The next morning came with the sun beaming through Seren's windows into Loki's face. He almost forgot where he was that moment. Lifting his head he saw the small figure of Sleipnir again, it made him smile to know someone thought of his son in a good way. He sat up looking down to see someone had covered him in the night, a blanket was now hanging from his lap. It made him smile as he looked around Seren was nowhere to be found.

"Seren?"

Loki called out softly.

There was no answer, he walked into her little nook of a kitchen and saw all of her cabinets were empty, she had a few bowls and plates and three cups. It made Loki's heart sink to know he ate her food last night. What happened to him, he was normally a bad ass that didn't care now he's a soft little teddy bear that cares for everyone. He shook his head trying to clear his mind of all this banter he kept thinking about.

"I got to get out of here."

He muttered to himself.

At that moment the door blew open and Seren came in with her arms full of roots and plants. Loki hurried to shut the door behind her.

"Oh, Morning Lynx. Sorry I didn't wake you when I left. You looked so tired I thought there was no harm in letting you sleep."

Loki remembered now he had to be nice since he didn't give his real name to this woman. He helped her with the handful of things and set them down on the table.

"What is all this?"

He asked looking them over.

"This is for my potions. I like to learn a little here and there, my mother used to be really good at this. I'm still learning though."

Loki picked up each thing trying to figure out what they were.

"Can you eat any of them, or just make potions out of them?"

Seren looked in her nook and frowned realizing Loki had seen there was no food in there.

"I'm sorry, normally it's just me. The stew lasts me 2 days. I get a goat the day after next, until then I have nothing else."

She looked down at the table of roots and plants feeling embarrassed and oddly stupid that she would have all this but no food. Loki's heart sunk even more than before. He looked around at all the potions and thought there had to be a way for this woman to make money off them.

"Can't you sell any of these potions?"

"I've tried, no one wants them anymore. Not from someone that's still learning. They don't trust that they will work."

She swirls the root around in her hand while she talks.

"Have you tested them? And they work?"

He looked to her and asked.

She nodded to him with a smile, Loki knew if he could get into the palace that Frigga would love some of these potions. He just wasn't allowed in there, but who else could he go to. He knew Sif rested in the Gardens each day. If she would listen to him maybe she could get Frigga to come out of the Palace. It was all worth a shot to help this poor woman out.

"I have someone that might want to buy some of these potions, maybe a few like calming, and soothing, relaxing, things of that nature. How many of those do you have?"

Seren started looking around knowing she had hundreds of small bottles having to place them all on the table. Once she was done there were about fifty of them there. Loki was grinning from ear to ear he knew he could help her out now.

Taking one of the potions with him he chose to go to the Gardens alone. He didn't want Seren knowing who he was and if he got caught it wouldn't be a pretty sight. Loki kept a watchful eye out for any guards but it wouldn't help if Hiemdell saw him.

As Sif was in sight he heard an odd sound coming from the skies. A sound he had heard on Midgard like a jet coming in for a landing. He turned to look up above the Palace, Sif turned as well seeing Loki standing there.

"Loki?"

Loki glanced back at her as a loud crash was heard he quickly looked back to the palace seeing ship crash into the top of it. Crashing down on the far side of the Gardens it took the hillside with it. More ships came Sif and Loki were too stunned to move. Thor ran through the Gardens with Hogun and Volstagg aiming for Sif. The hillside was falling away under sif Loki yelled out in fear.

"SIF!"

He ran toward her being the closest one to her. She tried to jump to solid ground, Loki dropped the potion and slid along the grass and off the cliff that was made by the falling land not thinking of his own life he reached out for Sif and felt something grab his arm. He looked up and saw Thor, he couldn't have been happier to see his brother. Thor pulled them to safety Sif landing on top of Loki's chest. He didn't want to let go of her, thinking it would happen again.

"Are you alright?"

He asked keeping a tight hold on her.

She nodded to him a bit shaken up. The ships were still flying overhead crashing into the tops of buildings. Thor stood up he watched in horror as he could no nothing to help his people. Loki finally got to his feet helping Sif up.

"What's happening here?"

Loki asked in a soft tone.

Hogun grabbed Loki tossing him up against a half fallen tree. Loki knew Hoguns strength was far greater than his own.

