Visitation

by kalimecat

Loki has returned to Asgard and is imprisoned for his crimes. While in prison he has the occasional visitor, will the love of others bring back the fallen prince or is he truly too far gone?

21. Escape From Asgard

"Your Majesty," a breathless curly-haired brunette woman greeted the queen as she came scampering from the palace and into the royal stables where all the queen's attendants were preparing the carriages and wagons for the caravan of courtiers who were ready to escape to the Southern Palace. "I have searched the entire palace, majesty ," the dark-haired lady-in-waiting explained huffing and puffing as she curtsied before the royal woman "but there is no sign of Lady Sigyn,"the queen's hand maidens as she humbly bowed before the female monarch. "No one has seen her," she expressed and looked up at the queen sorrowfully.

A/N: Helloooo Readers! I hope everyone is continuing to have a fabulous and safe summer! Readers once again I want to thank you for all your reviews, follows and favorites. They mean so much to me! Big shout out To Priestess Of Freya for her faithful reviews, but I give each of you a round of applause b/c you rock (clapclapclapclap) :D I am proud to present this chapter you in under a month! You know that is a rare occurrence with me, but although this story give me great pleasure to write I am trying to wrap it up. This chapter follows very closely with the The Dark World toward the end, but be prepared for the twist and turns next chapter! Well with out further ado Happy read and writes! God Bless!

The queen's golden eyebrows arched with concern. "How can this be?" the wife of Odin questioned out loud. "Lady Sigyn was at the feast" Queen Frigga mumbled to herself. "This is not like Lady Sigyn to just vanish," Queen Frigga stated and watched as a few other servants shook their head in agreement. "She was well aware that the party was leaving tonight," Frigga expressed. She pressed her hand to her chin as she thought deeply about where her beloved lady-in-waiting might have been. The royal woman snapped her fingers as an idea flickered in her mind. "Perhaps she went fetch her mother and sister," the queen posed.

"The wife of Admiral Arn and his eldest daughter, Rana are not amongst the courtiers traveling with us," Queen Frigga's chamberlain explained as he came up to the Frigga's carriage holding a scroll with a long list of names. "I believe they left court a few days before the attack," he continued. "All the carriages and families are accounted for, my lady," he explained. "If you are ready to get underway," he expressed as he showed the queen the scroll that had a list of noble families that were traveling with the queen to safety.

"I am not quite ready, Chamberlain," Queen Frigga remarked quickly. She pinned him with a harsh stare and the short, bold man festooned in fur. "I was just saying how one of my ladies-in-waiting is missing...Lady Sigyn Arndottir," she elaborated.

The Lord Chamberlain was responsible for keeping record of all the queen's appointments and affairs and knew all the attendants who waited upon the queen. "Sigyn...Sigyn...Sigyn," the chamberlain clicked his tongue as he thought. "Ahh yes Sigyn, her chambermaid reported that she last saw her heading to Lord Theoic's chambers. She said that she was packed and ready to go that she had packed trunks and trunks of clothing and possessions," the short, round, bald-head man in long fuchsia colored robes stated promptly.

The golden queen looked perplexed at her chamberlain's words. Perhaps Sigyn had told her fiancé about the evacuation and went to fetch him in order that he may go with them, but why would Sigyn feel the need to pack so much. The court was not planning on staying at the Southern Palace for more than a week. Convergence was only a few days away and after Convergence the threat of the Dark-Elves would be far smaller. "And where is Lord Theoic, Chamberlain?" the queen asked. "Fetch them both at once," the golden-haired female ruler of Asgard ordered. "We haven't a moment longer to spare in heading out from the Imperial City," she clapped her hands. The urgency in her voice demanded movement from the servants and maidens around.

'Your highness, Lord Theoic left the Imperial City with entourage a few hours ago," a guarded regretted to inform the queen.

The regal blonde-haired woman looked worried. It seemed so uncharacteristic of Sigyn to just take off like this. She supposed that it made sense. Theoic and Sigyn were due to be wed in only a few short weeks, it would not seem unreasonable that Theoic would want his young bride-to-be- to travel away from the Imperial city to be safe, but it surprised the queen to learn that Theoic was leaving the city. Most of the able-bodied men of court were staying in preparation for the second onslaught from the enemy. She did not know Lord Theoic well and perhaps it had been foolish of her to assume what his reaction would be. But the queen knew Lady Sigyn, she knew her as well as she knew any woman who had served her. She knew more than any quality that Lady Sigyn possessed she possessed a loyal, faithful heart. It surprised her that Sigyn would actually go... during a time like this. Sigyn had been among her most dutiful of attendants. She had truly grown to trust her young Lady-in-waiting. Having people to trust and depend on was essential at this dark hour. Frigga knew as queen, in these trying times, her people depended upon her strength. Queen Frigga knew what she had to do. She had to be strong for the people of Asgard as their queen that was her solemn vow. She had to be a source of reassurance for the people. If she despaired, if she gave up hope, if she panicked or grieved too hard soon such feelings would spread throughout court and would trickle down to all the people of Asgard. On the outside she remained sturdy and calm, but on the inside she too was shaken. She had never seen war on Asgardian soil before. She'd never seen an enemy breach Asgard's defenses and leave them so vulnerable. She'd never witnessed so many bodies floating out in flaming long-boat on the Forever Sea to make the journey across the stars to Valhalla. It was a great tragedy, a dire loss, it was a day that would live in infamy for all Asgardian's from this day forward. Her heart broke for her people; for the men ad women who innocently died, for the mother's and father's who lost children, for the children who lost parents. It was a heavy weight upon her heart. Having dependable servants was away for her also to feel supported and strengthened.

Frigga felt hot tears pricking behind her crystal blue eyes. The beautiful empress of the golden realm closed her cerulean eyes and breathed in deeply. Thinking of all the death made Queen Frigga want to weep all the more. So many of their faithful soldiers and warriors cut down. Innocent men slain and slaughtered mercilessly, by a foe that none even knew existed anymore. The warriors of Asgard had leaped into battle without a second thought, but that was the way of the Aesir, they fought fiercely and fearlessly. Those soldiers in their acts of selflessness had paid the ultimate price. Frigga remembered coming back into the palace after the attack had passed. The mangled bodies lined the golden halls. The smell of smoke and blood and rotting corpses now filled halls that once smelled of perfume and incense. Even her own bedchamber which had once been a place where she'd enjoyed evenings with her husband and children and fun nights of fellowship with her maidens even her own little sanctuary was not untouched by the carnage.

Each death had been an unimaginable blow to Queen Frigga, there was a reason the Aesir referred to her as the All-mother. Each citizen of Asgard was like one of her own,but of course some losses had been more personal than most. Lady Dagmar. She was such a beautiful young woman. Queen Frigga had always loved Lord Audric's daughter like her own.

She had been grateful when the Prime Minister of Vanaheim started sending his little daughter to court. Frigga loved having little Dagmar around, she was a sweet child, polite and mannerly, but still cheerful and high-spirited with enough energy and spunk to keep up with the two princes. Frigga enjoyed lavishing Lord Audric's child with gifts. Queen Frigga loved to sew and weave, she'd woven thousands of elaborate dresses suited for a little princess to wear sometimes she would send them to her nieces who lived in the highlands, but soon her nieces outgrew their appreciation for hand-tailored garments and they wanted their queenly aunt to buy them the latest, trendiest, most expensive gowns that the master seamstresses who owned the big boutiques in the Imperial City had put on the racks. It was nice to have the girl to bestow her dresses upon. It was not only gowns; Queen Frigga gave Dagmar her old tea-sets and china dolls, stuffed animals, these things had been precious to her in her girlhood and she longed to pass them on to another, but her sons had not interest in such presents. She'd enjoyed playing with the girl helping the little girl who had a mouth full of missing teeth put on lip paint and rouge and charcoal on her eyes. She relished in the moments when Dagmar would make-up her face and do her hair. Frigga started to smile and she reminisced about the way her face would come out. She looked like a fool. But Dagmar's happy squeals and enthusiasm had made it all worth it. Sometimes the motherless girl would enthusiastically ask the queen to style her hair in french braids and multiple plats and twisted buns. The two of them would laugh in the night about how and when Frigga had met Odin while swinging their feet off of the bed and stiffing their mouths full of chocolate. She remembered Dagmar asking her "how do you know if a boy like you?" and then asking "how do know if you like a boy?"

Yes, she had always loved Lady Dagmar as a daughter ever since the day she'd been presented as her future bride for one of their sons by Lord Audric. Odin immediately saw the chubby face child as a possible bride for their oldest boy, Thor, it made sense that Thor if not marrying an Asgardian woman should marry a Vanir woman of high rank. She was practically a princess. But after careful examination Frigga had thought that Dagmar might be more suitable for Loki. She noticed the pair talking easily, playing card games and chess, reading together. It was an answer to prayer.

Loki so longed for a friend as a lad. There were so many nights when she would come into Loki chamber and find her son crying into his pillow from loneliness. Loki was a quiet boy, he preferred to read and play inside tinkering with his contraptions. He liked puzzles and cards and magic. Such interest were peculiar amonst young children in Asgard and the second son of Odin had received much flack from other children for his choice in hobbies. Loki was scrawny and feeble as a child and often prone to taking ill which made it difficult for him to keep up in physical games. But what he lacked in physical strength he made up for with his clever mind and trickery was his way of standing a chance in sports. This did not win him popularity amongst the children of the courtiers. They saw him as a trickster, a cheat and a liar. Which left Loki mostly teased and isolated. Thor's closest comrades accepted Loki as a part of the package deal with Thor, they tolerated Loki tagging a long and to a degree they may even had fun with him and liked him, but he was not their first choice of friend. Loki knew it, he was a shrewd boy and he read people well. Despite his quiet and sometimes austere demeanor Frigga knew her little boy had so badly wanted to have people like him.

One evening the queen had gone to check on her young son in the middle. Thor was away that evening. He'd gone over the house of nobleman's to spend the night with the man' young son, for a birthday celebration. Loki hadn't been invited. It wasn't surprising the children were all a bit older than Loki and apparently they were supposed to be camping out in the woods that night. Loki had just gotten over a cold and truth be told she didn't want him out sleeping on the damp chilly ground just yet. She had expected to find Loki snuggled on the couch in his bedchamber curled up by the hearth fast a sleep with a book in his hand. Loki often stayed up pass his bedtime to read. She was surprised to hear muffled sobs coming from underneath the dark green quilts on his bed. "Loki, child, what is the matter," the beautiful blonde-haired Aesir woman asked as she rushed to her son's bedside. Loki pulled the covers tighter around him covering his face. "Tell me," she urged as she placed a comforting hand on his trembling spine. "Are you ill?' she questioned. "Did you have a bad dream?"

The sound of his mother's gentle and concerned voice coaxed Loki to lower the covers a bit to reveal his bloodshot, tearful emerald eyes. He hadn't wanted his mother to worry too much over him. After a few seconds he showed his whole face. His porcelain cheeks were wet with tears. Loki looked at her his lip quivering fiercely like a string was attached to it and someone was yanking it up and down. "No, mummy," he mumbled. "it's...it's just," he hiccupped.

"Darling what's the matter?" the gentle queen pressed as she began stroking his wet face.

"I just... It's just," he stumbled as he sucked in a deep breath,"No one likes me!" he confessed with a sob as he managed to sit up from his tear soaked pillow. Frigga felt moisture on her chest from her son's tears. His warm salt tears soaked into her skin and sank right to her heart. She hugged the dark-haired prince tightly and stroked his raven locks. She rocked him gently trying to stop his blubbering. She couldn't bear his pain.

"Oh darling, that isn't true," she assured him after a few moments. Loki's deep sobs finally gave way to only a few sniffles.

"Y-y-yes," it is the green-eyed prince stammered looking up to his mother and his rubbed small finger under his nose to keep it from dripping. 'yes it is,' he continued. "I don't have any friends," he elaborated.

Frigga slid her young son onto her lap, wrapping him in a loving embrace and allowing his head to rest on her shoulder, "That's nonsense Loki," she whispered gently, "You have me...I love you, my son...aren't I your friend?" the queen asked perkily as she tapped the child's pointy nose. Her enthusiasm, warmth and playfulness elicited a small smile from Loki's thin lips as he looked up his mother. Yes, Mother was his friend. She was always there for him. She would play with him, read to him, make him yummy treats. Mother was always there. Loki's glistening jade eyes looked up at the queen of the realm and he offered her a glimmer of a smile as he felt her gentle lips plant a kiss on his head, but soon that smile faltered.

"That's different, Mama," he explained with a sigh, "I mean...I mean...other children," he elaborated.

Frigga nodded knowingly stroking Loki's cheek with love. "I know,' she planted a kiss on his forehead. "But what about, Thor?' the queen countered once more.

"He is my brother," Loki shrugged

"Do you not consider your brother to be your friend?' Loki's mother questioned as she quirked her brows. "Loki, your brother would be so hurt to know you felt that way," Frigga explained.

"We have to be friends," Loki stated dismissively. "if Thor didn't want to play with me, you would make him," Loki sighed. "And whenever Thor and I fight you always make us apologize to each other and hug," Loki admitted as he stuck out his tongue.

"True," the queen agreed nodding with a smile"What about Volstagg, Frandal, Hogun, Sif?" the royal lady posed. "You are always playing with them.

'They are Thor's friends," the little magician responded. "They wouldn't even play with me if it wasn't for Thor," Loki protested.

