It was nearing nightfall and Rai was exhausted from non-stop walking. She came across a small river and carefully set her leather bag down giving it a stern glare. "Alright boys come on out." She sat on a nearby rock, and after some shuffling, out came a tiny snake and wolf cub. Rai let out a gentle sigh and reached for some water to wash her face.

The boys looked at each other nervously. They figured there's no point in staying in disguise…who knows how long ago Rai figured it out. Fenrir spoke up first, "You knew all along?..." Jormungand was now lying down on the grass and Fenrir sat next to him. Rai sipped some water and nodded. "You let us follow you then?" this time Jormungand had asked her. Again she nodded and tried to stand up but she let out a painful moan. Jormungand quickly stood up and Fenrir ran to her side. "Are you alright?!" Fenrir asked, trying to figure out where she was hurt.

Rai started to take off her shirt and noticed the boys blushing and awkwardly turning away. "It's alright boys I've got a layer of bandages covering my upper body." She removed her shirt exposing the layer of bandages warping themselves from her chest down to her stomach. She had her back to them and they saw she was bleeding. Fenrir let out a shocked gasp. "Ma that was when you…" he couldn't bring himself to say it…he still felt guilty. Jormungand finished the sentence for him, "When she took that 40 lash flogging for you Fenrir…" Fenrir angrily stared at the floor unable to find words to sooth Rai's pain.

"Did you just call me Ma?" Rai let out a soft laugh and he blushed. "Now Fenrir do not blame yourself for this." She had said that to him before…but those words did not take away the guilt he felt. "Fenrir please take the ointment from my bag and the small, white cloth. Jormungand please help me take off these bandages so Fenrir can put some more ointment on my back." Rai appropriately covered her chest as Jormungand took off her bandages. Fenrir started to remind himself of what happened as he was placing ointment on Rai's wounds.

~ Flash Back 3 days ago ~

Everyone in Asgard was very fearful of him. When not in his human form, Fenrir was a monstrous wolf, bringing terror to the people of Asgard. Though Fenrir had never attacked anyone or done any harm, his sheer size, monstrous fangs and strength frightened them. Many people had gone to Odin pleading him to contain or even Exile poor Fenrir. Thankfully, Rai and Loki would convince Odin not to do so. So some of the warriors took it upon themselves to resolve this little problem. For a few weeks now some of the Asgarian warriors, and even some of the Asgarian gods, tried playing a little 'game' with Fenrir. They knew Fenrir liked to train for battle in his monstrous wolf form. So they would go to him and give him a challenge. They would bind him with the strongest ropes or chains they could find and challenge him to break his bonds. That was the only way they could bind Fenrir. They hoped that their chains would be strong enough to contain him. He would always break his bonds though, but that didn't stop the people and gods from trying. Rai hated this. She felt as though they treated him like an animal. But Fenrir loved a challenge and always accepted.

Recently however, he was growing weary of this little game. He started to notice the way the people had been treating him. Like an animal. Like some fearsome beast that they felt should be contained. He wouldn't let them disrespect him this way. He knew the gods had to eat the golden apples of Idunn in order to stay young, powerful, and keep their beautiful Asgarian complexion. He decided in order to teach those Asgarian gods not to belittle him, he would steal Idunn's golden apples and have them age and lose their godly powers. Just a little mischief really. He would return the apples after the gods had turned old and weak.

He managed to steal the apples and kept them well hidden. Soon the gods and even Odin himself started to age, lose their powers, and good looks. Everyone immediately suspected Loki of stealing Idunn's golden apples. Fenrir confessed to his father it was he who had taken them and Loki quickly returned the apples to Idunn. Fenrir told Loki why he had done it but Loki knew Odin would not let this go lightly. He would punish Fenrir severely. Rai was worried. She had overheard Fenrir and Loki's conversation. She didn't want him punished.

Rai went to the All-Father and in front of all the gods she confessed to the crime. She explained she had taken the apples because she had knowledge of certain gods speaking ill of her. Rai said she felt great anger rise within her because they said she was un-worthy of being a warrior, un-worthy of her tittle. That she was poor, she was a maid, and no matter how hard she tried to 'disguise' herself from it, she would forever be that. Though Rai lied about her committing the crime, what she said about the gods was true. Loki and Fenrir were present when she had confessed. She got to the All-Father before they could.

