Last chapter of this week, I caught up the three I wasn't here. Next chapter next Saturday if it's done beta reading by then! :)
FANFICTION
THE RISE OF LOKI, GOD OF MISCHIEF
CHAPTER IX : Golden Thread
[Loki is sent spying on Jotunheim to find out the truth about the threat of war against the Mountain Giants. Teaming up with a seiðr user, Eisa, she tells him something has been following him since his arrival in Jotunheim. Loki leads her to a passage in the Mountains that leads to the Crossway: a crossway between worlds hiding the most dangerous creatures but it's the only way for Loki and Eisa to reach Utgard as fast as possible.]
Asgard, fourth day of Loki's mission
Odin kept his hands folded behind his back, lips tight and gaze focused on the horizon even if he didn't see anything.
"Anything else, Týr?" He asked his General and friend.
The brown haired god stared at the All Father who kept his back to him before shaking his head slightly.
"No, Your Majesty."
The One Eye didn't answer, his heart beating steadily but still feeling heavy at the thought of his son lost in Jotunheim and everything he just heard about the Einherjar's report.
"All-Father, if I may…" Týr started hesitantly, taking a step forward.
The blue eye turned sharply towards him but the General continued, seeing the wish of hearing good news he tried to hide in the All-Father's eye.
"The Prince Loki might not shine in battle as much as Prince Thor, but he still knows how to handle a fight. Actually, he is pretty good despite fighting in his own way. Plus he's got his tricks and magic." He explained reassuringly.
The All-Father remained expressionless and after a discreet swallow, Týr spoke up once again:
"He survived a dragon, my liege. He will come back from this quest, I am sure of it." He added, his voice sounding slightly impressed before tightening his lips, "Perhaps.. you should trust him more…" He added hesitantly.
Odin flinched before he could control himself and his eye looked at the man. He hesitated a moment before opening his lips:
"I know. I trust him." He said sharply, making Týr feel guilty, "I know better than anyone that he will come back…"
He turned his back to Týr once again, frowning at the landscape of Asgard under his eye, his body suddenly tense.
"I worry about how he will come back…" He murmured to himself.
Not sure he heard well, Týr hesitated, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"He'll call Heimdall…" He said with a little voice.
Odin looked back at him. The two friends exchanged a gaze, understanding the silent words between them. Týr understood exactly what Odin meant by 'how' Loki would come back, the All-Father knew it. But they both decided to ignore this worry, despite the fact that Týr had no idea of the reasons that kept the All-Father so tense and insecure about his son on a mission in Jotunheim.
"Thank you for your report. You may go." He finally dismissed him with a little nod.
Týr answered with a respecting bow and turned on his heels to leave the All-Father alone with his thoughts. As soon as the door closed, elegant steps resonated in the room. Odin didn't need to look to know who it was.
"I'm worried…" Frigga said, her hands fidgeting anxiously.
He turned to her and after a moment, lowered his gaze. She came to his side, sighing lightly to herself.
"I can see that you are worried too… But I guess not for the same reasons…" She murmured, glancing away sadly.
He sighed and turned towards her, cupping her cheek gently, almost delicately, forcing her to look back at him.
"It's true that I am worried about Loki finding out more than what his mission is destined for. But I am also worried for my son." He said, his voice low.
Her blue eyes shone in worry and thankfulness before holding his reassuring hand, leaning against it and closing her eyes.
"How is Thor?" Odin asked, trying to hide his worry for his elder son.
"He is feeling better, but he is still feverish and unconscious most of the day," she answered before silence fell between them and they remained in the comforting presence of one another, bathed in the final light of the setting sun.
Crossway, undetermined day of Loki's mission
"Wake up." Loki ordered, lightly pushing at Eisa's shoulder.
She blinked sleepily, glancing around while he got up and threw her some bread and dried fruits. She caught them before they could hit the dark grey ground of the Crossway.
"Eat, then we'll start going." He said, keeping an eye on the surroundings.
She stared at him before rubbing her eyes and yawning. Loki stared at her, smiling lightly to himself at how cute she could be sometimes. But he would never admit this thought to himself.
