Almost 3 months...wow. I'm so sorry for the delay! Hope you enjoy after a long wait.
Chelsea Grin (19)
A World of Decisions
To Loki, nothing felt better than waking up in his own bed.
"It's been a long time," he murmured to himself.
He stirred in content, taking delight in the pillow and sheets that enveloped him. The sunlight through his window felt warm and pleasant on his face. Normally he hated waking up to the sun in his eyes. But after enduring a harsh, fiery battle with Surtur, Loki welcomed the reminder of feeling alive and waking up to the next day.
He would have remained in bed a bit longer if he hadn't remembered there were guests. He promptly got ready for the day, hoping he didn't sleep long enough for Thor to wake up first. When Loki emerged from his room and walked down the hallway, he didn't hear anyone else present. Only the echoes of his footsteps could be heard.
Loki was an early bird. Thor and the Warriors Three came in shortly. The Avengers arrived a few minutes later. They had changed out of their previous clothes into the customary leather and metal attire of Asgard. Bruce looked the most uncomfortable. He was used to lab coats and loose clothes convenient for his drastic body changes. Clint preferred to wear clothes without sleeves, though he cut a fine figure in Asgardian leather. Tony looked like a trimmed down Iron Man, not minding the metal at all. Fury looked rather imposing, almost like a second Heimdall.
"Good morning, Avengers!" Volstagg exclaimed cheerfully. "Oh, and to your friends as well."
Tony tipped his head. "Morning to you, Warriors Three. Mind if I call you Bruce Lee, Santa Claus and Wonder Woman from now on?"
The large red-haired man chortled. "What strange names. But no, I do not mind."
Hogun and Sif didn't look very amused.
Pepper rolled her eyes. "Ignore him. He gives nicknames to everyone."
Natasha exchanged a smile with Loki as she sat down. His heart fluttered when he remembered last night. He hoped that the warmth of his pale cheeks didn't give away what he felt.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked her.
She nodded with a content smile. "The best sleep I've had in a while. I'm not one for luxury, but it did feel very good."
"I'm glad to hear that. You deserve only the best, Natasha."
He reached out to squeeze her hand. For a moment, he feared that everyone noticed the gesture. But they had their eyes on the food instead.
Tony gaped at the amount of it set on the table. "This is our breakfast? I'm still full from last night!"
Volstagg's belly shook as he laughed. "We always want to be generous to our guests. But if you say it is too much, I will gladly relieve you of your burden."
Tony helped himself to a generous helping of poached eggs. "It's okay. This stuff is great."
While everyone started to eat, Fury spoke up. "I've talked to the Allfather late last night. We can stay for as long as a week. But if you want to go home earlier than that, the Bifrost is open."
"Go home? I want to stay here forever..." Darcy murmured dreamily.
"Thanks for letting us know, sir. But it would be great to stay for the whole week," Steve said.
Fandral turned to Clint. "It might interest you that there will be a realm-wide archery contest today. 'Tis only an event of fun and games. No elaborate ceremony of the sort. Thor told me that your skill with the bow and arrow is unmatched. Care to join me this afternoon?"
Clint's lips turned up in a small smile. "I would love that."
"We would love to see Birdbrain give it a shot."
Tony grinned widely at the unintentional pun he just made. Pepper rolled her eyes again.
After breakfast, there was time to kill. The contest wouldn't start until noon. That left the Avengers and their friends to explore Asgard some more. Tony and Pepper left for the armory. Steve went to spar with some Asgardian men at one of many courtyards. At Loki's suggestion, Bruce headed for the palace library to read on science seen through Asgardian eyes. Fandral and Darcy walked down the halls together. Thor and Jane had something important to discuss with Queen Frigga. Loki wanted to show Natasha the palace garden.
He didn't say much as he led her through. He let the flowers, trees and all manner of botanical life speak for themselves. Natasha had never seen so much color in her life. It was like a rainforest without the humidity, dirtiness, diseases and dangerous animals. Though she couldn't recognize many of the fauna, she thought them vibrant and beautiful all the same.
A pair of doves cooed overhead. Natasha watched in amazement as some flame-colored flowers unfurled and swayed to the birdsong. The petals pulsated as if on fire. Or alive. After a few minutes, the doves left. The flowers closed up and tilted towards the soil, as if saddened by the birds' departure.
They kept walking. Then Loki stopped under a large tree and looked up.
