As they walked towards Glaðsheimr, Loki tried to pull himself together sufficiently in order to be able to make it through the meeting.

There would be dinner afterwards, but Lady Borgunna had caught him earlier to inform him the entertainment would actually be the renown skáld, Lord Bragi, who was gracing Iðavöllr with his presence in a surprise visit.

So, not only would he not have to worry about avoiding any of the ladies who wished to dance with him, but Loki was actually looking forward to the evening as he would be able to speak with Lord Bragi. Lady Borgunna had wished to check if he desired to honor the skáld with a spot of honor at the high table. He had immediately accepted and ensured she would give Lord Bragi every courtesy of an honored guest on Ásgarðr.

Now all he had to do was actually make it to dinner.

Easier said than done.

Thor's earlier comment of having had his whole life turned upside down still rang far too true, even if all the oaf had meant was discovering he waspartjötunn. How would his brother deal with learning Loki wasfullyjötunn?

The other things Thor had raised...

Loki shoved it aside, feeling both his core and sanity start to slip.

"How did the negotiations go?" Thor asked.

"Good," Loki said, leaping on the opportunity to think of something positive.

It helped that Mother Winter was still abuzz with delight and joy, which were clearly infecting Ásgarðr as both of them were giddy and excited. Helpfully, they had quieted down earlier when he had so very nearly lost control of his emotions. But now he seemed receptive to more positive emotions they came flooding back in, bolstering his ever-fraying core as best they could.

"We are actually at the point of writing the treaty," Loki said.

"'Tis agreed?" Thor asked in surprise.

"Verbally," Loki cautioned. "We still need to see if it will hold once we have everything written down."

"And there are always arguments as to the wording," Thor recalled, shoulders drooping.

It made Loki smile as 'twas so like his brother. "Aye, but that we managed to come this far has me very hopeful."

"As it should. Father has spoken often enough of the difficulties of working with Laufey onanythingfor even me to know how big of an achievement this is."

The words warmed Loki and he was not quite certain how to react. He could not recall the last time his brother had spoken so highly of him.

"Let us now hope it does not fall through," Loki said instead.

"What would be the point? The time spent in negotiation has allowed us to prepare as much as it has Jötunheimr, so it does not even make sense as a diversionary tactic," Thor countered.

"True."

There was a faint twitch and ripple of seiðr as they entered Glaðsheimr, and Loki gave a small frown as he looked around. Nothing seemed amiss. He was on the cusp of dismissing it when he felt it again, only slightly stronger this time and more familiar.

Loptr.

As unobtrusively as possible, Loki reached up to touch the obsidian amulet even as he tried to work out what Loptr might be hoping to achieve.

He did not think 'twas an attempt to reach out and speak with him as it... felt different from before. Fainter and far more distant. 'Twas why he had not recognized his own seiðr at first. In fact, even now 'twas extremely faint, almost beneath even his notice.

So, nay, Loki did not think 'twas an attempt to converse with him. Then what was it?

A final goodbye?

The possibility unsettled Loki deeply and all of his earlier thoughts of his twin's demise came back to him. Sentiment. He tried to push it aside as there was naught he could do about it and his current condition was... fragile enough without another emotional shock in addition to everything else.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Uncle Vili said when the man caught sight of them.

"We are not entirely there just yet," Loki cautioned.

"Oh, I know that, but seeing as we never thought before we would ever come this far, 'tis well worth recognizing nevertheless."

Never thought? Had they doubted him and his abilities?

"'Tis one of the reasons why Óðinn put it all off for so long," Uncle Vé added, perhaps due to Loki's confused expression. "He feared we would commence the process only for it all to fall apart long before there was even a verbal agreement in place."

"Oh," Loki said.

That was...

Pride and delight welled up within Loki alongside a deep sense of satisfaction. If nothing else, he had already accomplished that and the whole of the High Council knew of it.

Loki sought out Lord Aðalgrímr with his eyes and tipped his head towards him. "Well, we did have some very persuasive leverage, did we not?"

