NOTE - Thanks again to my stellar group of reviewers: Moriarty-assbutt, sidereus-lyric, thephoenixandthedragon4ever, silentspace, Esha Napoleon, and Lily. Silentspace - you gave me an excellent point to keep in mind, and I send out many thanks for your thoughts. Lily - you are too sweet. Lots of hugs for you all!


13. Quicksilver


Slowly the days fell into a routine. Natasha spent her afternoons in bouts of sword fighting and armour training with Sif and her warrior companions; as soon as she was finished Loki met her at the stables to teach her how to ride. When she had a few spare hours she darted to the library in his rooms to study Old Norse or the history and lore of Asgard. If there was no banquet or dance in the large hall she ate with the prince in their dining room, and after they dined he read aloud to her or they played Hnefatafl on the tiny balcony. As the moons rose in the starry sky, he bore her to the large bed, making love to her again and again until they fell asleep with their legs tangled amid the covers.

Loki's virility, so legendary in folklore, proved to be even more sensitive in real life. If she passed him in the arched hallways of the palace or if her hand brushed his under the table, if their eyes met across a dance floor or if she made him laugh, instantly a tender, longing expression filled his eyes. The next thing she knew, Loki would take her to their tiny suite of rooms for long, drugged hours of deliciously sensual lovemaking, complete with his constant flow of dangerous charm and infectious laughter.

Jane returned to Asgard with Thor at her side, both luminous with happiness. A huge party was thrown in their honour, and during the bards' lays and speeches Loki's fingers kept roaming Natasha's thighs, searching for hidden spots only he knew. When the company went in to dance a loud Hringr, he flirted with her so outrageously that one scandalized mama bore her daughters away with a furious huff.

Collapsing with laughter, Loki pulled Natasha into a nearby solarium for a hearty kissing. After making each other breathless with their tongues and teeth, he had his way with her behind an imposing column, lifting her skirts with impetuous hands to discover the saucy stockings and garters she had worn for his eyes alone.

When they returned to the room they shared he slowly stripped her of her gown, poured perfumed oil on her back, and massaged her muscles until she was purring. After a few more rounds of what he called 'loveplay' the oil in the bottle was nearly gone.

In the morning, Natasha awoke with a wonderfully secure, warm feeling. She lay in Loki's arms, eyes still closed, luxuriating next to his skin. There were several things she wanted to do that day: more practice with Sif, another lesson on horseback, and there was an interesting manuscript on runic magic she and Loki had found inside a hidden room of the palace. It lay on the desk in their bedroom, tempting her to come and read it.

She knew, however, as soon as she moved Loki would wake and demand kisses and a thorough round of lovemaking before they went anywhere. Perhaps she could sneak off and start in on the manuscript, or at least get bathed and dressed?

Cautiously she fluttered one eyelid to see if Loki still slept. To her dismay, he was already awake with one eye peering back into hers.

Her gruff chuckle burst from her throat. "Loki! It's too bad of you. I was hoping I could…"

Without waiting to hear the rest, Loki jumped up and seated himself on top of her. Instantly he started to tickle her sides and her neck mercilessly. She tried to swat him away, but he evaded her hands, and finally her laugh rang out – a true belly laugh, echoing throughout the room.

His head tossed back with an answering shout; quickly he was so eclipsed he fell off her among the pillows. Shaking with mirth, they lay side by side, trying to speak and only able to snort.

"You devil!" Natasha wiped her eyes and chuckled again. "I can't remember the last time I laughed like that – if I ever did."

He rolled over and lazily put his arm around her waist with a wicked light in his eyes. "I love the sound of you losing all control. It makes me laugh as well."

"Everything makes you laugh. Do you remember the shocked face on that matron after dinner last night when you kept licking me and biting my neck? I thought you were going to fall down the stairs of the dais."

That set him off again; the bed shook as his eyes closed and he gave way to another long outburst, pillowed on her stomach. It consumed him so thoroughly Natasha couldn't help joining in.

"Seriously, though," she said at last, catching her breath once more. "Were you aware the instant I woke up?"

"Of course, darling." Loki's dimples popped out as he regarded her. "Were you trying to escape me?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I was. I had a full day planned, but I knew if you awoke you wouldn't let me out of our room."

