"Heimdall!" I call out. I look down at Loki. "We need your help right now! Lo.." I catch myself just in time. I'm still supposed to be his servant. "Prince Loki needs medical attention!"

Almost immediately, there is a snapping sound, and a palace guard appears on our rock. I look over at him, surprised. "Oh wow, that was fast!" I exclaim, then Dessa giggles, and I look back at her. "What's so funny?" I ask.

"That's not a real guard! He's an illusion in case there's an threat, to scare away any potential enemies." She explains. "It means Heimdall is busy with a more immediate problem. One of the court spell casters sent this out." She giggles again. "You thought it was the real thing!"

"An illusion?" I look back over at the guard. Now that Dessa has pointed that out, he does seem a bit still. I walk over to him, carefully stepping over pillows. "Hello?" I wave a hand in front of his face. I wonder if he'll do anything.

To my surprise, he looks over and meets my gaze. "Hello citizen. What is your emergency?"

I quickly take a step back away from him. I bite my cheek to suppress a grin. This is just like the emergency dial system on Midgard. With just more magic involved. "Yes, Prince Loki is..." I look over at him and Dessa. How would you describe his condition? Magically drained? Exhausted? Probably furious with me? All of the above? "Currently passed out and needing to get to the Healing Room, as soon as possible."

"Prince Loki?" The guard repeats, looking concerned. Wow, this illusion was really good. "Your situation is being reported to the King."

My eyes widen. That is NOT a good idea. Odin can't know what I can do. "No, no wait... is the Queen available? Tell her instead, please." I say quickly, scrambling for an explanation. "That way the King won't be bothered by what had happened."

"Another prank, was it?" The guard says skeptically. "No matter. Your situation is being reported to the Queen."

The guard disappears, and I sag in relief. That was close. Too close.

"Does the King not know what you can do?" Dessa asks, sounding concerned.

I turn back to her. She looks worried. I walk over to her and kneel down beside her. "I didn't know myself until a little while ago." I tell her honestly. I smile wryly. "The Queen helped me figure it out." I meet her gaze. "You remember when we had to make all those pillows?"

Dessa groans. "Don't tell me that was your fault!"

My smile turns sheepish. "It might have been..."

Dessa shakes her head, but she's smiling. "I can't believe you! What did you do?"

I stop smiling, trying to look serious. I think back to everything she has witnessed.. and I realize something. I've been Describing pillows left and right, and she hasn't even batted an eye. "Dessa?" I start cautiously. "Do you believe that all Midgardians can perform magic?"

Dessa blinks. "Why of course not, but I'm sure many of them do, just like here."

I shake my head. "Actually, no. Most Midgardians can't; there are very few that have special abilities. Me... That's why this is so strange to me."

"The King isn't going to like this." Dessa says. "He likes to keep track of everyone who can do magic, and if you're only one of very few Midgardians who can do it, that is very bad news."

"Do you think Loki will be alright?" I ask, looking over at him. My heart squeezes painfully. I don't want him to get into trouble because of me.

At that, Dessa laughs, her concerned expression evaporating "You really think with all that he's done he'd get in trouble for something that's not even his fault?"

"Well..." I hope not. I really hope not.

"I'm sure even if he does, he will find a way to get out of it." A different voice says, one that both Dessa and I recognize: Frigga.

We both turn towards the source. "My queen!" I quickly get up and bow. Dessa gets up and curtsies. I glance over at her. She has got to teach me how to do that. I look back over at the queen.

She smiles knowingly. "Hello, Cameron, Dessa."

We both smile back. "Hello." I greet. I quickly look over at Loki, thinking of how to explain what happened. "Loki needs to get to the Healing Room immediately, his magic is completely drained."

Now she looks concerned. "What happened?"

"He.. um.." I stammer. "Kind of opened up the entire ocean." I wince. That already sounds pretty bad. "For an extended period of time."

"And teleported afterwards." Dessa chimes in.

"And did something to bring Dessa back from almost dying." I quickly add in. And do who knows what to talk to me in Midgard. But that can't be mentioned for obvious reasons.

Frigga sighs, rubbing her temples. "I'm not even sure I want to know."

Dessa and I exchange a glance. "Yeah I'm not sure you would believe us anyways, after all that has happened." I say.

Dessa laughs nervously. "Yeah there has been a lot."

"Either way, I believe you should have the Healers look at you as well." Frigga says, looking sternly at Dessa.

Dessa nods. "Yes Ma'am."

"Now." Frigga walks over to us, carefully picking her way through the pillows. She kneels next to Loki, carefully placing one of her hands on his forehead. She closes her eyes, assessing something.