"Aye," Lord Aðalgrímr agreed. "But we would not have dared use it without the restrictions you placed upon it."

Also true, and Loki was not going to deny it. Not when his accomplishments in general, and those with seiðr in particular, were normally overlooked or swept aside as if they were nothing.

"I have warned Lady Borgunna we will most likely wish to hold a celebratory feast about a week hence," Lord Ragnvaldr said as they all began to seat themselves.

Hopefully an aversion of war would be viewed as celebratory by most, though Loki was now well aware not nearly as many people as he had always thought actuallywanteda war.

"I have instructed Lord Birgir to stall the negotiations with Niðavellir as much as possible," Lord Aðalgrímr added. "It should not be terribly difficult as they are still finishing up the celebratory sessions and are on the part where the different regions display their wares and boast of their skills and specialties."

Loki's lips twitched as he thought of exactly how easy it would be to draw those out. Even the slightest hint of criticism or praise for any one area would motivate the others to prove their worth even more, lengthening the whole process considerably. Normally it would be exhausting as the dökkálfar hadverysensitive egos, but for once it could be used to their advantage. Besides, Loki truly liked the idea of their egos losing them this commission. It would serve them right.

A rush of... electricity almost, flared through him unexpectedly, causing Loki to rush in a sharp breath and shudder once, violently.

What was that?

"Loki?" Uncle Vili demanded, sharply. "Are you alright?"

"I..." Loki began, tilting his head sideways and trying to determinewhatthat had been.

It had felt like one of the little shocks Thor had used to give off, before his brother had found some measure of control over his gift. But where had it come from now?

Ásgarðr and Mother Winter both seemed to recognize it as neither was particularly concerned, though Ásgarðr seemed slightly worried and was attempting to cradle him in her power; protectively. He allowed it for now.

"Brother?" Thor questioned, worriedly.

"I do not know," Loki admitted with a frown. "I... felt something, but I am not certain what."

"Felt?" General Týr inquired. "You mean seiðr?"

"Aye."

Then the feeling was back, stronger than before, only this time Loki recognized it. 'Twas the Yggdrasill. 'Twas a severely diluted version of what he felt when he allowed himself to meditate and almostsink intothe World Tree's seiðr when resting in her boughs.

"Oh," Loki said right as he could start to hear snatches of the Yggdrasill's song.

"Loki-" Thor began.

"What is that?" Uncle Vé interrupted, glancing around. "Where is it coming from?"

Loki's eyes snapped to his uncle, the look of wonder and confusion on Vé's face telling him all he needed to know.

His uncle could hear it too. Which meant...

Loptr.

Excitement rose sharp and swift within Loki at the realization. His future self had found a way to do it.

To ignite the Yggdrasill.

Delight and anticipation shot through Loki. The reactions of both Ásgarðr and Mother Winter tempered down on any fear he might have felt, allowing his natural curiosity to rise up instead. A part of him had been envious of Loptr for being able to have the chance to attempt to do this. So the fact he might be able to experience the consequences? He was not giving that up.

"What is what, Prince Vé?" Lord Óðr questioned.

"That... music."

"What music?"

"You cannot hear it?"

"Nay, Brother," Uncle Vili confirmed.

"'Tis the Yggdrasill," Loki stated. "I can hear it too."

Lieutenant-General Yngvarr was beside him in a flash, not that Loki could say whether the man had already been approaching him or not.

"The Yggdrasill, like when a portal is nearby?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr demanded.

Oh, of course, the possibility would greatly concern his guards.

"Nay, 'tis different," Loki hurried to reassure. "'Tis hard to explain, but the other signs are absent."

There was another burst of electricity and this time Uncle Vé yelped, jumping to his feet. Shock briefly flitted across his uncle's features before they became serene once more.

"Oh," Uncle Vé whispered, before collapsing.

"Brother!" Uncle Vili exclaimed, leaping to his feet.