The deviltry in his face increased. "I see. Very well, in that case I propose a bargain. I will promise to not make love to you all day today, not until after we dine tonight and the moons rise."

"Really!" Natasha sat up, astonished. "Are you quite certain? That's a long time for you, remember."

"Quite certain. Of course," he added in a silken undertone, "I also promise to make the wait as difficult for you as possible."

"Aha! I see it all now. Very well, I accept – although I also claim the right to make things as difficult for you as they are for me."

Warily they eyed each other across the bed. She saw how the pulse beat under his skin; she knew he noticed her arousal as well. "I'm off to take a bath," she announced, sliding out of the sheets and flaunting her naked backside.

He sprang off the pillows and joined her by the huge tub already filled with steaming bubbles. "What a coincidence – I was about to take one as well. In we go - you first, darling – allow me to hand you into the water."

Natasha gave him a come-hither look. "Oops! Dropped the soap!"

"Would you like another towel, my love?" He got out and stretched one arm into a high cupboard, making certain she saw every inch of his long frame before climbing back into the water.

"Thank you. And may I scrub your shoulders for you, Mischief? Just lean back, like so – these will make good pillows for your head…"


The torture continued during breakfast. "These grapes are particularly delicious this morning," Natasha sighed, dangling them over her open mouth.

"Do you think so? I much prefer the figs. You split them thus and eat out the insides – what does it remind me of?" Loki licked his lips and gave her a wink.

"Sorry, didn't hear you. I'm too busy studying my scrolls." Natasha frowned studiously as she leaned over the treatise on runes, making certain her dress neckline drooped so he could get a good view down her front.

"Ooh, that does sound interesting. Allow me to see." He strode the length of the table to bend over her and blow softly into her ear and neck.

She had to concede round one.


Natasha began to seriously regret the entire affair during her sword-fighting lesson. Loki hovered near the jousting grounds to watch her every move. As she fought and drilled under Sif's iron-fisted tutelage he made it clear he was admiring her derriere and legs throughout, earning them both several sharp warnings from the warrior maiden. Once the class was complete, he insisted on helping her change out of her armour and into the new tightly fitted riding dress he presented to her, wrapped up in a huge box.

As he did up the buttons down her back, his lips found a spot at the side of her neck she could never resist. With an exclamation, she moved away from him, and his eyes creased in a villainous smile. "Ready to mount your horse?" he drawled.

"I am. Ready to help me mount?"

"I cannot wait," he breathed.

As they strolled to the stables, his hand hovered on her back in a protective gesture. Natasha's horse, a black mare named Annika, started a long whinny when she approached. With a caress on the horse's neck, Natasha fed Annika slices of apple from her gloved hands before Loki handed her up into the saddle, taking care his hands lingered on her hips and thighs.

Once mounted, she followed Sleipnir out into a trot. Loki rose and fell in the saddle, and as he rolled his eyes back at her she knew he was fully aware of the rhythm he mimicked on the horse's back.

Natasha bit her lip and squeezed her knees around Annika's sides. At length she passed Loki to smartly take a small hedge. As she stood in the saddle to complete the jump, she knew he could see her figure admirably; sure enough, he responded with a long whistle. "Forgo the race, darling," he shouted. "I already have the prize."

She tossed her head back and laughed, amazed at how easy it was. For so long she had been frozen, pent-up – unable to feel anything. In Asgard she had discovered life was for the taking, and she was going to enjoy it to the last grain before her sand slipped through the hourglass.

Loki drew up, pointing to a small copse of trees. "Let us stop here for a measure," he offered, and she nodded. Once the horses were settled, he helped her down from her saddle and held her by her waist. "I thought we could talk for a bit under the trees," he added.

"Yes, very well. I wanted to ask you about those runes in any case. Are there really so many meanings? And what do they depend on? For example, Othala can mean house or slavery both, so what makes the difference?"

He spread his coat and helped her to sit on it before joining her. "Reversal, most importantly. Merkstave runes are flipped to the opposing side, representing the dark half of the original. Also vital is the situation where the rune is used, although there an experienced enchanter can feel a certain order to the magic. It is in the air, like the expectation of a thunderstorm."

