Hi Guys!
So here we are chapter five! Hope you're all enjoying the story so far and are ready for the next instalment.
To answer a couple of reviews left over from the last chapter, I just want to say, no Loki does not land in Shield as you will soon see, but obviously that doesn't mean there will be no Shield action, this is the Avengers after all. Some one also mentioned about Loki's heritage and how he's dealing with that. I know it gets briefly mentioned in the first chapter then left, but rest assured I have not forgotten about it and it will come up again. Plus Loki himself is at this stage trying to ignore it a little, he's not ready to face what he is just yet.
Right now that's done, as always thank you to everyone whose read, liked, faved and reviewed! Please keep asking your questions or telling me any ideas you have about the story, I will always try to reply either through PM or on the next chapter notes.
Enough of that though, lets get to the good stuff!
Cheers!
D.S x
Disclaimer: I do not own Thor, the Avengers or any other of Marvel's various properties
5
The landing was hard, Loki having the wind knocked out of him by the full weight of Leif landing on top of him. Sigyn was thankfully spared from being squashed beneath the pair of them by neatly stepping aside at the last moment.
Loki gasped, the noise being enough to alert Leif to their situation.
"My Prince!" he exclaimed, scrambling from Loki's prone from, which unfortunately resulted in kneeing said Prince in the stomach, eliciting another groan. "I…I'm s…s…so sor -"
"He's alright Leif, don't worry," Sigyn slid forward to sooth the worried Valet. "You just knocked the wind out of him. He'll be fine in -"
"That's not all he's done," Loki said, finally coming to his feet to glare at the two. "Leif, do you have any idea what you've done?"
"I… I was saving y…you. A…Amora -"
"She wasn't real! She was never real and now you've been dragged along with us!"
"W…what do you mean?" Leif stuttered, finally taking a moment to look around himself. Loki could only watch and wait as the confusion turned to shock, then awe and finally settled on panic as his Valet took in the stark white landscape with its flittering colours that made up Yggdrasil and the Pathways between worlds. "M…my P…Prince! W…w…w…"
"Yggdrasil," Loki said with a shake of his head, pitching his voice low in an effort to calm his servant. "Be careful where you step," he turned to shoot a look at Sigyn, who frowned. "It would be best if you didn't stray too far from my path."
"Your path?"
Loki nodded to their feet. Sure, enough there was a Pathway beneath them, a glowing vibrant green that appeared to stretch from Loki's own to encompass the two. Leif jumped, backing up slightly and Loki felt the familiar tug of draining Seidr.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?" he snapped.
"I…I'm sorry!"
"Don't pick on him, he wouldn't have understood what you meant," Sigyn snipped, gently taking a hold of Leif's arm to guide him closer to Loki. The Prince would have been annoyed at her tone, but the feeling of his Seidr settling was enough to have him forgive her for now.
"Fine, but Leif, please try and not wander too far, I don't know what would happen to you if you stepped from my path."
The Valet nodded, nervously wringing his hands as he said, "o…of course m…my Prince. B…but if you d…don't mind my a…asking, what a…are w…we doing here?"
Loki paused, staring at Leif in such a way that the Valet squirmed. He had not intended for Leif to be with him, well he hadn't intended for Sigyn to be there either, but she knew what she was getting into before they were in Yggdrasil, she had at least had the option to back out. The same could not be said for Leif. How would he react? Would he try to stop Loki? It would be near impossible but that sometimes never stopped somebody. Should Loki lie?
"Prince Loki," Sigyn's pointed nudge forced Loki's decision and he spilled his plan to his Valet. It was probably for the best, plus the Healers Apprentice wouldn't have kept her mouth shut any way.
Leif remained silent throughout the whole thing, his eyes widening at certain parts and he gasped when Loki explained why he had conjured the memory of Amora. "M…my Prince, you c…could have h ...hurt yourself," the Valet admonished. "Why w…would you …"
"It was the only other time I had travelled to Yggdrasil," Loki said. "I've had no luck in researching another method and time was of the essence. I couldn't afford to delay any longer."
"B…but go…going to Midgard t…to face A…Amora, My P…Prince it is ma…madness!"
Loki snorted, "I am within my rights. If I was a man no one would question it."
"But -"
"Look, I didn't intend for you to be here, neither of you," he shot a pointed look at Sigyn who smirked. "However, Leif you can't go back. For one I wouldn't let you as I couldn't afford you blowing the whistle on me, and two I don't know how. I've only ever travelled to Midgard through the Pathways and that is where I intend to go. So you have a choice, come with me, or stay in Yggdrasil and hope nothing happens."
"You can't do that," Sigyn protested. "He could die out here."
"Then he better think his options through carefully," Loki answered with a sneer. It earned him a fierce scowl, but Loki stood firm. He did not enjoy putting Leif into this position, he wouldn't have if things were not so difficult. But it had to be done and Loki knew that as a Prince he was going to have to make hard choices one day. He'd just not anticipated it being now.
