Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OCs, and most of them are heavily inspired by mythology.
"A person who deserves my loyalty receives it."
Looking Back: A Chronicle of Growing Up Old in the Sixties, Joyce Maynard
Slightly smug with the knowledge that Lafayette may well be free this time tomorrow, Loki practically vaults down the stairs to the basement, having picked the lock on the door and securing it after her.
'Lafayett – oh.' She halts mid-step tilting her head eying his blood-spattered appearance, and the new pile of entrails on the floor carefully. 'What happened?'
'Royce decided it'd be smart to try and silver Northman.' Her friend's chuckle is slightly hollow as he shakes his head. 'Stupid fuckin' redneck.'
Well.
'Oh,' Loki meanders closer, making sure to sidestep the mess of meat on the ground – Royce's body is ripped completely to shreds. 'Ouch.'
In a single wave of the hand, the corpse is swept neatly into a corner and Lafayette is cleaned from head to toe. Lafayette spares her a thankful look, but his eyebrows furrow.
'What's happenin'? How come you came down from the club? You know, someone was screaming upstairs, and not in a good way.'
'I had a... chat with Eric,' she declares, ignoring the alarmed look he sends her, 'with any luck, you'll be free at sunset.'
'Woman, you a goddess,' Lafayette tells her, sagging in relief. Loki twitches a little at the choice in compliment, but gives her friend a serene smile.
'I told you I'd get you out.' Is all she says on the matter, and, as has become routine on her visits, conjures the settee from the parlour of her house. The delicate floral pattern of the fabric looks amusingly out of place in Fangtasia's basement, but Lafayette – evidently accustomed to its sudden appearance - pounces on it.
Loki joins him with a smile, and they settle in for the night, wrapped around each other like they have so many times before with his head cushioned on her lap and legs stretched like a patient on a therapist's sofa. Lafayette lets out a long, exhausted sigh at the feeling of cushions below him.
'Get a good rest, Lala,' she murmurs, 'we're out tomorrow.'
'Dunno if I can sleep well in here,' is his half-whispered rebuttal. Loki frowns, considering him for a long moment before settling a gentle hand on his forehead.
'Sleep.' She commands, and the power of the words sink from her palm and into Lafayette's tired mind – his eyes droop almost immediately. Loki settles back to meditate, but it's only half an hour later when his brow furrows in discontent and he begins to whimper.
The Æsir mage frowns down at him, watching as he becomes increasingly more agitated in the throes of his nightmare. She'd thought, perhaps foolishly, that she'd spared him from most of the trauma of imprisonment by providing company and food and water, but clearly he was haunted even with her intervention. It's so easy to forget how fragile the mortal psyche can be, but that's really no excuse; the voice in the back of Loki's mind that sounds suspiciously like her mother chides her for her folly, and when Lafayette begins to thrash she slips from under him to kneel on the floor beside his head, and presses their brows together firmly.
He freezes in place, and she slips down into his subconscious.
Lafayette dreams of dark, dank spaces and heavy chains, the stench of blood and the unmistakable sound of flesh being ripped from the bone. Loki glances down at her own spectral, translucent hands before closing her eyes and drawing a deep breath. Magic that influences the mind is subtle; a heavy hand or force could reduce the recipient to little more than a vegetable, but Loki is no novice in the art. Let it never be said that Loki Odindóttir is unversed in mental warfare.
Power weaves about her, chasing away the shadow in her friend's dream and repairing, changing, shifting, until vivid green eyes shutter open and take in the dramatic change of scenery.
She stands on a beach at sunrise, the light of a fresh day painting the sky in innumerable shades of pink and yellow as the sun peaks out from the horizon. The endless stretch of the ocean merges effortlessly with the snow white sand at her feet, and two great masses of rock jut proudly out of the earth to form a perfect little cove that frames the sight before her like a tiny slice of paradise. Loki smiles softly, and glances to her left to see Lafayette at her side, expression full of wonder.
'Where are we?' He questions, words barely a whisper, and barely heard over the melodic crashing of waves against the shoreline.
'This is Wales, Great Britain,' the black-haired woman informs him, attention following the man as he takes a few tentative steps forwards, 'a little beach in West Cardigan. (1)'
'It's a real place?'
'Yeah,' Loki gives a rueful chuckle, 'minus the sheep droppings and tourists.'
