Your little ship more like an oversized boat wandered upward on the river. You met with fisher boats and supplier boats on the way but nothing exciting yet. You sat on the right side and read one of your books about herbs when someone sat down behind you strong arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you in an embrace. You smiled as you sniffed at Loki's familiar scent.

'You bury yourself in that book all day. I know how interesting a story can be but it is a book about herbs. What is so fascinating about it?' he murmured in your ear placing his chin on your shoulder.

'I need to learn a lot of things to be able to heal any wounds we might get on the journey' you answered as you turned the page. You felt Loki retract his arms from your waist suddenly tickling your sides making you drop the book and start laughing hard. 'S-stoohop please!'

'Not until you yield!' he grinned at you. You shook your head and tried to get away from him but to no avail. After a few seconds you gave up.

'Just because I shouldn't draw attention to our boat' you cleared your throat.

'You yielded to me and that is what matters' grinned Loki and stole a kiss from you making you blush and earn a chuckle from Thor and Sif.

'I hope you will invite me to the wedding, brother!' boomed Thor beaming at you.

'I am sure your children will be damn irritating but just as adorable' smiled Sif. Your blush deepened so much that your face was now the color of a lobster.

'Just so you could drink every single elf under the table?' quirked an eyebrow the Trickster making the blonde laugh loudly. 'And you two should consider your own wedding. Mother will be thrilled to organize it for you.'

'What?!' both Thor and Sif went bright red, looked at each other and quickly averted their gazes.

'That was mean… but they should' you whispered to your Trickster.

~Time skip~

The next several days passed with telling stories, playing logic games and joking around with the three of them. You decided to stop at the large lake called Jade Lake surrounded by mountains which was the beginning of the Arthras. The lake's water was unmoving almost and had a light green hue. It was so clear that you could see through it almost to the bottom. Large fish swam in the cold water shining in bright blues, greens, reds and oranges. A few had large mouths with mustache-like protrusions while others had smaller mouths. You lifted your gaze to the city on the shore of the lake its grey and brown buildings pointing at the sky, a city wall surrounding it with its large and thick stakes. It looked like some kind of beaver built dam.

In the distance you noticed the mountains of the Arthras all of them looking robust and dark. Those mountains had a special aura with the never fading fog amongst them. You knew you would have to cross these mountains on your journey in a few days from now and it made you feel uneasy. There were rumors about strange furry creatures taller than any men and walking sometimes on two legs sometimes on four. But these rumors must be just gossip and imagination nothing more.

'If we enter Steephill try to avoid any contact with the villagers. Follow me and do not wander elsewhere. We go in, get what we need and get out' you stated to your companions. 'Don't react to the insults, if they try that just be quiet, look out for danger and be patient.'

'So just act like any elf would' replied Loki. You nodded before you stepped out of the now moored boat the three of them in your heels. You walked inside the city without getting stopped. Villagers passed by you not even concerned about your presence as they hurried on with their duties of the day all of them wearing brown, white, grey or black. Soon you arrived at the market place where the noises were the loudest. Vendors tried to shout over the swarming costumers' shoulders, small children running and playing around, a few people eating an apple or snacks while the smell of fried potato and fish led some of them to the small table of the seller of these goods. The people around you didn't notice you or if they did just ignored you guys walking around.

You spotted one of the tables of fruits and vegetables where you found your favorite fruit. You bought several types and amount of vegetables and fruits before you started searching for bread. When you were finished you decided to buy meat for the three of them knowing they needed it. After getting a big slice of beef you tucked in a sack you turned to Loki, Sif and Thor.

'Now that we have everything we need for the journey, we can go wherever you want, guys' you smiled at them.

'A good cup of ale would be nice' beamed Thor at you.

'An elf does not drink as much as you do, brother' snickered the Trickster. 'It would get us in trouble.'

'Like you do not seek for a good bar fight' Thor slapped Loki's shoulder.

'Quit it you two! No one will drink when the sun is that high on the sky. This is not a vacation but a mission we need to finish' Sif crossed her arms.

'Someone likes to spoil the mood' looked at her Loki smirking. The three of them looked like when they were younger and more reckless , the scene melting your heart. After Sif decided to not let those two get drunk all of you agreed to look around for souvenirs for Thor and Sif. You let them look around for something they thought would be perfect as a souvenir while you looked for little presents for them. You wanted to give them something when they left. You walked past a stand where you spotted the perfect gift for Sif: a small hairclip with beautiful rubies in it. You bought it quickly and hid it in your small pouch on your belt before you went over to a vendor selling leather armbands and other things. You almost gave up to find something for Thor when you noticed a leather armband. You grabbed it and examined the patterns on it. After counting your money you bought it too and hid it in your pouch next to the hairclip.

You joined the others and soon found yourself in an inn drinking ale with them. Drunken men and women were gathered around other tables while a few musicians tried to cheer up the people. You heard that most of the traders and transporters had to pay so much tax nowadays that they could barely buy food for their families. You sighed as you watched their sad and angry expressions. Fortunately no one had a grudge against elves, they just ignored you so you left the place after a decent meal in peace.

'You are unusually quiet' noted Loki walking next to you through the slowly darkening streets.

'Frask and Darla told me about the merciless emperor of this country. They told me that the king takes taxes so high that most people are starving because he wants to have an army big enough to take lands from other countries.' you answered anger rising in your chest the more you thought about it.

'And you feel sorry for them' Loki said quietly. 'Love, you know you cannot change everyone's lives. They are not your people, you will have your own country to look after soon. You can give those a chance in Alagaësia who decides to live there in peace with each other.'

'I know… but my heart still aches for them' you sighed. 'Maybe one day the emperor will see his faults or his inheritors and change their politics.'

'Or he will betrayed by his own blood or country' shrugged Loki his face showing the indifference. You shook your head and followed him back to your boat.

~Time skip~

You woke up with a big yawn the next morning but you couldn't feel the usual sunny weather around you. There were no birds chirping or light breeze blowing caressing your skin but the dark grey and thick clouds above your head looking down on your form with furrowed eyebrows. You looked around and noticed the large mountains of Arthras getting closer by every passing minute. Everything around them seemed to be grey and as you squinted your eyes to see through the thick fog a shiver ran down your spine.

You were being watched. You pulled on your coat you brought with yourself and shook Loki awake who slept next to you.

'Loki! Loki!' you hissed shaking him by his arm. The Trickster grunted in his sleep but stirred awake and opened his eyes.

'Is something wrong?' he asked as he sat up looking at you his eyebrows furrowing.

'We have arrived to the Arthras' you said.

'What about that?' he asked concerned.

'I know I shouldn't get all worried about this but I think we are being watched by someone or something' you looked around but couldn't make out anything in the few feet you could see. Suddenly a howl interrupted your thoughts waking Thor and Sif too. It sounded from something bigger than a wolf and it was raspier too. You felt Loki tense as you held his hand. You weren't afraid of these beasts… you never fought with anyone on water. You closed your eyes and swallowed hard to calm down your thumping heart when something big and heavy jumped on the boat almost overturning it with its weight. You listened to the black form of it growl deeply while the boat kept swinging on the water back and forth.

To be continued…