The water was a sheet of transparency, a coat of wet just barely allowing visual access to the horrors beyond.
"Great," murmured Jane. "Couldn't we get any closer?"
"No, Jane. This is as far as the BiFrost will take us. It's quite far, wouldn't you say, Fandrall?"
Fandrall nodded.
"But…we need to get across the garden…" she protested. "It's huge…it'll be days…"
"Nonsense," replied the King. "Cousins of Hofvarpnir roam just beyond. Harness them, and we shall arrive in an hour or so."
"Hofvarpnir? That pegasus-like creature?" Jane asked.
"Yes. All will be well, Jane. Fear not."
Jane nodded, knowing not how on earth they would reign in a pegasus, nor how they would navigate the muck of the ring in front of them without the benefit of invisibility.
They made their way through the icy water, Jane now somewhat used to it, and reflecting on how funny it was that she had become used to one of Hel's horrors.
And when they emerged, the soft groans once more resonated in her ears. She stopped abruptly to stave off a tumble, and she grabbed for Thor. He laughed, and took her elbow.
"Let's go, then Lady. It's quite a trek to the other side."
"I know," she said.
The trio made their way, the muck just as disgustingly thick, the mist of rain just as relentless, and Jane just as worried as ever. She thought about the gem hanging concealed at her breast. Perhaps she should hold it…perhaps Loki might feel her presence…
No. She should wait. Wait until they get to the garden. Perhaps she could gain his attention and he could find them…
How the hell were they going to find him? The garden was huge. He could be anywhere.
She wouldn't think on it. She would just trust that he was ok. He had to be ok.
She trudged through, ignoring the state of her person, instead ruminating on the state of Loki…he could be hurt. He could be hidden away somewhere…he could be searching for her in the garden…he could be already at the palace and something went wrong…
That, Jane thought, was the most likely scenario. Thor believed that as well, which is why they would go there first. Iounn was a vindictive, evil goddess, and she had it out for Loki. She had many creatures at her disposal, many tortures to inflict. Jane shuddered. Torture…the snake…he had fallen victim to that horror once before…and Iounn had the snake…in the garden…just like Eden…
She stopped herself. Her head snapped up.
"We are pretty far…" she observed.
"Hush, Lady," Fandrall began. "They will hear you…they've already spotted us…"
Jane looked behind her, and sure enough, a few of the draugar appeared to have spotted them.
Thor kept on walking. "As long as Níðhöggr doesn't notice us, we can fend off a few of these mindless creatures."
At that moment, Fandrall tripped, distracted by the mention of Níðhöggr, and slipped on the grimy floor. He was close enough to the edge of the precipice to slip into the lip of the pit. A draugar claimed his ankle, as it had begun its climb out of the abyss.
"Grab him, Jane!" yelled Thor, he was too far ahead to get there quickly.
She turned, she fell, she grabbed his hand, pulling hard. Thor was at her side in a moment, and heaved Fandrall from the creature.
"Run!" Thor yelled.
She steadied herself and took off as best she could, it was difficult in the grime.
A scream was heard…and Thor slowed for a small second. He turned, still moving, and saw the rise of Níðhöggr from a fair distance away. Jane observed the look of horror on his visage, and she turned as well.
She instantly wished she hadn't.
It was a grotesque thing. Huge…massive…neither seemed adequate…its thew bloomed from every part of it…and its mouth, gaping, with spears for teeth. Jane beheld no eyes, its mouth was far too large.
She sundered and ran, ran as fast as she could. The three could just see the wall of rain in front of them when the ground shook. Níðhöggr was moving toward them.
Oh my god…Jane's mind pounded. Get to the water…get to the water….
The presence was heavy, its movement must have been formidable, despite its bulk. The three were inches away…the stench suddenly wafted and filled their noses…Jane lunged, gasping for breath, knowing full well that no oxygen would reach her lungs in the rain of ice…but getting out of there was paramount, trumping even breathing.
She dove into the frigid wall.
The three ended up on the other side, into the vast Eden. They collapsed, having barely escaped the monster.
Jane grabbed some grass in worship…and rolled onto her back, still desperate for air.
Thor sat up, and took a flask of water from his satchel. He handed it round, and smiled. "Well, that wasn't so bad."
Jane laughed sarcastically. "Where's that pegasus thingy?" She looked around.
"We need to seek it out…unless Iounn sends something for us…"
"What do you mean?"
Thor got up. "She often sends creatures to obtain things, persons for her."
Jane got up now. "So that bird thing was hers? The one that took me?"
"Probably…though I can't be certain."
"That's where Loki is. He knew she had sent it…he knew…and he went there after me…"
Jane began to walk away. If they weren't taken in a few minutes, then she believed that Loki and Iounn had fought, and Iounn had lost…if they were brought to the palace, then Loki was in trouble.
She made her way to the expanse of the meadow rolling down into a ravine that boasted a stream, dotted with trees on its banks. She would touch the gem now…if nothing else, it would tell him that she was here. Jane pulled out the necklace, held it in her palm, and squeezed…
As if he had been hit on the head, as if he were concussed, tiny specks of light dotted the inside of his eyelids.
It was dull at first, but then…warmth descended on him…magic filled his mind…his head slowly rose from its hanging state. He breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. The serpent was above him, apparently asleep. Iounn was on the floor, unconscious…
Iounn…serpent…things began making sense…they hadn't for some time. The light flashed in front of him once more…violet…
He knew that color…he knew that light…and the heat from it swelled inside of him, behaving in a regenerative fashion.