Dessa and I kneel next to her. "Cameron, I just thought of something." Dessa whispers to me.

"What is it?" I whisper back, leaning closer to her.

"We may not need to go to the Healing Room. The queen is one of the best healers there is."

"Oh really?" I look back over at Frigga, who seems very focused. "That's amazing."

Frigga finally opens her eyes and looks over at both of us. Her expression is still impassive, but I can see the concern shining behind her eyes. "He is very sick. We need to get him to the Healing Room as soon as possible." She reaches out and takes my hand. "Join hands." She tells us. "We are going to group teleport."

Group teleport? What's that? I look over at Dessa to ask, but her eyes have gone wide. She quickly grabs my hand. "Stay away from your prince." She says softly, as a warning.

My heartbeat quickens. What is going on? Dessa must see my anxiety, because she smiles softly. "Don't worry; everything will be alright." That doesn't help at all. I find myself gripping Frigga and Dessa's hands tighter and tighter.
I close my eyes. Let's just let whatever needs to happen, happen.

Just as I close my eyes, I feel a strange draining sensation, and the world starts to tilt sideways. My eyes fly open on instinct. Not now. I can't be passing out now... but even as the world is tipping sideways, and everything is starting to spin, I am not passing out. What in the world is going on? I close my eyes again. I feel like all my energy is being drained out of me, and I have to concentrate on keeping hold of Dessa and Frigga's hands. It's so tiring...

Then, suddenly, as soon as it begun, the draining sensation stops. As well as the world tilting and spinning. We're on solid ground. I hear the murmur of concerned voices. I'm still so tired.. I could fall asleep right now. I manage to pry open my eyes just as one of the Healers stumbles upon us.

"Oh!" She gasps, covering her mouth.

I quickly look around to assess the situation. My mouth goes dry. I'm the only one not completely out. Loki is here, looking the same as before, but Dessa and Frigga are both knocked out.

"Group teleporting." I explain to her, my voice raspy. "Prince Loki needs immediate attention."

She nods, her eyes wide, then hurries away. Pretty soon, four other Healers rush over to us, quickly getting to work. Two of them pick up Loki with ease, and move him away. I want to go with them, but my legs seem to be asleep. I try not to show my panic as the other two untangle Frigga's hand and mine and move her away. The other Healer, the one who first discovered us, kneels down next to Dessa and I, looking sympathetic. "We don't have enough resources to revive her currently. Especially not with the queen and the prince both unavailable."

I shake my head, not understanding. "What do you have to do to revive them?" I ask, meeting her gaze.

She frowns. "A ritual that causes energy to be regained in their bodies. But it requires a Master of magic to call upon their magic." She sighs, closing her eyes. "The possibility of both the queen and the prince being unable to do this.. it was very slim."

"There aren't any other Masters of magic?" I ask, now concerned. If there aren't any more, how are Loki and Frigga going to wake up?

The Healer opens her eyes. "There are two others. One is currently working on reviving the prince, and it is taking a large amount of magic. The other is the King, and he is on his way."

I nod. That makes sense. To revive Frigga. "So you don't have anyone to revive Dessa." I state.

She nods. "Yes. Nor for you."

I look down at myself then back up at her. "Me? I'm fine." I lie.

She gives me a look showing that she doesn't believe any of that. "Can you move your legs?"

"I..." I start. I attempt to move. Still asleep. Crap. "I can't." I admit. I look down at my legs. Why are they asleep?

"Hmm.." She hums. "You are most fortunate to not be completely drained as well." She stands up, brushing off her dress. "The group teleportation must have taken a lesser toll on you." She turns to leave.

"Wait!" I call out. "What happens during group teleportation?"

She turns back. "Energy is drained from all those who are linked and it allows you to teleport another who is already drained so they do not steal your energy from you."

"I thought that was magic they would steal?" I ask, puzzled.

She smiles slightly. "Magic always depends on how much energy you have, that is why the two terms can often be used interchangeably for spell casters." She turns to leave again.

"What happens now?" I call out again.

"We get you two to a comfortable place. It's going to be a long while before either the prince or the queen are revived." She replies over her shoulder. Then she strides out of view.

I slump down. I am pretty tired still. But why didn't I pass out? Was it because I'm Midgardian? More questions to be answered, I suppose.

Two more Healers come over and pick Dessa and I up. We're both so little, it only takes one person each. As we're being moved to some tables in the Healing Room, the world starts to darken around me, tilting haphazardly. Whether I'm falling asleep or passing out, I no longer care. Sleep just sounds good. I close my eyes and let myself fall into oblivion...

I pass out.