Leif, contrary to what Loki thought, didn't panic. He didn't shout, scream or run away. He merely stood there, a look on his face that seemed more affronted than worried.
"Prince L…Loki," he said. "I c…cannot believe y…you would th…think such a t…t…thing of me!"
Loki blinked, surprised that even with the stuttering, Leif was managing to sound almost scolding.
"I could n…never dream of l…leaving you," Leif continued, arms moving to cross over his chest in clear defiance. "I…if you are g…going to Mi…Midgard to stop Amora, t…then I am too!"
The two boys stared at each other; the Prince thrown by the abrupt declaration while his Valet continued to glare. Their contest though was broken by the sweet giggles of Sigyn, whose laughter grew when both turned to gape at her.
"Boys are just so dramatic," she managed to get out, making both frown.
"Oi, there's no need to be rude about it," Loki said.
"L…Lady Sigyn, b…boys always have to d…declare their f…feelings clearly. I…it's hard to d…do so a…any other way. W…well that's what M…mother says."
"Like I said," she snorted with a superior air. "Dramatic."
Leif sputtered a further protest, but Loki ignored the two. Finally, free of any distractions the Young Prince was able to take stock around him. Yggdrasil had not changed since he had last visited. The same endless nothing that appeared to lead nowhere and somewhere at the same time. The vivid flashes of colour that flicker about, creating patterns and twisted pictures that Loki could have easily stared at for an eternity. He wondered if the Norn would make a reappearance, he could have used any wisdom they would have felt inclined to share, but time was not on Loki's side and he was unwilling to wait around to see if his luck would change.
"Which way should we go?" the question brought Loki from his thoughts. Turning he saw Sigyn surveying Yggdrasil, unsuccessfully keeping the awe off her face. Leif had no such reserve, content to stare openly, gasping when the lights flickered just a touch too brightly.
Loki shrugged, "the last time I came here, the Norn explained how I could direct Yggdrasil with my Seidr."
"Direct Yggdrasil?"
"You've met a Norn?!" Sigyn exclaimed, blue eyes bulging as she gaped. Loki waved a dismissive hand.
"They were only a minor one, it's not as though they were one of the Three Sisters."
"Don't trivialise the Norns," Sigyn admonished, but Loki ignored her.
"The path appeared beneath my feet and I simply followed it, however," he turned to Leif and Sigyn with a thoughtful frown. "I don't know if you two will be able to follow me."
"I have some skill in Seidr," Sigyn said with a huff. "If you showed me, I could possibly create my own path."
"Um … I …"
"The drain is pretty steep," Loki said. "How deep is your well?"
Sigyn paused, unsure how to answer, Loki glanced at Leif who was muttering quietly to himself. "I d…don't think I … I have a…any Se…Seidr."
"You think it could take it all?" Sigyn asked.
"I had barely enough last time," Loki said.
"Perhaps it would be better to combine our Seidr then," Sigyn mused. "If you had enough to transport only yourself last time, then mine could be used to anchor Leif and myself to you."
"It's the only option we've got."
"Erm … my P…Prince, m…my Lady, what are we doing?"
Sigyn smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Leif's shoulder, "don't worry. Prince Loki is going to create his path through Yggdrasil. To make sure we can follow him, I'm going to link my Seidr with his so that the whole thing won't collapse under our weight."
Leif stared bug eyed and Loki wasn't sure he completely understood. "All you have to worry about it following," he explained, tone soft and trying not to sound too condescending.
Leif nodded and Loki reached out a hand to Sigyn. The Healers Apprentice sniffed, but took it, closing her eyes in preparation. Loki quickly followed suit, reaching for his Seidr which as always adhered to his command. It took a little longer to connect with Sigyn's Seidr, it was strange, being so close to another's, as the only Seidr Loki had ever tried to connect to was Frigga's and even then, he had struggled. Sigyn's Seidr was light, warm, like a breeze on a summer's day. So unlike Loki's own Seidr, which his Mother had likened to a fresh frost covered field, the smell of winter.
Concentrating, Loki pushed through his Seidr's natural aversion, until the two opposite Seidr's clicked together. Sigyn's hand flinched in his grip, but she didn't let go, instead locking her own Seidr around Loki's, ensuring that they could work together. As Loki anchored himself, he studied Sigyn's Seidr. There was nowhere near as deep a well as Loki himself had, which could cause an issue if they lingered in Yggdrasil.
Opening his eyes, Loki glanced at Sigyn, she nodded. Checking behind he tilted his head at Leif, who while still appearing as though he could faint at any moment, swallowed and gave his Prince a decisive nod.
"Let's go."
Loki took a step forward, their destination clear in his mind. The path beneath his feet followed him, opening ahead, leading the way to Midgard and with luck, Amora.