"You didn't wake me up. We said we'd take turns in guarding…" She said, frowning at him.
"You were more tired than me, you needed rest. Plus, I was finally at peace without your incessant blabbering!" He mocked, chuckling at the glare she threw at him.
She ate quickly before they got up and ready to continue their journey in the dangerous Crossway. She stared at him expectantly, her eyes shining in curiosity despite her fear.
"So? What is this magical item you spoke about?" She asked excitedly.
He smirked, lips parting to talk, "Remember when I told you about the Midgardians' legends having our Crossway as a common point?" He asked, continuing after her vivid nod, "Among those stories of Crossways, underworlds and labyrinths, one is particularly interesting."
"What story?" She asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Of a hero who went into a labyrinth to kill a monstrous beast, but to not be lost, he was saved by the wit of the woman he loved. She gave him.. a ball of thread."
Eisa frowned, obviously disappointed by the simplicity of the story.
"Thread? Are you going to play with your ball of thread, little kitten?" She asked teasingly.
He snorted and glared at her before speaking up again, "That ball of thread managed to guide that hero through the labyrinth so he could get out."
"But we're not in a simple labyrinth," she replied.
"Would you please let me finish this?" He asked, sounding exasperated.
She rolled her eyes but remained silent. He decided to talk before she could speak up once again.
"You were so much more attractive asleep…" He muttered.
"Are you saying you find me attractive?" She asked with a huge smile.
"Don't think so highly of yourself." He replied sternly.
"You're not that bad either, Your Highness," she said, smirking proudly at knowing what he truly thought of her.
"I am much more than that, if you knew…" He said, his eyes gleaming happily and smirking despite the situation they were in.
"Now, if you would be so kind, finish that story. What makes that thread so unique - except being the best play for a kitty, of course." She said, mocking lightly.
He sighed, still smiling, amused despite himself.
"That thread is magical." He said, finally getting the reduced item out of his pockets.
Slowly, it grew back to its normal size and Eisa's eyes widened. Loki now held a golden sphere with intricate delicate drawings very similar to the runes and spells they were using in Asgard, but in another language. The sphere was luminous in the dark, as if there was a light as bright as a sun inside. Slowly, lines and rays of light started to escape and swirl delicately around the sphere.
She lifted up a hand and approached with hesitant fingers to the metallic sphere, she didn't have to touch it to feel the warmth from it, and the warmth from the magic in it…
"It's amazing… And so powerful…" She murmured, leaning even closer.
"It's an item found by a group of Asgardian searchers while they were looking for entrances of the Crossway. It's Greek and I believe it's the ball of thread the story talks about." Loki added when he noticed how fascinated she was. But who wouldn't be captivated by such magic?
"It.. kind of reminds of a mundlaug…" She said, frowning lightly when she observed more closely the golden wisps dancing around the sphere.
Loki smirked before nodding and continuing his explanations:
"A mundlaug is mostly used to catch thieves or see stars during daylight. I think it has some sort of function that could be similar to a mundlaug: a veil of protection against the creatures of the Crossway – like a net, as the spells for magical net we use for the mundlaugar, guiding us through the Crossway – just like stars guide sailors in sea." He explained.
She looked back up at him, lips parted in slight awe before her expression fell and she frowned, tilting her head lightly on a side.
"It's very interesting, but those sound like theories…" She murmured hesitantly.
"Because they are." He answered with a smirk.
"So, our safety in the most dangerous part of the Universe rests on your theories about a Greek ancient magical item?" She asked suspiciously.
"My mother agrees with me." He added as if it would change the weight of his theories.
She stared at him sternly and he puffed his cheeks childishly.
"And Freyja!" He exclaimed, rolling his eyes.
"But! Was it ever tested? Proved? Is there any way to know if it'll work except when we'll be attacked by the Norns-know-what in this pitch black of darkness?!" She shrieked, throwing an arm in the direction they were taking.
"My father thought it was too risky. But I'm going to prove to him, and everyone else, that I was right all along!" He exclaimed, his eyes beaming in joy and pride.
