Chapter Twenty-Three

The Nearest Mountain

It was a haven of green. The boughs of the trees were awash with it, a thick carpet of moss covering every rock and root. Golden sunlight pierced through the canopy, bathing them in hushed tones of emerald. It was truly one of the most beautiful places Alex had ever seen. Unlike the shadowed labyrinth of the Dark Woods, the Enchanted Forest was just that: enchanted. According to Thor, the swathe of trees contained the winding path through which the goddess Iðunn traversed to deliver her apples. To Alex, it seemed sacrilegious to venture into such a place with the intent to hunt. Yet, when Thor had suggested she accompany the swollen hunting party, she had been loath to say no.

Though she had little intention to hunt herself (many months in Asgard had not renewed her taste for the flesh of animals), the idea of Tony Stark camping amused her a great deal. The Avengers had arrived in a flash of activity; their first few days spent exploring everything that Alex had previously shown the scientific contingent. They had yet to be allowed before the prisoner, something for which Alex was eternally grateful. She had been avoiding Loki's courtyard like the plague.

Yet despite the separation, Loki was a canker on her mind. His voice, his smell, his touch haunted her, tortured her every moment. She had wanted him gone, and physically he had obeyed. Mentally, however, was a completely different matter.

On the morning of the Avengers arrival in Asgard, Alex had noted that the rest of Loki's belongings had disappeared from her room. She had not heard anyone enter, but then, Loki was proficient at sneaking. More than anything, she was glad he had not woken her. The moment she had dressed, she had lugged the heavy wooden desk in front of Loki's secret panel.

Insanity had ensued from that moment onwards. Tony had spent a good thirty minutes gawking at the golden expanse of Odin's palace, while Steve Rogers had blushed profusely every time a scantily clad Asgardian maiden had ventured past. Apparently buff super soldiers were the taste of choice in Asgard, as at the party that evening the Captain was surrounded by a small army of adoring lesser nobles. In spite, Fandral had challenged him to a drinking contest, which resulted in the goateed warrior spread unconscious under a nearby table.

And now they were hunting.

"Hunting, seriously?" The horror in Tony's voice was palpable. Like always, the billionaire was observing one of the subtle hints of technology in the citadel. "You people really need to open up a BK." At the look of serious confusion on Thor's face, Tony had elaborated. "You know Burger King. Cheeseburgers. You'd never need to go hunting again."

Alex had bit her tongue at this. She was pretty sure Tony already knew that the meat for cheeseburgers did not appear out of thin air.

Nevertheless, they were hunting. Or attempting too. The majestic game that weaved through the moss-flanked trees would probably have heard Tony from a mile off, clanking through the forest in his Iron Man armour. Apparently, the hunk of gold and scarlet alloy was the only thing that would protect him from leeches.

"You Midgardians are very peculiar," Volstagg boomed as they emerged into a clearing. "Do you not hunt in your lands? Nothing compares to the taste of a beast cooked over a roaring fire. The fat dripping into the flames! Washed down with the finest ale!"

Tony snorted. "Thanks for the visual, Gimli. I'll be more than happy to munch on your char-grilled beast if you find it."

Alex was engulfed in a fit of giggles before she could help it. The other Avengers soon joined in, except for Steve, whose eyes widened with confusion. It was only then that Tony realised what he had said.

"You people have sick minds."

"I do not understand," Volstagg interjected. "If the man of Iron wishes to consume my beast, I shall find him one."

Bruce Banner was now holding onto a tree branch to support himself, tears of mirth running down his cheeks. "Oh stop, please stop."

oOoOoOo

It was after much deliberation that the hunting party decided to split. Clint and Natasha joined Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three on the hunt. The remaining Avengers set up camp in the clearing. It appeared that Steve and Bruce, like Alex, had camped in their youth, making up for any deficiencies on Tony's part. Wood was collected, a fire finally lit with a helpful blast from Tony's suit. As night fell, everything seemed almost idyllic.

Almost.

Alex did not fear the dark, but since her run-in with Loki, she now feared the night. Odin had not deemed it necessary to have his adopted son restrained during the night this time. Apparently, he perceived the Avengers as being more capable of restraining their violent urges toward him. Since she had asked him to leave, she had been ever conscious of shadows in the hall flanking her chambers, something lingering in the corners.

But surely Loki would not follow her here? Into the Enchanted Forest?

The hike itself would take many hours, and once he arrived he would not only have Asgard's finest to contend with, but the warriors of Midgard too.

No, surely he would not bother. It would be insanity.

But then, Loki had shown a propensity for the insane.

The hunting party returned soon after the final rays of sun ceased to grace them. They had been successful, a large plump stag resting on the shoulders of both Thor and Volstagg. The sharp obsidian hued arrow sticking from its jugular was evidence enough as to who made the kill. Clint seemed particularly smug.

Alex watched with a mixture of interest and disgust as the Warriors three prepared the animal for cooking. It was peculiar to think of Loki being a part of these hunting parties. What role did he play? Did he use magic to lure the game out of its hiding place? Was he skilled at dragging the knife beneath the beast's skin?

She did not dare ask, nor did she particularly want to. Loki was not meant to be lingering on her mind.

