"You won't do anything?!"
"My son, we have no proof that Tyr was behind this bit of trickery."
"Trickery?" Loki laughed in disbelief, "Turning wine into serpents is trickery. Filling the guards' armor with itching powder is trickery. Believe me, Allfather, I know what trickery is and drugging, kidnapping, and trying to murder a woman is not trickery."
The guards in the room looked uncomfortably at each other, wondering which poor saps had gotten the itching powder in the armor. There would probably be more victims to the stuff shortly because when the second born prince of Asgard was on a rampage… people suffered from all sorts of inconveniences even if they had nothing to do with his anger.
"You speak truly," Odin replied, "Still, we have no proof that Tyr is responsible for these actions."
"Maisy saw him-"
"As you said, she was drugged and not thinking clearly. The cold addled her mind."
"I cannot believe you would not take her word on this! We both know that Tyr is behind this! We both know he wants her dead! Why would you continue to protect the man who threatened your daughter-in-law?!"
"Loki…" Odin sighed, "It is the word of a Midgardian."
"No, it is the word of my Midgardian. Isn't that it?" Loki spat, crossing his arms, "Because she is my wife you cannot trust a thing she says."
"That is not the reason."
"Then tell me why, Allfather. I eagerly await your answer."
"It is not merely because she is part of your household that I do not believe her," Odin said firmly, "It is because I do not believe that my lifelong friend, Tyr would cause such pain. And until I have solid evidence that it was him, I will not believe it."
"Because you do not wish to believe it," Loki said with resignation. He shook his head, spun on his heel, and briskly walked away from the king.
The guards did not wish to doubt the Allfather, but they both found that they were starting to believe the prince over their sovereign ruler.
"I just wish to apologize again, princess, for my negligence as your escort. It sickens me to think of what nearly occurred because of it," Fandral said from where he was kneeling on the floor.
"Seriously, it's okay," Maisy said awkwardly, not sure what to do when there was someone bowing to her and she wanted them to stop, "It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known that Caxton was going to poison you, give you the antidote, toss you in the basement, and drug me. If anything it's my fault for getting you poisoned."
"I should have been more vigilant."
"Yes, you should have," Loki stormed into the lounge that Maisy had been hiding out in for the day, "Now get out of my sight."
"Of course," Fandral stood, bowed from the waist, and then turned to go, "Once more, my most sincere apologies."
"I take it that the meeting with Odin didn't go too well?" Maisy asked, smoothing her skirt.
"He refuses to believe Tyr is behind this. I doubt he shall do anything until he sees that bastard standing over your corpse with a bloodied knife in hand. Damn him!"
"Ooh, Loki's back and swearing!" Linn walked into the room with a tray full of snacks, "I leave for a few minutes and suddenly everyfing gets interesting!"
"Why are you both in here anyway?" Loki asked, taking a deep breath and calming down somewhat, "You should be in our rooms, where it's safer."
"Yeah," Linn said defensively, "But dis room got no doors. And Maisy is feeling a tad shy about doors and locks and whatnot lately. So we're here. And we was having a grand time till you came along."
"So Odin isn't going to do anything about Tyr?" Maisy cut in, "And he's just going to go free?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Loki clenched his fists, "Once I find him he'll wish he had been caught by Odin. At least the king would show some mercy."
"You don't have to kill him."
"I most certainly do!" Loki exclaimed, "Lest he think of escaping the dungeons and coming after you again. He will die, mark my words."
"What if we went somewhere that he couldn't get me?" Maisy said quietly. She'd been thinking of this idea for the whole day, but she'd thought Odin would take care of Tyr and she would just let the thought fade.
"There is no place in all of Asgard where he would not be able to send his assassins," Loki said, "I still can't believe he turned Caxton against me! I knew he'd do almost anything for a quick bit of gold, but I always thought he had some standards."
"There might not be any place in Asgard," Maisy said carefully, trying to keep him from exploding angrily, "But I doubt Tyr could get to me on Midgard."
Loki froze and stared at her for a minute, not blinking, not moving, just staring. Maisy smiled nervously. Linn's mouth was opening and closing in shock.
"You… want to leave?" Loki said, finally.
"Not forever! Just until we can do something about Tyr."
"Maisy," Loki strode toward her and took her hands in his, "You know I can't stop you from going. Nor can Odin or anyone else, but I truly feel you are safest with me."
"Well… yeah. Duh."
"So, why would you think to leave me?"
"To leave us!" Linn piped up.
"Huh? Oh! No!" Maisy laughed, "I want all three of us to go to Midgard!"