"That makes sense, although I'll need you to show me further with the other runes. And by the way, the scroll we found is damaged. I hoped you might help me repair and rewrite it."

"Yes, indeed!" His eyes lit with fascination. "I would truly enjoy such a task."

"I also thought we could present it to the queen, once it is complete."

"I suppose she would be wildly happy if we did so." Idly he traced the outline of her lips with one finger, and she edged away.

"You said we were going to talk, Loki."

"But I never promised not to kiss you. Just because I will not lie with you while the sun is overhead does not mean our lips must expire of loneliness. And all beings speak in tongues, is that not so? I wish to speak with you in a different language, one of our very own."

"Oh, tongues. I see what you did there." She sighed as his arm tightened around her shoulders to draw her close to him. "Very well – mmm."

"Mmmmmm," he echoed, pausing the kiss. "Yes, that will do very well. Let us stay here for a while and converse thus."


The ride home was a quiet one. Although they had done nothing more than kiss for hours, Natasha felt utterly peaceful as though she had nothing left to fear. Their horses picked up on the mood and slowed to a walk; as the mare and Sleipnir trod the long, tree-lined avenue leading to the castle, Loki reached for her hand so they could go side by side.

While they dressed for dinner and went to the table, the calm continued. Natasha knew they were in the eye of the hurricane together; the daylong caresses and flirtations would certainly be capped with fierce lovemaking later. Loki's glittering eyes as he handed her into her chair, the mere brush of his fingers lingering on her shoulder, his head dipping just too close to hers as she asked him more about the runic scroll, all promised a wild end to such a peaceful day.

Even when All-Father Odin approached Loki to complement him on some cloak or some such thing, the god of mischief did not reply with his usual sneers and sarcasm. Instead he smiled, laughed at something Odin said, and turned to Natasha to explain the origin of Odin's dragon-skin cloak. Apparently he and Thor had gone hunting together during her stay in Midgard and slain the young dragon together; the brothers had ordered the hide tailored into a cloak as a gift for the All-Father.

Natasha admired the long cape, its glittering folds and soft texture. Privately she thought it was a bit much, rather like something a flashy pianist would wear in the early 1950's, but Odin was obviously satisfied with it.

And instead of rushing her away from the dance after the banquet, Loki insisted they stay with the company. Thor claimed her hand for a wild measure of gjalfrmarr, a fast dance based on the movements of the sea and tides. With a jolt of surprise, she saw Jane accept Loki's hand to be led onto the floor; the two pairs met in the center, switched places, swirled and stomped, shouting with the rest of the company in time to the music. They ended in a welter of applause, and the two brothers shared a grin. Privately Natasha considered Loki's face; she had never seen him so relaxed.

"I asked Jane if she could join us in the rune scrolls project, darling," Loki said as he led her to the side of the room.

"Would you mind, Natasha?" Jane added hastily. "I'd love to see what you found – runes are filled with untapped powers, I think – at least, they are here in Asgard. I want to discover what combination of surrounding natural energy and what Thor calls magic combines to produce those powers."

"By all means!" Natasha clasped Jane's hand enthusiastically. "We could really use your help. Thor, will you join us as well?"

"I may have to be somewhere else that day…" Thor said cautiously.

"But we didn't tell you a day yet!" Jane exclaimed.

Loki had already started to chuckle. "Would it help if we offer heart of bilgesnipe as a reward?"

"Or mead?" Natasha added. "Lots and lots of mead?"

"Ah!" Thor's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Now you strike interest into my heart."


As the crowd thinned, Loki slipped his arm around Natasha's waist. "Now," he growled in her ear.

She just nodded, her mouth dry. The room whirled around them and resolved into their shared bedroom. Slowly, their eyes on each other, Natasha and Loki undressed and slid under the sheets. Like two drops of quicksilver sliding into one, she felt his arms possess her, his lips press onto hers. Her body shook with desire; he trembled next to her. "This was a golden day, one I will remember forever," she whispered as he bit her neck and glided his length into her secret warmth.

"You are my treasure," Loki exclaimed. Moving on top of her, he gazed intently into her eyes. His black hair fell around her face like a tent, making a dark, hidden room just for the two of them. "The colour in my world, my light, my song. I cannot go on without you at my side. Join your life with mine, darling. Marry me, Natasha."