The scent of freshly made coffee filled her kitchen as Aileen was sitting at the breakfast table. She had no appetite but she forced down a gulp of orange juice and placed her glass on the table. Feeling that a headache was only a step away she pinched the bride of her nose and closed her eyes. She had only a few hours left to gather herself before she would go retrieving her younger daughters from her friends' care.
"Mother?"
The voice was just barely louder than a whisper and Aileen thought she had only imagined it. That much desperately she had been missing her eldest girl. It even sounded like Emily and it was making her sorrow worse.
"Mom?"
The soft voice called for her again and Aileen opened her eyes and lifted her gaze to find her dear Emily standing in her kitchen behind the table. Transfixed by her suddenly arrival, Aileen just sat for a few seconds speechless. Then she rose from her seat, taking support from the table between them.
"Emily?" Aileen sighed, bewildered, tears rushing into her eyes. "Emily? Emma, you're… here…?"
Emma lifted her hand carefully. "Please, don't freak out, Mom! I wanted to see that you are okay and tell you that I'm fine," she said and watched as her mother moved closer to her. "Please, think this as a long distance call. I'm not really here. I'm not a ghost. This is a projection of me, kind of like a hologram. Like Princess Leila in Star Wars, you know?"
Aileen moved in front of Emma and tried to touch Emma's hand only to discover that her hand went straight through Emma's. Trying to understand what she was hearing and seeing, she placed her hand over her heart, staring at the image of her daughter that looked like a princess in her long gown.
Aileen swallowed her shock and her eyes were getting moist. "W-where are you?" she managed to ask.
Emma gave her a sorry smile. "I'm in Asgard. This is Loki's home. I'm okay and the baby is doing okay. The people here are kind to me. They wanted to make sure that we'll stay safe. I'm sorry we left in such a hurry with Loki. I didn't want to leave you like that."
"When are you coming back?" Aileen asked. "You are coming back, aren't you?"
Emma dropped her gaze before answering. "I'm not sure if I'm coming back, Mom. I'm trying to find a way to visit you sometimes, but…" she explained and paused as if thinking about the sad reality of it. "My place is here now… with Loki."
Aileen cupped her own face with both hands, her fingers keeping her trembling lips in control. "No," she whispered. "You can't stay there. You need to be home, with your family…"
There was sadness in Emma's eyes too and for a tiny moment she struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry, Mom. You don't have to worry about me." She paused again, fighting off her tears. "Um… If you are in touch with Logan, could you please tell him that he was right; Loki takes care of me. I'll… I'll try to contact Logan too if I can."
Aileen could tell Emma was saying goodbyes and she was unwilling to let go of her daughter. "Emily, please," she begged looking into her eyes. "Please, come home. I fear this Loki-being is not good for you..."
Emma heaved a sigh, uneasily. "If you'd know him the way I do, you wouldn't say that." She glanced at her side and returned her gaze back to her mother's eyes. "It was good to see you. I promise I'll try to call you again. Um, if you are still seeing Coulson, could you tell him that I'll look him up if I'll come to Earth. I owe him. I've got to go now. I love you, Mom."
Aileen tried to reach the apparition of her daughter as it was slowly fading in front of her eyes. "I love you, Emily," she managed to whisper before it completely vanished.
She covered her mouth in her palm and slowly turned around, focusing her gaze at Phil Coulson who stood on the other side of the kitchen island. "Did you see her?" she asked, doubting her mental health. "Was she really here?"
Coulson nodded. "Yeah."
He had stood wordless there the whole time during Emma's visit, holding two mugs and a coffee carafe. Apparently Emma hadn't seen him. Slightly bemused, he brought his carrying on the table and poured coffee for both of them. He was certain now that if Emma Morgan wanted to come home, she would find a way for it.
… …
When the image of her mother disappeared, Emma stood quietly a long while and finally wiped the runaway tears from her cheeks. She took a moment to collect herself before turning towards Frigga who had granted her the opportunity to contact her mother.
"Thank you so much," Emma said with a grateful but sad smile. "I owe you a huge favor."
Frigga nodded. "As a mother I understand her concern. You are a far away from home," she said sympathetically. She resumed her seat next to sleeping Odin and motioned Emma to join her on the other side of the royal bed. "You are very caring and thoughtful young woman. I assume Loki finds those traits of yours appealing."
Emma felt modest by those words that didn't always describe her. Hesitatingly, she circled the golden monster bet and sat on the seat on the other side. "Loki has seen me at my best and my worst," she said and looked at the queen like saying sorry. "And I'm not very likeable at my worst, but he accepts me the way I am."
Sitting regally straight, Frigga placed her hands in her lap. "Even Loki is not my flesh and blood, he is my son and I love him as my own. I will support him but I also know he is not always the easiest one to love. He has chosen you, and I am pleased with that. Yet I must ask you, are you willing to accept him at his worst?"
How bad could Loki be?
Emma turned her gaze to the glimmering mist over Odin, pondering what to say. "When I encountered Loki the first time, he had just been tossed to Earth," she harked back to the past and rolled her ring. The deep green of the emerald reminded her of the Northern lights that brought Loki into her life. "And on that moment he was at his worst, I guess. Injured, suffering and abandoned, he had lost everything and he was… a bit frightening because he was in his Jotun form," she divulged but smiled then. "It wasn't love at first sight, but we soon found common ground. He saved my life more than once and protected me from those who wanted to hurt me. I know deep down Loki is a good man. So, yeah, I'll take him as he is."
"And now you are gifting him with a child. He is becoming a father of your baby."
"Loki will become a great father, I'm sure of it," Emma said, really hoping she was right.
Frigga smiled, sharing the girl's optimistic. "Your trust on him is admirable. I am afraid Loki does not have much experience what comes to children."
