Chapter 18
Serene sat on the edge of the training fields watching as her son battled against other Were-bears who were his age.
This contest was being held to see who would advance on and for those who needed more training.
The only problem was the children needed to be able to fight in both forms.
Bjorn had gained some more weight but was still a little bit behind in stature compared to the others.
Bjorn stood on his hind legs in were-bear form, wielding a double-edged axe.
It almost looked the one he had played with when he first arrived to Asgard, but was actually one he had to make. Each apprentice had to forge his or her own weapon of choice.
Bjorn had struggled at first to forge his weapon correctly, but with time he had finally made his axe.
Other apprentices held swords or spears but only Bjorn had an axe.
The clang lf weapons and the smell of sweat filled the air as Bjorn and Amal battled.
Amal was a sandy looking bear that was lankier then the other weres but he was taller.
Bjorn had to dance around his opponent to avoid the sharp sting of the sword.
The battle was till first blood as healers stood by along with families.
Serene looked on in a nervous aura.
She knew Bjorn was capable of moving on since he had made so much progress all he needed to do was to draw blood first.
The fighters circled each other like the true predators they were.
Amal went for a strike at the shoulder and Bjorn had just barely dodged it.
Bjorn had watched each attack with a critical eye waiting for an opening.
When Amal went for another strike Bjorn struck against the sword knocking it out of the other's grip.
He then swiped a quick cut up the outer arm and saw a red line form.
"First blood, Bjorn," a voice spoke out.
Serene sighed with relief and clapped her hands.
Bjorn let out a laugh as he relaxed his shoulders.
Bjorn shifted back to his human form once he saw that his opponent do the same.
He shuffled his feet towards the bench where he grabbed a towel to wipe away the sweat.
His Mama came up to him and wrapped he arms around him.
"Mama, don't you are embarrassing me," Bjorn whined as she kissed his hair.
Serene held him at arms length and gazed at him.
"I can't congratulate my son on accomplishing a battle? Bjorn you need to know that I will always be a mother first," Serene said as she poked his nose.
"I know Mama, I wish Loki was here to see me or Uncle Thor," Bjorn sighed out as his shoulders drooped.
Serene frowned at the sadness in his voice.
The only reason they could not be here is because of the location, the Unknown Realm.
That and Loki was still away on his errand with the dwarves.
Serene squeezed Bjorn's shoulders and brushed the hair out of his eyes.
"I know sweet heart, but there are rules in place to keep this place safe," Serene spoke.
"I can always show them with a memory playback." Serene said as she led her son to a tent where she stayed at for their meals.
They ate in silence as servants carried food to the tables.
"When will Loki return Mama?" Bjorn asked.
Serene looked to her child with a straight face trying to hold in her sadness, "Soon, I hope."
It had been more then a few days, it was leading to be a week and a half without the return of her Lover.
This mission seemed suspicious and she hoped Loki was safe.
She had found out earlier that week, a miracle was coming.
She had become sick and had no clue as to why.
When she preformed a spell to see the problem, Serene was met with a picture of a small heartbeat that wasn't her own.
She had collapsed back into the chair and cried with joy.
Her child, made by true love, was here.
She knew though it was not a Galaxian due to the aura so she still had time to raise the child.
She was ecstatic and could not wait to tell her mate but alas he was away and she couldn't contact him.
Serene had preformed many spells in order to secure the safety of the child and kept the secret until she could tell Loki.
She knew the longing Loki had to have another child, but one made with true love instead of by mistake with Boda and forced marriage with Sigyn.
Serene had clutched her stomach a little when no one was around or in the safety of her and Loki's chambers.
Serene knew this child was special because she could already tell she started to show a little and hid it with many glamours.
She became sick in the mornings, which was not normal for her when she was pregnant.
She could tell she was in for a long six months.
Unlike normal pregnancies, hers were accelerated due to her powers and Loki's.
Now she just had to wait for him to return to tell him the news.
~With Loki~
He had traveled to Svartalfheim through a passage near the falls of Asgard.
Now all Loki needed to do was find Dager the Strong in order to procure his ring for Serene.
Loki arrived at the entrance to the main village of the capital.
Voices flowed around Loki as he walked through the market searching for Dager's tent.
He could see other merchants displaying their wares, trying to entice others to buy.