"Now Loki I don't think that is true,"

"It is! It is Mama!" Loki continued to fuss. He was getting so worked up. His porcelain skin was starting to burn pink from his anger. "They always argue and fight over which one of them is actually Thor's best friend. One time they actually all started tussling in the dirt!" Loki exclaimed. "They don't even care I'm there," the dark-haired child mumbled. ".And...and... the children at the academy... they all flock to Thor...sometimes so many children are scrambling to sit with him in the mess hall that they knock me off the bench," Loki gestured wildly with his hands. 'I don't understand Mama," Loki began again as he looked down at his hands that were now folded in his lap quietly. "Why doesn't anybody ever try to sit with me...why doesn't anyone want to be my friend?' he questioned. "I mean...I'm...I'm a prince too...I...I" Loki breath hitched as he started to cry harder once again

Queen Frigga scooped up her child out of the covers of his bed and wrapped him in her arms. "Shhh, no more of this," the crystal blue-eyed female ruler hushed her child as she gently swayed him in her arms and allowed her bronzed fingers smoothed his ebony tresses. 'You are a sweet, clever, and fun-loving boy. You are noble, hardworking and smart, these are wonderful qualities anyone would be lucky to find in a friend. You'll see you will make friends. Just be yourself and someone will see how worthwhile you are," she explained as Loki's eyelids grew heavy and a contented sleepy smile started to replace the sorrowful expression on his lips.

"You think so, Mama?" Loki asked perking up a bit.

"I know so!" Frigga encouraged with a wink. Loki beamed at her just before his glistening jade eyes slid shut. Frigga waited in Loki bed chambers for a few moments more. Her fingers continued playing in his dark locks. She listened as Loki's haggard sobs quieted and grew into even breathing. She placed one last kiss on the top of his head. "I promise," she whispered to her sleepyhead son. Dagmar had been the fulfillment to that promise. Knowing what Dagmar meant to Loki made Frigga's own love for the girl grow even deeper. It pained her so to know how her son's heart was breaking over Dagmar's untimely and senseless demise.

Likewise, Lady Sigyn Arndottir had been like a daughter to the queen of the realm eternal. She had always liked Sigyn. She was gentle-spirited, cheerful, energetic and polite. She knew that the platinum blonde haired maiden was not Prince Loki's cup of tea. She was far too simple-minded to ever be Loki's intellectual peer. She had never wanted Odin to arrange a marriage contract between the two of them. But when her husband had arranged the matter despite her and Loki's petitions for the contrary she had hoped Loki could learn to find happiness in the situation. Frigga hoped that Loki could learn to find pleasure in what Sigyn had to offer rather than finding fault with her. She was certainly a lovely young woman and although not exactly clever she was most definitely charming. What she lacked in wit she made up for in warmth and kindness. Her affection for Loki had been shown in the way she had cared for Loki while he was sick and ill in the dungeons. Frigga knew that without Sigyn's care Loki would not have survived. For that the queen was ever in the debt of her handmaiden. She trusted Sigyn with the life of her son and with her own. There was no Lady-in-waiting that Queen Frigga had placed such confidence in. She had to admit that she had greatly wanted the amber-eyed handmaiden to accompany her to the Southern palace. While her husband lied in coma and Thor and Loki prepared to go to the Dark-World, she needed someone to trust. Someone to confide in. She needed that sense of family.

'My Lady," Frigga's captain of the guard's rough voice interrupted the royal woman's thoughts. "I suggest we get ready to get underway," He announced as he saluted to her. "It is best that we leave under the cloak of night so that the people are not alerted to your departure also so that we are less noticeable to the thieves and bandits on the highways and byways,"

"Also, my Queen," One of the chief healers who was accompanying the caravan interrupted. Queen Frigga had asked that Mistress Eir stay behind in the Imperial City. The Council had urged the queen to carry the wizened healer with her, but the noble queen insisted against it. Of course she was concerned for the safety of her husband, but she was also concerned for the safety of the people of Asgard. So many of their people had suffered and died and there were many still badly injured after the attack days ago. She knew that the city needed the realm's most powerful healer with them. "King Odin needs a safe shelter. He is very vulnerable in this state and I can only generate a shield for so long without the proper equipment. His body is very weak and I fear that the long journey will not serve him well," the healer admitted. The chief healer was a middle-aged Asgardian man. He caramel colored with a thick chocolate beard and mustache.

"What are you saying Healer Onrac?" asked Queenn Frigga a bit of shock in her tone.

"Only my lady that the king will be much safer and much more stable once we arrive at the Southern Palace," he explained. "The sooner, the better," he added.

"Very well Master Healer," the queen heaved a sigh," her shoulders slumping. "Captain," Queen Frigga said with dignity in her voice as she addressed the highest ranking officer. He stood at attention. "If your men are ready," she prompted.

"I have all of your most elite guard assembled your highness," he stated. "I have dispatched two guards to flank every carriage traveling with us we will form a protective barrier around all the nobles and your majesties servants.

The wife of Odin inclined her head with a pleased nod. Chamberlain, please take roll once more to make sure all who are supposed to be present are among us," she instructed.

"But my queen," the worrisome bald man began. "I have already done the attendance," he chuckled nervously, sweat mounted atop his bald head. Queen Frigga was not a ruler who repeated herself. She merely arched her perfectly shaped golden brows disapprovingly at the chamberlain. "I mean... I mean...Right awy your majesty!" He corrected himself instantly doubling his pudgy body over and bowing to the queen's commands. The Chamberlain marched around quickly calling off names and making tally marks on his scroll. He brought the scroll back as evidence and presented it to the Queen of Asgard.

"I suppose... if all in order..." her gorgeous piercing blue eyes looked down for but a moment as if she was considering another alternative, but quick as a flash she brought her cerulean pupils back up to gaze at the two officials traveling with her with resolution in her gaze. Let us move out," the queen announced authoritatively. She waved her slender, bejeweled, bronzed hands dismissing the two men to their post. Her coachman helped her into her carriage.

Queen Frigga's entourage made their way out of the palace gates at a slow pace. They kept the carriages and horses fairly spaced out so as not to draw attention to how many were evacuating the city. The last thing that queen Frigga wanted was to incite panic and cause a mass exodus of frantic citizens desperate to escape the city. A few horsemen road out in the front of the caravan. They scouted a head and it didn't seems suspicious many people would probably assume that it was the night watchmen set to take their post in the towers throughout the city. It wouldn't be presumed as odd that so many were riding out due to recent events. Overhead a small band of Valkyrie flew upon their Pegasus stallions. They had small torches to light the way for those traveling by land. They served as extra security for the queen's patrol. Queen Frigga's gold encrusted, ivory minted carriage was placed in the middle. She had foot soldiers running to keep pace with her carriage on all four sides. The rest of the members of court were scattered throughout the parade.

Frigga looked out of the back window of her coach. Her elegant fingertips ever so slightly peeled back the violet curtain in the back carriage window. In the background she could see her home the Imperial Palace of Asgard shrinking in the distance. The lightly of the Imperial City were now a muted and distant glow. The Royal Palace, her home, was but a golden triangle in a backdrop of mountains. Her bright sapphire eyes instantly started to mist. It was a view that she had not seen in a long time. Not since the Great Wars when Thor was but a baby. Odin had been so dutiful and concerned for her and Thor. He loved them so, he'd refused to lost either to a raid. But the evacuation had been unnecessary, the Jotun's hadn't been able to slip through Asgard's defenses although they got to the borders they never breeched the city gates. In only a few short weeks, Frigga received word of how gloriously the militia had fought to defend the Imperial City and to defend their beloved queen and baby prince. She returned to the palace in only a few days time.

Now the roles were so reversed, it was Thor gone off to battle and he was the protective one sending his mother and helpless father off to safety. Guilt still swirled in the queen's heart. She reached out her hand instinctively to clutch at Odin's hand longing to feel his tireless strength and support. The great king's hand was limp and cold against hers. His fingers did not even twitch at her touch. He looked so small and fragile, in this state he reminded her so much of their young son when they'd fled the city. "Do not fear Odin," Frigga whispered to her husband as she leaned over and clung tightly to his gnarled and weathered hand. "All shall be well," she assured him her hand tracing soothing circles over his wrinkled knuckles. "You must stay strong though, my love...we cannot lose you...not now," she confessed as she leaned over and muttered into his ear. "Our son shall prevail..." she encouraged. "Both our sons," she corrected herself. The queen planted a kiss on the back of the king's hands. "You'll see," she stated once more while stroking his thick white whiskered beard. "I believe in them...yes both of them," she told him knowingly. "Be brave my sons," Frigga encouraged, "You our only hope!" she told them as she blew a kiss out the window of the carriage back toward the palace.

---

They had ridden out miles and miles, they were far away from the Imperial City now, so far that she could scarcely make out the tips of the beacons on the tops of the sky scraping, temples and edifices. Even the brilliant luster of the twinkling city lights that normally sparkled like jewels in a treasure chest had been swallowed up by the darkness of the countryside. Now the only lights to be seen were those of stars in the night sky. She didn't know much about constellations. She knew very little in fact, but she knew that night patterns the had changed. That new stars had been added to the heavens and they shone out as monuments of the souls that had departed from the realm of Asgard. She bowed her head out of respect and sorrow for those now passed.

She kept looking over her shoulder, hoping to catch one last flickering sparkling glimpse of the Imperial City. Alas, all her hopes were dashed. She was so far from the bright lights and stately buildings, far from the golden streets and flags and fanfare and the hubbub of the busy market-places and town squares. She was so far from home now. The Imperial City was the only home she'd ever known.

The blonde-haired daughter of Arn sighed. She could not imagine growing accustomed to life in the country. Sigyn slumped down in the saddle with despair. She missed the Imperial City already. "Are you growing tired, my dear?'asked an eager, chipper tenor voice from behind. She heard Theoic's Clydesdale trot up quickly from the rear and soon the country nobleman's handsome face was in full view.

Sigyn nodded and tucked a golden strand behind her ear as she tried to hide a small yawn. " Oh yes," she giggled her cheeks slightly flushing from being caught mid-yawn. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be any trouble," she mumbled. "I suppose I am not used to such long rides," she expressed with a shrug.

Theoic laughed good-naturedly. "Of course you are not," he replied and slapped the base of his hand against his forehead. "How foolish of me. We will ride a few miles more and then I promise we shall stop and make camp," he offered and gave a wide grin and reached his large hand to cup her. Sweet Sigyn's glossy pink lips curled into a small smile as she nodded to her would-be husband.

"Camp!" she shrieked her already high voice let out a squeak.

Theoic's bushy eyebrows, that were in desperate need of a good plucking, raised. "Why yes, there is a sight not many miles hence where I normally make camp, there is a river nearby where the herring migrate through, excellent fishing this time of year," he assured her winking and position his hand in the OK symbol. Sigyn offered the plantation owner a smile that was really more of a wince. "There are some berry bushes just should just be ripening, boysenberries are at their peak of season," he went on smacking his lips as if they were already sticky with the berry juices. "the ground is good there. Land by a river is always richer and it will be better for the horses to graze on before the rest of the journey," Theoic went on and on. "When we wake up in the morning it'll only be about another days journey until we reach my estate," Thoeic promised. "I mean our estate," he corrected himself and took her by the hand. His hands were rough as leather in comparison to Sigyn's buttery skin.

Sigyn tried to maintain a grin, but the thought of camping gave her the willies! She felt her skin starting to crawl. She'd never slept outdoors before! Sigyn but her index finger to her pink champagne lip and started to nibble on her nails. Now she'd slept with someone outside. Now that was a different story all together. It wasn't as if she'd made love in the grass. She was in a little long-boat with Loki and technically he had just proposed. She was so overwhelmed, so overjoyed she just lost herself. She just wanted to tell Loki how in love she was with him, but she was no good with words so it came out in physical outburst where she pushed him back into the boat hopped on top of him and starting peeling herself out of her fine garments. She remembered the shocked look on Loki's face. His lips slightly ajar, his bright green eyes wide with shock. He tried to stop her, pushing down her fingers as she tried to loosen up the buttons on his surcoat. He protested at first, reminding her that the bedroom was only a teleportation spell away, he was always a bit more reserved with public displays of affection, but as she feverishly began to undress him and after a few minutes of her soft, pink lips pressing passionate kisses on the sweet-spot of his collar-bone and her naked body grinding on top of his, his protests didn't last long.

There was something erotic and romantic about that night. There was nothing to cover them, save Loki's cloak and magic. Loki looked so perfect his alabaster skin dewy and glistening in the glow of the pale moonlight. The gentle sway of the river beneath them gave them a nice rhythm to work crickets humming and the fireflies floating and casting playful illuminated shadow on their naked bodies. Sigyn smiled wistfully as she remembered.

But this was different, this was laying down in the mud and grass in the night. Her skin started to crawl just thinking about all the manner of creature that could creep up and crawl on her in the darkness. It made Sigyn shiver and hug herself tight. Where would she bathe in the morning? Did he expect her to cleanse herself in a muddied river filled with smelly fish. Her nose curled. She knew that Theoic liked the great outdoors and she respected that. She would be more than happy to have accompany him on a ride through the countryside. She would have gone with him on a hunt, she often would go on the hunts with the court, she would even shoot an arrow or so if it truly pleased him. She was not a huntress, she hated the sight of blood and she always felt bad for the animals that had been killed, but she atleast enjoyed following behind the me as they participated in their sport. But to actually lay down in the dirt and fall a sleep that was a different matter altogether. . "Oh Theoic could we not stay n an inn?" Sigyn inquired her amber eyes lit up like candle flame as the thought burst to life inside her normally foggy mind.

