A CRAWK rang through the silent air, pulling Maddy from her day-dreams. A jet-black crow with a single white feather on top of its head landed to her right as it crawked again.
"Hey Munin." She said. Much like Odin, she was fond of the clever crows, unlike Loki who -since the two had eaten a plate of his favourite jam tarts last Friday- would rather see them on the dinner table for supper. Munin pecked at something tied to her leg, flapping her wings in frustration. Maddy untied what was a small scroll from the crow's leg.
"What is it?" asked Loki, curiously peering over her left shoulder. Maddy straightened the rough parchment with the palm of her hand. It read: "SiFs HoUsE. NoOn. UrGeNt."
"We have to meet at Sif's house." she said. When Loki made no attempt at moving, she sighed, "All of us!"

Loki and Maddy raced to Sif and Thor's "Midgard" house. Maddy was fast, but the Trickster was faster. His ginger mess of hair stuck to his forehead with and his emerald green eyes shone with the prospect of winning. He gave Maddy a quick glance, "I'm so gonna win." May frowned as she narrowly missed stumbling over a wooden crate. At last the house was in sight. Loki urged his tired feet onwards, with a hunger for victory in his eyes. Maddy stepped on her toes to try to get faster. 10 metres. 5 metres. They were neck and neck. Suddenly the Trickster jerked in front of Maddy. He slammed his hand onto the stone wall to confirm his little victory.
"Bad luck Maddy." He gave a childish grin.
Maddy's cheeks were flushed red, "Uh huh... yeah... Gimme one minute." She took several deep breaths before resuming, "tell me why I agreed to race you?"
"Because," Loki grinned, "I'm extremely persuasive."
Maddy sighed, wiping the beads of sweat from her brow. She gestured to the front door, "shall we?"

In the snug little cottage there seemed an air of tension. Skadi, Frey, Thor and Heimdall were brooding over a collection of maps, Odin was sitting in his usual space a desk and Freyja and Idunn see at beside either silently.
"Maddy!" Odin called in a pleased tone, "Loki." He said a tone colder. He was in his original aspect, the one May had grown up seeing, yet Perth's rune still some on his arm."let's get straight to the point. I need two-maybe three- people to go sort out a rift to Dream that opened up in Worlds End, it'll be dangerous. Any volunteers?"
Maddy's eyes widened at the thought of an adventure, "I'll go!" Her father Thor shifted uncomfortably at the idea of having her getting into danger but Odin showed no emotion.
"If Maddy's going then I am too." Loki volunteered, "I need time away from all this... domestic stuff" His comment roused a few angry murmurs and hostile looks.
"Fine, you leave on the morrow. Dismissed." Odin said calmly, but there seemed something off about him. Thor tried to protest but was silenced, "I SAID DISMISSED!" Everyone got up to leave, "Not you Loki." Loki stood in the corner like a guilty school boy, had bowed and arms crossed.

Maddy lingered on awhile until the others had all gone, then pressed her ear against the wooden door. It was carved with runes, making it hard to hear, but not impossible. She could hear the two's conversation:
"You can't do this, you're married" Odin said.
"We are divorced, plus as I recall, wasn't it a forced wedding?" Loki hissed. There was some talking to quiet to hear, but the volume quickly rose again.
"WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE THIS UP?!" Odin bellowed.
"BECAUSE I LOVE HER!" Loki had screamed, Maddy could almost hear his pain. Whoever this girl was, she thought, really mattered to the Trickster.
"You love no-one but yourself." Odin growled. The next words were muffled but she caught Odin saying something about staying away and consequences.
"Damn you all. The Easir and the Vanir!" Loki screamed, followed by the request that Odin should do something biologically impossible with himself. There was the loud crash of a porcelain vase and heavy footsteps in Maddy's direction. She barely had leaped out of the way when burst open, revealing a tearful and furious Loki. The door slammed shut behind him as he angrily wiped away the tears, but the anger quickly turned to a look of horror when he saw Maddy's face. "How much did you hear?" He stuttered.