"Do you have star fruit in Midgard, Natasha?" he asked.
She shook her head.
Loki reached out for the lowest branch to pluck a couple of fruit that looked, unsurprisingly, like stars. He handed one to her and bit into the other.
"They're ripe at this time of year. Try one."
She looked at it for a moment. The star fruit was yellow, soft in her hands. Natasha bit into it and her eyes lit up. It tasted like a blend of pineapple and mango, without the pineapple's fibrous texture or a sharp, peculiar taste mangoes sometimes had. It tasted as if the best of the two were smoothly brought together.
"This is very good," she remarked.
"It's one of my favorite things to eat. Well, most of the things I eat tend to be fruits and vegetables."
Loki sat down on a marble bench and Natasha took her place next to him. He stared off musingly as he ate.
"It's strange...considering that a Jotun's diet consists of exclusively meat. Jotunheim is such a cold, barren place. Nothing green ever grows there. The only things that sustain Jotuns are animals that lurk in the darkness and ice." He shrugged. "Then again, I am not like most Frost Giants. Along with my unusually small size, perhaps it's not a surprise that I've developed a liking for eating greens. I was raised in Asgard, after all."
Loki plucked a leaf from the star fruit's stem. He gazed at it between his fingers. "I can't imagine chewing on meat all my life, or growing up not knowing what the color green looks like. That is why I'm grateful for this garden."
"Not only that, but Thor and I used to play here. We were very small, boys not yet ready for the sword or the world outside of the palace walls." Loki remembered something, and he chuckled at the memory. "Thor would make good use of rotten or overripe fruit. He liked to set them on fire and fling them away, and call them 'shooting star fruit.'"
"I thought that setting things on fire was more of your thing," Natasha joked.
"Well, I did come up with a smarter way of sticking the fruit on an arrow BEFORE lighting and shooting it."
Loki was pleased to hear her laugh at his wit. When he shifted his gaze to Natasha, he found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
As she was finishing her fruit down to the core, a drop of gold-colored juice trickled down her lip. Her tongue flicked out to catch it. Loki found that oddly attractive. Then he realized with embarrassment that he had his eyes on her for a bit too long. His gaze darted down and he fidgeted the core of the fruit in his hands.
"Loki?"
"Yes, Natasha?"
He looked up at her. She had a questioning expression on her face.
"Now that you've beaten Surtur, recovered and returned home, what will you do next?"
Her question made him hesitate. He never considered what he would do after so much had gone through his life lately. Now he wasn't certain.
"I...I don't know," he finally said. "I am just glad I've made it this far. And I couldn't have done it without you, Natasha."
"And if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here either."
"We've come a long way. It seems almost silly...to think that I had utterly despised you at first sight. But at the same time, I felt the closest to you out of every human being in Midgard. In those few moments of us in a battle of wits, with only the glass of a cage separating us...I felt closer to you than I have with the man I've called my brother all my life."
Natasha bit her lip. She didn't say it, but she felt the same about Clint. They've been close friends for a long time. But the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents never quite shared a level of closeness that she and Loki had.
Loki continued to mull over Natasha's question. He had been healed and redeemed...so why did he not feel a sense of closure? His thoughts flitted to Thor and Jane. The two were likely talking with Odin about marriage. His intuition was rarely wrong. With Thor to succeed Odin's throne, and Jane as his consort and future queen, there was no place for Loki. There could only be one king.
The bitterness of it didn't hit him as strongly as it used to. Perhaps it was something he had come to accept.
Loki snapped out of his reverie when a fanfare of trumpets could be heard in the distance.
"Sounds like the contest is about to begin."
Loki offered his hand. Once Natasha took it, she and Loki teleported instantly to a large arena. Asgardians of all classes gathered in the spectators' ring. A few Asgardian contestants, including Fandral and Clint, were scattered all over the arena to warm up. Natasha tried to wave at Clint, but he was too far away to notice. Loki caught sight of Thor waving at him from several aisles away. People parted to make way for the returned prince and Natasha. The couple sat between Thor and Tony.
"Hey, what took you guys so long? Making out like horny teenagers?"
"Can it, Tin Man."
Natasha's reply was smooth but without malice. Tony knew this, and he laughed it off.
"Hmm, looks like we're in time to see the White Elves," Loki remarked.