Loki was no fool though; some of the merchants enchant their wares to come back to the sellers to be resold again and again.
Loki's eyes fell on a large earthy brown tent with a short burly dwarf sitting on a stool.
The dwarf had a long ginger beard that was neatly kept and wild hair that was held back by a thick leather band.
"You Prince Loki?" The hoarse voice asked.
"Yes, that is I, do you have what I asked for?" Loki asked as he stepped closer to keep the conversation more private.
"Of course, as long as your money is good," the dwarf said holding out a soot covered hand.
Loki rolled his eyes and handed over a pouch of gold pieces.
"You friends with Rhan and Kur?" Loki asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not, those two idiots should not have challenged a God of Mischief in the first place, "Dager said with a laugh.
Loki smiled when he remembered cheating the two out of money for the two magical rings he had made.
Every eight days a new gold ring would be created from the original and was very valuable due to the magical properties.
Loki held out his hand for the ring he ordered.
Dager chuckled again as he went to retrieve the pouch with the ring.
"All right, here she is you know she is a very special woman to have such a ring," Dager commented as he handed over the pouch.
"You have know idea," Loki said as he tucked the pouch away under the layers of his leathers that were close to his body.
"Pleasure doing business," Loki said as he began to leave.
"All ways welcome in my shop Prince Loki," Dager called out.
Loki made his way through the market without any hiccups.
As he was rounding the corner of a bar to the portal back to the Tree Roots he felt a blow to his head.
Blackness filled his vision and stars formed as he lost his balance.
"Well isn't the Trickster back in our realm?" a voice sneered out before Loki blacked out.
~Rhan and Kur(not the correct names, but I could not find their actual names, so go along with it)~
The pair had seen the dark prince enter their realm and had silently watched as he visited Dager's shop.
"I think we should teach that bastard a lesson not to mess with us," Kur whispered to Rhan.
"I thought you never say that, now all we needs a plan," Rhan answered back.
"Hmm, don't we have that magic thread in our shop?" Kur said as he remembered one of the punishments they had to inflict on that brat.
"Oh yeah I think I know what thread you are talking about," Rhan said.
The thread they had enhanced caused any wounds sewn with it ooze blood and cause the victim great pain.
The only way to remove the stitches was to pour the blood of a lover plus the blood of the victim's and their lover's child's blood.
This of course had to be done once the child was born since the blood was the purist in this form.
Kur had paid a fortune for the thread and had only used it on one other.
That victim still had the stiches since they had no lover or child.
" That thread will be perfect all we need now is to knock that bastard out and stich his lying mouth shut," Kur said as he smiled viciously.
They had devised a plan to knock the prince out once he got close to the portal since it was only a few paces near their shop.
Once they knocked him out they dragged the body to their shop and tied him down with magic enhanced ropes.
"Wake up Princess," Kur said pouring ice water over the Dark man.
Loki sputtered awake and saw that he was now in a dimly lit smithy.
His eyes scanned the room before landing on the two small dwarves.
"Well, this is a surprise, shouldn't you be spending your time in a cavern wooing stupid maidens," Loki spat out looking at the two rugged dwarves.
"Oh we would be except you humiliated us, so we are going to return the favor Silver-Tongue," Kur answered.
Rhan stood back as he put on the protective gloves to hold the thread.
"How humiliated would you be once you lost your sharp tongue?" Rhan said as he showed the needle and thread.
Loki showed no fear as he saw the familiar needle and thread.
"Your methods are easily countered fools or did you forget who made that thread?" Loki countered.
"Oh you think this the same thread we first used on you? Ha, we are not that stupid you brat, this thread can only be countered with the blood from a child created by complete love and the blood of the mother," Rhan spoke as he brought the needle a hair's breath away from Loki's lips.
Loki gulped knowing that he would have to endure months of torture in order to get the antidote.
He could smell the dark magic that incased the thread, could sense the horrible spells woven into the fibers to bring the upmost pain.
Kur smiled as he saw fear flash through the Prince's eyes. He then reached for a pair of tongs and clamped Loki's lips closed.
"Get to work Rhan, we need to hurry before anyone misses their Princess," Kur sneered out as he held the tongs. Rhan huffed out a grumble before setting to work.
Loki held in a breath and clenched his fists.
He couldn't move his head due to the shackles around his head and neck.
