Authors note: (Dear Iwolf,) It's quite possible its Loki we will just have to wait and see. Rated for various things, swearing, romance, this chapter is going to focus a little more on Clint's jealousy towards Loki among other things. Hope you enjoy. Please R&R! I love to hear the feedback it's fueling my inspiration. Thor may be making an appearance as well!

"Help, I've done it again

I've been here many times before

Hurt myself again today

And the worst part is I have no one to blame but myself." –Sia, Breath me.

Ch. 10

The snow had begun to fall in slow lazy flakes as Clint walked up towards the barn dry leaves crunching beneath his boots. He hadn't spent much time near the barn since his stay here nearly a year ago. God He thought, an entire year had passed and it felt as if yesterday he had arrived. It had been the longest time he had ever spent in one place that he could vividly remember.

Opening the huge door to the barn he took a careful moment gazing inside before stepping over the threshold. It wasn't that the horses made him nervous still; just there was something about this building that made it seem spooky. He told himself it was all the horror movies he'd seen in his youth. He walked from stall to stall, four in all. Petting the soft noses of each large animal, making conversation with a few of them getting to the last stall that was empty he peeked over the lip of the door that came to his shoulders.

Only hay lay strewn about and he supposed they had one point intended to fill the space with another horse and decided against it. He vaguely wondered how they even got the animals here in the first place. Tapping the top of the door with the palm of his hand he made to leave the barn when he saw something engraved in the wood. It was runes of some sort. They swirled in high arches along the doors frame running his fingers along their design, almost Celtic looking letters in the middle. He looked down the row towards the other doors. They were all plain and unadorned. Huh he thought how strange. He'd ask Khaleesi about it later. Walking towards the doorway he waved his hand over his shoulder to the horses, not that they would say goodbye in return anyway.

That was when a light clicked in his mind and he turned on a sharp heel walking briskly to the empty stall again, he knelt down looking at the door again. He'd taken his fair share of Norse mythology in high school and though now thirty he still remembered some of it. The Celtic lettering on the door had spelled a name, and that name was of Loki's horse, the one rumored to be his son from the tales of the trickster's younger days. Clint wanted to rip the door off its hinges, hell burn the whole barn down. That fucker was everywhere it seemed, tucked into secret corners of the estate.

This wasn't the first time he had found anything either. He'd seen similar runes on certain corners of the property and at first had assumed they were markers for the estates enchantments. But the lines didn't match up with each other. With an irritating feeling beginning to manifest he'd walked the entire property and found nothing so out of the ordinary that it would cause suspicion.

A more obvious discovery had been the room that was full of old antique looking books. A writing desk with unused ink wells and stationary sat. He had asked Khaleesi why she never went in there, he pegged her for someone who loved to read. She'd simply shrugged a delicate shoulder giving him a strange expression that seemed more than a little evasive. She hadn't wanted to upset him he realized. Having taken a closer inspection of the room's contents he picked a random book off the shelf and found it was a guide to basic magic, teleportation. The decorum reeking of gold and green accents he'd shoved the book back in disgust and picked up the inkwell off the desk throwing it across the room.

Watching the black ink soak into the expensive rugs had given him little satisfaction. He was being childish he knew. But that didn't stop him, running his hands through his hair sticking his tongue against his canine tooth as he surveyed the room. He had to accept that this was going to happen. He had to of known he would find things like this. It wasn't such a strange concept if you got right down to it. It made sense that Loki would have had special touches added to her home he had been after all for all intensive purposes supposed to have moved in. Didn't mean Clint had to like one damn piece of that monster he found.

He scanned the shelves in the barn and found a large hammer used for removing nails in the old barn wood. Pulling at its hinges the door gave after a few well measured pulls. Once he'd successfully removed the door he picked it up and carried it out towards the tree line in the back. Setting it carefully against a large pine he stood back admiring his work. He had ever intention to use it as firewood. Let the fucker burn he thought.

Making the final repairs to little things in the estate hadn't taken very long at all. The shelving in the kitchen being the first thing on his list, he'd taken short breaks unable to truly stay away from Khaleesi long. But she'd shooed him away claiming she felt tired today and wished to be lazy as he put it. Wearing one of his long shirts that was more of a dress on her short frame she'd laid down on the chase lounge in the den near the fire. He'd kissed her forehead checking for a fever and found none. Writing it off as nothing serious he'd put a sheep's skin blanket over her noting she was breathing evenly before he even left the room.