"Maybe, but there was this young boy we met in England. Damien. He was shy, reserved, and didn't have friends, but Loki got along with him, being like temporarily father figure to the kid. Damien's grandparents were kind enough to let us stay with them over night and the boy was like glued to Loki. I guess Loki saw himself in that boy and shared his precious time and attention with the kid. Loki even showed his snake-tricks to the boy. And, they both really love snakes."
Emma smiled to that memory and Frigga listened, loving what she was hearing about her son. This was the caring son she had raised, Frigga thought, pleased that someone else also saw him the way she did.
"The last time I saw Damien a couple of months ago, he had changed so much. For such a little sweet boy he had confidence of a king now. He had thousands of friends all over the world and he was talking to the rulers of Earth wanting to save our planet from the troubles humankind has created. All because Loki gave him undivided attention and encouraged him to let no one bully him anymore. Damien has named his world saving campaign as Loki's challenge, and trust me, over half of the people of Earth already know who Loki is."
"That is quite achievement," Frigga admitted, stunned.
Emma watched the queen who appeared genuinely surprised by her true story. She smiled when the baby informed it was awake and kicking. "Call me a fool, but I'm confident that if Loki has such impact to some random kid he encounters then this little one will be doing just fine with him. I just wonder…" Emma fell quiet and gazed down at Odin in his rest.
"What?" Frigga encouraged her softly.
Emma hesitated, shaking her head. "It is not my place to say."
"After everything you have already told me, please, just speak."
Emma heaved a sigh. "I grew up without a father and I don't know what sibling rivalry would be like. But if Loki would have grew up without constant competition with Thor over Odin's attention… maybe he could have achieved great things too. You know, feeling always second doesn't do good for you. It's pretty normal behavior to start doing bad things to get some attention. Maybe Loki would have become a bit less mischievous." She smiled sadly then and dropped her gaze down. "Things could have gone differently and I probably would have never met him then."
Frigga was quiet for a while before she said, "We cannot change the past, dear. We can only carry the consequences of our mistakes."
Emma lifted her gaze back at the queen. "Yeah. But it's never too late for Loki to hear that Odin is proud of him as a father. Even just for once."
Frigga watched her would-be daughter-in-law with compassion and slowly laid her gaze at her sleeping husband who had surely heard everything, being helpless to do anything but to listen and watch over the Nine Realms.
… …
"Is it just me or is Alfheim changed since our last visit?" Volstagg pondered aloud as the Asgard's delegation marched towards the elvens' fair city.
It was raining lightly and the sky was cloudy and grey. That was the first observation Loki made immediately after their arrival. As far he knew, in this part of Alfheim it shouldn't have ever rained and the sky should have been bright and clear. The world of Alfheim was divided as if in two different realms; in the constant summer and endless winter. Both terrains were inhabited by elves which bore their own signature traits endowed by their birth place. The elves from summer had usually dark hair whereas winter dwellers were born with white hair and even paler skin.
The second notion Loki made was the nature itself; in the side of the summer it should have been green and blooming everywhere, but what he found was the undeniable evidence of autumn coming. In the whole long history of Alfheim, the seasons had remained unchanged and this side of their world had been abundant with fruit gardens, crops and wild live to feed all their inhabitants. Loki realized rather quickly that if the season were truly changing the elves could starve to death.
The third observation seemed to be the most radical one as they reached the gates of the elven city. Behind the elegant and slender structures of the common elven homes used to lay openly the sparkling palace, like a crown jewel. Now that splendor of the palace was hidden from the common folk. It was surrounded by high walls as if the center of the elven rule would have become an impenetrable grey fortress.
There was a welcoming committee of ten guards waiting them at the gates as Loki and his entourage arrived at the citadel. Ten guards! Loki smirked to the pompous demonstration of the new king's rule. For what did the elves needed guards for anyway? They lived in the most harmonious realm of the all Nine.
"Welcome to Falligar, Odinson," one of the guards said formally in their own language and bowed his head deeply.
Amused, Loki assumed the young guard didn't know which one of the Odinsons Loki was.
"Thank you," Loki said, speaking the perfect elven tongue. He could have used the Allspeak but he enjoyed speaking the elven language. He glanced around him once more. "Tell me, good elf. What has become of Falligar since my last visit? The weather? The nature? That fortress?"
The guard glanced at the trees in the forest that had taken beautiful autumn's colors and looked then sad. "That I cannot say, Your Grace. Please, follow me. We lead you to the king now."
At least the elves hadn't become any chattier to the strangers over time, Loki discovered, as the guards led them through the citadel to the palace without another word. Only Volstagg spoke, too much, mostly complaining about all sort of things to Hogun, and Loki seethed inwardly. He would have wanted to strangle the man.
The thin rain had dampened their clothes and hair, and Loki hated being wet. He preferred facing the new king in immaculate state and after getting under a roof, Loki used his magic to dry himself and polish his looks. His traveling companions however he decided to leave as they were, damp and uncomfortable, since they had never appreciated him using magic anyway.
Before entering any further, they had to leave their weapons to a guard. To Loki that was not a problem, he wasn't carrying any, but Hogun and Volstagg didn't like to hand over their swords and daggers.
The light-beige corridors with carved images of Alfheim sagas brought out old memories and Loki felt like taking a walk on a memory lane, pondering if Valkor still considered him as a friend. He lively remembered when they travelled to the border of the Summer and Winter. The coldness didn't really bother either of them as they climbed high on a frozen hill. They sat there on an abandoned elven outpost, gazing far ahead at the two different worlds and fantasizing about ruling over the nine realms together. Loki smiled to those innocent times. Valkor had been an adorably foolish idealistic and drawn to Loki's mischievous side. The young elf prince even proposed they should tease the huge, beastish god of Falligar just for fun. They did, and everything was fine until Odin learned about it and separated the younglings for years.
