No movement.
Not from Jane.
Not from Torben.
Not Odin, nor Thor.
And Sigyn was laying dead on the floor.
And Loki…
"Do something…" Jane whispered. "DO SOMETHING!" she yelled now, her terror plain in her plea.
Odin rushed as fast as he could to his adopted son's side. In his weakened state he began to trace his hands over him. "Get Frigga, Thor. Now."
Jane couldn't cry. She she couldn't feel anything…everything that she was was laying lifeless on the floor of the dungeon.
Torben touched Jane's hand.
She bent to face him.
He was crying. "I'm…sorry….I wanted to kill her…to kill her for what she did to me…to you! She tormented me afterwards…I couldn't leave my room, I thought she'd make me hurt someone…"
Jane swallowed. She nodded, and she wrapped her arms about him, his head just a few inches below hers in height. "I understand Torben…it's over now."
"Is the Prince going to die?"
"I dunno…" Jane admitted. And she closed her eyes in pain.
Frigga arrived in a state, appearing next to Odin on the floor. "Odin…my King…husband…"
"Come, Frigga…"
And she went to her beloved boy, had a second of dread pass along her visage…but Frigga was wise and industrious…and she began to summon all of her magic. She toiled much…and Jane noticed that a green hue hovered above him…it appeared to be trying to get inside of Loki.
Odin sat next to him…muttering and moving his hands.
After about half and hour in constant attention, Odin stood.
The green light had dissipated somewhat, it appeared to be sinking into the Prince's skin.
Frigga remained knelt at his head, weaving her spells and focused on the task…she didn't stop when Odin did.
"Hand me Gungnir, please, Jane."
And Jane did as he asked.
Odin took the scepter and placed the tip over Loki's heart. He muttered something in the All-Tongue, and the glow grew…Frigga's chant became more vociferous…
A sound, like particles hurrying away from a nebula, like the sound of speed just before it stops, was heard…and Loki breathed.
Odin sunk on Gungnir…"Take me to my chambers, son…I am fatigued." And Thor left with Odin.
Frigga stood.
"Is he…?" Jane could not hope to want.
"He is alive…but only just. Come, Jane, Torben…I'll take Loki to the infirmary and we can discuss these events."
Loki laid there, undulating between blue and alabaster skin…he was at times Frost Giant, at times Aesir…
"What's happening, Frigga?" Jane asked, looking at him.
They had spent an hour explaining to her everything that had occurred in the dungeon. Frigga had nodded, and sent Torben back to his rooms with a healer. He shouldn't be alone.
"Loki's magic is very, very weak. It is attempting to amalgamate itself to him again…but since it was ripped from him, it's a very tedious process."
"I don't understand…shouldn't he be…"
"Dead…yes…and he would have had he been the one to deliver Sigyn her death. But…something tells me that he may have lost his magic only, and not suffered the pain of death…if she died at another's hand, as we now see."
Jane gaped at her. "You mean…you mean she could've been executed all this time…and he lived with this…?"
"Allow me to answer as fully as possible, Jane," and she paused. "Firstly, this is conjecture, and we would never have risked his life to test a theory. Second, his magic is his life blood…without it for a prolonged amount of time, he will die. It was fortunate the Odin was there to hinder its release…now, the magic wants to be reunited with him…but it needs time…observe, Jane," and Frigga pointed at Loki's arm.
It was pulsing a green glow…it was slow, in spurts, moving through his body.
Frigga continued. "Sigyn's father knew this, so he understood that Loki would never survive long without his magic. That the spell would empty him of it should she die, and he would be on death's heels behind her."
Jane nodded. "Will he be alright?"
"I think so, Jane. But he will likely be very weak for a while."
"Ok," she said. She still hadn't found her tears.
Frigga nodded and smiled. "Would you care for something to eat before I see to Odin and the rather large hole in the palace roof? It needs addressing before long… I think rain shall be descending upon us soon enough…"
Jane smiled for the first time in what seemed like ages. "No, I'm fine. Thanks anyway."
Frigga got up. "Jane…would you…do you think that you'd like to go to Midgard while Loki recovers? It would be a fine opportunity for you to say any goodbyes to your home you might have…" she looked at Jane knowingly.
Jane looked at the Queen and she laughed. "I'm already home, my Queen."
And Frigga left, nodding her smile and knowledge.
She sat there. She kept her vigil just as Loki had done for her when she had been ill, only Jane had no tales to spin. She had no magic to stay his pain.
She felt so useless.
So alone.
And it was eerie and somewhat grotesque the way his appearance would change every thirty seconds or so. She hoped that it would stop soon. She didn't care if he remained in Frost Giant form, as long as he ceased this dance between appearances.
Her head hung back and she looked at the ceiling.
Might as well get comfortable, Jane…
She put her feet up on another chair and rested her head in her palm. Her eyes closed in sleep.