Natasha had never seen more beautiful, graceful beings in her life. Their pale skin seemed to glow under the sun. Their pointed ears complemented their grace. She could hardly tell males from females, since both had long blonde hair. They seemed almost unreal, as they glided across the arena in their ghostly robes. Contestants wore leather gauntlets and had curved bows tucked at their shoulders. The heralds bore long banners, the sigil of a white stallion billowing in the wind. They reminded her of the elves from Lord of the Rings. Indeed, Loki swore Tolkien might've met the White Elves himself as he wrote his trilogy.
"Who's at the front?" Natasha asked Loki.
She indicated the White Elf taller and more regal than the rest. He appeared to be a handsome man with a long face and solemn features, perhaps in his mid-thirties if he was a mortal. But Natasha knew that he was likely much older than he looked. A crown of silver leaves adorned his head. The white stallion emblazoned on the torso of his silver armor looked as if it reared up against a grey storm.
"That is Sannleikur, leader of the White Elves and ruler of Aflheim." Loki didn't miss the bow at the Elf's shoulder. "Looks like he's competing as well. I'm not surprised. His marksmanship is excellent."
"Are there different kinds of Elves?"
He nodded. "There are Dark Elves from Svaltafar. However, they are no longer our allies. We would not want them here ever again."
The disgust was apparent in his voice, so Natasha didn't press on.
Tony looked around. "Why aren't the Dwarves here? I read somewhere that they have a place around-"
Loki and Thor burst out with laughter. Thor laughed so hard that tears dotted the corners of his eyes. Even the Asgardians behind and in front chuckled from what they overheard.
"The day those short-in-temper and short-in-size brutes could properly shoot an arrow would be a frightful one!" Thor exclaimed.
Tony flushed with embarrassment. "I guess they aren't coming."
"Unlike the White Elves, the Dwarves of Nidavellir are not our allies," Loki said. "Even if they were, their poor sportsmanship and even less grace is enough to discourage us from sending an invitation."
"Hey, they're about to start," Bruce called.
The Asgardians, White Elves and one Midgardian lined up, going in sequential order to fire their shots. The targets were a considerable distance away, though normal for Asgardian standards and moderately easy to White Elvish eyes. Needless to say, Clint seemed to adjust to the Asgardian bow and arrows quickly.
Loki looked on with grudging admiration as the contest continued. He would not forget the S.H.I.E.L.D. archer's impeccable precision that had thwarted him during the Chitauri invasion. Nothing had ever wiped the smug look off his face as quickly as a detonating arrow. Clint was doing impressively well against the White Elves, who were reputed to craft the best bows and possess the finest vision of all beings in the Nine Realms.
After many close shots, Clint finished in third place, behind Sannleikur and his son, Sannred. Nevertheless he earned the respect of many, including fellow competitors. Sannleikur looked pleased as he shook Clint's hand.
"It was a great pleasure and honor to compete with you, Clint Barton. I feared that handling a bow and shooting an arrow became a lost art on Midgard. You have proved us wrong."
Clint wasn't one for eloquent or formal words. He simply returned Sannleikur's compliment with a modest bow.
Fandral also came forward to congratulate him. "I have to say that I am utterly amazed! And a little envious, in fact." he added with a laugh.
Clint rubbed the back of his head. "The Olympics back home won't let me participate. Even if I could, S.H.I.E.L.D. won't allow it because my confidentiality would be compromised. So I'm glad I got to take part in today's contest. I had a lot of fun."
Loki followed behind Natasha as she descended the stairs to reach Clint. He couldn't help but feel wary as Natasha praised her fellow agent with a smile.
'She is only congratulating him,' he berated himself. 'Nothing more. Don't let the green beast of envy get the better of you, Loki.'
The God of Mischief snapped out of his thoughts when Sannleikur approached him. The White Elf leader acknowledged him with a respectful nod. His expression was smooth and unreadable. "Prince Loki. I have heard of your past crimes. I have heard of your more recent heroic deeds as well. I commend you for defeating that monster Surtur." Then his voice lowered to almost a confidential whisper. "Is it true that you have come back from the dead?"
Loki tensed. "What makes you say that, Sannleikur?"
"I have heard from some of my best oracles, those gifted with the power of seeing beyond the present and self. Few souls fly to Valhalla, and even fewer return."
His grey eyes shifted to Natasha, his gaze scrutinizing but not condemning. Their eyes met for a second before Sannleikur turned back to Loki. "The mortal woman has more power than she realizes. I sense untapped potential. Given time, she might become a force to be reckoned."