Soon the air was filled with the scents of roasting meat, the sounds of raucous campfire songs. While Tony was not much of an outdoors man, it did appear he had a vast repertoire of lewd ballads, which after several mugs of Asgard's finest, he shared generously.

Songs turned to ghost stories, a genre entirely lost on the Asgardians, whose experience with the dead and afterlife rendered them unable to think of the stories as anything but entirely truthful. When it came to those told by Natasha, they were not far off the mark.

"Oi, Kylie. It's your turn to get the wood."

Oi? Kylie? Alex rolled her eyes. "Kylie? Really, Tony, is that the best you've got." In the week they had been there, Tony had already called her Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin, Hugh Jackman and Uluru. At least Kylie Minogue was female, and alive.

"She's blonde, and hot."

Alex got to her feet. "Yeah, but she can sing. Trust me, I can't sing."

Thor shivered theatrically. "A truer word has never been spoken. Mating Bilgesnipe create a sound more pleasing to the ear."

Switching on her torch, Alex shone it in Thor's face. "Fuck you, Thor."

As she disappeared between the boughs, she could not help but hear the God of Thunder's booming, drunken laughter.

oOoOoOoOo

The fire was an all consuming beast, and in the search for wood, Alex found herself drawn away from the glowing light of the camp. She could still hear it: the songs and laughter trickling through the dense undergrowth.

"You should not be here alone, mortal."

Alex dropped her armful of wood, almost dropping her torch as she broke into a run. No! Surely not. Why?

"Do not run from me, Alexandra."

Loki appeared before her, his bare upper torso a mass of scratches and blood. He had evidently travelled quickly through the forest, not caring to duck beneath the more vicious of branches.

"Leave me alone, Loki."

"I have tried."

Long fingers reached to cup her chin, but she drew away.

"Try harder."

The hand dropped to his side. "Do you expect me to beg? To drop down on my knees?"

"Loki, you will never kneel to me. Even if you did, it would not work."

"Do you truly despise me that much?"

Alex growled, fighting back the urge to lay her fist to his ridiculously perfect face. "I don't despise you, Loki. I want to, but I don't. But it's over. It's never going to happen again. You saw to that the other night."

"And if I were to promise never to do it again?"

"I would know you are lying."

"Not everything I say is a lie, Alexandra." His voice was so soft now; it could barely be heard over Thor's thunderous singing. "The past week has been a torture."

"A torture?" Alex laughed. "The worst thing is, you don't even know how much you deserve it! Oh, you may feel bad about raping me. But what about the children you have left without parents? The lovers you have separated. Hell, as far as I know you raped your fair share of my people while you were trying to take over my planet! I want you to go! Leave me alone!"

"I cannot do that."

"GO! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The noise from the campfire was gone, her own shrill yell echoing through the forest.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Loki roared. "You are nothing more than a whorish little mortal, good for nothing but your quim. I am a God! You will treat me with respect!"

"Respect? You don't deserve anyone's respect."

"You will kneel before me, you filthy little-!"

"Last time I checked, ladies don't particularly like being spoken to like that."

Alex almost cried at the familiar, soothing tones of Steve's voice. Captain America, though still decked in his casual wear, had his shield before him. The look on his handsome face was utterly murderous. Within seconds, the bulk of human muscle had Loki pushed against a tree, pinned by the expanse of metal clutched in the Captain's arms.

"Are you okay, Agent Beckett?"

Alex nodded meekly.

A roar of light and sound alerted them to the appearance of Tony, whose Iron Man suit swayed dangerously under the influence of alcohol.

"Rock of Ages, long time, no see."

Loki merely sneered.

"You know," Tony quipped. "I've always meant to repay you for throwing me out that window. There's a bit of a cliff a short walk from here. I'm happy to try it out if you are."

Steve looked up from his captive. "Tony, perhaps you could help me take him back to the campsite?"

"Saved by the bell." Tony grabbed Loki's body while Steve wrapped his arms to the back. Loki did not struggle, his eyes aimed at Alex the entire time. She could do nothing but look at him, lower lip trembling, her eyes stained with tears.

oOoOoOo

"What is the meaning of this?" It seemed to be Thor's favourite turn of phrase, his deep voice caressing every syllable as though it were a seductive shard of poetry. "Brother?"

"Found Lord Voldemort here trying to get our little Australian to kneel," Tony replied, lifting the mask of his armour. "Nasty habit he has there, I thought you were supposed to be knocking that out of him?"

Thor ignored him, grabbing Loki's shoulders. "Brother, why are you here?"

"You know why I am here."

Loki's voice was liquid fury, causing the Cap to tighten the grip on his wrists.

Tony poked him in the cheek with an armoured finger. Under any other circumstances, Alex may have found the action amusing. "We don't. Care to tell us?"

The members of the hunting party were now on full alert. Sif and the Warriors Three had their weapons ready; though it was clear they were trying not to acknowledge the prince's presence. Bruce was standing back, while Natasha had her gun pointed straight at Loki's head. Clint had an arrow at the ready, the point directed at Loki's eye socket, a gleeful smirk on his lips.

Thor frowned. "Brother, coming here will solve nothing."

Alex almost gasped. Thor knew? And he said nothing? She reminded herself to kick him square in the balls next time the opportunity arose.