Chapter 7

Valerie gasped. Her jaw falling open as the light faded to reveal a beautiful golden hall. Perfectly spherical and decorated with intricate designs. Behind them was the vast expanse of space and before them was a bridge of crystal that dance with every colour imaginable leading to a palace of gold that glowed with the warmth of the sun on a cold spring morning.

She was drawn away as Loki tugged at her arm that was laced with his. Her attention was short lived however as it quickly turned back to the palace as soon as she realized he was guiding her forwards. He stopped them at the very edge of where gold met crystal. Leaving her there to take it all in as he retreated off to the side to lean back against the golden walls and watch her.

"It's beautiful." She whispered after what felt like an age.

Loki smiles to himself. "Isn't it?"

Valerie licked her lips and addressed the God beside her. She had her suspicions but still needed to ask. "Where are we?"

"Asgard." He replied quickly before waving his hand around, "Well not really. Technically we are still out in the desert. It's an illusion of Asgard." He pauses for a moment. "I can't take you there. Not yet. But I felt you should see it."

"Thank you." She whispered. Still in awe. She cleared her throat, willing her voice to sound stronger. "But why?"

"Should a princess not be familiar with her kingdom?" He smirked.

Valerie rolled her eyes. "Well yes, but I'm not a princess." She snorted. "I'm just a woman trying to find her place in the universe."

"I know." His smile grew at her stubbornness to see what he was laying out before her. "And I'm telling you that place." Valerie scoffed but said nothing, simply casted him a sideways glance to tell him she needed more then that if we was going to believe anything he said. Loki rolled his eyes at her Thor like stubbornness but smiled nonetheless. "I've been watching over you for a long time Valerie. I know you know what this place is, your mother was a mythology major after all. Were these not your bedtime stories."

Valerie gave a slow nod. "You're right." She let out a slow breath. "So, Asgard is a real place. You're the real Loki... and that would mean Thor's been telling the truth." Loki nodded her confirmation. "So," she began slowly after a uncertain silence settled between them. "Which Loki are you."

Loki raised a dark eyebrow.

"Well the stories conflict. Are you Odin's brother or son? Biological or adopted." She fired off quickly.

His face became hard and his eyes dark. Never breaking his gaze he swallowed the lump in his throat slowly. "Odin brought me into his home when I was just a babe."

She nodded, using the motion as a way to turn from his hard gaze. His look was enough for her to know not to linger on the subject. She took a moment to be thankful that her parents had always been open about the circumstances around her adoption and quickly put their conversation back on track. "So how does any of this relate to me?"

The God's smile return and he approached her side. "How's the best way to put this." He mumbled to himself. Loki took her arm again, leading her forward. As they moved the scene around them changed. Laughter and singing echoed off the gold walls forming around them. Shadows began to form, taking shape into tall and broad warriors. It was a large dinning hall, filled with celebration. Loki continued through the room, keeping Valerie close through the memory as he stuck to the wall and weaved about the crowd. He stopped them at the end of the table where a younger version of Thor sat drinking and partying with a number of other people.

"We had just returned to Asgard, celebrating some minor victory I can hardly remember anymore." A younger version of Loki joined the scene, passing out glasses and mugs while none acknowledged him. Behind him entered a tall maid, who began refilling the goblets of mead. Her dress was simple compared to those dancing around her but clung to her shapely form that left little to the imagination. Her blonde hair bounced in ringlets down her back and her pale eyes shown with amusement while she worked. "I don't remember her name anymore but I recall her working in the kitchen. She was kind enough, kept to herself if memory serves." Valerie watched Thor pull her into his lap as she tried to walk past. The maid gave him a playful smack to his shoulder and shared a laugh with him.

Like smoke the scene faded and reformed into a dimly lit hallway, they stood behind the younger Loki as he spied around a large column at his brother and the maid sharing a passionate kiss. "Thor was never discrete in his affairs. I recall her lasting longer then most of his femmes. He told me several weeks later that she was refusing to see him, at the time I thought it odd but nothing more on the matter."

The scene went dark once again before showing a beautiful woman, Valerie would only describe her as an Angel, standing in the centre of a green and black decorated room. She stood cooing over the small bundle in her arms. Nothing but love gracing her soft face. "My mother was the only one who ever knew what had happened between my Brother and the kitchen maid in its entirety."