It had to be later then midday by the time Khaleesi woke. She could hear heavy footfalls approaching from the hallway. She was pleasantly and slightly embarrassed to find it was Thor. She must look a fright she thought as he grinned at her walking up to her he made a motion that she need not rise.

"Lady Khaleesi! You look lovely this first day of Winter." He seemed to be trying not to shout. Clint must have told him she wasn't feeling well. How sweet she mused.

"Hello my Grace, you've parted from your important duties as King to pay us a special visit?"

Thor nodded as he sat down on the chase beside her. He noted the attire she wore and he had to smile at the young girl. Asgardian or not, a man knew when something was marked for ownership. He decided to playfully tease her. "What an interesting clothing choice Lady Khaleesi…It suits you well." She blushed crimson at his remark and he had to laugh out loud now. "Fret not, I only jest. Clint was honest with me upon my arrival. You have nothing to fear from me on this matter. I find myself happy for you both. After my brothers mistakes I daresay healing is in order." She nodded wordlessly at this statement. She hadn't known the breath she'd been holding in regards to this matter until it had been resolved. Part of her had worried Thor would arrive one day and explain to them that this was not to happen, that he would have to send Clint away.

Thor tilted his head knowing something else was on her mind and in his short time as King he did not pretend to possess any more wisdom then he did when he began. He reached beneath his cloak now and produced a large flat box. "I come bearing gifts from the All-Father and mother. They were most amused at this concept of Christmas that is soon to arrive. My companion on Midgard explained the joyous occasion to me." He explained noting she seemed confused at how he knew. He patted the gift carefully on top. "My mother Frigga had explained to me it is important that you wait until the exact night of Christmas to open it. Frigga is a mysterious person sometimes with her reasoning due to her vision I suppose."

Khaleesi nodded once more. "Please tell them we are grateful for their gift and that I wish all the happiness and good health to them." Thor smiled again setting the gift down upon the low table. He knew it was not his place but he felt compelled. "Lady Khaleesi forgive me if this causes you distress but I've been visiting my brother, he has asked about your welfare and although it is as my companion Jane says 'too little to late' he claims he is sorry." Khaleesi felt her hands clench into fists. This topic made her stomach twist in a painful knot. "You are right my grace this topic does indeed cause me distress…I would ask you very kindly to tell him nothing. Your lady is quite right, it is too late for such sentiment, and please do not mention this to Clint."

Thor raised an eyebrow at her response. Jane had told him not to say anything to young woman, but his weak sentiment as his brother so eloquently phrased it made him say it anyway. Despite his best efforts to remain cross and angry with Loki he was still his brother. Blood or no blood, part of Thor would always crave the belief his brother could change, that he was not within his right mind.

He nodded now and stood slowly. "My apologies Lady Khaleesi, forget I mentioned anything. Now if you will forgive me I must be leaving. This visit is indeed a short and quick one. The snow is falling and if I don't leave now I dare say I will be spending the entire season. Be well Khaleesi." Thor placed a warm hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. She watched him exit the room and she began to rub her temple, a headache was forming there slowly. She looked on the package with curiousness. She could only assume the gift was out of polite guilt. She had been after all their future daughter in law. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders now walking out of the den in search of Clint.

She found him in the kitchen making supper, everything smelled wonderful and she hopped up on the counter to watch him. He got to a good stopping point and stood between her legs taking her face in his hands he looked her in the eyes. "You feel better little dove? I told Thor not to go in there shouting like an animal." She smiled kissing his lips "He was very polite and I dare say quiet. And to answer your first question, yes I feel better a tiny headache." She pinched her fingers together to emphasis her point. "But I think I'm just hungry I haven't eaten all day." He seemed to accept her answer and turned back to their food.

Clint had asked Thor about the rune markers he'd found on the property but the god had not known anything about them, stating he would inquire with his father on their construction and use. He had told the archer not to pay much heed to them. So he tried his best to do just that. He wanted to focus on Khaleesi, on his gift he had asked Thor to get him. The thunder god had promised it would arrive on Christmas morning, despite the heavy snow fall.

(Authors note: The plot thickens…Another chapter Is on it's way today I promise!)