A/N: I know you all must be shocked, but I still exist! Hi! A lot has happened! A lot has happened and changed 0 but I'm here! I graduated college, got my supposed dream job - which turned into an absolute nightmare - endured that for too long, quit, started a new (remote) job, moved into a HOUSE, and now I'm getting married to the sweetest human being on Earth later this October. That job really sucked the life out of me, and I lost all sense of my hobbies and passions. It's taken me a year free from it to finally gain a bit of what I lost. I always have wanted to return to this story, but ya know. Life. However, I've had so much fun (and the actual free time to do it) writing this chapter (that I plotted with Team Damon actual freaking years ago). So now I'm back! I can't promise consistency, but I'm going to do my best, because this story and all its' readers mean a lot to me.
If you're still around, hi! I missed you all! If you're new, welcome! And I hope you enjoy. Here's a whopping chapter that I've been hankering to write for literal years (the last part especially). ;)
"You're my sister, Aemilia."
Aemilia lived in a total daze for the entire day following this unexpected discovery. Of all the thoughts she had over finding her potential long-lost family or fantasizing what they would be like, she would never have expected simply - and quite literally - stumbling into her biological, real-life brother at the first tavern she walked into. Naturally, she was elated! She and Calder had an immediate connection, and she knew that he was a good-natured, genuine person. She also evidently had an aunt and little cousins to meet! But then, despite her excitement, she was also deeply nervous - would these people accept her as family or simply a bastard daughter from a foreign world? She didn't believe Calder would lean towards the latter, but then again - this was as much a revelation for him as it was for her.
She hadn't slept for a single moment that night.
Loki stayed up with her, despite their incredibly intimate moment having been thoroughly squashed after Calder left. Aemilia had been abuzz with energy, talking a mile a minute as she began to process this new information. Loki had listened to her intently and gave all the encouragement she needed to muster up the courage to visit her new family the next morning, as Calder had requested.
Loki was incredibly happy for her. His familial revelation had been the worst possible nightmare of an option - for Aemilia to have experienced similar uncertainty with an infinitely more positive outcome had been a huge relief for him. He also immediately warmed up to Calder now that he knew he was Aemilia's brother and not some large, brutish man vying for her affections.
In the late afternoon hours, after some barely touched lunch, Calder rode his horse to the inn and picked Aemilia up. He had warmly greeted her, but she also could tell he was as nervous and lost in thought as she was. They rode in silence towards the home of Calder's aunt - Aemilia's aunt. They passed through the main town and the tavern Aemilia had become so familiar with and went down a small, winding dirt path. Aemilia could sense they were approaching their destination and her heart lurched in her chest with a pang of renewed nerves. She subconsciously clutched at the ring on her neck, taking comfort in the fact that Loki was with her, even if she couldn't see him. He had very gently offered to watch in on her meeting with her new family if that made her feel a bit more confident, and Aemilia had immediately accepted.
They turned a corner and the foliage began to open up to a small meadow clearing with a simple but very well-tended home. Calder's rough, warm voice spoke up for the first time since their departure, "Aemilia, welcome to my home." A large grin spread across Aemilia's cheeks at his welcome.
As they approached, Aemilia saw a woman crouched over an impressive flower and herb bed near the entrance of the house, pulling up some pesky-looking weeds. This must be her aunt Asta. Calder had mentioned how gifted she was with plants. The woman heard them riding up and stood, turning to greet them.
Aemilia's eyes widened as she got her first look at her. The older woman was very tall, probably around 6 feet (clearly Aemilia's mother had somewhat stunted her growth since the paternal side of her family were all very tall). Long, dark auburn waves were gathered into a large braid at the back of her neck, a few tendrils falling towards her hazel eyes - the same eyes Calder had. Aemilia's eyes.
It was as if Aemilia were looking in a mirror, years into the future. Ayre was right - she really did take after her father's side. No wonder Calder had looked at her strangely when they first met.
Calder's horse trotted to a stop. He hopped off with ease and held a large hand out to help Aemilia down. She graciously accepted and once her feet touched the ground, turned back to the woman.
Calder took it upon himself to introduce them. "Asta, I would like for you to meet Aemilia. Aemilia, this is my Aunt Asta."
Asta looked down at Aemilia, eyes bright and friendly. She seemed to take in every plane of Aemilia's face before widely grinning.
She swept Aemilia up in a tight hug. Aemilia's eyes widened and a little surprised laugh escaped her lips as she returned Asta's hug right back. Calder looked on in silence, an affectionate grin tugging at his lips. In a low, warm voice, Asta whispered, "You are your father's daughter."
Aemilia blinked back the pinprick of oncoming tears. This was already beyond what she ever could've imagined. "It's so nice to finally meet you. Thank you so much for inviting me to your lovely home."
Asta's embrace never faltered. "You are welcome anytime, my dear." Their hug was only broken when Aemilia felt a gentle tug on her skirts. She looked down to see a little girl with round, crystalline blue eyes staring back up at her and a little stuffed doll clutched in her arms.
"Who are you?" she asked, her little voice absolutely adorable and instantly melting Aemilia's heart.
Asta lightly laughed. "Brenna, use your manners. This is Aemilia. She's...your cousin." Aemilia's heart skipped a beat at that introduction as she knelt at her little cousin's level.
"Hello," Aemilia started, her voice a little more bashful than she intended. "Your name is Brenna?" The girl excitedly nodded, her skinny auburn braids bouncing as she did. "That's a beautiful name. It's very nice to meet you."
"I didn't know I had another cousin," Brenna said, a little confused.
Aemilia laughed, "For a long time, neither did I, but thankfully, your cousin Calder found me." She looked up to share a quick, affectionate glance with Calder.
Little Brenna opened her mouth to say something back, but Asta asked, "Brenna, where is your brother?"
"We were playing when Calder got here. Vali was hiding."
Asta gave a little amused sigh and called out, "Vali! Come out of hiding! Calder is here! There is someone I want you to meet!" Aemilia stood back up and Brenna went to stand by her mother, clearly still unsure of what to think about having a new family member. Asta explained, "Vali is my eldest, he and Brenna are always getting up to some mischief in my gardens. Isn't that right, Brenna?" she asked, pointedly looking down at Brenna.
"Not me!" she counter-argued, "Vali."
Aemilia then caught sight of a lanky young boy with a mop of dark brown hair coming around the corner of the house. He caught sight of Calder immediately. "Calder!" he exclaimed and ran into his large arms. Aemilia watched on, stunned by how similar the two looked. They nearly looked like father and son with their hair texture and warm, tan skin.
Calder gave a boisterous laugh and picked up the boy as if he weighed nothing. "Vali, my boy! How are you?! You make a mess of your mother's roses again?"
Vali quickly shook his head, "NO! Me and Brenna were just playing!"
Calder narrowed his eyes. "...So no property damage?"
"None!"
"Well, good then," Calder set him back down. "There's someone I want you to meet!" Vali turned to Aemilia, obviously having already noticed the stranger in their midsts. "Aemilia, this is Vali. Vali, this is my sister Aemilia - your cousin."
Vali's eyes widened for a moment before squinting suspiciously. "You don't have a sister."
Calder laughed. "Funny how life works, isn't it? Turns out I do." He leaned down closer to their level and whispered lowly, "She's come to visit us from a very far away land - Asgard."
Brenna and Vali's big eyes widened to the size of saucers, "Woah!"
Vali's gaze flew up to Aemilia as he piped up with a little excited jump, "Do you know Thor? He is so amazing!"
A giggle escaped Aemilia's lips. She should've known being close with Thor would've been her ice-breaker for meeting her young cousins. And she was not above using her connections to make the best possible first impression on the littlest of her new family members. "As a matter of fact, I do," she confirmed with a grin. "He's one of my best friends!"
"Really?" Vali began to practically vibrate with excitement. He sucked in a big breath to undoubtedly start asking everything he could think of, but Asta cut in just before the little boy could let loose a barrage of questions.
"Yes, yes I'm sure Aemilia has a lot of wondrous stories to tell you. Before that, why don't we get some dinner started, and then you can ask your cousin anything you want."
