"My name is Beriadan, and I am the owner of this meadow," the friendly little guy claimed proudly.
Loki was the first to recover. He stood up, towering over Beriadan. He quickly kneeled down again to be polite.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my brother, Prince Thor of Asgard. Darcy Lewis and Jane Foster," he gestured to everyone. "And I'm Loki."
"The God of Mischief," the elf elaborated stiffly.
"Well, I mean no harm, if that is a concern," Loki quickly defended himself.
Beriadan's eyes softened. "I know. I have a gift, just as you."
"Oh?"
"Indeed, I am an Empath. I can read of all your emotions. And I can tell, you are not here to harm, instead you are here to hide, am I wrong?"
Thor looked at Loki wide eyed. "Brother, he knows," he said.
"Beriadan, dear light elf, please grant us refuge. My brother is burdened by royal duties he wishes not to be a part of, and I seek freedom from a false home. Please, aid us, and in return, we will help you in whatever way we can," Loki begged.
Beriadan bowed. "My Gods, do not fret. Alfheim is a realm of love and peace. We have only one ruler, the Light Queen, Cuilwen, the goddess of life. I would offer you my humble home to reside in for the duration of your visit, but the Queen's castle is a much suitable place for royalty."
Thor spoke up, "Friend, we are no longer royalty. I no longer consider myself a part of my kingdom. My nobility remains only in my name. If you'd be so kind to see us as your own, we'd be forever grateful."
For a light elf, the sight of four humanoid figures larger than his own, it was reasonably difficult to see these strangers as his own kind. But Beriadan had been raised by his own kingdom to serve guests to the fullest so he decided that that was what he must do.
"As you wish," the elf bowed again. "Have you ever visited Alfheim before?"
"As a child, many times. But we didn't after that as grown Asgardians are too fond of luxury to be able to live in a land not dripping gold," Loki joked.
Beriadan let out a warm laugh. "You see things clearly. Oblivion is not a useful state of mind, but neither is bitterness," he told Loki gently.
Jane smiled in agreement and Loki bit his tongue. The light elf was right. Loki's bitter mind clouded his happiness. But now he was away from Asgard; he could enjoy himself freely now.
"I apologize for my bitter emotions. My self-pity is not something I'm proud of," Loki admitted.
"Never apologize for how you feel Loki. You shouldn't condemn your emotions; they are a very real and authentic part of you. They make you and me similar beings. We all feel the same things, no matter the language, race, or realm. Our accent, lifestyle, and principles may vary, but happiness and sadness is present in every world. In a way, just a smile can unite us all with recognition that despite our difference, we are of one kind. Living beings, struggling for survival that is," Beriadan wisely replied.
Loki nodded once, now smiling. Beriadan was a lot like Jane. He didn't judge him.
"Mr. Beriadan, hello, um, I was wondering, is there a place my friend and I can rest? My friend and I are mortals and the travel wasn't…easy. Can we stay in your meadow or would you prefer we rest somewhere else?" Jane asked.
"Oh, Jane Foster, feel free to do whatever you'd like. My home is not far from here. There's one road exiting the meadow from the corner back there," the elf pointed behind Jane, "A cabin is there. It's big enough for all of you. My house is on the other side, where I just came from. You may rest wherever you please, and since you are no longer royalty, your activities are not anyone's concern," Beriadan winked.
"You are my favorite person in this entire realm," Darcy finally spoke. She was still in pain and was trying to keep the light out of her eyes.
"Thank you Darcy," the elf said happily. Darcy held up a lazy peace sign and grunted in reply.
Beriadan clasped his hands together. "Well, I'll be heading off since you all seem like people who prefer to be on your own. It was a pleasure meeting all of you. Such a lovely and diverse group of people, I bless you with eternal joy."
And with that the Light elf hurried away to wherever he came from. The green meadow enclosed everyone's gratitude for the little man who, Loki was sure, felt every bit of it.
"Is he gone?" Darcy whispered.
"Yeah," Jane replied, getting up to stretch, wincing in the process. Loki jumped up to steady her.
Suddenly, he swooped her up, bridal style. She yelped in protest but he silenced her once more with one of classic silencing kisses. Then he peppered many more all over her face, making Jane forget all about the piercing pain in her forehead.
When Loki finally pulled his face away, she saw his megawatt grin beaming at her.
"Someone's happy," Jane giggled.
"Very. I know we're still in a bit of a mess, but in this moment, as of right now, I feel incredibly lucky to have you in my arms," Loki told her. The look on his face made Jane's heart clench with emotion. It was so full of love and affection, she couldn't imagine her life before Loki anymore.
He came into her life and since then she had changed so much. Jane's life turned into an adventure, she finally had someone who cared for her, who loved her. It was a love she had never experienced before, and if her throat was caught up with emotion, she would have told Loki how he wasn't the lucky one; she was.
"I love you," Jane chocked out.
"I love you more than life Jane. You gave me something to fight for. Without you, my life would have been a story of misery but you brought so much hope and love into it that now I finally cherish my time alive with you. Every moment with you is a sweet escape of freedom. I love you very, very much," Loki passionately replied.
Jane leaned in and kissed Loki fiercely. She pulled only an inch away to whisper, "You are my everything. You're all I have. Don't ever leave me. Seriously, I…I don't know what I'd do without you."
Loki quickly uttered a promise and pulled her to him again.
They stayed there, Loki standing with Jane in his arms, his mouth never leaving hers. It was pure love that radiated from them and brightened the green meadow even more.
That moment alone could have easily defined peace and perfection, all wrapped in one.
That is until a loud snore pierced through the air. The noise startled the kissing pair and they separated to realize once again that they were not in a world of their own.
