TET40-The castle by the sea
Asrior was anxious. Her eyes were cloudy and her hands twisted the hem of her tunic as they waited for Hlin, and though she would soon be riding upon Falhofnir with him, Loki knew her mood had nothing to do with the horse.
She'd been this way since the day before, during the banquet when Thor had announced their marriage and that the formal celebration of the event would be held in just over a fortnight. Cadeyrn had sat next to her, explaining about his altered appearance, for she'd told him about seeing him as an old man during the battle. Asrior had laughed and said all the correct things as he joked with her, but her eyes had drifted far away at times.
When they'd retired for the evening, Loki sensed that her mind was still elsewhere, and when questioned about it, she'd said she was tired. And she was exhausted—when he pulled her into bed, making room for the cats that jumped upon it with her, she'd smiled softly at him before tumbling immediately into sleep.
As he'd lain beside her, smoothing her hair back, Loki considered the issue. For a moment, he wondered if her mind still lingered on the goddess Lorelei, but he somehow did not think that was what plagued her. She had not tried to hide her feelings on that subject.
Then, as he went back over the day's events in his mind, he considered if the prospect of a public marriage ceremony troubled her. But Asrior had sounded sincerely amenable to helping Jane when Thor's wife had approached them after the banquet to discuss plans for the event. And Hogun had arrived shortly thereafter with Saldis and the maid from Nornheim, so he knew her mind did not dwell on their safety.
Loki had to admit that he was stumped, and as he pulled her closer and pressed his mouth to her shoulder, he hoped she would talk to him about whatever was on her mind in the morning.
Those thoughts fled upon daybreak, for he woke with an aching shoulder and Asrior sitting beside him with a jar of medicine in her hand. And after his wounds had been tended to and the burning had ceased, he'd thanked her so profusely that she compared him to one of Midgard's bonobos.
But her unusual behavior continued later; she'd shown little interest when a dressmaker arrived to take her measurements for new clothing, which were to be sent to Loki's castle by the Sea of Marmora as quickly as possible. And her mood was evident later that morning, when the Midgardians left for their own realm, promising to attend the formal consecration of their vows. Stark joked about a wedding present, and her response was so tepid that even the mortal noticed she was not herself.
"I'm fine," she'd insisted when Stark questioned her and had reached over to hug him. "There has just been so much to take in. It is all catching up with me, as you would say."
And now, as Loki waited with her in a courtyard outside of the royal stables, he knew he had to say something.
They were leaving for his castle outside the city, where Kagoq waited and where Asrior was to remain until the royal consecration of their marriage. Sif—who was to stay with her—had ridden out earlier with Saldis and Gyla; and Hlin, who was to stay as well, was double checking arrangements for the cargo that was to follow before leading his horse and Falhofnir around so they could begin the journey.
Asrior was standing next to Loki, dressed in more of Jane's clothing—this time, a richly embroidered tunic and matching pair of leggings. She spoke little while they waited and would have appeared calm had her hands not tugged at the shirt's hemline in such a manner that the gold threads began to fall from it.
Loki inched closer to her and glanced at the intricate, gilt-like stitching that dotted the deep red velvet of the tunic, noticing that the design contained tiny thunderbolts.
"As much as I dislike seeing you wear anything that glorifies my brother's puffed-up talents, I somehow think you should treat the garment you wear with more care. Jane is likely fond of it."
It took a moment for his words to penetrate the fog she was in, though Asrior's hands stilled as they did so.
"Now that I have your attention," he said in his most imperious voice, turning to his wife and placing hands on her shoulders. "I demand that you tell me what is bothering you. Now."
Loki expected her to chafe at his manner, but instead, she insisted, "I'm fine. I am merely a bit worn out mentally."
Her eyes did not meet his, however, and he scoffed. "Asrior, forgive me for not believing you…but you just now failed to confront me when I dared to give you an order. Something is bothering you. Look at me, please."
She stared at her feet instead.
"We are not leaving until you talk to me. Really talk to me. I do not enjoy seeing you so troubled." Loki put a finger under her chin, lifting it. "I simply want to know if there is anything I can do to ease whatever weighs on your thoughts."
When her blue eyes met his, they were filled with apprehension, and her words were so faint Loki had to bend to hear her.
"I am being silly, and I do not want you to think me a fool."
"I would never think that," he assured her, his hand sliding around her shoulders to pull her against him. "You are no closer to being a fool and I am to being modest."
Loki was pleased to feel her laugh against this chest, and he pulled her even tighter. "Tell me what bothers you, please."
Her words were muffled against him. "I am nervous about seeing Kagoq again."
"What?" He asked, bewildered. "You have been so determined to reunite with the dwarf, always. I do not understand why fear would plague you now."
Asrior's shoulders moved. "I do not fully understand it myself." She pulled away slightly, biting her lip and mulling over her thoughts before explaining, "It has been so long since I've seen him. What if… what if he does not like me now that I am grown?"
A puff of disbelief escaped Loki's lips, and she frowned.