"Calm down, stallion, it wasn't proven yet. We might very much die in here if you're wrong! Do you realize that?!" She exclaimed, not believing he could be so dense about the dangers that would come to them.
He looked up straight into her dark pine green eyes with such a serious and powerful look that she stepped backwards, swallowing and suddenly nervous. His watery green eyes were shining with so much strength and confidence it could have convinced the wildest of beasts to bow down to his orders. She felt her heartbeat increase almost violently, not knowing what to think when she was looking into those eyes of his.
"I know that better than anyone. If I die, then I will leave my family behind. I know what death means and I am not foolish enough to go in there without a back-up plan. If the Golden Sphere fails, then I will fight my way through the monsters and beasts. I won't die and I won't let you die either." He said with a hard and confident voice.
His gaze softened a little and he took a step forward, their bodies so close they could feel the heat from the other. Eisa blinked at the lack of warmth she felt from his body, but didn't think about it anymore, mesmerized by his eyes.
"Eisa, I can promise you, on my father's name, that I will bring you back to Asgard safe and sound." He said firmly, "I swear it on the Leiptr River." He promised.
Maybe thunder roared to seal the most powerful and fateful oath one can give, but Eisa couldn't hear anything but his breathing, so very close and fresh, tempting her to just get even closer and have a taste. She couldn't see anything but the amazingly bright green eyes. Loki's eyes lowered a moment on her lips and she opened them, wanting to say something, anything, but she couldn't find a single word. He opened his own, his breath stuck in his throat, his eyes still fixed on her inviting lips but then, he looked back up at her and was serious once again. But he didn't try to move away from her.
"I can't force you into anything, but do you want to come with me in the Crossway and find out if this Golden Thread really is what I think it is?" He asked, his voice low.
She had to force herself to come back to her senses and took a deep breath before answering, her gaze as firm as his.
"How dare you ask? Adventure is calling! Hurry up, Loki!" She exclaimed, taking the first step towards the darkness.
He smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief and the golden light from the sphere, a joy he couldn't understand making his heart beat warmly.
"How does it work?" She asked, as they started walking slowly on the path lighted by the scattered sad torches.
Loki frowned at the torches, noticing that they never run out and weren't making a single sound. Not even a sparkle. The only sound they could hear was their steps and their voices.
"Loki?"
He looked back at Eisa who was staring at him, brows furrowed lightly.
"The Golden Thread? How does it work?" She repeated.
He shrugged lightly, glancing away awkwardly when she froze in her steps and stared at him.
"Really?" She asked in disbelief.
"I haven't figured it out yet, but it has more energy and brightness in the Crossway than all those other times I've examined it before." He said, holding the orb firmly in his hand, electricity running from his fingers throughout his entire body.
"I'm pretty sure anything giving light will look brighter in darkness than in daylight." She remarked, her tone mocking.
"Did you figure that out on your own or were you taught so?" He asked with the same teasing voice.
"I just had a moment of brightness, you might consider letting those moments happen to you. That might be helpful." She snorted, smirking at their exchange.
"It is working." He growled, frowning at her comments.
"What makes you think so?" She asked, looking perplex.
The mischievous god kept on observing the fascinating ball he had in his palm. The wisps of pure golden seiðr kept on getting out and back into the sphere, dancing and swirling around the sphere and his fingers.
"Those wisps appearing and disappearing, don't you think it looks just like a ball of thread?" He suddenly said, blinking at the metallic but warm item he was holding.
She stared at it then her eyes widened when she noticed that it did look like a ball of thread with the wisps swirling and spinning around in a little haze.
"Just like the story…" She whispered, her curiosity and thirst for more knowledge coming back forth and gleaming in her eyes as brightly as the Sphere.
He nodded then continued, "It never had such a bright and vivid reaction until now. And it never gave off so much warmth and it feels like.."
He frowned lightly, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the patterns of the delicate lines on the sphere's surface.
"Like a heartbeat…"
"Is it alive?" She asked with big eyes.
"No, more.. like a machine working out the right path…" He explained, sensing the little waves of seiðr and power pulsing from the Sphere into his body.