They travelled slowly; Loki not willing to pick up the pace too much. Sigyn kept in contact with him, funnelling her Seidr into Loki's giving him the extra boost he needed so that all of them could travel along the path. Yggdrasil drained his Seidr with little care, sucking it away much faster than when he was last there. Loki could only attribute that to the passengers he carried, he only hoped he would be able to hold out until they reached Midgard.
"How much further?" Sigyn asked. The Healers Apprentice was also starting to struggle, sweat was dripping from her forehead, staining her blonde locks a darker colour.
"Hopefully not much."
"W…we could s…stop for a while," Leif suggested, but Loki shook his head.
"I'm not sure if we'd be able to continue if we stopped, better to just keep going."
"Does an…anything else l…linger here?" Loki frowned, surprised by the question.
"Within Yggdrasil?" Leif nodded. "I doubt it, the branches are not known for supporting life."
"What about the Norn you saw?" Sigyn said.
"The Norns live at the roots of Yggdrasil," Loki countered. "Besides you can't exactly call the Norns life, more like spirits."
"S…so nothing l…lives here?"
"I'm pretty sure, Leif."
"Then w…what's that?" A shaking finger came over Loki's shoulder, pointing off into the white mass that was Yggdrasil. Loki's followed, eyes narrowing as he came upon a dark speck some distance away.
"What is that?" Sigyn voiced for them all, pausing in her steps along the Pathway.
"Don't stop," Loki admonished, but it didn't keep his own pace from faltering as he stared curiously. "It's probably nothing."
"But th…there's been no other b…black colours t…that I've seen," Leif said, and Loki had to agree with him. From his last visit to this one, black had not been seen throughout the colours that spun around Yggdrasil.
"Perhaps it's another doorway," Sigyn venture. "To Hellheim or Muspelheim."
"Then w…why is i…it getting closer?"
Loki frowned, peering at the tiny speck that was indeed getting closer.
"Could there be anyone else walking the Pathways?" Sigyn asked.
"Unless they have an artefact that would be impossible," Loki said, who stared in open awe at the black dot that grew steadily bigger.
"M…maybe it is the A…Allfather?" Leif stuttered in clear fear. "Oh, he w…will be so an…angry."
"Leif don't be dumb, the Allfather wouldn't -"
"It's stopped."
Loki stopped his rant to glance at Sigyn who was frowning in clear confusion. She was right, the black speck which had turned into more of an indistinct smudge had stopped. Loki gulped, unsure why he got the feeling something was watching him. As all three children held their breath, the shape flickered, then with a sudden burst of speed headed right for them.
"What the -?"
"It's coming!"
"Don't panic, it's -" however the rest of Loki's orders were shut off as a shape materialised before them, bearing down on the three with a regal air.
"In all the Nine," Sigyn muttered near breathless and Loki had to agree with her awe. Truly what was before them was a sight to behold.
"It's a s…stag," Leif pointed out, blunt and to the point but in clear confusion. "W…why is th…there a stag here?"
"It's not just a stag," Sigyn snapped, though she lowered her voice as the great being before them twitched. "He is one of the four Great Stags of Yggdrasil. Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór."
The stag reared its head at the second name and Loki had to gasp at the amount of understanding that was present within the creature's dark soulful eyes. Though no life such as what consisted on the Nine Realms could live in Yggdrasill, sprits and deities where a whole other story.
He'd been told tales of the four Stags of Yggdrasil and the description was clearly inaccurate. Most accounts believed the beings to be of similar countenance to the red stags of Midgard, and they were, in colour at least. The red coat mistaken for black at the distance Leif had first spied the creature at, but from there things radically altered. Dvalinn, as Loki was sure that was this Stag's name, would have dwarfed any Midgardian red stag it came across, along with a few other creatures which lived on the many branches of Yggdrasil. Nostrils flared at the end of a long snout, followed by a huffed whinny which revealed flat, but large teeth.
Loki was sure that if pressed Dvalinn would have no problem using them to break a bone. The same could be said from the cloven hooves, which stomped along their own path which glowed a bright gold, swallowing Loki's smaller Pathway with its brilliance. But it wasn't any of that which had the three children swallowing in nervous fear. Two hulking horns sprouted from the top of the stag's head, curling up until they reached sharp points, which would no doubt be able to spear a full-grown Asgardian.
Dvalinn blinked at them, before lowering his giant head and sniffed above the three travellers.
"Wh…what's it d…doing?"
"Shh," Sigyn hissed, though Loki had to agree with Leif's question.
Dvalinn didn't seem to mind the voices, instead fixing them with eyes that understood more than Loki would have thought possible. The head came down further and with a gentleness that should be impossible of a creature so large, nuzzled its snout at Loki's chest.
The action was enough to have Loki stumbling, the helping hands of Leif and Sigyn barely keeping him on his feet.
"C…careful my P…Prince," Leif stuttered.
"I'm fine," Loki waved them away. "It was hardly -"
However, the rest of Loki's dismissal was cut short as the great being once again nuzzled its snout against his chest, knocking him backwards.