'This is a dream, huh?' His words aren't quite a question, but as he meets her eyes and she spots the sadness dawning at the revelation she seriously considers lying, but she shakes her head "no" nonetheless. It's dangerous to allow people to think the images of their subconscious are real – it's so easy to get lost in the perfect world the mind creates.
'Oh,' he can't quite hide his disappointment at this, but he bounces back admirably and a silly little grin spreads across his lips, 'can you show me other places?'
Unable to resist him in the rare moment of boyish enthusiasm, Loki laughs and acquiesces.
They splash like children in the Trevi fountain, stand at the feet of Christ the Redeemer and stare down at la Cidade Maravilhosa, and Loki dissolves into giggles watching Lafayette spin in dizzying circles around and empty Times Square. After a little nudging, Loki takes her friend to the North Pole, and Lafayette stares around at the endless expanse of white around him and declares it "boring as shit" (2).
Loki laughs, but agrees, and whisks them elsewhere.
Several stops later, they're standing on the head of the Sphinx in the dead of night and staring up at the endless, unpolluted expanse of stars above them when he implores her quietly to see "home". Loki gently gives some control of their surroundings back to Lafayette, and his thoughts to mould the mirage around them.
When she finds them in Lafayette's bedroom, lights low and thick incense swirling around them like any normal night with just the two of them, she can't help but smile fondly.
Really, she thinks, you show a mortal the beauties of the world and they still just want to be at home.
It is one of the reasons why Loki adores humanity so fervently.
With Lafayette dozing securely under the quilts of his own bed, finally content and free of demons Loki pulls herself ever so gently out of the hold of her friend's mind, and comes back to a reality where her knees are sore from kneeling on the hard tile floor and Lafayette is snoring away on her little sofa.
She allows herself a moment to be overcome with an intense wave of affection towards her friend, before she twists around, arranges herself as comfortably as possible, and sinks into sleep herself.
xXx
A bang sounds somewhere in the distance, and Loki comes awake as fast as a bullet leaves a gun.
Being an exceptionally light sleeper is both a blessing and a curse. It's a by-product of her upbringing that she's never shaken off, and, while even a hint of danger can snap her into consciousness fully coherent, Loki often finds herself jerking awake in the dead of night when racoons loot through her garbage cans.
Right now, though, someone is yelling upstairs and fiddling with the lock on the door to the basement, so she supposes it's just as well she's awake.
She swipes the sofa away just as the door slams open, and the short drop as the mattress disappears from under him jerks Lafayette awake with an "oomph". A swift cushioning charm keeps his head from cracking against the linoleum, but he nonetheless sends her an unimpressed look for the rude awakening.
'Lafayette?' It's Sookie's voice, and the telepath comes running down the stairs, only to do a double-take when she catches sight of Loki, cuddled up in front of him. 'Vick?! What the fuck?!'
'Sook?' Lafayette's tone is equally as baffled as the blonde's, 'Jesus, what you doin' here?'
Loki has to wince; she'd forgotten to explain Sookie's involvement in the mess of the previous night.
'What am I doing here?' The blonde squawks indignantly, glancing about with a grimace. 'Why're you in the basement?'
Idly, Loki wonders why a telepath asks so many questions when if she concentrated she could learn everything she needed to know from the thoughts around her. Silly fairy. Out loud, she speaks to take the pressure off a nervous looking Lafayette.
'Lala was selling V, Amy staked his supplier and he got locked up down here. But I'm getting him out.' She shoots the blonde a smile as if to say "no worries", but instead of making the part-fae lay off, it has the opposite effect.
'You knew?! All this time, while everyone was worryin' themselves silly, and you knew he was here.' Sookie looks outraged at the notion. 'And you didn't do nothin' about it 'till now?'
'Hold up, Sook...' Lafayette tries to intervene – he's ignored.
And the telepath's insinuation that Loki had been doing nothing to help her friend when half of Bon Temps was living happily under the illusion that he was off on a bender is stirring her usually docile temper.
'Do you really think I didn't try everything to get him out of here before I came here and confronted Eric Northman about it?' Her expression, Loki is sure, is decidedly unimpressed bordering on lethal. Apparently, Sookie doesn't notice, because her hands clench into fists in agitation.
'Obviously not if he's still here now!'
'You're full of shit,' Loki informs her with finality, and holds up a palm when the blonde gears up to respond, 'I'm not continuing this pointless argument.'