Younger Loki stumbled into the room and the Queen looked up and smiled as him. The second Loki looked down at the illegitimate princess. Valerie watched the scene unfold around her. Her attention narrowing in on the pair, nearly forgetting the real Loki holding her arm. Her brain became white noise as she tried to process what's happening. Even in her focused state she could only grab onto key words as her own mind filled in the blanks she wasn't seeing from Loki's perspective.

"Loki, my son, I want you to meet your niece."

"Marel, of the kitchen staff."

"Thor is not yet ready to raise a child."

"Her body was not strong enough to handle the birth."

"Midgar."

Loki ended the scene, taking them back to the Biofrost gate. This time three figures shared the room as they bid goodbye to the small girl.

Heimdall wasted no time prepping the biofrost to transport the infant he spoke with purpose as he worked. "Say your goodbyes now. Sending her to Midgar without being noticed will be difficult enough but two trips is sure to be noticed. I must send her alone."

Frigga hugged her tiny, nameless granddaughter to her chest. "Will she be alright?"

The gatekeeper nodded, "I'll be sending her to a small village in Norway. It is evening there and she will sure to be noticed and looked after."

Frigga smiled softly at the girl, "Farewell my sweet girl. Be strong and brave and remember I'll always be watching over you. I prey to whoever may be listening that one day I may hold you in my arms again."

Loki reached up, rubbing a long, pale finger over her cheek. "Be safe." Was all he said to the child.

"It's time." Heimdall announced.

Valerie ripped her arm from Loki's, the scene around them flashed away. The dessert night seemed even more cold and dark after seeing the beauty of the golden city, even with the dim glow of the sun teasing the horizon. "Enough!" She called, turning to face the man who had forced her to watch all that. "Enough. I know what you're implying but I'm not buying it. There's no way. That can't be possible."

Loki gave a wicked grin. "Oh it's very possible." The god moved towards her like a predator, forcing her to back away. "We haven't even gotten to the best part yet." Valerie snapped at him to stop but he refused. She needed to accept this if he was to make his plan work. "The girl was sent to Midgar, your Earth, and was found by a young couple."

Valerie snarled, not wanting to hear anymore. Her life had become a big enough mess already. She didn't want his reality. "I said STOP!"

"Erik and Maria Selvig."

"NO!" Valerie had had enough. Her fist pulled back on it own accord before connecting with the God's jaw. Loki stumbled back but caught himself quickly.

He rubbed his jaw slowly with one cool hand before letting out a low chuckle. "I suppose I deserved that." Loki straightened himself out, pulling the lapels of his jacket into their proper shape and slicking back his hair before continuing. "Did you not wish to find your place? To find out 'what's wrong' with you? I offer you the key to your future and you refuse. Why?"

His tone wasn't angry, he seemed genuinely curious as to why she would refuse the literal keys to the kingdom. Valerie rubbed her hands up her bare arms and found a small dessert shrub to focus her attention on as she spoke so she didn't have to look at him. "Yes I want to find my way but that's not it. That's my past, not my future." She paused her wet her lips, trying to connect her thoughts. "Though I'm thankful to know why I'm so different from everyone else I can't live in the past. You and Frigga chose to give me away, gave me another family. I'm not that person you want me to be."

"Nonsense." Loki countered without any thought. He closed his eyes and cursed himself for letting his emotions jump ahead of himself. "We sent you away to protect you. Don't believe for a moment you were unwanted."

"I never said that." Valerie pointed out. "I said you gave me up, and you did. The reason isn't important." She dropped her arms and let out a frustrated sigh. "Look, I'm not saying I don't want to be part of your family or whatever but this is a lot to take in. I'm sure as hell not ready to be a princess or whatever."

Loki nodded, coming to stand before the young woman and taking her hands in his. "I understand." Loki cursed inwards at the delay in his plans but she would come around. All they had was time. He promised himself he wouldn't push or manipulate her if he could help it. She had to to be willing. "I always have and always will be there for you Valerie. If you ever need me I'll never be far."

Valerie rolled her eyes and gave a light smile, "You're a God, I'm sure you have more important things to do."

Loki took her chin between his cool fingers, forcing her to meet his eyes. "For you Princess, nothing could ever be more important."