Theoic quirked his eyebrow at her and he studied her face. Her eyes were so large and full of girlish glee. She was such a pretty woman. Theoic couldn't help but erupt into a hearty guffaw. "Inn? Inn!" he scoffed as his strong hand cupped over Sigyn's petite fingers, "What in Asgard would we need an inn for?" the rich landowner continued to question as he gave her hand a squeezed her smooth hand.

"Umm...uh..." Sigyn stammered she looked up at him and then looked away, "Well... to sleep...to spend the night," she posed.

"We do night need an inn, Sigyn, my sweet, you will find that it is much more romantic to sleep out under the stars. We have all the equipment we need to pitch camp for the night," he explained and he flashed her a smile under his mustache.

"Oh," Sigyn sighed with disappointment, her head dropped. She didn't want to seem contradictory, but they'd been riding for such a long time and sleeping on the ground with bumps and stones and thistles didn't seem much like a goodnight sleep. "But, but,' Sigyn spoke up, "I don't know how to pitch a tent," she confessed.

"That is why you have me, my sweet," Theoic expressed his eyes softening his finger and thumb gingerly stroked her chin. "Also the servants will be able to assist you," he patted her hand as he started to pull his horse to trot a head.

"But...but...but...Theoic!" the blonde Asgardian noblewoman called out. Her squeaky voice forced the rich and handsome plantation own to halt in his tracks. "What about... about robbers?' she whispered nervously as she tucked her hooded cloak tighter around her shoulders. The night air was very brisk and chilly

"I've traveled this way many times and I have never encountered any robbers or bandits," he shrugged. "It is perfectly safe, my love you will see. Don't worry, I have very fast horses," the brunette man expounded as he gave his Clydesdale's flank a soft slap. "I'm sure they can out run any horse that any highway man would have," Theoic's brown eye winked at her. Sigyn gulped, but managed to give a quiet and obedient nod. She sighed some how his response had disappointed her. Theoic depended upon the strength of his horses to protect them rather than the strength of his own arms. She looked at his arms. His arms were so strong-looking. He had bulging biceps that pushed on his skin like bronzed mountains pushing through the earth, but still he would not raise his arms. He would not take up arms to defend Asgard and he would not take up arms to defend her, but she supposed she really shouldn't have been disappointed by Theoic's honest statement. After all, he had not even raised his voice in protest in defense of her honor. He had confessed to what he knew to be a lie and run away.

"My goodness Theoic!" a voice called from just behind Lady Sigyn. It was the loud and youthful voice of one of Theoic's brother's Aric. Aric was younger than Theoic by at least a century or two. In contrast to Theoic who had the strong build of a farmer, Aric was a bit pudgy. He was well into his manhood, but he still had a baby face despite the fact that he had grown an impressive beard that he wore into braided strand with beads dangling from the ends of the bushy brown hairs. " How thick-headed can you get!" Theoic's plumper brother taunted from behind.

Sigyn watched as Theoic's large shoulder's rose with agitation from the insult. The response was short-lived she found Theoic turned around smiled at his sibling with the rounded middle. "Pipe down Aric!" he called back playfully.

"How many times does Lady Sigyn have to tell you that she wishes to sleep in an inn tonight?" the tanned haired viking asked with attitude.

'What are you talking about?" Theoic asked rolling his eyes.

"What am I talking about? What am I talking about?" Aric slapped his thick knee. He kicked at his horse's thighs a bit causing the beast of burden to ride up faster so that he was close enough to his brother and brother's fiancé to reach out and touch them. "You truly are about a thick as a boars hide," Aric continued to laugh. Sigyn couldn't help, but snicker it wasn't that she was trying to ridicule the man who would soon be her husband, but it was the way Aric went on, the way he doubled over and slapped his knee, the way his plump baby face started to turn red as his cheeks filled with chuckled. "Sigyn doesn't want to sleep out in the dirt tonight," he expressed his laughing heartily. "You think she wants to lie on the swamp floor when she's lived in the royal palace all these years! AHHH_YUCK_YUCK_YUCK!" Aric guffawed boisterously.

For a moment Theoic look bewildered back and forth between his brother and Lady Sigyn. "Is that true, sweet Sigyn?" He began his voice tender and soft and a little ashamed. "You truly do not wish to set up camp?" raised his warm brown eyes to look at her sheepishly. She felt bad as she watched Theoic's handsome features start to burn with embarrassment. Theoic was a rather adorable man. She supposed that is why she had enjoyed flirting with him so much when he first came to court. He was not like the cosmopolitan courtiers he was so unskilled with women and yet he so longed to be impressive. He was a gentleman of course he just wasn't suave. To avoid further embarrassing her future husband. Sigyn merely shook her head no.

"Of course she doesn't want to sleep out here!" Aric scolded as he slapped his brother slightly on the side of the arm. "And quite frankly neither do I!" he chimed in. "Lady Sigyn," Aric began his voice softening and his rural accent becoming as thick as his big belly. "There is a nice inn own be an elderly dwarf couple just a few miles hence. Stayed there, myself a few times, yes I did," Aric explained. "Good, soft beds and the food is succulent and divine," he sang. "I think a fancy lady. such as yourself, will find it most appealing," Aric announced with a wink.

"And how much does this nice inn cost?" Theoic muttered under his breath.

"Oh... come, come, come brother. We are talking about your bride-to-be!" Aric exclaimed as he pointed to Sigyn. "Your most lovely bride-to-be," Aric elaborated he licked his thick lips and wiggled his bushy-brown brows. Thick brown hair was a common trait in Theoic's family. His gestures caused Sigyn to blush and giggle. "I should think there wouldn't be any price too great for a fine woman such as her," he stated winking at his brother and nudging him in the shoulder.

Theoic's eyes went wide and his mouth hung open like a codfish. His lips were moving, but no sound was coming out of them. His earthy eyes darted back and forth between his plump younger sibling and the beautiful sun-kissed woman on the blonde maned horse. "There is no price too great for me to pay for Sigyn, no doubt," he shot back, "But there is certainly a limit to a price I am willing to pay for you and the servants!" he growled. Aric only gave back a large and impish grin to his older sibling. Theoic then turned intense brown eyes to stare sharply at Sigyn.

"Theoic please!" Sigyn blurted out. "I don't want to be any trouble," the blonde-haired noblewoman expressed. "I know that it is an extra expense. It is fine, honestly," she insisted sweetly. "You are right," she bobbed her head, her curly golden locks falling in her face. "Sleeping out...sleeping out under the stars and moon is a lovely idea," she fibbed as she raised her hand above he head and waved at the heavens.

Theoic let out an exasperated breath that caused his full lips to bounce between his mustache and goatee. "No, Sigyn, my sweet you are soon to be my most lovely wife." Theoic explained as he tried to comfort Sigyn by taking her hand. This is to be our first night together," he began again and wiggled his unkempt eyebrows and gave a mannish chuckle, "And I want it to be everything that you desire," Lord Theoic insisted. He took her by the hand and brought her soft coppertoned fingers to his lips. "Anything for you," he muttered against her smooth skin as he kissed her lips. "Tonight!" Lord Theoic began he raised his voice as much as he could so that all of his traveling party could hear him. Suddenly, the thundering herd of horses, and wagons came to a halt under the commanding voice of the head of a house. The horses reared and whinnied from the sudden stop, but soon their riders were able to quiet them. "In honor of my new bride, Lady Sigyn Arndottir," he announced and held her hand while raising it above their heads. Lord Theoic's servants let out a heart cheer and around of applause for the new mistress of the house. Sigyn had to admit it felt nice to applauded and praised rather than scorned and scolded. For so long now she had to endure shame and stigma even from her parents and sister for her indiscretions. She felt welcomed among Theoic's household.

When Theoic had proposed to her it had been very public in the tavern and all his brother's and sisters jumped out congratulating them pouring tossing confetti and pouring sparkling pink champagne on their heads until it started to pout into their glasses. They toasted them and hoisted up above their heads shouting with delight. His sisters were sweet and his brother's were kind. Aric was funny and friendly. Theoic's servants were just as hospitable. They gave her flowers and made sure that her saddle was comfortable. They made sure that he horse was tame and manageable. They gave her flowers and introduced themselves to her telling her how long they had worked for Lord Theoic and his family and what their positions were as household staff. They all seemed so inviting. She had at least resigned herself to the fact that she thought that she would at least be treated with respect and kindness in Theoic's household and although that wouldn't make her completely happy, but at least content.

"in honor of her joining our family and household in the Dales tonight, we shall rest at an inn!" Theoic shouted to his household staff. The group cheered wildly their clapped their hands so loudly that it sounded like thunder rolling over the prairie fields. Aric was bold enough to let out a few happy hoots and hollers. Theoic shot his brother another steely gaze, but his incredulous stares did little to stop Aric's playful teasing. Theoic soon turned from his brother choosing to ignore their hoots and whistles. Theoic looked back and Sigyn and offered a tight-lipped smile. "Does this please you?" he questioned genuinely.

The blonde-haired once lady-in-waiting to Queen Frigga of Asgard nodded her head vigorously. "Oh yes! Yes!" she exclaimed her glossy, pink lips stretched into a gorgeous grin. Her arms flung out to wrap around his neck and in turn his arms snaked around her waist. . "It is not too much of an inconvenience for you," she began again. "It is not taking you out-of-the-way is it?' she inquired. Theoic shook his head and kept a pleasant expression on his face. "Oh goody," Sigyn sighed with relief as she patted her tanned hands together. "I cannot take bugs!" Sigyn expressed. "they are creepy and crawly and thinking about them getting on me," Sigyn's features crinkled with displeasure, "crawling on me," she elaborated as she wiggled her fingers, " getting in my hair' she went on grabbing at her long, curly, golden locks, "Eewww!" she let out a girlish squeal, "It gives me the woolies!" Sigyn exclaimed and laughed a squeaky, mouse-like laugh.

"Well at least tonight you will not have to worry about any critters and varmint," Theoic responded. "Although I do hope that you will grow accustomed to camping... it is my preferred method of lodging when I travel," he explained his tone was patient, but also firm.

"Oh...Oh why yes," The amber-eyed maiden nodded. "Of course," Sigyn obliged her golden eyes dropped down to look at her hands holding the reins of the horse's bridle. "Although," Sigyn added with a coy giggle, "Sometimes a wife must break her husband out of bad habits," Sigyn fanned at Theoic playfully.

Theoic caught Sigyn's demure wrist, his grip on her was not firm or harsh, but it was stern. "And sometimes a wife must learn to acquiesce to her husbands preferences," he reminded her.

"Oh," Sigyn gasped and dropped her head submissively, Lord Theoic's tone was in no way cruel, but it was certainly stern. "Yes, of course, I understand, as your wife I will do my best to please you," she whispered.

"Very good then," Theoic stated. He perked up a bit. His dark eye brightened and his thick, bushy, brunette brows lifted on his brow so that the wrinkles and creases dissipated from his tawny forehead. Lord Theoic raised his rough hand to massage Sigyn's silky smooth cheek just before he clicked his tongue and kicked his Clydesdale with his spurs. Obediently, the horse raised ahead.

"Hahaha!" Theoic's brother Aric burst with raucous laughter he once again gave a hearty slap to the knee. He then brought plump and pudgy hands to clap Lady Sigyn on the back. He wiped his meaty, hairy knuckled finger under his beady brown eyes to catch the tears gathering there. "You know my brother, Theoic sure has taught me alotta things," Aric began. "He taught me how to tan a cattle hide, how to irrigate a field, helped me learn to hunt, fish and ride," Aric nodded nostalgically. "But one thing he could never teach me a thing about is women!" he mocked till doubling over and slapping his knee. "You know that my brother has about a good a heart as any man in Asgard, but he sure has never known how to impress a woman,"

"Oh Aric," Sigyn flagged doing her best to stifle a giggle. "That's a terrible!"

"Now don't take any offense to my words Lady Sigyn, I honestly mean no harm by it. And i certainly don't mean to alarm you. You can rest assured that my brother should be quite fine in the bed," he wiggled bushy brows at her and nudged his pudgy elbow into her soft shoulder. "Well that is if he takes after me," Aric assured her as he pumped out his chest and thumped his fist on it. "And it isn't that my brother isn't a gentleman or that he isn't an honorable man..." Aric reminded her.

'Oh Lady Sigyn must know that my Lord Theoic is very honorable a man indeed," an older woman chimed in as she slowly trotted by on an old gray mule. "After all he came back to marry Lady Sigyn!" expressed the silver-haired woman as she trotted by with her shoulders squared and her head held high and her nose in the air as she beamed with pride over her master. Sigyn's smile slowly faltered. The elderly servant's words did not give as much comfort as the dug the knife deeper into Sigyn's stomach. Theoic's honor was that he was willing to marry the woman he was accused of fornicating with. Now normally that would be a very honorable thing to do, but Theoic's act of honor was centuries late. He had retreated to the safety of the Dales rarely showing his face in court and making sure to avoid Lady Sigyn when her did. Sigyn felt her ears burn. She felt her eyes start to sting with salty liquid as well. She'd been left to suffer humiliation a lone. And now Theoic's honor was only shown when it came at no cost to him. He could marry Sigyn now because he was in no risk of repercussion. Theoic's honor was the honor of a coward. Did cowards have honor?

"Yes Smyrna," Aric agreed. "The reason my brother can't impress a woman isn't because he's not good and kindly and honorable. The reason he has trouble impressing a woman is because he is terribly frugal," Aric whispered leaning off of his horse and muttering into Sigyn's ear.