Suddenly, he remembered the mysterious black-haired woman that had appeared to him.
"If you knew that I almost went to Valhalla, surely you must know about the woman who guided me back to life. She is not red-haired like the one with me, but black-haired and young...perhaps an adolescent."
His hopes were dashed when Sannleikur replied, "I'm sorry, but I know nothing about this young woman you mention."
"Then...what did your oracles see?"
"I must correct myself. I did not mean seeing through eyes or physical vision. They sensed a disturbance in the flow of the universe upon your death. From the past or the future, they are not certain. With the wounds you sustained from the battle with Surtur, your soul should have departed from your body to enter the afterlife. But something, or someone as you've suggested, halted the course of fate. You did not die, so you could keep living." Sannleikur's gaze was ambivalent. "Perhaps it was not your time yet. Perhaps you are destined for something greater...greater than even a hero's death."
The ruler of Aflheim bid Loki farewell with a bow before joining his wife and son. Loki didn't know what to make of the White Elf's cryptic statements.
'Something or someone not from the present? No, I'm certain that it's someone...that girl. But I don't know who she is. Or why she would help me.'
His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. He looked up to see Natasha rejoin him at his side.
"What did that Elf say to you?"
"He is...very perceptive."
"Is he a friend of yours?"
"More of an acquaintance. Though they are not hostile to us, the White Elves are very firm about being neutral during times of war. They hate violence and battle. They prefer to keep as far away from any conflicts as much as possible."
He wondered how many Elves knew as much as their leader. He didn't want to stick around to find out. Sannleikur's message didn't shed much light, only more confusion on Loki's part. His head started to hurt the more he thought about it. He needed a distraction.
Loki took Natasha by the hand and led her away from the arena. "Come with me. There's something I want to show you."
The couple teleported again, and found themselves at the palace stables. The first horse Natasha saw was broad and tall, with a coat as golden as the sun. It glanced at the two arrivals before looking on indifferently and minding its own business.
"That is Strykur, Thor's horse." Loki said.
Natasha followed him until he stopped at the far end of the stable.
Then her eyes lit with recognition. "That horse...I saw you ride him before."
"Yes. This is my steed, Draugur. I think it's about time he would be on good terms with someone besides myself."
The black stallion whickered, more wary than curious. She noticed that his eyes were unusually narrow for a horse. Loki patted his muzzle.
"Draugur, this is Natasha. She is very close to me, and I trust her with my life. She saved me, in fact."
Natasha blushed at the compliment. Loki grinned at her. "Go on. When I'm around, I promise he won't hurt you."
Natasha carefully stretched out her hand. Draugur's nostrils flared as he sniffed her fingers. She almost jumped when he loudly snorted from the foreign scent. But he did not bite. Natasha remained still, her hand open in the air. Draugur brought his head forward and let her hand rest on it. A smile grew on her face as she stroked his muzzle. The horse closed his eyes and swished his tail in content.
Loki laughed. "This is wonderful. He likes you."
"I'm glad."
"He has been a friend of mine for a long time." His face held a wistful expression. "Ever since I was a child and first broke him, we would ride among the meadows, glens, riverbanks...anywhere away from our problems."
Loki began strapping on the saddle and reins to his horse. "And right now, a ride outside sounds promising. Would you like to come with me?"
Natasha suddenly felt uncertain. "I don't know, Loki...I've never been on a horse before."
She watched as he adjusted all the straps and buckles with experienced ease.
"It's as simple as...oh, I don't know...driving a car, I suppose." Loki shrugged. "Even easier than that, I would argue. It's a matter of trust between the horse and the rider. No need to fuss over countless buttons and knobs like you would with a car."
"Easy for you to say. You've been riding horses all your life."
He went behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "It will be all right," he murmured. "I'll teach you."
Loki pulled back his arms to hold her sides. He hoisted her up onto Draugur's back with little effort. She sat in sidesaddle fashion, both legs over one side. Loki smoothly slid into the saddle behind her. His hands rested over Natasha's as they held the reins together.
"Now lean back gently against me and keep your legs firm," he gently instructed. "Yes, that's it. Leaning forward tells the horse to pick up speed. Are you comfortable? The saddle's not hurting you?"
"I'm fine."
Natasha glanced down. She didn't expect to be this far from the ground on horseback.
