Vanaheim was a beautiful realm to behold, what with its vibrant, jungle-esque wonders and crystal-blue rivers. The sun shone brightly here, but as Loki had previously informed her, they would have to wait for nighttime to find exactly where the quarterstaff was concealed.
Dahlia, still wracked with a physical frustration, was having a hard time focusing on a place for them to camp out until nightfall. Loki-Thor took the reins, locating a boat for them to traverse the river. She couldn't imagine what the Vanir might think if they saw Loki traveling with her, which was why it was so vital that they all thought her heart belonged to Odin's blood child.
If she was going to get this quarterstaff, she needed to do so with as little attention drawn to her as possible.
"We'll start at the Gardens of Rota. By the time we arrive, it will be nightfall."
Rota was one of many Valkyries that fell during the massacre in Hel. The Vanir, Freyja especially, held high regards for the Valkyrior, and so, it was no surprise that they named a landmark to honor one of its lead captains.
The gardens were overgrown. There was no doubt that someone once took care of the grounds, but now, flowering vines and ivies had crowded the entire island. Vanaheim was also known to consist of dangerous plant life, some of which attacked when someone got too close.
Dahlia found that out the hard way when a bright, purple blossom the size of a shrub shot a series of poison darts at them. Her companion managed to push her out of the way, using his fake hammer to deflect the projectiles, then to throw it into the flower to kill it entirely.
"Nice save," Dahlia murmured, a little stunned by the peculiarity of the realm her maternal parent belonged to. The fact that Loki had been here before left her with more questions, but she would have to save them for later.
After nightfall, they were to look for glyphs that would show them where to go to find the quarterstaff. She wasn't sure where to start, and so, allowed her companion to lead the way through the jungle.
When a flash of glowing blue in the moonlight caught her eye, Dahlia hurried to the greenery that veiled it. Had she not been admiring the red blooms nearby, she might have missed it entirely.
"Dahlia! Be careful!" Loki-Thor shouted after her.
The boulder behind the curtain of purple ivy had a glyph carved into it, and the shine brightened as it was uncovered.
"Is this it?" she asked. Unfortunately, she couldn't translate the runes that she was looking at.
"River Delta," she heard Thor's voice answer. "Great work. Let's move."
They had to backtrack past the gardens, take the boat past the portal, and towards the River Delta. Thankfully, he knew where they were going.
As they rowed, Dahlia finally decided to ask. "You've been here before. Did you ever meet Freyja?" she said.
"Many times," he answered, though he was vague in his response. Dahlia remembered why he couldn't say much, and so, took a moment to enjoy the sight of the dozens of fireflies dancing above the water behind them.
"There's so much I wish I could ask her. Why she left me in Asgard. Who my father was..." she sighed, looking back at him. "I wish she was here."
"Freyja and my mother... They were close. One could almost say they were like sisters." Dahlia listened intently, her oar falling still against the water. "Freyja was a valkyrie, as well, but she laid down her spear after Vanaheim named her queen. I suppose you could say after that, everything changed." They rounded a bend, and he continued. "Then, someone released Garm in Hel, and he started tearing holes in the dimensions. Hel-walkers attacked Vanaheim, and Freyja brought her newborn child to Frigg."
He gave her an apologetic look. "She came back to protect Vanaheim, and Frigg assigned a Valkyrie to raise you as if you were her own. I'm afraid that's the extent of what I know."
Dahlia supposed it was sufficient enough. "My mother was a goddess. I imagine a rather promiscuous one. I guess knowing who my father was is of no real importance."
That wasn't entirely true. Perhaps she was just trying to make it look like she didn't really care.
"We're here." The boat came to a gradual stop on the bank of another island, where they spotted another glyph, one that he revealed said love. It gave no real direction, which was why it left both of them a tad perplexed. They continued to look around, until he called her over to another glyph that was several paces away.
Beauty.
Past a circle of dense willows, Dahlia discovered yet another.
Fertility.
The runes were leading them, she could feel it. As she trailed deeper into the growth, the moonlight became harder and harder to see through the canopy. Further ahead was a giant boulder, and upon its surface, on a smaller rock, was another symbol, weak in its glow.
Sex.
As she reached out to touch the thick blanket of vines that covered it, she noticed how much it seemed to push back, as if there was nothing behind it. She drew out her blades, using them as machetes to cut back the ivy. After a series of hacks and slashes, she revealed a cave entrance. A cool air brushed onto her face from inside.
She kept going, her companion close at her heel. Within the mouth of the cave, there was no more pale moonlight to aid them their findings. Yet, the sound of falling water drew her on, leading her deeper into the darkness until a faint, blue light could be seen further ahead.
