Part Ten:

Thor, Loki and Sif were standing in the flower garden at the back of the Academy as you told them your mission and the plan on how to get in. The sun shone brightly down on you and the flowers smelled wonderful as they painted the green grass with vivid pinks, violets and reds.

'Are you sure it will work?' Sif asked not trusting magic especially not Asgardian.

'It's a simple thing to do. You let the elves surround you with their magic and presence giving you their looks' you explained to her.

'So I would get pointed ears like yours?' Thor questioned brushing his hands against his ears making you chuckle.

'Yes, for as long as possible but it won't last for too long' you smiled at him.

'Why are we breaking in the territory of the elves?' Loki asked with crossed arms. 'I know Vraë has imprisoned you and you want revenge but shouldn't we wait for him to act?'

'He already decided to stand on the Soulless King's side in this battle and the elves are my people. I won't let him sacrifice my friends' you narrowed your eyes.

'You never told us about this Soulless King and his realm neighboring Alagaësia' noted Loki and your eyes widened at that realization. It was all too obvious for you that you forgot to tell them why you needed to fight. You started to explain what the Soulless King wanted and who he was.

There was a fallen king who lost his only daughter to tuberculosis. His heart turned into stone and every passing day was torture for him without his loved little princess. His realm became dark and cold, clouds hiding the sun from eyesight on the sky turning once sunny and merry days into wet and muddy ones. The skin of the people grew grey, their eyes turned dull and soon they were only mindless puppets.

His knights turned to the darkness just like him and became soulless warriors knowing only cruelty and bloodthirst. The king listened to dark spirits whispering him about visions of all of the lands around him and over the sea would be his if he made these lands' inhabitants their slaves bringing darkness and death over this world. Soon he turned to the neighboring realms first was Erinith, then came the little ones but one day the whispers of these dark spirits told him to turn to Alagaësia where the people were merry and the lands fertile. So he turned to the realm of the dragons and many species.

You looked down on your feet remembering the first time you saw his grey face. He looked handsome but his completely black eyes and pale skin frightened you so much that you had nightmares. He gave Alagaësia a choice: kneel or be forced to their knees. He was powerful and the Alagaësian soldiers and warriors were only lucky they survived that time.

'How do you know what happened?' quirked an eyebrow at you Sif questioningly.

'I have met a witch, Angela… she was way older than I assumed her to be but it is normal for a witch… she traveled through the realms on this continent. She told me his story and that his name was Aedor before he became the Soulless King. She said he was a good king and that his people never knew starving or being cold. I'm sorry that he lost his only daughter he loved so much… but I need to kill him for taking all those lives he took and not just elven but the countries he already subjugated.' you answered the memories of Angela flashing before your eyes.

'When will we depart?' asked Thor not really caring about magic or demons. He came to help his old friend and that is what he would do no matter who he faced.

'Tomorrow' you replied. 'We don't have time to lose.'

The three of them nodded before Sif and Thor decided to pack their things and go to grab something to eat. Loki stayed with you looking at you mysteriously. You walked up to him and placed a hand on his forearm.

'Is something bothering you?' you asked from the Trickster.

'I know you want revenge but do you not think it is risky? Trying to take this Soulless King on your own?' he asked and gave you his arm inviting you for a walk. You curled your arm into his and started walking beside him keeping a slow pace.

'Would you not want to take revenge on the one who kill Thor?' you asked back looking straight ahead. His voice was deep and quiet but you noticed a slight irritation in it.

'So you still believe that I think of him as my brother' Loki replied. 'No one ever told you why I was ripped off my title and pushed into a cell?'

Your eyes widened as you were reminded how he got out of the cell. You were too occupied with the war of your home that you forgot that Loki was forced to come with you. You shook your head but couldn't utter a word. Loki told you of how he wanted to make Odin see that Thor was not ready for the Asgardian throne and how he found out his true heritage. You knew how did that feel, how betrayed you felt when you realized who your father was truly. He told you what he did just to show and earn the equality he always craved for during his life. While he told you all of this you noted how lowly he talked about himself and how pathetic he felt. You wanted to change that and you knew how you could achieve that: making him a king. Your king.