"No, do not scoff. I was a child when we were last together. I had to do things after Kagoq was gone, things that I am not proud of. What if he heard gossip from court?" Asrior's voice rose as she chided him, pouring out her worries. "And what if he is angry at me for sending him away? He was devoted to my care… and you did not know him before, but Kagoq was more whole when I first knew him. He could speak and he had hands and… and I sent him away to Asgard of all realms. He hates it here, and I thanked him for the sacrifices he made by forsaking him in this place…"
Loki caught her gaze and held it, commanding, "Asrior, stop this. You saved his life and risked your own in doing so."
"But what if he does not see it that way?" she challenged. "He did not want to leave, and… I will never forget his distress when they took him away."
In answer, Loki simply gathered her close again and began running fingers through her hair, hoping to calm her. Asrior leaned against him, and after a moment, she made a pleased, humming sound.
"I have spent more than enough time with him to know that he is not angry at you. Your dwarf was desperate to hear news of you when we first met, and he was ceaseless in his efforts to help after you were captured." He continued to stroke her hair as he spoke. "Kagoq is likely as restless and eager and fearful now as you. He loves you. You know that."
Her chest heaved with a sigh. "I have looked to this day, worked toward this for so long. Dreamed of it. And now that it is real, I am afraid something will… I don't know, that something will go wrong. I worry that I expect too much. What if it does not go as I imagined?"
"If there's one thing I can guarantee, it will not go as you have imagined," he said, a short laugh escaping as he spoke. "Nothing ever does. Whatever you have conjured in your head about a life with Kagoq, those were mere possibilities. Daydreams. This is reality, and it is always more complicated than fantasy. But sometimes, despite that, events work out even better that way."
She grunted.
Tapping her leg lightly with his knee, Loki mused, "Take, for example, our marriage. There I was, imagining a quick revenge against your father with you going quietly on your way after. Instead, you defied me at every turn and refused to stay in your place… insisted upon laying claim to Okershall and making it your own, along with all its inhabitants…"
"Not all of them," Asrior denied, peeping up at him.
"The ones that matter."
When she lifted a brow in question, Loki admitted, "Me." And at her slow smile, he added, "This has not gone as either of us imagined, and though it has not been easy—far from it, to my everlasting regret—it has turned out much better than expected."
Asrior tilted her head as she considered his words. "I will admit, the sex is better than I could have ever imagined. The books I studied did not adequately explain how magnificent an orgasm feels. I suppose I am lucky, too, for you are quite skilled." A more thoughtful look crossed her face, and she began, "And I havewondered if the size of your appendage is because you are Jotun, or is your…"
She stopped, every inch of her stiffening, for someone beside them made a choking sound. Loki turned, startled.
Hlin, who was looking everywhere but at Loki and Asior, stood at their side.
"The horses are ready?" Loki asked, swallowing a laugh, for the boy was trying very hard not to allow the depth of his embarrassment show.
"Yes, they are." Hlin waved a hand to where his own horse stood near Falhofnir and kept his gaze firmly planted on a spot above Loki's head.
A stableboy stood between the two mounts, holding on to each as he watched the trio near the columns with unabashed interest.
"Let's not linger, then," Loki said, loosening his hold on Asrior. "Are you truly prepared to ride with me, elf? It has been a while since you've been on Falhofnir, and it will take over an hour to reach the castle."
"More than ready," she said, her voice overly bright as she began walking toward the horses. But her face, as she moved past Loki, was tinged with red.
Loki allowed a grin to slip free as he followed her, for both she and his ward avoided the other's gaze. When he swung up onto his horse and pulled Asrior up behind him, settling her into place, he shifted to look over his shoulder and said just low enough so she could hear, "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Hlin is very well aware of the activities married couples engage in."
Asrior's arms wound around his waist, and she muttered, "And those who are not married. It's easy for you to tell me not to be embarrassed given your vast experience."
"You are the one who praised my skills. I did not become so talented by simply reading books," he answered, before urging Falhofnir forward.
Hlin, who had already pushed his mount ahead, slowed slightly as Loki caught up with him. As they moved together toward the gates that opened into the city, the pair began speaking of plans for the week ahead.
By the time they were on the road that led toward the sea, Asrior seemed to have forgotten to feel awkward, as had Hlin, for she began asking questions that the boy happily answered. Then the strip of water that heralded Marmora's beginning could be seen sparking in the distance, and conversation ended as both horses were pushed to gallop into the countryside beyond.
They rode swiftly from the city, blue waters spreading out on one side, great plains on the other; and eventually, when they neared Loki's castle, snow-capped mountains rose before them. Loki heard Asrior's gasp when she caught sight of his castle, which appeared as a white tower rising above the sea.
He pulled back on Falhofnir, eventually slowing to a walk, for the road that led to the castle's entrance twisted as it rose from the plain toward the foothills and then to the cliff overlooking the water and land around it.
When they neared the pebbled yard that sat in front of the stronghold's great doors, Asrior's surprise was clear. "It looks nothing like I expected."
"I know. It is more a citadel than a castle, and the architecture is completely different than that of Okershall," Loki noted. "But its comforts are everything someone of my position could ask for, even if it is not entirely pleasing to me aesthetically."
"If you care for it so little, why is it yours?" she asked.
Pulling his horse to a halt, he did not answer at first. Instead, he swung down, and a stable hand appeared from what seemed like nowhere to take Falhornir's reins.