Brenna and Vali both sounded off, "Okay!" And ran inside the house to set the table.
Asta, Calder, and Aemilia went to join the two rambunctious children. Aemilia couldn't wipe the smile off her face even if she tried. She clasped at her ring again, so excited Loki also got to share in this wonderful moment for her.
From his cell, Loki grinned.
Dinner went very smoothly, consisting of mainly small talk, Calder regaling Asta of how they met, and Aemilia answering every question Vali and Brenna could think of about Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three while regaling them with exciting stories.
Asta was wonderfully talented in the kitchen. Aemilia ate every bite.
After a bit of dessert, the children begrudgingly went to bed after Asta asked them two or three times. It was then that Aemilia figured now was the best time as any to ask some of the questions that were eating away at her. "Asta," she began nervously, "if you don't mind my asking—"
She waved her hand, "Ask away, my dear. I daresay you deserve some answers."
That eased her mind. "Thank you. Could you tell me about Eileifr and what happened to him? I truly know nothing about him aside from sharing some physical features with him. My mother has been incredibly tight-lipped and has refused to tell me anything."
Asta nodded and took a moment to think. "My older brother was a very interesting soul, incredibly adventurous, and always getting into trouble and mischief as we grew up. He was very adept with sorcery - more so than I and nearly everyone else in our family. His intelligence was remarkable - perhaps too much for his own good, sometimes. He struggled to find a purpose for a long time, simply floating here and there in an attempt to find a thrill, and got into quite a bit of trouble doing so. However, he changed when he met Calder's mother." Calder's eyes fell to his hands on the table.
Asta's eyes grew fond as she described Calder's mother: "She was a marvelous woman named Tyra that matched Eileifr in nearly every way. She was as wild as he was, but when they met, there was a mutual change in each other. They deeply fell in love and found that their constant need for excitement and adventure had been replaced with a desire to simply be with each other. Before long, they decided to settle down. Eileifr got an honest job as a hometown merchant that paid very well. Tyra was beloved in the community for her healing capabilities and potions - she taught me all that I know."
Her eyes moved over to her nephew, "Calder came along not long after they were married. They were content, happy in their lives for a while." Then her eyes turned downward, a bit swept up in the past.
Asta's voice grew low and soft. "One day, when Eileifr was out, some unfortunate men from his past came back to his home. I'm not sure who they were or what they truly wanted - my brother has always been very tight-lipped about his past with me - but clearly, Eileifr owed them an unpaid debt." Her eyes grew wet with unshed tears and her voice wavered, "We never truly found out all that unfolded that day, but when Eileifr returned home, he found Tyra dead. Murdered in retribution for some forgotten past act of Eileifr's younger days. She had fought tooth and nail to escape, but in the end, she had been overpowered. Thankfully, Calder was with me at the time."
She paused for a moment before clearing her throat as if to cleanse herself of such an unhappy memory. Asta's eyes raised to meet Aemilia's once again. "Everything changed after that. Eileifr fell into a deep depression and was all-encompassed by rage. He left his job and regressed into his old ways. Eventually, he left Vanaheim completely for a very long time." Her eyebrows furrowed. "He never told me if he found Tyra's killers, but I'm willing to bet they met an even worse fate than Tyra.
"He had made a name for himself finding rare and expensive antiquities to the highest bidder amongst the scum of the universe. After some time, he came back to Vanaheim when in-between jobs, really only to occasionally see Calder.
"Eventually, when on a trip to Asgard, he met your mother."
A look of pity crossed her brow. "I knew from the start that Eileifr would never feel the way for Ayre that she did for him. I think he did care about her in some way, but she was ultimately just a distraction for him. He never would see anyone the way he did Tyra." Asta sighed in pity. "Ayre never stood a chance." Aemilia's heart ached a bit for Ayre - it did explain in a lot of ways why she was the way she was.
"Nevertheless, Eileifr came back to Asgard frequently to see her, and Ayre even visited Vanaheim a few times. Eventually, she broke it off many years after her marriage to the man her parents set up for her; I assumed she simply couldn't keep up the ruse anymore. It broke her heart, but it really was nothing more than an inconvenience to him." Simply an inconvenience. Aemilia didn't know what to think of that. She felt for her father and the dark tale that followed his legacy, but also…he had used Ayre. It left a complicated, dissatisfied feeling in Aemilia's heart.
"He never knew of Ayre's pregnancy, but the last time I saw Ayre, she told me with the promise of never telling Eileifr. I never truly knew for certain if Eileifr or Haidr was the father - she seemed unsure as well. But then when Ayre cut my brother out of her life, I never pressed and kept my last promise to her." Asta sighed heavily.
"Time went on as time does, and eventually Eileifr came upon a major deal from a powerful man in a back alley planet of thieves and thugs called Knowwhere. The sale went south, and he…didn't make it out." Asta seemed as if that outcome was never a surprise for her like it had only been a matter of time.
She shrugged. "I felt it necessary to at least write Ayre and let her know he had passed. And…" she started, eyes on Aemilia - expression complicated with past sadness yet hope for the future, "now we're here."
Aemilia didn't know what to say. Her mind was reeling. To have gone from not having a clue about who or where her other family was to have now received the abridged version of her father's life from his very sister, sitting across from her actual, biological brother. She had a lot to think about, but despite all this, she was so incredibly grateful that this had come to pass. After having witnessed firsthand Loki's struggle and devastation towards his true paternity, she realized how truly blessed she was. Even though her thoughts and emotions on the situation were complicated, the unveiled mystery was a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. The relief Aemilia felt as a result was liberating.
After Aemilia's long day at Asta's house, she came back to her room at the inn and excitedly regaled Loki with all of her thoughts and feelings of the day. She knew he had seen and heard everything already, but she couldn't help herself, and he was happy to oblige, just pleased to see her so excited.
A week passed, and Aemilia found herself back in her dressing room at the theatre, fighting off an extra intense bout of nerves. Aemilia (with the insistence of Asta) finally managed to convince Calder to come to see her show, so the both of them would be in a couple of prime orchestra seats that night to see their new relative do what she did best.
Thankfully Loki popped up to wish her well and also distracted her with some heavily flirtatious comments and fiery looks. Once it was showtime, her nerves had dissipated and the show went off without a hitch - simply second nature to her now.
The third and final act of Helena was in full swing as Asta and Calder watched with rapt attention. Aemilia stood center stage in the middle of her final and largest aria, covered in blood and hot tears flowing from her eyes as her anguished voice pierced through the audience like the very knife she clutched in her hand.
Asta was experiencing a strange sensation for the whole of the show. At first, she thought she simply imagined it, but as it continued, she knew something incredibly unique was happening here. Her heart was rapidly beating, her throat tight as if she wanted to cry. She looked around, and everyone she could see was watching raptly, hardly blinking, and genuinely weeping. Even her nephew, who she hadn't seen cry since he was a boy, was tearing up at her side. Masterful production and acting aside…there was something amiss here. It was too intense - the reaction borderline unnatural.
She looked back to Aemilia as she was reaching the final soaring notes of the aria. She could sense the energy around her, pulsating so subtly that she almost missed it. It was so...familiar.
Realization dawned on her just as Aemilia hit her final note, ringing like a bell through the room to finally bring forth those tears Asta had fought.
Your father's daughter, indeed.
After Aemilia got cleaned up from the show, Asta and Calder came by her dressing room to heartily applaud her performance and offer a celebratory pint over at the tavern. Asta was also scheduled to do a quick set while there, so naturally, Aemilia was incredibly excited to hear her aunt sing. She supposed she got her talents from her since the gods only knew how awful of a singer her mother was.
As it turned out, Asta truly was a very talented singer and musician. She possessed a lovely, velvety mezzo voice that floated about the room like a warm hug. Her voice was a bit rougher, a bit more untrained than her niece, but Aemilia thought that was a good thing. Despite her desire, Aemilia couldn't sing folk songs with such authenticity as Asta did - Asta's voice truly brought them to life.
