hands trailed softly through the grass. A gentle breeze pushed the stray hairs away from her face.
The sun was setting somewhere out there, just on the horizon. It's blood red light shone between the trees. Warm beams dappled her skin.
It was nice out here, on Orion. Somewhere deep inside of her, something breathed a sigh of peace. Perhaps this was what her kind had had sought on earth, back and back and back when it had been wild and mother nature had reigned dominant over the land.
Maybe they were not as civilized as they were now, under Odins rule. Maybe they had been like the woodland beasts that roamed undisturbed on this planet. Suppose they had wandered great green lands freely, taking and giving equally from the land, taking flight with the seasons and going where the wind took them.
Or maybe the lazy scent of sun warmed grass and pine needles was getting to her.
Raven laughed and ran barefoot through the grass, Her sandals long since abandoned. A few feet away, Loki inspected an odd looking fruit growing off of one of the many trees that surrounded the clearing, most likely trying to discern if it was poisonous or not.
A rabbit leapt from the bushes and Raven chased after it playfully, enjoying the coolness of the evening breeze.
Loki rolled his eyes at the fledging's childish nature and plucked a few produce from the spindly trees branches. if they turned not to be edible than at the least they'd likely serve useful in some potion or another.
"Raven!" Loki called out to his smaller companion "Come. There's time enough left before dark, we ought to see what food we can collect from the trails before nightfall."
"Alright." Raven abandoned her chase and fell easily in line with the dark haired prince. Her wings fluttered with pent up energy as she struggled for a little while to behave in a calm and mature manner, before she eventually abandoned her efforts altogether and ran along the worn paths formed by large beasts and previous outings of days past.
She foraged for berries, making sure to check for poisonous ones, as she'd been shown by her mother years back, and popped one or two in her mouth every few minutes, enjoying the sweet taste.
Birds chirped overhead and the distant hum of cicadas signaled another day on the woods planet coming to a close.
It was so calm.
So quiet.
There was an odd sensation that overtook her here on Orian. It was a warm and heavy limb of comfort unlike anything she'd ever felt on Asgard.
"I want to stay here." She whispered, a measure of iron in her voice not usually found there.
"So you've said." The sorcerer currently accompanying her spoke dryly. "Unfortunately for you, small children are not meant to live in isolation in the middle of a Forest on a solitary planet. I will find a way to take you back safely soon enough."
"I'm not isolated." Raven insisted, jogging a few yards to keep up with the tall man. "I have you, besides, you've been saying that for days now! Are you actually making any progress in making that spell yet?"
Loki scowled and looked away, his silence far more telling than any of his carefull, articulated words.
Raven laughed and raced ahead, leaping over thick roots and hopping on top huge, moss covered stones, her little wings fluttering behind her in an attempt to keep her balanced.
Loki rolled his eyes at her childish insistance that she leap over every stone and walk across every fallen branch they came upon.
Such a silly girl. Clever though. He could see it in her eyes, in the way she took in every detail of her surroundings almost subconsciously, memorizing the path they'd tracked and soaking in every word that Loki uttered, picking apart every carefully chosen word in her head and pulling out as much information as her young mind was capable of gathering.
Clever little girl indeed.
Loki shook his head and focussed on climbing over a particularly large log. Now was not the time to get attached to his tiny companion. Soon enough he would send her away and most likely he'd never see her again.
There was a yelp and his head snapped up in time to see Raven slip and fall off of a slick, moss covered rock.
Loki moved to catch her only for him to stop short at the sight of magic, pure magic, running up and down the length of her body and a bright flash taking her from where she'd been only just inches from the ground to a spot several feet away.
Loki gaped internally as Raven stumbled slightly from her accidental use of magic.
She swayed slightly and griped a nearby branch hanging off of an old, fungi ridden tree. The was silence as the two of them made eye contact.
Loki's mind was reeling. The young Valkyre had been pestering him days now to teach her magic, alongside her ridiculous request of remaining on Orian with him, but he had never once assumed that she was actually capable of using magic herself. It was an aptitude few had and even fewer had the patience for.
