"Take me back I want to dance with you where everyone can see." She whispered to him. He chuckled "What are you trying to do, gather suitors or chase some off?" His arm tightening possessively as they danced to a corner of his balcony. "No, I want them to see you like I do. Graceful, regal, controlled, and wonderful. I want them to know that I am not here to entertain them when they disparage you." She tried to explain and Loki shushed her as the lift dropped them to the garden below. He swung her out and off the platform moving with her towards the light of the dining hall. She twisted out of his hands and began pirouetting around him giggling as he smiled. They danced up the stairs to the other guests as a new song began. She didn't see the crowd part for them. She didn't care she danced with him letting Asgard think what they wanted. When he spun her out of his arms she danced alone leaving him standing watching as she moved around him. Loki noticed the end of the chatter as she stole the attention of the room. He spun her down over his arm dipping her back and she curved back her head, arms and the tips of her toes arcing over the floor. Loki was toying with the crowd; she didn't know the spectacle she was making but he did. She balanced on his arm her entire weight trusted to him. A group of women began babbling as he raised her to stand. With classic steps he moved her through the rest of the dance. One moment together the next she improvised around him just a moment of free movement before she came back to him. When the song ended she was arched back as he bowed over her body. Thoughts of toying with those who stared aside he was enjoying himself.
As they stood the room exploded in applause. Several couples came forward and complimented them; Althia let Loki do the talking. She wished only for another drink. Fandral eased up as if he heard her thought: he carried two glasses and handed one to each. "You make us look like a group of children. I had forgotten how well you moved on field and floor." The mischief in his eyes was a warmth good humor. "You'll give the lords a hell of a time getting their wives to settle for one or two dances now." Loki laughed and sipped his wine. Althia watched, her eyes taking in the room with a casual glance. She stopped at the king; he was watching her his eyes held the mystery of his thoughts carefully locked away but somehow he made her nervous. He dipped his head slightly to her and she assumed it was a compliment. Before she could react she was turned around Loki's body and hidden from sight. She remembered her sleeves had holes in them and looked at her arms. Loki knew what she was looking for tucking his head into her hair "Can't have such a grand performance marred can we now." His magic; she'd forgotten how easily illusions came to him.
She danced a few more times though not like she did when she was with Loki. He had worked with her long enough in training to predict her moves and she was the same with him. Many of those that partnered her asked about Loki and his position with SHIELD others seemed to be more interested in Thor. She was drunk but still she kept her comments about earth SHIELD and herself limited and vague. "A dance before the night ends?" a deep voice asked from behind her. The stunned face of her dance partner was a double warning; the voice itself had her heart fluttering. She turned her eyes widened at the king. Odin King and Allfather of Asgard whirled her away from the man. Without thinking about it she automatically responded to his direction. "You would make an excellent match for my son." Odin said as they moved. "Thank you my lord." She said confused. "It has done him well having met you." His eye was boring into her. "I hope so; though it nearly killed Loki defending me." She replied Odin nodded "Such a death would have earned him Valhalla." She stared in shock at the king. "It is our way child. Death in battle is to be received with great honor and glory in the halls of Valhalla." He paused and his head turned slightly as he examined her face. "This realm is in need of a king and queen who together hold all that is good and honorable. My wife Freya was everything a queen should be." He said and Althia was too befuddled to understand the cryptic comment. "There will be a new king one day and his queen should be every good thing his is not. Wise if he is foolish. Calm if he is known for rash action. A balance that ensures a long and peaceful reign." Struggling against thee wine she took a slow breath before replying. "I hope that day is long in coming. The people would mourn your loss to them regardless of how it came to pass. You are loved by many, even those who cannot seem to show it properly." He smiled gentle and stopped dancing. Stepping back he bowed to her and led her back to Loki.
Jane saw the tenderness on Loki's face as he looked at Althia while they danced and she couldn't believe she'd missed it. She felt stupid and embarrassed. Thor took her hand in his "I know my brother has many faults. I am well aware of our past with him and his actions but I do not think he could bring himself to harm her or cause her grief." He paused a look of concentration on his face "Jane am I blind? Is he deceiving me again?" he looked down at her and she looked up. "No, I think you saw it before the rest of us. He is in love with her isn't he?" she asked. Thor nodded "I have seen that look once before. It was long ago and he was different after the woman left him. Crueler, more determined to have the throne." Thor replied. He wanted his brother happy but not at the expense of his friends. He sighed "We must be strong and hope that he is content in what affection she has for him." He shrugged off the line of thought. "Would you care to dance?" he asked changing the subject. He waited till she took a deep breath and nodded. She didn't tell Thor about the terrible things she'd said to Loki before. Together they danced and Jane bit her tongue she was polite and friendly even though she wanted to hide and yell at herself.