Jane looked over to find Darcy sprawled over Thor, both fast asleep, both snoring loudly.
Loki crinkled his nose in childish frustration and pouted at Jane, who laughed at his annoyed expression.
She freed herself from Loki's hold and balanced her two feet on the ground. She walked over to Darcy who had her hand smacked on Thor's face.
Jane nudged her friend sharply.
"Hm?" Darcy drooled onto Thor's sweater.
"Darcy, maybe you should let Thor breathe. You're squishing him," Jane said into Darcy's ear.
"You're squishing him," Darcy retorted sleepily. Jane flicked her ear and Darcy opened one eye to glare at Jane.
"Let's look for the cabin; you have all day to rest," Jane reasoned.
"You have all day to rest," Darcy retorted again.
Jane blinked. "Okay, you're not even making sense."
"You're not – "
"Ok, I get it. I give up," Jane sat back. She lied on the ground and Loki slipped next to her. She snuggled into him.
"The ground is pretty comfortable too," Jane compromised, laughing along with Loki.
"They are impossible," she whispered about Thor and Darcy.
Loki's green eyes glanced at Thor and Darcy, who were wrapped around each other like noodles.
"They are heedless," Loki added.
"Oblivious."
"Reckless."
"Wild."
"Rampant."
Jane sighed. "But you love your brother, don't you? Even after everything you've been through? You love him."
"I do. He still is as annoying as before, but he has been my companion for a while. Though Thor was once my enemy, he really is the only family I have left. We are too different, yet somewhere in my heart, I care for his well-being," Loki said thoughtfully.
"It's funny how different Darcy and I are. But she has been my rock for so long. I guess that's how the relationships differ. Friends and siblings, those people around our age that see us in a consistent light are the ones we cherish the most. They are the only ones that don't want to change us…"
"Don't need us to be better," Loki whispered.
"Or perfect. They take us in as we are. It's wonderful to have people like that in our lives."
"It really is."
Jane nuzzled into Loki's chest, wrapping her arm around his torso as he did the same, cuddling her to him.
"We're so lucky," Jane whispered to Loki who hummed in agreement.
From behind her, Jane heard Darcy's soft snore, synchronizing with Thor's loud one, and they all fell asleep, huddled together in the divine, green meadow, all worries forgotten.
!
"What do you mean they left?!" Odin asked outraged.
Heimdall nodded grimly. "They left in the dark. Thor himself told me that you gave him permission."
Frigga looked at Odin accusingly.
"I did, but I didn't expect him to leave so quietly," Odin defended himself.
"This is so unlike Thor. That Darcy," Frigga spat, "it's all her doing! Those mortal women snuck around their castle as if they were always hiding something. Made me so uncomfortably. Loki was always this way, lurking in the shadows, preferring quiet to noise. But Thor? He loves celebration. Why would he depart like a thief in the night that has something to hide? Oh that Darcy, that witch, she has changed my son. It is not right. Once he returns, we must fix him All-Father."
Odin nodded in agreement. "The king of Asgard cannot be a shy soul. Asgard needs a fierce lion, not a wise old owl."
Heimdall frowned at the royal couple. "But my King, Thor has become rather wise. Isn't that applaudable?"
Odin scoffed. "Of course, but our kingdom doesn't need a savant Heimdall. A leader needs to be boisterous, uplifting. Look at your current King for instance. I am diplomatic, but not I'm firm. Thor has become gentle even with nature. Such feminine traits of kindness and politeness are simply not fit."
Frigga looked at Odin worriedly.
"Are you implying Thor is not no longer fit for the throne?" Heimdall asked.
"I'm afraid if he doesn't change then we will have to delay the commemoration. If the new king will be as much of an old soul as the current one then I should go on with my rule until a new option presents itself. I'm afraid after Thor's recent actions; it is proven that for now, there is no urgency for him to claim the throne. Heimdall, have one of your men send Thor the message to prolong his vacation for as long as he wishes. He will not be king anytime soon. I will need you to make sure he does not leave Alfheim anytime soon. He cannot go back to Midgard. I cannot fathom what he'll turn into if he spends a moment longer at that lowly realm."
Frigga cursed Darcy once more.
A/N: I ended up looking at Elvish translations for names on a website. The name Eve means life and it's Elvish translation was Cuilwen. Beriander means the defender of all men and is from the name Alexander. Beriander will be back in the next chapters. Thank you for all your suggestions in terms of elves' names.
When I first started writing this story a month ago, I had a very bubbling need to write and was putting up 3 to 4 updates every day. Currently, I still feel just as enthusiastic, but now that the novelty of the characters is gone, I feel a bit pressured to carry out the story in a nonsensical manner so it has a rise and fall and it ends well. But if I were to be honest, these characters have become so defined and special that I can't imagine how it'll end. I just want them to do everything.
My concern is that you all will be bored. I had this same concern four chapters ago. Will I drag this too long to the point that it becomes inauthentic and tedious? I truly hope not. I just am struggling to figure out how I want to shape my story which is why there are gaps with the updating. I thought I should explain my thought process since there are a few people who are very invested in this story as readers and I don't want to disappoint anyone.
Anyways, thank you to EABrandon (did you just pull a Gollum), Princess PrettyPants (glad you get the characters so well), odinsdatter9 (I couldn't bring myself to steal from Shakespeare ;) but thank you for the wonderful idea), JPElles (you are an encyclopedia when it comes to Norse mythology, aren't you?), the brilliant JigokuShoujosRevenge, and the awesome megumisakura, also the amazing Anvenx for your words and support.
Thank you everyone for reading and stay tuned :)