Epilogue

His legs dangled over the arm of his green velvet chair. He thumbed through the yellowed pages of the book in his hand. It was thick and heavy, weighing down on his knees. The words were smudged and at times unreadable but he continued to turn the pages until every book in Asgard was read.

He had lost everything. His magic, Hayden, there was nothing more for him. So, he did what Hayden would have done and turned to the books. There had to be answers among them somewhere despite not knowing the questions that burned a hole in the back of his head.

She had been gone for over a month too long. He craved her touch, to feel her skin against his and to hear her voice in his ear. He missed her. Something he never thought to admit to himself. He refused to acknowledge the dull pain knowing that letting Hayden go-despite his pathetic pleading-was for the best. She deserved more than he could ever offer to give her.

Sighing heavily Loki slammed the book shut and tossed it to the floor. He dug his knuckles into his eye, rubbing until he saw white lights flash with every blink. Perhaps if he went blind he could see her more clearly.

Licking his lips he stood tall, deciding it was time to visit Heimdall. Loki knew the gatekeeper would not allow him passage but he saw and knew all. He had to know if she was alright, that his broken promise to come to her when she needed him was still intact for now.

Striding down the halls of the castle he stopped himself at the empty guest bedroom that once were her chambers. He stepped inside, staring at the bed that remained untouched since she left. The dull pain that affected him every so often fluttered against his chest as he skimmed his long fingers along the wooden bedside table.

He curled his hand into a fist, swallowing hard. He should have said goodbye to her again. He should have been waiting at The Bifrost for her. Instead he left things in the hallway, lingering his kisses as she reluctantly let her fingers slide from his.

Loki rubbed his forehead, closing his eyes. He didn't even tell her. An exhale hissed between his teeth like the snake that he was. Hayden knew though, deep down she believed that he did. But, that couldn't possibly enough. He should have been standing on the Bifrost, kissing her goodbye as he finally told her the truth.

He cocked a smile, rapping his knuckles against the wooden bedside table. Loki licked at his dry lips. He couldn't even say the truth to himself. He really was a beast.

"I thought I might find you in here." Loki turned on his heel, eyes widened in surprise at his moth-at Lady Frigga standing in the doorway. She took a step forward, her golden gown rustled together. "I went to your chambers," she told him, tilting her head with a small smile, "but when you where not there I thought to look here next."

Loki swooped his arms low, cocking his head to the side. "And what an excellent conjecture for here I am. "

Lady Frigga shook her head, her smile remained. "Loki, it is more than alright to miss her." He teased his chin forward, raising his brows high. "She was important to you, my son. And, when you lose something that meant everything to you it's alright to miss it."

"Lady Frigga," he started, pausing at the hard stare she gave him in response. He swallowed slowly, licking his lips before continuing, "the girl went back to Midgard. It is not as though she fled to Valhalla like the All-Father did."

"That girl saved you in ways you will never begin to understand," she snapped, gathering her skirts and striding to him continued, "and your father did not flee to Valhalla. He fought to protect our people, to protect his sons, to protect ALL of his sons."

"Stop that!" Loki yelled, pinching his face together. "Stop calling him that."

"He was and is your father Loki. He raised you from when you were an abandoned infant. Odin gave you a home, he gave you a family. He gave you love, Loki, love. Do not say that Odin was not your father."

Loki shook his head, chuckling to himself. "No, no, no. He gave me nothing but what it was to feel like when someone was disappointed in you." He enclosed the space between himself and Lady Frigg, hovering over her.

"He gave you love and believed in you despite all the wrongs you've done," she retorted, poking at his chest. "Just as a beautiful young woman has and you sit there and deny that you miss her."

Loki shook his head, pulling his shoulders upward, "Why is this a conversation between us?"

"Because it is my duty as a mother to tell you when you're being a mewling quim. And, Loki," she arched her brows high, "you are."

Loki tilted his head, rendered speechless. She flung her hands into the air and continued, "you barely leave your chambers, Loki. When you do it's to go the library or" she waved her arm around the room, "you come in here."