"Frugal?" the blonde-haired noblewoman pursed her small, puckered pink lips as she thought about the word. She pressed her finger to her lip as she tried to think of what the word might mean.

'Cheap!" the old-lady Smyrna announced a little louder.

"Cheap?!" Sigyn gasped.

"Che-che-che-che-cheap," Aric joked in a high-pitched cluck. "But you have done something no has been able to do! You have caused that cheap skate of a brother of mine to actually spend some coins," Aric admit. He nudged his pudgy elbow into Sigyn's soft shoulder. It caused Sigyn to chuckle a bit. "That's more that Theoic's other wife has been able to do," Theoic's talkative younger brother went on. "Of course," Aric began as he straightened up his posture on the saddle. "You are far prettier than Lady Tyra," Aric confessed as he wrinkled his nose for a minute, then he turned to Sigyn and gave her a slight smirk.

They rode on a little ways further. It was less than an hour before they arrived at the Dwarf Inn. The Inn was called the Briar Patch Tavern and Inn. It was a small establishment. In more ways than one. It was built snuggly within the hollows of large oak tree. The oak tree was old and gnarled and surrounded by briar bushes. It was an absolutely adorable little nook that made Sigyn automatically squeal with glee when she saw it. It was decorated sweetly with colorful lanterns and hanging bottles that served as wind chimes. The inn was the perfect size for Dwarf peddlers and merchants who traveled throughout Asgard selling rare wares of brass and tin. The Dwarves were known for their fine metal work. But the cozy inn was a tight squeeze for the Asgardian travelers. Asgardians were often tall, well-built people.

Still what they lacked in the size of their establishment they made up for in their hospitality. The service at the Briar Patch Tavern and Inn was top-notch. The little inn was owned by a cute elder Dwarf couple. At full height the Dwarf couple only came to Lord Theoic's hip. Their children and grandchildren also helped them run the Inn. The whole family rushed out to greet Lord Theoic and his entourage. They immediately greeted them all. They were overwhelmed by the number of people who were requesting to stay at their tiny inn. They didn't have much room. Not that Lord Theoic's traveling party was actually that large compared to some nobles in Asgard he traveled with few servants. He brought a few handmaiden, his butler, chamberlain one of his stewards to help him with trading logistics. Theoic knew well how to handle the upkeep of his plantation, but he knew little about how to turn a profit in the big city. Lord Theoic only had an entourage of about 15 members of his household staff not including his siblings and Lady Sigyn and himself They were a party of 19 and the small inn had only been made to accommodate 12.

The elderly couple insisted that they would find room for Lord Theoic and all who traveled with him. They even offered to give up the rooms of their grandsons bedrooms so that Lord Theoic's servants could rest comfortably for the night. Theoic immediately refuted the innkeepers hospitality insisting that the servants could sleep on the floor in the pallor or that they could sleep 3 to a bed in the rooms that were available. Sigyn was slightly shocked the way Theoic's servants raved over him she had thought he would be more generous. She looked at servants differently now. Ever since she had become a lady-in-waiting to Queen Frigga, she wasn't exactly a chambermaid. She didn't have to do housework or cook or muck out the stables, no she supposed she was a high-class servant woman she was given delightful tasks like tending to the queen's wardrobe or sending the queen's jewelry to the jewelers to be polished. Her chores included accompanying the queen on rides and providing pleasurable company for visiting noblemen, no she was hardly a maid, but she was a servant nonetheless. Queen Frigga was a gracious mistress who made her feel like one of the family. Perhaps she was just spoiled, but she was surprised to find that Theoic did not have the same sense of generosity. She supposed she was no more than a hypocrite. Queen Frigga had treated her so kindly, she had given her an honored position even after she'd been accused of being unfaithful to the queen's own son. Queen Frigga had seen her as honorable still when her own family was considering turning her over to a brothel after her disgrace. She had betrayed her. She'd skipped out in the middle of the night without even giving a word to the queen. She knew how torn the queen was how she didn't want to leave the Imperial City, but she couldn't allow Odin to be carried to the Southern Palace alone. The Queen of Asgard, her generous mistress had needed her support and she wasn't there. Lady Sigyn felt awful. But she supposed she had to obey Theoic, he was her husband-to-be and Queen Frigga would have no doubt understood a woman following her husband's commands when it came to matters of safety, but somehow she couldn't understand... she couldn't understand why Theoic was such a coward. The amber-eyed woman's pink lips formed a subtle frown. Sigyn happened to cast a sideways glance to look at Aric who wiggled his fingers and snickered about his older brother's cheapness. Sigyn sighed. She was a woman who liked nice things and she realized that she would be marrying a man who would not want to give the, to her at least not all the time. He was a coward and a cheap skate, but she was to be his bride.

The innkeeper and his wife did their best to help all the traveling party get settled into their rooms. They had their spry, young grandsons attend the horses and bring in extra bedding from the attic. Elderly Dwarf woman and her daughters hurried back the kitchen to whip up a hot meal for the saddle sore travelers. Meanwhile the proprietor of the small inn lit a fire in the hearth and invited all the travelers gathered around fire. The old man was a lively old dwarf. He was round and bearded, but his head was all skin on the top. He talked in a low slow fashion but his words were often garbled in his long white beard. He was an excellent accordion player and he entertained the guests with his lively music. Theoic's household staff clapped along merrily as they enjoyed the music. Soon one of the servants pulled out a small wooden fairy flute and joined the innkeeper. Another one of Theoic's servants gathered a pair of spoons from his sack and rhythmically slapped them against his knee and outer thigh. Theoic's brother Aric was always known to have his lyre handy and this time was no exception. He ran to his room and brought back his lute and before long what had started out as then innkeeper simply providing entertainment for his patrons turned into a lively house band.

The room broke into a festival-like frenzy until the innkeeper's wife, a thin, but slightly hunched over dwarf woman rang a little golden bell announcing that dinner was served. They had prepared a fine meal for Lord Theoic and all his company. They had a whole grey goose prepared and they'd stuffed it full of dressing and cabbage and garnished it with sweet glazed carrots and roasted corn. The savory smells from the hot dinner caused everyone's mouths to water. Lady Olga put the big bird in the center of the table and it reminded Lady Sigyn of the annual Harvest festival when families would gather around a table to share the bounty of the harvest season and to be thankful for one another. Theoic went nearly white when he saw the large banquet that the small time innkeeper and his wife had prepared. He cleared his throat while Olga and her female relatives began pouring the tavern's special briar ale into the goblets of the servants. The brunette land owner informed her that the servants could just have a bowl of cabbage stew. The faces of Lord Theoic's maids, butlers and stablehands all fell with disappointment. Tibol, the innkeeper quickly explained that the meal was free of free of charge. Theoic slumped back in his chair relaxed now that he knew that his pockets would not have to be any lighter due to full bellied servants.

"So where ya'll traveling from?" asked one of the innkeeper's grandson's. He was a stout lad with fiery red hair.

"We're traveling from the Imperial City," Theoic explained after taking another swig of the briar ale.

"The Imperial City!" Tibol gasped as he started to choke on his meat. His wife clapped him on the back and offered him some water. He guzzled the drink to clear his windpipe than wiped the back of his hands across his lips. "My goodness! The attack! The Attack! The news spread to even out here! IT was horrifying!"

"You are all lucky to be alive," Lady Olga explained as she touched a wrinkled and stubby fingered hand to her heart.

"2000 people died," Sigyn explained as she wiped her lips and looked up from her plate, her eyes shined with tears ready to be spread once again. "It was hideous! They were everywhere they over ran the city... the palace," Sigyn started her large gold eyes glowing with horror.

"I'm nearly 2000 years old," explained the elderly innkeeper and I have lived in Asgard for more than 1000 years and I never thought I would see the day the Imperial City was overrun," he shook his head.

"Well what is the all-father going to do?" asked one of the innkeeper's daughter's.

Sigyn shook her head, "The all-father has fallen into the Oversleep," the former palace resident informed.

"NO!" the dwarfs gathered around the dinning room table gasped in terror.

"well what of Prince Thor?"

"What are we going to do? What are we going to do?" exclaimed Olga as she grabbed her face.

"That is exactly why I took my family and we are fleeing from the Imperial City and running to the Dales!" Theoic bragged as he brought his thumb back to point at himself. "We'll all be more than safe and sound in the Dales," he explained and reached out a solid, brawny hand to clasps Sigyn's silky fingers. He gave his bride-to-be's fingers a tight squeeze causing the blonde-haired maiden to looked up at him. His eyes were tender and loving. She offered him a sweet smile. Theoic was a sweet man she did want to feel pride in him, but how could she feel proud of a man who bragged in the fact that he an away from fights.

"Safe? Do you really think that we all will be safe out here?" asked Tibol skeptically. "I mean now that the Dark-Elves have attacked the Imperial City and beaten down the defenses there who is to say the next time they won't come back and lay waste to all of Asgard?"

Theoic let out a slight chuckle as he broke the wishbone in his plate and used the pointy end to pic between his teeth. He then tossed the bone to the floor. "I heard the Dark-Elves are after the mortal woman who has stayed at the palace," Theoic leaned over the table and whispered.

"Mortal? There's a human staying in Asgard?' inquired another one of the young grandson eagerly.

"That mortal is the reason all this calamity has befallen all of Asgard!" the grandmother explained harshly.

"Prince Thor has a plan!" Sigyn blurted out all too boisterously. She instantly regretted raising her voice in such away, but she couldn't bear any longer to allow people to criticize Lady Jane. "I mean...I mean," Sigyn stammered her voice dropping down several octaves as did her golden pupils. "I mean...that is to say that the High Council knows that the Dark-Elves seek the Aether," the daughter of Admiral Arn elaborated demurely as she kept her eyes trained on her plate while she cut her meat.

"Aether? What's an Aether?" one of the grandson's whispered to the grandfather.

"Oooh I know what the Aether is?" the pudgier grandchild raised his hand energetically at the dinner table. "we learned about it in school, grandfather," the young dwarf informed his elder. "we learned about it in school!" he went on panting with his eager attitude to share knowledge. "It was a power gem," he huffed and puffed, he was breathless to get his point across.

"well Prince Thor is going to take lady Jane... I mean," Sigyn stifled herself from saying anymore by flinging her hands across her lips. She'd almost let the cat out of the bag. She had been privileged to private information that all of Asgard wasn't supposed to know. "I mean...that is that the council of elders has prepared to mount an army to stand against the Dark-Elves. They are calling in reserves from all over Asgard. Even men that are civilians are lending their swords to defend the realm," Sigyn told them.

"I would go! I would go!" another one of the innkeeper's grandson's boasted. "I want to help defend Asgard too," the youngest of the Dwarf children protested.

"That is noble of you Hurshu," Tibol explained as he messed up his grandson's unruly locks. "We all should try to do our part," the grandfather encouraged.

"We all don't have a part to play," Theoic grumbled with a mouth full of goose.

"I beg to differ, my Lord Theoic, but we all have a stake in this... for if Asgard falls soon all the realms will follow."

Big, bright, gold eyes lit up at hearing the elderly Dwarf's words. "See Theoic!" she called she enthusiastically tapped him on the shoulder. "That's exactly what I was saying before...at the palace that we all have a roll to play... I serving queen Frigga and you...you could stay and fight and...and," she went on excitedly.

"Sigyn! Please!" Lord Theoic blurted out abruptly as he slammed his glass of Briar ale on the table. Sigyn was sitting right next to him and she jumped at his harsh tone. Her hands immediately started shaking. She didn't mean to seem so frail and scared but when someone raised their voice to her it always frightened her. She supposed it came from when she was a child. Her father was a big burly redheaded man an admiral in the Asgardian Navy and when he raised his voice he meant business and she knew better than to question her father. If it got to the point where her father was yelling and shouting and fuming then it wasn't far from her and her sister facing his heavy hand across their hides, but she would always burst out into tears as soon as he started yelling and usually he would feel bad and let her off with a stern warning. Theoic stood from the table his soft brown eyes hardened and he glared at her. "I told you that we are going to the Dales to be safe!" he reminded her sternly. "Now that is it!" the plantation own stated firmly. Sigyn poised her lips ready to speak despite the fact that they were trembling. "It is not up for discussion!" he warned her. His voice was no longer loud. For Lord Theoic was not a yeller. He breathed heavily through his nostrils for a few moments. Sigyn bowed her head and allowed her gorgeous blonde locks to fall in her face to shield the tears in her eyes from being noticed. Eventually, Theoic pulled his chocolate lies from staring at Sigyn he looked around the table and noted the shocked expression on the faces of all present at the table. Even his own brothers seemed shocked by his harsh demeanor. That was not like Theoic. He felt embarrassed. He would never want to hurt Lady Sigyn, but she was pushing his buttons and her insistence would allow others to realize that he was running away from a fight. "Thank you Lady Olga for this delicious meal," Theoic said after he composed himself. "You and your husband have been most gracious host, now my I suggest to all my party that we are off to bed," his eyes rolled around the table as he made eye contact with each servant. "I still plan to leave at first light," he stated as he pushed himself away from the table.

After dinner all were ready to retire for the evening. They had ridden since just after dark and it was now nearly midnight. The night had been so long. The Briar Patch Tavern and Inn only had two bathing rooms; one for men and one for women. Sigyn allowed the servant women to go first in bathing. She knew it was not customary for a ranking lady of the household to bathe after her servants, but Lady Sigyn didn't mind. She knew that the servants were weary from a long days travel and honestly she was not that eager to get to bed.