Finally the Asgard's delegates were escorted to the glorious throne room where they found the new king sitting on the high seat. The throne was made of gilded wood and its shape resembled Yggdrasil, the Life's tree, with branches reaching high and upwards around the backrest and roots as legs.
To Loki it was so strange to see someone else but queen Aelsa occupying that seat. She had been like the embodiment of the elven realm; beautiful, kind, wise and decent. Loki used to think that Aelsa had been as fair and benevolent as Frigga was. She even favorited Loki over Thor on their earlier visits because Loki with his slenderer frame, pale skin and smooth behavior bore more resemblance to the elven folk than his brawny, arrogant and too loud brother. Loki smirked with the memory of Thor brutishly smashing the finest elven crystal ware and the shock it used to cause at the banquets.
Their accompanying guard informed their arrival and king Valkor stared at his guest stunned a few seconds without a word as if he'd seen a ghost. A friendly ghost.
It was a moment enough for Loki to study his old friend. It had been a few decades but Valkor looked the same as he remembered, perhaps more mature in a gorgeous way. His long straight hair was silver grey and sleek, falling all the way over his shoulders. The color uncommon to a youngish elf but it was due to his rare parentage; a mother from summer and father from winter. His eyes were blue-grey like sky in winter and his features delicate even for an average elven male with distinctive cheekbones and yet prominent jaw line. Loki knew Emma would call him beautiful just like she called Loki beautiful instead of handsome. Loki smiled a bit, recalling that he too once called Valkor beautiful in the midst of exploring the elven tongue when they were both still striplings. Perhaps Valkor looked now even more attractive when the golden circlet of leafs, the crown of Falligar, adorned his head.
Loki bowed lightly, keeping an eye contact. "Your Majesty."
King Valkor blinked and rose from his seat. His dark purple, tight-fitting long coat did him justice as he stood regally still. "Loki of Asgard? My old friend! You are still wandering on the land of the living!" he exclaimed and leaped down the steps of the throne as if forgetting his new status.
Loki grinned because it seemed that the elven prince hadn't changed at all. "I am afraid the rumors of my death were overly exaggerated, Sire," he said modestly and took a few cautious steps forward.
Valkor instead rushed to meet him all the way across the bright room, his arms width to the sides. He gazed Loki, breathless of surprise. "Ah! I asked for the other Odinson but they sent me the better one instead!"
Volstagg and Hogun exchanged glances, not agreeing with that comment.
"When I heard the ill-mannered rumors of your passing I mourned tremendously," Valkor sighed and placed his hands on Loki's arms in a friendly but uncommon manner to the elves. The folk here rarely touched people from other realms.
In what sort of form had the rumor of his death reached his old friend ears, Loki pondered. His expression turned more serious then. "I am sorry for you loss, Valkor. Your mother will not be forgotten."
"Yes," Valkor said simply and released his hold from Loki. He glanced at the empty throne and his gaze fell down for a moment. If there dwelled sorrow in his heart it didn't reach his words as he spoke. "She passed soon after the news of your untrue death reached my ears. One tragedy after another."
Loki squinted lightly. "What happened to her?" he asked and glanced around him. There were no members of court presence, only six guards watching over their king. "Where is your sister Nithi? And what has happened to Falligar?"
Valkor took a step back and clenched his jaw. "I will tell you everything, but first…" His expression altered and a pleased beam rewarded Loki for his unexpected arrival. "We will feast. Then we will talk."
Just barely Loki managed to halt his displeased groan in his throat. This was going to take forever! To his growing annoyance he heard Volstagg's glad murmur behind his back.
It was only after then Valkor noticed Loki's companions and wrinkled his nose. "Surely you did not bring these rough and weather-beaten creatures with you, Loki?"
Volstagg and Hogun bowed, but Loki was faster to introduce them. "I am afraid so. Volstagg and Hogun. The finest warriors Asgard has got to offer. They came to see that I will behave myself."
Valkor smirked, baring his perfectly white teeth. "Oh, my sweetling," he whispered suggestively. "You still have the tendency being delightfully unruly?"
Loki dropped his gaze from those cold blue eyes as it eloquently occurred to him that this visit wasn't doing him any good.
… …
Soon Loki found himself sitting at a nicely served dining table inside a brightly lighted dining hall. The walls held enrapturing elven art in form of paintings and gilded sculptures. The ceiling itself looked like it would have been completely made from sparkling crystal, resembling an upside down hanging flower of a water lily.
Loki was holding a silver goblet filled with Nectar, sweet strong alcohol made from specific Alfheim flowers, as a welcoming drink. It was a rare offering. Not wanting to offend their host, Loki took a tiny sip and placed the goblet on the table. As if everything in the elven world it was overly sweet but surprisingly effective.
"If I may seek your indulgence for being straightforward, but how can Asgard help you, Valkor?" Loki asked, trying not to sound too impatient.
"Ah! Alasian honey cakes!" Volstagg yelped and snatched himself a handful of sweet little treats from the silver plate. He received Loki's scowl and but couldn't help himself as he munched down the heavenly soft baked cakes.
Doing his best to ignore the warriors among them as if they would have only been annoying children, the young king eyed at Loki across the white table of delicates. "We are facing difficult times. I am sure you saw it on your way here." He paused, looking Loki in the eye. "It is not that I wouldn't be delighted to see you again, my dear Loki… however I summoned Thor," he said and tasted his drink before putting his goblet aside. "I assume your brother must be busy when Allfather has entered his dormant state."
Loki frowned and reached for his drink again. Burst of jealousy evoked his old self and the words left his mouth, before he even pondered how Valkor knew Allfather was in Odinsleep. "No. When I left Asgard, Odin was sitting on his throne and my brother was bustling with his usual interests; brawling, only a hammer's throw away from the palace. Father thought it would do me good to see you after all this time." Loki lied so naturally that it shocked himself and he took a swig of Nectar. He realized it could be impossible for him to redeem his promise to keep on the straight and narrow.
