"Who is Thanos?" Ylva asked, pressing her fists in her sides. She looked daringly at Loki, who had grown white pale within seconds.
"A Titan" he said, his green formal attire changing back into his normal clothes.
"And what's your deal with that.. Titan?" Ylva demanded, fear growing inside her. The way Loki looked down, how his hands clenched together - he looked terrified.
"He gave me the Chitauri army that attacked Earth, and in exchange I was supposed to give over the Tesseract" Loki explained between gritted teeth, still not looking up to her. A part of him wondered why he was so open and honest to Ylva about his mistakes, but he knew he could trust her.
"Loki, I have no idea what you're talking about. Let's go inside. Tell me, and we can find a solution together" Ylva said softly and offered him her hand.
Loki took it, enveloping it in his own. He cursed Ullr for mentioning Thanos.
Of course Loki had not forgotten about the Warlord. Loki had not held up his end of the bargain, and the Other had promised him immense pain as a punishment. But after months in a cage, Loki had figured he was simply not worth Thanos' time.
"What are Chitauris? And what is the Tesseract?" Ylva asked, but Loki shook his head.
Ylva could almost feel the wall he was building around him, locking her out. Apparently, this was an even bigger problem than she had expected.
"It doesn't matter, Ylva. He was forgotten about me"
"Why don't you just give him this Tesseract?" Ylva asked, and Loki scoffed with disbelief.
"It's one of the most powerful objects in the universe. I should never have made that deal in the first place. But if Ullr is right, and Thanos sends someone to Asgard to retrieve it, then I will take precautions" Loki was more talking to himself than to Ylva. He started walking around the room, his arms crossed over his chest. Ylva watched him, unsure what to do.
„What's your plan?" Ylva asked, trying to sound composed.
Loki gave her a look, his green eyes darkened with fear.
If someone struck that kind of fear in Loki, then all of Asgard had to fear for its life, Ylva thought with a shiver.
"You are powerful and smart, and now you have powerful allies. Find a way" Ylva said, pulling up her still wet hair and sliding away the blanket of Loki's bed.
"Tomorrow" she finished her sentence and gave Loki a encouraging look. The day had been long and there was nothing to be done.
Loki watched her silently as she climbed into the bed.
"Ylva… Thanos could destroy Asgard without lifting a finger" he sounded hopeless.
"He hasn't done it yet, and he won't do it tonight. We both need to rest" Ylva insisted, patting on the space next to her.
His green eyes pierced through hers, and Ylva gave her best not to look away.
"Let us fix our mistakes tomorrow" Ylva pleaded softly, and Loki joined her under the blanket.
She snuggled her head against his shoulder, and Loki watched his little wolf completely at ease next to him.
He couldn't sleep, and all he could do was listen to the sound of Ylva's calm breaths.
Thanos was still a threat. And Loki was responsible for the whole realm, and for Ylva.
For once, he was not the villain. He was the only one could save them all.
"Kari" Ylva greeted her friend, who was sitting in the rose gardens with a book in her hands.
Much to Ylva's relief, the young woman didn't shriek or run away in horror. Instead, Kari looked up with worry in her eyes.
"Ylva, are you alright?" she asked. She sounded tired.
"I am. How are you?" Ylva replied awkwardly. It was hard to find the right words to express how deeply sorry and ashamed Ylva was for her actions.
Kari stood up and brushed her hair away from her face. She looked young and vulnerable, and Ylva felt even more miserable.
"Ylva, don't tell me you have been beating yourself up for this. It is not your fault. We can fix this, I promise" she said, her voice steady. Kari walked towards Ylva, but the taller woman backed away.
"You think someone can fix me?" Ylva replied bitterly, without thinking. She immediately regretted her words.
"No, that's not how I meant it!" Kari pleaded, with tears in her eyes. Kari threw herself into Ylva's arms, and Ylva had no other choice but to pull her arms around her best friend.
She could not believe Kari was forgiving her so easily.
"I don't want to hurt you" Ylva sighed, then took a step back and watched the red-headed girl.
"You won't. You are strong and tough, and you have Loki at your side. And me of course"
Within seconds, Kari returned to her bubbly self.
"Shh!" Ylva whispered and looked around hastily, but Kari smiled: "There's no one here. That's why I love this place. Please, Ylva, tell me everything that happened"
Ylva sighed and sat down next to Kari, pulling her legs up to her chest. It was already the second time Ylva had to share all the crazy things that kept happening to her with Kari, but Kari listened until the end.
"Will Ullr be welcomed to court again? Do you think Loki will reveal himself to the people of Asgard?" Kari asked with curiosity.
Ylva shook her head and smiled: "There is a ball tomorrow night to welcome Skadi and Ullr back to Asgard. You are invited too. But I doubt Loki is ready to reveal himself. Furthermore, Thor is still out there. He will never accept Loki on the throne without a fight" Ylva explained.
"A ball?" Kari asked.
Ylva realized she had lost her friend with that little word. Kari beamed with excitement.
"Yes, Kari, a ball. Loki said we can pick any dress we wanted" Ylva said. He had not actually said that, but Ylva was sure he would not object.
"I will see you tomorrow" Ylva hugged her friend for one last time.
Ylva left Kari with a light heart. If Kari could accept that monstrous side of her, then maybe others, including Ylva herself, could too.
"Are you nervous?" Loki asked teasingly. Ylva looked at herself in the mirror, twisting around to see every angle of her dress.
"No. Why would I be?" Ylva exhaled.
Loki watched the young woman's reflection in the mirror. Her dress was creamy golden, with sparkling embroideries, leaving her shoulders bare. Her tanned skin stood out next to the fabric, and her eyes had the color of honey. Another servant had put up her hair in a complicated high do. Yet she didn't look comfortable at all. She could easily outspend all the other noble women in Loki's opinion, but Ylva looked like she dreaded every second in this dress.
"How am I supposed to breathe? How can someone dance in this? What if someone wants to dance with me? Or if no one asks me?" she asked with a shaking voice, tugging at the dress. Loki almost laughed when he saw the slight panic in her eyes.
Loki stepped behind her and planted a kiss on her bare neck. "You look absolutely beautiful. You do not need to worry" he said and then grinned, "It's not your fault you lived in the woods for your entire life"
"No it's not" Ylva snapped back, "I am the daughter of a woodchuck. How am I supposed to learn the things noble ladies need to know?"
"You are a wolf. How can you be afraid of them?" Loki asked.
The balls that took place now in Asgard were different than the loud feasts Thor preferred. They were splendid and elegant, and Loki wished that one day he could attend them as himself, and not disguised as Odin.
"I am not afraid" Ylva replied sternly, leaving her hands from the dress. Her hazel eyes found Loki's in the reflection of the mirror.
Then she smiled, suddenly relieving the tension she had unconsciously build up. Loki's usual smug grin was enough to make her relax. If Loki was looking forward to it, then it couldn't be that terrible.
"Okay, maybe I am a little bit scared" Ylva said and laughed.
Loki turned her around and watched her from head to toe, then kissed her fiercely on the mouth. "You, my little wolf, will put all the other noble women to shame"
Ylva smiled between their kisses, and Loki's green eyes sparkled with amusement. It was a little moment of peace, something Ylva had not experienced for a long time.
Loki tugged at her hair, and with his long fingers, he took out the pins holding her complicated hairdo together. Her brown hair fell down in messy waves. The look in Loki's eyes was sending chills over her body, and Ylva felt a weight leaving her shoulders.
"There you go, little wolf. You look more like yourself now" he whispered and took her hand.
"Are you ready?" he asked, and Ylva nodded.