Althia watched the king with all the confusion from the wine and his words bottled up. She burned through another bottle of wine without thinking about it. She felt herself yawn and quickly covered her mouth. "Loki," she said looking at him till she had eye contact. "I'm getting sleepy." He nodded understanding after a moment's thought and eased her through the process of leaving. He walked her to her room in silence for a while catching her when she stumbled. "Ah, there it is the drink has finally taken your grace." He laughed tucking her against him. "That's ok, you'll made sure I don't make a fool of myself." She waved her hand negligently. He raised an eye brow at her casual speech. "You know what your father said?" Loki shook his head. Slowly as the large quantity of wine ate her self-control she stumbled through the weird conversation. "So is he asking me to marry him, Thor, or you?" she finished. Loki wasn't sure she had the conversation in order or even remembered it completely. "I hope so." He said leering at her suggestively. "To which?" she gasped wide eyed he just laughed.
When they reached her room she leaned against the door facing him. If he opened it now she'd fall, it was very tempting till she spoke. "Are you in love with me?" he looked into her unfocused eyes suspiciously but found nothing but a mild curiosity. "Who in all the court isn't after your dancing?" he evaded her with a laugh. She giggled, "Oh silly, that was for you!" she tapped his chest. "Oh really, how is that?" He pulled her against his chest enough he could open the door. "If I have to dance and sing your praises the whole time I'm here these people will stop treating you like an aggravating habit of Odin and Thor's." She said spinning out of his arm and into the room. She hummed as she struggled with her dress. Loki laughed and sat in a chair thinking about her words. She wiggled around trying to figure out the dress. "Ugh!" she turned to him a focused look on her face. She lengthened her legs swaying up to him on unsteady feet "Loki," she pleaded "Help me." She placed her hands on the arm rest leaning down to be inches from his face. He sighed "Up, turn around." he commanded. She stood and pivoted between his legs. Not her best idea she ended up across his lap. "By the gods woman you are not making this easy on me." Loki shouted she slumped back across the arm rest looking at the room upside down. "I like your room better." She said ignoring his comment. Loki stood up with her in his arms and took her to the bed where he dumped her unceremoniously on her face. She squeaked. "Did you just squeak?" He asked holding a laugh. "Nope" she replied through the thick coverlet. "Liar" he said as he undid the clasps she couldn't figure out and unlaced the dress. She was quiet, still and started purring. Loki listened stroking the soft skin between her shoulders. He watched light trail after his fingers under her skin. His admitted later that he probably should have run when she started purring. He slid the sides of the dress over her shoulders and traced patterns in the light and her purr humming along his skin. She arched her back up into his touch her head swaying with his touch. It was fascinating seeing her body and power react to him. 'Oh how simple it would be to have her now.' He thought as his eyes followed his hands. He wrapped his long fingers around her making her gasp finally stilling the purring that distracted him. It freed his thoughts enough that he heard other voices were coming down the hall. Quiet at a breeze he stood and she flopped on the pillows her dress bunched around her legs. Running a finger up the back of her exposed leg he made her giggle. "Althia?" Jane called through the door. Loki made himself vanish as the door opened. "Here" a hand waved from the bed. "Help" she slurred. Loki stepped back and moved towards the still open door as Jane and Thor came to investigate the bed. "Oh! Thor out!" Jane said she turned and pushed him backwards from the bed. Loki slipped out the door and left for his room a smile on his face. It was very interesting when she got drunk much more fun that he had with anyone else. He was in his chair with a light on by the time Thor opened his door. "Brother, are you here." Thor asked and Loki looked up from his book with a raised eye brow "Yes, is everything alright?" Loki asked calmly and curious. "Yes," Thor responded with relief. "I just wanted to wish you a good night." Thor half lied. "Ah, well good night brother." Loki said without rising. Thor walked over a knot in his brow. He rested his hand on his brother's shoulder and relaxed when he hit a solid shoulder. "You looked very happy this evening he continued." Loki was looking at his bother like he didn't know him all of a sudden. "Yes, Althia is a wonderful dance partner." Loki chuckled settling in for the pending conversation. "Though I would prefer not having to carry her to her room at the end of the night." Carefully he closed and set his book aside. "She was most insistent I leave the servants be when I offered to have someone help her get ready for bed." He grinned mischievously at Thor. "Would you care to wager on her still being in the dress come morning?" Loki got his brother chuckling and grinning. "No, brother I cannot take your money. Jane just chased me from Lady Althia's rooms. Apparently she manages partially and got trapped in the rest." Loki burst out laughing "Now I wish I had stayed!" the men laughed for a moment. "Good night Loki" Thor said leaving. "Good night, Thor." Loki replied to the closed door a smirk on his face.
