Sixty Four
I opened my eyes after the jump only to be surprised that where we landed didn't look like earth. I was still holding Loki, but he looked weak. He was very pale and covered in a thin sweat.
"Loki, are alright? This isn't Malibu." I joked hoping for a laugh.
"It's not. This is Alfheim. I'm in need of healing, and you're in need of sanctuary. You don't think they'd look for us in the Malibu house or even your safe house?" He explained.
"I thought you were healed?" I asked.
"Not all of me." He gave me a knowing glare. I remembered suddenly and fought the urge to smack myself in the head. Loki draped an arm over my shoulder and I helped him walk.
"Where to?" I sighed.
"It's not far." He said. He was gaining strength with every step.
What felt like hours, and probably was we arrived at a small dwelling. The exterior was stone with a thatched roof. A small girl with white hair and freckles came running towards us. Loki stooped and lifted her as she ran into his arms. I don't think I'd ever seen him smile bigger as while he was holding this child.
"Uncle Loki!" She squealed. "Spin me!"
Loki complied with the little girls request and spun her around. What appeared to be her mother, stood in the doorway drying her hands on her apron. She also had long white hair and delicate features.
"Now don't get her sick." The woman called. Loki stopped, finding his balance and focusing on the woman's voice. He set the child down and approached the woman gathering her into a tight embrace.
"Malrin, it's so wonderful to see you." He held her at arms length. "You look well."
"Uncle Loki, spin me more, please?" The young girl tugged at his leather outer armor.
"Aeyrn, let your uncle and his guest settle in. It's a long way from Asgard." Malrin scolded the little girl. She looked about to cry. I shed my Ironman armor to not scare her.
"Nonsense." Loki said picking up Aeyrn and spinning her again. Malrin just shook her head. Loki stopped and motioned for me to come closer. I was grinning like an idiot watching him interact with this child. He took my hand and presented me to Malrin.
"Malrin, this is my lover, Tony Stark of Midgard." He introduced. "Tony, this is my friend Malrin and her daughter Aeyrn." I reached out to shake hands with her. She pulled me into a tight hug.
"You're the one saving our Loki from himself? It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She whispered in my ear. I blushed.
"You're from Midgard? I've never met anyone from Midgard." Aeyrn tugged on my arm. I stooped to her level.
"That I am." I replied.
"You don't look very fragile." She poked and pinched me. I looked up at Loki who laughed.
"Where is Îrben?" Loki asked.
"He is out at market. He is due to arrive before evening. He will be happy to see you, Loki. Why don't you both come in for refreshments. I was just making Aeyrn lunch." She pushed the door open for us. Loki helped me stand and guided me into the house, which seemed bigger once inside. I was led into a large kitchen with a wood burning stove. Whatever was cooking smelled delicious. Loki helped Aeyrn into a chair, her mother brought over a plate with cheese and crackers on it. Aeyrn helped herself making little sandwiches. She fed one to Loki. It was obvious Aeyrn had affections for Loki. I watched him play with her as if she was his own child.
"He's really good with her." Malrin said watching as Loki conjured flowers for her.
"He is, isn't he?" I sighed. "She's how old, six, seven?"
"No." Malrin laughed. "I've forgotten Midgardians age so quickly."
"What?" I must have given her a funny look. Loki stood with Aeyrn attached to his hand.
"What she means, is little miss Aeyrn is three hundred, seventy two."
"What? How?" I stammered.
"Only on Midgard do you have such short lives." Loki laughed as Aeyrn tried climbing up his leather armor. If my head didn't hurt from the teleportation or the walk, it did now. Aeyrn must have seen my distress and gave me a hug. I smiled down at her and petted her silky hair.
"Aeyrn, why don't you take your lunch and go find the Fae. They need lunch too." Her mother bent and handed her the plate.
"Ok, mom." She grabbed it and ran out the door.
"Fae?" I looked at Loki.
"The faerie folk the inhabit the meadows here." He explained to my hurting head. Malrin laid down more food and wine for us. Loki took my wine explaining it was too strong for me. I rolled my eyes at him.