Loki reached to help Asrior dismount, and as they waited for Hlin, who trailed behind, he explained. "It was given to me by Eldred, a sorcerer who instructed me when I was ready to move from Frigga's teaching. I inherited it from him—he was very old, with little regard for Odin's dictates. That led him to be imprisoned for a time, and he died in Asgard's dungeons." Loki paused, his mouth dipping into a scowl. "The tongues at court wagged of course, and many said I was responsible for his passing. That I'd caused his death to claim this for myself. The sour taste of that time lingers."
Asrior put her arm in his, looking up at the castle, and he raised his gaze to it as well; made of stone bleached by the sun, it rose high above the cliff, tapering toward the sky as it did so. Each floor was narrower than the one below it, growing smaller and smaller until a single room lined with great, sparkling windows sat at its top.
Loki jutted his chin upward and said, "The view from there is the best in all of Asgard, which is one reason why it remained in my keeping."
"And the others?" she asked, pushing hair from her eyes with her free hand, for the wind blew strong from across the sea below.
"It's interesting, as you'll discover. And because it was mine and mine alone. I did not have to compete with Thor to lay claim to it."
The double wooden doors at the castle's entrance opened. Asrior looked as though she were about to speak, but she squeezed Loki's arm instead, smiling when he brushed his lips against her hair in response.
A tall man stepped out from the castle and seemed to skip down the marble steps, and Hlin, whose horse stopped just behind Loki, called out a greeting.
"My lord," the man said, bowing his head as Loki moved forward with Asrior beside him. "It has been much too long since your last visit."
Asrior watched the man carefully as he greeted his master, and she smiled shyly when he turned to her, his voice filled with warmth. "And I am very pleased to welcome you, my lady."
"This is Birger, who takes care of the castle. You will be happy to know that he is Saldis' cousin," Loki explained, pleased when her smile widened. "Both their parents served my father long ago. I would like him to come to Okershall, but his daughters work in the city, and Birger insists on staying as close as possible to them."
Saldis, he saw, was in the doorway, beckoning them forward.
Loki moved toward her, and as he placed his hand on Asrior's back to guide her through the great doors, he saw that the entry hall inside was lined with servants. There were not as many as at Okershall, for he rarely visited this residence, but several men and women in forest green livery waited to greet him and welcome his new wife.
It was, he thought as he watched Asrior walk forward with Birger to meet those in his service, how she should have been welcomed when she first arrived at Okershall.
He could not dwell on his regrets for long, however, for Sif was standing to the side, at a passage that led to a terrace and garden that overlooked the sea below. And after a quick word with Hlin to bring the pets to his chambers, Loki turned to follow his wife, thanking everyone for their welcome before he dismissed them and took Asrior by the hand.
Her fingers wound through his tightly, and the eyes she raised to him were filled with both excitement and fear.
"Where is he?"
"This way," he said, leading her to where Sif waited.
Once they were near, the female warrior explained, "There's a garden outside that looks over Marmora. Birger said that Kagoq enjoys sitting out there—and he's there now, but I warn you…" Sif's face grew expressive, "he has been very nervous, ever since I arrived. He's been out there pacing along the garden pathways since."
Asrior's eyes flew to his, and Loki smirked. "See? You should have more faith in me, elf."
They walked down a hallway to a large sitting room with dramatic granite fireplaces that stood on each end. Curving windows that overlooked the ocean lined the wall between them, and a door made of multicolored glass stood at their center.
"The garden is out here." Sif pushed the door open, stepping back as Loki and Asrior went through it onto the terrace outside.
An arched marble railing ran along the end of the square shaped patio, and Loki took Asrior to it, with Sif following. They looked over its edge, taking in the steep slope of the yard that led to a garden set upon the cliffside. Pathways wove around beds that were lined with creeping thyme and boxwood. Topiaries sat within them, enormous yew bushes shaped to resemble wolves and dragons and even a great serpent that overlooked the bluff's rim.
It was a remnant of Eldred's time at the castle, for the old wizard had been fond of Asgard's magical creatures. But Asrior did not seem to notice the whimsical structures, for she'd seen where Kagoq now sat upon a bench in the center of the garden. He was watching over the water, and it seemed by the way he held his battered body still, that he was aware that he was being watched.
"Go to him," Loki urged, pointing to where stairs built into the slope that led to the garden.
Taking in a deep breath, Asrior loosened her hand and turned to make her way to the steps. She moved carefully at first, pushing hair back from her face when the wind rose from the sea, but as she neared the level ground of the garden, her steps quickened.
Soon, she was near running to the bench, though she came to a halt just beside it and carefully moved around it until she was facing the dwarf.
She fell to her knees and just stared up at him, her hands moving with deliberation after a moment—and though Loki could not see what she said, Kagoq's shoulders began to shake, and he slid from his seat, almost collapsing at Asrior's side. She reached out to him as he did so, pulling his weight firmly against him, cradling him even as his sobs rose above the wind to reach the terrace above.
Sif stirred at Loki's side, and he looked at her, thankful to have something to draw his attention, for it seemed intrusive to watch the scene below any longer.
She seemed to feel the same, for she turned to face the castle, and was blinking tears back. "I had no idea. You tried to tell me…but I did not comprehend their connection."