'Why am I so nervous? I've piloted Quinjets and been on the Helicarrier countless times.' She thought about how fast Draugur had been during the fight against Surtur. 'This is different,' she realized. 'I'm used to being on machines, not an animal.'
Despite her pounding heart, Natasha felt comforted by Loki's presence.
"We'll take it nice and slow, Draugur. Natasha is still recovering, and we would not want a rough ride to injure her."
The horse tossed his head, almost like a nod in response. Natasha felt less unsure when she thought of how smart Draugur was. Just like his master.
They rode out of the stable in a slow, steady trot. Natasha's doubt quickly faded. This felt idyllic, dreamy...almost ridiculous. Like it was unreal. Like she was part of a fairy tale. Then again, she really was smack dab in Norse mythology come true.
Loki had Draugur stop on a hilltop, underneath the shade of a large and ancient tree. He helped Natasha down, and Draugur moved away to graze. He was glad that they arrived in good time and at a good spot. Sunsets in Asgard were legendary. The division of day and night, and a blend of all colors imaginable, permeated the sky. Every sun, moon and realm appeared in equal splendor. The metallic quality of Asgardian buildings reflected and enhanced the sight.
"This...this is beyond my wildest dreams. Forgive my lack of originality, but it's just so...magical."
Loki softly laughed. "I would say the same, my dear Natasha." He had swelled with pride at her remark. He was showing her his world, after all. Even if it wasn't truly his.
A strange feeling stirred inside Loki the more he gazed at the sky. He was never a part of Asgard. He came to accept that. Now he felt as if he was drawn by some unseen force, pulling him away from Asgard. But to where? Loki's chest tightened as his eyes fell upon a particular sphere in the heavens. A ball of ice glowing in the wash of an emerging darkness. Jotunheim was waiting for him. Not only that; it was calling to him.
"Loki? Are you okay?"
He snapped out of his stupor and glanced down at Natasha. She had been observing his pensive silence. Now she looked up at him curiously.
"Is something wrong?"
He smiled. "No, I'm fine."
When the suns disappeared under the horizon, Loki and Natasha rode back to the palace. They arrived at the stables by nightfall.
Loki rewarded his horse with a generous helping of oats and carrots. "Now you can boast that you are the only other person able to ride Draugur. He is quite hard to please and get along with."
He stowed away the straps and saddles. He gave Draugur one last pat on the muzzle, then slipped an arm around Natasha's waist. "Now it is our turn to get dinner."
The couple came back just in time. Loki was glad that the White Elves didn't join them for supper. Sannleikur couldn't be away from his realm for long, so he and his brethren probably left Asgard as soon as the contest was over. The Avengers and their friends were seated with the Warriors Three, though Odin was nowhere in sight. That didn't surprise Loki; the king of Asgard was a busy man and did not have the time nor need to casually enjoy a feast. He decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
Loki turned to Natasha with an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry, but you will have to go on without me. I must talk with the Allfather about something very important. I hope to join you for dinner later."
She nodded in understanding. She certainly wasn't the clingy type who had to be with her man all the time. Loki gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving. He found Odin in his bedchambers, more specifically the balcony, where he gazed off into the sunset-streaked sky. The king of Asgard did not seem busy. Perhaps...
"You are not hungry, Allfather?"
Odin continued to stare off into the sunset. "I think it best that the Avengers dine comfortably in my absence. It seems that I intimidate them."
"On the contrary, they are very grateful for your hospitality. They also say that Thor is like you."
"That is good news. Perhaps he has grown wiser and stronger."
"Yes..." Loki said with a strange reluctance.
"And so have you. I did not forget."
Loki didn't know what to say. He was not sure whether to thank him or deny him. So he remained silent.
Odin finally turned to meet Loki's gaze with his single, sagely eye. "Something is on your mind, my son. I could sense it."
It was more of a statement than a question. Loki felt warmth in his chest upon being addressed as the Allfather's son.
"I...I've been thinking. After the defeat of Surtur, my return to Asgard...what awaits me next? In an attempt to answer that question, I finally turned to the one thing I've been avoiding for the longest time. Jotunheim. It is my true home. And the Jotun. They are my true kin. They are a wretched race, and even more so now that their king is gone." Loki looked down guiltily. "I must answer for my crimes. I've learned the hard way that I cannot run from them forever. I had attempted to destroy Jotunheim using the Bifrost...and before that, I murdered Laufey. Was I right to do such a thing?"