Sookie shuts up, finally catching the dangerous glint of anger in her face, and Loki turns to Lafayette to explain. 'Sookie was attacked last night.'
He immediately starts fussing over the blonde, and they share a hug full of tears and relief. They all settle down a bit after that, and Sookie apologises to Loki, who waves her off with all the patience of a women with two often-idiotic older brothers. And when the sun sinks below the horizon and the familiar feel of vampires moving around skitters across Loki's skin the telepath trots upstairs to meet her boyfriend. The Æsir mage allows herself a moment to look at Lafayette seriously.
'I know it's asking a lot,' she tells him, 'but please don't let anyone know what I am.' He nods solemnly, but the glint in his eyes tells her he expects answers soon.
But that is an entirely different shit-storm to be pursued another time, and with a kiss to his warm cheek Loki follows Sookie's path, and steps out onto the club floor just as the part-fae marches over to Bill fit to burst with ire.
'You better not have known anything about this Bill Compton, because if you did, I don't think I could ever forgive you.' The vampire blinks down at her slowly, and from were Loki has perched herself on top of the bar she thinks the motion makes him look incredibly dim.
'I have no idea what you're talking about.'
'She's referring to the human in my basement.' Eric's entry into the conversation makes all eyes snap to him as he appears in the doorway of the club. 'The human that traded sexual services with a vampire in order to sell his blood - a grave offense.'
It is said with such nonchalance, such carelessness, that Loki can't help but think back to the memory of her friend's nightmares clench her jaw.
'The human,' she adds, posture relaxed but eyes flashing with rage, 'whose name is "Lafayette", and whose release we were negotiating last night.'
Eric looks over at her with glowing eyes, noting the tight Fangtasia shirt she had changed into last night before spending the night with Lafayette in appreciation. 'Ah, Ms Storm... how was your day in my basement?'
'Peachy,' she fires back, sarcasm practically dripping from her words, 'I've always wondered what purgatory was like, and now believe I've slept there.'
'You think so?' The Viking enquires with mock-earnestness.
'Yes. But the whole "torture-dungeon" thing? Very stereotypical. And medieval. Your age is showing.' Eric rolls his eyes, but Loki quickly puts a business face back on when she catches Sookie's incredulous expression at their banter. 'What will it take for you to release Lafayette?'
'Let's discuss this in my office.' He turns away without another word, pausing only to call back: 'Come along Ms Stackhouse.'
Sookie and Loki exchange heavy looks. Despite any differences they have, neither of them enjoy being at Eric Northman's beck and call, and it's the black-haired woman that marches after the Viking with determination.
'Sookie isn't part of our negotiation,' Loki amends as she stalks into his office and stands determinedly before Eric, 'leave her out of it.'
'It's amusing that you think you can command me, Ms Storm.' He comments, just as the telepath and her very reluctant boyfriend join them.
'Don't worry, Vick,' Sookie assures, 'if it'll help get Lafayette out, I'll do it.'
Loki resists the growing urge to face-palm, and Eric's smirk is triumphant as he glances between the two women, completely aware that they'd both go to extreme lengths to ensure their friends safety. Strategically, the Viking vampire is holding all the cards, and that's Bad.
The kind of "bad" that deserves Capitalization.
'A Sheriff in Dallas has gone missing.' Eric begins without delay, but Loki's attention sharpens at his words. Sheriffs are, generally, the most powerful vampires in an area, and Area Nine covers practically all the undead in Texas.
The strongest vamp from such a large population of vamps... missing?
'How do you know this Sheriff is "missing"? They might be dead. Or on vacation.' In response, Eric shoots her such a dangerous look that both of her eyebrows shoot up in surprise at the raw emotion in the look.
'He is missing.'
Talk about touchy, Loki thinks, but leaves the topic alone for the time being – best not to poke this particular sleeping dragon.
'So...' Sookie drawls after a moment, breaking the contemplative silence, 'if we agree to go to Dallas to help look for this vampire... you'll let Lafayette go?'
'No, you nearly died last night.' Bill interjects immediately. 'You are not going to Dallas.'
The telepath rolls her eyes at her boyfriend. 'Bill, I can make up my own mind.'
'I will pay all of your expenses, of course,' Eric jumps in, smoothly halting the impending domestic dispute, 'and yes, I will release your friend.'
