A:N/ Hello everyone to yet another update to our journey. I think by now there is no point in me apologising for long waits because there is no way it will not happen again. I do feel embarrassed, but sometimes inspiration comes and sometimes it chooses to go on holiday and abandon you for weeks. Anyway, this new chapter might seem like a little bit of a filler, but there are still some points that are important and so I just put them all in here. We are very close to the action now so please keep your divine patience for a bit longer. The next chap is already written and only needs some revision.
I send my love and a great hug out to all readers, new and old, and there is a bonus pack of chocolate chip cookies for all the lovely reviews. Each gesture is appreciated.
Enjoy!
"Quit grinning like a lunatic and start helping me. This is serious." The sweet sound of crystal laughter filled the air.
The next thing Fara knew was that a handful of grass flew into her face. Next to her Sigyn began sorting out the herbs they had gathered earlier before the stone plates in front of them. All of these plants would later be chopped and boiled in water or syrup to create strong healing potions. Fara had been asked by her sister for some help, but frankly neither of them could keep their focus on work when the weather was so perfect. The last days of summer drew close and the change of season had turned most of the tress into statues of gold and burgundy.
Some of the men were taking advantage of the warm sun to train on the sand before winter closed the courtyard. Naturally the Warriors Three were among them. Thor too stood proudly with Mjollnir in his hand, droplets of sweat glistening on his forehead. His last opponent was still lying on the ground – Volstagg, half-laughing and half- groaning in pain.
What Sigyn had spoken of was the beautiful purple orchid that had suddenly appeared in Fara's palm in a maze of golden threats. Both of them recognised the magic's signature and Fara's eyes flew to a darkly clad figure leaning on a far away pillar, smug grin already in place.
Sigyn was the only one who knew of their meeting, for one because Fara would never think of hiding something as important as that from her sister, and secondly because she could provide an alibi for Fara's occasional disappearances to Freyja. Secretion was their agreed priority, but of course there was the occasional slip, when they each felt secure enough in public.
Even from afar she felt the heat of his gaze against her skin and rolled her eyes, partly at him and partly at herself.
The sun continued to rise and set and the next two days passed uneventfully. Thor hated to wait. He had learned much in his short exile, but patience would never be a virtue in which he would shine.
He was standing in the courtyard, Mjollnir always in hand. Every hour of the day carried an unspoken threat if Fara's vision had been true. Knowing that Malekith had somehow found a way to modify them would always pose a risk and they could never be too careful. That is why he had ordered every Einherjar to train in the courtyard every day for an hour the very least. The Aesir soldiers were some of the fiercest in the Nine Realms, as many a people had found out sooner or later, but he wanted his men to be prepared. He had ordered these measures; he watched over their training, he was the one who worried if they would stand against the enemy. Asgard's prince presided over the galvanisation whilst her king thought himself secure by having his grip around Loki.
His brother was never far away these days and secretly he grinned at the younger man's obvious disdain. Even in their youth Loki had never spent more than a few hours in company, preferring to sneak out of a room when the desire for silence became too strong. Now he was forced to be surrounded by people every waking moment. And with every hour Thor became more certain that it was not just one of his doubles facing them. Sooner or later Loki's magic would wear out. He would become tired. This and the fact that his guardsmen had been trained to sense the use of magic. It was not surprising to see the younger man purse his lips from time to time.
Loki was at the opposite corner of the yard, flanked by four heavily armed guards. His dark-clad form was leaning against a pillar and with satisfaction Thor noted that his clothes no longer hung as loosely over his bones as before. His face, although naturally still pale, had lost most of its greyish hue and his hair was combed back. He looked healthier. And this meant more to Thor than he could allow himself to admit before others. He still had the picture of a man wasting away at the back of his mind, a living scarecrow.
His father's words nagged at him. If Loki still contemplated to betray them all then what could they do? Once more he cursed Odin's voice-binding spell. They needed proof, but in their current situation any form of questioning fell away.
His gaze turned to two small figures behind a window – Jane and Fara. For a moment it lingered on his beloved. She was laughing, eyes sparkling in the soft sunlight. The Aether's destructive nature did not yet leave its marks upon her fragile human body. A part of him held on to the idea that perhaps nothing would change. The Power Gem would just leave without a trace and just transform into thin air and a few silly anecdotes for future years. But the bigger, far more rational part of him knew that it would slowly break her. He refused to take that as a final so the only question was whether they would find a way to get it out or leave the job to Malekith and seal the fate of the universe.