Two pints in, Aemilia watched Asta conclude her set with a song of lost lovers that brought tears to her eyes. She was going to make it a point to ask Asta about giving her some pointers and tips before she left for Asgard in a few weeks.
Calder brought her out of her thoughts with a question, "You've heard of the recent revolts south of us, yes?"
Aemilia took another sip before quickly nodding, "A bit, yes. Nothing too detailed, but I know a lot of the dregs of society have had a significant uprising recently after the situation in Midgard. In fact, Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three have been gone from Asgard for some time now trying to help bring balance."
Calder nodded, "Yes, indeed. That's what I wanted to speak to you about. I rode down for a few days this past week to help a couple of old companions of mine with some of the conflicts. I saw Thor and his company there in battle with a beastly-looking Krogan."
Aemilia lit up. "Truly? You saw Thor?" It had been nearly 6 months since she had seen her friends - she was glad to hear that they were okay.
"I did!" Calder laughed, "Hard to miss that hammer flying around and that devastating lightning of his. I only saw him from afar, though; I did not actually meet him."
Aemilia grinned, "Oh you must, someday! I just know the two of you would hit it off!"
Calder grinned in agreement. "Perhaps you can introduce us someday. I would be eager to hear his tales of battle!" He finished off his drink. "When I saw him, I was curious if he had possibly reached out to you since he is merely a day's ride away. Probably an hour with that flying hammer."
Aemilia hadn't thought of that. "Oh, well...no, he didn't." She shook off her brief frown. "But, that is fine. I expect nothing less. 'Bringing balance to the realms' does sound like a very labor-intensive job. Also, I know he and Fandral wouldn't want me getting involved with all the riffraff since I'm so close by."
Calder quirked a scarred eyebrow, "What? You tend to get in trouble on Asgard?"
A light rosiness colored her cheeks. "I've had my moments."
A few more hours of light conversation and companionship passed by until it was time to call it a night. Calder found himself wrapped up in helping the old town drunk make sure he made his way home instead of headfirst into a nearby ditch. Asta took it upon herself to walk Aemilia back to the inn. It was along that walk that their conversation eventually turned towards the occult.
"Calder says your Queen has taken it upon herself to teach you ways of magic?"
Aemilia nodded, feeling almost a pang of loneliness - she missed Frigga dearly and hoped she was doing well. "Yes, Loki and Queen Frigga have taught me. I'm really only at the basics, though, having only studied for a couple of years."
"Is there anything you have decided to specialize in yet? Anything that particularly calls to you?"
Aemilia gave that some thought. "Hmm, well, no I suppose not. I've dabbled in some illusions - I'm not the best at that - I lack consistency. Small illusions are fine and passable among most, but my larger illusions are prone to error. Loki's are - were impeccable. I've also messed around with a bit of potion work. I do find that a bit easier, though I still very much consider myself a novice. I'm not sure if I have found my natural inclination when it comes to magic yet. Why do you ask?" she inquired curiously.
Asta responded, "There is always - in my experience - something that one will excel in faster than others. Of course, you do have those rare individuals that become legends for their well-roundedness. Queen Frigga, for instance, became a master of most magical arts from potions to astral projecting to illusions, which is also how Prince Loki came to be so adept at illusionary work and trickery. However, on a more realistic level, most people do have something they specialize in.
"Calder, for example, is particularly adept at practical spells: repairing things, sharpening weapons, conserving and fueling energy for battle. I lean more towards potions and remedies to help the town folk…or even to have the most immaculate herb garden on Vanaheim." She chuckled before continuing, "Most Vanir use basic magic in their everyday lives, so that is why everyone lets their specialties flourish - that is what makes them stand apart.
"I fully believe Eleifir had all the skill and natural potential to become almost as decorated as Frigga, but his incessant habit of seeking out trouble or a thrill caused him to go down a different path."
"Truly?" Aemilia asked, surprised anyone would begin to reach Frigga's level, let alone a direct relative of hers. She struggled so in her teachings it seemed hard to believe she would be the offspring of someone so naturally inclined.
Asta nodded and glanced over at Aemilia pointedly. "His magic manifested in a very unique way - through his voice. It was this skill that allowed him to be so successful in his trading - of both the legal and illegal varieties."
Aemilia frowned. "Wait…what do you mean, though?" Her mind immediately went to the worst option as a wave of panic rippled down her spine. "...Like some sort of mind control?"
Asta was quick to respond, "No! No, nothing so severe. However, it was a sort of, well, compulsion. He could influence others to experience a certain emotion or feel inclined to do a certain action, and the effects were heightened or lessened depending on the simplicity of the being that he was attempting to influence. The more complex the mind, it felt more like he was simply a very effective and skillful negotiator."
Aemilia wasn't sure what to say, nor was she sure if that was any better than mind control, so she just continued to intently listen.
"After Calder's mother died, you know Eileifr went down a dark path. He used his skill to his advantage amongst all his travels, acquiring very rare and sometimes very dangerous artifacts and selling them to the highest bidder." Asta paused for a long moment, her eyes down at her footpath until she slowed to a stop just outside the inn's entrance. Aemilia followed suit. The taller woman locked eyes with her. "I sense the same gift in you, my dear."
Aemilia's eyes widened, her heart lurching in her throat. How could she–? "Wh-what? What do you mean?"
Asta reached out a hand of comfort, placing it on Aemilia's shoulder. "I had not noticed at all until I saw your performance this evening."
A sickening sense of alarm flared up in Aemilia's body. Her voice rattled, "But…how?"
"You and all your friends were amazing, do not doubt that, but in the third act, I saw you sobbing as you cried, clearly experiencing incredibly heightened emotions. I would sympathize with that on my own as a viewer, but it was more than that. I could feel an intensity of emotions that were not my own. If I hadn't been so close with Eileifr, I don't know if I would have ever noticed - just chalked it up to your exemplary acting skills."
Aemilia felt as if she was going to be sick. All that practice, all that dedication, and hours upon hours upon hours of grueling rehearsal to be the very best she could be…and it was all a lie? An illusion. Had she always done this? Did she use this skill at her audition? Did she even deserve this part or any part she'd had before it? Had she simply persuaded the casting team because of gods-forsaken magic instead of her actual talent?
Was her whole career a lie?
Asta could tell she was concerned but didn't seem to completely grasp the severity of Aemilia's internal existential crisis. "But don't worry, my darling." She grasped her hands, but Aemilia's mind was everywhere but present anymore. "Your father was weak in his emotions and would abuse his power. You have an emotional and moral strength that he did not. This skill is not evil. It can be used for good and protection, but you do need to know how to control it."
Asta let go of her hands to rummage around in the bag she had slung over her shoulder. She pulled out what looked to be a leather-bound journal. "This is your father's journal. This documents all of his studies in his gift. I was going to give this to you anyway, as a sort of way to get to know him, but now it seems even more important you have it. I hope it gives you some answers and helps provide you with ease." Asta studied Aemilia's face, eyes flitting between her concerned and panicked features. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I hope you will understand that this is actually a wonderful and rare gift that you have. I believe you will do amazing things with it."
Aemilia grasped the journal, the smooth leather gliding across her fingertips. She looked down at it, old and worn. Her mind was racing a mile a minute, but she kept it together long enough to quietly say, "Thank you, Asta. Thank you for being so upfront with me. And, thank you for walking me back." She swallowed. "Thank Calder for me as well. I will see you in a few days for dinner, yes?"
Asta smiled. "Absolutely, my dear. I'm looking forward to it." She gave her a tight hug before saying her goodbyes.
Aemilia walked to her room, her calm exterior falling away as her eyes widened and her mind descended into complete and utter panic.
As soon as she locked her door, she leaned back against the wall, eyes shut as she tried to process this new information. Had she been unknowingly using this gift her whole life? Did she even have any talent at all?
Her blood ran cold as a truly horrifying thought invaded her mind.
…DId Loki even truly fall in love with her? Or was it just because she wanted him to?
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Aemilia gasped at the velvety voice from across the room. Her eyes flew open to see Loki's visage standing there, looking at her curiously with a small smile.