Her steps quickened, using her hands to feel the walls until moonlight was on her side again.
It was like crossing into another world entirely. It still looked like Vanaheim, but somehow, everything seemed clearer...more vibrant and mystical than anything she ever saw before. A waterfall cascaded from several yards away, the size of it so massive, the sound was almost deafening.
"So beautiful," she said softly in awe, but she couldn't hear her own voice over the wall of falling water. Then, almost as if a siren's song was calling her into the water, she stepped into the pond. She couldn't hear Thor's voice calling from behind her. Her feet kept taking her further in, deeper and deeper. More of her body submerged into the pristine pond, but somehow, it only felt like bathing in bliss. Just before she reached the veil of water, she disappeared entirely.
When she opened her eyes and air filled her lungs again, she was in another cave, just on the other side of the waterfall. She stood in the water, waist-deep and soaked from head to toe. It was as though she saw everything in the flash of a dream. She saw the staff in her hands. Her body entwined with Loki's in a libidinous display of passion. Asgard rejuvenated, and on the throne, the God of Mischief himself, with her at his side.
Queen of Asgard... it sort of had a nice ring to it.
Looking towards the waterfall, Loki-Thor came crawling from the depths of the water like a drowned rat. This place was hidden well. It was no wonder that Victor didn't have a chance of getting the staff. It required Vanir eyes to locate it.
There was no exit to this smaller chasm they stood in, but Dahlia was certain they didn't need one. This was exactly where they needed to be. She glanced at the last rune on the wall behind him, smiling faintly.
Magic.
"This is it," she said, looking over to
"Really?" he said skeptically. "It just looks like a damp hole." While he took a moment to observe, Dahlia came up behind him, throwing him back against the wall and kissing him fervently. Her hands held his face between them, and suddenly, the bearded face she was kissing was no longer bearded.
She pulled back with a grin, looking up at a dazed, fascinated Loki. "Mmm, that's much better."
"W-wait, Dahlia!" she kissed him again, unable to hold herself back. It was almost as if submerging herself in the waters of the cave had some sort of ambrosial effect on her.
Despite his protest, Loki didn't fight her off. How could he possibly? It was only when Dahlia needed air in her lungs again that she pulled away, but only for a moment.
"He can't reach us here, Loki. No one can."
"You're sure?" he asked, his hands already gliding up the front of her dress, which was almost second-skin with as tight as it was. He clearly didn't need the reassurance, as he was already unbuckling the leather cincher of her armor. Again, their lips collided, tongues rolling skillfully and hungrily against each other. Suddenly, he spun her around, pinning her into the rough wall of the cave. They were closer to the waterfall now, showered in a gentle mist as they undressed each other.
"I meant it, you know," he told her in heavy breaths, pulling her legs around him. Any mortal having their backs pushed into a rock wall might have at least winced, but the Valkyrie knew nothing but anticipation. She almost forgot his vague words when he pushed himself inside of her. Both of them moaned in unison, the sounds echoing off the cave's interior. "When I said I was yours..." He thrusted into her hard, grunting through his confession. Dahlia squeezed his shoulders, overwhelming ecatasy striking her body as he spoke. "Just as much as you are mine..." Again, he pushed her into the wall, pushing himself to the hilt into her. "I am yours..."
She didn't need any further proof nor words to know he was telling the truth. Loki was an expert at deceit, but she spent enough time with him to become an expert at detecting a lie. Nails dragged into his flesh, leaving pink echoes of scratches in their wake as he fucked her against the wall. His hips drove into her relentlessly, only because he knew she could withstand it.
Maybe it was magic, or maybe it was just sheer adrenaline, but Dahlia had never come so hard in her long life. Yet again, the tables turned during her window of restoration. Even Loki needed a moment, but she took it as her opportunity.
Maybe she didn't need proof that he was hers, but she wanted the thrill anyway. She pushed herself from the wall, forcing him onto his back into the damp ground. Red vines of brightly-colored ivy crept from the cracks in the walls, as if invading from the area beyond the waterfall, snaking around his wrists and pulling his arms over his head.
"Is this going to be a war for supremacy?" he teased, showing little fight against his restraints this time. Dahlia smiled mischievously at him. What a familiar line. She kissed his lips, then trailed downward. When he tugged at the ivy, but did little more than that, she kept going until her breath tickled his throbbing shaft. "You wicked minx," she heard him groan.
"I can stop, if you want..."
"Don't...you dare..." His voice was both desperate and threatening. She smiled, looking up at Loki deviously.
"Don't worry, pet. I'll take good care of you."