Luckily for Uncle Vé, one of the Einherjar who had been approaching the table was able to grab one of his arms, so his head did not hit the marble floor.

Loki rose to his own feet as the music grew louder and there was another snap of power in the air around him. Both Lieutenant-General Yngvarr and General Týr were instantly at his side and Loki had to fight the urge to flinch back. Thor had also risen but seemed torn between approaching him or helping Uncle Vili check over Uncle Vé.

"Majesty, how are you feeling?" General Týr asked, hand twitching out as if the man wished to take hold of Loki's arm.

"Brother?" Uncle Vili demanded, shaking Vé before turning to look at Loki. "What happened to him?"

"He was overwhelmed," Loki said, seeing how Ásgarðr sought to keep him from the full extent of power rushing through the World Tree just now.

He was starting to understand why 'twas calledignitingthe Yggdrasill.

"Is it an attack?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr demanded. "How do we stop it?"

"I do not think 'tis an attack. Not unless someone has found a way to affect the Yggdrasill itself," Loki replied.

"Norns, I hope not!"

"Hmm," Loki hummed, before a new thought occurred to him as a guard was sent to fetch a healer. "Thor," he exclaimed. "Mother!"

His brother's head whipped around. "What?"

"Any seiðberandi will be able to feel this. If Mother is not with Father right now..."

His brother's eyes grew wide but, rather than rush off to tend to her, Thor hesitated, looking from the door to him.

"Brother," Thor said, clearly torn.

Loki rolled his eyes. "I will be fine and I know what is going on. If Mother has collapsed, her guard will not."

That finally seemed to convince his brother and Thor left. His concern did touch Loki and he tried not to linger on it, but all of the seiðr assembling in the air made it hard. His emotions did always become more volatile when he used his seiðr, which probably helped to explain why Loptr had gone mad so fast.

"General," Loki said, turning to Týr. "I am uncertain whether this wi-"

Loki cut off with a gasp as another surge of seiðr shot through the Yggdrasill, rocking him back on his heels. Almost immediately there were steadying hands on his back and arm, and he did not even have to look to know they were Yngvarr's.

"Are you certain there is nothing we can do, my King?" the lieutenant-general demanded urgently.

Loki merely nodded, eyes still on General Týr. "As I was saying, I am uncertain whether this will affect Höðr, but, if not, he should be able to inform us how the seiðberandi in other Realms are faring."

"I can go," Lord Óðr offered when Týr hesitated.

Though the threat was 'magical' in nature, 'twas clear both Lieutenant-General Yngvarr and General Týr were wary of dispersing his personal guard too much.

Loki left the decision up to them as he allowed his eyes to become half lidded as he sought to focus on the seiðr itself. Perhaps he could...

"Loki, is it your training?" Uncle Vili asked, breaking his concentration. "That allows you to resist it better?"

"Training and power," Loki replied, looking at Uncle Vé, whose head was now cradled in his brother's lap.

The cape of one of the Einherjar had also been draped over Uncle Vé's prone form.

The next surge of electrified seiðr came so hard, and was so powerful, Loki's vision whited out even as he felt his knees buckle. Thankfully, Lieutenant-General Yngvarr had not yet released him and Loki also vaguely felt another hand on his other arm, lowering him to the ground. There was a buzz of noise, but he could not quite make it out over the song of the Yggdrasill.

If he did not take action, and soon, then he would end up like Uncle Vé, Loki knew. Which was unacceptable. Through sheer force of will, he forced his attention back to the present and his body. He was down on his knees with the two heads of Ásgarðr's army crouched beside him, clearly concerned. They were far too professional to be alarmed at a time like this.

Loki's eyes flicked over to General Týr. "Gungnir," he ordered.

The general leapt up and Loki focused on moving into a more dignified position, Lieutenant-General Yngvarr steadying him as he shifted his legs until he had them crossed before him.

"Your eyes are glowing again," Yngvarr informed him once he was in position.