Oh, gods. She hesitantly looked at him, taking in his sparkling green eyes and loving gaze, and she crumpled. Her eyes filled with tears and a sob tore from her throat as she helplessly slid down to the floor.
Loki's smile fell and was immediately replaced with worry. "Aemilia?" He called out, approaching and kneeling before her. She didn't respond, just shook her head amidst her cries. "Aemilia, Little One, what has happened?"
She couldn't bear to look at him. "I'm…" her voice trembled, "I'm a fraud."
Heavy silence permeated the room for a brief moment before Loki responded softly, "My darling, whatever do you mean?"
She said nothing.
"Aemilia. Aemilia, look at me."
She couldn't.
"Little One, please. Look at me." Her heart felt like it had lurched into her throat. She never could refuse him. And evidently, he never stood a chance to refuse her, either.
She slowly did as he asked, her eyes peeking above her arms that she had tightly wound around her legs. Loki was still locked into his original kneeling position, his hand outstretched as if he wanted to grasp her hand. His eyes were wide and concerned as he intently searched her tormented gaze. "Aemilia, talk to me."
She had to say something eventually. She tried to poise herself with a few deep breaths to no avail, but she attempted to tell him all she had learned anyway. She retold everything Asta had said to her - details about her father, his unique magical manifestation, and how Asta believed she shared the same gift, referencing her performance earlier that night and how she had felt — been forced to feel – Aemilia's own anguish.
What bewildered her even further was that Loki didn't look the least bit concerned or surprised. He was merely trying to soothe her anxiety. "Why are you so calm about this, Loki?" she snapped. "Do you know what this could mean? If I truly have this ability and have been using it unknowingly…I could've used it to get roles, progress in my career, and make friends. Hel, I could've used it to make you care about me! What if all that I am…all that I care about is a total lie?!"
"Oh, my dear, is that what you're so concerned about?" Loki asked, his smile looking almost…amused.
Her eyes flashed. "Please, tell me what is so amusing about this, Loki!"
The man backpedaled quickly. "No, no, I'm not…" He paused to take a breath and started over. "Aemilia, darling, I came to feel for you of my own accord, not by some sort of magical compulsion. So get that silly thought out of your head right now. Honestly, you think I am such a novice of a sorcerer that I could be affected by such a budding, infant ability and not resist it?"
Aemilia didn't know. She felt like she didn't know anything anymore. Her head fell back into her hands.
Loki sighed. "I have long suspected you possessed such an ability–"
Her gaze whipped back up instantaneously. "I'm sorry, what? You knew about this?" she hissed.
He held up a hand in a silent request to let him speak. "I had my suspicions," he reemphasized, "but I never knew enough to confidently make you aware of it. This sensation your aunt describes feeling, I never experienced that until I returned from Midgard. When Mother let me watch your opening night, that was when the both of us sensed it for the first time, and I've personally never felt it since. Mother and I spoke about it afterward, and we were convinced that whatever this ability was, it only manifested from…," he swallowed, that telltale streak of guilt littering his expression, "deep emotional trauma."
She sniffed. "So, you mean I–"
His eyes bore into hers, expression one of only the purest of affection, and quietly said, "In other words, you – my sweet, gorgeous, talented, strong goddess of a woman – have never cheated to reach the level of success you have." His hand extended towards her hair as if he would tuck a piece of it behind her ear if he were able. He smirked, "That was from your own grit and determination, nothing more, do you understand me?"
Aemilia's watery gaze stared up at him, searching for any sign of doubt in his eyes. She found none. "Are you certain?"
A little smile tugged at his lips, "With all that I am."
Despite the panic and doubt, that serene, comforting look on Loki's face did manage to bring Aemilia back to see logic and reason. Her whole being was pulsing with overwhelming anxiety, and the bit of calmness Loki had given her sent her body crashing down. She filled her lungs with the first full breath she had managed since Asta told her everything, and a sob ripped from her throat. All that she had discovered and learned in such a short amount of time, the significance of it had truly and finally hit her, and needless to say - she was overwhelmed. Whatever energy she had been holding within throughout all of this was finally expelled through her tears and sobs.
Loki was with her every moment, sitting with her in silence as she drove out every pent-up feeling she had within her. As she cried, Aemilia imagined that if Loki was truly next to her, his slender hand would have gently run up and down her back in support, occasionally placing his cool fingers on her cheek to ground her in reality.
As her sobs turned into cries and cries turned to sniffles, she turned her head from her arms to where Loki sat to her right. Her glassy eyes met his. In barely a whisper, she said, "I wish you were here."
His small gentle smile fell. His fingers went to move a strand of hair he could not touch. "One day, I will be."
She swallowed hard, her throat still seized with emotion. "But how?"
Loki shrugged. "I'm…not sure yet. But I will find a way."
"Loki…a life sentence didn't seem to provide much room for interpretation."
His green eyes turned stern. He turned to face his body fully towards her. "Aemilia, I am not going to die in here. I will find a way." His gaze dropped as his voice fell to a faint breath, "I can't…I won't die in here." She studied his face. He could put on a brave face all he wanted, but Aemilia knew.
She knew in her heart that he had no idea how to escape his fate. But how could he? Stuck away from the rest of the world, with no friends, no resources, and no access to anything that could help him. The only one that could feasibly get him out is Frigga, but she never would go against Odin so severely.
A sliver of pinpricks traveled up Aemilia's spine as an idea rushed through her. Her eyes widened. No, that would never work.
But, even so…
Time went on as Aemilia did her best to navigate the new discoveries in her life. When she wasn't working, most of her time was spent continuing to bond with Calder, Asta, and her little cousins. Whenever Aemilia found some alone time, she would scour Eileifr's journal, trying to understand how this newfound power worked. Then she would plan, strategize, practice, and pray that she wouldn't let fear make her back out of this hair-brained idea of hers. She only hope that she had learned enough from Loki, Frigga, and her friends to somehow pull this off.
Loki, meanwhile, had been rather antsy the past few weeks when he wasn't spending time with Aemilia whenever she could spare a moment. His conversation with her had planted a seed of doubt in his mind about his situation. He had been so confident in his eventual escape; he just needed to wait for the right opportunity. But it had now been nearly two years with no "right opportunity" in sight. Would he ever get one? Would he ever get out?
On top of all that unease, Loki also sensed an unknown change in the air. There was a difference in the energy around him that left him paranoid and tense. He was not entirely sure where they were in the calendar year, but he knew that they were getting concerningly close to the next projected Convergence, the once in every 5,000 years event where all the Nine Realms would align. There was always something that would occur during the Convergence in every history book he'd ever read on the matter, and the last thing he wanted to be was some rat trapped in a cage when something inevitably occurred during this cosmic event. He had been wracking his brain trying to come up with some clever escape plan, but he eventually determined that his only hope was to just continue to wait and hope the oncoming Convergence may provide the opportunity he so desperately needed.
And if that never came…well, he didn't know what he would do.
The only relief Loki felt was whenever he got to spend time with Aemilia. He knew she didn't have much time left on Vanaheim to spend with her newfound family so he understood why she was at Asta's home every chance she could get. That didn't make the extra time by himself any more bearable, however. He could only relish in the time he had with her and let her stories wash away his anxiety - for a time, anyway.
Naturally, Aemilia noticed Loki's extra discontent of late (even if he thought he hid it well from her). Seeing him in such a state only added to her determination as she continued to plot and practice whenever he wasn't around to snoop.
Eventually, Aemilia's time on Vanaheim came to a close. Aemilia and her castmates made their final bows at their last matinee performance of Helena with continued high remarks, reviews, and the invitation to have their opera company return someday.
Helena had been a difficult yet remarkably healing experience for Aemilia. She was so happy that she had been apart a part, but as she took her final bows, she was pleased for it to be over. Aemilia left every part of her broken heart on that stage, and now that she had finally found the strength to pick up the pieces, she could say goodbye to the show for good. She didn't want to linger in the past anymore. She wanted - no, needed - to focus on the future.