Loki turned as well, acknowledging her words with a grunt. "It appears that I have gained an incredibly disagreeable dwarf as an in-law." He rubbed a finger against his mouth for a moment in mock thought. "My wife is part elf—and entirely argumentative, too. And I am Jotun, and well, you know how amenable I can be. We will make quite the menagerie."
"You may have a fairie on your hands soon." Sif answered with a quick grin. "Cadeyrn seemed to be quite taken with her yesterday."
He returned her smile in answer and glanced over his shoulder. His wife was sitting on the bench now, Kagoq standing before her, and their hands moved with animation as they spoke.
"You will be taken with her too, once you know her." He began moving toward the castle. "Come, we'll wait inside. I need to leave instructions for Hlin, and you and I should talk about the week ahead."
With a quick sigh, Sif followed, admitting, "I am more than happy to stay here in your absence, but I do not ever know what to say to her. Every time I see my sister, words fail me. I cannot imagine what she thinks of me."
"Asrior will be wary, too, Sif. She clung to the image Birgitta painted of you when she was a child, but I will not pretend her time at court did not distort those perceptions." Loki pulled open the glass door, and his voice held a wealth of knowledge as he added, "So when she speaks to you, listen to what she has to say and be honest in your replies. If you do not realize it, Asrior already admires you greatly. Allow her to love you, for she is more than willing to do so."
…
Although apprehension still filled her, seeing Kagoq after so many years took Asrior's breath away.
When she first caught sight of him, she'd stood at the edge of the terrace, one hand clutching Loki's. She'd tried to make herself move, but her legs had felt funny, as though all strength was gone from them. After so long, it was almost impossible to believe that Kagoq was real.
It was only after Loki urged her to go to him, pointing to the stairs that led down to the garden where her old protector waited, that Asrior finally moved. And she'd been very careful at first as she made her way down the steps—for she was still nervous, and between the wind that began gusting over the cliff and the way her body trembled, she feared falling.
But the closer she'd gotten to him, the faster she became, until she stepped from the stairs and was rushing forward along the stone path.
Kagoq did not turn, however, even though he must have heard the sound of her steps behind him. He held his lopsided shoulders stiff, as though he was aware of being watched, but he simply stared out at the sea, not moving.
So she stopped just beside him and caught her breath before making her way around the bench to stand in front of him.
Still, he did not move, and his eye, Asrior saw, seemed to stare through her. What was left of his one hand dug into the stone of the bench so hard it looked painful. It was as though he was afraid, and she knew then that both Loki and Sif had the right of it—Kagoq was as anxious as she was, and just as likely to be in disbelief that it was real.
So Asrior fell to her knees, whispering his name as she gazed at him, her heart in her throat. After a moment, when his eye shifted to look down at her, she moved her hands to speak in their language.
I remembered your lessons. I was strong. I stayed safe. And I am free now and married, so I am here to keep my promise. I will take care of you. I can take you with me to live.
Though he looked at her, Kagoq was still unmoving, and Asrior bit her lip, uncertain.
"I can take you with me," she repeated aloud, her voice shaking. "If you want to come."
Then she placed two fingers against her chest and held them there for a moment before pointing at him.
Kagoq's shoulders began to shake, and he clumsily repeated her movements, pointing at his chest and then her as he slid from his seat, almost collapsing. Asrior reached out to him before he could fall, however, and pulled him into her arms. The dwarf's battered body was heavy against her, and she had to brace herself to hold onto him. But she could not let him go, not after all he'd done for her.
His head fell onto her shoulder. Asrior lifted a hand to his hair, noticing it was thin with age, and soothed his back with the other, whispering, "We're both free now. It's over. It's over."
Still, he just clung to her, his chest heaving against her in gasps until great sobs finally broke loose from him. Tears pricked her own eyes, and the wind lifted again, so that her hair flew around and covered her face. But she did not move, not until Kagoq's cries grew quieter and he shifted, leaning away from her so she did not carry all his weight.
With a great sniff, Asrior allowed her hand to slip from his head, and she pushed her hair back impatiently before rubbing a sleeve across her eyes. When her gaze cleared, she saw that he stared at her almost in disbelief.
But when Kagoq moved to speak, it was not to exclaim over seeing her again—instead, he asked, You can cry now? He lifted his hand as he did so, carefully putting it against her cheek where tears had fallen.
"Yes." Asrior's smile, watery as it was, lit her face. "I know you taught me not to when we lived with Valtur, but Loki helped me understand that it is again safe to do so. I am not afraid now. But these are happy tears. I have waited so long to see you again."
He pulled further back from her, and his eye moved slowly over her bright hair, which hung in an untidy wave over her shoulders, blown by the wind as it had been. Then he took in the red and gold tunic, and the rich material of her leggings, and when he looked at the hand that rested on her thigh, his head tilted when he noticed the bracelet around her wrist.
Your tears are not the only thing changed. You look different.
"I hope I look happy, for I am. More than I ever thought possible." She pushed to stand then, and reached to help him to his feet, looking at the bench as she said, "Now sit, so we can talk in comfort."
Asrior lowered herself to the stone, smiling as she waited for Kagoq to move as well. But instead, he glowered at her, his hand moving furiously.
Why did you send me away? You should not have done that! You were always too bold for your own good!