"Harmless seiðr discharge," Loki explained, before he looked pointedly at the man's hand on his arm. "It may soon become less harmless if it keeps building in power."

The lieutenant-general was clearly reluctant to let him go, but Yngvarr did so and settled back on his haunches once he seemed certain Loki would remain upright.

Gungnir was handed to him and Loki immediately took it with both hands, laying it lengthwise across his lap. The relief was instantaneous as he began to channel some of the seiðr through the King's Staff. He also reached out towards both Ásgarðr and Mother Winter, trying to siphon off additional seiðr through them. It worked, but the strength of the Yggdrasill's song was almost as strong as if he were on the World Tree and its seiðr hung heavy in the air, sparking all along his skin.

Could he?

Loki took a deep breath and then reached out tosee. Normally this would not work for him, not unless he had gathered enough seiðr to sky walk, but just now reality melted away and he was left with a view of the Yggdrasill. The World Tree was alight in a way he had never seen before, bright and shimmering like the stars, but also sparking with seiðr and electricity. The Yggdrasill looked alive in a way he had never witnessed, as if the World Tree itself was a living, breathing entity.

"Majesty?" General Týr's voice drifted across to him.

"Do not," Loki warned, the worry in the man's voice allowing him to guess what came next.

He was too late, however, and briefly felt a hand on his shoulder before it was jerked away with a curse.

His eyes readjusted to reality and Loki glanced over at the general apologetically. Týr was shaking his hand out, a disgruntled expression on his face, but Loki could not immediately spot any damage, so it must have been a lighter shock.

"Are you experiencing that the whole time?" General Týr questioned, worried.

"'Tis different for me," Loki replied, even as excess seiðr crackled along his arm, pulsing into the air. "You may wish to move further back."

They did so reluctantly and Loki tried not to drift again, but 'twas hard with all of the seiðr in the air around him. It was becoming so thick he could almost see it everywhere. The whole chamber was taking on a psychedelic glow of luminous colors and Loki had to forcibly remind himself he was not actually on the Yggdrasill as 'twas starting to feel that way. The seiðr was also separating into... it looked like threads and his breath caught in his throat at the mere thought.

Nay, those could not possibly bethethreads the Norns wove and cut... could they?

Loki twitched as there were suddenly sharp little claws on his back and shoulder, followed by an all too familiar chattering sound.

"Ratatoskr?" Loki breathed, craning his neck to look at his left shoulder.

"Majesty?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr asked, his blue eyes growing wide as if he had seen a ghost when Loki's hair suddenly moved.

Well, that answered the question of whether Ratatoskr was visible to the others, as Loki was certain Lieutenant-General Yngvarr would not have that shocked look in his eye if he could see the squirrel playing with his hair.

"What are you doing here?" Loki whispered to his little friend.

He had first encountered Ratatoskr in the early days of his sky walking, while exploring the many branches of the Yggdrasill. At first the little critter had seemed afraid of him, staying well back and spending a lot of time simply observing him. But, over time, Ratatoskr had grown bolder, slowly coming closer and closer until, one day, he had awoken from a nap to find the little creature sitting on his knee. From then on it had become a fairly common occurrence for Loki to have Ratatoskr on his shoulder while walking the Yggdrasill.

Ratatoskr chattered back at him, not pausing in his exploration of Loki's new, longer hair. It probably made it seem like he was experiencing some air current the others could not feel. The ripples of shock caused by the chaos lapped at Loki, but he could not fully enjoy them due to all of the effort he had to expend to keep some semblance of control over the seiðr rushing through him to avoid going down like Uncle Vé.

"Loki!"

The cry caught his attention and Loki slowly turned his head to look at General Týr, absently noting exactly how far away the man was crouched. It made him aware of the almost blanket like wave of green-gold seiðr which all but covered him.

"Hmm?" Loki inquired.

"We have received word, all of the healers and the queen have also collapsed," General Týr told him.