While Helena was easy for her to let go, Aemilia struggled at the thought of leaving her Vanir family when they had only just connected. Asta taught her some healing remedies and they had been singing together in the evenings after dinner. Calder never failed to provide constant laughs; he also showed her some new moves with a sword. He had cackled with delight the first time their swords clanged together and he got to see that Aemilia had been putting in the work and had a lot of potential.
And Aemilia never tired of reenacting grand tales of Thor, Loki, and the Warriors Three (whether she had actually been there or not) for sweet little Brenna and Vali before bedtime. The children were especially close to Aemilia's heart now. One night after they both finally fell asleep, Brenna's cheek smushed against Asta's arm and Vali sprawled over Calder's lap, Aemilia had made a bittersweet realization. Spending so much time with those two sweet little ones had allowed Aemilia to experience what could've been so long ago with her and Loki. It hurt her heart to think about it for too long, but she was still very grateful to get a glimpse of what might've been.
As everyone at the opera company gathered together in the courtyard of the Inn, awaiting the opening of the bridge back to Asgard, Aemilia had to say her goodbyes.
Calder gave her a big, bone-crushing hug first, picking her up and spinning her around. She giggled despite her watery eyes. "Ugh, I'm going to miss you!" he gruffed as he squeezed her to her last breath.
Her feet touched back on the ground as she said, "I'm going to miss you, too! Please all of you come and visit me soon - I would love to give you the full royal tour and treatment!"
"You send the word, and we'll be there," Asta said with a smile, taking her in for another tight embrace. As she held her, the taller woman said quietly in her ear, "If you ever need anything, my dear - anything at all - do not hesitate to write, okay?"
"The same goes for you," Aemilia said, equally hazel eyes meeting each other.
Her gaze then dropped to the two little ones standing next to her. She knelt to their level as Brenna said quietly, "You will come back, right?"
Aemilia smiled at both of them. "Absolutely. I will definitely come back to visit. I just have to take care of a few things back on Asgard first, okay?" They nodded. With a little grin, Aemilia playfully touched Brenna's nose. "Besides, I want you two to come to visit me someday. I can show you all around the castle…" Brenna's eyes sparkled. "I can show you the training arena…" Vali's tiny mouth opened in wonder."
She held each of their hands and enthusiastically squeezed them as she crooned, "I can introduce you two to Thor…"
The two little ones erupted into a cacophony of squeals of delight and incessant questions. Aemilia laughed at the sight. They were so adorable she could hardly stand it. "That is, of course, only if you two promise to be good to your mother and cousin. Do we have a deal?"
Their heads bobbed up and down so fast it was a wonder they didn't hurt themselves. "We promise, we promise!"
Aemilia's nose crinkled as she smiled widely at them. "Good, good." She tousled both of their hair before rising back up to her feet.
She heard the call for everyone to gather around. She looked at these four people she had become so close to within such a short amount of time. She would be back. And hopefully with a very important person at her side.
"Remember," she called out, "I'm only one Bi-Frost ride away." She smiled at Asta and Calder and winked at little Vali and Brenna.
Aemilia heard their calls of goodbye just as the bridge opened up, engulfing her into a sea of refracting light and churning energy before she was lifted up and away - back home to Asgard.
Aemilia wasn't sure if she would ever get used to the Bi-Frost. While it was exhilarating, when her feet hit solid ground, she heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the gods she didn't feel nauseated.
Heimdall's was the first face she saw, eyes aglow and expression calm. She detected the smallest of welcoming smiles. "Welcome back to Asgard," his deep voice sounded. He acknowledged the group with a small nod.
Her friends and coworkers made their way to the Rainbow Bridge, erupting into excited chatter, anxious to get home and reunite with their families. Aemilia looked out and saw two familiar and sorely-missed faces. Elida was there with a wide smile, jumping up and down and waving to grab her attention. Next to her was the ever-elegant visage of Queen Frigga awaiting Aemilia's return.
It warmed Aemilia's heart to see her little welcome party.
She rushed into Elida's waiting embrace, the two women squeezing each other with all their might. Oh, how she had missed her sweet friend. "It's so good to see you!" Elida exclaimed. "Don't ever leave me at that theatre all by myself again! All the best people were in Helena and I got stuck with all the uppity people that were left!"
Aemilia felt for Elida's plight and laughed, "I will take you with me next time."
She then turned to Frigga, who was adorned in a flowing violet gown. Her expression was alight, eyes twinkling and lips upturned in a graceful smile. Aemilia couldn't help but match it.
Her voice was like an embrace, warm and comforting, "Welcome back, my dear. It's so good to see you. I've missed you so." She then outstretched her arms, and Aemilia entered them with a sigh of contentment.
She doubted she would ever fully settle her differences with her mother, but honestly the presence and influence in her life that Frigga had provided, it left no room for her to long for the approval of Ayre anymore. Frigga was more a mother to her than Ayre ever could be.
Aemilia was sad to leave her newfound paternal family, but she felt incomplete when away from those she loved most on Asgard. It was good to be back. Hopefully, she wouldn't ruin it.
Aemilia took her time reacquainting with her quarters. Everything was just as she had left them - merely waiting for her return. She slowly unpacked, her thoughts elsewhere. On their walk into the palace, Frigga had let her know that there was to be a celebration that evening - Thor and the Warriors Three had come home today as well. The Vanaheim conflicts were fully resolved now, and that signaled their return. Naturally, there had to be a party (especially if Fandral had anything to do with it).
She was very excited to see her friends again - it had been over 6 months now since she had seen them. However, she also had some things to tend to before the party started. It was time to focus.
Now that her bags were unpacked, she took a deep sigh, looked about the room, and got to business.
Evening eventually came and light snow fell, flakes illuminating in the firelight around the palace. It was beautiful, but Aemilia had become quite used to the warm climate of Vanaheim. She chose a form-fitting, long-sleeve, high-neck velvet gown that was a navy blue the color of midnight. It contrasted well with the auburn hues in her long braid and the fur stole around her shoulders. She kept her face very natural aside from the deep berry red lip color.
She had also grown accustomed to the more casual fair of Vanaheim. It was comfy to be sure, but she still missed dressing up and going to all the special events of Asgard - as stuffy as they could be sometimes. She only wished she could have Loki here, her arm wrapped around his. He would love this dress, she was sure of it.
The party was already in full swing by the time she arrived with maids, butlers, and royals alike enjoying a frothing pint or a goblet of infamously strong Asgardian wine. The lights were low and the laughter was loud. She followed the roar of boisterous laughter and quickly heard the undeniable bellowing voice of Volstagg regaling the crowd with a familiar tale of Thor's time on Midgard.
She weaved her way to the center of the crowd. There was Volstagg in the center, a huge pint in hand.
"Another!" he exclaimed, and the throng of people erupted into further cheering and laughter.
Just to his side was the unmistakable blonde mop of hair that belonged to Fandral. Aemilia smiled - she had missed him. He was in the middle of a full-bodied cackle, throwing his head back in exuberance. His cheeks were flushed with ale and his arms were thrown around two hand-maidens.
Aemilia chuckled - she was very glad to see him so free and happy. She hoped those six months gave him what he needed.
She approached him, oddly more nervous than she anticipated. She hoped things wouldn't be awkward between them - she truly only wanted what was best for him and for them to remain friends. Of course, they had left on good terms, but time can be a tricky thing. She didn't know what to expect.
"Save some ale for the rest of us, would you?" she spoke out to him with a grin.
Fandral's brows drew in with confusion as he turned his head to follow her voice. His eyes landed on her and his jaw dropped for a split second before he exclaimed, "Aemilia?"
Her grin stretched into a full smile. "Hello, Fandral."
Fandral gently moved from his seat with the two women to get up and grab Aemilia in a tight embrace. "Oh, Aemilia, I have missed you!"
If Aemilia had ever doubted there were people - good people - around that truly loved her, she couldn't very well doubt that after the day she has had.
She laughed as she hugged him back. "I missed you too! I'm glad you're back safe."
"You too," he said leaning back to take a look at her. "If those Vanir conflicts had gone any farther north, we might've had to send your troupe back to Asgard early."
"I'm glad it didn't come to that."
