These Things We've Gained: Eternal Love, Building Hope, Just Honesty

by Tales of Suspense

In the aftermath of "These Things We've Lost" people strugggle to create a new normal. (Slice of Life)

25. Chapter 25

- Chapter 25 -

23May2023 – Outside The Bounds Of Time

Vanaheim Royal Palace Guest Chambers

"You may approach." Lord Gin's dull metallic voice rumbled through the room. He noticed how Sean maintained a respectful distance while Frey and Frigga approached immediately. Odin, however, hung a few feet back.

Now that it had come to it the flurry of ideas swirling around in Odin's head was taking shape rapidly. There were two things he wanted to do right away. The first was something he thought his son, daughter, might understand and appreciate. The other he hoped his son, daughter, might want. One necessarily had to come before the other. He just wasn't sure he had enough room to do what he wanted with Frigga and Frey by Loki. Odin needed to move though.

Silently, James slipped into the room from the children's room. Since he was certain that this was going to be a stressful event he played his soul song of stillness, with hopeful notes in it. Then he focused it through himself to play out as loudly as he could make it. Leaning back against the wall next to the door to the children's room, James just waited and watched. Flaring out his seidr to Loki, James' seidr whispered, I'm here with you, you aren't alone.

Knowing that James was there along with her grandparents was comforting to Loki. Seeing her uncle and her mother was stressful, but not what had the most amount of nervousness flowing through her thoughts. Loki looked past them to see her father standing slightly back, waiting for something. She was disappointing him, she knew it. Her gaze fell to her hands, which were fidgeting with the hem of the blanket.

Frey could see that Loki was preparing to be hurt, and turned to see what was keeping Odin from coming over. "Brother?"

"I need some room." Odin motioned to the floorspace next to Loki's bed.

Lady Audhumbla looked into the currents of time and saw something else that displeased her. Her grandson had unintentionally obscured what he was about to do. Nothing specific was in the currents of time, only everything else. There were thousands of possibilities because for once in his life Odin had no concrete plan. He had desires and hopes. The hopes were pleasant enough, but the possibility of unpleasantness soured her thoughts. If he harms my litil-svass he shall know my wrath, the timeless Lady thought with a hard edge. I shall intervene and resolve the matter if it comes to it, her Lord husband replied. This hesitation to set right his wrongs by Odin made Lord Gin wonder if the most recent grandsons, Odin and Thor, were salvageable. Odin had been brutalized by Borr and Thor was tainted by the cruel legacy of the Mad King. He didn't know if either could be brought back from those things. He seriously wondered if the line of the Kings of Asgard needed to be broken so that he could reforge it. It was an extreme solution that he just wasn't sure he wanted to go forward with; the death of the last of his living grandsons by his own hand. Unfortunately, for the sake of Asgard and the Nine Realms, he had to consider all possibilities. If Odin couldn't right his wrongs here, then he couldn't be trusted to do it anywhere else.

Putting an arm around Frigga, Frey moved Frigga to the side so that Odin could have some room. He and Frigga would have their turn. Frey had a feeling that Odin needed this time more. By the looks of Loki, his niece needed this time as well. Besides, Frey had an apology to plan.

Slowly and carefully, so as to not alarm his child, Odin made his way over to Loki's bedside. Without warning he dropped to his knees and bowed his head. He began the ancient Asgardian chant for accepting responsibility for something and apologizing. The apology brought his tears of sorrow out. Unlike with others, he didn't try to staunch or hide them. He let them flow freely. "Ek hafa misgjörthi ther (I have wronged you). Ek taka at ek hafa misgjörthi ther (I accept that I have done wrong). Sja ir minn abyrgd, ne thit (This is my responsibility, not yours). Sja ir minn vamm, ne thit (This is my fault, not yours). Sja ir minn osaemd, ne thit (This is my dishonor, not yours). Ek breyta ki beida til fyrirgefningar (I do not beg for forgiveness). Ek at eins flytja til er spyrja minn afsökunarbeidni en kunna er fyrirgefdu (I only plead for you to hear my apology and know that I am sorry)." When Odin reached the end he began again. Apologizing three times was enough to satisfy the etiquette that the chant belonged to. He repeated the chant three times and kept going. Every new repetition brought more tears. If he had to apologize a thousand times over it still wouldn't be enough. Odin needed to be certain that his child understood that he was very sorry for what had happened. Once he had shown Loki that he was sorry, then he was going to show Loki something even more important.

Bright ripples of shock went through Lord Gin's soul. He knew this apology. It was personal to him. This was the apology that he gave to his Little Brother Soledor. The apology was given after the period of strife between all of the sons of Ymir. This apology, and its unconditional acceptance of responsibility for the problems between them, was what solidified his relationship with Soledor and the Satska Soledras. He apologized on his knees to his Little Brother and didn't get back up again until Soledor allowed him to. He knew that it had become a chant in Asgard in the 1st Era to express an apology for something severe. It carried over to the 2nd Era, and apparently the 3rd and 4th Eras too. Lord Gin hadn't known that Odin knew it, and how to use it appropriately. Mayhaps there is yet hope for them.

