The events of this chapter are synced with the movie Thor

Kagome and Loki sat at the breakfast table alone, which was not wholly unusual. They'd had plenty of mealtimes together just the two them. They would sit close, talk softly to each other, share lazy touches and pick idly from each other's plates. They were always warm, hazy times wrapped in the peaceful, sleepy atmosphere of their personal rooms.

This morning was a cold, cruel mockery. She'd taken her usual place, but Loki had sat in Odin's usual chair. As king, it made sense, she supposed. She should probably sit where Frigga always did. The atmosphere had her on edge; She didn't feel as though she were in danger, she was never in danger with Loki, but the distress, suspicion and agitation flowing from him in waves held her spine tensely hostage. She tried not to despair at how increasingly erratic his aura was growing, instead concentrating on how he chewed intently on his thumbnail. It was not something he'd done before, such nervous habits more in line with her own personality. It spoke to his inner turmoil, and the coil of anxiety inside her twisted ever tighter.

"Are Sif and the Warriors planning something?"

She startled, dropping the bread roll she'd been ripping pieces off of but not actually eating.

"I don't know. I haven't had much time to speak with them. I think... I think they're avoiding me."

He met her eyes, his usual glittering green turning steely and hard.

"Are you certain? They haven't revealed anything to you? Anything you wish to keep hidden from me?"

Her brow furrowed and some of the tension in her spine shifted from desperate uncertainty to rapidly heating temper. All these years and she could still rely on her temper.

"Are you suggesting that I'm lying to you Loki? That I would encourage treason and actually try to hide it? As if you wouldn't know immediately? Are you... are you calling me stupid?" The frayed state of her nerves and sudden surge of anger sent a flurry of reiki sparks to bounce and glide over her skin, and Loki's face softened for a moment, his eyes clearing as he wiped a hand down his face and sighed.

"No, I would never suggest such a thing."

"Good. See to it that it doesn't happen again."

He smirked and eyed her for a moment, slumping back in his seat casually. He looked normal, relaxed, a little lazy, but his aura still churned dark and broken.

"The spirit of a queen resides inside you, Kagome. You've been shirking your new role, but you have no need to fear it."

She glanced down at her hands, watched the napkin she fidgeted with twist in her lap.

"I just don't have these kinds of ambitions, Loki. I don't want to rule anyone. I was happy to be your wife and nothing more."

"You were always more."

Her head shot up in surprise and the crystal clear sincerity in his eyes made her heart stop. She stood and moved into the queen's chair, taking one of his hands in both of hers.

"Loki, I'm worried. There's been... too much has happened with too little time to adjust... I just..."

His eyes shuttered and darkened and he flinched a little. She might have cried out if she wasn't trying to project as much calm as possible.

"You don't think I can do this." He pulled his hand away and stood, pacing around behind the chair he'd abandoned, and his aura fluctuated madly.

"No! No Loki, I've always thought you'd make a remarkable king. All I'm saying is you've been through a lot in a short period of time with no chance to sit and let things settle. Anyone would be overwhelmed. Heck I'm overwhelmed!"

He was back in a flash, soft and open and concerned, the abrupt swing of his emotions adding another weight on her heart.

"Dearest, why did you not say something sooner? If you need to take the day to rest I can carry on just fine on my own for now."

"No Loki, that's not... I don't need-"

He cradled her face in his hands, silencing her with a soft, gentle kiss that nearly made her choke on a sob.

"You need not silence your own feelings in favor of mine all the time. Go rest, and trust me to keep you safe. I promise, everything will be fine in the end. Just trust me."

He was desperate for her to believe him, that much she could tell, and though it broke something in her, she did the opposite of what he asked, pushed down her feelings, and found enough strength to smile for him.

"Alright. I will. Thank you."

He brightened a little, pleased to know she trusted him, had confidence in him. He looked like a child being given a toy he'd always longed for, and that one glimpse into the current state of his heart was enough to drown her.

Her soul cried out for him.

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"Hello little queen."

Her blood chilled, disgust roiling through her, but she tamped it down. Now was not the time to bandy over titles and formality.

"Heimdall... I've come for... I need..."

"Advice, your majesty?"

She released a gasping sigh and nodded her head, tears trailing down her face.

"Yes. Yes exactly. You know so many things, see so many things... Heimdall what am I supposed to do? I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do?"

Heimdall blinked, staring deeply into her drenched eyes, at war with himself. There were things happening now, things she was deeply woven into, threads she would be required to follow for things to come out as they were supposed to. But she had endeared herself to him over her life here, and seeing her so desperate made him want to reveal more than he ought to. He really wouldn't mind serving her as his queen, if only the circumstances were different.

"You know I cannot-"

"You don't have to tell me the whole future, that's not why I'm here. But Loki... there's something wrong, Heimdall. His... his aura is all over the place, it grows darker and more broken by the hour. He's having a mental break and I don't know how to help him! There's been too much... way too much and he won't let it settle, he won't talk to me, he's too desperate to prove himself! Tell me how to help him!"

Kagome may be the only person on all of Asgard who could see things he couldn't. Her ability to see the condition of a person's soul was a unique thing he'd never encountered before, so it was highly probable that her assessment was correct. But there were things that needed to happen, things he couldn't interfere with. His heart constricted, but he pushed on with what was necessary, with a little extra warning thrown in. He needed her to leave, Loki would return soon from his trip to Jotunheim.

"The path of destiny has been paved, little Queen, and your fated journey upon it is narrow and wrought with hardship. You must tread carefully, for the fate of worlds is on your shoulders."

Her eyes widened in abject horror, and she stepped back from him, stumbling a little as tears filled her eyes again. She didn't want to save worlds, she just wanted to save Loki. She turned and ran, disappearing back up the bifrost with her hopes in tattered scraps.

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