AN: Whoa thanks, everyone! I am so happy that so many people have fav'ed and added this story to their alerts! I cannot thank you enough! I also want to thank my reviewers! You guys are the best! Here is a new chapter...I think it sets up some plot points for down the line, so please enjoy!
AN #2: I have a dreadful physics test Tuesday, so I apologize in advance if the next update is slightly delayed.
Bloodied rags littered the floor as Eir stared at herself blankly in the mirror. She could feel her heart race as she wiped the blood-Loki's blood- off of her face; a remnant from their last visit. She cringed as she remembered how his cold, bleeding hands felt as they grabbed her cheeks viscously, spitting lies and hate in her face. As she cleaned her face, she could already feel the bruises forming from his attack. They stung, of course, but not as much as his words had.
Looking at her eyes in the mirror, she couldn't help but remember his; they were full of so much pain and hatred towards everyone. Her heart raced as she remembered seeing her frightened reflection in them, and how much pleasure he seemed to gain from her pain. It was a drastic change from the Loki she once knew, and it terrified her. Looking into the eyes of the beast made her wonder if her abilities could be of any use—perhaps the Allfather was right after all.
Touching her bruised cheeks again, she cursed silently at her inability to heal herself. There were many times she wished she was granted the same easy fix she gave everyone else, and this was certainly one of them. Grabbing some make-up on her vanity, she began the delicate process of covering up her marks. The last thing she wanted was Odin to know what his son had done. As much as she hated Loki, she did not want to see his prematurely executed before she could attempt her magic. If Odin saw how she looked now, if he could see the blood on the floor, Loki would most certainly be dead.
"And what is all this mess?"
Dropping the make-up on the floor, Eir was startled as she saw the Queen's reflection in her vanity mirror. Falling to her knees, she gave a humble bow to the woman who stood before her with a questioning glance. Eir could feel her heart beating as the glass vile of makeup rolled across the floor creating a mess with the bloodied cloth. Turning her golden eyes to meet the Queen's blue, she gave an apologetic smile.
"I am sorry, your highness." She apologized, "I didn't hear you enter my chambers."
Eir watched with curiosity as the Queen walked around her room. While not impressive, as a servant bound to the royal family she was granted a small living quarter in the lower parts of the palace as payment for her required duties. On more than one occasion, she was called in the dead of night to respond to the many medical emergencies the royals had. With her in close proximity, none of Asgard had to know of their medical slights or weaknesses.
Turning her attention to the Queen again, she watched as she bent over and picked up one of the bloodied cloths that lined the room. Breathing quicker, Eir could feel her anxiety rise as the Queen walked back over towards her and put her hand under her chin, examining her face. Cringing, she tried to keep a strong composure as Frigga grabbed her bruised cheeks—not yet fully concealed.
"This blood is not your own." She remarked, pushing away some of the make-up on her face, "But this most certainly is the work of my son."
Eir looked towards the ground, avoiding Frigga's glare.
"No, Milady, it was my own doing." She lied, "Upon my return to my chambers, I took a regretful fall. Though terrible, I was fortunate not a soul saw my folly."
Frigga looked down at the girl again. Her eyes glowed with deception, vaguely reminiscent of her son, but she decided to let it pass. Motioning Eir to her vanity again, she watched as the girl hesitantly walked over and sat in the chair. She watched as the young woman's chest rose quickly, in a nervous fashion, as she picked up some jewelry on the wooden structure.
"Lofn told me you had returned," Frigga remarked, looking at a curious golden necklace, "I thought I would help you prepare for the day and inquire about Loki's health."
Eir looked at the queen in her vanity mirror with a puzzled look on her face. Rarely, did she speak with her on matters other than her royal duties as a medic or handmaiden and when she did…well, they were never pleasant conversations. Taking a deep breath, she watched as the queen grabbed the strings to her corset and started to tie them in the back. Keeping a watchful eye on the queen, she began to speak.
"Milady, Loki's mind is far a field." She sighed, "The wounds he has been dealt have destroyed much of what we knew of him."