Loki was prepared to disappoint her father, prepared even to be laughed at for being so nervous. Her father dropping to his knees to apologize and claim responsibility sent shockwaves through her. Spurring those shockwaves on was the fact that she could actually hear the regret and sorrow in his seidr whispers. They were growing steadily louder. The hope that things could change between them that bloomed in her chest was miserable until she truly began to listen to his seidr whispers. Her hope turned from bitter to genuine the longer she listened to it. It built up within her no matter how she tried to tamp down on it. As they grew louder, she could hear something else, a desire for her to know that his sorrow and regret were genuine for how he'd treated her. Loki could hear how her father was truly sorry for what happened between them, what happened to her. The hope was building in her chest until she couldn't tamp down on it any longer. She reached out to him, hoping against hope that perhaps this time could be different. "Father?"

Swift as he could Odin unwound his seidr to array into the Learning Spell, which gathered his memories into it. He created a pearl of seidr in his left hand which held the Learning Spell and his memories. He looked up to his child, tears fresh on his cheeks and offered the pearl to Loki. "Take it, it's yours. It always has been."

Uncertainty caused Loki to hesitate only for a moment. She didn't know that her father had the Learning Spell but didn't worry about it right then. Her curiosity carried her through the motions to take this pearl from her father. What was contained in it was something she could never have imagined.

As soon as her litil-svass took the pearl of Learning Spell knowledge Lady Audhumbla commanded her sjel-seidr to merge once again with the pearl of sjel-seidr in Loki's core. She still wasn't willing to allow Odin to harm her precious litil-svass. She watched through that merger as Loki was presented with many memories from Odin. As Loki watched them so did she, so did her Lord husband. She could feel Lord Gin making a pearl of what he saw out of the Learning Spell and use that same spell to pass it discreetly on to their blood-brother. The timeless Lady could hear through Elder Gorynych's seidr whispers that he was pleased with what Odin had to offer. Her Lord husband was pleased as well. Being honest, so was she. This was the kind of responsibility, humility, and affection that she expected from her bloodline. As an adult Odin had seemed the polar opposite of what she found desirable for a King of Asgard. This showed her just how much both the curse from Lord Borr and the treacherous Asgardian Council of Lords had influenced Odin over the years. Seeing this gave her a sense of peace in how the future was going to get to the bright times of peace that were being offered by the littlest Lord. It was a deep relief to know that Odin could be brought back from the darkness he'd been pushed into. Lady Audhumbla wasn't going to excuse him of the responsibility he had for several of the things he'd done, but this let her see that he was worth the work it was going to take to bring him back. She smiled warmly as she looked into the currents of time flowing around Odin, to see if there was anything else she needed to be aware of. Everything that her Truthspeaker showed her was there, and more. There was really nothing new from what she was already made aware of. Her smile tightened, but it was still well. Odin was willing to take responsibility for his actions and work to make the future better. This was the most basic of requirements she had for her grandchildren. Everything else could be taught at a better moment in time.

The Learning Spell presented the first vivid memory from Odin's perspective. Loki saw her father sitting in his private chambers on his bed weeping. He knew that his youngest child was dead, and his heart was broken because of it. The profound sorrow, loss, and grief in the memory soaked through Loki's thoughts to leave her wondering why he wasn't happy that she wasn't there to be a bother to him anymore. It confused Loki.

The raw shock in Loki's thoughts butted up against the overbearing pride and love in the next memory. Odin was planning out how he was going to sit down with Loki to express how proud he was of his son, and ask what Loki saw himself doing in the future. It was too near to when Loki left Asgard in the fight against him. Loki knew what he was going to be doing in the future. Dying.

After that Loki went on a journey through her father's memories that brought tears to her eyes, which she didn't notice. A multitude of moments of pride and love for Loki as a young man and then older boy played out in front of her. The love in those memories warmed Loki in a way that she hadn't thought was possible. Does he hold affection for me? It seemed inexplicable, but she was staring at it from Odin's perspective and couldn't help but understand. These memories made her father feel like a great and powerful ocean that had frozen over somehow. The ocean wanted to move, wanted to show its love for its little fish, but couldn't. Her father couldn't move, and it had left Loki feeling unwanted and unloved. Now it left Loki confused again. Painful hope spiraled wildly through her chest as she wondered, Has he always held affection for me? Or is this just a dream? Please let it not be a dream!