...
"Lady Jane," a healer was at her side, and Jane noticed that Eir was attending to Loki on his left.
"What? Sorry…yes?" she said groggily.
"The Queen desires counsel."
Jane nodded and stood. She stretched. She wished that Frigga would just come and talk to her here.
Jane made her way to the Queen's chambers…she arrived, and knocked.
"Come in," called Frigga.
"Hey, Frigga…" Jane said informally.
"Jane, have a seat."
She sat.
Frigga sat across from her. "Healing Loki took a dire toll on the King…he is in Odinsleep…and Thor will be King."
Jane's mouth hung agape. "What?" she breathed.
"Yes…he is in regenerative sleep. With the spell of Sigyn's fire and the action of saving Loki, he has fallen into sleep."
"Will he…wake up?"
"Probably," replied Frigga meekly.
"For how long will this last?"
Frigga's eyes fell. "It is difficult to say. A month…a year….?"
"Oh my god."
"Yes. So Thor will rule as King regent until Odin does…or does not…awaken."
"You mean it's possible he might…?"
"Die. Yes…though I doubt it," she replied reassuringly.
Jane rubbed her face and shrugged her shoulders. "I am so sorry, Frigga. I really…I'm just so sorry…"
Frigga stood and took Jane's hand. "Do not fret, Jane. I have foreseen…all will be well."
Jane hugged the Queen and turned to leave. She made her way to the door, and then turned.
"How? How can you be certain?"
"It is written," and Frigga turned away in soft dismissal and went to her balcony as Jane left for the infirmary.
It is written…the words mockingly repeated themselves on her way back to the infirmary. Written where? How can she know?
Everything was to shit.
Loki was practically dead.
Odin was in some sort of weird regenerative sleep.
And Thor was King.
Actually, Jane thought that Thor would make an Ok King, all things considered.
She arrived back at Loki's bedside.
He was still changing back and forth, but…it could have been Jane's imagination, but the changes seemed to be taking longer to complete, as if it was slowing down.
She had no idea if that was good or not.
She sat down.
Jane longed for the release of tears, but none came.
None did come…
Jane moved about in a mist of shock. She believed that Loki would awaken, but she didn't know when. Frigga had told her that it would likely be a few days, but a few days came and went, and his eyes remained closed.
The magic was inside of him…his appearance had finally stopped changing, and he was the Prince Jane knew. The green liquid, more mercurial, pulsed irregularly in his veins.
But Jane stayed.
She took her meals in the infirmary.
She slept there.
She would leave for only bits of spurts….usually to get some fresh air for ten minutes or so.
And on the second week anniversary of the incident, Frigga came to speak with Jane.
"How do you fare, Jane?"
Jane's eyes were bloodshot, her face pale, her brow furrowed, her head ached. "I've been better," she admitted.
"You should go to bed…I've had the servants move your belongings to Loki's room."
"No," she replied.
Frigga sighed. "We buried the sorceress a few days ago."
Jane nodded.
"And her father is angry, but I have assuaged his ire…and he will not seek retribution."
"That's good."
Frigga smiled. "He wouldn't want you to go on in such a state."
"I don't care."
"I see why he loves you, Jane. You are a remarkable person."
Jane glared. She didn't know why she was angry, but she was, and the Queen would endure her wrath. "I'm not! There is nothing special about me! I have no idea why he loves me…I never have…no one has ever loved me! Not one person. Yet he does…" her voice fell. "He does…" and her eyes met the Queens's eyes. "And you…you and Odin…you are the reason he's here…why he suffered decades of torment! And it all could've been avoided. All of his pain…"
"But then, dearest, he would never have loved you."
Jane laughed her derision. "Sure. Use that. Use that if it makes you feel better."
"It doesn't…but it should allow some perspective. We all have things which happen to us, Jane…some are hideous, and some we have no idea why they are happening, but they do, and they all add a stitch into the tapestry of our being."
"How profound, Frigga. You should write that down," Jane muttered.
"You are angry and tired. You should give yourself some respite…"
Jane merely hung her head, not acting to meet Frigga's eyes. "I'm sorry. I am angry. But it's no one's fault. Not really."
The Queen rose and went to Jane, and touched her shoulder. "No. But Odin is paying…perhaps it isn't undeserved…yet there are many things that I cannot see, and this, despite my attempts…is one of them."
And she disappeared.
Jane looked at Loki laying there, his chest rising and falling in slow rhythm. His eyes stubbornly closed.
"She is a peculiar person, your mother. But I see that she loves you," Jane swallowed. "I really like her. She is rather like my own mother…I mean, I hardly knew my own mother, but she is, Frigga, awfully maternal," Jane's eyes wandered to the ceiling. "She was determined to help you…you should've seen the way she rushed to you…she was adamant," Jane laughed. "And Odin…he was so scared…you are loved, Loki. You are cared for…" Jane swallowed. "I…and I…" her breath cracked in emotion. "I love you," she whispered. "So much…so much that nothing matters except that you are ok…"
The swell in her throat threatened the tears which had stayed stubbornly away the two weeks of her vigil…but none spilled.