"What the -?" Loki groused as he stumbled, luckily not falling. "What are you trying to do?"
"My Prince," Loki ignored Leif's fretting along with Sigyn's disapproving scowl, levelling his own angered gaze to Dvalinn.
The Great Stag did not seem offended, though it snorted loudly, stamping one of its hoofs as though in irritation before once again nudging its head at the children, forcing all three to step back.
"W…what's it d…doing?" Leif whispered; fear clearly audible.
"I think it's trying to tell us something." Loki shot a look at Sigyn, who sniffed at his disbelief. "He is a spirit of Yggdrasil; you can't tell me you believe him to be unintelligent?"
Before Loki could offer any kind of retort, Dvalinn tensed, head whipping up so he stood poised before the children.
"Hey," Loki said softly, stepping forward with caution. "What's wrong?"
He received no reply, only Dvalinn twisting his head back to look in the direction from which he had appeared. Instinctively Loki followed his gaze, only to gasp as at the sight of another black shape swiftly gaining on them.
"What -?"
Dvalinn suddenly reared, hooves almost striking Loki in the temple, if it wasn't for the quick hands of Leif, he would have ended up brained.
"P…Prince Loki!" Leif cried, though his concern fell on deaf ears.
"Whoa, calm down," Loki tried to reason with Dvalinn as it turned abruptly in a circle, hooves pounding angrily on his golden Pathway.
"What's wrong with him?" Sigyn asked in equal parts concern and fear.
"I don't know," Loki said, gingerly taking a step closer, though it was swiftly aborted as the Great Stag reared once again, before charging off towards where the dark shape was coming closer.
"What is he doing?" Sigyn questioned.
"I don't know."
"M…maybe we sh…should go?"
"We can't just walk away," Sigyn said indignantly. "He is a great protector spirit of Yggdrasil do you know how many people would kill for the chance -"
The last of Sigyn's lecture was cut off as just as Dvalinn would have collided with the dark mass, that had steadily built into an indistinct smudge, something bright and purple hued exploded from the shape heading right for them.
"Duck!" Loki ordered as was thankful when the two followed the command. The blast luckily sailed right over their heads to disappear into the further reaches of Yggdrasil.
"What was that?"
"I…I don't -"
"Look!"
Both boys followed Sigyn's pointed finger. Riding from the black smudge were smaller shapes, flitting through the colour flecked whiteness that was Yggdrasil. As Loki peered closer, he could vaguely make out the shape of a cruiser of some kind, similar to the smaller ships that Asgardian's used to navigate the sea and sky of Asgard.
"What is that?" he mused, though he didn't have time to dwell on it as another blast came to them, narrowly passing them by on the left.
"They're shooting at us!" Sigyn screeched, hands coming up to cover her head. Leif trembled, caught between fear and confusion as he stared at the dark mass as it grew larger, swallowing up Dvalinn whose snorts and cries were followed by the unmistakable sound of gun fire.
"Run!" Loki commanded, grabbing a hold of Sigyn's hand to channel his Seidr, forming his green Pathway beneath his feet. Leif thankfully followed, keeping within in Loki's hastily constructed Pathway.
They fled, blasts dogging their footsteps as the great cloud grew closer. Loki tried his best to ignore the instinct to look back, keeping his concentration on his Seidr and hopefully finding the gateway that would lead them to Midgard.
A grunt followed by a huff of someone falling had Sigyn pulling up short, which in turn halted Loki.
"Come on, we don't have time -!"
"Leif!"
Loki cursed as he saw that it was his Valet that had fallen. Sprawled on the rapidly diminishing remains of Loki's green Pathway.
"By the Norns!" Loki hissed, releasing Sigyn to run over to Leif. The Healer's Apprentice protested, but Loki was sure that his Pathway would hold if he was quick, after all it shared her Seidr. The same could not be said for Leif.
Diving down, Loki gripped Leif's arm, with a harsh yank he tried desperately to pull him to his feet.
"Come on! Get up!"
"M…my ankle."
The dawning horror of that statement leaped up and almost crushed Loki's heart. Glancing down he saw that indeed his Valet's ankle was badly twisted, probably from trying to stop his fall, only now it impeded him from running.
Slinging one arm over his shoulders, Loki started moving forward, but their pace was slow and hindered by the ever-continuing bombardment of shots by whatever chased them.
"Come on, Leif," Loki encouraged as he moved back along his disappearing path. "Sigyn will be able to heal you. But you must run now."
"P…Prince L…Loki, I c…can't," a hiss of pain crept passed Leif's lips, though it was swallowed up by the noise of the gaining black mass of creatures behind them. "Y…You must l…leave me."
Loki snorted, "No."
"Y…You must!"
"I'm not leaving you!" Loki snapped, glaring down at the frightened yet determined face of his Valet. "I'm your Prince and what I say you do. Now get up and -!"
"Look out!"