'And you'll pay us five-thousand dollars. Each.'
Even Loki is surprised by the Southern Belle's enterprising, and the older vampire quirks a brow.
'Your human is getting cocky, Bill.'
It is the wrong thing to say, clearly, because Bill perks up, and wraps a smug arm around Sookie.
'She will take ten-thousand dollars and I will escort her.'
'I don't think so, no.'
'Ten thousand for both of us,' Loki pipes up, 'Bill comes with us, and your personal guarantee that you'll do your best to keep me from harm.' (3)
Sookie's head snaps in her direction, and even Bill's eyes widen in surprise. But Loki is staring forcefully at Eric, whose expression is intrigued.
'And what makes you think I'll be going to Dallas?'
'Don't be coy,' she scolds, 'you would not be sending us to Texas if you didn't have some personal stake in this, and you wouldn't leave us to handle something personal on our own.'
'Maybe I owe Area 9 a debt.'
Loki scoffs. She gets the feeling that the number of vampires Eric is indebted to is slim-to-none. 'I find that very unlikely.'
'You're sharper than I gave you credit for.' He breathes, with an odd look in his eyes. 'And putting yourself under my direct protection for a no-good V dealer... that kind of loyalty is rare in a breather.'
'Lafayette is my friend. And as for being "under your protection" I refuse to exchange blood, and I'm not "yours", but,' Loki glances pointedly at the couple behind her, before adding a little wryly, 'I hardly have an overprotective boyfriend escorting me, do I?'
Honestly, Loki would just like to avoid situations where she'll be forced to use magic to defend herself in front of vampire witnesses – but he doesn't need to know that.
'If you are unclaimed you will be in great danger,' Eric informs her.
'I can protect myself well enough,' she insists, 'but your word that we'll avoid situations where I'll become a snack would be reassuring... to an extent.'
'Not very trusting, are you?' The Viking observes with a flirty tilt of his head. 'I'm sure I'll grow on you.'
'Just because you say it doesn't make it true.'
'Believe what you like.' Eric smirks before addressing the room at large, 'Ten-thousand each, a dubious chaperone and my guarantee of protection – to an extent. We have a deal, then?'
Loki throws a glance to the part-fae waitress, who gives a hesitant nod, and she smirks up at the Viking. 'We have a deal.'
Her words are met with a tidal wave of magic that runs over everyone in the room like thousands of tiny, ticklish fingers. When Eric stops shuddering from the odd sensation, his attention zeroes in on Loki intently.
'What was that?'
'Deals between... my "kind" are binding.' Loki's attempt at nonchalance really borders on complete deviousness as she looks up at him. It's not much of a risk – there are many creatures in the Nine Realms with such bonds. 'So we'll all be keeping our promises.' (4)
Eric looks at her like he can't decide whether to rip her throat out or ravish her for her daring. And after a long moment where Loki anticipates either assault, the towering blonde gives a grudgingly impressed smile.
'Well played, Ms Storm.' He straightens. 'You need to leave immediately – I will join you in Dallas as soon as possible.'
'Very well,' Bill dips his head obediently, 'but I will need your credit card number.'
Loki is feeling vaguely victorious as Lafayette is led to them by a severely uncaring Pam, free of his chains for the first time in weeks. Bill and Eric finish up arranging the details of their trip as Sookie glomps the cook and Loki retrieves him a shirt from the merchandise stand.
She shoots the cook a cheeky wink as she hands it over, and he grins.
But when they're about to leave Fangtasia and Loki moves to step past him, Eric leans way into her personal space, his cold breath brushing against her ear. 'I will learn you're secrets, Ms. Storm.'
He zips away before she can retort (but not without sparing her a heated look), and Loki's lips are pursed as she and Lafayette clamber into her Mustang. Catching the interest of a Viking vampire had not been part of the plan when she moved to Louisiana, and her mixed feelings on the matter are a little unsettling.
'What did Northman say to you back there? And what's this I'm hearin' about Dallas?' Lafayette questions, frowning, and Loki has to restrain herself from slamming her face against the steering wheel.
Ah, shit.
xXx
Lafayette had thrown a veritable fit when, after reaching the cook's home, Loki explained her deal with Eric. She had gifted him with a serene smile and assured him everything would be fine before changing the sheets in his bed and ushering him into the shower. Loki had stayed the night, mostly out of worry that his nightmares would return, but when the sun rises, bright and hot as always, she presses a kiss to his cheek, scribbles a note, and heads over to Merlotte's.