Another singular memory from Odin played in Loki's mind. She could see the ceremony where she, as an Asgardian Prince, had taken command of the Naglfari. It was one of Asgard's larger voidships, a capital ship. It was a command that she had earned as a member of the Army of the Sky of Asgard, it wasn't gifted to her as a Prince. Through her father's memories she could see, could blessedly feel, just how proud her father was of her earing a command before even being truly a grown adult yet. She remembered how her father looked bored at the promotion ceremony. Through this memory she could see how her father was fighting not to strut proudly. There was still something holding him back. What beast do you worry over father? If you were so proud, why did you hold back then? The little tears that she still didn't notice dripped down Loki's face swiftly.

Another mélange of memories played through Loki's mind. There were more moments of Odin being proud of Loki's skill with magic than she could keep up with. Even though his son's skill with magic worried and sometimes frightened Odin for what it made his son capable of, there was still the undeniable pride of a loving father for his talented son. Loki could even see how her father kept the few things that she made for him as a little boy. They were all sitting in the warded chest in his office that she never bothered to look in. She thought that her father had tossed aside the things she made, since she never saw them again, so she stopped making things for him. It was a wrenching decision for a little boy that this memory eased in the heart of the grown woman that she was now. The shock building up from the other memories sent more tears down her cheeks as the deep love she held for her father came to the surface to mingle with the hope running rampant through her mind and heart.

From there Loki went into another mélange of memories showing her just how proud and impressed Odin was by his son's martial prowess. The old King had already inspired awe in his second son with his own great prowess on the field of battle. That awe came to the forefront of Loki's mind as she saw how her father deftly figured out that she was holding back in the sparing ring and that it was to let Thor win. She could hear his thoughts and his musings on how much Loki was holding back. He knew! He saw it! It would have been a humiliating revelation to Loki except that she could feel how impressed Odin was with the care his second son took to not injure his first son. Many of the memories did bring a familiar anger to the fore though; her anger with the Asgardian Council of Lords. There were many times that Odin wanted to praise both his sons but was cautioned not to by his council. It wasn't just a mysterious beast that her father worried over. He rightly worried over his own Council of Lords.

The mélange of memories changed in content slowly. From her father being proud of her and impressed by what skill she could show at that point to random memories of Odin spending time with Loki when she was a little boy. He loved his second son and loved spending time with him as much as he did his first son. Part of Loki's mind wanted to say that she was always second best, that this didn't change that, but it was wrong. She knew it was wrong. She could see and feel how Odin had always loved his sons equally. There never was a second-best son, and it certainly wasn't Loki.

The heart-wrenching memories flowed into another singular memory. She remembered what happened to a certain extent. Thor wanted to go play outside when they were just little boys, so Loki snuck them out of the healing rooms where she had been staying. As they walked Loki grew warmer and warmer until the little boy felt like he was on fire. As that little boy, Loki thought she could see vivid orange flames covering the floor. The boy collapsed into those flames, and everything went dark. The little boy woke up in the healing rooms, but this was from her father's point of view. From Odin's perspective it began calmly. He was walking through the palace making his way slowly to his office and his waiting Council of Lords. Thor's shrill screams for aid interrupted his thoughts and he went running towards his son. He burst through a door that took him to Thor. Sheer terror tried to break Odin's thoughts as he saw Loki unconscious on the floor with most of the skin missing from his right upper arm and shoulder. It had sloughed off into Thor's hands. The old King scooped up his young son and went immediately to the healing rooms. What shocked Loki was how Thor would have gotten a beating from Odin had Frigga not stopped him. Her mother's argument mirrored Loki's own thoughts on it. Thor was just a boy as well, not much older than Loki. Neither she nor her mother thought Thor could be held accountable for it. It was even more shocking to know that Odin was still angry that it happened. Father is angry with Thor over what happened to me?! That could only be true if he truly loves me. Does, does…

Her musings were cut short as she took another journey through her father's memories of her as a very young boy. As a very small boy Loki had spent hundreds of years in the healing rooms. Her body refused to cooperate with her, instead choosing to attack her. The master of the Chitauri, he, stopped those attacks by cutting into her brain. The memories of that unanesthetized operation still gave her nightmares. No one in the healing rooms had been able to truly heal whatever injury it was. Through these memories she could see how Odin was as actively involved in her health decisions as was possible. The anxious King worried constantly for his beloved son. He even worked with Frey, who he didn't dislike nearly as much as Loki thought he did, to see to Loki's health. It was all for one of the few rays of sunshine he had in his life, for his youngest son. Does father love me? Suddenly Loki could see through Odin's eyes to see herself as a little boy, just a toddler. It shocked Loki to this again since she believed that Odin forgot this. This can't be! Odin had been standing in the doorway to the room where Loki was resting in the healing rooms. He watched the healers work and wondered when he should return Loki to Jotenheim when he looked over and saw Loki smiling at him. The boy was smiling just for him, no one else. Loki was startled when a voice thundered through Odin's mind. "He is mine! He is mine and no one else's!" An edged frost flowed from that voice and Odin didn't seem to notice it. The beast! Lord Borr! When looking at the memory from the inside and outside she could understand how her father thought it was his own mind's voice. It wasn't though, it couldn't be, Loki knew it. There were very few things that it could be, and a curse was the only one that made sense. Is this why father never showed me his affection? Father, is this Lord Borr's curse? The memory pulled Loki's attention back to what she was seeing. Odin listened to the beast and decided that he wouldn't return Loki to Jotenheim. There was love in that decision. There was even more love and fear when Heal Mistress Eir informed Odin that they had done everything they could and that the next few hours would determine if his young son would live. The scared King rushed to his son's side, to Loki's side, and pulled him up into his arms. The boy was frighteningly cold so he held the boy close, using a Regenerative Weave on the boy and whispering, "Please stay. Stay with me a little longer. Don't go." Loki remembered being warm and in no pain. She remembered the light and the love that she felt; that she would do anything for the person who gave her that peace. She could see now how Odin was the one in pain as he feared losing his young son. This memory was Loki's first memory. She remembered the pain, and the healers working on her. Everything was pain until Odin came to the rescue. This was the memory that carried her forward no matter how dark things got, and now she had both sides to it. The light of the memory was dim before that day. It was dimmed by centuries of cold interactions and a lack of love to feed it. It was shining brightly now, and she didn't think that the light could ever dim again.