Sigyn's warning came a fraction of a second too late. Something black loomed over head, shooting down at the two struggling boys.
Instinctively Loki ducked, covering Leif with his body. The blasts fell short, skittering around them so they disappeared into the vastness of Yggdrasil. Something roared and the blasts stopped, though Loki didn't move.
"Come on," Loki urged when he dared not stay still any longer. Gripping Leif painfully he heaved for all he was worth.
"They're coming back!"
Sigyn's shout had Loki looking up, this time the shape was lower, allowing Loki to see what was bearing down on them. The ship was smaller than Loki had ever seen on Asgard, big enough to seat two people, which is what this vessel currently possessed. One in the front to navigate the long antenna like controls, while another stood behind, raining down blasts intent this time to make the killing shots. Though it wasn't the blaster fire that had Loki gasping, that honour fell to the creatures that manned the ship itself.
Taller than most Asgardian's and skin a sickly grey colour, mostly naked apart from a bronze headpiece and loincloth which Loki assumed covered more private areas. A face snarled at the two boys that Loki thought appeared more like an insect than a man, revealing long teeth that Loki had no doubt could easily tear through flesh. Loki had never seen such creatures before, in all his reading about the Nine Realms, he had never heard of beings as such as what was before him.
Leif gasped as the ship cruised overhead. More blasts came, but this time Loki was not so fortunate. It was a glancing blow, burning his arm more than penetrating it, and his armour took most of the damage, but it couldn't stop the hiss of pain escaping his lips.
"Prince Loki!" Leif exclaimed, but Loki was done. Throwing out an arm with a yell, he directed his Seidr to come to his aid. Following his unconscious thoughts, a green Seidr bolt materialled from the end of his fingers, careening into the air to crash head long into the ship which didn't expect such an attack.
Upon impact the ship shuddered, then exploded in a shower of metal and fire. Loki ducked low once again, pulling Leif close so they were huddled on the Pathway. When the immediate aftermath had passed Loki set off again, finally making it to Sigyn who was swift to grab one of Leif's hands to pull the arm over her shoulder.
"We need to go!" Loki said, rushing as much as he was able to with Leif's added weight.
"What are they?" Sigyn whispered as they stubbled hurriedly as the mass of creatures followed in their wake.
"I don't know."
"I've never heard of such spirits in Yggdrasil."
"I don't think they're from Yggdrasil."
"What?"
Whatever else Loki could have said was swallowed up by the heavy fire of more blasts in their direction. Loki gritted his teeth, now that he was not touching Sigyn, he didn't have the boost of her Seidr. The drain had started full force once more, dragging at him, wanting him to slow down to recover. But he couldn't afford to do that, they needed to get out of Yggdrasil as soon as possible.
"Where is it?!" he mumbled, bending low as another shot came too close. The Pathway beneath his feet shivered, then suddenly to shot further ahead of them towards a shimmering haze that hung in the white space of Yggdrasil. Loki's heart leapt.
"There!"
"Where?"
"Just keep following the path," was all Loki could say. Taking a firm grip of Leif, he picked up the pace. Leif let out a pained whimper. "Just hold on a bit longer."
Leif bit his lip but nodded. Satisfied, Loki and Sigyn pushed faster, racing for the end of the Pathway and their only hope of escape. The shimmering grew bigger, Loki could just make out a swirl of colours, browns, greens and black. Blaster shots came from behind, peppering around the children as they ran.
"Are we sure this is right?" Sigyn cried as they neared impact.
"Just keep going!"
"Do we go through or -?"
"Go!"
They hit the haze; Loki felt something warm wash over him before it was quickly replaced by a biting breeze. The drain of Yggdrasil vanished, Loki gasped, and his knees locked up causing him to fall, dragging Leif and Sigyn down with him.
"P…Prince Loki!"
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Loki battered away the hands that sort him, pushing himself up with more effort than he would have liked. Twisting he looked behind him. The shimmer of the Pathway from Yggdrasil was still there, hovering innocently. A bright purple flash erupted, making all three travellers cringe and shuffle away. Once it dissipated Loki could barely make out the swarm which had chased them. They buzzed around the portal, reigning down fire which harmlessly splashed against then portal. It stayed that way for a few extra seconds before the shimmering began to shrink until it had disappeared.
The three sat in silence, their ragged breaths the only thing to fill it. It was a few minutes before Sigyn gulped.
"What just happened?"
"I…I don't know," was all the answer Loki could offer, the shock and adrenaline leaving his system not helping, along with the severe drain of his Seidr. A pained whimper had both coming from their shock. Loki shuffled around to see Leif, rolled on to his back, gripping at his ankle.
"Leif," Loki started towards him, but Sigyn beat him to it.
"Keep still, you've most likely twisted it," she admonished, tutting as she settled the Valet, hands digging into her bag to pull out a healing stone. It was swiftly placed over the damaged limb, lighting up so Sigyn could use the stored energy for healing.