Althia woke the next morning when the drapes of her bed were shaken vigorously apart. She started with fright before she remember where she was. "Good morning my lady." Rayeth said and disappear. Something smelled really good and it dragged a naked Althia from her bed. She plucked at her hair where the pins and combs were tangled to sudden dead silence. Rayeth came back from the wardrobe with a robe and last night's dress in her hands. The embarrassing exchange that followed was not the best part of her morning. Apparently she had lost the nightgown when she got dressed for bed. She couldn't remember last night from about half way to her room. She had no idea how she got out of the dress. She was eating while Mithrel carefully took her hair down and Jane came to check on her. Jane told her about her dancing though she remembered a lot of it and gave her a run down on finding her half in half out of the dress stuck on the bed. She remembered a touch and assumed it had been Jane. Jane told her they were going to the healing hall to have a physical done to see if they could determine her origins promising she'd stay. It wasn't long before she was bathed dressed and moving confidently down the hall with Jane. "Oh um, Loki sent word that your sword was in his room and you could retrieve it whenever." Jane said. Althia took the chance when it presented "You were wrong." She said quietly; Jane looked at her sharply then down at the smooth tiles. "I know" she replied looking at the floor as she chose her words. "I saw the way he looked at you while you were dancing. He's in love with you." Althia stopped dead in the hallway "He's WHAT!" she shouted in shock. Jane blushed her eyes locked o to the wide eyed shock that contorted Althia's face. "I thought you knew." She replied. Althia blinked and continued down the hall thinking hard. They talked for a while but Althia wasn't paying attention; wholly dedicated to seeing her relationship Bruce through till he didn't want her anymore she didn't have a clue how to handle Loki.
The healer's hall were very different from what she expected. Cool airy rooms with a large pool in the middle of each room. She was disrobed set under a variety of things all of which made the healer woman frown. When she was told they wanted a blood sample she looked at Jane in a panic. Jane took her hand and started talking about her work. Any topic to distract the woman from the needle coming at her other side. She flinched when she felt the prick but stayed still counting her breaths studying Jane's face. Jane leaned close "Loki's definitely got a thing for you." Which was enough to get Althia through the process. When it was over she looked at the first bottled sample of her blood. It glittered, oddly. Not like when she cut herself but different. The healer was holding it up to the light watching the fluid move and swirl in the vial a strange tracing of glow in it till it faded and was just blood. Everyone had been staring and was startled. "Hmm interesting. Go about your day I will send word what we have the answers you seek." The healer said briskly. Jane and Althia shared a look as Althia got dressed.
Loki was arguing with someone when they arrived. "No, I will not be manipulated into ruining everything." Odin came out of the room his face red with anger seemed to flex and shift in the light. Jane pushed Althia behind a column and muffed her till the king was gone. Nothing she'd seen felt right. They looked at each other eyes wide for a minute "What was that?" Jane whispered when her mouth was free. Althia just shook her head she didn't know. Something crashed in Loki's room and Althia was gone Jane stumbled away from the pillar when her weight was suddenly against air. Althia darted down the hall and burst in to find Loki smashing his room. "Loki!" she shouted but he didn't hear her over the sound of his draped being torn from their rings. Jane screamed at him from the door. When he turned both women knew he didn't see them but something or someone else.
Althia jumped in front of him when he charged at Jane and he swung his fist at her. She dodged and yelled at him inarticulately his rage like silk against her mind. The moment his hand grasped her arm the fight was on for both. They attacked each other her on the defensive, as she struggled against the alien emotion, him in a fit of blind rage. Jane stood in the door watching thunder struck till a servant came to investigate. She stopped them before they saw anything "Get Prince Thor NOW. He's in the training grounds!" the servant turned and vanished at a run.