From that little room Loki traveled to another small room. Odin had come home from Jotenheim carrying a sleeping baby Loki under his cloak. He brought Loki to Frigga who took the baby happily. Odin marveled at the baby when the little boy deliberately turned to him and smiled. His tiny hands held onto his new mother's dress, and he let out a tiny happy squeak. Odin kept trying to go over the cold plans that he had for the boy but was having to fight his own mind to do it. The excitement of having a new son was so prevalent in his mind that he never wanted to use those plans. The memory was small compared to the other ones, but it was just as important. Over top of the last of the memory Loki could hear a whisper that brought a blinding amount of love with it. Odin's voice was strong as he spoke quietly. "I've always loved you, always been proud. I haven't done enough to give you proof of this. That was my fault, never yours. It never meant that you were unloved, just that I failed to prove my love to you." Finally, Loki could feel that the ocean was thawed and moving again. It covered her in waves of love that she'd waited a lifetime for.

The citrine light of Odin's seidr faded away from Loki's eyes. The light of those memories still burned brightly in her mind. Tears streaming from her eyes obscured her vision while a sense of hope filled her heart that wasn't bitter. Tentatively, Loki looked down to her father. Her mind warned against accepting this apology. It's false, her mind said. She saw the truth in Odin's memories. It's a trick, her mind said more loudly. There was no trick in the deep sorrow in Odin's seidr whispers, only honesty. It isn't real, her mind almost screamed at her. The reality was in Odin's expression of sorrow and love. It won't last, her mind screeched at her. The love that Loki saw in Odin's eyes was the kind that she felt for Odin himself. It was eternal, honest, real, true. This was the love that her father had for her. She reached out hastily crying loudly and launching herself off the side of the bed. The blankets caught on her legs and came with her. "Father!"

Opening his arms, Odin caught Loki before she hit the floor. He wrapped his arms around her and held her in his lap in a tight hug. James' profound calm was still pushing at his thoughts, but it couldn't calm the joy he felt at having Loki back. There was no calming that. Only the despair at what he caused his son to endure was pushed back by the calm. There was more hope that Odin could feel James offering to everyone. It was hope for the future. As Odin looked down at his child who had such a look of love on her face, he could truly feel that hope. "I'm so sorry, my child. I'm so very sorry. I should have tried harder to show you my affections. It was my fault. All of this is my fault. I'm so sorry." He whispered it to her over and over, hoping that she might hear and understand it.

"I missed you so much!" If this was a dream then Loki never wanted it to end. After such a long time of waiting, wondering, and despairing she finally had her father's love. Even if it was a dream, she decided this was the best dream that she had ever had. Overwhelming love and light pervaded her thoughts. Hope, for once not treacherous, grew wings and took glorious flight in her heart. Despite already being small as a woman, Loki had never felt so light. She was cared for, and this didn't feel rare like being cared for normally did. This felt like it should have always been this way, and forever after would be. It was a dream that Loki could feel taking over her reality, a moment worth waiting for.

Reaching over to hold her brother's hand, Frigga smiled at her husband and daughter. Odin had rarely given such a humble or serious apology before. She suspected that it was only her and Frey who had received such an apology. Frigga was bitter over those apologies now. Odin was owed apologies, but the nithingr who owed them was dead. She put that out of her mind since she was with her family. Lord Borr didn't belong in her family, or anywhere near it. What she wasn't bitter over, what pleased her more the longer that she saw it was how Odin had never been so open with his emotions as he was that day. It spoke to her of his intent to truly change. They were all changing for the better. It made her so happy to see and be a part of it.