"It's been about a month since we last saw you, Loki. What's wrong?" Malrin asked as she busied herself in the kitchen.
"What says anything has to be wrong to visit?"
"The last few times you've been here, it was the middle of the night in need of Îrben's healing skills. Besides, I've known you for a few centuries now, I know that pained look in your face and in your voice."
"You know me too well, Malrin. I am in need of your husbands expertise." Loki smiled softly. I took his hand. "I believe Tony will need his skills as well. There is a tear in our souls that needs repaired."
"This is much more serious than your prior visits. What has happened?" She stopped her busy work and laid a hand on Loki shoulder. She closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened them, she took Loki in her arms.
"I'm so sorry." She said through tears. Loki's soft sobs joined hers. I cocked my head in confusion before settling into rubbing the bridge of my nose.
"Most of the light elves are telepathic." Loki explained when he saw my confusion. "Malrin, is the guest room together? I think this is all overwhelming Tony."
"Yes, of course." She led us to a back bedroom. "Sleep well, Tony Stark of Midgard. Loki, you should rest as well. Always a long journey from Asgard."
"I haven't been on Asgard in over a year, Malrin." Loki corrected. Malrin seemed to drop the subject.
"Îrben will glad to see you, and finally meet your lover." She said with a small curtsy and headed back to the kitchen.
"Rest, Tony. You need it."
"How do you know Malrin and her husband?" I asked as he climbed into the bed with me. I laid my head on his chest listening to his breathing and heart.
"I was left with Îrben's parents when I was younger, to learn discipline. The Allfather had enough of my foolishness after I'd cut Lady Sif's hair off in the middle of the night and lied about it the next day. I was given the punishment of having my lips sewn shut to prevent me from lying and taken from my beloved mother and brother." I recalled, running his fingers through my hair.
"How cruel." I breathed. I looked up at him trying to find the scars. "Did Îrben's parents heal you?"
"They did in time. Allfather wove magic into the thread. It wasn't until I had something truthful to say, would I be set free." He spoke. "Îrben and I were of similar ages and became fast friends. He didn't mind my silence and did the talking for both of us. He taught me the elven magic that he knew and helped me find the books to learn more.
"I spent years here in silence. Îrben accepted me as I was, not knowing that I was the prince of Asgard. I appreciated his friendship. Then one day the thread disappeared, and I was able to thank him for his friendship and sincerely thank his parents for their care of me."
"What was the truthful thing you said?" I asked still scanning his lips for the scars.
"Thank you. I wanted to thank him for his friendship and accepting me for who I was. I was brought back to Asgard soon after my punishment had been lifted. Îrben thought our friendship over. I started looking into the secret ways out of Asgard, the ones Heimdall cannot see. I visited the other realms in my search for a way into Alfheim. It took a few years, but I managed to surprise him one day.
"Again we were friends. I spent days at a time with him. Allfather either didn't know I was gone, or didn't care. Mother sent out search parties looking for me. I eventually told her I wanted to spend more time in Alfheim. She made it possible for me to spend more time there learning magic and about the other realms. Mother told Allfather that it would benefit both princes of Asgard to travel to other realms." Loki continued speaking to the far wall, idly stoking my hair and face. I kept looking for any scarring on his perfect lips.
"Thor and I were sent to Îrben's family to learn magic and about life on Alfheim. I absorbed as much as I could during the day and spent any downtime with Îrben." Loki sighed. "Tony? What are you looking at?"
"Looking for scars?" I blushed as he finally caught me. He bent low so I may look closer in the dim candle light and fading sun. I ran my fingers over his lips. He kissed my fingertips.
"They healed long ago. Just like the rest will heal. It's the emotional scars that last forever." He touched my chest over my heart.
"Why did you say that Îrben needed to heal me too? I don't have any open wounds." I asked.
"You do. We both have the same wound on our souls." He breathed.
"Now, I understand." I said not wanting to open that wound wider.
"Rest now. Teleportation always exhausts you." He cooed. "I'll be here when you wake."