"Me too," he sighed. His eyes softened a bit. "You look beautiful, Aemilia. It's been a long time."
She grinned up at him. "You don't look half bad yourself." She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "I hope your time away was everything that you needed it to be."
Fandral held his smile for a moment before he nodded, "Yes, it was. Thank you. I hope you enjoyed your trip to Vanaheim."
"I did," she quickly replied, "It was an illuminating experience, to say the least. We have much to catch up on."
He playfully pointed a finger at her, "That we do! But first! Let's get you a drink, hmm? Have you spoken with Sif or Thor yet?"
"I would love a drink! And no I've not yet seen them."
The two of them quickly found the nearest goblet and filled it with some much-needed wine. Aemilia began slowly sipping as Fandral continued to lead her through the crowd.
Sif's telltale voice finally reached Aemilia's ears. "-There are nine Realms. The future King of Asgard must focus on more than one." There they both were, Sif looking as radiant as ever in fur as black as her hair. Thor faced her, long blonde hair illuminated in the glow of the fire. They both looked rather solemn, Sif's eyes uniquely vulnerable. Thor had a pensive look across his brow and a somewhat melancholy smile.
"I thank you for your sword and your council, good Lady Sif." Thor's deep voice gave away none of his true feelings. It almost reminded Aemilia of Loki for a moment. Anytime he had felt uncomfortable or guarded, he would present the same neutral tone and unreadable expression she saw on Thor's face right now. Perhaps they were more similar than perceived - or maybe Thor had picked it up from Loki.
Fandral clearly hadn't noticed the exchange they were encroaching on. "Friends!" he bellowed, clearly relishing in the warmth his ale had provided him. "Sif! Thor! Look who has returned to the great halls of Asgard as well!"
Their heads turned to them as Fandral gestured loosely in Aemilia's direction with a goofy smile on his face. There was a shift in the air for both of them. Sif schooled her expression and smiled at her. Thor's eyes cast downwards for a moment before coming back up to meet her with a bit more warmth than there had been before.
"I hope we're not interrupting!" Aemilia said, quite certain they were very much interrupting but unable to back away now.
Sif cleared her throat and said, "No! No, not at all. Aemilia, how have your travels been? You look very well." It was almost good that Sif didn't reach out for a hug as all the others had so far - Aemilia didn't want to let all that attention go to her head, after all. She and Sif were on significantly better terms than what they had started with - they had mutual respect now - but that by no means meant they were girlfriends.
Aemilia's gaze shifted over to Thor, who was smiling at her, but it didn't seem to reach his eyes. "Hello, Aemilia - it's been too long."
Thor did go in to hug her. She reciprocated, of course, and while it was great to see him again, he was very distracted with something. It lacked all of his usual enthusiasm. "Thank you! I am well. It's good to see you all in good health! I heard great tales of your Vanir adventures from a friend of mine while we were there. Seems you lot were about a day's ride from us."
Thor nodded. "Yes, thankfully all has calmed and everyone is doing well. It's…" he paused, "good to be home."
Was it good, Thor? His tone was not particularly convincing.
They all spoke a bit back and forth - nothing more than small talk, but the energy in the air between the four of them forced a sort of social awkwardness in Aemilia that she had never quite felt with them before. Eventually, Fandral left to go get a refill, and his absence only amplified this feeling. What was happening? It was confusing every bit as it was uncomfortable.
Not long after, Thor spoke up. "I apologize to cut our reunion short, my Lady, but I must take my leave for the evening."
Aemilia was relieved to escape this weird, unspoken thing that was happening right now, but that did not keep her from feeling concerned for Thor. She expected Sif to be a bit, well, stiff greeting her. She never expected Thor to be so unapproachable after such a long time since seeing one another, especially when their last conversation had been so emotional and raw. "I understand," she said, placing a hand on his arm. She hoped he could sense her willingness to be a support system or confidant if he needed it. She gently squeezed his arm. "Don't be a stranger, yes? Perhaps we can catch up sometime soon?"
Thor only looked at her for a beat before giving a small nod. "Aemilia." He turned, "Lady Sif. Have a good rest of your night." Then he walked away.
Sif and Aemilia watched him as he disappeared through an exit door. Aemilia swallowed. "Is Thor…alright?"
Sif sighed and crossed her arms. "He's been like that lately. He's fine, just…distracted."
She turned to the raven-haired woman. "Distracted with what?"
"He looks to Midgard. Only Midgard. He has lost focus," Sif stated, frustrated, struggling to maintain eye contact with Aemilia. She knew this had to be difficult for her to talk about.
Midgard was the only clue Aemilia needed to understand what was happening here. "He has not let the Midgardian woman go," she surmised. Sif curtly nodded.
"She has blinded him to his path. He is the future King, but all he does when he isn't in the middle of a battle is pine after her. A human. He knows it is doomed to fail yet he holds on as if she won't grow old and die before he sprouts a single gray hair on his head. We've all been a bit frustrated with him."
Aemilia was surprised the warrior was so forthcoming with her, but she took it as a compliment and declaration of trust. "Have you told him how you feel about him?"
Sif cleared her throat. "Not…not in plain words, no. But he knows. I know he does. Not to mention the All-Father would have us married by daybreak if he could."
Aemilia took a sip of her wine, grateful it was her companion as she attempted to navigate such a charged and touchy subject. "Love is…complicated. Do not lose hope, but try to be patient with him. As you said, he is pining over a human, knowing that it can only end in loss. I imagine that would have to require a level of both grief and eventual acceptance. It may take some time, but he will move on when he comes to terms with the impossibility of the relationship."
Sif shook her head in frustration, "I'm not so sure about that. The man you love has a life sentence for human genocide. Yet you have not moved on."
Shock flooded Aemilia's expression as her head whipped to look at Sif. "Excuse me?" she asked lowly.
Sif's eyes widened at the severity of Aemilia's fiery expression and winced as if she didn't mean for her words to come out quite as they did. She tightly said, "I'm sorry, that…that was uncalled for. I apologize, truly."
The woman was agitated, feeling rejected, and letting out her frustration on Aemilia, but that didn't mean she was just going to stand there and let it happen when she had only tried to provide a listening ear. "If you don't want any advice, please, next time? Simply say so. I believe I will also take my leave for this evening. Have a good night, Lady Sif."
Sif watched Aemilia turn and leave, mentally kicking herself for such an insensitive comment when she knew Aemilia had only been trying to help.
Aemilia hoped Fandral would understand whenever he stumbled back to the scene, but that was a cue as any for her to cut the evening short. Besides, the night was young and she had a lot ahead of her. She walked from the celebrations with purpose, bubbling anger teeming within her. Sif's misplaced words had fired her up more than enough to commence her plan.
Loki was beginning to worry.
Aemilia had told him the day before that she wouldn't be able to visit him until later that night and had asked him to wait for her - not contact her himself. That was a perfectly reasonable request. She would be returning to Asgard after an extended stay and would undoubtedly be caught up with saying her hellos to everyone and settling back into her chambers. She didn't need him popping up in her head with his everpresent remarks - be it snide, snarky, sarcastic, or sexual.
However, it was edging past midnight now - much later than she had insinuated. His already uneasy mind was beginning to race. Was her travel disturbed? Had anything happened? Most importantly, was she okay?
He would never admit it, but he had essentially just been waiting on her all day. As was most of his existence now since it was solely confined to one hellish room. He had read a lot to pass the time, a few naps here and there. He anticipated her arriving around or just past sundown, but here it was creeping into the witching hour with no word from her. That was not normal.
For the past couple of hours, Loki hunkered at his desk in the corner of his cell, staring intensely at a book he'd read a thousand times. His cellblock was deathly quiet - not even the occasional footsteps of any guards. Most of his directly neighboring cells were empty, but any other prisoners across the way were long asleep. He gripped a pen between his fingers, forcing himself to look through 50-year-old annotations in an attempt to distract himself. It almost worked. Almost.
More time passed, and he anxiously looked over at the crystal that sat at his desk.
As he contemplated contacting her and going against her wishes, a slight shiver ran up the back of his neck as he finally sensed her tell-tale presence directly behind him.
