Frigga flung herself at Susan as soon as the girl walked into the throne room where her new guardians were waiting for her. The grandmother embraced Susan tightly and the girl noticed that she smelled a lot like roses.
"Child, where were you? We were so worried!" Frigga looked over the girl and clucked her tongue, "We really must find you some clothes befitting your rank, and get you cleaned up."
"Father," Thor said, "I found Sigrid in the dungeons. She was trapped by way of Loki's trickery and hidden from Heimdall."
Odin glanced haughtily at his ward. "Is this true, girl? Did the criminal Loki hide you away?"
Susan desperately wanted to tell the truth about Eilif and his plans to usurp Odin's throne. She didn't particularly care about clearing her father's name as much as making sure the corrupt guard was punished, but said guard had threatened her mother she even alluded to the fact that he was up to no good. So she lied her heart out. If her deceitful stories didn't blacken Loki's name nothing would - though he really didn't need much help in tearing apart his reputation.
When her fictitious seeds had been planted she looked at her guardians. Odin and Thor didn't seem surprised, but Frigga looked distraught. Susan finished her tale with relating how Eilif had "found" her and saved her from the prison.
"This guard shall be rewarded," Odin nodded, "And Loki shall be punished."
Susan nodded nervously and wrung her hands. "Yup. Great."
Frigga wrapped an arm around the girl and began pulling her out of the room. "For now you must have some rest," The queen sniffed, "And perhaps a bath."
Despite the lies that had been told and the distortion Eilif was concocting, Loki was glad that Sigrid had managed to get out of the dungeon. As much as he wanted to see her, he certainly didn't want her to be locked up amongst all these detestable people.
The fallen prince was lost in his thoughts when the fraudulent captain of the guard arrived and banged on the cell. Loki stirred and gave his most depreciative glower to the other man. The held one another's glares for a moment before Eilif broke the silence with a chuckle.
"The prince told me I ought to take the night off, but since you have yet to be punished I simply had to stick around. Thor agreed that is was only fair that I would get to administer the flogging myself, seeing as I am the hero of the hour."
"What are your plans for Sigrid?" Loki asked. On any other day he would wheedle his way out of the flogging by using his silvertongue to influence this guard, but with his daughter on the line he had a lot more to worry about than a few lashings.
"She's such a nice girl," Eilif commented, "Pretty little thing too. Do you know how old she is?"
Loki gritt his teeth and tried to keep down a scream of agitation. "Tell me your plans for my daughter."
"Tell me how old she is and I'll take off a few of the lashings you're going to get."
"Fifteen," Loki snapped, "Sixteen in the Midgardian summer."
"Hmm," Eilif nodded, "In anycase, my plans for her are really no concern of yours Trickster. After that terrible thing you did - hiding the king's ward! - you'll probably be banned from visitors until her lifespan has long passed - unless she inherited a bit of your long life expectancy."
Loki clenched his fists. "If I have no visitors, and since no one believes me anyway, then why not give me a clue of sorts," He forced an oily smile, "To amuse me in my long sentence."
"A clue?" Eilif grinned, "I do enjoy a good game. Here's your clue: remember Vali."
"Vali?" Loki asked, confused, "Wasn't he a nobleman?"
"You think about it," Eilif beamed again, "Perhaps a few floggings will pound the meaning into your head. Let's get started, shall we?"
Loki groaned and allowed for his wrists to be shackled. He was lead to a post in the middle of a darkening courtyard and he was bound to it. A moment later the flogging began. It was painful, to say the least, but Loki barely noticed. He was focused on remembering everything he knew about Lord Vali.
From what Loki could recall, Vali had always been an odd member of the court. He was dark and brooding, never speaking to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. He was fierce warrior and Loki had never liked him. There was a time when two of Odin's relatives were visiting, Hodr and Baldr, and if memory served Baldr was almost invincible with the odd weakness of mistletoe. During their visit Hodr slayed his brother and Odin had hired Vali to get revenge. Loki regretfully remembered that he was the one who overheard of Baldr's weakness and informed Hodr because he thought it would make a funny trick. No one ever found out about Loki's part in the murder.
Was Eilif some friend of Baldr's? Did he want to get Loki back for the trick he'd played? But how had he known it was the former prince? And if avenging Baldr's was what Eilif was after then why had he mentioned Vali? Vali had very little to do with that time exception for when he got revenge.
The guard dealt out a particularly painful lash of the whip and Loki yelped. Then a thought struck him. Revenge. The Midgardians had taken to calling Vali the god of revenge. What if this had nothing to do with anything personally related to Vali? What if Eilif had simply been stating his plans were those of revenge? But on whom? And for what? More importantly, why did the brute need Sigrid for his plans?