'Hey Sam,' Loki peeks her head around his office door and is greeted with a tired smile, 'got a minute?'
'Sure thing, cher,' he swivels in his chair to face her, setting down the tax book he had been going through, 'this about me leavin'?'
'You're leaving?' She asks in genuine surprise, but shakes it off. 'No, no, it's about me and Sookie going to Dallas.'
Sam's shoulders slump, and he suddenly looks so exhausted. There are bags under his eyes, and a few extra grey hairs at his temple, and he blows out a long breath.
'Oh. That.' His tone of resigned disapproval clearly indicates his feelings on the matter. 'You know, Sookie I understand, but why are you going?'
'Eric Northman seems to think I'm a supe,' Loki explains, ignoring his slight intake of air at the Viking's name. 'and it's the only way he'd agree to let Lafayette go.'
Sam's eyebrows furrow at the mention of his fry-cook – the guilt for not thinking her friend was missing practically steams off of him – but he looks at her in question. 'A supe?'
'Yeah.' She bobs her head. 'Like Sookie. And you.'
Sam freezes like a deer in the headlights – an expression which may be a little too accurate when referring to a shifter – and the blood drains from his face so quickly Loki is momentarily worried for his health.
'You... know?'
'I've met the two-naturated before – and the Collie that runs around the parking lot is sometimes too smart to be a Collie.'
'Oh.' Sam nods, gulping back his anxiety but accepting the explanation cautiously. 'You won't tell, then?'
Loki's smile visibly softens at his worried tone. Sam Merlotte is so terrified of his abilities it's a little heartbreaking – no-one should have to hide who they truly are.
'Of course not. Who would I tell?' She moves forward, leaning close to wrap him in an impromptu hug. 'You're a good boss, a good man – what does it matter that you occasionally turn into an animal?'
He's smiling modestly when she pulls away, and rubbing the back of his head in an "aw shucks" way that is simultaneously charming and adorable.
'Well, thank you.'
'I'll miss you when you leave, Sam; but here,' Loki conjures up a small rope bracelet, and removes it from her pocket as if it'd been there all along, tying it around his left wrist, 'a going away present.'
When she pulls away, he touches it hesitantly, studying the coin-sized metal dangling from the braided string. 'What is it?'
'It's supposed to be a charm for protection.' Loki reassures him. 'It'll keep you safe, wherever you end up.'
Because she knows the signs of someone running scared, and Sam's fear is so palpable it's almost a physical thing.
She kisses his stubbly cheek, and leaves office, but not before peeking into her boss's head.
Maryanne Forrester.
It seems Loki has found the maenad.
Things just never seemed to slow down in Bon Temps.
xXx
"Anubis Airlines welcomes you to Dallas, the most vampire-friendly destination in the great state of Texas."
Loki practically bolts out of the plane, face a shade to pale to be considered healthy. Out of all humanities innovations, aeroplanes are one of her absolute least favourites, and while she would usually teleport wherever she needed to go, Bill had arranged for her and Sookie to travel together.
It was just as dreadful as she remembered.
Sookie, a little tipsy from her drinks, giggles at the dark-haired woman as she joins her on the asphalt, and they advance on the waiting limo and its pudgy driver stood by it with a cardboard sign reading "COMPTON". The blonde shoots him her usual bright smile as they draw closer.
'That's us! Sorry we're late.'
The driver fidgets, and Loki narrows her eyes at the way his eyes shoot about the hanger nervously. 'You were supposed to be here before sundown.'
'We got delayed for take-off.'
He gives an unconvincing smile, and a bead of sweat rolls down his head. 'Why don't you go and wait in the limo. I got the A.C. cranked up.'
'Why don't you tell us who you're really working for?' Loki suggest casually, and his eyes widen in shock. Then he lunges, dropping the sign and grabbing Sookie by her upper arms.
'Get in the goddamn limo!'
'Get your hands off me!' The telepath shrieks, pulling away, and Loki takes advantage of the moment to kick him so hard in the thigh so hard he reels back, grunting in pain. Sookie shoots the Æsir mage a wide-eyed, thankful look, and in an instant Bill is out of his travel-coffin and pressing the terrified driver against the frame of the car.