"You should not be here. You'll put us all in danger."

Loki with his instant come backs couldn't help himself

"I didn't know you cared so much Hogun."

Hogun held up his fist ready to hit Loki right as Thor stopped him the last ship flew overhead.

"Hey, hey Hogun stop. He just saved Sif's life."
Thor belted out.

"No, you did! You saved him and Sif."

Hogun dropped Loki's collar walking away from him back up to the palace.

Thor shook his head watching Hogun and his anger walking away. He held Mjolnir in his hand and pointed it at Loki.

"You better have a good reason for coming here."

Loki looked a bit surprised his own brother now seeming to threaten him after saving Sif. Then he remembered the Potion he looked around on the ground for it seeing it near the tree root he gathered it in his hand showing it to Thor.

"This is why I'm here. It's of minor consequence now compared to what just happened."

Thor took the potion shaking it and looking at it.

"What's it for?"

Thor asked quizzically.

"A young woman helped me yesterday giving me a place to stay and food. Sadly I didn't know she had no money or anything else to eat in her home. I want to help her out. She does potions, and I know moth….."

Loki stopped himself mid-sentence catching his new mistake.

"Frigga likes these things. I'm not allowed in the Palace, but if there's a way for me to help this young woman I want to do it. It seems only fair."

Volstagg's eyes widen as he heard Loki's little speech, not sure what to make of it. Thor handed Loki back the potion.

"I cannot help you. Father's rules are clear. After you left the hall he said no one in the palace is allowed to help you if we did that person would get 10 lashes."

Loki's face went from hopeful to dismal he couldn't believe what he had heard. Not only did Odin kick him out but he is not allowed to get help from them. Not even a moment later a deep voice is heard behind Thor.

"What was the rule I said about talking to Loki?"

They all turned and saw Odin, Loki was frozen in place. He knew nothing could get him out of this now. Sleipnir stood behind Odin as his mount. Even know Odin road him as his own Sleipnir still knew Loki as his mother. Thor tried to plead with Odin before he did anything to drastic.

"Father, Loki just saved Sif's life. He was here to help a woman that gave him shelter last night."

Thor was almost on his knees for his brother.

"More lies I see. There is no one in Asgard that would help him."

Odin sneered at Loki

"There is! Her name is Seren."

Loki couldn't help but defend himself .

"LIES!"

Odin yelled swinging his staff around at Loki shooting it to hit him in the side.

Loki fell to the ground the potion fell out of his hand as he the wind was knocked out of him. If he hadn't been a Jotun it would have killed him. Lying on the ground holding his side he looks to Sleipnir in pain, trying to speak to him through his thoughts. For a moment Loki thought he was seeing things as Sleipnir reared up knocking Odin over, but he realize he wasn't when his son kneeled down for Loki to get on his back. Barely able to move, Loki turned grabbing around his son's large neck. Thor, Sif and Volstagg were tending to Odin as Sleipnir ran off with Loki on his back.

When Odin stood up you could see he was not only upset he was fuming. Thor looked down to see the potion bottle on the ground. He knew Loki wasn't lying, all this time of lies and trickery he was trying to tell everyone the truth. But everyone closed their ears to him, everyone but Thor that is.

Thor walked into the Palace were cleanup was on its way from the attack, no one was sure who it was that attacked them. They were still working that out. He walked up to his mother's chambers walking in as the door was open. He set the potion down in front of her while she was brushing her hair.

"What's this?"

She asked oddly

"It's from Loki, mother. He says a girl named Seren helped him and he wishes to repay her by selling her potions."

He told her almost sounding unamused by his own words.

"Why would he do this?"

She wondered holding the potion in her hand.

"Loki says the woman has no money nor food and only wishes to repay her."

He holds his hands in front of him waiting to be dismissed, he knows for doing this he will get 10 lashes. He only needs to wait for his father to be told about it.

"Thank you Thor."

Frigga set the potion down as she wondered who Seren was. Or even where she could find her, it was going to be hard for her more than it would be for Thor. Frigga never left the palace and for her to be seen out and about would be an odd sight for people.

Odin was in the war room looking at the damage that was done to his city. Thor walked in only a moment later stopping as he saw the cold expression on his father's face. Thor could only sigh and softly shake his head, he didn't agree with everything his father did but something's were regrettably needed. Maybe this punishment for Loki wasn't permanent but there was no time to think about that.