Loki struggled to sit up, his body aching as his Seidr tried to gather itself. From his position he took in his surroundings. It was almost the exact opposite of where he had landed last time he had come to Midgard. It appeared they had arrived in some sort of forest, the trees surrounded them on all sides creating a small clearing which now housed all three children. The heat and desert of the last time replaced with trees, grass and a cold wind which tugged at Loki's raven locks.
Apart from Leif's whimpering all was quiet, which Loki found deeply unsettling after the drama of their flight through Yggdrasil. He frowned as he glanced at where the portal had disappeared, what were those creatures? Some spirit of Yggdrasil? But Loki thought they appeared much more corporal, but if that was so how did living beings come to be trapped between the branches?
"There, all done," the Young Prince turned to see Sigyn helping Leif to sit up, who was flexing his ankle carefully. "It'll be tender for a few hours, luckily it was only a sprain and not a break."
Leif winced, but managed a grateful smile. "Thank you."
Sigyn nodded, coming to her feet and wiping down her robes, tossing her blonde braid over her shoulder as she glanced about. "So this is Midgard?"
"Aye," Loki said, crossing to help Leif to his feet, steadying him as he placed weight on his healed ankle. "Though it is not the same as when I was last here."
"W…What do y…you mean?" Leif stammered.
"Well there's no desert."
"Midgard is a desert?" Sigyn asked and Loki shrugged.
"Some parts of it are."
"What a strange Realm."
"That doesn't matter," Loki ran a hand through is hair in agitation. "We need to figure out where we are?"
"You don't know?" Sigyn looked incredulous as Loki sighed.
"The Pathway only led to Midgard," Loki explained. "The last time I did it, it took me to the closest area to Thor."
"B…but wh…what about t…this time?" Leif asked.
"Well you know Amora -"
"Why would Amora be in a forest?" Sigyn question and Loki grumbled.
"I don't know, maybe she's close by." Closing his eyes, Loki reached out to his Seidr, he manged to grapple with it to start a search, but the drain was enough to have him staggering against a tree as what little Seidr he had left refused to respond.
"Prince Loki!" Leif exclaimed, hands already there to help.
"I'm fine," Loki tried to wave him off, but his vision swam.
"What did you just do?" Sigyn asked, stomping over to grip his chin in strong fingers. Twisting his face this way and that as she looked him over.
"Not enough Seidr," Loki said when she finally released him. "I was trying to sense Amora."
"Well that's just stupid," Sigyn huffed which had Leif stuttering in his Prince's defence. "It is, you said that Yggdrasil would feed off your Seidr. Why in all of Helheim would you try to use it so soon after coming out."
"We can't just hang around here," Loki said. "In case you've forgotten my absence will most likely have been noticed by now and Amora won't hang around for us to catch her up. We need to -"
"I know I know," Sigyn dismissed him, lifting her robes to sit down crossed legged on the grass. The two boys glanced at each other in confusion before Leif muttered.
"My L…Lady, wh…what are you d…doing?"
"The Prince isn't the only one with Seidr," Sigyn said as she closed her eyes, palms resting on her knees. "Though with the way he carries on you'd think he was the next coming of Mimir."
"Hey, I don't -"
"Shh, I'm trying to concentrate."
Loki would have growled in frustration, but he could already feel the swirls of Seidr picking up around Sigyn. Taking Leif's shoulder, he moved them a little further away, too close and their own natural Seidr could throw off Sigyn's search. Most skilled Seidr users had no problem with working around others, but Loki didn't know Sigyn's level and he wasn't willing to risk anything going wrong. Not when it involved Amora.
"W…what's she doing?" he heard Leif whisper.
"Searching for Amora's Seidr signature."
"Seidr ha…has a s…signature?"
"Of course," Loki said. "Just like every swordsman has a style, the flavour of each Seidr users Seidr is different. And with enough practise and skill you can track that signature to find them."
Leif stared opened mouth while Loki continued to watch Sigyn. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she stretched her Seidr out in her search.
"W…will she f…feel it?"
Loki blinked at the question. "Can who feel what?"
"Lady A…Amora," Leif said. "Wi…will she be a…able to feel L…Lady Sigyn ser…searching for her?"
Loki frowned, "I don't think so. I've never heard of anyone being able -"
A gasp cut the last of Loki's words. Both boys looked to Sigyn, whose whole body had hunched over, chest heaving as she clutched it tightly, eyes wide in shock.
"L…Lady Sigyn!" Leif cried as he and Loki dashed to the girl.
"Are you alright?" Loki asked, hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder. Crystal blue eyes bulged and Sigyn whipped around to stare at the Young Prince, mouth open but no sound coming forth. "Sigyn?"
"I…I wasn't expecting her to be so hot. It was like her Seidr was burning me." She blinked and Loki saw fear wash over her features. "She's twisted up inside. So much hate, so much sadness. How is she even still alive?"
"Who w…was, Lady S…Sigyn?"