Loki nodded. "Aye... 'tis too strong for most... overwhelming."

He was forced to close his eyes and focus all of his energy as the next wave of seiðr and energy hit, washing over him and trying to drag him under. Loki tightened his hands on Gungnir and focused more seiðr through it, absently aware of how it glowed gold when he opened his eyes once more.

A cawing drew his attention upwards to find both Huginn and Muninn circling the air above him. Seemingly undisturbed by all of the seiðr washing off of him, they landed on his shoulders.

"We had not thought to find you still awake and aware," Huginn stated.

Loki scowled. "Thanks. I assume you have news?"

"Aye, the Yggdrasill has been ignited, or so Queen Sága declared before she fainted."

Pride and satisfaction welled within him at the knowledge he had outlasted she who was wildly believed to be one of the strongest seiðkonur alive.

"How?" Loki asked, knowing it would be odd if he did not.

Besides, he was curious to see what others thought.

"Thattheydo not know," Muninn snipped absently.

With a frown, Loki glanced over at her to find Muninn was more focused on his neck than on him. Or nay, not his neck, but rather Ratatoskr who was hidden in his hair and clearly poking his head out enough to chatter angrily at the raven.

"Why is there a squirrel in your hair?" Muninn asked, glancing at him.

"Because he does what he wants," Loki replied, ere he looked back to Huginn. "Is there any Realm not affected?"

"Not within the Yggdrasill. Outside of its boughs, there seems to be no sign of it. At least not as far as we dared go."

"Thank you, Huginn. Any idea of how long it will last?"

"Want to avoid another faint so soon after your last one?" Muninn teased.

Her dignity took a knock a second later when Ratatoskr darted out with an angry chatter, forcing Muninn to relocate to his knee with a squawk.

"That, no one mentioned," Huginn replied.

From his tone, Loki would almost guess he was exasperated by Muninn's behavior, and it made his lips twitch.

"Is this affecting Father?" Loki asked.

"He would have been unable to shield himself, so he would have gone under right away," Huginn stated, before taking flight.

"The ljósálfar say this is the Yggdrasill igniting," Loki told the others. "Every one of the Nine Realms is being affected."

"Is thatRatatoskr?" Muninn suddenly demanded in shock.

Damnit. If she had figured that out, then...

"Howdid you come to have Ratatoskr in your hair?" Muninn continued.

"Does it look like I have any control over him?" Loki shot back as Ratatoskr tugged at a few strands of his hair, pulling some out. "Ow!" he exclaimed, reaching back to swat at Ratatoskr, who darted away, chattering, with several long, dark strands clutched tightly between his teeth.

Muninn was laughing now and Loki turned his scowl on her before he narrowed his eyes, focusing some of the raw seiðr. It responded surprisingly well and Muninn squawked again before taking wing, but not without a peck of protest at his fingers.

Loki scowled as she sailed out of the balcony. "Bloody ravens," he muttered.

"Uh, King Loki?"

The words were slow to penetrate the haze of seiðr and electricity around him - Loki was having a hard time stayingpresentrather than drifting out onto the Yggdrasill - but they finally did. Slowly, he turned to look over at Lord Aðalgrímr.

"Aye?" he asked.

"You said all of the Nine are affected," Lord Aðalgrímr began. "Does this mean Queen Sága is similarly affected?"

"Huginn said she had already succumbed," Loki replied, his vision flickering back to the Yggdrasill. He could see Ratatoskr sitting not too far away from him, the few dark stands of his hair now held tightly in one of the critter's front paws.

'Thief,' Loki thought, eyes narrowing in annoyance. 'That ismyhair.'

"Oh," Lord Aðalgrímr's voice drifted to his ears despite the fact Loki could no longer see the man.

The World Tree was brighter than he had ever witnessed it before and Loki thoughtignitingwas truly an appropriate way to describe it, in all meanings of the word. It really did look like 'twas on fire. Ablaze with more seiðr and connectivity than he had ever seen it before and 'twas glorious.