When Loki lunged off the bed Lord Gin extended his soul through his white seidr around her swiftly. He wasn't going to let her injure herself when she was supposed to be resting, letting her white seidr fully stabilize in her new flesh and bone. Thankfully, Odin caught her before the old High King had to intervene. So far Odin was doing well. Lord Gin liked the love for Loki that he saw in the memories while disliking the clear effect of the curse that Odin was suffering from. He wasn't going to say that he was anything but disappointed in Odin before that day. He knew that even if there was a reason for the overwhelming body of negative interactions between Odin and Loki, that it wasn't going to be a good reason. Without his Lady wife's sight into the currents of time around Odin he hadn't known what that reason could be. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted to know. Lord Borr was, and would always be, the greatest disappointment of the line of Asgardian Kings. Odin's warmongering when he grew to be a man seemed like a clear sign that he'd taken after Lord Borr's madness. All of those lives lost so that he could keep sinn vopnasmithur (his Queen). Lord Gin could understand it, after all he had to wage a few wars himself to have his Lady wife become his Queen, and would wage any number of wars more to keep her as his Queen. There was a madness that only his bloodline bore, the madness surrounding finding, wooing, marrying, and keeping their vopnasmithur. The things that Odin had done weren't acceptable even in the pursuit of a vopnasmithur, but the old High Lord did understand. Through their mental link he could see how his Lady wife had decided to begin instructing Odin, deeming him worthy of the work. Lord Gin couldn't disagree, there was a great deal of work to do and that it would be worth it in the end. A wide smile turned his lips up as warmth crept into his eyes.

Giving Loki another tight hug, Odin scooped her up into his arms then stood with her. He extended his seidr to grip and untangle her blankets. The casual ankle-length tunic dress that Loki was wearing was straightened out and smoothed down so that her chemise wasn't showing. Only when everything was straightened out did he set her back on the bed where she belonged, covering her over with her blankets. His seidr extension twisted back into his core. Odin gave her a kiss on the forehead and then let her go. "I think your mother would like some of your time too," he said, holding his hand out for her. She took his hand and he turned to Frigga and held out his other hand to her, which she took. Odin pulled gently on Frigga hand, bringing her over to their child and putting Loki's hand in Frigga's. Stepping back, he started to motion for Frigga to go to Loki, but Frigga was already there with tears in her eyes.

For the first time in years Frigga was holding her child's hand again. A little sob escaped her so that she covered her mouth with her free hand. Tears flooded her eyes as sorrow, joy, anticipation, satisfactions, guilt, remorse, despair coming along with just a little thrill, and so many more came together in a churning maelstrom of emotion that filled her mind forcefully. Sitting quickly next to Loki, Frigga pulled her daughter into a tight hug. Despairing and loving words tumbled from her mouth as the thoughts buzzed around in her mind. "My child! I missed you so much! I love you. I've always loved you," she sobbed again, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I thought you knew." Frigga pulled back slowly then stroked her fingers down the side of Loki's face. "I wish I had seen you like this years ago. You're so beautiful." The weeping Queen pulled her child back into a quick hug. When she pulled back again Frigga held both of Loki's hands and looked deep into her eyes. "You felt unloved for so long, but should never have felt unloved at all. I failed you. I thought that I made my affections clear to you. I never wanted the hate in Asgard for Jotens to touch you. That this hate overwhelmed my love for you is my fault," tears leaked from her eyes at a steady pace, but her expression hardened as the underlying fury came to the surface, "When I return to Asgard I will be addressing this hate. It's no longer tolerable. It never should have been." Another little sob passed over her features, and more tears leaked down her cheeks. "I know that you," she paused, "can't come home to Asgard now, but I will be rid of this hate, for you. I will make it a welcoming place for you to visit."

The bladed look in her mother's eyes was what Loki knew true fury to be. It was miraculously not directed at her though. In a very honest and open way it made Loki feel protected and loved. Both of her parents were making her feel loved in a way that she hadn't felt in centuries. Loki had the love of her grandparents. She had the love of her husband, of James, and of her children. None of them could fill the chasm that the loss of her parents' love had created. Now she could see that love again. It was in her mother's eyes. She could feel that love again. It was in her mother's seidr whispers. There was nothing false in what she was seeing or feeling, no serene politeness or reassurances that felt disingenuous. There was a raw passion in those words that moved her heart wondrously. It wasn't just the passion of a parent for their child, of a mother for her daughter. It was the passion of her mother for her. "Mother!" Loki lunged forward to hug her mother again. If this is a dream, this is the greatest dream I've ever had!

Another small sob overtook Frigga as she heard loudly in Loki's seidr whispers that Loki believed this to be a marvelous dream. She held her daughter close and stroked a hand over the back of her head. "I promise you, my child, this is no dream. My love for you is real. Your father's love for you is real. Your brother's love for you is real. I love you as my own because you are. Your father loves you as his own because you are." A little shudder went through Loki and Frigga continued to stroke the back of her child's head. Loki had her face buried in Frigga's shoulder. She could feel Loki's tears and hear the happiness in Loki's seidr whispers. "You have always been our child. We don't care how you came to us. You will always be our child. We will never give you up."