Jane watched Loki and Althia fight and it made her nauseous. Loki had gone berserk. Tearing at the drapes when he became tangled he resorted to teeth to free himself. He growled when Althia knocked him against a wall and charged at her before the dust could settle. She in turn ran at him and slide into his legs bringing him down hard on the stone floor. He was up in a second pouncing on her but she was ready and used her legs to throw him off and against the bed. The fight moved back and forth across the room. Loki had lost his skill as a tactical fighter and jus brawled. Althia moved like a predator lower to the ground hissing and growing but avoiding most of his attacks. They blooded each other a dozen times but she healed and he was Aesir. Her power was flickering and flashing in her body but her eyes and head stayed glowing as she fought off what she knew was a foreign influence on him. Neither of them saw the 5 warriors enter or heard Jane calling for them to stop. Both were over powered by the warriors with Thor and Volstagg literally sitting on Loki. Fandral ended up in a heap on the carpet as Althia's power flickered out and her eyes took on the surge of Loki's madness. Sif and Hogun corralled the growing and hissing Althia in a corner. "Calm yourself!" Sif bellowed at the woman. Jane ended Althia's strange behavior by throwing a pitcher of water on her. The shock broke the battle madness and brought her to her senses. She took a deep breath and stood up pushing Loki's rage and blood thirst aside. "I'm alright." she said as her body healed the last of her wounds. Her dress was barely on her body tattered and hanging on a wish. She crossed her arms and held it in place while she walked to Loki who was still pinned and fighting.
She knelt "My lords hold him. His mind isn't right." she raised her hands above the frothing madness twisted face of her friend. This was different than anything she'd experienced before. She could feel his magic green, and gold hovering near and something else similar but flickering red and blue hovered around his eyes, mouth, and ears. The light flickering and dancing beneath her skin she tried to force the poison and foreign magic out. He growled and roared and she expanded her power fighting against the echo of his madness. His face came up and brushed her hands. "Loki, help me!" she screamed as she felt the madness that had taken him take her as well. 'All die.' Was her last thought.
She woke the first time to Odin's face. "I had not expected you to require our aid in healing child." His fingers were a faint flutter against her cheek. "Thank you for saving my son; once more I am in your debt." She tried to understand his words but something inside her was different she was in pain. She struggled against it and found madness beneath the surface and the rage of the berserker filled her. Odin watched the madness return again and pressed her mind back into oblivion.
"An empath, as you call it, of her caliber should be trained better than this. The madness could have had them kill each other before turning on the palace." Someone was prattling on near her; she moaned as her body reminded her she was seriously injured. "Hey it's ok." Jane said touching Althia's very sore forehead. 'Why do I hurt so badly? I shouldn't hurt like this.' she thought. "Can you release her power now she awake." Jane asked. "Not until we determine if she has maintained her sanity." A man said; Althia opened the one eye that she seemed to have control over. It was blurry for second and cleared. "Jane what's wrong with me. I hurt everywhere?" she said in a whisper. "It took more to stop you and the guards weren't gentle like the Sif and the warriors three who were still trying to hold Loki. You got beat up pretty bad and the healers have suppressed your power somehow so…" Jane wasn't happy about that last part. "Loki?" Althia asked. "Don't worry." Jane said before looking over her shoulder. "Release her powers NOW. She's fine." Jane ordered. A strange tingling all over her body and Althia felt her powers flash free; she was healed but it was a wild uncontrolled healing. The light jumped out of her in a nauseating rush. She felt a wind of chaotic emotions and pains great and small before she could reign it in again. "That is normal when a magic is suppressed and will not happen again. She can begin healing now." The other voice said.
Althia sat up wrapped from neck to foot her eye covered in a bandage. Loki was right in front of her floating in the pool she had seen earlier. He looked like someone had beat him with a truck, cut him open and stitched him back together. "What's wrong with him?" Althia asked thin man who was wearing a white robe. "Prince Loki was grafted with several unknown devices during his time under Thanos. The devices have been removed as has the potion that caused him to go berserk. It will take time for him to heal but he should make a full recovery." The healer was a pompous jerk and Althia didn't like him at all. "Like hell he's staying like that!" she snapped slipping off the bed and dragging the sheet around her naked body she clawed the bandage off her face. The healer looked like a fish out of water. "You cannot be healed that fast." He gaped at her and settled for offensive superiority. She looked at Jane who was giving the old healer a dirty look. Jane glanced at Althia and saw an evil smile there. Jane grinned as Althia dropped the sheet and slowly turned. Her body had been a battered and broken mess was now pristine. The healer choked at her unblemished flesh; the audacity of her flashing him broke his self-control and he fled to the sound of both women laughing. "I tried to tell him you would heal if they stopped suppressing your power but they didn't believe me. Apparently even here healing that much takes time." Jane said as she helped Althia into the pool. It tingled and effervesced around her body but she ignored it. The cuts and surgical scars were much smoother than the ones she'd seen done by SHIELD before but he looked like hell as she eased up to him. She had just laid her hands on him when Thor, the warriors and three healers entered. "Wait" Thor shouted but it was too late her power rose eagerly to her skin. the light blinded everyone for a few moments.