Loki released his breath, barely registering that he had been holding it. "I only just-" his words were shaky and his chest trembled as he inhaled. He dragged his gaze to Lady Frigga's, her features softened. "I never took the opportunity to tell her..." he flinched his brows, "both of them, Hayden and Odin, that I-" his words died on a heavy exhale.

"You can still redeem what has been broken with Hayden, and you know Loki, I know that you do, that Odin always loved you," she whispered, pulling her face into a tight smile.

Loki swallowed, his head a jumbled mess. "I am not allowed on Midgard, they call me a war criminal," he chuckled at the phrase, then added, "and my magic is all but obsolete."

To his surprise, Lady Frigga stepped forward, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. She squeezed tightly, releasing him with a peck to his cheek. A kind smile flickered on her lips, "I am certain you can think of something. I never underestimate you." With a small shrug, she turned to leave.

"Thank you," he called out just as she stepped out the door.

Lady Frigga looked at Loki from behind her shoulder. "What are mothers for?" she coo'd, pursing her lips into a tight smile.

He watched her turn the corner, listening to her footfalls until they faded into emptiness. Swallowing, Loki titled his head back and exhaled, surprised that there was no smoke blowing out. He could deny it all he wanted but he learned his way with cunning words tied in pretty bows from Lady Frigga herself.

Loki straightened the collar of his tunic and left the guest room behind. He strode through the hallways, any proof of Karnilla's reign was long gone. Asgard stood tall, refusing to bow.

The walk from the city wall to the Bifrost was a long one and so Loki opted to ride. He ran his fingers along the mare's soft, black mane and patted her thick neck. She knickered in response, leaning her large head against his shoulder. Loki had always enjoyed horses, their loyalty and fierceness resonanced within him. Hayden's dislike for the creatures made him curious, for he saw nothing but magnificence.

Riding was a much more leisurely option than walking would have been. The crisp afternoon air blew his hair off the back of his neck, the strands tugged playfully behind his ears. Loki inhaled deeply, watching the horses hooves slam against the colored brick, chasing the stream of light underneath to the spinning dome before them. The Bifrost loomed above him, making Loki feel inconsequential compared to its grandeur. Inside stood Heimdall, clad in golden armor with his golden gaze facing away from the entrance.

Loki leapt off the mare's back, leaving her to run back to Asgard. He walked inside, purposefully letting each footfall echo through the dome. Once he stood before Heimdall Loki clasped his hands behind his back, spinning on his heel to stare at the blank wall that Heimdall was gazing at.

"How does she fare?" he asked.

Heimdall blinked though his stare fixated on the empty space before him. "She lives," he gruffily replied.

Loki chose to ignore the gatekeeper's vague remark. "Has she gone back home to be with her family?"

"No," he answered, monotone.

His eyebrows crinkled at that piece of information. Hayden had told him she planned to go back to California to be with her family and that she would get a teaching job there. He cocked his head to the side, then directly asked, "where in Midgard is she at?"

"The jungle," replied Heimdall, his voice lighter than before.

Loki felt the color leave his face. "That is absurd. Hayden would never go to a jungle."

"She resides in New York," Heimdall corrected, turning to face Loki. "She is safe."

Loki nodded, glancing to the empty wall. He desperately wished to see her one last time. Deep down Loki knew it was for the best. Hayden now had the chance to move on and find someone that wouldn't complicate her life. She could love the quiet life she wanted, and quiet frankly deserved.

But as Loki had told her love was often selfish.

Heimdall returned his gaze to the wall. "Only I control the Bifrost and without your magic you will never be able to convince me to open the gate to you."

Loki smirked. Oh, he so loved a challenge. "You still are holding that grudge? I have apologized for it years ago."

Heimdall grunted. "No you have not."

Loki's brows knitted together. "You are right, that did not sound like something I would do."

The gatekeeper glanced to the god of mischief, a thick dark brow rose into the golden helm of his armor. "You will never see her again."

He tossed his head and laughed, slipping his hands behind his back as he strode toward the exit of the Bifrost. "Never underestimate me," he warned, slipping a large smile into place.