'But now that I am free of my prison… I could easily get away from Thor and Sif' Loki contemplated out loud.

'If you wish, you could leave' you replied nonchalantly. 'But don't forget about my promise. Help me and I will grant you the throne you wish so much to have.'

'All I want is my freedom' Loki answered looking straight ahead. 'And you.'

Your heart fluttered happily at that making you blush and smile as you tightened your grip on his arm.

'If you stay here and become my king you will be free of the All-Father' you said.

'And what about the alliances?Alagaësia was always Asgard's ally' replied Loki.

'We will discuss this case with the other emperors and rulers of the different nations of Alagaësia after the war' you said. 'If they decide to not engage paths with Asgard the All-Father will know about it and if they decide to keep up the good relationship between our realms we will only let Asgard engage us in a covenant of economy not military affairs.'

'I would be honored to rule on your side, (Name)' smiled Loki down at you. 'I have never met a woman who could rule with so much independence and sturdiness.'

'Oh, I assume you were forced to tolerate the petty princesses of other kingdoms' you chuckled but something stirred inside your chest. Was that jealousy?

'All of them only made me wish I could have you back' answered Loki making your heart melt. He was yours and you were his even if fate tried to separate the two of you. Dinner was quick as you knew you would depart early in the morning tomorrow so when you finally arrived to your room you packed the things you needed a pair of leather pants, five white linen shirts and a furry jacket. A few vials of potions and sacks of herbs for injuries and different illnesses and your book about healing. You had your magic if you needed to heal an injury quickly but you decided to bring these with you just in case.

~Time skip to next morning~

In the morning you woke from your dreamless sleep so you put on your black leather pants with a pair of high stem laced boots and your white linen shirt before you folded its sleeves to your elbows. You slipped your backpack on your shoulder after you tied your hair and a tight ponytail revealing your pointed elven ears and went down to the yard of the Academy.

Sif was already waiting for you but Thor and Loki were nowhere to be seen yet. The four elves who were willing to exchange your magic and give you their appearance in others' eyes walked up to you soon. They all greeted you and bowed to you but you protested telling them it wasn't necessary. You introduced Sif to them all four of them looking at her with bright eyes.

'Asgard must be a wonderful place! Would you tell us about your home?' asked the youngest elf, Mifri. She was young and curious and had a big appetite for knowledge. You liked her because of her cheerful personality. She bounced as she bombarded Sif with questions about Asgard. You looked around in annoyance at how late the two princes were to see them walk toward your little group. Thor was soaking wet but you quickly hid your surprise behind an angry frown. You placed your hands on your hips with furrowed eyebrows.

'You're late!' you scolded them. Loki walked to you and kissed your forehead as a greeting.

'This oaf just kept snoring even until I pushed him out of his bed' pointed the Trickster at Thor who had a sheepish smile on his face.

'So that's why he looks like a wet dog' you noted making Loki smirk deviously and Thor huff in annoyance.

'Loki had to dump a bucket of water on me instead of a cup' grumbled the blonde prince.

'I thought a cup would not be affecting enough' replied Loki his smirk growing wider. You hit his chest playfully and shook your head.

'We should get this started before the sun sets' you said and turned to the elves. The spell didn't take long and you were in the boat at the beach of the island hidden behind Mifri's face. Your companions still saw your face but everyone else was seeing Mifri. You looked out to the shore you were approaching. There was a city called Thahnora by the shore at the foot of the estuary of As Ragní. The river flowed from the Beor to the shore of CheysWhain going through the continuation of the Beor called Arthras, the mountains of the shadows. Thahnora's buildings rouse towards the sky and the city became louder and smellier with every passing minute you got closer to it. You could hear vendors trying to sell their goods, laughter, small fights between youngsters. You looked back to Loki and the others to see them travel in silence their faces lighted by the sun and the light salty breeze blowing their hair gently. You knew that you were going to win when you looked at them remembering how you fought by their side once and how good of a team you were.

You sighed and looked back to the way you were going with a small smile on your lips.

To be continued…