She hazarded a deep breath. "Ok. I'm going for my walk. I'll be back in fifteen minutes…" and she pecked his mouth softly.
She made her way outside. It was dark…Jane had no idea what time it was, she had been completely ignorant of time passage while holed up in the infirmary.
There was a gentle breeze brushing the green of the garden, now more glaucous in the dim. So she breathed in the green, letting it make its passage through her lungs, and expelling it in her exhale.
Remember, Jane, breathe in and out…such refreshment can be found…anywhere… Loki's teasing words sounded in her ears…and she laughed.
Jane laughed and laughed…her hungry lungs….
There was a roll of thunder…like Sleipner's hooves…the Stygian of tenebrous night…it was descending….
A flash…lightening…like his magic…and a tear of rain fell on top of Jane's head. She lifted her face to the swirling sky and all of its illustrious anger…
It will rain… Frigga had said…
And it fell…it fell quite suddenly in sheets…and her tears fell in tandem. They would not be stopped…but they were not of sorrow or despair…they were release…like the release of her inner orgasmic fluid which Loki so deftly unleashed from her body.
Jane began to turn…her head still raised to the sky…her arms slightly away from her sides…her spiral continued until she was dizzy…
And she stopped.
Her head hung once more.
Time to get back.
He stood there…in the doorway…he looked bewildered…unreal…a look of shock painted on his countenance.
He came toward her, and Jane couldn't move…she swallowed.
The rain beat hard against them.
And Loki dropped to his knees in front of her…he cast his head back and closed his eyes, and opened his arms wide in an embrace of the baptism of water.
"She's dead," he said simply.
"Yes," Jane managed. "And you're not."
"I'm not…" and he opened his eyes and looked at her. "I'm not dead…" and his arms fell to his sides.
Jane shook her head. "No."
He laughed. His hands found his face and he rubbed them against it…he ran his hands through his hair and tousled it…
He looked up at Jane.
He swallowed.
And he grabbed her, pulling her down to meet his mouth in furious hunger.
He couldn't seem to bring her close enough…his mouth nearly swallowing her in his zeal…over and over he kissed her…always deep and always desperate.
He pulled her down to the garden floor…the thunder quaked its approval…and hitched up her skirt to grant him access….
His mouth never left hers…and Jane felt as though she might drown in him.
He parted her legs with his hands, and sank between them, pulling her legs in a wrap around him.
It wasn't until he entered her that he left her mouth (quite swollen), and breathed into her neck…"Jane…my flight was strange…" he pushed himself further inside of her. "It was protean and raw…" and he moved with purpose, and Jane moaned his movement. "And I was forsaken…" he groaned as he felt her warmth grow deeper, her embrace more fixed around his arousal. "…all the while I begged for release…" and his pace quickened…he leaned on his elbows to look at her face. "I despaired…" his breath was heavy, he closed his eyes for he felt her climax approaching. "I…" he swallowed. "I left the place…so minuscule in the abyss of oblivion…" Jane's back arched against the spine of earth, and she cried, she clung to his back, to his ass…pulling him deeper….he was nearly there. "I required nothing more than a baptism of your fervor…" he pulled himself up, and his orgasm filled her…he shook and moaned in response.
He pulled her close to him, and laid on his side.
Jane laughed her tears, and touched his face. "My god, Loki…"
"Gods, elf," he corrected.
She laughed and shook her head. "You're here…" she whispered.
"I am," he paused. "But I am here in the most suspicious of contexts…whom, may I ask, clothed me in these vestments?"
"What?"
"They are white. And a smock. I do not wear smocks. Especially white ones."
Jane pulled herself up and leaned on her elbow. "You are a snob."
His eyes grew wide. "Snob? Retract that immediately. I simply possess a refined eye. I am a discerning specimen when it comes to my attire."
Jane rolled her eyes. "Let's go in, Loki…" she got up and pulled him with her, he seemed a bit weak, likely from being asleep for two weeks, but perhaps also from his exertion in their sex.
They began to walk back to the palace, dripping rain water and tears.
"My magic is weak, all but gone."
"Frigga tells me that it will regenerate soon…"
"I do not doubt it," as he went inside toward the stairs. "However," and he eyed the staircase warily. "It does mean, elf, that I shall have to engage in the most dubious of enterprises until its return…"
"What's that?"
"Stair climbing."
"What?"
"I daresay I haven't navigated these precarious things in a century…" he looked at her.
Jane laughed. "Not to worry, love…I'll hold your hand."
He took her proffered hand and began to climb…