Eir looked at her eyes in the mirror as she thought back to earlier that day. She could still smell the dirt and blood in his cell. She could still feel the way his eyes stalked her. She could still feel her heart racing as he paced in his cage, ready to pounce. In her head, she could still hear his cackling, his troubled breathing and his cracking jaw. She could still see his bloodied fingers, broken bones and incomplete scowl. The senses and sights stung like an open wound, impossible to fix. What he had been dealt had indeed destroyed much of the Loki she once knew, who Frigga once knew, but she didn't have the heart to tell her Queen that her son had been replaced by an irreparable monstrosity.
"But," Eir lied again, "Thor has not just wishful thinking. Extensive magic could bring Loki back. I know not if I possess such a skill, but taken as he is a Prince of Asgard, I will try my best."
Golden eyes watched as the woman behind her smiled and continued to give the corset more tugs. Looking ahead, Eir couldn't help but feel like she was at the Queen' mercy. Her breathing caught in her throat as the corset became tighter. Cringing, the woman knew the queen was not half done with the stiches.
"I thank you for your consult, Eir." Frigga remarked, looking at the woman's eyes in the mirror, "I have often asked too much of you, and I cannot help but feel remorseful that this is, perhaps, the most difficult task I have given you."
Frigga looked down as the woman gave a small laugh under her breath.
"This compares not to more painful orders."
Grabbing the table, Eir let out a small cry as Frigga pulled her corset painfully tight. Looking at the anger in the Queen's eyes, Eir cursed her mouth for letting her feelings slip out. Letting silent tears fall, she closed her eyes as Frigga continued to lace the garment painfully, each string getting unbearably restrictive. Holding on to the table tighter, she held her breath as the queen began to lace the last strings.
"It was for the good of Asgard, Eir." Frigga spat, "We have all had to make sacrifices."
Turning the young woman around, Frigga glared as she just kept her golden eyes fixated on the ground. She could see the small tear stains adorning her bruised cheeks, but she paid them no mind. Looking closer, she could see her broken lips and bitten nails—a true mess. If she had not the talents she did, she would have no trouble removing her from the palace. Starting to walk out, she sent the woman one last look before exiting the room.
"Your duties to me come first." She ordered, "My son comes after."
Green eyes fluttered as the assaulting light from the hallway left his dim containment cell. The torturer for the day had just left, leaving him with a number of painful whips across his back. Letting out a shuddering sigh, Loki placed his head against the stone wall and stared at the ceiling—watching curious spiders crawl their way back to their nests. Closing his eyes, Loki couldn't help but cringe at the pain. He had not slept since his return to Asgard, not a consequence of some torture—no. It was a consequence of his dreams.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw him; "The Other's" words haunted his would be slumber. Whenever his mind would drift, the alien's slithering words invaded his every sense. His heart beat faster as he thought of Thanos finding him, seeking him out and making him suffer. He knew well that Thanos had the power to do unimaginable harm to him for his failures, and just the thought made him sick. The insomnia, the worrying, and the constant fear—it was much worse than any torture Odin could concoct.
Loki couldn't remember a time when he was more desperate for slumber. It was desperation for peace, not a mind filled with images of his own demise, images of murder and the echoes of screams that he wished not to hear. It was a paralyzing nightmare, invading every facet of his psyche, and he never wished more that he had succeeded on Midgard. Not only for the glory, but to avoid the half-life he was now forced to live. For he knew they would come—Thanos and The Other never made empty threats.
He just didn't know when.
Looking up at the ceiling again he let out a pained groan as his wounds came into contact with the cold, dirty wall. For his sake, he hoped that Eir failed in Thor's childish attempts to salvage his mind. Odin's planned execution for him would spare him the horrors he knew Thanos could provide. He knew that, in those types of punishments, even his soul would not survive.
He hoped Eir failed indeed.
"What are you making?" Thor asked, walking up to Eir, "It looks repulsive."
Eir gave Thor a strong glance before concentrating on her mortar and pestle again. After her duties to the Queen had been fulfilled, she had decided to walk to the royal gardens to gather some supplies. Though beautiful, the royal gardens were a treasure trove for medicinal plants which were both beautiful and beneficial. Passerby's knew nothing of their power, and it was obvious Thor didn't either.
"It will actually taste fairly descent, I think." She remarked, adding some raspberries, "Your brother is far too dangerous at the moment to attempt more powerful magic, but a herbal remedy is often just as good."