They had been together with the others in the library the whole morning. Again it had been futile. Day after day the group left the room with less and less hope. He had sworn once never to leave her, to find a solution, but he also could not help himself from tensing up every time he saw her. It was fear, cold and shattering fear that lay like a rope around his throat and muscles – fear that sooner or later she would condemn him for her fate and leave Asgard for good.
He dreaded the approach of the day when her laughter would be replaced by coals of hatred in her eyes.
The Thunderer lowered his eyes for an instant and caught Loki staring at the two women as well. Immediately a frown manifested over his brows. The Trickster's, ignorant of his being watched, shut his eyes as if in pain, lips pressed tightly together. Even from that distance Thor could see something was not right, but before he could take a step closer the ache seemed to have gone. Loki's features relaxed, eyes still closed.
Frigga had stepped behind her youngest, one hand placed lightly on his left shoulder. Behind him he could hear his friends' laughter, telling him that Sif, Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun were approaching.
The elven leader followed the progress with what could barely count as a smile. A horrid grimace pulled at his facial skin until his lips were stretched upward in an unusual grin. His generals stood around him. Triumph was tangible, so close that if he reached out he would be able to touch its beckoning surface. A few hours, not more.
His small troupe was doing marvellously. No one had noticed the strangers between their Aesir ranks, observing silently. The true spies. Instead all attention was directed at that lousy excuse of a Jotunn.
The little Vanir had broken through his spells, but that was of little importance now. She would pay the price soon enough. It did not matter if the prince and his soldiers knew they were standing before their door. The Allfather himself would not step in their way. Thanos had taken care of that.
Mind, Soul and Space, with Power on its way. The stars would be extinguished, darkness eternal.
Soon.
Jane's words faded as Fara's attention was pulled away by an already familiar roaring. The rough laughter almost crushed her ear drums and instinctively her hands flew up to cover her ears. Of course that did not help in the slightest. The terrible sound came from within her head. Words, like a snake's hisses, wrapped themselves over her soul, squeezed and pressed together – words she could not understand, unlike anything she had ever heard.
It softened away, gradually. Soon nothing else was left but a faint soreness behind her temples. She parted her mouth and cool air rushed into her crying lungs, relieving more of the tension.
A second later her eyes rose only to be met by Jane's worried ones.
"What's wrong? Is it Malekith?"
"I don't know." The Vanir tried to gather her wits.
Fara searched the courtyard below for the sorcerer. She knew the attack had not been aimed at her, but him. The only reason she had been witness to it at all was the expansion of their connection during its duration. That voice, she had heard it on Midgard too.
"Follow me." Fara rushed out of the room, Jane never more than two paces behind her.
Loki cursed silently. Now that had been unnecessary. Then again Thanos did not always choose to remain subtle. Sometimes he could almost swear his tormentor wanted to be found out.
The episodes were becoming less frequent, but the level of pain remained high. He wished he could say he was getting used to it, but that was as far from the truth as it could be. The fact that he was now forced to be surrounded by people every hour of the day was not helping. With relief he noted that nobody seemed to have noticed anything.
"Leave us alone." A female voice cut through his thoughts and he felt the soft pressure of a hand upon his shoulder.
"Your Majesty, we are under the Allfather's strict orders."
"The Allfather ordered you to not let him out of your sight. This can be still achieved within a distance of twenty paces." Frigga's tone was dry. "Now give my son and I some privacy."
Loki still had his back to them, but he did not need to see the guards to know they exchanged looks between each other before bowing low and walking off. A smirk twitched at his lips, yet tensed up when he realised her hand was still on him. Against his better judgment however he did not jerk away. Obviously she had come with a purpose and he would let her speak her mind if only to get some peace for the rest of the day.
"Do you remember when you and Thor started your combat training down here? How excited both of you were?"
Annoyance crept up his spine. He should have known she would use childhood memories - how predictable!
Frigga went on with her speech, her eyes following the Einherjar's swift movements. "Of course Thor did not listen to anything the instructor said. He was always so headstrong. Thought he knew how to handle the wooden stick you had at first. He channelled out one of the younger lads – that sturdy one; Tyr, I believe his name was - and stumbled over his own feet in the first round. He fell down on his chin and the blood soaked the whole front of his tunic. All the boys laughed at him."
Loki could guess where this was going. He refused to meet her eyes, his face bereft of any emotion that would indicate he was even listening.