Odin stayed silent for a few minutes. The air in the room felt thick with hate and disappointment. Odin had always felt some pride for Rai. That she was so loyal her kingdom and to himself. She put up with a lot of Loki's misdeeds and not once wondered from her duties. So naturally this came as a shock. "Rien…you have disappointed me greatly…" He started to make his way towards her kneeling figure. She cast her head down in shame unable to look at him. He placed a strong hand on her shoulder and continued, "You did this out of revenge my child?..." she nodded unable to speak. "Rien…I love you dearly…but you will be punished for this crime…now I admire your courage to confess so I shall give you a lighter sentence than the one first decided." He went back up to his throne and sat down. Thor was at his side. He refused to believe Rai had done such a thing. Odin's wife Frigga also refused to believe it, but would not question her husband. "Rien you shall be flogged. Forty Lashes at sunset." The gods seemed pleased with the punishment. Loki, Fenrir and Thor looked horrified. Thor tried to reason with his father but Odin held up his hand silencing him. Fenrir was about to confess to the crime and say Rai was just covering for him but she spoke up.

She stood up carefully and bowed to the All-Father. "Thank you My King for your mercy. I accept my punishment knowing that prince Loki is acquitted of this crime." Odin nodded and motioned for the guards to take hold of Rai. "You may change out of your warrior's clothes to something more suitable for your punishment. Once you have changed, you shall be taken to the dungeons to await your flogging at sunset." Rai nodded in agreement and was taken away by the guards to her chambers.

She started undressing when Loki appeared before her. She gasped and tried to cover herself, though she was wearing thin under clothes. Loki didn't care and took hold of her in a strong embrace. "Thor is still trying to reason with father…" he whispered to her. "He wants to see if he can change his mind…or at least lighten your sentence…" Rai hugged him back but shook her head no.

"I already accepted the punishment Loki. Now please release me so I may go with the guards before they think I'm trying to escape." Loki refused to let go of her but Rai gently pushed him away. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. Loki had a distressed look in his eyes but her smile somehow made him feel slightly better. She quickly finished dressing and the guards burst into her bedroom. Loki glared at them and he stood between the guards and her.

"Prince Loki please step aside. We must take this…criminal to her punishment." One of the newer guards said with a bitter tone. The other guard placed a hand on his shoulder motioning him to be silent. He knew Rai and he knew she wouldn't do something like that but there was nothing he could do. Loki glared at the guard who had spoken, wanting to rip out his tongue. Rai walked up to the soldiers and willingly gave herself up. Was there nothing he could do? He had always protected her when they were younger. She would even call him her knight in shining armor…but now…now there was nothing he could do. He reluctantly let them take her away watching as they dragged her harshly down the hall into the dungeons.

Later that night, a few minutes before they would bring her outside to be flogged, Loki's sons and daughter came to see her. You could tell Hella had cried for her eyes were puffy and cheeks red. Jormungand was silent but reached into the cell to gently take hold of Rai's hand. Fenrir came up to the cell and said, "Rien…why…" She looked up at him and smiled. "I overheard you talking with your father about what you did. I do this because I love you." He stayed silent unsure of what to say. He remembered as a child causing her much grief with his mischief-making with Jormungand once they found out she was their mother's killer. But over the years, they came to love Rai. She took care of them and always looked after them. Eventually they saw her as their mother but never said it to anyone.

Fenrir reached into the cell and took hold of Rai's other hand. He gently placed a kiss on her knuckles and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry Rai…" he whispered. "There is nothing to apologize for Fenrir. As long as you promise me you will never do it again. "She replied. He nodded and Jormungand and Fenrir moved away as they saw the guards come in for her. Hella cried on Jromungand's shoulder and he held her in a warm embrace. Fenrir glared at them. He wanted to rip out their throats and set Rai free of this punishment but he contained himself. Loki had come in just before they brought Rai outside. He didn't say anything but he held her hand tightly and kissed her forehead. She looked up at him gave him a warm smile as usual. He sighed. "Is there a time you don't smile?..." she looked back at him when the guards started to take her away and replied, "A smile hides the pain and helps suppress the tears." Loki felt a tug in his chest. He felt horrible he could not help her. He had spoken with Thor but his older brother informed him that he was unable to persuade their father.

