"You knew?" You winced as Loki worked on your shoulder; you held the binding over your chest as he cleaned the wound.
"Well the moment I saw you in the line-up I knew there was something peculiar about you, and as soon as you admitted to who your father was, I figured it out. Bjórr Eriksson fathered only one child, a daughter. My father made comment on how it was such a great pity on more than one occasion, and my mother often noted that when your mother came to court, her daughter, meaning you, rarely if ever, accompanied her." He explained.
"Why did you not say anything?" You asked, looking around to him for his response.
"At first it was due to intrigue. I wished to know why you had done such a foolish thing, though the last thing you could ever be accused of being is a fool, but then your skills at problem solving had made you quite the asset, so I did not feel the need to." He admitted. "Why did you do it?" he asked, using his seidr to clean the bloodied wrap.
"My father." You began, looking back in front of you, down at the now cleaned wrap. "He would not have survived; I could not sit back and watch him go to his death."
"So instead you went and risked meeting your own."
"I have a greater chance than he ever could."
"Why Ragnar?" You looked at him in bewilderment. "Why such a name, no offence, but it is a bit ridiculous."
"Not my finest moment of thought I must admit." You chuckled. "I thought I was meeting my Ragnarok when you asked me my name and my mind came up empty, and it just blurted out from there." Loki began to laugh heartily. "It wasn't that bad."
"Yes it was. Though I have to admit I've had to remind myself all day not to call you by your real name."
"How did you come to only know it today?"
"My mother recognised you as soon as she saw you this morning. It was she who told me your actual name. It is so effeminate; it was odd using it when you look as you do."
"I am not sure if I am supposed to be insulted by that. I understand cutting my hair and wearing armour is hardly the height of femininity, but still."
"Do you really breed horses and dogs and go hunting with your father?"
You nodded. "As I stated, I hate the hunting part, love the riding and trekking part though. Why?"
"I fear you are more of a man than half the soldiers here combined."
"Thank you." You responded, utterly bemused.
"You're welcome." Loki smiled at your annoyance. He traced a finger over the wound on your shoulder with some salve. "You're lucky your shoulder is even still intact." He shuddered for a moment. "It should have been me."
"You would have obliterated had it been you, so cease that line of thought. So long as it does not get dirty, it will heal soon. Worry more about how we will get passed that ice blockade." You indicated to the wall.
"That is inconsequential." Loki dismissed, he pulled you into his chest, looking into his eyes in confusion, and he simply smiled. "Hold on." A moment later you felt a slight jolt and were startled to see that you were no longer blocked by the fallen ice, but rather were at the other side nearer the army.
"Now that is useful!" You exclaimed in awe. "I dare say that has aided you on more than one occasion."
"Indeed, though not many see much honour in it. Thor for one thinks it cowardly." There was an obvious bitterness to Loki's tone.
"Let me guess, the great Thor was also given lessons in seidr wielding too as a youth, but failed to excel in said studies?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Then I would wager that his comments derive from envy as opposed to anything else. The beloved crowned prince does not strike me as one who likes to be outshone, especially by his little brother."
Loki took a moment to think before answering. "You know, I am beginning to suspect that you are right." His expression became somewhat smugger.
"Just don't let your new found knowledge go to your head." You laughed. Seeing the crevice that led back to the chamber of the citadel, you paused for a moment. "May I enquire as to what is to become of me?"
Loki halted and looked back at you. "How do you mean?"
"Well I have broken one of Asgard's oldest and strictest laws, and have been found out, by no less than one of the Princes and the Allmother, surely I am for the chopping block for my actions?" You played with your fingers nervously, staring at them as you awaited his response.
"I have not revealed you as yet, and even if I were not so deeply indebted to you, I still would not reveal you now." You looked to his face at those words, confusion written all over your face. "You are too useful, one of the true assets to this battalion. The only concern I have now is to remember to call you by the correct name in front of everyone."
"Yes, I dare say that may be a bit of a giveaway. So you really are going to say nothing?" There was a part of you that thought you were pushing it too greatly.
"I may be the God of Lies Eleonora, but I am not lying now. I have no intentions of revealing you." You sighed in relief. "Imagine how it would look on me if I were to have been saved, not once, but twice by a woman. Also there is the matter of the manner in which you have addressed me in the past, I would never be respected among the Einharjar or the captains ever again." He added, walking forward. Slightly hurt by what he had said, you followed silently back into the citadel.