"Um…?" Volstagg begun, his mouth full of the sweet cakes and Hogun scowled at Loki for lying.
Valkor's eyes widthned and his whole appearance stiffened. "Oh?" He inhaled sharply and rose from his seat as if he'd been slapped on the face.
They all rose to respect the king.
Hogun bowed to Valkor and begun; "Your Majesty, what Prince Loki meant was…"
Loki pinned his lips, not liking when others tried to talk on his behalf. "What I meant was that if you need Thor to alter this unpleasant weather for you then I shall ask my brother to visit Alfheim tomorrow. If that would please you, Sire."
"Yes. Very good." The young king grasped his silver goblet and smirked uneasily, taking a step back and staring at the cup a few long seconds. He drank it empty as if needing an encouragement and grimaced. "I… I was indeed expecting Thor today. Thus the silver goblets." His hand was shaking lightly as he took another step backwards. "You, dear Loki, deserve to drink only from the best glasses."
"The silver goblets are fine," Loki assured, motioning his hand towards the perfect silver cup. "There is no need…"
Valkor shook his head. "No, no! I… I shall retrieve our finest crystal were myself. Please, stay and sit! Savor the Falligarian delicacies. I shall return shortly."
"Please, don't…"
Bemused, Loki watched the elf king go with his guards, sensing the ominous inkling. Yes, he admitted Valkor had always been peculiar even for an elf, but this was too strange. Had he been too straightforward and disrespectful? Was sitting on the throne making Valkor behave like a brat? Why it still made him feel envious when someone preferred Thor over him?
"You offended him, their new king," Volstagg said to Loki, but seemed to be more concern of fate of the cheeses and treats in front of him.
"Why you lied about Odinsleep?" Hogun asked grimly.
"It would be foolish to announce to the rest of the world when Asgard is on weakest." Loki was still standing and turned at his traveling companions. "You do not find it any strange that he already know Odin is at rest?"
… …
"I don't think he wants me to be here," Emma said, glancing at the sleeping king.
Frigga gave her a mild smirk. "He cannot do much about it now, can he?"
"You are really getting back with him about last evening," Emma jested. She was thankful that they were getting along so fine with Frigga, but still this was going to be a very long day. "Thank you. You are very kind to me even I know I don't belong in your world."
"You soon will," Frigga assured her. "You are making a great sacrifice by giving up the life you knew in Midgard and becoming a part of Asgard through Loki. You will be safe here with us. We protect our own."
Sacrifice! Emma didn't like that word. It felt so final, like she couldn't ever go back home.
The walls behind her hardly made a sound as the sharpest corner of the room began opening. The brightness of the day shone in through the tall gap that kept slowly yawning open more and more. Staring at the odd happening, Emma got up from her seat slightly alarmed. It looked like the whole corner of the room was opening up.
The daylight made Emma squint and lift a hand to block the sudden brightness. "What is going on?"
Frigga remained calm as she rose too. "It is all right. It is just Hugin and Munin returning. We have been expecting them."
Emma moved closer to the opening gap and glanced at the queen. "Who?"
"You may want to step aside a bit," the queen suggested.
Emma did as Frigga told and stepped on the left side of the gap as it reached its maximum width. First Emma heard the low croaks then swooshes of the large wings, and finally the black bird dashed inside the chamber.
"Wow!" Emma startled when the raven passed her suddenly.
She watched as it flew a few circles inside the room and then perched on a special resting place made for it, of course from gold. The raven croaked as a greeting and settled its wings.
Speechless Emma stared at the raven and pointed a finger at it. "That bird!"
Frigga smiled. "This is Hugin. One of Odin's ravens. His eyes and ears, watching over the Nine Realms."
"I know that raven. It is the biggest I've ever seen. It kept following me a few months ago." Emma frowned and stole a side-eyed glance at the sleeping king. Odin's eyes and ears? "Was he spying on me?"
"Odin knew how much you mean to Loki. He only wanted to make sure you are safe."
There was demanding tone in the raven's croaks as it was observing the ladies. Emma spread her hands to it. "Sorry, buddy. I've got no fish for you today."
It made Emma feel uneasy to know that not only Heimdall but also Loki's father had been watching over her. Apparently the ravens hadn't told Odin everything, since her pregnancy seemed to come to him as a huge surprise. Then again, she hadn't seen the raven during the winter so maybe it didn't know either. Ravens as scouts? How crazy was this place?
The cool fresh air tempted her to move over to the opening. Emma found herself being so high that looking down didn't even frighten her anymore. However some railings could have been a nice touch since there were none. The people on the streets looked so small from up there. The city down looked amazing with canals, green gardens and ponds. The odd shaped buildings made her wonder did they all have a purpose or were they just pretty monuments.
Emma noticed another big black bird that soared towards the palace tower over the citadel and she gave it enough room to fly inside. It took its seat on the other side of Odin's bed, croaking and folding its wings.
Emma glanced at the queen questioningly and pointed at the new bird. "Munin, I presume?"
Frigga nodded with a smile. "Yes."
Everything was just too weird and Emma wished Loki would return quickly. She turned back enjoying the views and noticed another weird thing, a few actually. There were black, rock-like creatures climbing up along the tower's wall from the lower platform. They looked like ugly, moving statues.
"Um…? Why are those gargoyles moving?" Emma asked, confused.
Frigga's good-natured expression turned into a troubled one. "We don't have gargoyles in Asgard!"
"Then what do you call those ones?"
Immediately the warning bells began ringing somewhere far below.
… …
If knowledge was power, Loki should have been a king by now. He always sought answers and never settled for less than unraveling the secrets of others. He couldn't think any sensible reasoning for the incidents that had led Alfheim into the miserable state it was now. But he was Loki and he was going to unearth the truth no matter how confusing it was. Maybe that's why he strode through the long corridors in his stealth mode, following the distant echo of king Valkor's and his guards' hasty steps. And maybe that's why Hogun was even sulkier than normally as he was forced to come along in Loki's lead.