"Getting tired yet, Trickster?" Eilif asked, snapping the whip again.
"No matter how I choose to answer that question you will opt to give me more lashes, so I'd prefer to make no comment." Loki ground out, hissing at another hit.
"You are a clever one, aren't you?" Eilif finally coiled up the whip, "However, Odin only ordered ten for the day and I've just given you twenty, so we'd best stop."
"What about reducing my lashes for giving you Sigrid's age?" Loki asked as he was lead back to his cell. His back was sticky with blood and every movement made him wince.
"I did! I was planning on giving you thirty lashes!" Eilif laughed, shoving Loki into the cell and closing the door, "Did you figure out my clue?" His eyes gleamed with the anticipation of a good game and Loki quickly asserted to use this to his own benefit. So the guard was fond of contests? Then let the games begin.
"You want revenge. Really, Eilif that clue was too simple."
The guard's eyes darkened briefly, but he regained his smile as another clue hit him. "Okay then, here is my next clue - your last until tomorrow."
Loki gestured for him to continue. "I'm listening."
"Ring," Eilif chirped and then sashayed away, "I shall see you in the morning, Trickster."
"Vile thing," Loki muttered under his breath, "And they call me a villain!"
Susan had never been one for girly things like shopping and skirts, but every girl likes to dress up once in a while and she was no different. Frigga had found some gowns for her and Susan was gaping at herself in the mirror. The long light green dress was lovely - and so comfortable. The jewels and other adornments were a bit much, but she didn't mind terribly.
"You look lovely, Sigrid," Frigga smiled warmly, "How does it fit?"
"Good."
"Well, not good."
"Err, right. It fits well. Could I possible take off this necklace thing, though? It's kind of heavy and I'd really like to wear my own necklace." Susan picked up the blue bird jewelry Max had given her and tried to unfasten the large, chain mail like necklace around her throat. Frigga lifted the girl's auburn hair and took off the necklace for her.
"I don't see why not. That little bird matches your eye color perfectly; where did you get it?"
"My stepfather gave it to me," Susan's voice hitched, "Before he, uh, passed."
Frigga's eyes softened. "You have lost a great deal in a short amount of time. We never stopped to ask how you feel about this, did we?"
Susan rubbed away her pooling tears. "It's just a lot to handle in less than a week."
"I know you have lost much, Sigrid, but think also of what you have gained. I know we can never replace your mother on Midgard, but you now have a father, an uncle, a grandfather, and myself."
Susan nodded, her eyes still wet. "I know."
"I suppose we are a poor substitute for the life you left behind."
"No, no!" Susan assured, "It's just going to take some getting used to is all."
"I am confident you will thrive here, child. Soon the aches will dull and maybe someday you'll feel at home." Frigga wiped away one last tear from Susan's eye.
"Thank you, Grandmother." The girl smiled slowly and the pair left the room.
Odin had decided to hold a feast in Susan's honor, though he wasn't quite as excited as his wife to have the girl there. Susan was a bit overwhelmed when she walked into the dining hall and hundreds of eyes watched her every move. Thor rose from his seat with a smile on his face and linked his arm with hers, leading her to a seat. Odin rose and addressed his people.
"Friends!" He boomed, "We've gathered today to celebrate the arrival of my ward, Lady Sigrid Lokidaughter of Midgard," There were a few grumbles of disapproval at her surname and Susan grimaced, but Odin continued, "I trust you will welcome her warmly a cherish her as my family does. Now let us begin our feast!" The nobles dug into their food with such relish Susan wondered if Asgard had any kind of table manners or if it was just a free-for-all gorge. She stared at the food on her plate and wonder what kind of meat it was and if those vegetables were really blue and orange or if they had been dyed that way.
As she was picking at her food she didn't notice someone slide into the seat next to her until the person spoke.
"I trust you have been keeping out of trouble since your adventure earlier?" A kind, yet oddly frightening voice said. Susan snapped up from looking at her food and met the gaze of Eilif. He was beaming at her and gestured to her food, "I suggest you try the Slottsstek, it's divine."
"Captain Eilif! I am glad to see you could make it!" Thor boomed from next to Susan.
"I wouldn't miss it for the nine realms!" Eilif smiled, "I had to make sure our guest of honor was getting on alright after her eventful day." He elbowed her playfully and Susan thought she might be sick all over her plate of Slottsstek.
"I'm fine, thanks."
"Thank you for attending!" Thor smiled and then turned to talk with a round man with a huge red beard.
Eilif put his mouth close to Susan's ear and she tried to jerk away but he grabbed her wrist. "Remember, we are to be great friends - start acting chummy, Lokidaughter."