She almost laughed as a kind of shocked disbelief filled her. "I told Loki you would be angry!" she sputtered, then her hands danced as she answered him. You would not have survived if you stayed! I could not watch that happen. I protected you!
Kagoq looked unimpressed.
You were a child. And you did not think! Do you understand what it was like, not being there to help you? Not knowing if he hurt you?
Asrior tried to remain calm as she spoke, for her temper flared. Kagoq's surliness had always stirred her own ire."As you can see, I managed. I survived," she said carefully before assuring him, "Knowing you were out here safe gave me something to cling to until I could leave him myself. And as you can see, I did that."
He grunted.
They kept me under guard and moved me often. I did not like that. I was still a prisoner.
She scoffed and challenged, "Did they beat you? Starve you? Cut with a cursed knife?"
Kagoq grunted again, and his face twisted into a scowl.
You have always been impertinent. I had almost forgotten what an ungrateful child you were.
It was very hard not to roll her eyes. "You did not answer me."
His face moved as though he searched for another argument, and after a moment, Kagoq huffed and asked, Why did it have to be Asgard?
Slowly, the corners of Asrior's mouth tilted upward. "Were the Asgardians so bad?"
A smirk overtook his anger and resentment, and he very deliberately signed, I managed. I survived.
And he moved to sit by her, finally.
"You know that I consider this realm my home—and I live with Loki now," she stated, watching him as he settled next to her. "If you were to come with me, you would always be surrounded by Asgardians. We spend most of our time far away from court, though, in Ringsfjord. Loki has a castle there, called Okershall. But wherever you want to go, I will ensure it happens…though you know what choice I hope you make."
He scooted closer to her as she spoke, and his mangled hand had reached out to touch hers where it lay upon the bench. But he moved it briefly, asking, What is it like? The castle in Ringsfjord?
And so, when he moved his hand back so that it touched hers again, she told him about Okershall. She spoke of t's golden spires and mellow stones, how ivy and roses grew along the old part of the castle, how it had looked like her dreams brought to life the first time she'd seen it. She told him about her work in the greenhouse, and about the peach trees she nurtured. Then she talked about her animals, and the people, both those who were kind and those who were not so welcoming. She talked of the grounds and the forest, and even the boulders with the names of the honored dead and how the flowers she sowed would soon start to bloom around them.
All the while, Kagoq watched her, his gaze unwavering.
"What do you think?" she asked finally, almost breathless. "Will you stay there with me?"
He turned to look around the garden and up at the tower behind them.
I have become accustomed to castles since being here. I think I can tolerate the other one.
Asrior grinned. "You have been here, what? All of five days?"
Seven, but one day was enough to like it. I enjoy it out here.
Kagoq glanced around again and Asrior followed his gaze, and for the first time she noticed the topiaries surrounding them. Her mouth opened as she took them all in, and a smile lit her eyes when she saw that wolves seemed to leap over the low hedges that lined beds on both sides of the bench, and what looked like a peryton hovering near a unicorn sat across from them.
"This is incredible!" Asrior exclaimed, taking in the creatures around her.
With a quick nod, Kagoq explained, They are said to keep watch over the castle. Then he pointed to a corner on the far side of the garden, where a large, tower-like topiary sat. Now that you are here, you can ask the gardener to make that one look like me. I would like to keep watch here with the others.
Tears threatened again, and Asrior blinked them back. "What a lovely idea. We must create topiaries around Okershall, too, to keep watch there as well." And she pushed an elbow into him lightly. "I will need all the help I can get when the children come, especially if they are as insolent as I was."
He turned a startled eye to her.
Do you mean…
Asrior could feel her face grow warm as she laughed, "No! Not yet." Then she paused and bit her lip, remembering that very morning. "At least, I do not think so."
Making a sound between a choke and grunt, Kagoq asked. How is he as a husband?
"Loki is very good as a husband, though if I am to be honest with you, it did not begin that way. Our agreement to stay married is a new one."
Kagoq's eye narrowed again, and his expression turned grim.
Explain. You cannot imagine my shock when the God of Lies showed up in my cell and told me he was married to you.
With a sigh, Asrior sketched out what she was like when she arrived at court as an adult. She told him how she had continued her pilfering ways, stealing things to aid her escape, and how after learning of where he stayed in Nidaviller, she left to find him. Then she told him how she and Loki came to be married and admitted he had planned to use her as a tool to get to Valtur. She did not go into too much detail, for she did not want Kagoq to resent or dislike her husband, but she did not pretend things had always been good between them.
Then she told him how she was injured in the forest.
"You know he knew about my scars, for I know he spoke of them when he first visited you, when he was trying to learn about Valtur's magic." She twisted her hands together, remembering. "He discovered them when he tended to the wound the arrow's magic caused. We… We came to an understanding after that. He realized I was as much a victim as any, and he was beyond honorable to me when he discovered the truth. And he tried so hard to break the spell, and to protect me."
Kagoq shifted, looking at her from the corner of his eye. He stayed with me after they took you. We worked together, many hours. I know of his dedication in helping you. I guessed his feelings long before.
Her brows knit. "What do you mean?"
When he first came to me to ask about your father's magic. His feelings were obvious.
