A/N: The week is aaaalmost over (forget about thursday and friday) and finally I found some time again to upload. So, it's getting quite emotional here and the fight at the end was actually quite fun to write. Hope some things get clearer now. Welcome to my newest followers, and to all of you: enjoy and have a nice week! xx
Thor tried to not stay in the way while Eir and her helpers were busy with Jane. His lips turned into a smile more than once at her display of awe. He still remembered all too well in what an environment the healers on Earth worked and the sharp objects they handled. Eir did not need to puncture skin in order to find her patients' maladies.
Next to the wise healer a younger woman had her fingers on Jane's temples, her eyes closed in concentration.
He took a step closer. "What do you see, Sigyn?"
"A wall, of black and red mist. My sight cannot penetrate it, it doesn't let me in."
Eir placed her hand on the young healer's shoulder, her dark eyes meeting Thor's. "You have said it is the Aether that has nestled into her body."
"That thing, the Aether, does it do any harm?" Jane sat up, her gaze shifting constantly between the women and Thor. She knew the answer more or less by now, but still she couldn't believe a thing like this, could really be inside of her. "I mean, I thought it's something that gives its bearer power, not hurt them."
"My knowledge on the Infinity Gems is not very thorough, for I have never seen any myself and believed it to be no more than children's stories. But if what I have heard is true the Aether can only grant power when kept in a case, such as a special locket or the Infinity Gauntlet." Her head turned towards Jane. "However, when in a living being it will eat on the creature's life force until it has to seek a new vessel. It is a slow death, gradual."
"Can you not transfer it into such a case?" Jane asked, her voice not betraying the chaos the woman's words had caused inside of her.
"I'm afraid it is not as easy as that. It must be one of equal strength to contain it. Wherever it was kept before, it must have been a structure of immense power itself. A living body, however weakened it may be by the gem, can for a short time provide such power to contain it. But this is as far as my knowledge goes."
"There must be a way!" Thor's voice rose, his fists held tightly on both his sides.
"There is no more we can do for her."
"How long?" The astrophysicist's voice broke at the end and her throat felt dry.
"Even this we cannot tell. It depends on how strong you are, child." The healers bowed their heads, sorrow reflected in all their eyes. One after the other they left the examination room.
"Courage, my Prince." Eir clutched her potions bag and told her apprentices to lead on. The last one to leave was Sigyn. Before she exited Thor remembered.
"Your sister has returned with us."
It took a moment before a reaction came from her.
"Thank you, my Prince." He did not miss the slight tremor in her voice.
Then she too took her leave and they were left alone. Thor did not know how to break the silence between them. He took a step closer to her and then another when she did not move. He sat down next to her on the examination table and let out a breath in relief when her fingers searched for his and intertwined with them.
"What now?" Her voice barely above whispering.
"We'll find a way to get it out of you. I swear I will not rest until then."
"And if there is none?"
Silence. A heavy intake of breath. "If you desire I can bring you back to Earth. You are not obligated to remain here if you do not wish so." He would understand if she wanted to be with her friends, with Darcy and Erik, if they managed to find him after his arrest. He would not force her to stay in a world so far away from home.
Jane turned to him and saw the frowns that distorted his strong features. She gave his hand a squeeze. "I've always dreamed of seeing the stars, of visiting new worlds and planets. For years I've studied constellations and space phenomena from afar and now I'm actually where I always wanted to be. Later...maybe I will go and see Darcy and Erik. But for now I just want to be with you in Asgard."
He would find a way to save her. It would not end like this. He let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulder and draw her close so he could place a kiss on her soft hair.
It would not end like this.
The evening air embraced her soothingly as she stepped out into the gardens and she made her way down a flight of stairs to a bench she had discovered two days before. Her gown, white as usual, hung tightly unto her form and the cool breeze brushed against the spots of exposed skin.
Asgard's walls were once again housing a great banquet. Gods and goddesses had appeared in their finest dress, the jewels on the women's throats shining in all shapes and colours. Wine had refilled their cups before they could be emptied and after the feast music had been offered for the guests to dance.
Her eyes had often met Sigyn's from across the room as her sister had changed dance partner after dance partner. She had looked even more stunning than usual, truly fitting in as if she were one of them, beautiful like the rarest of gems.
Fara had watched, joined by Lady Sif, who wasn't very keen on dancing as she had told her, and two of the Warriors Three. Fandral of course was always in company of a beautiful goddess, barely leaving the dance floor. He had once offered Fara his hand, but she had thankfully declined, more comfortable with her position then.
Her gaze travelled upwards to the sky and the stars and moons met her in a brilliant sea of diamonds and coloured pearls against the dark purple velvet. Then she closed her eyes and just enjoyed the far off sounds that were coming from the banquet hall the wind on her flushed face.