Odin went on explaining who the attackers were, beings from another realm that held a grudge from a long time ago. Fairvile was the leader's name his people were known as Guilvex. Thor tried to listen to everything his father said, but it was not helping him. Once the "meeting" was over everyone left the room. Thor made his way to the hall he stopped to think a moment when he suddenly felt the pull on his hair from behind him. It dragged him down the hall toward his chambers.

"Did you not think I would see what you did? Did you not know that I would have to punish you?"

Odin tossed him in his chambers yelling at him.

"I HELPED HIM! He is my brother!"

"WAS! Your brother."

Odin barked.

Thor turned away as he said that, not wanting to face that stupid punishment that he had put in place. Odin started to pace as Thor glared at the marble floor.

"Do you want the same punishment Thor?"

"Give me the same punishment, I welcome it. You would have no son's then. See where you are when battle comes ringing at your door father. You banished me once I do not think it wise to do it again. "

Thor threatened.

Thor started to sound like Loki all of a sudden he knew what to say to Odin to get him to back off. Odin marched out of Thor's chamber doors. He slammed them shut leaving Thor to stand there in the darkness alone.

Sleipnir ran up to the small shack on the hill with Loki still astride him. Seren ran out her door seeing the amazing black horse outside. Loki moaned in pain not wanting to move from his son's back. Seren gasped in shock seeing him drapped over Sleipnir like that. She reached up barely touching him at the slightest whimper or moan she would jump back in shock.

"Oh Valhalla, What's happened to you? You've stolen the kings mount."

She gasped covering her mouth.

Loki barely heard her as Sleipnir lied down allowing Loki to slide off his back. With a soft whisper Loki pat Sleipnir and said.

"Thank you, my son."

Seren heard him but only just. She helped Loki inside as Sleipnir stayed outside watching the small shack. His burn wounds were easily healed by one of Seren's potions. Not more than an hour later Loki was awake and feeling like himself again. He was hungry but that didn't change from the morning. He looked up at Seren with a sad glance then looked away.

"I'm sorry I couldn't bring you any money. I tried… Until the city was attacked."

She chuckled and looked out the window at Sleipnir.

"It's ok you brought us Sleipnir the kings mount instead."

She covered her mouth with a chuckle.

Loki cringed at the thought of Sleipnir being outside. He sighed and kept his gaze away from hers, not wanting to make her feel bad or make him feel worse than what he already was.

"Besides, having your son around is much nicer than having food."

She said sweetly to him.

Loki's eyes widen as he suddenly turned to her.

"What? My Son?"

He was shocked.

She nodded with a smile placing her hand on his trying to comfort him.

"I heard you outside, it's ok. You didn't have to hide who you are from me Loki. Just because I didn't know what you looked like doesn't mean I don't know who you are."

He nodded and smiled he felt better that she knew, it was a weight lifted off his shoulders. He no longer had to hide himself from anyone.

"I worried if you knew who I was that you wouldn't help me."

He said calmly.

"If I didn't want to help you, I wouldn't have. Not because of your name or where you were born. "

She kept her ton soft and sweet to him.

She heard Sleipnir run off as the sun started to go down. She smiled and looked back down at Loki.

"Looks like your son has run back to the stables."

She giggled.

"Good, he is safer there then he is with me."

Only a moment later did they hear a knock at the door Loki gasped, he worried it would be Odin. Seren got up and walked over opening it. A cloaked woman stood in front of her with a basket.

"May I enter child?"

She said kindly

Loki knew that voice as Seren allowed her to come in. The woman took the cloak off, Loki couldn't be happier to see his mother then this moment.

"MOTHER!"

He gasped

Jumping over the lounge and into her arms, Frigga handed Seren the basket as Seren opened it, it was filled to the rim with food and sweets and many other goodies. Once Loki was able to control himself he sat with Frigga.

"Mother, what are you doing here? I never got to speak with you."

Loki asked excitedly

"No but Thor did, he is taking the punishment for helping you. Please don't stress over it Loki, I want to help and so does Thor. "

"I hope Odin never finds out."

Loki said softly

He looked over at Seren who was digging into the foods and sweets in the basket.