'Make a noise and it will be your last.' Bill hisses, and Loki rolls her eyes at the dramatics, but trots over to the other coffin, opening it smoothly.
'Thanks,' the young, red-head vampire breathes, clambering out unsteadily and staring at her with wide-eyes, 'I thought I'd be stuck in there forever!'
'No worries,' Loki smirks – newborns are usually funny, 'I'm Victoria; you must be Jessica.'
'Yeah. Nice ta meet'cha,' she looks over at her maker with a frown, 'what's goin' on?'
'Trouble.' Is all Loki offers on the matter as she links arms with the red-head and pulls her over to the action. Something tells her this trip will be more exciting than advertised.
Sat in the lounge of Bill and Sookie's opulent hotel room, Loki watches on as the dark-haired vampire interrogates the limo driver – Leon.
'Who sent you?'
'Fellowship of the Sun.' The couple share a significant look, and Loki's hackles raise instinctively. She's had something of a vendetta against the Christian Church since the 8th century, and they don't exactly like her much either (if the numerous times they'd tried to burn her at the stake was anything to go by). But it seems this trip will mean an inevitable confrontation.
'Are you a member?'
'No, they hired me.'
'Who specifically?'
'I'm not sure.' Leon admits. 'It was over the phone. Money was put in a locker for me at a Greyhound station.'
'And they hired you to do what exactly?'
'Abduct the humans with the Compton party and bring them to the church.'
Well, shit. That meant someone had informed the Fellowship that they were coming, and the only people who knew that were the Lieutenants of Area 9. Loki hates politics.
'Do you know our names?' Sookie asks, looking worried.
'No, ma'am. I didn't even know you were gonna be women. All I know is a vampire's using two human to find a vampire "Godric".'
A dead-weight settles in the pit of Loki's stomach.
'"Godric"?' She chokes out, tone uncharactistically devoid of any amusement. 'The missing vampire's name is "Godric"?'
Leon turns glassy eyes towards her. 'Yes ma'am.'
'Do you know where he is?' The Æsir mage demands, jaw clenching when the would-be abductor shakes his head.
'No, ma'am, I do not.'
She tunes out the noise, thoughts spinning dizzily. Loki feels like someone just kneed her in the gut, and her teeth grind together.
From a purely altruistic view, this could be very, very bad. She knows Godric – or at least, she did 1500 years ago – and he knows her as "Loki", as Æsir. Despite the changes in her, he will surely recognise her, and (if Eric is his progeny, as Loki had suspected from the moment he had mentioned a missing vampire) Godric will almost certainly explain their acquaintance to Eric. Being known as "special" is dangerous, but an as an Æsir? It could be catastrophic.
But forgetting the practical side of things, the missing vampire is Godric. One of the first vampires she'd ever met. She'd fought at his side, let him drink her blood, and lived with him for almost a year. It hadn't been love – they'd both been young, feral, and far too arrogant for such a thing – but it had been...
Loki would describe it as friendship but, as she understood it, friends didn't fuck every spare moment.
She hadn't even known he was still alive, though she'd often wondered. But he was in Dallas, and apparently in the company of a church full of zealots dead-set on seeing him burn in the sun.
Loki stands abruptly, ignoring Sookie's worried calls, and leaves the room with clenched fists, whipping a cell phone from her purse.
'Eric. We need to speak when you get to the hotel.'
(1) This is actually based on a really real beach in Wales – it's a place called Mwnt Beach (pronounced moo-nt) is absolutely gorgeous. And it has dolphins.
(2) In order: The Trevi fountain is in Rome, Italy (it's super famous – those who don't recognise the name will probably recognise a picture); Christ the Redeemer is the name of the infamous statue of Jesus Christ in Brazil, overlooking Rio de Janeiro (otherwise known as "the Marvellous City" - la Cidade Maravilhosa); Times Square is in New York City. The North Pole is rather self-explanatory, but for the record, I don't really think it would be boring. I'd love to go there one day.
(3) While OFC!Loki is doing this to free Lafayette, she's enterprising, and intensely curious about how far she can push Eric. So the money and the protection are really ways to work the situation in her favour while still freeing her friend.
(4) Think of the binding nature of promises to Loki as a bit like an "Unbreakable Vow" from Harry Potter, but with less fatal consequences.