Odin didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then he replied, "I know he is your true father. But you did the right thing to take action at that time. He was poised to kill me while I lay vulnerable in my sleep. If it were not for his death, Laufey would have wreaked havoc upon Asgard and continued his iron grip on Jotunheim."
"Iron grip? Laufey was a tyrant?"
Odin nodded grimly. "The Jotuns never forgot the day their Casket was taken away. Laufey certainly did not. Hatred towards me and Asgard burned in his cold heart. It kept him alive. For years he was bent on revenge, using the period of mutual truce to prepare the Frost Giants for another war. So strong was his bloodlust that he did not care for the wellbeing of his people. The Jotun civilization further declined. They lost knowledge of their own written language, in place of learning the art of war."
"The Frost Giants used to have a written language...?"
There was more to his kind than Loki had thought. The notion of them being formerly civilized seemed strange. Perhaps he will find out even more when he travels to Jotunheim.
"You are not going there for the sole purpose of apologizing, am I correct?"
Loki hesitated for a second, then he nodded. He wasn't surprised that Odin could read him like an open book. He glanced down at his hand and closed it into a fist. "...I will make a claim for the Jotun throne."
He expected Odin to rebuke him, or discourage him from taking on such a risky ambition. But the Allfather said nothing. He merely waited for Loki to say more.
"I am the only one directly in line to succeed Laufey. Deep in my heart...I feel that it is something I must do."
"When do you plan to depart?" Odin asked.
"Certainly not right away. The last thing I want is to rush in recklessly and without caution. Perhaps after a few days on Asgard. I'll need to be prepared for negotiations, and a proper defense in case things do not turn out as planned."
Odin seemed to gaze at him with approval. "You think before you act. That is the first sign of a good future king."
Loki took that as permission granted for his decision. He felt approved, and grateful towards the Allfather. He nodded his thanks and excused himself to return to the dining room. When he came back, everyone asked for his previous whereabouts but didn't press on. Loki tried to carry a conversation as they had dinner together. But Natasha could tell that something big was on his mind. Her intuition proved correct when he told her in the privacy of his room after dinner.
He let out a slow breath before he met her eyes and spoke. "Natasha...I've thought about what you asked me. And I have made a decision that might as well change my life forever or end it. I must go to Jotunheim."
That didn't take her completely by surprise. He looked a little relieved that she wasn't completely traumatized. She almost forgot that Loki wasn't just any Frost Giant. He was the son of Jotunheim's late king, the next one in line. This was only the natural step he would have to take. A big, risky one at that.
"You're going to negotiate? Alone? Do you plan to tell Thor?"
Loki cringed at the unpleasant memory. "Last time we were there, it was nothing short of a disaster. Thor, Sif, the Warriors Three and I arrived as trespassers. Laufey tentatively granted us pardon. Then Thor rushed into battle, making the rest of us fight for our lives while he had his fun. We might have perished if Odin had not turned up in time. Thor's recklessness and irresponsibility got him banished from Asgard."
Natasha nodded. "I see. So that's how Thor ended up in New Mexico."
Loki sighed. "I cannot let him come with me. This is something I must do myself. I can only hope that the Jotuns will hear what I have to say."
Natasha leaned forward and placed both hands on his cheeks. "I won't hold you back. Just be careful," she said softly.
Loki kissed her lips tenderly and pulled back with a grateful smile. "I knew you could trust me. Whatever it takes, I will do everything in my power to succeed and return to you."
Originally this chapter was going to cover Loki's time in Jotunheim, but I moved that to the next one.
Sannleikur is pronounced "SAHN-lay-kurr." It means "truth" in Icelandic.
I apologize again for being such a slow updater. Fanfic writing isn't a high priority right now, but I always enjoy it. :)
This April has been so crazy. My prayers go out to those who died or suffered from the Boston Marathon bombings. I've been to Boston not too long ago, and it breaks my heart to see that wonderful city and its people affected by this terrible tragedy. May God give survivors the strength to keep them going and the love to keep them together. And of course, may He watch over those who passed away.
On a much lighter note...Loki and Natasha's new hair. Wooooah. I was excited for the pics, then the more I look at them the more disappointed I am. I hope Loki's is only temporary, since it looks kinda ratchet to me. :3 As for Natasha's, I prefer her short curly hair. I feel like her new hairstyle has no life to it. Maybe cuz Loki sucked it out of her, which would explain his ratchet 'do.