Her head snapped around when she heard the swish of grass and her eyes flew to a dark figure, his tall form facing not her but the open landscape before them. His voice was low and soft when he spoke, not through their bond but with his lips expelling the words.
"They are serving dessert inside. I recall you telling me once how fond you were of blueberries."
A laugh escaped her mouth as she watched Loki step closer. His eyes shone in competition with the night sky and their depths were as penetrating in the darkness as fire. Those were the same eyes that had met her gaze throughout the evening, yet always from afar, and had caused her to blush every time.
The black leather and linen in his usual emerald green accentuated perfectly his lean figure and long legs. She had not been able to avert her gaze from his elegant figure for almost half the evening and when his brother had persuaded him somehow to ask one of the ladies for a dance he had almost appeared to fly across the dance floor, his gaze coming back to her again and again in mischief.
The expression in his eyes now sent shivers down her spine and she was thankful for the lack of light or she would have lost the remains of her dignity as well that night. Again she looked upwards at the night sky.
"How many undiscovered places there have to be out there. How many worlds and civilisations hidden from our present knowledge."
"Thousands, millions...Perhaps some even Heimdall cannot see. The space is expanding constantly and new worlds destroyed and born all the time without our notice."
How small that made her feel – small and irrelevant. She rose to her feet, her hand stretching out to the sea of light. "How far they must be and yet they appear so close. As if one could reach out and just reach them."
When he stepped even closer she averted her gaze once again to meet his, instantly regretting it. She had to replace the term irrelevance with massive self-consciousness. She could not look away. Immediately she felt herself drowning in the jade depths as the edges of his magic seemed to stroke her skin like flames liking at paper, tender yet still burning.
Another step and he stood directly before her, his tall figure so close she would have brushed against him had she moved. Nothing but silence surrounded them, the world melting away along with the sounds from the distant party.
She watched his head lower as if she were in a state of trance, not able to register what was happening, but at the same time her senses were heightened, her pulse faster and the tips of her fingers prickling.
His lips brushed against hers like the touch of a feather, not quite a kiss. And her eyes fluttered shut as she felt their soft movement against hers, the taste of honey and spices and the scent of pine enveloping her senses.
Loki raised his head again a little and a sigh escaped her lips at the loss of contact, to her great embarrassment. He did not speak when she looked up at him. His eyes were roaming hers, the stars' reflected on their surface.
He was searching for her consent.
As a maid to Freyja she had given a pledge to stay untouched by men until her mistress provided her with a husband. Could she disobey the orders of a woman who had given her more than she could have ever asked?
He witnessed her inner turmoil and her hesitation felt like daggers piercing through his lungs. "Forgive me." His jaw tensed up and he forced himself to take a breath.
When had he started to act against upon his thoughts?
When begun to disregard his better judgement?
How foolish he had been. His thoughts flew to a picture, a memory from earlier that evening when he had seen Thor laughing with her. Was it his brother she wanted? Had he truly been so blind to her true feelings? He could hardly blame her; she was not the first person to favour the God of Thunder over him, the second-born, the Smith of Lies.
Or was it Fandral her heart desired? He had not missed the close bond she had forged with the Warriors Three in that short time, but was there more than he had originally thought?
He wanted to turn away, but the movement stirred something within Fara and she got hold of his arm. This time it was her turn to study him for any traces of dishonesty. She found none.
Only the endless seas of his eyes existed, filled with the knowledge of the world and a darkness that sent cool and warm shivers down her spine. She met with aloofness, the cautious pride of a cornered wolf. But no lies.
The Trickster's gift to her was sincerity, a true heart.
Her fingers were trembling as she finally stepped on her tiptoes and he met her half-way before capturing her lips again, this time without hesitation.
His hand flew to the back of her neck, her skin tingling beneath his touch. Her fingers travelled the way up his chest and grabbed at the fine fabric of his vest in search of halt. His lips opened and his tongue darted out, tracing her bottom lip and seeking entrance. She parted her mouth to him with a soft sigh, her knees turning into mush.
Fara let out a strangled laugh at the memory. How foolish she had been back then. The water in the bathtub soothed her tense muscles and the air was filled with the aroma of carnations as she rubbed some drops of the oil over her arms and let some more pour into the water.
The bathtub was let into the ground and of the same size as those constructions the Midgardians called Jacuzzi. In general the bathroom was far more than she deserved and she felt shame creep up her spine once more. Her life in Frejya's hall had by no means been shabby, but the elegance surrounding her did not seem to accept her. She felt small, unworthy.
What was she? Frigga had called her a guest, but until that point she had always regarded herself as her mistress' maid. Was she? Technically Frejya had released her from her obligations, so why was she still clinging to that status?
Perhaps because she still hoped the Vanir goddess would take her back. She had played with fire and paid the price. It was not a mistake she would repeat ever again.