I stood in a plain room, my hand wrapped tightly around one another. It wasn't long before I was accompanied by Coulson and Fury. I greeted them both with a firm smile, earning a nod from Fury and a small flick of the lips from Coulson. With a long sweep of his hand Fury gestured for me to sit on the white sofa I once sat on barely half a year ago. It felt so much longer. The girl who sat on that couch nervous and scared was no longer the same girl who politely refused and remained standing.

"Thor told us about what went down with you in Asgard. Something about a witch with a vendetta," Fury began, placing his gloved hands behind his back. "It seems you helped save Asgard."

"I wouldn't exactly," I hesitated, then cleared my throat slowly nodding, "my knowledge in Norse Mythology was able to be of use to them."

Fury eyed me up and down, his face unreadable. "Hayden Walker-"

"Waltham," corrected Coulson from the corners of his mouth.

"Hayden Waltham," he snapped, and Coulson made a face, "I would like to extend an invitation for you to stay at S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Oh," I breathed.

To be honest, when Coulson called me in I thought they had more questions regarding Loki or Karnilla or Asgard. The first two weeks back on Earth were spent in confinement where I was barraged with so many questions that I was afraid my head would cave in. Eventually they were convinced I was a harmless little fly and ditched me off at my home in New York letting me know that Fury would contact me when they figured out what do with me.

Most of my time was spent fretting over what would happen. A lot of the scenarios I imagined ended with me on a deserted island. When I wasn't plotting how to escape a remote isle I was at my computer attempting to apply at various teaching positions while ending up distracted and reading all I could about Loki, the God of Mischief.

All my life I had been reading stories about him, and the mythology he revolved around but they had only been stories then. There weren't many redeeming tales about Loki, despite the good I knew was inside him. In most of the stories he was portrayed as the evil guy. Sure, Loki was a dick to be a dick but I knew that he wasn't all bad. And, it only pained me more to know I would most likely never see him again.

Tugging at the necklace that dangled at my throat I looked to Fury with crinkled brows. "You want me to stay with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Even though the only reason I am here is because of Karnilla?"

Coulson cleared his throat. "While your initiation into S.H.I.E.L.D. is less than desirable, you have proven your value here."

Fury produced a manila folder from within the confinements of his leather jacket. He handed it to me. I looked at the yellow package in my hand, staring at the silhouette of a giant eagle head stamped on the front. Flipping it over were the words "Top Secret" in large, red letters.

My fingers hesitated above the flap. I looked up to Coulson, then Fury. The Director nodded. "Only open the package should you decide to join."

I nodded, understanding the implications despite the burning curiosity. Before I could respond Fury turned sharply on his heel. The door slid open in front of him. He looked over his shoulder, "take care Agent Waltham," he ordered, the door sighing as it closed.

Coulson turned to me, a faint glimmer shined in his kind gaze. The words spilled out before I could stop them. "I am so very sorry for the way I attacked you in that room," I blurted, hugging the folder to my chest. "I honestly didn't even know I could move like that."

Agent Coulson shook his balding head, crinkles formed around his eyes. "No need, you have apologized enough." He offered me a small smile and continued, "we could use someone like you around here."

"Th-thank you," I stuttered, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I have to think about this offer though."

"Of course," he responded immediately, rocking back and forth on the heels of his shoes. "I've heard you were applying for teaching positions. We could give you a referral if you would like."

"I appreciate it but I think I'll be okay," I smiled. Coulson returned the gesture, holding out his hand. I placed my palm in his, gripping tightly around his fingers. "Thank you Agent Coulson.

"Call me, Phil," he replied, slipping on a pair of sunglasses from the pocket of his suit jacket. "I have an appointment with a new consultant that keeps hacking into our servers."

"Uh, isn't that-"

"Dangerous? Nah," Coulson shrugged, gesturing toward the door. I thanked him with a small nod, following him out of the room. "She barely scratched the surface but I'm drawn to the ones that stick out in a crowd of faces. They're usually the ones to be reckoned with."

Coulson halted just before the elevators. "Take care, Hayden," he smiled, continuing down the hallway. I watched him leave, sighing heavily as I waited for the elevator.