It also felt better. Not fully as it should since Loki could still hear the growing disharmony within its song, but better somehow. More vital and...

"My King, does this extend beyond the Nine?" General Týr's voice ghosted through the air.

Loki was just thinking of responding when he was hit by a wave of emotions.

Wonder, amazement, delight, joy and such a deep, heart wrenching sense of satisfaction and completion that it bowled Loki over, even sat down as he was.

"Your Majesty!" "My Liege!" "Loki!"

The voices blurred and overlapped, their individual characteristics lost on Loki as he remained folded over, head resting on Gungnir as he discharged seiðr and electricity all around him, almost as if he were trying to imitate an adolescent Thor in the midst of his brother's worst temper tantrums.

Loptr.

The emotions had come from Loptr, coming to him both through the amulet and from the Yggdrasill directly. He did not understand how the latter was possible, but of one thing Loki was absolutely certain; his alternative future self was dead, but he no longer felt any sense of sadness or loss at that fact, not after what he had just experienced. 'Twas clear Loptr had more than found what he had been looking for in the end, and Loki could only hope he would be able to do the same when his own time came.

He would have to find an alternative way of doing so, though, because stealing his last act, even from himself, would be very poor form indeed.

"Nay," Loki finally said when the last of Loptr's emotions had faded and, with it, the worst of the magical onslaught.

The Yggdrasill had peaked.

"Majesty?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr inquired as Loki pushed himself back into an upright position.

"It did not go beyond the Nine," Loki explained, slowly relaxing. "'Twas restricted to those Realms tied to the Yggdrasill."

"Is it fading?" General Týr inquired.

"Hmm."

"Are you feeling well, Loki?"

Loki turned his head to look at his uncle. "Aye," he glanced down at Uncle Vé. "He should wake up as soon as the excess seiðr fades away."

"And he will be fine?"

"He may have a headache as he comes down from the seiðr rush. It will be as if he has overindulged," Loki explained. Which raised another point and he looked about. "Lord Ragnvaldr?"

"Aye, my King?" the man's voice came from behind Loki, accompanied by the sound of a moving chair.

Ah, of course. Lord Ragnvaldr was older even than Óðinn and starting to feel his age just as his adoptive father was.

"As Uncle Vé proves, this will have affected everyone with seiðr, whether trained or not," Loki said. "Can we send out word so people do not panic any more than necessary?"

"I have already commenced writing a notice," Lord Ragnvaldr replied, holding up the sheet of parchment he held.

Of course the man had. Loki smiled.

"And if 'tis possible to discover where she lives, please send someone to Gróa's parents."

"I will do my best."

The song of the Yggdrasill faded as the last of the excess seiðr died away and Loki slumped forwards a little, somehow feeling both drained and energized all at once.

"Would you like to move to a chair, Majesty?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr asked, moving closer once more.

"Aye," Loki said, taking the offered hand to pull himself up once more.

The head of his guard stuck close to him as he moved back to his seat, but for once Loki did not find it stifling.

"Do we know how Mother and Father are?" Loki asked, once seated.

"Thor sent word that your mother had also succumbed, as you had feared," General Týr replied. "Alas, without any of the healers awake, 'tis harder to check on Óðinn's condition, though he does not appear adversely affected."

"Huginn did not seem overly concerned, but I would like him checked as soon as Lady Eir has sufficiently recovered herself."

"Of course."

A moan drew Loki's attention back to his uncles and he watched as Vili coaxed Vé back to full consciousness. He tuned out once he was certain his youngest uncle was alright and started asking Vili about what had happened.

"Lady Eir will wish to check you over," General Týr began.

Loki snorted, knowing who truly wished to have him checked. He had no qualms about it, though, as he was curious as to the effects of what had transpired since he could still feel excess seiðr within him, but unlike the rest, it showed no signs of leaving. He would love to incorporate it into his own core, but it had never been this easy before to acquire additional seiðr and he was loath to simply accept that it might be so this time.