"Amora," Loki growled, grip tightening causing Sigyn to wince. "You found her?" She nodded and Loki leaned closer. "Where?"
"Prince Loki, L…Lady Sigyn needs -"
"Germany," Sigyn whispered, hands coming up to wrap around her waist in a hug. "Stuttgart, Germany."
Even after the revelation of where Amora was, the three travellers were a long way off from being able to confront her. They had walked through the dense forest, Sigyn navigating due to Loki's Seidr still recovering from the drain of Yggdrasil. The sky, barely visible through the trees, darkened steadily until they were walking in blackness. Loki was able to conjure a handful of light to see, but it was a strain and he was thankful when they finally stumbled upon civilization.
The Young Prince had hoped they would be able to find a quiet place to stop for the night, so they could rest and evaluate what their next steps would be. Unfortunately, their appearance at the local tavern caused quite a stir.
"How did you end up all the way in the Black Forest?" a Midgardian woman asked, who after ushering the surprised patrons from the tavern had introduced herself as Petra, the owner of the tavern. She covered Sigyn with a blanket, while shoving a bowl of soup into her hands. She had already given the same treatment to Leif and Loki, barking orders at her frazzled looking husband, Walter, who was stoking a large fireplace where the flames roared high.
"W…we -"
"We were lost," Loki swiftly cut in thankful for the AllSpeak that allowed him to understand what the Midgardian was saying. He took a careful sip of the hot soup. It didn't taste too foul, though it was rather bland for Loki's taste, he had always preferred his food on the spicier side. "We were camping in the forest and we lost our parents."
The woman tutted as Loki shot Leif and Sigyn significant looks.
"Your parents are still out there?" Walter asked as he straightened, eyeing the fire critically before turning to the children.
Loki shrugged, "we assumed they had gone back to our camp. But we were so turned around we're probably far from there by now."
"You've been out there all alone?" Petra questioned, though she didn't wait for a confirmation. "Walter, we should call the police."
"There's nothing they can do about it tonight, Petra," Walter sighed, rubbing at the thick beard that covered his jaw. "I'll call them in the morning, the children will be safe here tonight."
Loki watched as the couple fell to bickering, it would not be helpful to them if they were detained by the Midgardians. They had Amora's location but that didn't mean she was going to stay their long. After all three had been forced to finish their food, Petra had escorted them upstairs, placing Loki and Leif in one room and Sigyn in another.
She had not waited around, simply provided them with fresh clothes before bidding them a goodnight and assurances not to worry about their parents.
At her retreat Loki had been quick to stop Leif from saying a word. Holding up his hand as he paced to the door, listening carefully. He heard her given the same words to Sigyn before closing the door and the thump of footsteps on the stairs confirmed the cost was clear. Gesturing to Leif, Loki opened the door and slipped out, padding across the distance to Sigyn's room he knocked quietly before pushing the door open.
"Hurry up and shut the door," Sigyn hissed from her seat on the bed. As Leif crossed the threshold Loki was quick to do as asked, throwing up a silencing spell for good measure. The pull on his Seidr was worse than what it should have been, such a simple spell would normally have not even touched his Seidr reserves, but thankfully he could hold the casting.
"That should work for now."
"Wh…what if she c…checks on us?" Leif asked.
"I think we have time before that," Loki said, taking in Sigyn's room. It was the same as the one Loki and Leif had been given. One double bed, a chest of draws, wardrobe and a large fireplace which had some sort of black stone hanging above it. Apart from the strange black object it reminded Loki almost of home, with the wood and stone settings and gold and brown colourings, Loki could believe he was in a guest room in one of Asgards many taverns.
"So, what's the plan now?" Sigyn asked. "We're still nowhere near Amora."
"You can tell?"
Sigyn shivered as she nodded. "I've been keeping track of her Seidr, it hasn't moved."
"Then we still have time," Loki said, pulling something small and thin from his pocket.
"What i…is that?"
"A map I believe," Loki answered Leif's question while unfolding the map on the bed beside Sigyn.
"Where did you get that?" the Healer's Apprentice frowned, and Loki smirked.
"There was a stack in front of the tavern, I simply took one."
"You stole it?!"
"There were plenty there."
"You can't abuse hospitality -"
"I…I think we a…are here."
The Prince and Apprentice broke off their argument to stare at Leif, who was peering at the map in curious concentration.
"Where?" Loki asked, coming up beside his Valet.
"Here," Leif placed a finger on the map, over a series of letters that rearranged themselves into the runic language that Loki and most Asgardians were taught at birth.
"Wolfach?" he asked, sounding at the word which was difficult to roll off his tongue. "How do you know that's where we are?"
"T…the elevations," Leif stuttered, tapping the tip of his finger against the barely visible numbers which were dotted about the map. "I r…recognised them f…from when we came i…into t…town."
"You could tell the elevations of the area just by looking at them?" Loki gaped as his Valet flushed.