"All but you." Frigga paused. "You tried to talk him out of it, just like you've always done, Loki. And when he lay dishevelled and crying on the sand it was you who went to him and pulled him up. You've always been his strongest support."
Her touch felt unbearably hot on his arm, searing the skin off his bones. The Trickster took a breath. A second. Then a third. How much he wished he had his silver tongue so he could make her shut up once and for all! He felt something tugging at him, pulling him so he was facing her.
"I will be dead soon, Loki."
That was enough, the final straw. With a soundless hiss he pulled away, shaking his head in disgust. He was surprised she would step to such lowly means just to give him all the blame.
"You don't believe me."Frigga's voice was strangely thin when she spoke, without any anger or hurt. It made the hairs on the back of Loki's neck rise.
He listened, still not daring to turn around and see her face, her knowing eyes.
"I know how and when I will die. The Norns have told me themselves. One of the questionable privileges of being queen." The dryness of her tone almost made him jump, something he would never admit. "I will be dead sooner than any of you believe. I've told neither Odin nor Thor, but I'm telling you now." She paused. He could swear he heard the shaking of her breath. Did he imagine it?
"You are not evil, Loki. Don't turn against those who love you. Stop pushing us away."
His whole body was shaking. The infuriating urge to forgive her – only her - pulsated inside his veins in unison with his quickened heart beat. He knew she wanted him to turn around, to look at her, but he would not give her the satisfaction, despite one part of him screaming she was sincere. His eyes were burning and no matter how much he blinked the flames would not go away
So he walked away, face blank.
Too late Fara saw the group of women strolling around the corner. The collision was inevitable.
"Fara?" Jane came to a halt next to her, eyes wide with concern. "Are you okay?"
The seeress was physically unharmed, but a look upward told her she was far from okay. Freyja's icy stare was drilling into her, one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised in annoyance.
"My, whom have we got here? It's dear Jane and the little oracle." The blonde goddess twittered in her honey-sweet soprano voice. "Running around inside the palace walls. Ts, I'm afraid you are a rather bad influence on our future queen, Fara."
"What's your problem?" Jane said, irritated by the aggressiveness of the woman's tone.
This only made Freyja laugh. Still directed at Fara she continued. "I see you've coped well with Midgardian ways."
"I simply tried to make the best out of my time there."
Beside her Sigyn held her face down. The other remaining two girls – Freyja's newest students she guessed – exchanged amused grins. They looked exactly like the type of adolescent girls eager to grasp at any chance of gossip. Apparently her intuition was right for Freyja bid them to leave. "Dís, Geira, you may go now to your quarters."
"Yes, madam." The two ducklings curtseyed and with one last look to Jane and Fara they turned and were gone.
"Jane, please go and find Thor. I will join you in a second." Fara said to the physicist.
"Just let it be. She only wants to provoke a reaction from you." Then something in the young Vanir's eyes silenced her. "You sure?"
A nod.
"Sigyn, please help Lady Jane find the Crown Prince. The palace's corridors can be a tricky labyrinth to all not accustomed to them."
Jane shot her one last look, then let out a defeated sigh and walked away together with a rather stiff looking Sigyn.
A moment later they were alone.
"I'm the queen's guest and no longer under your service. I'm under no obligation to you." Fara spoke, trying to keep her voice calm and succeeded.
"Mh yes, you're right of course, but I believe banishment cannot just be lifted at the banned's free will."
"Thor himself allowed me to return. Do you question his authority?"
"By no means. That would be treason." Freyja chirped on. Then something darker crept over her gaze, a shadow upon her angelic features. Something demonic. Something potentially lethal. "How's the husband?"
So that was where the rumours had originated from. "I don't know what you have told the Allfather and anyone else faintly interested in your stories. You have taken everything I had and poisoned my sister's mind against me. For that you may give credit to yourself." Her voice shook, but kept its volume. Her whole body trembled as she took a step closer to Freyja, head held high. "But know this: I am here in under the protection of Thor and I will stay as long as I am needed in his service. After that I might leave and go wherever I wish to. I no longer owe any explanation to you."
She curtseyed swiftly; then her feet carried her away without hesitation, leaving behind a boiling Freyja.
Perhaps she should not have done that. No idea where she had gotten the impulse from. Certainly it would carry consequences for her in the future. But right then all she could feel was the rush of triumph, the spring in her step. She was no little girl anymore and Freyja would need to learn that she could not treat her however she wanted.
Fara was free and for the first time in years she actually felt like it.
But she needed to find Thor and the Warriors Three. The information she carried was of great importance.