He watched as the needle touched the corner of his lip before he felt the needle pierce the delicate flesh.
Loki released a quick painful breath through his nose at the pain.
It was a hot burning sensation as Rhan continued the cruel stitching across his lips sewing them shut.
Once Rhan got to the end of hips lips he cruelly knotted the end before snipping of the excess.
"Ah doesn't he look amazing, looks like the magic is already at work," Kur spoke as he watched the holes bleed from the poison.
Loki shivered from the pain and tried not to open his mouth.
"Come on, lets dump into the portal hopefully it'll take this back to her homeland," Rhan said as he disposed of the gloves.
The two men unshackled the prince and dragged towards the portal.
Loki attempted to struggle but it was to no success.
He was growing weaker by the movement was barely conscious as he landed harshly on the ground in Asgard.
He saw a figure rushing towards him and heard the sound of screaming before passing out.
~With Serene~
Serene sat in hers and Loki's room on the sill to a window when Thor slammed the door open.
"Sister you must come quickly, Loki is in healers with horrific injuries," Thor said quickly. Serene snapped up at this and quickly teleported to the healers.
Serene came up towards the bed, which held her pale Lover.
His skin was whiter than snow and his face was covered in black ooze and blood.
"Oh my Love, what happened to you," Serene spoke softly as she gently cupped his face.
She saw cruel stiches covering his lips and saw that this was the cause for the mess.
His eyes were closed and his body shivered in an attempt to expel the poison.
The door opened and Thor stepped in through the door. He strode to Serene side and held Loki's hand.
"Who dared to lay a hand on my brother?" Thor growled out in a angry huff.
"I don't know we will have to wait until Loki wakes up, though judging by his symptoms, he will be in for a long few days," Serene said as she wiped a trailing tear.
She sat on the bed and curled her body into Loki and held his hand in hers and waited.
Thor watched the couple as he pulled up a chair next to the bed and watched vigil.
Not so later the doors opened to Queen Frigga who barely held in a gasp as she sprinted over to her son.
"How did this happen?" She asked as she gazed at her youngest son.
"We do not know mother, but Lady Serene says we have a few suns before he wakes, but even then he cannot speak there is dark magic within that thread," Thor said looking to his mother.
Frigga looked sorrowfully at the pair lying in the bed. Serene had ensnared Loki with her body, protecting him in his weakened state.
"The best we can do now is to keep this quite, we don't need any of our enemies catching word about Loki's state," Frigga whispered to Thor, who nodded in agreement.
Frigga glanced more time at the pair and she could've sworn she saw a faint shiver of magic envelop the pair.
She didn't know who cast the protection charm and saw the magic pulse again.
She quietly gasped as she saw the magic appear from Serene's stomach.
Frigga quickly recited a prayer for protection against the new life forming.
She knew that only she and Serene knew about the life. Frigga looked at her son and whispered, "Keep an eye on her, make sure she takes care of herself not only for her sake but Loki's as well." Thor nodded and watched as his Mother left, no doubt to tell Odin of his Son's predicament.
Thor watched on like a farmer watching his sheep.
Serene twitched in her sleep when she felt magic wash over her and snuggled back down into Loki's chest.
She had tried to reach her lover with her telepathic powers but to no avail, he was deep within the darkness of his mind. She knew that he would be suffering the nightmares soon.
The dark magic the thread held was sacrificial magic.
The only way to reverse this spell was to sacrifice blood from true love's child and the mother's.
She had seen this before and had already preformed the same ritual to counter it for another case.
Each case was different though, in Loki's case he did not need to search for his love and create a child.
All they needed to do no was to wait for their child to come and take a small amount of blood.
Serene just had to help Loki in anyway she could until that time by alleviating the pain from the poison and help transfer nutrients into his body.
By the cruel stiches on his mouth, he would be unable to eat any solid foods.
Serene had to know who did this to her mate and punish those responsible, and then Thor could have the rest.
She tightened her fist into Loki tunic at the thought. Her mind was at work as she slept on and protected Loki.
She knew she had time before he got the nightmares, which would occur later that day.
She had to prepare her mind state to help battle off any demons in Loki's mindscape.
Serene knew he had nasty one's tucked away that he caged but now with a weakened state they would run rampant.
Even Helheim would look like nothing compared to up and coming battle.