"I do not like this. We should not do this," Hogun whispered as they passed another hallway. He had refused to let Loki go venturing on his own after the elf king.
Loki glared at the grim warrior and whispered back. "No one asked you to follow!"
"I will not let you betray Thor."
Loki stopped and frowned at his companion. "Why would I do that?"
"You are the god of mischief. That is what you do."
Loki rolled his eyes and carried on moving. "Maybe I have changed."
When the sounds of the elves' steps came to a halt, Loki heard Valkor's voice as the elf king was speaking to someone. Silently Loki and Hogun moved forward to hear them better.
"But, Your Majesty, the portals have already been established as you wished. Something may have already passed through," an elder male voice said, sounding disturbingly worried.
"Then close them! Immediately!" Valkor cried out as if in pain and smashed his goblet on the stone floor. "We are suffering for an incompetent spy. Allfather has not fallen in slumber and Thor is in Asgard. Our plan is doomed to perish."
Loki felt a pang of alarm by those words and he leaned against the wall to listen cautiously.
"Yes. Very well, Sire."
Someone else marched to meet the king. "Valkor! Why have the portals been opened between two realms? You are well aware they should never been used as a weapon! Close them at once!" the new authorative male voice said. Loki recognized the voice once he heard it speaking; Fayreil the elven general who faithfully served the former queen. A dull voice of reason!
"On a second thought," Valkor said in a tone that clearly expressed his irritation. "Keep them open! It is too late to withdraw now."
"Sire?"
"Asgard is our ally. You have gone too far, Valkor. Your madness will doom our realm. Close the portals now!"
Loki peered behind the corner and saw how the young king slapped his commanding general on the face in front of his guards. The general Fayreil clenching his jaw but didn't say a word, even his dark eyes were smoldering with anger.
"You are forgetting your place, general. I am your king. I rule Falligar now. Not my mother. Not my traitorous sister. I do!" Valkor spat and wiped his palm on his coat in disgust. He calmed himself and touched the leaf crown on his head with a shaking hand. He glared at the general. "You will do as I say, or I will sentence you for high treason and you will end up keeping company to my sister who is rotting in her chains. And do not make me to end her suffering for good."
Valkor's voice was so full of hatred that Loki hardly recognized his old jovial friend from that raging image of an obsessive king he had become. When hearing that frustration and extreme anger, Loki got the sickening feeling in his guts, because it all sounded too familiar to him. It was as though he'd been listening to his own self on his most bitter, malevolent moment; the moment when he discovered his true origins and the truth of it maddened him beyond his comprehension.
It took Loki a moment to gather himself, pushing aside the old vicious feelings. The elves were talking about portals and Asgard, and Loki perceived that Valkor was planning to cause havoc in his home realm. Why? How? In which realms were the portals opened to? His hunch had served him well and there was indeed something very wrong in Alfheim. Valkor was mad! The whole realm was rejecting his ruling?
"My king, I beg of you to end this now when no harm has yet been done," general Fayreil tried to reason. "Do not make Asgard our enemy. There is no fortress strong enough to save you from their retribution."
"It is too late now," Valkor stated coldly. "Once Muspelheim enters Asgard at full strength, ragnarök falls upon the false gods. We have nothing left to fear."
Ragnarök! Loki gasped as cold terror struck his heart by those words. He noticed how Hogun pulled his hidden knife from his vambrace and was about to march at the elf king.
Loki grabbed him from the arm and pulled him further away. "No!" he whispered. "We must think before we act!"
As if Loki was the crazy one, Hogun stared at the trickster, holding his weapon. "First we save Asgard. After that we think."
"That is Thor's way. This is mine."
In a few seconds Loki looked like he would have gone through a whole variety of possible alternative scenarios in his head, breathing quickly. He heard Emma's voice in his head demanding him sticking on his promise 'no more deviously brilliant ploys to wreck things up'. His hand on his unborn child he had swore to act for the good of Asgard and the Nine Realms. He had sworn it with a smirk, not been prepared for anything like this.
Loki looked Hogun in the eye. "Hogun, this is what we do. You get Volstagg here and prepare for a quick departure. Call upon Heimdall, warn him about the portals, whatever they are," he explained hastily in whispering voice. "I will try to talk Valkor out of this madness and close the portals."
Hogun scowled at him under his black brows. "After everything you have done, you think I trust you?"
Loki placed both hands on Hogun's shoulders and looked at the man pleadingly. "Yesterday I brought a woman who is carrying my child to Asgard because I desperately wanted to keep her safe. I will be damned if I let her and my unborn child die today."
Hogun stared at Loki in the eye a long while and then nodded. Then he left with haste to contact Heimdall and getting Volstagg from where they had left him.
Loki took a deep breath to steady himself and then entered to the open chamber.
As the elves noticed the prince of Asgard, Loki was leaning his back against the wall in a casual manner as though he'd been there the whole time.
"Glorious!" Loki chimed in with his opinion when their conversation dropped dead.
"Prince Loki of Asgard?" general Fayreil acknowledged Loki, to his uneasy surprise. His soldiers stood in stand-by mode, hands on their swords' hilts. A few of them drew out their bows and arrows.
Loki encountered the elves with his charming smile. "Valkor, I must say, I am impressed," he said in an appreciating tone and took a few steps closer. "It never crossed my mind to take advantage of the resources of Muspelheim against Asgard. Maybe that is why you are king and I…" he spread his hands humbly. "I am merely in my father's and brother's shadows."
Valkor watched Loki intensely, narrowing his eyes. "Those shadows are soon about to ebb, my friend."
The general moved towards the prince of Asgard and his expression was grave as if they'd been in funerals already. "Your Grace, I advise you to return home to defend it while you still can."