It was not that she wasn't tired. She was very tired. She was not used to day long journeys like that. She enjoyed a horse back ride, but she'd never ridden for so long. Whenever she and her family would go on a long trip they would take the family carriage or they would travel by boat. Her rump surely was sore and she was sure her clothes and hair reeked of horses hide, but the sooner she was done bathing she knew that she would have to head to bed and she was not looking forward to sharing the bed with Lord Theoic. Theoic had insisted that the two of them share the same quarters to make room for the servants. Sigyn wanted to protest. She offered to sleep with the servant girls and she wanted to suggest that Theoic and his brother share a bed, but it was not her place to contradict his wishes in these matters. She was nervous about sharing a bed with the handsome viking lord. They were not yet married. Somehow she still felt guilt about being with Theoic. How could she not? For over a century Theoic had been a source of shame for her. Sleeping with Theoic was the reason she had thought she had lost a life that she had always dreamed about. Sleeping with Theoic was the reason she was known throughout the Royal Court as a whore. Now he was to be her husband. Now she was to embrace his bed? It was just so confusing. How could she just be expected to change her mind in the blink of an eye after 100 years of shame and humiliation.

She finished cleansing with the homemade soap that Olga made. It was briar soap it was a plain brown color, but it smelt like rosebuds. She'd been in the bathtub a long time, but the hour grew later and she needed to get to bed. She was anxious. What if Theoic was still angry. She had not meant to contradict him or seem like a nagging woman, it was just that she felt as though she was shirking off her duty to Queen, she felt like she was shirking off her duty to Asgard. She did not want him to fuss at her and she did not want to start a marriage with ill feelings. She wanted to be a good wife. Theoic was the only man who would want he and she didn't wish to earn his contempt. She gulped as she crept closer to the door of the room that she and Theoic were to share. Another notion crossed her mind. What if Theoic wanted to have sex? Sigyn pressed a pink painted fingernail tip through her lips and to her teeth and started nibbling it. What if he wasn't very good? What if he was angry and was rough with her. There were times when Loki had been rough with her. Slamming her against the bed, ripping her corset off, holding her arms down, biting her. Sometimes it had thrilled her other times it was simply painful. She hadn't said anything, she hadn't wanted to upset him, and normally Loki had sex like he was in a rush, he didn't linger in the bed afterward, so there was no time to talk about such things. Not that he ever left her unsatisfied. What if Theoic wasn't a good lover? Her mother had warned her that sometimes in order not to brusie a man's ego, she would need to fake it. If Theoic's dancing was any indication of his love-making skills then she supposed she may have to fake it more often than not.

The former Lady-in-waiting to queen Frigga turned the knob slowly held her breath and closes her eyes. When her golden peepers opened she half expected to find Theoic with his legs open spread out on a white bearskin rug, But she was surprised to find her future husband sleeping like a baby in the tiny dwarf bed. His big body was all curled up and he was still fully clothed. Sigyn's expression melted, despite the flare of temper she had seen around the dinner table, he looked like a cute little boy. Sigyn stepped in and immediately went over to Theoic's side. She called to him, but he was incoherent only responding with grunts and snores. Gingerly she maneuvered off his boots and cape and helped him comfortably settle under the cover. She tucked the cover under his chin and pushed his thick chocolate locks from his face. She patted down his handsome face and placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek. Theoic's earthen eyes fluttered open. Sigyn blushed and smiled slightly at him as she pushed her stray blonde tresses from her face. He gave her a groggy smile in return "Come to bed,' the older nobleman yawned as he drifted back off.

Sigyn nodded an affirmative response. She just went to hang up some of her things. She had been in such a hurry when they came to the inn that she had just thrown most of her belongings down. She took some time to hang her things up as she changed into her nightgown. She had changed into the silky gown and was shaking out her cloak. It was so dusty from the days riding. As she was shaking out the cloak she heard something clink as it hit the floor. It startled her. She looked down and there she found the blood-stained scroll lying on the floor. Sigyn's amber eyes bugged out of her head as she gasped in horror at the scroll. "Oh no! Oh no!" Lady Sigyn muttered in a terrified whisper as she stooped down to pick up the scroll. What had she done? She'd promised Lady Jane that she would give the scroll to Loki. But she hadn't! She had promised and she hadn't! She hadn't! But she had to! She had to get this letter to Prince Loki! It was Dagmar's dying wish that Loki know the truth about their child. It was only right. The child was his and whether the child was alive or dead Loki should know once and for all. Maybe...maybe the baby was alive and maybe such knowledge was all Loki needed. Maybe if he knew the truth he would join his brother and stand against Asgard's foe. Sigyn bit her lip. As she stared out the circular window carved out of the hollow oak tree. She had to go back.

---

Loki was eager and excited when Thor came to fetch him in the early hours of the morning for their escape plan. He was wild-eyed and practically giddy as they strutted down the corridor that would lead to where they were to rendezvous with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three and the other warriors who were going to the Dark-World. Thor thought he hadn't seen Loki so eager since the first day when Loki began schooling outside the palace. Loki was a fast learner and by about the human age of four he had already learned to read, but Loki stayed in the palace to be given his lesson by the palace tutors. When Loki was the equivalent of the Asgardian age of 6, Odin had finally decided to allow him to attend the grammar school. Thor had been going for a few years by then. When it was Loki's first day of schooling at the academy he'd been chatty and running off at the mouth bouncing energetically as he scampered behind Thor. He kept asking his older brother questions about school. He asked about the schoolteachers he would have and he asked about what types of things they would learn and about how the other children at the school. Thor had never enjoyed schooling that much and Loki was hopeful to find a friend who shared a passion for books and science..

Loki looked clean and polished and it was the first time in a long time that he actually did. He had on his princely attire, britches made of soft leather and tunic made of velvet and silk. He had on finally tailored boots. It was nice to wear shoes again and not have ones bare feet slap across the floor. It had been so long since he'd worn any shoes. He'd put on a few small coats of armor around his wrist and upper arms. His ebony mane flowed long and free on his shoulders.

A slick smile spread across the emerald eyed mage's pale face. He let out a hoarse giggle. "This is so unlike you, brother," Loki teased. "So clandestine," he pointed out still snickering. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather just punch your way out?' Loki taunted as he called behind the Crown Prince of Asgard. Loki's long legs scampered to keep up with Thor's large strides. Thor had set a furious pace. Unlike the younger Asgardian, Thor's face was set firm as flint it was uncommon for the blonde to hold his face in such a serious posture. Prince Thor was pensive to say the least. The plan that he had concocted was not full proof. No, it was far from that. There were many holes in the plan. Many of which the criminal who was accompanying him on this mission had pointed out. One of which was the criminal himself. Thor wasn't sure that he could trust Loki. Actually, he was almost convinced that he couldn't, but he needed Loki so he had to take the risk.

"If you keep talking, I just might," Thor remarked stoically as he kept his blue eyes forward on the look out for any guards who might be patrolling the halls. The council had placed the remaining guards on a very tight watch they seemed to be marching up and down the hall ever ten minute.

The slim man, dressed in green snorted, "Fine," he said raising his head. "I'm not even here," he remarked coolly and instantly Thor watched as his brother's form faded and it become the image of a classic palace guard.

Thor had to fight from letting a smile slip across his fleshy pink lips as he watched Loki's trick. Loki's shape-shifting was powerful and impressive. He could take on almost any form. Thor had always looked at his brother's abilities with wonder, but he regretted now that he had often not praised Loki enough for his prowess with at the time it had seemed cowardly. When Thor suggested storming the castle gates Loki would mention that he could transform them all into ants able to crawl under the gates. He now realized that Loki spoke out of wisdom. If he would have seen that that then and complimented his brother... Perhaps things wouldn't have ended up as they had now. Thor stopped himself from dwelling on such thoughts. "Better company at least," the golden prince admitted as he cast a side ways glance at the guard who walked beside him in full armor with a spear in tow.

The palace soldier smirked and shrugged. The face was that of a full black-bearded palace soldier with blue eyes, a man who was thick build with flat features, the soldier looked nothing like Loki, save for the telltale smirk written on the guard's face. "Still," Loki paused and then winked at Thor. "We could be even less conspicuous," he prompted with shrug of his shoulders. He then clicked his tongue and whistled. Thor looked at his brother quizzically, Loki transformed back into himself. A lustful grin snaked across the once prince's keen features. "Mmm brother," he purred. "You look ravishing!" Loki added as his bright green eyes looked the eldest son of Odin up and down and he raised his eyebrows with the gesture.

Thor responded in kind as he looked at himself. He looked at his feet and noted he was wearing a different all though familiar pair of boots. He blue eyes continued to look up and he saw that he was wearing a slim fitting pair of black tights. His legs did not look like his own thick and sturdy logs, but rather they were thin and bow-shaped. He then noted a burgundy skirt. Thor gasped for a moment as he looked to his right hand and aw that now he was strutting proudly with Sif's shield in tow. "It'll hurt no less when I kill you in this form!" Thor threatened. The leader of the Einherjar was pleased to find that at least his voice had not been change. The sapphire eyes son of Odin nearly chuckled. This was not the first time that his brother had turned him into a female. Thor shook his head. There was once a time many centuries ago now when he and Loki had journeyed to Jotunheim. It was the only other time that the two of them had ever journeyed to the frozen world besides for that fateful day almost three years ago now. Loki had transformed him into a Frost Giant female to get back Gungnir.

"Or perhaps you prefer one of your new companions, since you are so fond of them now," Loki teased, Thor instantly felt his body tingle as he changed from being shaped like Sif body and back to his own. He looked to his right hand side and found Loki proudly marching about in the colors of the Midgardian kingdom of America, red, white and blue. 'Oh I can just feel the righteousness surging," Loki stated mockingly in the voice of Steve Rogers, Captain America. He looked himself up and down. "Costume is a bit much," he confessed. "Oh but feel the confidence," he boasted balling his hand into a tight fist. "Hey," Loki spun on his heels and turned around to face Thor as he walked backward. 'Wanna have a rousing conversation about truth? Patriotism? God bless Americ..." Loki ranted on until Thor's heavy hand fell across his thin lips and his strong-arm back him roughly into a column. The force of being thrown against the marble column caused the enchanter to lose his illusion.

The golden-locked prince cast a piercing and steely glance at his emerald-eyed brother. He scrutinized him. For a minute he thought that Loki might be drunk. His erratic behavior certainly seemed to suggest it was a possibility. Loki was not often given to strong drink and because of this he could not hold his liquor well. It didn't take much alcohol for Loki to become giggly, goofy and utterly mischievous. After a few more drinks Loki's childishness could easily convert to an almost cruel level of devilment. Thor raised a golden eyebrow. Was Loki drunk? Was he trying to sabotage the escape attempt already? He thought better of the matter and concluded that was highly unlikely, Loki didn't really like drinking and honestly he always said he didn't like being drunk. He surmised that it was probably that Loki was just restless, stir-crazy. No doubt the black-haired wizard had the worse case of cabin-fever ever. He'd been confined to the dungeon for a little over a year. Loki was probably itching to get out. The prince's expression softened a bit with pity. Loki had always enjoyed inside activities, but his brother also had a sense of adventure, he enjoyed the outdoors, going for rides in the countryside, going on hunts, he enjoyed strolling the city of Asgard. How terrible would have been to have seen nothing but four walls for over a year. Loki was probably ready to burst with excitement at the mere opportunity to get out.

Thor waited only a few seconds keeping his hand tightly pressed over his brother's mouth and Loki's panted underneath Thor's dense palm. He felt like the big oaf was trying to suffocate him. Loki protested beneath Thor's mitt. Eventually, Thor's grip slackened and Loki was able to wiggle free of the constraint of his lips. It nearly panicked him. It made him feel like he was once again confined to that dreadful muzzle once again which had caged him most powerful gift, his silver tongue. "What?" Loki barked once Thor's hand was completely removed from his mouth. Thor merely gestured behind him and Loki turned around for his green-eyed gaze to be cast upon a patrol of three guards strolling down the adjacent corridor. Loki grunted as pulled his back from against the hard ridges on the marble column. He straightened himself and fixed his royal vestments so that were laying on his gangly body just so. "Aren't you going to at least furnish me with a weapon?" he asked his voice calming from with wild and excited patterns he'd been talking in only minutes before. He held his nose high and extended his slender fingers expecting the acting ruler of Asgard to simply place it in his hands. Thor just looked at him. "Oh come...come," Loki waved off Thor's distrusting look, "You could at least give me my daggers... something?" He prompted with the beguiling and entrancing emerald eyes.

Thor sighed and relented reaching into his pocket as if he was about to pull out Loki' set finely crafted daggers that were made sterling steel and silver. A smug glint appeared in sparkling jewel toned eyes, he crossed his lanky arms over his thin chest. "Finally," he sighed as he extended his hands awaiting his weapon "a little common sense," he stated pleased as punch, an arrogant tight-lipped smirk etched upon his sliver like lips.