"Do you still wish to hold the trial tomorrow, my King?" Lord Óðr asked, moving forwards, surprising Loki as he could not recall when the man had returned. "I can have it moved if you prefer."

Instead of simply replying out of hand, Loki took a moment to consider it. He felt fine and the exhaustion was fading as his own seiðr rebalanced. His core still pained him, of course, and left him weaker than he would otherwise have been, but there was no way to fix that now. So that left public appearances. That something had happened would be obvious to everyone even without Lord Ragnvaldr's announcement, so it would undoubtedly be best to go ahead and prove all was well.

"Nay," Loki finally replied. "We will hold it as planned. Lord Aðalgrímr," he continued.

"Aye, my King?"

"Please reach out to our allies, see what they know or are willing to share with us of how this affected them."

"And how it affected you?"

Hmm. Did he want that known? Preferably Loki would not but, given the number of people, present it would be all but impossible to keep it quiet.

"If they ask, go ahead and let them know," Loki decided.

Lords Aðalgrímr and Óðr bowed and left Glaðsheimr, leaving Loki alone with his uncles and guards, as well as General Týr.

"Are you well, Uncle Vé?" Loki inquired.

"Beyond feeling like I partied as hard as I did as an adolescent, aye," Uncle Vé replied, looking over at him gingerly. "I wish I had not succumbed so soon and missed such a historic event."

"You experienced more of it than most did."

"True."

'Twas hardly fair recompense, Loki knew, but it had been his uncle's own choice not to be better trained and this was a direct consequence of that decision, so he could not find it in him to feel truly sympathetic.

"Let us head for the healers before Thor sends out a search party," Loki said, rising to his feet once more.

The trip was quick and, if his personal guard stuck closer to his side than normal, Loki made no comment on it. In this situation, at least, he would not be viewed as weak since it seemed like he may have been the only seiðberandi who did not succumb. Though it did raise an interesting question.

"Were you aware of anything, Uncle Vé?" Loki asked.

"After I collapsed? Nay, well, at least I do not think so," Uncle Vé replied. "There may have been a sense of... something, but I would not be able to define or identify it."

Huh. Loki would need to ask his mother about her experience and see if she could explain it better, given she actually knew how to utilize her seiðr.

"Loki!" Thor boomed as soon as they entered the healing halls.

He had just enough time to brace himself (and then remember he did not have to), before his brother was upon him and Loki was pulled into an embrace, one of Thor's hands instinctively finding his neck as always.

"I am fine," Loki said, his eyes finding his mother over Thor's shoulder and smiling at her.

Frigga's responding smile was somewhat strained and Loki had to fight back a laugh at the thought of her experiencing a hangover. 'Twas something he had never witnessed before.

"What?" Thor asked as he pulled back to look him in the eyes. "No headache?"

"Nay," Loki confirmed. "I did not succumb."

"Truly?" Lady Eir demanded, suddenly beside him as well, while Uncle Vili led Uncle Vé to a bed. She peered at him closely and Loki could see the strain she herself felt at the corners of her eyes. "Everyone else seems to have."

"Hmm," Loki replied. "It came close, but I remained conscious."

"Mostly," General Týr muttered.

"Mostly?" Frigga questioned sharply, rising to her feet.

"Mother, remain seated," Loki chided, moving around Thor and Lady Eir towards her. "I remained awake, I was simply not fully aware of everything around me the entire time."

"He may also have reacted to things we could not see," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr added.

It made Lady Eir frown, but Loki scowled at the lieutenant-general.

"And my hair moving the way it did was caused by what?" he questioned.

"I did not say those things were not there," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr replied.

Amusement shot through Loki at the words. They were technically true.

"Your hair?" Frigga asked.

"Muninn called it Ratatoskr," Loki said.

Also technically true.

"Ratatoskr? As intheRatatoskr?"

"Hmm," Loki scowled and reached up to rub the back of his head. "Damn creature pulled out and stole some of my hair."