Valkor let out an irritated sigh. "Don't be foolish, general. We cannot send Loki to his death."
Loki took a few steps closer and as though ignoring the general and the guards, he spoke to the elf king. "What is to befall Asgard?"
Valkor gave him a cold smile. "Asgard's time is over. Like a beacon in the night, Asgard will burn brightly as the fires of Muspelheim devour it. Then it will fall into the eternal darkness and Falligar will take its place as the ruler of the other realms. Order is restored." Valkor spread his hands with an obvious solution. "My dearest friend, you are welcome to stay with us. I always enjoyed your thrilling company. These have been lonely years."
Loki looked surprised. "You would have me stay here?"
"Oh, let the thought settle in."
"As your prisoner or your guest?"
Valkor gaze swept over his Asgardian prince. "Anyway you would prefer."
Like the master of deception he was, Loki masked his growing worry and looked calm. Even so when he felt his heart beating inside his rib case like a vicious beast willing to break free from its prison.
"If you will have me, my king, I pledge allegiance to you," Loki said in his deep, husky voice, touching his heart.
Valkor watched him curiously and moved close as if drawn to him. "You won't mourn your home?"
Loki let his unsettled emotions to be heard from his voice as he continued. "Why should I? You are doing me a great favor. I should rule Asgard, but if I cannot, then let Asgard burn. Thor is not king yet, because I ruined my brother's coronation. I tricked him to bring about war with the Jotuns and father exiled him to Midgard for it. And still Allfather did not make me his heir. You cannot believe how I have suffered."
"Oh, Asgard will burn, I promise you. I have been planning this from the moment I heard how you were driven to your unfair death. Let this be my tribute to you, Loki," Valkor declared, sensing that the Asgardian prince shared his drastic ideals.
Deviously brilliant ploys!
Loki's smile was wicked and delusional, and his voice trembled as if he'd been reliving his hatred but instead he was so terribly worried for Asgard and Emma that he let it show. "I understand now. You and I, we are alike. Others don't see our true worth. Nothing is given to us for free. That is why we must take what is ours, sometimes viciously."
Valkor nodded lightly, feeling compelled to agree with Loki's words, feeling like there was no one else around. Maybe it was the Nectar or then I was Loki's charm. "Yes," he sighed. "My mother told me I would never rule Falligar, that I was unfitting for the throne. She named my sister as the heir."
"But you could not let that happen. She is nothing. She is pathetic." Loki held his gaze vehemently in the blue-grey eyes of the elf king, making it feel more than intimate what they were sharing, as if the reality around them was shrouded, blurred. He stood so close to the young king he could smell the jasmine scent of his hair oil. "You were born to be king, Valkor! The throne is your birthright!"
"It is my birthright!" Valkor echoed, his voice trembling, his eyes blazing with a whole variety of emotions. "That is why I had to do it. I had to prove her I am worthy. I had to make her see, to make everyone see. I poisoned her and framed my sister for our mother's murder so that she will never sit on my throne."
Loki held his breath, doing all he could to keep himself in control. "You killed your mother?" he whispered.
A strange smile crept across Valkor's face and he sighed. "I knew you would understand. I slew her to prove I am worthy to rule, but she left me with a cursed realm," he said angrily but lifted his hand on Loki's face, touching his cheek softly like a lover. "You are with me now, Loki. Together we will bring back prosperity to Falligar. After that we will rule the rest of the Eight Realms, just like we dreamed when we were younger."
Loki blinked and the moist that had been gathered in his eyes dropped down in tears. He just got what he had feared and wanted; a cruel confession. "I am sorry, my dear friend," he sighed sadly and took Valkor's hand in his before letting it go.
Loki glanced around him at the elves who had heard everything and looked agitated. He noticed that Hogun and Volstagg had also returned and were staring at him as though he and Valkor were monsters.
Loki returned his gaze back at the young king and he had to force the wounding words out of his mouth. "Valkor Whisperleaf, son of Aelsa, you have confessed the murder of your queen," he begun in a trembling voice and Valkor stared at him as if he was jesting. "You have betrayed your realm by killing your sovereign. In the name of Allfather, the protector of all Nine Realms, I, Loki Odinson, take from you your title as the king of Alfheim. You are no longer the rightful ruler of Falligar and your people do not have to obey you anymore. I will leave you here in Alfheim to face justice for the crime you have committed."
General elf closed his eyes in a silent prayer. Without that confession his hands had been tied forever. "By the blessed Light!" he whispered and motioned his hand at his men. "Apprehend prince Valkor for the queen's murder and escort him into the dungeon! And release princess Nithi!" He looked at the older elf and added hastily. "And close those damn portals already!"
The old elf bowed and rushed to fulfill that command.
"What?" Valkor snorted, glowering around him as his guards came to restrain him. He turned his fierceful eyes at Loki, realizing the deception. "You betrayed me? You! You are nothing but a petty princeling and so you will remain! You will never be a king! You are nothing!" he screamed when the soldiers were already taking him away. "No! You hear me, Loki! You can watch your wreched world burning to the ground! You cannot stop it anymore! I did it for you!"
Feeling sick on his stomach, Loki watched as they dragged his old friend away from his sight. He heard Valkor screaming his name in a voice that sounded like he'd been a woman dying in the hands of a flesh-eating beast.
Loki closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. His body was shaking and he clenched his fist with a hope of get some control of himself. "Please, be gentle with him," he managed to tell to the general who approached him.
Why it hurt him so much to do this? Because he hadn't only betrayed an old friend. It felt like he'd been betraying himself too, conniving with all his might to get to the truth. And deep down he feared he would have ended up being just as mad as his friend was, if Thor had not stopped him, if he'd never met Emma and changed his course so violently. Valkor had murdered his own mother. Loki couldn't bear the thought of killing Frigga for gaining power no matter how great. The mere thought of it sickened him to the core, making him fear if he too could sink so low. To his horror, Valkor was trying to destroy Asgard just like he had been trying to do to Jotunheim. This played out like a sick payback for his own wrong doings.