She stayed until the water grew cold. With a groan she realised there was no robe she could use in the bathroom, said robe folded in the trunk at the lower end of her bed. After drying herself with one of the fine linen, she again put on her clothes from Earth – a pair of jeans and a beige sweater.
Barefoot she stepped into her bedchamber, her wet hair clinging to her nape. The sun shone through the open balcony unto the stone beneath her feet. A second later she spotted him in a corner of the room.
You know that Eir told Thor's pet she's halfway standing in her grave? I mean because of the Aether, not her already hilariously short life. Loki's smirk widened as he stepped out of the corner and sat on the side of her bed. You didn't believe me.
"No, and I still think there is a way we can safe her."
Ah, but your dear sister shares her views. He waited for her reaction, his eyes piercing into her, searching for a weak spot in her defence.
Fara averted her gaze from him and she tried to ignore his scrutiny by searching for a hair brush. "Sigyn is a talented healer, but the Aether is unlike anything she ever faced before. She could be mistaken."
The next moment she could feel his breath stroking her cheek and the lower part of her throat. She grew aware of water droplets dripping from her hair onto her collar and a feeling told her his gaze was fixed on their traces on her skin. She felt trapped by his proximity, like a mouse before a snake.
You thought I was married to her.
The gasp escaped her lips before she could seal them and the pit of her stomach boiled with indignation that he should mention any of this. "Of course, how foolish of me. I should have known that your reason for coming here was to insult me further. How typical of you! I have no time for your games, Loki."
He ignored her words. Why did Freyja send you to Earth? Why were you so scared of coming back?
"It is none of your business. Thor asked for my help and I will give it to him. That includes coming back."
He jerked away with a hiss. So you risk everything because of Thor, even your dear secret. That imbecile cannot even hold a pigeon's trust yet he seems to have captured yours with his charm.
"I can't believe this!" Something inside her snapped. Her voice, calm and calculated the moment before, was now shaking with outrage. "Still? After all that happened you are still jealous of Thor? Have you not learned that your irrationality will see you dead in three month's time and has cost the lives of many others?
Death is something we all have to face sooner or later.
She felt his magic burn and pushed against it, the edges melting into one another. Emotions that were not her own, a desire to die – his. So strong was the sensation he emitted that her body began to shake.
"You don't know what death means, what it truly causes in the hearts of those left behind. Oh, yes you have killed, but you were never faced with the death of a loved one. You don't know what pain it can cause until you lose someone you love." The images of her father and mother danced before her eyes like a faded sketch. "You say we all have to face death at some point and yet you make fun of Jane and her lot and continue to break your family's hearts when they thought you dead and lost forever."
They are not my family! They never were! Lies! Lies and rejection, that's what they offered me my whole life.
"Not rejection. They wanted to protect you! Can't you understand?" She hesitated, her breath coming hard as she considered her next words. A child too small to be accepted as his own by Laufey. You would have faced your death back then in some cold and abandoned ruin had Odin not taken you with him.
His brows lowered themselves in a frown as he remained silent, surprise mixing with new anger. She revelled in his silence. She would not let him hurt her anymore, no she could turn the wheel as well as he.
She too had witnessed Odin's revelation, watching the scene unfold from Midgard only seconds before it happened, so far from her reach. The memory of Loki's shouts was as fresh in her mind as the image of his tears.
"You thought I didn't know? Foolish Jotunn!"
The moment she had uttered the word his skin began to change, greyish-white turning into a deep blue and strange patterns forming like silver threads on a block of ice.
Two crimson orbs fixed her to her spot. He tilted his head and again the movement reminded her of a snake. She wanted to run, to flee, but she also knew she had won this time.
How does it feel? His voice, still coarse from earlier, was now calm. His feelings were hidden under a layer of quiet calculation. Yet despite his efforts she did not miss the urgency in his words, the need to hear her answer. To know that you allowed this to touch you? To possess you?
You need to learn that no one cares if you are Jotunn or Aesir. You are you - why can that not be enough?
She knew he was preparing his protest, but the words would not form into coherent sentences in his head. The red of his eyes had lost its threatening glow and for a moment she thought she could discern the fresh green underneath it.
Just then someone knocked on the door. It flew open and three handmaidens entered, two carrying several gowns and the third a basket with hair accessories and tinctures for the face.
"My Lady, the queen sends us to assist you in your preparations for dinner."
"Yes, I-" Fara had to blink a few times, the memory of Frigga's promise to send someone only slowly sinking in. She turned around again, but Loki was gone, his spells rendering him invisible and he had escaped through the door before the women could close it.
She let them take care of her hair and make-up, as she tried to not pay attention to the knot in her stomach. She refused to think of him. He was a stranger to her, a lost cause for he would never understand the damage he had done to those that cared the most.