But there was no question now, this girl had magic. And, loathe as he was to admit it, she would need to learn how to control and, eventually, wield it sooner rather than later.
The unwavering eye contact the two shared turned into a more meaningful silent conversation as the green eyed sorcerer began to asses the situation.
She had no family. He had heard her tale and promptly pushed back the writhing twist of guilt he felt every time he thought of it. He had no idea how to safely return her to Asgard now that the secret paths had most certainly been blocked, heimdal being more than aware of them.
She wanted to learn magic! She was willing, readily so, and most importantly, had the capacity for it. Not to mention a strong build for a child her age, and a sharp mind. No doubt she would pick up lessons reasonably fast. Raven seemed to geniunly enjoy the quiet haven that was Orion. No doubt the avian within her rejoiced at the open spaces and abundant nature.
And it would be nice not to spend his exile alone...
Loki frowned. Was he really considering this? She was a child! He was a traitor and a criminal as of now and probably even believed to be dead! What sort of influence was that for a young girl? what would he know of being a mentor?
But he could do it. theoretically it wouldn't be all that hard. Orian was an abundant planet, home to none other than themselves and the wilderness. With this in mind and his magic it would be too difficult to provide for the both of them.
And the things he could teach her! All that he had learned from his mother, he could teach to raven. And not just magic, oh no, she would learn the lot of it, magic, maths, literature, hunting, even fighting. Any books Loki needed, he could summon or create with a spell, as with many other things. And he was a talented fighter, despite what others might say about his skills.
It was possible. And by the gods was it becoming more and more tempting by the minute.
Raven, the evil little thing, she seemed to know exactly what was going on in his head. Her feathers pricked up as she grinned, her triumph showing for she knew she had won a hard battle, for they were both more stubborn than they'd dare admit.
"I suppose," Loki spoke up, clearing his reeling thoughts " I'm going to be stuck on this planet for some time. I could use an apprentice."
Raven's smug grin shifted into something softer and she reached forward, catching Loki off guard by grasping his hand and pulling him forwards.
"Come on." She urged him forwards "We've still got to get back to Suspirium."
"Suspirium?"
"Of course." Raven turned to look up at her new mentor with a knowing grin. "All great homes need a good name after all."
"Suspirium." He murmered. "How peculiar, and yet, I do believe it fitting."
Raven grinned. "Suspirium it is then."
"Well then." Loki drew himself up to his full height, the smallest of grins twitching at the corner of his mouth. "To Suspirium."
Far away, a golden clad guardian stood proudly, watching over the remains of a fallen post. His sight did not fail him in this moment and he furrowed his brow in deep thought; conflicted as he glimpsed at the pair so very far away.
Loki was dangerous. There was nothing to doubt in this. But Heimdall had seen him grow just as surely as he'd seen his descent into darkness. There had been a time when he'd held light in his heart. His brother, Thor had adored him and he'd reveled in the attention, fighting and playing at his side unwaveringly in his loyalty.
What a pity it was that they had grown apart. Both brothers equally to blame, as were outside forces.
Loki did not have to continue down the dark path he'd stumbled upon. He could find his way back to the light yet.
But this was still Loki. The silver tongued Prince was as unpredictable as they come and manipulative to a fault. He held all the cards and played them well.
He could just as easily turn this innocent fledgling into a powerful, dark disciple to carry out his bidding as he could open himself up to her pure ray born of youth and allow himself to soften.
This was a gamble with far to many unknown variables.
But it was a gamble Heimdal would play for now, and observe it carefully.
For now though, he would say nothing, as the pair sealed their fates intertwined with the other...
sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Suspirium: A sigh, deep breath, or heartbeat. A sound of deep comfort.
Well here it it is, I labored long and hard over this one. Inspiration comes and goes. I do hope you like it nonetheless, despite how short it is in comparison to the first chapter.
I hope you read and review,
-Blue