All sudden Loki heard something clink and clank and lock and he felt something cool and metallic wrap around his slender, white wrist. Loki's lips curled in snarl and he noted the silver encrusted manacles bind him. He glared with disbelief at his one time brother. Thor formed a cheeky smile on his full lips. "Looks like you taught me a few tricks after all," Thor quipped before turning to continue down the corridor. Despite his annoyance at being conned by the simple-minded prince the raven-haired magician nearly found himself genuinely smiling. It was a surprising grin. He hadn't laughed sincerely in such a long time. He'd cackled. Oh yes he'd cackled often since the day when the avengers defeated him and he was dragged back to Asgard in chains, but he hadn't laughed, felt a sense of carefree glee. It felt good. But as soon as the slightly merry guffaw escaped his lips he suppressed it. For that fleeting second it had seemed like old times. Times from so long ago that they might as well have been ancient history, so many times when before he and Thor would prepare from some journey, all the while they'd be arguing in away that was half way between serious and jest but all the while as they were getting on each others nerves they'd be making each other laugh. But that was a millennium ago Loki reminded himself. They were no longer that pair of brothers, they were no longer the Sons of Odin set out on some wayward adventure. They were sworn enemies and Thor was merely a means to an end. So Loki would play along... for now.

It was only a few more paces before they met in a narrow pathway that led to the throne room. It was in the throne room that one of the Dark-Elf ships was located. In the hallway, Volstagg, Hogun and Frandal gathered with a few other fine warriors. They were only able to round-up a small battalion of 50. Thor had been hopeful to have a troop of 100, but Heimdal had advised that 100 soldiers were had a less likely chance of all escaping. That many men off their post would be noticed quickly. Prince Thor called to his men and all the men greeted him by thumping their fists against their brass breast plates and dropping to their knees. After a few seconds the Einherjar arose and stood at attention waiting for their general's commands. "Men," Thor began, "I want to thank you all for what you are doing today. Your courage and sacrifice are more than I can imagine. Each one of you who has pledged yourself to this cause today is going above and beyond the call of duty and your valor shall never be forgotten by me," Thor explained. He was truly humbled by seeing those Einherjar who had chosen to stand and fight against the Dark-Elves on their own turf. By all means he could have understood anyone being afraid. After the way the Elves had completely decimated the Imperial City chances of beating them with such a small force seemed slim to none, but still they had to try. The warriors of Asgard had heart. "What you are doing is not merely to avenge those who have fallen, although that is reason enough for us to march into the Dark-World, but is for our future... and not just our futures, but the futures of all the realms. You all know that Convergence is only a few days away. If we do not succeed by Convergence," Thor started his blue eyes looked at every one of his the men. His Adam's apple bobbed as he took a deep swallow. "Warrior of Asgard failure is not an option," he admonished them. "To your stations,' the sunny-locked future king ordered. The soldiers dispersed all pledging their swords to Prince Thor as they went. While walking pass Prince Thor they walked by Loki, most didn't even acknowledge Loki. The soldiers turned their head averted their gazes. Some of the bolder ones slammed their iron clad bodies into Loki's the nearly knocked the frail looking Asgardian over. Loki growled at their disrespect. There were even one or two that spat to the ground as they walked by. Loki's emerald eyes flickered with ire. He was tempted to strangle that disrespectful peasant right then and there. He felt his fingers start to clench as he readied for the act, but with a deep breath he cooled his emotions. When he was king, which would be shortly he would have those fools put on the rack and whipped tell their backs were indecipherable from minced meat. A sinister smile slithered across Loki's lips.

"Why is he coming?" one of the younger soldiers remarked to a more experienced one.

"Apparently he can open a portal or something," a gruff looking captain grumbled back to the young private.

"How can Prince Thor think we can trust that monster," the new recruit spat.

'I don't trust him!" the captain spat. "If he tries to pull anything, I'll slit his thin, white neck," the captain swore as he unsheathed his sword ever so slightly. They took a few more steps, suddenly, the captain and the private felt the ground seemed to shift beneath them and they found themselves stumbling and falling down on the ground. Loki smirked with a mischievous glint sparkling in his dazzling jade eyes as he watched them fall.

"We need to get underway," Thor expressed to Hogun, Volstagg and Frandal. "Every second we stay behind is a second that we risk being caught,' he explained. "Where is Sif?" Thor asked looked around for the female warrior.

"She is getting Lady Jane," Hogun responded.

"I told you the mortal would slow us down," Loki remarked from the sidelines.

Volstagg's brown eyes glared up at Loki. Loki didn't flinch under the plump Vikings glare. Rather he stared back defiantly smug smirk on his thin lip. "Thor did not ask for your opinion, Loki" Volstagg growled.

The dark-haired once prince shook his head, his ebony locks shaking as he did so. "Your rather touchy this morning Volstagg, what? No breakfast?' He teased.

The chubbiest member of Thor's band of friends let out a feral rumble that came from his gut and moved to his throat. He balled up his thick fist and had the massive hand aimed to strike Loki clean in the kisser. "Volstagg, no." Hogun instructed as he caught Volstagg's fist. "He is not worth it," the slant-eyed warrior whispered to his friend. The silent warrior did not even dignify the once prince with a look. Volstagg fumed a little more but eventually composed himself.

Just then, Lady Sif and the mortal woman, Jane Foster came bounding from around the corner. Sif walked with a steady and triumphant stride, but the short female scientist scampered to keep up with the shieldmaiden. Lady Jane was huffing and puffing and out of breath as they turned the corner, but once she caught sight of Thor she burst with new energy and sprinted toward him. "Thor!" she called as she dashed to him and greeted him with her arms flinging around his neck. Lady Sif froze momentarily as she saw the display, she saw the way Thor's muscular arms wrapped securely around her delicate waist. She watched as even in this moment that was of the utmost importance and seriousness Thor's face filled with the joy of a kid in the candy store as he saw the tawny haired maiden. Her eyes beheld as Thor's masculine hands cupped Jane's cheek with tenderness. She couldn't help but feel the envy crawl into her soul. She watched as they kissed. It was passionate like they were drinking each other in. She turned away not out of respect but out of disgust. It made her stomach churn to see them this way. To see her fawn over him, was nothing new there were few women in Asgard who could not be wooed by the first-born prince's charm and good-looks, but it was the way Thor looked at her. The way his crystal blue eyes lit up at her presence. The way his handsome lips curled into an almost silly ecstatic grin at the mere sight of her. She could not fathom it. They'd known each other for only a mere handful of days on earth. How had the unconquerable lion of Asgard been so swayed by the mortal? What did that auburn haired scientist have that she didn't?

A slippery, liquid voice rang in her ear as if her very thoughts had come to life. "It's almost laughable, Sif really...all those centuries you fought to be Thor's equal in battle so that he would notice you and here you seem to pale in comparison to the Midgardian woman's charm. Does it just burn you to know you that you have his confidence, his sword, but you'll never have his heart?" a silvery crisp tone whispered in her ear.

Sif growled she gripped the hilt of her sword and she pulled her blade from its sheath. She swung it, letting it fly behind. Loki dodged the saber by a hair as he ducked down just smidgen. He chuckled with an impish delight noting how he hand missed her blade. The tall, dark-haired man slowly stood, his face looking cool and smug, but his smirk was cut short and he felt the point of a dagger aim at his belly button. He winced slightly as she pushed the tip further into the sensitive area. Quick as a flash Sif raised her sword to Loki's throat. Loki raised his chin so as not to have it severed. His winced turned into an almost jovial looking charming type of smile. "Make no mistake, Loki" Sif mouthed through gritted teeth. "I don't just trust you,"

"Me? And after I was the one to originally tell you the truth about Thor and the mortal," he shrugged his overly confident grin never leaving his narrow face.

Sif growled, she bared her white teeth at Loki looking like a tigress on the prowl. Her strong hands griped Loki by his bony shoulder thrusting him into the blade. Making the dagger point and the edge of the sword rub deeper against his flesh. "I am only going to say this once. Loki!" Lady Sif declared her voice rippling with anger as she spoke her words through a clenched jaw. "Betray him...and I'll kill you," the shield-maiden warned.

The former prince of Asgard gave a bitter, brittle chuckle, "It's good to see you too, Sif," he stated as he brought his brilliant green eyes to glance down at her the look mocked affection. With that he stepped back with his chains arms raised apologetically.

After what seemed like an eternity, Prince Thor and Lady Jane finally broke from each other's lips. Jane turned around wide-eyed and gazed upon the slender looking Asgardian man clothed in royal green tunics, her light brown eyes bulged. She pointed, "Y-y-your," she stammered.

Thor wiped his hairy knuckled over the back of his mouth, "Jane allow me to introduce..."

"Loki, perhaps you've heard of m..."

WHACK! The young scientists small hands collided with the master mage's smooth cheek and sent Loki's head flying to the left side his long black locks swiveling with his neck. Thor stood shocked, mouth gaping. Sif straightened and crossed her arms over her chest, she was very pleased. It was the first time since she'd met Jane Foster that she'd actually liked her. Jane stood flat-footed and fuming. Her shoulders heaved and her breathing was ragged. "That was for New York!" The Midgardian proclaimed as her lips curled. She felt as if her hand wanted to fly off the handle once more. She felt as if she wanted to keep slapping Loki. His features were refined and proud, regal and noble all the things that a prince's should be but she knew behind that fair façade, he was a slippery eel. Something that no one could trust, something to be skewered. She hated that fact that Thor had drafter his would be brother into this venture. She hated that the success of this mission in large part depended upon this snake in the grass.

Once, Loki's head finished reeling and he managed to crane his neck back to being situated correctly he looked down on her. His emerald eyes danced and where she had expected to see evil and malice shining from those jade pupils rather she saw something that was close to playfulness and glee. He formed a tight-lipped smile in her direction. He looked as if he had been bemused by her hit. As if it tickled, she started to feel insulted. But from the angle that his head and turned to after she landed the smack she knew that her hit must have had some impact. She snorted pleased with the fact that she had caused him some injury. Even though landing such a blow had smarted a bit. "Mmm," Loki said as he looked her up and down. Dressed in Asgardian garments he actually had to admit that the Midgardian scholar actually looked rather attractive. She was certainly a bit of a spitfire despite the fact that she was small in stature. She was rumored to be intelligent although what was mortal intelligence really and even still it didn't take much for one to be intelligent in comparison to Thor, still the small grin on his thin lips widened. "I like her," he stated.

"I don't like you!" Jane spat back.

The son of Laufey's eyes narrowed his eyes before where his eyes had been almost sentimental they'd just as easily flashed with fury. "Learn respect mortal!" Loki spat back at Thor's love-interest. 'It is I who shall be saving your insignificant life! You should fall down on your knees and grovel before me with thankfulness!" he raged on at her.

"Loki enough!" Thor's booming voice commanded as he wrapped his large arms around Jane's slender shoulders. He pinned Loki with a harsh stare and much to the blonde prince's surprise although Loki snarled, he didn't protest.

"I hear something!" Sif called as the sound of soft footfalls grew louder and louder.

The burly blonde nodded. "Sif, you hold them off as long as you can, then get to one of the speeder skiffs," the commander of all of Asgard's forces order. "Get there as quick as you can," Thor added. "Meet us at the check point," he told her.

"I will! I'll hold them off. Now go!" Sif ordered as she unfolded her double-blade.

With that, Thor, Loki and Lady Jane set off running down the hall. The guards were already upon Sif after noting that the mortal woman was not in the confines of the palace tower. Thor and Loki managed to run quickly matching one anothers strides while Jane lagged behind she tripped over her long gown. She never wore long dresses let alone ran in them. She hiked up her skirt as best she could but still in her nervousness she stumbled. She fell flat upon her face. She tried to call out for Thor, but he was so far ahead of her. She felt a headache over taking her head. It was horrible. It felt like the Aether again. Before Jane could attempt to call out for Thor once more she felt hands that were firm, cushy, calloused and hairy all at the same time grip her under her arm pits. Instantly, she was hoisted to her feet. 'Lady Jane, are you alright?" asked the round-faced and rotund, Volstagg.

Jane blinked trying to clear the red film that was forming in front of her arms. "y-y-yes," she managed,

"You must catch up to Prince Thor," he insisted and as he scooped her up like a football and rushed her toward Thor. Jane felt queasy and excited all at once as Volstagg bounded down the hall carrying her under his large and hairy arms.

"This ship is not to badly damaged," stated Hogun as he showed Thor to the ship. Looking at the ship it looked rather banged up, but they had little to no other option at this point. The palace guards were already upon them.

"Can you fly a ship like this Thor?" Frandal inquired as he looked at it skeptically. Frandal had specialized in mechanics during his years the Imperial University, but the weapon systems on the Dark-Elf spaceships were advance.

Thor gave a dashing grin and shrugs. "How hard could it be," Thor expressed.

"My prince!" Volstagg called as he rushed toward his friends with Jane carefully in tow under his arms.

"Jane!" Thor exclaimed seeing his beloved and his chubby friend heading toward him at full speed. For a moment Thor was nervous he thought Volstagg was going to hurl Jane toward him like an oversized javelin. He was happy to find that the plump warrior sat the Midgardian woman down.

"Thank you Volstagg," Jane stated she was out of breath. She smiled up kindly, yet dizzly at the fat man as she touched the tips of her fingers to her forehead attempting to fight off the wave a dizziness that was starting to overtake her. "I don't think I would have made it with out you," the astrophysicist confessed in a huff.

"Happy to be of service, my lady," Volstagg responded as bowed.

"Enough of the pleasantries!" Loki remarked. "We've got company!" the jade eyed once prince exclaimed.

All head swiveled as the noted the palace guards running toward them. Shouts could be heard coming from the battalion of palace soldiers. "Get them! Seize them! Stop them! Don't let them get away!"

"Time to go," Loki nodded to Thor as they stepped foot on the gang-plank.

"We'll hold them off," Frandal stated.

"Thank you, my friend" Thor expressed as he clamped his mallet wielding hand on the thinner blonde-haired swordsman's shoulder.