"Your Grace, you truly live for your title," general Fayreil said to Loki in a highly appreciating tone. "Falligar is in your debt for rightening this unspeakable wrong. But your realm needs you now more than ours. You must return at once to defend it. The portals will be closed immediately, but we do not know how many beasts have already gone through."
As if waking from a nightmare Loki lifted his troubled gaze at the general, moving from one shock to another. "What are we facing?"
"I assume fire demons, Your Grace. Let us hope nothing larger has gone through. My men are excellent archers. If you wish, we will follow you to Asgard and fight by your side to suppress the threat our false king caused you. How many soldiers would you need?"
Loki glanced at Hogun and Volstagg who both were in bewildered silence, like trying to figure which side Loki was playing.
Loki turned back at the general. "How many men can you spare for us?"
… …
Emma rushed at the massive gilded doors that refused to open for her. She ran her hands over the ornamental carved decoration, finding no handles to pull the doors ajar.
"Guards!" she shouted, hoping to get the attentions of the guarding soldiers on the corridor. "Hey! We need a little help over here!"
The doors didn't open but she heard sounds of battle, grunts of men and monsters and metal clashing, from the other side. It strongly seemed that the dark beasts were everywhere.
She leaned her back against the doors and watched as queen Frigga pulled a sword from – what she had assumed to be – a fancy bedside table. "I think there are monsters out there too!" Emma cried out and moved closer to Frigga.
"Stay back!" Frigga ordered, lifting a warning hand to the girl.
The queen approached the opening in the corner that was luring the wall-climbing beasts from outside. First there appeared an ugly, rocky face with red-glowing eyes and then the beast climbed up. It was as tall as a man and stood on two legs only for a second until Frigga struck it with her sword, sending it plummeting down from the high tower.
Odin's ravens croaked, taking flight from their resting places.
Emma gasped at the action queen. "What the hell are those things?"
"Fire demons!" Frigga replied and took a step back, seeing two more beasts getting inside.
"Fire demons?" Emma murmured and marched next to Odin's bed, watching the fighting queen, worried. Her adrenaline rush woke the baby and it was kicking as if wanting to have a piece of those monsters. "I can help you! Where do I get a sword?"
"I said stay back, girl!" Frigga shouted furiously, slashing another one of the rocky beast to the ground.
More were coming and Emma couldn't just stand there watching as Frigga was getting outnumbered. Knowing it was going to hurt, Emma threw her arms width to the sides and shoved out her icy claws. The pain brought out the darker side of her too and she darted at the closest creature with a scream to distract it away from the queen it was attacking. The beast turned around and Emma plunged her claws in its scorching face.
At least she thought she did. Her damage to the thing seemed to be insignificant since her icy claws were dripping along her wrists and on the creatures face. Only small stubs of her claws scratched the creature, but her fists felt like being on fire. With an angry roar the countering blow came too fast. She was tossed in the air by the beast's inhuman force and she landed on the foot end of Odin's bed on hands and knees like a feline.
Taking a moment to estimate the damage to herself, Emma touched her belly, feeling the tiny one kicking. She was glad she hadn't hit on the sleeping king, assuming that he lied there blissfully ignorant of the happenings around him. Feeling like a trespasser, she was covered with the Odinforce's regenerating mist. As she lifted her hands, her claws were growing back over the bone stubs, gleaming with whatever magical energy it was that surrounded her. And as if being reformed, her claws weren't of ice anymore. They were something else, translucent and sharp but not cold as ice any longer.
She smelled the nasty odor of sulfur and burning rock as the number of the beasts was growing inside the chamber. Everything was happening fast around her. Two creatures passed through Frigga's defense and headed towards Odin's bed. Letting her animal instincts lead, Emma bounced on her feet on the bed and struck her claws challengingly again at the beast. The newly fortified claws sunk into the creature's rocky chest and when she pulled them off, the beast was bleeding out from the holes in it body. Its blood was burning hot, magma-like fluid.
Her long gown was holding her back and Emma tore the skirt in half up to knees, and then kicked the beast away from the bed and the king. Like an enraged being herself, she jumped at the next approaching creature, impaling its head.
The sword slipped from Frigga's hands as one of the three fire demons surrounding her knocked her over to the floor, its fiery fist leaving a burn mark on her arm. The queen reached for her weapon that was now under a foot of a fire demon. The demons were glowering down at her and she was badly outnumbered.
The first demon's roar ended with its burning fluids spilling out from its mouth and it dropped dead on the floor on its side. Frigga saw how the second one lost its head and the boiling red liquid bubbled from its chopped off neck. She pulled her hands and feet away to a safer distance before its body fell down. Emma stood behind the fallen creatures, her claws out, looking menacing like she had escaped from someone's nightmare.
Frigga pushed herself up from the floor and took her sword when the last demon launched towards Emma. The queen sunk her blade into the beast's back as Emma finished the creature with her claws from the front side. The ladies released the demon from their blades and it collapsed on the floor.
Wordless, Frigga stared at the state of her future daughter-in-law. The girl's strange claws were glowing, her long sleeves were gone up to the elbows, her fists and forearms looked badly burned by the scorching heat of the demons. Frigga noticed how the girl's hands were healing, the flesh and skin regenerating in a heartbeat. She could only ponder what sort of creature Loki had brought home.
Emma was breathing harshly with a grim expression that was twisting into a painful one, tears flowing from her eyes. "Are. You. Okay?" she managed to asked through clenched teeth.
Frigga gaped at the girl's hands, lowering her sword. "Are you?"