"It was not so obvious to me then," she muttered and bit her lip before admitting, "I wanted to tell you all of this, because you may hear a few things… you see, we are to have a public ceremony for our marriage soon, and I want you to be there."
At court? Kagoq did not look pleased.
"Yes. Queen Alflyse must quell uncertainty on Svartalfheim. Between the way Loki entered into our marriage and his killing Valtur, well… It gives rise to many questions, and Alflyse and Thor are determined to keep peace. So they are renegotiating the marriage settlement, and it will be treated as a formal union among our realms."
And there will be a ceremony?
"Another one, yes, with witnesses from both Asgard and Svartalfheim. A consecration of the vows, Thor called it."
Kagoq looked resigned. Very well. But I do not wish to stay too long there.
Asrior was vehement. "Nor do we." She brightned, though, adding, "And I am to stay here with you during the preparations. Loki is leaving tomorrow. He will not be allowed to visit here often before the ceremony, but as he said, it will give you and I time together."
She grew more serious and looked at her hands, noticing that she had moved to grasp the edge of her tunic even as she spoke. "Sif is to stay, too. I am not sure how I feel about that, and it is difficult to talk to her. What has she been like? With you?"
With a sigh, Kagoq signed, She is like you. Very bossy. After Asrior laughed, he continued, She is loyal, and she is kind in her own way. Remember she is a leader of warriors. I do not think it has been easy for her. There are not many females among the ranks of the royal army.
The wind picked up, blowing so hard it took Asrior's breath away, and a glance outward showed that a storm sat over the sea. The dark gray clouds seemed to grow and the water below it churned, and birds flew toward the cliff and then over them, as though escaping before the tempest came ashore.
Kagoq saw it too, and stood as he explained, Storms blow in during the afternoon sometimes. They look fierce but pass quickly. We should go inside.
And so she stood, and when they turned to walk to the castle together, she said, "I had planned something very different for us when I first escaped Valtur, but I cannot complain about how it has turned out. I really do think you will love Okershall as I do."
Walking beside her, his steps slower than they had been when she was a child, Kagoq simply grinned. We will see. But do not think I forgot that you promised peaches. I expect them soon.
…
Asrior was able to give Kagoq his peaches much sooner than expected.
Not long after they found Loki ensconced in a library with Hlin and Sif, Hogun and Volstagg arrived from the city, with Cadeyrn in tow and carrying baskets of peaches.
Loki had smirked at their entrance, surmising that Thor had sent the warriors to ensure he returned to court the next morning. Despite his initial protests, Volstagg eventually admitted the king was perhaps a little concerned that his brother might linger in his castle instead of returning to the city as promised.
The fairie king, however, had thrown himself onto a sleek leather settee, announcing that he asked Thor to visit Loki's castle—for he could not return to Midgard until his hand was fully healed and was tired of being surrounded by all of the 'Assgardians' at court.
Kagoq had laughed at Cadeyrn's deliberate mispronunciation, and Asrior, feeling happier than she ever thought possible, moved to help Volstagg and Hogun with their baskets of peaches.
She'd sent them to the kitchen, and as everyone sat to have supper that evening, they were met by a sideboard laden with the fruit. Peaches sat in great crystal bowls, and tarts were spread on either side of them, while a great cake covered in pale orange icing rested in its center.
They ate in one of the castle's smaller dining rooms, at a silvery-hued lacquer table surrounded by chairs covered in white silk. And Hlin, who sat opposite Loki, looked around at the room and muttered, "This is nothing like Okershall."
He was gazing at an enormous fireplace that sat amidst a mosaic of colorful granite and mirrored tiles depicting what appeared to be the Sea of Marmora, for a storm blew in on one side, and sun beamed down on the other. Long benches covered in deep blue silk sat nearby, and crystal sconces that looked like shells lined the walls.
"No, it's not," Loki agreed. "Eldred's tastes were fanciful, to say the least. This is one of the more normal rooms, as far as decor."
"Haven't you been here before?" Asrior asked Hlin, curious.
He shook his head. "Never. I have only been to court and to Okershall with Loki."
Asrior was sitting next to her husband, determined to stay by his side until he left the following morning, and she turned to him. "How long has it been since you last visited?"
"Years," he admitted, looking around the room as though seeing it with fresh eyes. "It did not hold the best memories, not after the gossip at court. Perhaps that will change."
Smiling, for Asrior was already quite fond of the castle by the sea, given that she had reunited with Kagoq on its grounds, she said, "You can always do something to make it more your own." Then her look grew more teasing. "For instance, you could add a bit of fog to the mosaic."
Volstagg, who was piling his plate high with poached shellfish, paused for a moment to say, "Speaking of fog, Sif said that you conjured a great one on Svartalfheim to trap that sister of Mildred's. Was she as fierce a dragon as her sister?"
Loki and Sif launched into a description of the battle at the fortress, with Cadeyrn joining in from time to time as both Volstagg and Hogun peppered them with questions. Asrior simply sat and listened, watching Kagoq as he quietly ate a bowl of soup before reaching for the stewed peaches a footman had placed on the table.
But when the discussion turned to what happened at the end of the fight, when Hogun broached the subject of Loki's stabbing, she turned to look at her husband.