"You must go," Hogun urged and his raspy accented voice housed as an uncharacteristic sense of urgency. Thor nodded but allowed Jane to enter the vessel first. "We'll see you at the checkpoint," Hogun stated firmly looking Thor firmly in the eye letting him know that plan was still going to succeed.

Loki was the last to make his way up the gangplank. He waddled slightly inclines proved to be a challenge with his hands tied. He was halted in his progress up the plank as squishy yet firm hands grabbed him around the shoulder. "If you even think about betraying him," the curly bearded redhead threatened.

"You'll kill me," the silver-tongued trickster replied. He shrugged the threat off with nonchalance. "Evidently, there will be a line," he simply smirked pressing pass the big axe-wielding warrior. Once Thor, Loki and Jane Foster boarded the flying craft the soldiers descended upon the Warriors Three.

"Frandal! Volstagg! Hogun!" the new warden of the palace dungeon ,since the demise of Ingvar at the hands of Loki Laufeyson, called. "Stop them! STOP THEM!" he shouted over the pounding fury of his men's feet. "They're escaping with Loki and the Mortal! Apprehend them!" He continued to bellow. Seeing that the Warriors Three were not obeying his commands, even though technically they did not answer to him he told the rest of his men to seize them. The palace guards fell upon the warriors with full force. Thor's band immediately responded in kind. Frandal whipped out his sword parrying and the lounging against the other. Hogun pulled out his mace doing damage as his didn't hesitate to take a swing at his fellow soldiers and Volstagg simply used his brute strength to try to hold off the troops.

Inside the Dark-Elf craft Tho struggled to get the machine to work. Thor could hear the spears and swords of the palace guards clanking against the metal plates of the airship."Uhh Thor!" Jane said in panic as she heard the battle raging outside the metal walls. She knew that Thor had assured her that his friends were the finest warriors in Asgard, but she knew that they could not withstand the assault of the palace guards especially as their numbers kept growing.

"I suggest whatever you're doing you do a little faster, brother," Loki added smartly as he loomed over Thor's shoulder. Thor could feel his brother's critical gaze.

'Be quiet Loki!" Thor ordered as his big hands continued to try to maneuver the shiny buttons and gears on the craft. It was so strange and alien in comparison to Asgardian vessels.

"Don't hit it," Loki said wisely, almost patiently, "Just press it gently,"

Thor snarled he was getting irritated, frustrated. They were running out of time and Loki wasn't even attempting to help, by reading the inscriptions written on the buttons and knobs. Thor could hear that Frandal, Hogun and Volstagg had been over run and that the soliders were starting to try to pry the door open. "I. Am. Pressing. It. Gently," Thor explained as he continued to slap the pads and gears on the ship. Finally after one last heavy blow, the ship lit up with dazzling electric colors of blue and read and green. "YES!" Thor called as the vessel sprang to life and the gears started whirling and twirling and the ship was ready for take off.

As the gears grind and the motor thrummed they felt the craft take off. It slowly lifted itself off the ground. It started to rotate in midair, Jane lurched from side to side trying to keep her balance as the airship started to take off. Thor stood his hands firmly upon the helm of the ship as he let out a roaring, triumphant laugh. As Thor got acclimated to the ship's steering system he caused the ship to spin about. As the craft rotated it started to the take out the proud golden pillars. One by one the impact of the spinning rim of the vessel crashed and slammed into the columns causing them to crumble in the great hall. The guards who had fought with the Warrior's Three dispersed rushing from being crushed by the falling debris of the broken columns.

As the palace guards scattered, Volstagg sat up from his position on the floor and raised a gallant fist holding his battle, "GO THOR!" the giant redhead chanted before he let out a hearty guffaw.

"Come on, you big oaf," Frandal declared he ran passed Volstag and hit him on top of his head, "we've got to get to the cargo bay!" he announced as he and Hogun trotted off to meet with the other soldiers accompanying Prince Thor to the Dark-world.

The Dark-Elf flying ship continued to spin out of control until eventually it smashed its way through the walls and went flying out the side of the palace. "Nice job," Loki remarked his sarcasm came so effortlessly that his words almost sounded sincere. Thor actually turned to Loki looking quite proud his broad shoulders squared and his large chest pumped out. Loki's thin lips possessed a cocky smirk as he gave his brother a nod. "I think you actually missed a column," he added snarkily.

Thor pursed his lips then punched the slimmer young man roughly on the shoulder. He sent Loki stumbling backward, "Shut up!" Thor barked. His voice was loud and booming, He kept his hand on the handle as he tried to maneuver past the tall towers and might monuments in the Imperial City. He did a poor job of it, he kept ramming the ship into the buildings. They were getting jostled quite a bit in the ship and after a few rough bumps Jane simply passed out on to the hard metal floor of the ship.

"Oh my. Is she dead?' Loki asked merely raising an inky eyebrow as he turned around and saw the Midgardian woman collapsed on the cold floor of the ship.

"Jane!" Thor yelled in panic he swung his head around and swung the ship in the process only to observe Jane lying on the floor listlessly.

"I'mokay," Jane slurred groggily as she raised a limp hand to flag off Thor's concern. She hardly knew if she was Ok. She had a terrible headached. Her head was throbbing and pounding. She couldn't even lift her head from the floor. She could feel the dark magic of the Aether coursing through her veins. Its power was so overwhelming that her body was helpless but to succumb to it. Still, she was fairly aware of what was transpiring around her.

"Pay attention to where you are going!" Loki shouted as he grabbed Thor by the shoulder to force the blonde to keep his eyes on where they were flying. They were about the slam into one of the lookout towers. "Pull up! You idiot! Pull up!" Loki yelled his chained hands quickly grasping for the steering wheel just in the nick-of-time for them to arch up and avoid the tower. The Crown Prince of Aagard still held fast to the handle and as they pulled up at a sharp vertical angle the angle was so sharp that it caused Loki to fall backward onto the wall of the ship and it caused Jane to roll about. Thor managed to pull the ship out of ascending upward and quickly rolled it out until they were once again sailing over the city on a horizontal plane, but Thor's turns were so sharp that they sent his fellow escapees hurling in opposite directions once more. The dark-haired mage was tossed to the floor. He bumped his chin against the lump ice-cold floor of the Elfin vessel. Loki growled as he managed to look up from the ground. He watching as the thin mortal's body rolled like a log down a plank in a lumber yard toward the front of ship.

"Why don't you let me fly," Loki announced coolly as he struggled to get to his feet. He brushed off his fine tailored garments once he had managed to. "I'm clearly the better pilot," he expressed.

"Right?" Thor rolled his deep blue eyes. "But between the two of us which one can actually fly," he added. Loki set his mouth ready to utter some snippy wisecrack, but before he could Thor cut another sharp turn. This time the newly released prisoner refused to be lurched from side to side. He grabbed hold to another one of the handles. All of a sudden the sounds of dozens of tiny skiffs and shooters buzzed around them. Thor tried to bob and weave and dodge to through the skyline of the Imperial City to avoid the guards in hot pursuit.

"Now they're following us," Loki pointed out. Thor veered and knocked into a tower where some watchmen were set with the rapid fire laser cannons aimed at the large dark-elf ship. Instantly they began to hear the sound of the laser bullets being shot at then. The faint buzzes and hisses of the splay of bullets rained down upon them. They were in a high-speed chase and they were being encircled. "Now they're firing at us," Loki added. Thor growled as he tried the bring the ship around several different columns and pillars in the skyline. The ship was hard to control. It was heavy and awkward and it had so many buttons, knobs and gears on it the golden prince of the realm wasn't sure what he was supposed to push to make the ship go fast. It wasn't designed to fly in Asgard, where the ships were light and maneuverable. Thor cut a sharp corner. He managed to bring the bottom half of the ship up. He thought bringing it up would cause them to miss crashing into the wall, but it caused them to run into a statue of Bor. "Look, you just decapitated your grandfather," Loki added as the skidded through a tunnel where statues of Bor guarded the entranceway.

"Thanks for the commentary Loki," Thor grumbled through gritted teeth. "It's not in any way distracting," The blonde prince snapped back. Had Jane not been in so much pain, she thought she would have actually managed to laugh at the witty banter between Thor and his brother. They were fighting like cats and dogs, bickering like an old married couple, arguing like two kids. There was something about that despite the way they were fussing and picking with each other it was able to still house affection. Though Loki's comments were irritating to the crown prince Jane had to admit that the skinny, black-haired Asgardian's quick quips were quite amusing. It was even more so amusing how frustrated and flustered Thor would become. Jane could almost picture as the little boy playing sword fights with Thor outside in the courtyard using icicles for sabers. She could see the little boy with the dancing jade eyes from the snow globes laughing until he snorted and his brother would come and slap him in the back of his head and push him into the snow. He didn't seem so awful.

And that was hard for Jane to admit. Thinking of that criminal Loki as anything, but a monster was a difficult feat. She didn't want to see him in any other light. It was simpler that way. It was simpler to see things as black and white, shades of gray were not her specialties. She was a scientist. She liked definite answers. Shades of gray were for poets and philosophers, musicians and artist, but not for people of science, people of science needed cut and dry facts.

But as she listened to the kibitzing going on between the pair she saw the remnants of the boy Loki once must have been. The boy who Thor so often described. The young man who both Lady Dagmar and Lady Sigyn had fallen so head over heels for. He was quick-witted and clever and observant he was charming and funny. She could see now all the adventures between the brothers once more coming to life. The little snippets she had seen in the snow globe, of two boys racing on their sleds or ice skating. She could see the younger boy struggling to show his older sibling the graceful techniques to glide and pivot and his attitude alternating from harsh to helpful easily. Loki seemed to easily no how to play the typical bratty younger brother who always had something smart to say. He would have been a pest in his younger years she imagined.

It made her heart sad. She had never grown to have that type of relationship with her stepbrother. Not that her stepbrother was cruel...he wasn't, but he was distant. She supposed it couldn't be helped. He was so much older and they really didn't have much in common. He was from the big city, Seattle and she had always lived in her small Midwestern town. He was musician and she was a bookworm. They never developed a rapport where they could just quibble and tease each other, where they could fight one minute and be best buddies the next. They never fought, they never knew each other well enough to fight. They just stayed out of each others hair. Sure sometimes he would help her with her homework, but the truth of the matter was that she didn't really need the help, she would just ask to get him to talk to her in most cases. On a stormy night sometimes they would play boardgames , but those activities were initiated by their parents. Yes, he would babysit her when she was very little and let her eat mostly junk food, but that was only because he couldn't cook and wanted to pig out on pizza himself. They had no real bond. He only lived with her for 3 years before he went to college and after that he hardly ever contacted her he never even asked to speak with her on the phone when he'd call home from college. They only happened to talk if she answered the phone before her parents. He was polite and kind, he was the nicest guy possible, but he always felt more like a neighbor than a brother. She never got to be a pest to him or have him be overly protective of her. They never shared secrets and they had no inside jokes. Now that they were older he never called her. She wasn't even in his wedding, although she had attended. He never even suggested that his own daughter call her auntie. As she listened to Thor and Loki tease each other she realized that they did share something...they had a history...a relationship and even though she didn't trust Loki as far as she could throw him she knew from the way they acted that Thor had truly, deeply missed Loki. Thor had said it. He'd said he'd missed his brother, but she didn't understand, how could someone miss a tyrannical fiend who'd tried to quite literally take over the world? But as she heard another smart remark escape Loki's lips, she thought that if she would have experienced so a sibling interaction as a child she would have missed that person too.

"You know this is a tremendous idea," Loki stated deliberately after some time as their ship continued to whiz and dive and fly through the streets of Asgard. He drummed his slender white fingertips against the rough metal of the dashboard. "Let's find the biggest, gaudiest, most obvious ship in the universe and escape in that!" the trickster fussed. "IT'S BRILLIANT THOR!" He hollered in the stronger leader of the Einherjar's ear.

Thor's might arm shot back and it shoved Loki right out the open door. Loki let out a petrified scream as his body was hurled through the clouds and over the waterfall bay that separated the Imperial City from the Mountain Towns. Thor watched as Loki's lithe body tumbled like a moss-covered stick through the air. He shook his head as he went to Jane. He had roughly and nearly carelessly tossed his brother from the side door of the fast moving aircraft, but with an incredible tenderness he went to tend to Lady Jane. "Jane," Thor murmured as he squatted down next to her collapsed form. Jane slightly stirred as she felt Thor's calloused mallet wielding hands slide under her neck and shoulders and under her knees.

"T-thor?" Jane inquired blearily as she blinked and tried to get her eyes to focus. The task proved to be difficult. The surge was strong, but even though he was red in color due to the Aether she was still able to make out his handsome features.

The Prince of Asgard nodded in response and swallowed the lump forming in his throat at seeing her in such a state. Her normally olive colored was clammy and almost white. Her beautiful light brown eyes were now covered with a horrid, thick black film. She muttered miserably. "Hang on to me," Thor instructed as he slung her arm over his large shoulder. "This will all be over soon," he soothed and ducked his head down to plant a kiss on her forehead. She looked up at him one last time. She wanted to ask what was going on, but her tongue felt to weak, but she could hear Thor's heavy boots walking across the floor. Soon the walking stopped and she felt the golden prince's massive arms tighten their grip on her. She managed to look down only to note they were standing at the edge of the doorway of the ship. The auburn-haired scientist mustered the strength to clasp at Thor's tunics. She mashed her lips together bracing herself for the jump. Although nothing could prepare her for the feeling of her stomach filling with somersaulting butterflies as Thor took a mighty leap from the Elfin warship.