"Whoa," Linn said and looked at Loki. He looked back at her and then they both looked to Maisy.
"All of us? On earth?" Loki said.
"We don't have to," Maisy said quickly, "I was just thinking it would be nice. We could get an apartment. Maybe in New York so I could go to school again! And The Avengers would be nearby-"
"In case I got out of hand?" Loki asked bitterly.
"No, in case Tyr did, somehow, find a way to get to earth. And I could show you all my favorite spots in the city. And I could get a job. And, and, we could fight over who has to take the trash out and unload the dishwasher!"
"You want to fight over chores?" Loki raised a brow at her wistful tone.
"Yes!"
"I fink dat drug might have done somefing to her brain," Linn whispered loudly.
"It's just," Maisy sighed and sat down on one of the couches in the room, "I love it in Asgard, I really, really do, Loki. I love how magical everything is. And the beauty and living in the palace. It's amazing and every day I am awestruck. But sometimes I don't want to be awestruck."
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes," she smiled at him, "I don't want to be the foreigner. I don't want to be the princess. Truth be told, sometimes I don't want to be the wife of the god of tricks and lies-"
"What?"
"I just want to be your wife. Just you and me - and Linn can come too, of course - living our lives without all of the fanfare."
Loki was back to staring at her and Maisy hoped she hadn't offended him.
"Let me get this all sorted: you want to go to Midgard and live unimportant mortal lives doing unimportant mortal things?"
"Yes."
"And you want me to do that as well?"
"If you want to."
"One thing is certain, Tyr would never think to look for us in an apartment in New York."
"Right."
"I'd have to take out the trash?"
"I could do the trash and you could empty the dishwasher! Or vice versa! We can switch it up every now and then!"
"How thrilling," he sat down next to her and smiled slightly, "Thor will mock me for years."
"I'll tell him to shut up, I promise."
"This is what you really, truly want?"
"Just until we're safe from Tyr, then I swear we can come back!"
"If it is what you want then," Loki rolled his eyes, "I suppose it is what I want as well."
"Really?!" Maisy exclaimed.
"Really."
"Now kiss," Linn whispered, watching them intently. The couple turned to look at her and she waved slightly, "Go on. Seal it with a smooch!"
"We do not kiss on command," Loki crossed his arms, but Maisy pecked his cheek anyway.
A note from the author: GET READY FOR DOMESTIC LOKI Y'ALL, CUZ HE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY!
Thank you so much for reading and supporting this story by following and favoriting! I really appreciate it and I hope you are enjoying yourself reading it as much as I am writing it! :D
Special thanks to my dearest darling-est reviewers:
Guest 1: I'm glad you like Idunn! She's pretty kick-butt. :) In Norse myths she's pretty much responsible for keeping the gods immortal so I thought she'd have to be one tough cookie.
ferbette: Idunn probably taped a picture of Tyr to her target and if she knew what Odin was up to she may have added one of him as well. And if he complains about it then she'll say: "No, no, King, apparently I'm allowed to do it. Treasonous you say? Yeah, well so is kidnapping the princess. Apparently you're okay with your oldest friends getting away with treason so I can pretty much do whatever I want." And Odin will just walk away stewing angrily.
irisheyes85: Thanks for reviewing! :D
Guest 2: Your review made me feel all warm and fuzzy so thank you for that! And I think I said Linn was 15 at some point. Or maybe I say that in a later chapter... But she's supposed to be 15. :)
Ninja Squirrel: I just made Caxton read the story about Egil and he's sworn he's moving to Jotunheim and building an igloo and he'll never bother anyone again. He swears, cross his heart and hope to die. He's thoroughly terrified of the reviewers now. ;) Also, I'm glad you liked my picture! I had a ton of fun drawing it!
Lwolf: Yup, he's mad. His blood pressure is through the roof. XD
Guest 3 (who I think is nina del carmen, but correct me if I'm wrong): Good luck with your computer thing! Thanks for reviewing! :)
xlokiswolfx: Awwww! Baby goats! Did you know that in Norse mythology Thor has a cart pulled by goats? And then there was this one awkward time where he cooked the goats... but he brought them back to life the next day, so it was all good!
Dragoncat: I'm so glad you are caught up! :) Thank you so much for your review here and your two reviews on TDDYP and on the Demise of Egil Belison and on Mary, Sue, and the Visitor from Space (I'm not sure when I'll finish that one, but I do plan on finishing it eventually, probably after I finish this one). I really appreciate it! :D
You guys are amazing and wonderful and I couldn't find any better readers in the nine realms! Until next time my friends!