"A…aye."
Loki was impressed, even he with all his tutors help couldn't tell the elevations of terrain just by looking at them. It was a skill that most army generals would be envious of. Tyr most certainly would be grilling Leif to show him on how he did it. "Have you had any battle training?"
Leif quickly shook his head. "N…no my Prince n…nothing above t…the standard c…classes."
"You would have surely been scouted for a skill such as this," Loki said, gesturing to the map even as Leif continued to flush under the praise. "You must have -"
"I was c…considered u…unsuitable for b…battle training P…Prince Loki," the Young Prince was surprised when Leif stutteringly cut him off, his Valet had never done so on any other occasion. Though from the way Leif averted his eyes refusing to even look at Loki, firmly fixing them on the map, the Trickster couldn't help but think there was more to that statement.
"But-"
"Here's St…Stuttgart," Leif moved his finger up until it rested on another word. Loki reluctantly turned his attention back to the matter at hand, though he frowned as he examined the distance.
"That's a long way."
"Indeed," Sigyn agreed, her own blue eyes flicking from Leif to the map in suspicion. "It would take more than a day of walking."
"P…perhaps we c…could find h…horses," Leif suggested.
"I didn't see any horses the last time I visited Midgard," Loki said as he thought furiously. "Thor mentioned the Midgardians no longer use animals to get around."
"They can't simply walk everywhere," Sigyn scoffed with Leif nodding at her side. "And I doubt they have any Long ships."
"I believe Thor said they used cars."
"W…what's a car?" Leif asked, fingers twitching nervously.
"A sort of metal beast."
"How can such a thing exist?" Sigyn gasped as Leif whimpered in fear.
Loki shrugged, "Thor says they build them, though their power source is something to do with 'fossil fuels'."
"How can fossils fuel anything?"
"Look I don't know," Loki said, exasperated. "But I think if we find one of these cars, we'll be able to get to Stuttgart quicker."
"Do you even know how to pilot on of these cars?" Sigyn asked with a sceptical sneer.
"How hard can it be," Loki smirked, while Sigyn rolled her eyes.
The three continued to plan. Once satisfied Loki and Leif retreated to their room to get some much-needed sleep, before rousing themselves before dawn to make their move. Loki had found it simple to sneak into Petra and Walter's room. The two Midgardians were deep in their slumber, so Loki was swiftly able to cast his spell. A simple memory alteration. It would not work on most of the beings in the Nine Realms, the natural Seidr most carried within them making the spell last barely an hour. But Midgardians didn't have Seidr, it was rather strange for Loki not to feel the usual pulsing energies that permitted from most beings. It wasn't much of a change, Loki simply added a memory that their parents had arrived at the tavern, frantic and overjoyed to find their missing children, before whisking them away, Petra and Walter content that all was well.
Satisfied, Loki left, finding Sigyn and Leif waiting in the corridor. The three slipped downstairs, out of the tavern, unlocking the door with a wave of a hand. Once out on the street they set about the next stage of their plan.
They had seen several cars on the street when they came into town, so taking one, with a little help from Seidr would be no problem.
The beast they settled on was a small thing, a bright red colour that was parked awkwardly in a pen beside the tavern. Loki nodded to Sigyn, who with her Seidr opened the side panels to allow the three children to crawl inside.
Loki crept into the front, a wheel with pedals beneath greeted him. He sat in the seat, pressing his feet to the pedals, but he could barely push them all the way down.
"W…what do we d…do now?" Leif whispered.
"How do you turn it on?"
"Give me a moment," Loki hissed. He studied the wheel, it was nothing like the tillers that were used to steer the Long ships of Asgard, those were heavy and could be difficult to pull into position. Whereas when Loki gripped the wheel it moved fairly easily. Stretching with his Seidr Loki allowed it to work its way through the contraption. He still had a hard time believing that the thing was not alive, especially when after several moments a roar came from beneath them.
"W…what is that!?" Leif screeched with Sigyn appearing just as disturbed.
"What ever powers this," Loki said, his Seidr moving the stick which sat to his right and pushing down the pedals so that the car started to move. One of the perks of Seidr was that it was able to integrate itself with most things without any knowledge from the caster. Loki had bonded with Asta, his horse this way, it allowed them to work more closely with each other, creating a bond so that Loki could protect and guide his mount in battle with greater efficiency.
Twisting the wheel Loki moved the car out of the pen and onto the black streets that Loki assumed was what the cars travelled on. "Which way?"
"Left, i…it will take u…us out of town," Leif answered, the map open before him as he traced their route.
Loki let his mind slip into his Seidr, allowing it to direct him as it needed, piloting the car with no conscious thought from its wielder. Sigyn kept a close eye on him as they drove, monitoring his Seidr levels in case he tanked. But Loki wasn't worried, his Seidr had never let him down, and as they passed through Wolfach and out into open territory, Loki was positive that it would see him all the way to face Amora.