Jane finally let out a gasp, but as soon as she did Thor's thick boots slammed against the floor board of another escape vessel. It was a tiny, metallic, flying longboat. Thor steadied himself before he sat her down comfortably on a few sheets and pillows prepared in the back of the ship. She heard the uproarious laughter of Thor's band on comrades. "Hahaha! I see your time in the dungeons has made you no less graceful Loki!" Frandal chuckled merrily as he slapped Loki upon the back. The dark-haired mage had managed to land on his feet. And his back was hunched over like a frightened cat. Loki actually let out a hiss as he felt the swordsman's hands on his spine. Loki managed to collect his frazzled nerves and stand up straight He smoothed his creamy hands over his ever green tunics, never liking to seem to be ruffled and unkempt. He raised his ever green eyes to look up. The city patrols and palace guards in their speeder skiffs were still chasing after the large Dark-Elf craft. They didn't know that hovering miles beneath them Thor and his small battalion were still well on their way to escaping.

The young enchanter allowed a barely there grin to trace across his severe lips. "You lied to me," He announced. To Thor's astonishment his brother didn't sound horrified, betrayed, insulted or even in the slightest bit angered by the fact. "I'm impressed," the green-eyed trickster complimented.

"I'm glad you're pleased," Thor's tone was curt as he tended to Jane. His thick hands smoothed down the edges of her hair and he swung his cloak over her shoulders. "Now do as you promised," The acting king of Asgard qualified. This was the testing part. The part that everyone was worried about. Thor had upheld his end of the bargain. As everyone knew he would for he was an honorable man and a prince. He'd agreed to grant Loki this brief stint of freedom and free him from the confines of his palace prison. But would Loki keep his end of the deal. Of course I had crossed Prince Thor's mind that Loki might take this as an opportunity for his own escape. That once granted this small amount of Freedom that Loki would try to run away that he would leave them in a lurch and allow Ragnarök to descend upon their head, that's where the shackles had come in handy. The manacles had a tracking beacon on them. If Loki did try to pull any stunt, he wouldn't get far. It saddened Thor that such precautions had to be taken. He wanted to trust Loki, it pained him to think that he couldn't. Up until recently there hadn't been a time in his life when he could have imagined not trusting Loki. Not that Loki had always been the most trustworthy of people. Loki's penchant for mischief, his fondness for trickery and sweet silver tongue had meant Thor had been fooled many times by his brother, but in the end, when push really came to shove he knew that he could always depend on him... or at least he had thought. Thor exhaled through his nostrils. The faithful brother he once knew seemed like a distant memory and as agonizing as it was to acknowledge, Thor knew that his friends had spoken the truth if given the opportunity Loki would probably betray him. Yes, Loki would betray him, but he wouldn't betray Dagmar or her memory. He said he would do it for her. And the fury that had shone in Loki's eyes at the mention of her demise had been more than enough proof of that for Thor. "Take us to your secret pathway," Thor ordered the long-raven locked mage.

The once-prince of Asgard inclined his head. "With pleasure...my liege," Loki muttered bitterness was laced over his flowery words and genteel manner. The slenderly elegant body dipped in a slight bow as he grabbed the steering rod on the longboat. He turned it sharply to gain speed.

"Frandal, take this," Thor said as he passed the other fair-haired warrior an anchor. "Tie this to the other ships," Thor directed as he tossed his head to the side pointing to the 2 other ships each carrying about two dozen Einherjar.

"Right," Frandal stated as the anchor weighed down his arms. It was a stretch and strain to hold it up. He tottered to the side burdened with the heavy anchor. He managed to stand on the edge of the boat, he raise his right hand in a salute. "For Asgard," he proclaimed as he leaped of the side of the boat holding fast to the anchor and swinging onto one of the other Viking longboats and attaching the anchor.

Meanwhile the lead boat was gaining speed. Thor, who was never scared was slightly anxious about the speed at which they were traveling they were skidding over the water causing waterspouts and they nearly ran into a fishing boat. Thor could hear iron chain of the anchor stretching and screeching as if it would break. Thor heard the whoops and hollers of the men on the other boats as Loki steered the lead vessel at dangerous angles. Thor looked back at Loki. His brother's face seemed purely invigorated as his long ebony locks that were in desperate need of a trim flew behind him. Loki's face was filled with such exhilaration. His smile stretched from ear to eat and his emerald eyes were lit up as bright as ornaments on the yuletree. The elder prince couldn't hide a slight grin it reminded him of a time hundreds of years to ago. When Odin had taken them both ice fishing for the first time. They'd sailed to the frozen fjord and the thin sheets of ice were just starting to cover the fresh crystal blue lakes. The captain of their yacht had them in the same spot for a long time. It was a very scenic spot, but honestly they had gotten nary a nibble on their lines. It was so placid on the lake that Thor had started to fall asleep, but soon they felt something rocking the side of the boat.

"Thor, Thor, Thor!" Loki's eager little fingers tapped the sleepy blonde child on the shoulder. "Did you feel that?" he asked.

"It's just the pack ice, Loki" Thor tried to explain to the younger child, Loki had only been the human standard age of 4.

Loki shook his head in protest. "It's something down there," Loki stated as he crept on tiny tip-toes over the railing on the ship and stood as tall as he could to peak over the edge.

Thor chuckled and rubbed his palms together before pushing up from the chair he'd been asleep in and sneakily crept up behind Loki. "BOO!" the boisterous 7-year-old looking crown prince screamed behind his younger brother's back as he pushed him.

Prince Loki let out a little squeal. "Quit it Thor!" Loki declared as he spun around with a gloved fist raised toward his older siblings nose and sticking his tongue out.

"Hahaha!" the older brother teased. "You're such a scaredy-cat, Loki," he taunted pointing and laughing.

Loki's lip quivered as he still held his sturdy position with his gallant fist raise. "I am not a scaredy-cat," he shot back.

Thor let out another blast of laughter before he push Loki once again against the railing. Loki let out a cry as his tiny chest slammed against the hardwood beam of the railing. He rubbed his chest. The slam knocked the wind out of him, but he dare not cry or go tattle to their father it would just incur more mockery from his brother. "Better get away from the edge of the boat, Loki" Thor teased. "You don't want that Kracken to come up and grab you," Thor warned wiggling his fingers like octopus tentacles. Loki gulped, their captain had started their fishing cruise singing sea-shanties about the ancient Kracken, the giant sea-monster. That had claimed many a Viking ship using its giant tentacles to drag the ships down the depths.

"Shut-up Thor!" the little prince with dark curly hair spat. "It's not a Kracken," he qualified.

"Yeah, well then what is it?" Prince Thor asked smugly as he sauntered over the edge of the boat and leaned over the railing to get a look at what his younger brother way staring at. He towered over Loki and whereas Loki had to stand on his tip-toes and barely able to raise his nose over the bar Thor was easily able to look down at the water in the fjord. The ice really was packing in, but finally he spotted it. There was something moving under the pack-ice. It had a thick and fat body and a long pointy nose. "A Swordfish!" Thor declared. He yelled so loud that he frightened the fish beneath the ice. All of a sudden the fish shot off from around the side of the boat. It darted off and soon it was followed by a whole school. All of the large pointy nose fish started swimming rapidly underneath the boat and around the sides of the boat causing it to rock. "WOW!" Thor hollered! 'Look at them Loki! Look at them go!"

Loki laughed and squealed with delight bouncing on his tip toes as the fish shot pass them from under the waves. "I...I...I don't think they are swordfish, Thor," Loki stated still giggling as he watched the swift creatures race beneath them.

"Course their swordfish Loki!" Thor responded. Shaking his head as he ruffled his little brother's hair and raised back to his chair to get his fishing rod and his little harpoon. "And I'm gonna catch it!" the warrior in training declared triumphantly and ran back to the edge. He licked his tongue out over his little pink lips that were chaffing in the cold air around the frozen fjord. Thor leaned over the railing aiming his makeshift harpoon at the creatures raging below.

"No, Thor! No!" Loki cried blocking his brother's spear.

"What Loki! This'll be the biggest fist that any other boy our age brings home and I should have the biggest fish, because I'm a son of Odin," Thor boast. "We'll mount it on the wall," he went on excitedly.

"But...but...But" the little green-eyed son of Odin countered. "What if it is a narwhal?" he asked his eyes trembling and pleading for his older brother to understand the significance of such a rare and magical creature.

"A narpal?" Thor questioned his golden eyebrows quirking in confusion. "What in the world is a narpal?"

"Not, narpal!" Loki stomped his foot. "A narwhal!" Loki expressed wide eyes and he waved his hands in the air.

"Well narpal...narwhal... whatever," The blonde prince shook his head. "I'm still gonna catch it!" the eldest son of Odin avowed as he rushed toward the stern of the ship.

"Boys did you see!" Odin asked jovially as he sprint from the bottom of the boat and rushed to the top deck to see his young sons. "Did you see the school take off?"

"Father!" Thor called leaping into Odin's arm, the great king stumbled backward a few steps on impact of the bubbly light-haired child thrusting his solid body into his arms. The king of Asgard let out a huffing breath as he looked down at his pride and joy. "We saw them! We saw the swordfish! There are so many of them. I want one. I want one Father!" Thor demanded. "We'll catch one together!" He proclaimed as he raised a victorious finger in the air.

"Papa!" the 4-year-old equivalent, Loki tottered toward the great king of the realm. His balance was unsteady on the shifting ship. He ended up ramming into Odin's leg and the shorter boy held on for dear life as the ship started lurch among the swells. "I...I...I told Thor it was a...a...a narwhal, not...notta swordfish," Loki explained. "What do you think, Papa?" Loki inquired hopeful of the king. His emerald eyes danced with hopefulness. Odin managed to bring one of his hands out from under supporting Thor's bottom and managed to shift the boy's weight all to his might left arm. With his free right hand Odin ran affectionate fingers through Loki's soft black ringlets. The king's good eye looked down fondly at his younger son. Loki was a very bright boy. He was very eager and excited about learning and even at this tender age the boy had managed to master reading, Loki was able to read most pictures books on his own now. He'd always been interested in nature. He had many tomes and scrolls on fauna, but even the king was surprised of Loki's thorough knowledge of the animal kingdom, narwhals were extremely rare. There hadn't been a narwhal sighting in quite sometime. It was much more likely that it was a swordfish. Honestly, Odin would have preferred it to have been swordfish, a nice large catch of swordfish would have made an excellent dinner. The king smiled at young Loki. "Why don't we go after it and see," Odin gave his sons a wink. The two prince cheered and King Odin bellowed for the captain to drive the boat full speed a head.

The large ship raced over the pack-iced waters crashing through the frozen waters and keeping speed with the quick fish. Odin told his young sons to hold on tight to railing as he fastened a rope around their waists. Thor remembered looking back at his only brother who's high-pitched laughter would squeak into fitful giggles as they raced over the swells in the water. His eyes dancing with merriment and excitement as he clapped in delight as the boat went fast and faster through the waves.

When the ship finally came to halt they were encircled by the mighty school of what seemed to be 100 of the sea-creatures. They started to hear crashing under the ice. "They're sword fighting!" Thor exclaimed pointing down to the noise coming from below the ice. But soon the creatures burst forth from beneath the thick sheets of ice and Thor's sapphire blue eyes were amazed to find the large white bellied creatures with beautiful twisted golden tusk. Several of them leaped into the air the bodies' gleaming and their tusk shining.

"They're narwhals!" Loki squealed and his small finger pointed to the creatures with horns flipping above their head.

"Loki they're amazing!"

Thor looked back at his brother now and saw the same childish glee on his brother's face as when he had been a small boy and they had been on their first adventure. Thor then turned his attention to the direction in which the were headed. They were headed dead center for the cliffs. Thor squinted trying to find where his brother's opening was. Thor had thought it was going to be somewhere on the lake. He imagined that Loki would take them to the center of the lake and whisper some incantation causing the waters to recede and leading them to some secret portal, but as they approached closer to the cliffs it was becoming painfully obvious that that was not the case. The only thing that the crown prince could manage to detect was a small crack in the face of the cliff. It was a small opening Thor thought it would have been hardly big enough for him to squeeze through if he were crawling on his belly let along to fit three ships through. Thor's heart pounded in his chest as they drew close and closer to the cliff. "Loki are you mad?" He called back to the master mage of the realm.

Loki let out a cackle. "Possibly," he replied as he pressed down harder on the steering rod. He kept his right hand on the rod and reached his left hand back to touch the chain of the anchor that connected the lead ship to the other. He sent an electric pulse through the iron chains and it magnetized the ships. They were mere seconds from hitting the rugged, rocky cliffs.

"Loki!" Thor called as his cringed, he crouched down protectively over Jane as he prepared for the impact of the crash. Loki had surely lost his mind.

"If it were easy, everyone would do it," Loki muttered his eyes focused on the target. Somehow, magically, the long-boat slipped through the rocky opening. The sharp edges on the inside the cavern banged and jostled the longboats. The boat squeaked and bumped and bucked trying to get through. Loki pulled back on the rudder of the steering rod. He closed his eyes fixed in concentration as he chanted mystical words over and over. With that the ships seemed to move at Lightspeed swirling through tunnel with flashing lights of electric purple, blue, hot pink and bright white light flickering before their eyes. There was a suction and force just like the pressure of traveling through the Bifrost.

In the blink of an eye the three ships shot forth from out of the cliff tunnel and landed on the hard, barren, gray soil. "Ta-da!" Loki announced as he slumped over and panted on his hands and knees exhausted from the feat.