She was taken out into the training field. The guards bound her hands and she was on her knees with her back to all of them. Odin, Frigga, Thor, Loki, Fenrir, Jormungand, Hella, Sif, the warriors three, and even Einar were present. Though Sif was never fond of Rai, she didn't wish for this to happen to her.

"Commence." Odin announced and it started. One of the guards pulled out a leather whip and started to hit Rai. She let out a suppressed cry of pain. On the fifth lashing Rai's skin started to break and little beads of blood were present. Rai was humming to herself to help suppress and distract her from the pain. On the tenth lashing Frigga had enough. Sometimes Rai would let a pain filled cry escape her and the queen could not bear it any longer. She dismissed herself and went to her chambers. Hella also dismissed herself unable to bear the pain Rai was going through. On the twenty-fifth lash, Thor had enough. He tried to rush in there and stop the guard from hitting Rai but Odin stopped him. The All-Father warned him if he tried to stop the punishment, he would add more lashing. So the rest of them stood there. Watching her suffer. Watching her skin break and blood running down her back. Fenrir wanted to transform into his wolf self and eat the dam guard but his father put a hand on his shoulder.

Finally the flogging stopped. Rai was now on the floor drenched in sweat and blood. Odin dismissed the guard and he went back into the throne room. Everyone rushed to Rai's side with Loki reaching her first. He quickly and gently picked her up and took her to the healing room. There, everyone was waiting for the nurses to come out and tell them she was alright. About two hours later, the nurses announced she was fine. She had passed out due to blood loss and the excruciating pain but she would be fine. She just needed to rest. They were all relieved and everyone went back into the palace. Thor, Sif and the warriors three, headed to the dining hall silently. They did not want to leave her but they knew she needed her rest.

Jormungand and Fenrir sat at her side. Jormungand was stroking her hair and Fenrir held onto her hand gently not wanting to let go. She suddenly fluttered her eyes open and smiled at them both. Fenrir couldn't contain himself anymore and hugged her gently. He silently cried into Rai's chest whispering he was sorry over and over. She stroked his back gently and then carefully pushed him off her. She looked up at him and said. "Mistakes are not shackles that halt one from stepping forward. Rather they are that which sustain and grow one's heart. Do not apologize. I hold no grudge against you." He nodded but he didn't want to leave her side.

Jormungand gently nudged his brother and told him they should let her rest. He nodded and looked at his younger brother sternly. "If you tell anyone that I cried Jormungand…I'll kill you." The younger brother and Rai both laughed then they dismissed themselves from her.

Loki came in to see her in the middle of the night. He wanted to make sure no one was disturbing her and if she was alright. He saw here there trying to sleep peacefully but the pain was obviously not allowing her to. He got closer to her and kissed her lips gently. He pulled up a chair next to her and held her hand firmly. He then whispered, "Rai…no one would do the things you do for me or my children…no one loves them or me as much as you do…Please forgive me for hurting you…I want to give you everything you are worthy of…but it will take a bit more time…please just bear with it a bit longer…I promise you…after Thor's coronation…you will get everything you deserve and then some…" Unfortunately she did not hear his sweet words for she was sleeping. Loki stood by her side all night but left early in the morning.

~ End Flashback ~

Fenrir finished placing the ointment on Rai's back and Jormungand started to put fresh bandages on her. He wrapped them all around her body and she thanked him. She started to dress herself in her normal attire and noticed Fenrir looking terribly sad. "What's the matter sweetheart?" He looked over at her and he looked away in shame. "I need to somehow make this up to you…" he whispered. She let out a chuckle and he looked back up at her in confusion. She sat next to him and said, "You can start off by gathering materials to make a camp here. You know dried wood and the like." He nodded. "Secondly, promise me you won't stray away from the path I showed you." Jormungand looked at her in confusion this time. She looked at them both and said, "Remember, if you lose your soul, you're on your own."