The door dinged, and slid open. Without looking I entered slamming into someone else. The folder in my hand slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor. I bent down, reaching to grab for it when the person I had barged into snatched it off the ground first.

I quickly rose to my feet, standing as tall as I could, adjusting the bottom of my skirt. My eyes scanned his leather jacket at the name tag that hung from his pocket. "Thank you," I told him looking up from his name to his brooding expression," Agent Ward. I'm sorry for running into you, I wasn't really paying attention."

He handed me the manila folder, and his hard, burnet gaze glazed over me. "It's fine," he muttered, moving out of my way, "are you Agent Waltham?"

I looked over my shoulder, tucking my hair behind my ears. "Y-yes."

"You don't look like any S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Though," he scoffed, folding his arms across his burly chest, "I guess their standards have lowered exponentially."

I hugged the folder to my chest, furrowing my brows together. "I'll have you know that I helped save Asgard which in the long run meant saving Earth," I told him. He didn't need to know the details. "And, what have you done recently Agent Ward?"

He cocked a smile, walking backwards, "it's nice to know we'll have someone on the team who knows what it's like to be on the field."

I nodded, slowly crinkling my brows together as his words sank in. "Wait? Team?" Agent Ward shrugged, turning the corner without another word. I stared after him, the folder in my grasp grew suddenly heavy.

"Are you going to actually use this elevator?" asked a shrill voice from behind me. "Or are you just going to stand there all day?" I spun around at a plump woman, pointing her briefcase toward the open door.

"Oh, sorry," I apologized, allowing her to step inside, following behind her. I leaned against the railing, sighing as the doors rattled shut.

I spent my entire evening staring at the unopened envelope. The edges were worn with my constant fidgeting. I grasped for the folder, inhaling deeply only to set it down on the kitchen table again.

It was a big commitment if I opened it. Opening it meant no turning back. I would have to continue lying to my family, and my visits with my mother would be few and far in between. It meant working for something I knew nothing about, something that I wasn't certain I would want to be a part of.

But, if I opened it I would be forcing myself to continue down the path I was already treading down. It would be risky and at times very dangerous, and I would be doing things I never dreamed possible. And, maybe one of my missions would lead me to Loki. It was a foolish thought, but it was more likely to happen if I were not to take the job. Besides, it wasn't about the chance to see Loki again. It was the chance to continue to learn what I was actually capable of, a chance to fight for something outside of my books.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the air rush through my lungs. My fingers trembled as they slid along the envelope's flap. It ripped open, slicing through the silence. The yellow strip floated to the table as I peered in at the thick contents inside.

Swallowing hard I concentrated on not dropping the folder as my sweaty palms reached inside. My chest felt like it was going to explode. I pulled out the papers, staring at the label on front.

My name was scrawled on the top of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo. I tried to swallow again but my throat was dry, my tongue thick in my mouth. The packet felt heavy in my hands as I flipped the front page over and began reading.

Just as I reached the final page a knock sounded at my door. My head was spinning, reeling with information that I didn't even know what do with. Trying not to stumble I walked to the front door not at all surprised to see Agent Coulson's smiling face at the door. Behind him stood Agent Ward and a short woman with dark hair, both dressed in S.H.I.E.L.D. uniforms. They greeted me with stoic smiles.

Coulson rolled on his heels and extended his hand forward, awkwardly putting it back at his side when I didn't move. He cleared his throat and widened his grin, "we're pleased to have you join the team Agent Waltham."

He stepped inside, the other two agents followed promptly behind. Agent Ward cocked his head to the side, "welcome to the team Agent Waltham." The woman beside him remained silent, her face pinched together.

I inhaled sharply, taking in the scene before me. My head still spun as I closed the door with my back firmly pressed against the cool wood. Coulson glanced around my small living room, bouncing his gaze onto me. His eyes crinkled as he pulled out a photo of a man dressed in black armor.

I took the photo from him with trembling hands, swallowing hard at what I had gotten myself into. Coulson clasped his hands firmly together, quietly asking, "what do you know about Arthurian legends?"