Thor looked down at the substance in the small stone bowl again and cringed. It was an unappealing green color that smelled of bad perfume. He had watched her pick, what seemed like, the whole garden and put it in the small bowl to create the disaster he saw before him. Starting to put his finger in the bowl, Eir stopped him.
"You don't want to taste it, Thor." She explained cautiously, "What your brother craves most is sleep. I know not if your father has ordered him to stay awake as a torture, or if it is a dangerous insomnia, but this powerful anesthetic should help."
Thor gave her a nod of understanding before turning his head and smiling. Looking up from her work, she noticed a fair woman walking towards them. If Thor was the Asgardian ideal of beauty, the woman walking towards them certainly was the female equivalent. Curvaceous, white-blond hair with crystal blue eyes, the woman walking towards them was everything Eir was not. She gave the woman a small, envious smile as she approached before focusing again on her mixture.
"Lady Sigyn, how pleased I am to see you!" Thor bellowed, engulfing the woman in an embrace, "I have not seen you since my return. I pray my brother's betrothed is well?"
"As well as I can be, dear Thor." She sighed, "Oft I have tried to visit Loki, but I cannot bear to see what I know lies behind that door. Your mother has told me the terrible things he has said. Out betrothal is young, Thor. I wish not to hear those words directed at me!"
Eir could feel a sickening feeling in her stomach as she watched Thor sympathetically hug Sigyn as she cried softly on his shoulder. She was never fond of the woman, and thought her and Loki were an ill match. She knew not why the Queen had chosen Sigyn to be Loki's betrothed other than the fact that she was beautiful. It certainly wasn't because she would make a smart or wise queen…
"There are whispers that you can cure him, Eir." Sigyn finally remarked, looking at the goddess, "I pray to you! I want not this monster to be my husband!"
Sending the woman another fake smile, she simply handed the stone cup to her. She watched as Sigyn's perfect features crinkled into a disgust as she looked into the cup. Raising the substance to her nose, she cringed again and sent a horrified look towards the Goddess of Medicine.
"What is this vile thing?" she hissed, "Not for me, I hope!"
Eir looked at the woman blankly before squinting her eyes a little.
"For Loki, Lady Sigyn." She explained, "I trust you will visit him tonight. After all, it would look rather questionable if you wished not to see him. A sign of weakness in a future princess? The Queen would most certainly reconsider this arrangement."
Thor watched as Sigyn glared her stunning blue eyes at Eir's equaling stunning gold. Finally, he watched as Sigyn whispered a quick and insincere 'thank you' to Eir before strutting off. Thor could hear her angry footsteps for some time in the distance, and shook his head. The two had bad blood between them, he noticed, and he wondered if it went further than their mutual jealously towards each other. Turning towards Eir, he gave her an apologetic smile.
"Thank you again, Eir." He whispered, "I pray too. I want not this monster to be my brother. I know you will succeed where others could not."
Giving her a nod, he walked off towards the palace. Eir watched as Thor walked off, leaving her alone to the gardens again. Letting out a sigh, she looked at the small pestle in her hand. At the end, it bore the remnants of her insomnia remedy—thick and green. Smiling to herself, she replaced it in her medicine pocked carefully, and stared her march back to her chambers.
She was going to need a little help to sleep tonight.
Further out into space, much farther than Asgard, beings were far from restful. Walking up a slithering staircase, a six fingered hand steadied the figure it belonged to. Breathing heavily, and gazing through a twisting facial mask, the being gave a small smile towards the much larger one before it.
"He has returned to Asgard, my Lord." They hissed, walking closer to the large throne, "How splendid, really. After a pathetic bought on that mortal world, he was brought back to a rather convenient place. Odin's treasure chambers have not only the tesseract, as you are well aware."
The Other watched with pleasure as he could see his master giving him a sinister smile, urging him to go on.
"If it is Asgard we invade, you can reclaim all that is yours…" The Other explained, "…and punish that pathetic Asgardian for his incompetence."
Finally, turning his throne around Thanos looked down at the bowing alien with contentment. Their befallen ally had found himself contained in the most convenient of locations. By invading Asgard, he would finally regain all that was stolen from him. Asgard, for all its glory, couldn't compete with the power he wielded…and when he wielded it on Asgard, against that incapable fool that his trusted…
They would all pay for his sins.
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