"No…" Emma shook her head and lifted her shaking hands to look at them. She had feared they would look much worse due to the fiery torment she had felt, but they were completely healed now. Only the claws felt still a bit warm.
Frigga hurried to her king to see that he was all right. As she was about to return to Emma, the doors of the chamber burst open and she lifted her sword again. At the same time, Emma saw two more creatures climbing inside from the opening and she dashed at them furiously. She kicked the first one off the edge and stapped the other with a push, letting the gravity do the rest.
To queen's great relief it were the guards that hastily entered Odin's chamber through the doors. The walls of the corner were finally closing and she turned to watched Emma who sent the two more demons down from the tower. Frigga's comfort was short lived when she got a sight of the creature's hopeless struggle and outstretching arms towards the girl.
Emma hissed when the beast's fiery hand seized her wrist, feeling like a branding iron. The beast was falling down and it was so heavy it pulled her with it. Her feet left the edge and she was plunging in the air with the damn creature, gasping to breath. In panic she cut its arm to free herself from its hold and the beast fell a bit faster than she did.
There was a long way down but the ground was approaching too fast. This was it! This was her end! There wasn't much to think as she screamed, hopelessly, plummeting down towards the palace garden. At least she would die in a beautiful place with the baby! The rueful thought hit her and she could only think about Loki and their innocent baby and the terrible thing she had done to it. She didn't want to heal and come back to feel this pain that soon was about to happen.
But pain came suddenly with rough croaks, clutching on her right arm and shoulder and then on her left arm too as if she'd been hooked with nails. She cried out and looked up. Black giant wings were beating air above her head, whooshing violently. Her falling was slowing down and she was more of soaring downwards really fast in the grasp of the two ravens.
If those were the same Odin's birds they looked ten times bigger than earlier. Emma gasped several times, trying to breathe the pain and shock away. The sharp talons of the birds sunk in her shoulders and arms, and it felt like she'd been flying in a swing ride of an amusement park but instead of a seat only hanging in meat hooks.
"Oh, God! You're better not let go now!" she cried out at the birds that were struggling to stop her from falling.
She noticed how the beast that had pulled her with smashed on the ground, shattering in pieces and a pool of lava. The rising croaks of the ravens sounded almost as if they'd been pleased with the prey they had caught and for a moment Emma thought they were going to eat her once landed. She couldn't do much but to hang from their painful grip, not so much enjoying the unsteady fly over the glorious city. She focused her gaze down, looking at the streets, golden and sand-brown buildings and canals as the ravens were rapidly descenting, literally like the wind. To her concern she noticed that more fire demons were roaming along the streets and climbing building walls, and Asgardian guards were fighting against them. And as if a small volcano would have erupted on middle of a square there were magma floating along the streets.
A width river came to her sight as her shaking flight was getting downward faster. The ravens dodged a few tall, church-like buildings and then she already found herself hanging less than 20 feet above the open water. That's where her wild ride ended. Ravens released their talons from her and she fell into the cold river, sinking deep beneath the surface.
… …
When the god of mischief emerged out from the Bifrost inside the globe of Himinbjorg, a small army of Light Elves accompanied him, Hogun and Volstagg. Their numbers nearly filled the whole golden chamber.
Loki went straight to the Gatekeeper, panting as if he'd have run back to Asgard. "I hope Odin don't mind that I brought a few more friends."
"Welcome to Asgard, Falligarians!" Heimdall said officially.
The elf general bowed. "I wish I could say it's a pleasure. We do what we must to undo our mad king's wrongs to your realm."
"I saw what you did there, Loki," Heimdall said as he stepped down from the center platform. "Well done," he continued and guided Loki and the others towards the opening.
"How bad is it here?" Loki asked with a grimace, fearing the answer, clenching his fingers nervously.
Then he saw it with his own eyes as he moved out to the bridge. Thin pillars of smoke were rising from a few spots of the city in front of the palace. He spotted some black beasts running along the Rainbow Bridge towards them. The distant sound of the alarms bells could be heard over the roar of the rushing water under the bridge.
"Asgard was ill-prepared for this unforeseen attack." Heimdall gazed ahead and explained hastily "Allfather and queen are safe. Palace and citadel are already secured. Vault is safe. The eastern and western outskirts and upper town are still seething with the demons. Thor is out there fighting. We have lost a number of our own. And your mortal…" He turned his head at Loki with a slightly worried frown. "She just made it to the river."
Loki gaped, horrid, at the Gatekeeper. "What? Made it from where?"
Heimdall nodded towards the city. "Go! You better hurry! Leave the bridge to me."
Emma was out there alone facing a hell! Why? She should have been with Frigga!
Loki swallowed, forcing himself to think and act and he turned at his reinforcements who were waiting his orders. "Three groups! One with me, one with Volstagg and one with Hogun. Spread everywhere and clear the city from those beasts! General, I suggest we will take the shortcut," he commanded, dividing the elven soldiers in groups with motions of his hand.
"You heard the prince!" general Fayreil shouted to his men. "Prepare for gangr!"
Loki lifted his fist. "For Asgard!"
"For Asgard!" echoed the shout in unison and the elves regrouped in lines behind their named leaders.
Hogun nodded lightly to Loki, a fist over his heart, eager for a glorious battle and grateful for being granted the honor to lead a group of his own. In his eyes, Loki had just earned a stripe.
Volstagg gasped, aghast at the thought of his family being out there under the terror of Muspelheim's monsters. "Let us make haste then!" he grunted, fingering his sword's hilt.
"Your first time?" general elf asked calmly from Loki, placing his hand on Loki's shoulder.
Loki grimaced, keeping his eyes at the target far ahead and his thoughts with Emma. Gangr was elvens own but rare way of transportation. "Oh, yes. Do be gentle."
Everyone in the line clasped a hand on the shoulder of the front one and with the elves magic they vanished as they were teleported on the other side of the long Rainbow Bridge. And so began their fiery fight.