She stared at the Golden Thread then back at Loki and his beautiful face, lighten by the light of the Sphere and the few torches around them, burning constantly in complete silence. His usually pale skin looked like pale gold, his raven black hair had fiery red reflects and his eyes were a gold as bright as the sphere.
"Did your father ever see you like that?" She suddenly asked, breaking the silence.
Loki froze completely, his eyes widening and tearing away from the Sphere to stare at her in shock and disbelief. His eyes were back to its usual colour, but what shook her completely was the look of distraught dancing in them.
"What?" He asked in disbelief, not expecting such a question.
"D-did the All-Father ever see you so.. so bright..?" She asked hesitantly, but the look of awe in her eyes enough to be understood by the god.
Loki's eyes widened once again and his lips parted in shock. His heart missed a beat before hammering so strongly in his chest he almost fell over. He blinked and shook his head, swallowing and glancing away. He quickly put a hand through his hair, looking shaken.
"I-it doesn't matter…" He whispered as if the All-Father could hear him.
He started walking once again, in an almost panicked and hurried walk.
For the first time since Eisa met him, his voice had wavered – just like his heart did when he had realized that it was the first time in his whole life that someone had told him that he was bright. Not his father, not his brother, but him. He was bright… Even if only one person ever noticed it, even if it's just Eisa, it was enough to make hope and happiness pulse through his veins. He would show to everyone that he was the worthy son of Odin, that he was as good and bright as his brother.
He barely even glanced at the gate he walked under, made in the rock itself. It was nothing like the straight golden and beautifully decorated gates he saw every day in Asgard. It was grotesque, the shapes representing tortured souls and monstrous beasts. But he was smirking confidently and brightly as he walked under, staring straight into the darkness, knowing that, finally, he had his chance to shine and he would take it.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't react when he heard a shocked gasp behind him from Eisa. He kept on walking, even when he heard her hurrying behind him.
"Loki..!" She cried out, grabbing his arm.
He finally turned around and frowned at her, not understanding what was happening. But his eyes widened at seeing her panicked expression, his gaze followed her and he shivered. In the pure darkness, something with bright red eyes was staring at them. The creature seemed bigger than them in height and a deep growl resonated around them. Loki swallowed, unsure of what he should be doing when he couldn't even guess the features of the monster except that it was big, dangerous and probably a predator that had decided they were very tasty looking prey…
There was no way he could fight anything in such darkness and they weren't at their advantage in such a dangerous territory. They could be at the edge of a pitch to emptiness for all they knew. Fighting an unknown, probably very dangerous beast in complete darkness wasn't going to end well for the both of them…
If he was as brave and foolish as Thor, he would stay there and fight. But he wasn't Thor on the level of his so called 'bravery' that Loki just considered as the most imbecilic decisions his brother ever took.
"Run…" He breathed suddenly, taking her hand and suddenly pulling her behind him to run as fast as they could.
There are lots of references in this chapter: the Golden Thread is, of course, inspired by the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Off to slay the beast hidden in the Labyrinth of Daedalus, the hero was given by Ariadne, a ball of thread to be guided through the labyrinth and find his way out. I took this as reference for the Golden Thread of my fanfic - but it's more magical and more "modern" than what the Greek myth says. I wanted to make some mix between the advanced technology of the gods in the Marvel universe and the Midgardian myths.
For the mundlaug (plural mundlaugar): this brings to mind the occasional recurrence of mundlaugar in Icelandic magic – that is, basins for washing one's hands, the "bowl" that Snorri says that Sigyn holds over Loki. In Icelandic magic a mundlaug is mostly used to help catch a thief, and in one example to see the stars during daylight. (Loki kind of explains all that, but I wanted to put it here another time)
Also, when he says that his theories are supported by Frigga and Freyja, it is because, as we know, Frigga taught him magic, she is then a seiðr user. And in the myths, Freyja is the Goddess of Beauty and Magic: she taught the Aesirs the art of seiðr. Which is why she supports Loki's theories: she is an even more powerful magician than Frigga or Loki.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed those three chapters. Don't hesitate (seriously, don't!) to tell me what you think in reviews! :D
NEXT CHAPTER : PARADISIAC HELL
Yours Truly,
May