"Hello, my love," she whispered. Her velvety voice instantly set his shoulders at ease. He took a breath, his heart finally calming now that he knew she was safe and well. He settled his features, not wanting to convey any of his previous nervousness.
"I daresay, you are quite later than I expected you to be–"
Loki froze. His blood ran cold. His breath instantly halted.
A hand gently touched his right shoulder. The pressure was small but unmistakably there. He felt the warmth through the linen of his shirt. It was real.
Loki found himself paralyzed. His eyes were unseeing, his muscles unmoving. He couldn't turn. Because it simply couldn't be what he thought it was.
His left hand slowly reached up, shaking. He was overcome with fear. Was he imagining this? Was he in a dream? What if what he felt wasn't actually there? Had he finally fully gone mad?
But then, his chilled fingertips grazed something soft. Warm.
That warmth gave him the strength to fully grasp the delicate, soft hand on his shoulder. He tentatively squeezed - the painfully familiar hand intertwined with his and gently squeezed back. Time came to a halt as his head slowly turned.
Loki had never been the praying type. But he prayed for what he felt in his heart to be true.
His blurry gaze finally focused, and there she was.
Aemilia stood there, wrapped in a familiar heavy cloak, the hood still over her head. Her large, glistening hazel eyes reached in and gripped him by his very soul. The heavy pounding of his fluttering heart pervaded his entire being. His eyes flitted about her frantically - catching her eyes, her nose, her full lips, her cheeks, her soft hair, her everything -trying to convince himself she was truly there.
His mouth seemed to freeze up, trying to conjure words that couldn't come. Voice no more than a weak, shaky whisper, he breathed, "You're here."
A glistening tear fell down her rosy cheek and a little sob escaped her throat as she smiled, "I'm here."
He distantly felt himself stand, stepping out from the desk and turning fully to her. Their hands still intertwined, his free hand traced across her arm. The softness and warmth of her skin were bewildering. This was his first physical touch for nearly two years. How could this be real? His foggy green eyes danced back and forth between Aemilia's in utter disbelief. "...How?"
Aemilia's face was wet with streaming tears, a huge, blinding smile on her face as she looked up at him. She shakily chuckled, bashful. "It's a long story, really, but let's just say a few of the guards went on an extended nap. We should have at least a few minutes."
Loki's heart felt like it was going to burst right out of his chest. He laughed, too, his lips pulling up into a wide smile to mirror hers. He felt the faint tickle of a tear trail down his cheek. He couldn't give himself the time to think about how she had made it here in the flesh. That could come later.
His free hand moved up her arm - gods, he was shaking. Cool fingertips left a trail of goosebumps in their wake. They moved delicately up her neck until they finally reached the smooth warmth of her cheek. She sniffled and grasped his hand, further moving her face into his palm. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. His thumb reached out and wiped away a stray tear.
Aemilia's eyes fluttered back open and he felt his soul suspend in her watery gaze, her eyelashes glistening.
Loki held there for what felt like forever, unmoving, not breathing, heart pounding.
His eyes dropped to her full lips. They were stained berry-red and held slightly open. He glanced back up, and she was looking at his mouth, too.
They locked eyes again. Loki felt an electric shiver run up his spine. Aemilia leaned in, her body pressed against his. He left his hand on her cheek while the other snaked around her waist. He pulled her in, his large hand grasping at the small of her back. Her free hand reached up to the cut of his jaw. His skin burned at her touch.
Gods, he wanted to consume her. He couldn't get close enough.
He leaned down, their mouths almost touching. He relished, bathed, in her closeness - wanting to hold this otherworldly feeling in his heart forever.
Aemilia then gently pulled him in the rest of the way. Their lips touched, soft as a feather at first, sensing, exploring, savoring. Loki's skin erupted in heat. Her touch was electric, and he needed more.
Their tentative kiss turned to something all-consuming. They gripped each other in the tightest embrace they could. Their lips moved faster, initial shock and hesitation burning into desperation - a need so great it was bewildering.
Loki's grip tightened around her hip as he walked her backward until her heels met his cell wall. He then slammed her up against it, leaning all his weight on her and pressing his hips into hers. She gasped, her fingers clenching at his hair. A groan rumbled in his chest.
His lips moved furiously against hers, and she met him move for move. The synchronicity of their souls at that moment was astounding - like mind-reading. Whatever they needed, the other did immediately.
The swipe of her tongue against his set his body aflame. He growled mid-kiss and rolled his hips against hers. His long fingers reached down, trailing the leather pants she wore underneath her cloak. He clutched at the back of her thigh, roughly yanking her leg up and around his hip. A breathy moan fell from her lips and into his ear. Loki shivered.
The leg around his hip pulled him in further, grinding on him.
He held her as close as he could, their hips moving together, constantly seeking that delicious friction, starving for it.
Loki's mouth tore from hers to then go latch onto her neck, laying open-mouthed kisses on every inch of bare skin he could find. She clutched at his hair desperately, and Loki still wondered for a split moment if this was truly real. It didn't feel real. But it was. Aemilia had come to him. She had thrown all caution to the wind and come to him.
His lips dragged back up her neck to kiss her with a fury. With his heart in his throat and his skin afire, he wrenched away with her and breathed, "I love you. I love you with all that I have."
Aemilia's eyes glistened in the nearby firelight. She let out a breathless laugh and looked up at Loki with so much adoration he feared he could drown in it. "I love you, too, Loki." She grasped at his cheek. "I love you so much."
She pulled him back in for another kiss, her lips swollen against his.
Despite their dismal surrounding, Loki thought he could very well stay in this very spot with Aemilia for the rest of time and be in complete blissful happiness.
But, as in all things in life, everything had to come to an end.
Suddenly, the floodlights in the cell block flipped on, harsh and blinding, and a deafening distress horn sounded throughout the halls.
Loki and Aemilia rip apart, looking around in bewilderment before catching each other's panicked gazes.
Loki whispered lowly, "Didn't you take all the guards out of the equation?"
Aemilia's huge, frightened eyes bore into his. "Yes, yes, there weren't many to begin with - but I took out the only three in this wing. I made sure there weren't anymore before moving in."
"Where did you put them?"
"I put them in a nearby utility room."
Loki growled, "The godsdamned cleaning staff. They must have had a late start - they never come in this late."
Aemilia went pale with realization. "...Unless…unless they had permission to go to the celebration of Thor's return that probably wrapped up just a few minutes ago."
The tell-tale sound of guards' footsteps began to echo through the prison, consistently closing in. Loki's heart sank with dread and anger lit up in his heart. "Fuck!" he groaned. He looked to Aemilia, who looked wracked with guilt - as if her plan had been executed carelessly.
"Listen to me," he said hastily. "This is not your fault. Now just be quiet and do everything I say, okay?" She quickly nodded.
Loki pulled her hood back over her head. "Now, I'm going to need you to go hide under my cot, okay? I'll cloak you - but you need to be completely still and totally quiet, understood? Don't even breathe if you don't have to."
Aemilia nodded once more and rushed to follow Loki's plan. As she scurried under his cot, Loki tried to gather himself, combing his hair back with his hands, smoothing his ruffled clothes back down, and getting his breathing pattern under control. He took a glance back at Aemilia and saw that she was settled, clutching the fabric of her cloak as close to her as possible. Those armored footsteps were dangerously close to turning the corner. He then flung up an illusion across his whole cell, making Aemilia's visage disappear. He always had somewhat of a cloaking spell up in his cell for his own privacy's sake - he didn't need the other prisoners looking into his business - but he through up one specifically over Aemilia in hopes that would be more secure if they were to enter his cell.
Hopefully, they wouldn't look too intently.
He closed his eyes and took one final deep breath to get his expression unreadable.
Two guards then entered their wing. They immediately began to question the first few prisoners in the cell block.
Eventually, they got to his cell.
A mischievous glint lit up in his eyes and he wolfishly grinned as the guards approached him. "Ooh, do I have visitors? What did I do to deserve such a treat?"