Jane.
They were coming for him.
With the goddess still burdened with his spell, he could perhaps prepare somehow. His magic was dulled…to be sure…the manacles were taut, the spell strong holding him there…he couldn't undo them…but perhaps…with Iounn laying unconscious, he could summon enough magic to stun the serpent as he and done before. He was so much wiser, so much more powerful than his first episode with the creature…and even though he was very weak, Jane holding the gem was a tonic to his situation…his strength easing back…and without the goddess commanding the creature or assaulting his mind, he was already feeling marginally better.
Keep holding onto the gem, Jane…
Keep holding the gem, something whispered…she turned abruptly. She scanned the surroundings. Nothing. No flighted creatures, no beasts…no Loki.
She had momentarily dropped the gem in her haste to respond to that voice she had heard, but quickly grabbed it again.
"Thor! Nothing is coming…let's find those things."
They began to walk closer to the stream, for creatures would be taking their drink there.
"Loki said that nothing is friendly here…"
"Loki was right. He usually is," replied Thor.
"So…how will we capture them? if we find them?"
"By force, of course," replied the thunder god.
Fandrall laughed. "It is his way, Lady Jane."
Jane couldn't help but think that this was not the way in which Loki would've done this…but then…she had no idea what he would have done, so she offered no opinion.
"Stay here, Jane," Thor began. "Fandrall and I will ascend yonder hills…they prefer being close to the ceiling of the garden…"
"But.."
"You'll be fine. We shall be back within the hour."
Jane didn't argue. She recalled Sif and she stopped herself.
She sat on the bank of the stream and played with some of the grass…her mind wandered…
She was going to get him. She would make sure that he was fine…and when they get back to Asgard, she would nurse him back to health if he needed it. She would read to him, they would laugh. And if he so desired, they would be married…married. Jane still found it incomprehensible. How bizarre, to think of herself as someone's wife…but not just someone, she reminded herself. She would be Loki's wife…Loki…the man who had killed hundreds of her kind…Loki, who had nearly killed Odin…Loki, the lie smith…
Yes. She knew these things. She understood that he was, for all intents and purposes, a villain. But he was also tender, and passionate, and a poet, funny, and she loved him…more than she could express.
When her mind would dawdle in this type of reverie, she would need to recall that she knew all of this going into it, and that she still chose to continue…she would recall that her life would carry with it a doubt, and that that doubt should be hers and hers alone…not even Loki should be privy to it, for she knew it would hurt him.
Jane looked up into the hills and hoped that they would hurry…
She grabbed hold of her gem and sighed.
Once more the sparks danced in front of his eyes…and their medicine was profound…he was concocting a plan…he could fairly easily keep Iounn asleep…the serpent stunned…the braces would be the challenge. Old magic, powerful magic kept them locked. He eased his way from his knees, and with his hands he cast a spell on the only other two living creatures in the dungeon.
He wondered idly if others would be checking in on their mistress…but he dismissed it. If they did, they were certainly paltry enough for him and his even limited power.
His vigor, though meek enough, was miles from where it had been…and he smiled a cracked smile. He would escape this…and that hope resonated purple in his mind.
Though it cannot be said that days passed with the same circular manner as they did on Earth, or even Asgard, the light did seem to dull at a certain point, though the source of the light remained a secret to Jane.
Come on, Thor…
And just as she thought these thoughts, she heard two men arguing.
"Thor…my King…" Fandrall's voice carried with it a hint of exasperation. "I told you to pivot right…"
"Did you whisper such a thing?"
"No…I…"
"Well, I heard no such instruction…" and they came into view, two winged horses tethered to two harnesses.
Fandrall acquiesced and said no more.
"Ah, Lady," began the King. "Here we are…we would've enjoyed a third, but Fandrall is daft when it comes to such creatures…"
Jane smiled. "You are hurt…both of you." Jane spotted blood on Thor's arm, and Fandrall was limping a touch.
"Yes…we had a scuffle. I told you that there were no friendly creatures here."
Loki did, actually, she thought. "Well…do I just get up on it? Will he allow me?"
"Here…" and Thor guided one of the horses to her, he kept its snout down. He hoisted her to its back, and gave her the makeshift reigns.
"Bareback…" Jane said.
"What's that?"
"No saddle…I've only ever rode with a saddle."
"Ah! Well…it'll be fine," replied the King. "Fandrall, get on behind me…since you are the dolt who lost us a third…"
And the two men clambered on.
Jane's horse was tensing up, she patted his side. "Shhhh…" she comforted him, and he relaxed. "Ready?"
The others nodded.
And the horses began to gallop, faster and faster, the wind sung in her ears…Jane held the reigns in one hand, the gem in the other…
And before she knew it, she was airborne.
How much more pleasant than her previous flight.
Her breath was swift, adjusting to the sudden rush of air. And she looked upwards to the sky, the dome, the ceiling...it defied any words she knew…her head bobbing to the beat of the creature's wings on either side of her. It was violet.
I'm coming, Loki.
She's coming…he knew her name…the poison slowly being overcome by his magic regenerating. The black in his veins, visible to the naked eye, was becoming increasingly dull. He was healing…they would be here…he would be with her…all would be well…
And the goddess was pinned by a force…she was becoming aware…she was stronger than this King's magic…she merely required some time to undo it…and then, when Thor would come, she would insist on her freedom, and make them pay for their neglect.