian to the Once and Future King. '

'Arthur.'

'Don't interrupt. That's very bad manners. Now, Arthur – and this may surprise you, so prepare yourself - is the once and future king of the Otherworld.'

'I gathered.'

AN: Ta-Dah! Arthur is actually King Arthur! Is it clever or is it just lazy writing? Who knows. More about this in the next chapter.

The OtherWorld is part of Celtic mythology, essentially the realm of the fairies. Sometimes called the Underworld. The Otherworld also appears in Marvel comics, along with King Arthur and Merlin.

Sedna is cool. She is the Inuit goddess of the Sea and Marine animals.