The lead guard - Loki had seen him a few times before - had no patience for his sarcasm. "Prisoner, you will speak only when spoken to, do you understand?"
The heated glare coming from Loki was blinding. His jaw clenched tightly. What an oaf. "Understood. Now, what can I do for you gentlemen this late evening?"
"We have reports of a break-in and assault of three guards - assumed to have occurred about 15 minutes ago."
Loki gave a mocking look of surprise. "Really? How exciting. I'm sure you lot must be ecstatic to have something to spice up your miserable existences."
The guard sent him an ugly look, clearly not surprised by the snarky remarks considering who he was dealing with. "Have you noticed any suspicious activity in the past hour? Any strange sounds or seen someone that wasn't part of the guard or cleaning staff?"
"Unfortunately not," Loki sighed. "No, this cell block has been as excruciatingly dull tonight as it's always been."
The chief guard looked past Loki into his cell. Loki prayed his cloaking spell was as iron-clad as he hoped. The other guard did a quick circle as well, peering through the energy field.
All three men heard another, younger guard lightly jog in. "Excuse me, sir," the new guard started, "we had a specialist analyze the unconscious guards. Looks like their sleep was magic-induced in some way. Not certain of the specifics yet; that's all we know for now."
"Magic? Is that so?" the chief guard spared a quick, suspicious glance towards Loki before turning to his partner. "How many magic users do we have in here?"
The partner took a glance at a chart in his hands. "This cell block?" His eyes scanned the page before slowly looking back up and looking at Loki. "Just one."
All three guards stared Loki down. Loki's heart was racing. His face, however, remained cool as a cucumber.
He pointed at himself in mock shock, "Who, me?"
Then his heart dropped to his stomach when the chief guard ordered, "You - search his cell," to the main partner. "You - watch him like a hawk," to the younger guard, who nodded and quickly pointed his glinting spear in Loki's direction. His eyes turned back to Loki. "You. Don't you even think about moving a muscle or we will cut you down."
The partner then took down the energy barrier of his cell and stepped up. Loki was desperate now.
"Really? Is this truly necessary? Come on, don't be so daft. Just because I'm the only magic user in this helhole doesn't mean I knocked out the guards. I've been in this cell for nearly two years - don't you think if I could do anything beyond these energy barriers I would have by now? True idiocy, really."
The other two guards then entered the cell. "Step back," he warned. Loki held his hands up and stepped to the side as one moved over his desk and began peering into his things. He continued rummaging and slowly made his way to his cot.
The guard tossed away the blanket - clearly not sure what he was looking for but definitely looking for anything that could be considered unusual. Loki held his breath as he watched the man step frighteningly close to where Aemilia lay hidden. He then knelt and looked under the bed, seeing nothing but an empty floor.
He held there for what felt like hours. For the love of everything, Aemilia, don't blink, don't even breathe. The guard straightened up and shot a suspicious glance over at Loki, but then he paused. His eyes went blank for a moment in thought.
Loki said nothing. The guard glared at him again before slowly leaning back down to the floor. His gloved hand slowly slid across the floor and reached under the bed. Loki felt a bead of sweat fall down his neck.
As the hand got closer and closer, Loki heard the smallest exhalation of breath. Damn.
The guard gasped and lept into action before Loki could so much as twitch. The guard threw the cot to the other corner of the cell and grasped in Aemilia's direction.
The cloaking fell, there Aemilia was, pinned to the back of the cell wall and eyes wide with fright. The two lovers made a split second of painful eye contact.
Everything turned to chaos.
The guard grabbed at Aemilia's leg. Loki yelled, "No!" He lunged for her, but the chief guard held him back and the younger one immediately shoved the spear towards his throat.
Loki startled backward to avoid the contact, straining his neck up as the point just barely grazed his skin. "Stay back!" the guard warned. Loki seethed with fury, watching as Aemilia and the guard struggled. More swift footsteps could be heard as more guards came to back up their colleagues.
Aemilia shouted, wrestling to get out from under the guard before he could pin her. Loki pushed against his restraints, but another warning graze of the spear across his throat held him back.
The guard managed to grasp Aemilia's left wrist as she scrambled to her feet. Loki watched as she gasped, reared back her arm, and struck her clenched fist right across the guard's nose with damn near perfect form. Loki heard the crunch of cartilage. The guard fell back to the floor, stunned, blood pouring from his broken nose and down his chin. Without hesitation, Aemilia kicked him in the face, effectively knocking him out. Loki was shocked and impressed. He would've cheered for her in pride if he wasn't so furious.
The chief yelled for the younger one to aid his partner in restraining Aemilia while more help came sprinting down the hallway. The spear dropped from Loki's throat as the man swung it around to point it at Aemilia. He saw red.
That was the moment Loki was waiting for. He broke the guard's grip with ease, spinning him in front of him and uprooting his center. Loki struck a brutal blow to the inside of the man's knee, certainly tearing something. He yelled in pain until he suddenly went limp with a strike to the back of the head.
As soon as the guard hit the floor, Loki sidestepped a sloppy stab of the spear. He saw fear in the young guard's eyes as Loki grabbed the hilt and yanked it backward, forcing the guard to take a step toward him. The spear fell. Loki then spun him around while his balance was off and got him in a vice grip, his arm threateningly pressing into the man's throat while his other hand gripped the side of his head. Loki had him trapped.
The incoming guards reached his cell. Before they could take action, Loki venomously growled, "Stay back! Don't take one gods-forsaken step closer or I swear to Odin I will snap his neck like a twig." He mushed against his throat a bit, cracking his neck for good measure. The guard gasped for breath as Loki pulled him so upright that the shorter man was on the tips of his toes.
"Loki," Aemilia said from behind him, breathing hard. When he didn't turn to look at her, she said his name again. "Loki."
She stepped towards him, her hand grazing his clenched arm. Her voice was no more than a shaky whisper. "Loki, it's okay. Stand down. I cannot have you snapping guards' necks for me."
His heart lurched into his throat. "They will take you, Aemilia. I can't have that."
She turned to face him. Loki glanced at her but ultimately kept his burning gaze at the guards blocking the exit of his cell. He could hear the fear in her voice, but he could also hear the resolution. "Loki - this was my plan. I accepted the possibility of being caught when I decided to go through with it. I had thought it was fairly fool-proof, but clearly I let some things fall through the cracks. You are already in here with a life sentence. I will not have you killing guards in my name. That will give you a death sentence. Let the guard go. I'll be fine. Perhaps Frigga can help me."
Yeah, maybe Mother could send her some measly books to keep her company for all eternity just like she did with him.
Loki's eyes stung - one of the best moments of his life had turned into a nightmare. "I…I can't let you go, Little One. I can't." His eyes flashed back to hers. She was tearing up, too.
"Loki, I need you to trust me. Please. For me. Let the man go. Yield."
Loki's arm felt as if it should tighten further, just take his chances and fight through the crowd of guards. He could do it. Those guards were well-trained, but no match for him. He could force his way through, take them all down, then make a run for it with Aemilia. He could take her to his little hideaway at the springs. No one would be able to find them there.
But…no. No, they would never make it, even with all his magic. It was too heavily fortified. Especially now that Thor was just a thunderclap away again - the oaf. If anything, he would just put Aemilia in further danger. Her words rattled in his head. I need you to trust me.
Loki grit his teeth. With a furious shout, he let the guard go - pushing him out of the cell and stumbling to the floor. He was a total coughing mess.
Aemilia held up her hands in surrender and slowly walked toward the guards. The two unconscious men behind him were quickly retrieved as more spears were pointed at Loki, pushing him back further into his cell.
Loki winced as he heard the sound of shackles closing around Aemilia's wrists.
As soon as he stepped far enough back, the energy field was turned back on, and all Loki could do was helplessly watch Aemilia mouth the words "I love you" before she was dragged away. Their footsteps drifted farther and farther away. He heard the clang of a large door closing. Then nothing. Silence. Cruel, bitter silence.
He was alone.
A/N: Thank you for reading! If you feel led, comments/reviews are very much appreciated! Can't wait for the next one - TDW plotline here we come! ~Midnightwings96