The weight of her own heavenly joy was too much for Loki to bear. No matter how she tried to hold it in it still spilled out like a flood colored in all the shades of joy and wonder that she felt. There was no control capable of holding that flood back. She held tight to her mother and prayed to any deity listening that this would last. Fat tears welled up in her eyes to pour down her cheeks. In a brief instant of panic that melted away under the joy as well, Loki decided that she wasn't going to struggle with control. Her emotions had wrested that control from her, and she didn't feel like retrieving it just yet. The raw weight of the joy cascading through Loki uncurled her seidr from her core forcefully to light her runework in emerald green. In an instant all of the seidr was changed so that her runework was lit in every color but orange. "Mother, I missed you so much!"

For several minutes Frigga held her child with a loving smile on her face. The past several years had left her mired in grief in an Asgardian palace that was far too quiet for her tastes. What had been an ever-present air of mischief was gone. It left the palace feeling cold and joyless. She had taken to spending much more time with her first son, since her second was gone from her. Even that didn't work out so well as Thor had other things to attend to since he was a grown man now. As Frigga held Loki she could feel that coldness receding. Her child's joy at their reunion matched her own. Love warmed them both.

A pleasant smile touched James' lips as he watched the reconciliation of Loki and her parents. It looked to him like Frey also had things to say to her but was waiting for Odin and Frigga to say their peace. So far, this was going better than he expected. Part of James had expected Loki to deny this happening because of sheer disbelief. Odin seemed to have overcome that disbelief with whatever it was that he handed to Loki. What was handed over was filled with love if Loki's seidr whispers were to be believed. Those memories made it easier for Loki to believe Frigga when she apologized in a rush of unplanned words. Odin and Frigga were speaking from the heart, which was what Loki needed to hear. She needed to hear their love for her. He didn't think that Frey would do any less. It was one of the few times when he had seen love inspire a shock that could bypass such hardened beliefs. The heartfelt words brought an idea to his thoughts. These were words that his younger brother needed to hear as well. He would have to deal with the shock, which meant more time purifying his younger brother, but he could manage that. He was going to share this scene with Anthony, that wasn't an issue, but he wanted to have more. He thought it might be pushy to ask for more, but knew he could probably play it off easily as 'Midgardian forwardness'. Ultimately, he wanted the family to come together peacefully. If he needed to be a little pushy, then he would be.

The pale Vanaheimr monarch came forward to kneel beside the bed next to Loki. What Frey wanted to apologize to Loki for was no less serious in his mind that what Odin had apologized for. Waiting for her to recognize him, he spoke when she had finished hugging Frigga. Though tears of joy were still streaming down her face, he knew he had her attention. Taking Loki's hand, he pressed his forehead to the back of it in the traditional pose of regret on Vanaheim. Cold little tears welled up in his eyes. "I was wrong to subject you to the long years of hate for Odin and Asgard that I did. I was wrong to place my hate above you. What that hate forced you into is my fault. It will always be my fault." The tears welling up overflowed his eyes to streak down his cheeks. He had already apologized to Loki for what happened to her that was his fault but had never apologized for the reason behind it. It was a reason that he hadn't been able to see until recently. So now it was time to fully apologize to his beloved niece. "I'm so sorry for what happened to you because of my hate. It should never have happened. If you had been able to come to me for aid, then these things wouldn't have happened. In my hate I am responsible for your pain. I'm so sorry, Loki. This wasn't what I wanted for you, it never was." The pain of knowing that he forced his dear nephew to endure came to the front of his mind as he knelt before his beloved niece. "I can't undo what I've caused, but I promise you that I will strive to never be swayed by hate again. I do this for you, to honor the sacrifices you've made."

Frey's apology was as welcome to Elder Gorynych as Odin and Frigga's was. The Elder could feel Loki's happiness at being validated instead of chastised. These were honestly the three people who Loki needed the most validation from. Litil-svass had always had the love of the draconic Elder, Lord Gin, and Lady Audhumbla. Their love couldn't make up for the abyss in his litil-svass' heart that not having the open love of her parents and uncle had created. These were good apologies to him. Elder Gorynych liked how Odin, Frigga, and Frey felt confident and secure enough to make these needed apologies particularly pleased the Elder. It wasn't just them doing this, they had support that he felt needed to be acknowledged. It was just that the one supporting them didn't want that acknowledgement. James Rhodes was still leaning quietly against the wall. The calming soul song playing from his white seidr was loud with its notes of hope. It was directly supporting Loki, Odin, Frigga, and Frey without them understanding the nature of the support that they were receiving. Elder Gorynych understood though. The support of one of the colossals was no small boon. The real question to the Elder wasn't if James Rhodes was truly one of the colossals, but how he came to be one. As far as anyone knew only beasts were able to ascend to that level of raw power. No man should have been able to, yet there this man stood in defiance of everything that they knew. Now that Elder Gorynych knew that a man had ascended he wanted to know more, to know how it might have happened. Does this man know how it happened? Did he stumble into this power accidentally? How? And when? What is he protecting with this power? He continued to discreetly observe James Rhodes in hopes of gleaning any information that might lead him to answers.