"It's Cadeyrn's fault, you know," Loki asserted, looking affronted at the reminder of his injury. "He distracted me when he teleported from wherever Valtur sent him-"
"Teleported?" Hlin interrupted, startled. "You didn't say you could do that when Loki asked about your powers."
The boy sounded accusatory, and Cadeyrn shrugged in response. "I don't like to show my hand, not entirely, and especially not when I'm surrounded by fucking Asgardians."
"But Loki and I are Jotun," Hlin muttered, overlooking the fact the pair of them not only looked of Asgard, they chose to live in the realm as well.
Cadeyrn ignored him, however, saying, "In any case, I hadn't teleported in well over one hundred years, and I rarely did so between realms. It's probably good no one knew, because then you'd have been depending on me to make it back. I tell you, getting back to that fortress was a near thing."
"Where exactly did Valtur send you?" Loki asked. "I assumed it was back to Asgard."
"I ended up at a place called Earfk."
"Earth?" Hogun looked confused. "Isn't that what Midgardians call their planet?"
"Nope." Caderyn said, making a popping sound at the end of the word. "Earfk…" He emphasized the end of the second word as well, "is an intergalactic fueling station. Very far away. For a moment, I thought I'd need to hitch a ride to get back to Ireland."
"To get back to the subject of knives," Sif cut in with a look at Loki, "Where does the iron one come into play? Did you conjure it?"
Before he could answer, Cadeyrn explained, "It was the cursed one that Valtur carried around with him. The protections around him were broken by the time I made it back, so Thunder threw his hammer at him and…" He raised his hand and dropped the knife he'd been using to cut roasted pork, and as it clattered on the table, he added, "I saw it on the ground and transmuted it. Didn't really think before I touched it, which was probably stupid of me."
"But he had the instincts to throw it to me," Loki finished. "The curse was still on it, so between its dark magic and the iron…"
Cadeyrn made a choking sound and rolled his eyes before saying, "Dead. Deceased. Met his maker. Bit the dust. Tit's up..."
With a fierce look, Hogun growled, "Enough." And when the fairie turned a slightly bemused look in his direction, the warrior explained, "No one is more satisfied at the outcome of the battle than I am, but I do not like making a mockery of it. Not after the suffering Valtur the Unmerciful caused during his blighted life."
Asrior realized that Cadeyrn likely did not know of Hogun's personal interest in Valtur's death, and she did not want her friend dwelling on unhappy memories, so she tried to steer the conversation away from the subject of her father.
"But it is over, thankfully," she said, drawing everyone's attention. "And beyond my own relief, I am most happy that I will soon be at Okershall again. I'm curious how the greenhouse looks now that the seedling have had a chance to grow."
Beside her, Loki shifted, his hand moving to take hers where it sat on her lap. And as their fingers entwined, she saw that Hlin's face brightened.
"The flowers you planted will be blooming soon, and you will be there to see them!" he said, grinning, before turning to Hogun. "But what will you do? Will you return to Ringsfjord, even for a little while before you return to the city? Or will you stay with Fandral and send for your things?"
Red crept up Hogun's neck and he threw a warning look at Hlin before the boy was finished speaking. Loki, seeing it, stiffened in his seat, and his voice was wintry when he asked, "Am I to understand you are to return to court? To live?"
Confused at the sudden shift in mood, Asrior's eyes darted from Hogun to her husband, and she was surprised to see that a blush tinted his face, too.
"Well… yes," Hogun admitted, and the sigh that fell from his lips was resigned. "I have been planning to return for a while. Even before your marriage."
"Even before then?" Each word was a chip of ice. "And yet I am the one considered a trickster."
Hogun lifted a brow. "Are you complaining?"
"Of course not," Loki snapped, "But I dislike being made a fool of."
"Then you should not have acted like a fool," Hogun gritted.
Asrior was continued to look from one to the other, bewildered at their sudden antagonism, as was Volstagg and Sif, who finally asked, "What in Odin's name is going on with you both?"
Hlin, who sat next to her, had sunk slightly in his seat. "I'll tell you later," he muttered, giving Loki a nervous look. "I forgot…"
"No you will not," Loki bit. He pulled his hand from Asrior's and placed both hands on the table to push his chair back. "You will not say anything if you know what is good for you, Hlin."
He stood then, holding his hand out to Asrior, but she did not take it, instead insisting, "I want to know what is going on."
"When we're alone," Loki promised, ignoring Hlin's protest at his words. And with a look at the others, he explained, "As I am required to leave early tomorrow, I'm retiring now. Birger will be of assistance if anyone requires something this evening."
d
"You're leaving before dessert?" Volstagg asked, snapping his mouth closed when Loki threw him a quelling look.
"Come, Asrior," he ordered, and at her sigh, added, "Please."
She rose then and turned to Kagoq, giving his shoulder a quick squeeze before taking Loki's proffered hand. And as they moved to leave, just when they walked past Hogun, the warrior rasped, "Outside of staying in Ringsfjord, I meant what I said, Loki. All of it. I would have been honored."
Loki didn't answer, instead walking in silence to push open the room's mirrored door; and as soon as it closed behind them, there was a burst of sound from the dining room.
"I neglected to tell Hogun not to say anything," Loki grunted, glancing at the door before turning to move down the hall.
"About what?" Asrior asked, mystified, but he would only say, "Wait."