"Brother, we were starting to worry. I thought your precious magic and tricks had finally failed you." Thor jested as he walked over to his brother.
"Ragnar sustained an injury to his shoulder so I merely aided him patch it up." Loki stated in a bored tone, not rising to Thor's taunts regarding his seidr.
Thor took a moment to assess you. "Aye, he seems a little ashen faced. Bjórrson, you have earned some rest after all I have been told you have done, and for saving my brother, twice."
"I only did it to save us all the suffering of having to endure his whining should he have survived." You shrugged, earning a scathing look from Loki and a roar of laughter from Thor.
"I like you Bjórrson; you have a great sense of humour." Thor commented before turning to go back to his friends to think up a plan.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
The wind howled outside the citadel as the storm continued. Leaning against one of the pillars, you looked around for any sign of the Frost Beast, but it appeared to have vanished again. Crimson patches marred the snow where different Aesir had fallen victim to the creature, their bodies gone, though you feared to wonder where. Watching the snow fall and cover the stained areas, something caught your eye.
In the distance, against the side of the glacier, blue and white shapes moved in the shadows. Curious, you focused more only to realise it was a small group of Jotnar warriors. Being careful not to be seen, you backed into the citadel and ran in search of Loki. Still weak from blood loss you stumbled into a half dozing Cnut. "Watch where you are going Bjórrson, you idiotic…"
"Where are the princes?" you cut in, not in the mood for his tirade.
"What concern of it is yours?" he growled.
"Get over your dislike of me for five seconds and tell me where they are, damn you." You snarled.
The Einharjar stared at you open mouthed for your insolence. He was about to argue more when the Warrior's Three arrived to see what the commotion was. "Ragnar, is it not?" Fandral queried, you nodded. "What is the issue?"
"I need to speak to speak with the princes, there are Jotnar moving across the valley, they appear to be armed and are heading to what appears to be a rock face." You stated. Immediately Hogun turned and ran off in some direction.
"Where did you see this?" Volstagg demanded.
"It was across from the citadel, in the shadows." You pointed. The two warriors headed that direction. "Perhaps it is best to let Fandral out alone, his features do not stand out as harshly in the snow." You suggested, indicating to Volstagg's bright auburn hair.
"Loki was telling the truth, you have an astute eye for detail." The portly man smiled. "Fandral?"
"He's right; I can just about make them out. I believe it is the group that attacked us going by their clothing."
You were bust trying to see what was happening when Hogun returned with Thor and Loki. "Once again, you have served your purpose well." Loki commented as he used his seidr to hide him from sight. No one spoke as you all waited to see what he could find out under the cover of his magic. You jumped slightly when he reappeared next to you. "We've found it, it's a portal that they are using, and it leads directly to Svartalfheim. It's crude, but effective." He informed you all.
"Is there any way we close it?" Thor asked.
"All it will take is for you to use Mjolnir to send thousands of tonnes of rock and ice on it, and I can seal it after that." Loki smiled wolfishly.
"That is what I like to hear." Thor chortled. "Let us get to it."
"How long does one of those holes take to bring you where you are going?" You enquired.
"Less than a moment. Why?"
"So they have already started to land in Svartalfheim."
"Yes, where are you going with this." Fandral asked curiously.
"Do we know where it opens in Svartalfheim?" You continued, ignoring the warrior.
"Yes, and it is too dangerous for us to land there, we would be outnumbered by two to one. At least a Frost Giant and a Dark Elf each to contend with." Loki answered.
"Can they hear it if we destroy this side of the portal?"
"Not likely, though the most of them will have gone through in the time it has taken you to ask these pointless questions." Thor snarled angrily.
"Let all of them through." You suggested.
"Are you insane?" Volstagg argued.
"I have a method to this madness I assure you. Wait until they have all went through, and then we should close it, please, just trust me." You pleaded.
All present looked to Thor, who was staring at you intently. "Give me one good reason why."
"If we stop half of them getting through, then those in Svartalfheim will know we are here and could send more to destroy us. This way we have more intell on them than they do us."
Thor took a moment to think through your idea before he nodded. "Fine, that will suffice, but if this comes back to bite us, it will be your head I will be in search of, regardless of what you have done for my brother."
"I fear that threat has been on me since the moment I decided I would endure this endeavour." You muttered silently as they walked off, as you prayed to the Norns you had made the right call.