More shock filled Loki's thoughts. It was almost enough to freeze her. This was the reason why she hadn't come to her uncle when she needed aid so desperately. She knew he would have tried to burn Asgard to the ground as a solution to the problem of the master of the Chitauri's most recent invasion. She never blamed him for it though, never would have asked him to change for her sake. Yet there he was apologizing and clearly understanding what the problem was. He had changed on his own and it brought a singing joy to Loki to almost caused her to fling herself from the bed again. Without the hate clouding her uncle's vision her dreams of her uncle and father getting along seemed more like plausible realities. Loki reached for his hand and pulled him up so that she could get a hug from him as well. "I don't blame you for what happened. I've never blamed any of you. I understand why things happened as they did." Her smile couldn't get any wider, though she wished it could, when she felt him use a discreet Healing Spell on her to check on her health and the health of her baby. She didn't know what changes he might have made, if any, when he withdrew the Healing Spell. All Loki knew was that she felt so much better than before they arrived. She wondered if she would have to lie to them as she'd lied to her husband, and forgive them. She would never, could never, truly forgive them since she didn't hold them responsible. The knowledge that this was Lord Borr and the Master of the Chitauri's fault was firmly planted in her mind. She couldn't forgive them either, but that wasn't for a lack of blame.

Through his Healing Spell, Frey quickly cleared some of the stress hormones from Loki's blood. They weren't healthy for the baby. With that taken care of he withdrew his spell swiftly, furling his seidr back to his core. Loki's words echoed through his thoughts as he worked. He already knew that she didn't hold him accountable for his despicable actions. That just made it worse for Frey. That was the knife in his chest that he struggled with. He'd done this to someone who loved him enough to not hold him responsible. The cold tears in his eyes trickled down his face as he whispered to her. "I'm so sorry, child."

A little glint of a smirk crept into Elder Gorynych's smile as more approval filtered into his thoughts. There were many times that he'd used stealthy Healing Magics on Loki as they'd gone adventuring. Over the years she'd come to recognize them when he used them. The very last one he used on his litil-svass drew a dismissive handwave from Loki along with a, "I'm well, afi. There's no need for that." He was always so proud that his litil-svass tried to do for him/herself. It wasn't the time or the place for it, but he knew that he was going to have to give Loki lessons on when to ask for aid. Though she already knew how to ask, she clearly didn't have the strongest grasp on when to do it. A warrior does not go to battle against overwhelming odds if they know the time to ask for aid.

As Loki curled her seidr back into her core, extinguishing her runework, a light wave of fatigue swept over her. She didn't feel well enough to use so much seidr just yet, but she didn't mind the feeling of being tired. This most marvelous of events, this confluence of dreams come true was well worth the tiredness in her eyes. Patting the bed around her, she made her request. "Sit with me. Stay with me for a while, please?"

After giving each of them a solid look, Lord Gin moved back so that they could sit with her.

While Loki moved herself more towards the center of the bed, the three monarchs dried their faces. They all moved forward into the future together. Frey moved around to her left side and Odin moved to sit on her right side. Frigga scooted a little closer to Loki and the center of the bed. The younger woman tried to sit up and be alert for this moment in time. Loki smiled at each of the three monarchs in turn, there was something she needed to say as well. "I'm sorry that you were hurt by this. I never wanted to hurt any of you."

Frigga laid a hand on Loki's knee and smiled sadly. "This isn't your fault, my child."

"It was ours." Frey looked seriously to Loki as he agreed with his beloved sister.

Taking up Loki's right hand, Odin also smiled sadly at his child. There was no apology owed to him for his failure. It was obscene that there was even the opportunity for him to accept that ill-considered apology. "This was pain we deserved for what we did, and what we failed to do. We failed you, Loki. I failed you." Looking to his wife quickly, he smiled at her before looking back to Loki. "I don't want an apology from you. I don't deserve one. I only want you to know that I have always and will always hold you in my heart. I'm so proud of you for what you did, for how many lives you safeguarded. You owe no apologies to us, particularly not to me."

"You were hurt, father." Loki wanted to argue the point out of habit, but the urge died down as swiftly as her voice. There was so much undisguised love in her father's eyes that it lightened the color from a duller blue to something brilliant and sharp. That it was love for her was amazing.

"Mistakes are painful, as they should be. I've made many mistakes in how I've handled you, and your brother," nodding over to his own Little Brother, "and Frey."

Hesitating just a little, Loki asked something that she was still disbelieving about. "Have you and Frey truly taken on the mantles of brotherhood?" She needed to know to what extent her world had been turned upside down.