She gave her best smile and laughed as if he had just told her a joke, but on the inside she felt as if someone was squeezing her heart. More manipulation. More threats. More villainous scum.
"Oh Captain, you are so funny!" Susan forced out. Eilif gave her a crooked grin and she tried to keep from frowning or trembling. This man was threatening her mother if Susan didn't do what he wanted her to. Her hands shook as that thought crossed her mind and she could barely lift her fork.
"I try, milady, I try." Eilif wrapped his arm around her shoulders, but quickly dropped it when Odin gave him a slightly disapproving scowl.
The king stood from his chair. "I have one more announcement to make, my people. The guard, Eilif, merits a reward. If it were not for this man we would not be having this dinner tonight. The criminal, Loki, hid away my ward by use of magic, though for what purpose we have yet to uncover. She would have not been found had it not been for the cunning of Eilif," A few nobles cheered and Susan tried to look grateful, "For his services to the crown we will reward him with a large bonus in his pay and one request of the royal family," Odin smiled jokingly, "Within reason."
Susan couldn't hide her grimace this time. She wondered what he would ask for. Would he try to get her into the official meetings and other things like that so that he could use her to influence the government? Would he ask for something else to further his nefarious plots? Or would he simply request more money? The anticipation made her nervous and she found herself anxiously twirling the bird necklace around her fingers. Eilif rose to speak.
Loki lay on his cot and thought about the second clue the guard had given him. The conversation they'd had earlier kept replaying in his head, though he didn't know why.
"She's such a nice girl," The guard had said, "Pretty little thing too."
Loki didn't know why the words bothered him so and why he couldn't stop combining them with the clue Eilif had given him. He growled as the conversation replayed in his head again and then sat up and forced himself to think.
"Ring," He muttered, "Ring? Ring. What kind of ring? The noise? Or did he say 'wring'? Is he planning to kill someone?" A nearby prisoner yelled at him to be quiet but Loki paid him no mind, "Ring… a bell?"
"Hey ding-a-ling-ring! Shut up!" A prisoner snarled, "Or I'll come over there and wring your neck with a ring of rope!" Loki rolled his eyes at the mocking and then froze.
"Ring… jewelry?" He gripped the edge of his cot, "No… it couldn't be."
The conversation rolled through his head again. Such a nice girl, pretty little thing too. But that was ridiculous, surely not! It did offer political power though, and a chance at revenge.
"I'll make that blackguard pay if he thinks he can get away with that." Loki growled, getting up and pounding on the cell wall.
Susan watched the guard give her a charming smile and then turn to her new guardians and give them the same glowing grin. He clasped his hands together and gave a brief glance to the audience gathered around.
"A most gracious offer, All-Father," Eilif said cooly, "But I can think of only one request and I pray that you will find it to be within reason."
"Speak your wish." Odin nodded. Susan held her breath.
"With your permission I would like to court Lady Sigrid."
A guard shuffled down to Loki's cell and gave him the stink-eye. Loki returned the favor and banged on the wall once more.
"Wha d'ya want?"
"I must speak with the king immediately! Or Thor, or the queen, or anyone who will listen! It is a matter of great importance." Loki shouted, causing several other prisoners to stir grumpily.
"The royal family's busy wit da feast. Ye can ask after 'em tomorrow."
Loki snarled at the guard and mustered as much magic as he could. "Listen to me, you sniveling worm, this matter regards my daughter. Surely you can understand that I need to speak with someone."
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Yer daughter is the kit the king is watching over, ain't she?"
"Yes." Loki was prepared to try and knock down the cell wall by use of magic or muscle.
"Y'know wha I just 'eard? Our captain of the guard fancies her. He told us he were gonna ask ta court her for his reward. I meself wouldn't want such a mutt - half Midgardian I hear - but Eilif has taken a shining to the kit. No offense meant by the mutt comment, by the way." The guard laughed.
Loki heard the word "court" and all else went blank. He let out a torrent of magic that was just strong enough and powered by enough emotion to create a small tear in the cell wall. The trickster shot his hand through the hole and grabbed the guard's throat. The man looked much less jovial now and more prepared to beg for mercy.
"Get this wall down and let me out. I must speak with the king!" Loki hissed and the guard nodded, using his key. The golden barrier fell and Loki stepped out, rushing past the quivering guard and disabling as many other guards as he could.
When Eilif had said "ring" he had most definitely meant the jewelry kind. Or, more specifically, the wedding kind.
A/N: Thanks so much for reading and for all of the reviews you left on the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. I think I'm finally getting a solid plot together (wonder of wonders) and hopefully I'll be updating weekly.
On a side note, the story about Vali, Baldr, and Hodr is an actual Norse myth and you should really look it up because it's pretty interesting. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my twist on it.
Thanks again! :)