He refused to say more, instead leading her to a mechanical lift that carried them to the castle's uppermost floors. His chambers were at its second highest level, and in addition to bed and bathing chambers, it held a study with a metal spiral staircase that rose from its center to the room above.
Asrior had not seen that particular space yet; she'd been in the chambers briefly to change clothes before supper but had not had time to explore the topmost room that, according to her husband, had the best view in all of Asgard.
But now, Loki pulled her toward the stairs, telling her to be careful of her skirts as they walked upward—she was wearing another gown borrowed from Jane, one made of deep gold silk, and its hem trailed slightly upon the ground; and once they were in the room at the top of the castle, all thought fled Asrior's mind.
She gasped, moving into the center of the chamber before turning in a slow circle in an effort to take everything in.
Windows that reached from floor to ceiling blanketed the walls, and a massive skylight took up the ceiling. It was as though the room was made of glass—and Asgard, in all its beauty, stretched out before them on all sides.
Stars littered the sky above and around them, shining upon the sea, which sparkled on one side of the castle. Great, snow-covered mountains that glistened in the moonlight sat near the water, and on another side of the tower, the realm's great plains reached into the distance toward a bright light that Asrior realized was the royal city.
"Do you like it?" Loki asked, his voice soft as he moved to stand beside her.
"Words cannot describe it," she managed after a moment, looking up at him. "It's beyond beautiful."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "I should have brought you here after we returned from Midgard. You enjoyed the constellations there, and I liked seeing you happy. I wondered, for days after, what to do to make that happen again."
Asrior looked around the room, which was filled with luxurious sofas and chairs piled high with silken cushions. Then she swirled around to face her husband, and she took both of his hands in hers, lifting each of them in turn to her lips; and holding them tightly between their bodies, she whispered, "Loki?"
"Yes?"
His eyes, she saw, were almost black as he stared down at her.
"What was that about downstairs earlier? With Hogun? We're alone now."
His eyes closed for a moment. "You have a one-track mind."
"I do," she admitted.
"I'd hoped to get it onto another track."
"Tell me."
And with a sigh, he explained, "Shortly before Vetrnaetr, Hogun told me that… well, he knew I would offer to stay married to you after learning about everything. That I would be noble in my treatment of you, especially since you'd grown to see Okershall as your home. And he told me that I did not need to make that sacrifice—his words, not mine—for he would offer to marry you instead, and that you would be able to stay there, and honor would be satisfied."
Asrior's eyes grew round. "He said he would marry me…"
"Yes, he did, but be aware," Loki said hastily, "that his words hastened an understanding that was inevitable on my part. I wanted you to stay long before he said anything, but out of fear, I tried to ignore my feelings. That grew more difficult with each passing day, and that fear, I learned, was nothing, for the merest hint that you might consider someone else's suit drove me almost mad."
He'd slipped one of his hands from hers and placed it on her shoulder, fingers entwining in the bright red hair that flowed over it.
"I had no idea," she breathed, remembering that time. "I was so consumed by wanting to stay with you that I noticed little else."
"Really?" Loki tilted his head, and his hand moved to stroke her back. "What would you have said, do you think, if he'd asked you to marry him?"
"But Hogun just said he'd decided to return to court, long before he ever met me." Asrior inched even closer to her husband, and she smiled, for the hand on her back had moved to the buttons on the dress.
"He also just said that outside of staying in Ringsfjord, he meant what he said," Loki reminded her. "What would your answer have been, had it come to that?"
"I don't know," she admitted, chewing on her lip as she considered the idea. "I do not love him… but I would have been tempted, at least a little, so that I could remain there. But that would have meant being close to you but not with you, which I would have hated. But I do like Hogun, very much…"
Loki frowned. "I know that jealousy is an unbecoming trait, but I find that I can be consumed with it. And as you have prevaricated instead of saying, 'No, Loki, I would not have accepted his offer,' I will need you to reassure me."
The dress's back was gaping open, and his hand slipped inside, to stroke down her spine. Asrior made a pleased sound at the touch.
"And I am hoping that I can get your mind onto another train of thought."
His voice fell over her like velvet, and Asrior's eyes closed. She swayed a little, and her hands moved to Loki's waist to steady herself when he bent to press his lips to her bare shoulder.
"Sex?" she asked, wondering at how husky her voice had suddenly become.
His mouth moved to touch the corner of hers, and she felt more than heard his answer.
"Love, elf. I want you to think about it, and show me how you feel, for I'm about to love you with every part of me."
Her dress fell to the colorful carpet that lay on the floor, and as Loki moved to lie down with her beside it, she wrapped her arms around him and said, "Oh I hope so."
Notes:
A huge thanks to labellafigura for her skills as beta reader!
There's so much to say, but I'll just say this: it's taken a long time to get Asrior and Kagoq together again, but they were always going to be apart until almost the end. And it IS almost the end. At least one more update (maybe two, because filling out drafts always take more page space than anticipated), and then an epilogue. I'm hoping to wrap everything up during the holidays.
Thanks to everyone for reading, and know that I appreciate your comments so much.
Visit my tumblr (tiger dash mcqueen period tumblr period com) if anyone is interested in moodboards and an occasional spoiler.
Happy reading!