His mother gave him an odd look before beginning to laugh and laugh. It did not quite sound right and Loki was about to inquire if she was alright when Thor prodded him in the shoulder.

"Maybe I should call you Ratatoskr instead of cow," Thor laughed.

Oh, nay. Thor wasnotgoing to use that kenning for him. 'Twas Sigyn's and Sigyn's alone and he would not have it ruined by his brother!

Loki brought up his free hand and allowed some of the excess seiðr to spark along his fingers, instantly drawing Thor's attention.

"Do not tempt me, Brother," Loki said. "I seem to have plenty of excess seiðr just now, all itching for a way out."

"I am mortal, you would not," Thor stated, though he looked far less certain than he sounded.

Loki merely raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Boys," Frigga chided, her hand coming to rest on his raised one.

Reluctantly, Loki conceded and turned to study her instead. "Did you hear it before you went under? The song of the Yggdrasill?"

His mother's eyes went wide and then a little distant. "Is that what it was? 'Twas beautiful."

"Hmm, Uncle Vé said his... unawareness... was not entirely normal."

"Nay. Lady Eir and I were discussing it before you arrived. There was something there, a connection of sorts, and on the other end something quite alien. Soothing in a way, but undeniably powerful and ancient."

"Like a presence?"

"Of sorts."

'Twas very similar to how Loki had first thought of the Yggdrasill, back when he had initially connected to it. Now he felt it was less of a presence in some ways and more of an entity. Undeniably powerful and alive, but not in any way sentient like Ásgarðr or Mother Winter were. It... was hard to explain.

"What about you, Your Majesty?" Lady Eir queried as she came to stand before him once more. "What did you experience?"

"Power," Loki said, choosing his words carefully. "Raw power on a level I have never experienced before. 'Twas... nearly overwhelming and, without both Gungnir and the Óðinnforce to channel some of it away, I would most likely have succumbed as well. But there was also seiðr, the song and threads."

"Threads?"

"Of seiðr. I could see them everywhere, weaving all over and connecting items and people, twinning together."

There was silence then, and Loki knew his earlier thoughts were being mirrored by the others.

The Norns were said to weave and cut the threads of life.

"And Ratatoskr?"

"Suddenly there," Loki shrugged. "I know not how or why, but he seemed to fascinate Muninn and her him."

"And it stole your hair?"

'Twas not quite censure or disbelief, but more... a professional detachment. Necessary to ensure he was not hallucinating.

Loki looked to Lieutenant-General Yngvarr.

"His hair did move as if something were burrowing into it," the lieutenant-general confirmed.

"And Muninn was distracted by something we could not see," General Týr added.

"I see," Lady Eir said.

"Let me guess," Loki began, seeing Lady Eir's expression. "You want me in the soul forge."

"It would put my mind at ease, my King."

Hers and everyone else's, Loki knew. 'Twas why he moved over to the soul forge without complaint, since Ásgarðr had enough to worry about at present without everyone also worrying about his health. Besides, the soul forge, like Lady Eir's spells, was not designed to detect the condition of his magical core. There were, at times, some advantages to living in a society which did not view seiðr as terribly important.

The scan itself was quick, his resulting hologram far brighter than normal, but 'twas easily accounted for by his new possession of both the Óðinnforce and all of the excess seiðr.

"Well?" Thor asked, coming to stand beside Lady Eir as Loki sat upright on the soul forge.

"He does not display any of the symptoms the rest of us are, but there is something," Lady Eir said.

"Excess seiðr," Loki replied.

"Aye. You did not actively seek it out?"

"Nay."

"Strange."

"Worrying?" Thor asked.

"Nay, simply peculiar."

"So, nothing unusual for Loki, then?"

Loki scowled at his brother and flicked just asmallspark of excess seiðr at him, making Thor yelp and jump.

"Mortal!" Thor complained, rubbing his arm.

"As if I could forget," Loki replied.