Nodding, Odin replied to the probing question. "Truly. I made the offer and Frey graciously accepted." Instead of stopping, he decided to pursue a course of honesty. "I apologized to Frey, and then made my offer. I'm working to earn his forgiveness, as I will work to earn yours."

"I'm not angry with you father." She wished she could explain to her loved ones her thoughts on anger. She felt it certainly, but never tried to point it at those she cared about. It hurt her to be angry with those she cared most about.

Do you truly hide your emotions from even yourself, Odin wondered of his child. "How could you not hold anger for what I've done and allowed to happen?" He held her hand gently and looked into her eyes. "Don't be afraid to be angry for what happened, for what you've endured. Anger is natural in the course of resolving these things within yourself. Resolving the anger can aid to rebalance your mind." It wasn't his experience in dealing with his own emotions, but it was his experience in dealing with the workings of other people's minds. "Don't be afraid of it," his voice tightened, "and don't be afraid of me."

Her eyes shined with all the love that she had for her father. Loki held his hand and leaned in to rest against his arm. "I won't be," she spoke quietly. Loki knew that she had always been smaller than her father but was tiny next to him now. He didn't seem to might though. She liked that he didn't seem to mind now. Looking up at her uncle on her other side, she held his hand with her other hand. "You truly accepted the mantle of brotherhood, Uncle Frey?"

A smile lit Frey's face, not just his eyes. "It was never Odin who should have borne the brunt of my wrath," he shook his head lightly as he spoke, "It was always Borr. He stole Odin from me and tore us apart, but no longer." A darkening of his eyes came as he continued to speak. "It was Odin who convinced Borr to spare your mother and I when he would have carved us into bloody chunks. My brother, your father has suffered tremendously for that decision. I won't just support you to heal. I'll be supporting him as well." His returning smile banished the growing darkness in his eyes. "Now that I know the truth, I'm happy to call Odin my Elder Brother. It should have been this way long ago."

The honest light of truth was lighting her uncle's eyes. Loki looked back to her father. "What of this curse, father?"

The instinct to steer Loki away from this terrible truth was apparent to Frigga both on her husband's face and in their imprinting. "The nithingr cursed your father because he couldn't stand against him directly." She scooted over and took Odin's free hand on hers, so that he was holding onto both her and their child. "The coward's curse attacks your father for disobeying Borr's wishes," she smiled proudly at Odin, "but it has begun to be undone today. This day we fought back against Borr." Another fierce look accompanied her statement. "That nithingr is going to lose this contest of wills."

Worry streaked across Loki's face almost as fast as it wormed its way into her thoughts. She turned her attention back to her father. "Attacks? What attacks?! What does the curse do to you?" She didn't expect an answer, but still wanted to know.

It was very close, but Odin managed to refrain from saying, "You don't need to worry about it, I'll handle it." It was right on the tip of his tongue, coming from the urge to not worry his child over something that couldn't be changed. He stopped as he set aside the urge from his thoughts. It was this same attitude that led his child to believe himself/herself unloved. Looking down at Loki he could see the same worry that he'd seen many times over their years together. He wasn't going to dismiss that worry again. "It strikes at my heartstring should I disobey it. It infects my thoughts with its own madness." Looking away from Loki and to his left hand, he wondered how much of his anger with Loki as the boy was growing up was his own and how much was Lord Borr's madness infecting his thoughts. When Loki took his hand in hers and turned it over, he smiled gently.

"You removed your scar?" That was surprising to Loki. Scars were highly prized in the Elder Realms as proof of prowess through survival. Though the scar that split her father's hand in half was widely respected, she had seen how her father hated it with a seething spitefulness. She knew that her father refused to have it removed but could never figure out why. It was more curious to her now that he finally had.

"Borr gave me the wound. His curse infected it." Loki's hands looked so much smaller than his own. His daughter was so much more delicate than his second son ever was.

It sounded to Loki like this curse was spreading like a disease. It must have been a powerful curse to spread on its own. She uncurled her seidr from her core and composed a Healing Spell. Releasing the spell towards her father's hand, she looked over the hand in hers. There was no curse and no scar. There was nothing for her to heal, so she withdrew her spell, broke it down into seidr and curled it back into her core. A light wave of dizziness swept over her while the tiredness continued its march through her. She wanted to sleep, but she also wanted to spend time with her parents and uncle. Loki covered her mouth when a yawn sprung itself on her. Turning to her uncle, she asked her next question. "Did you see to the scar?"

"Your mother and I did. Borr's curse tried to attack us while we worked, but it was fought it back. I know how to fight it back now should it invade Odin's hand again." Frey smiled down at Loki. "We can support him as he breaks the curse."

"And he will! Today was a grim day, but many fine things still happened. Your father beginning this fight powerfully is one of them." Frigga moved to reassure Loki. She didn't like the worry in her child's eyes.

"Is this why you've always hated that scar? It must be." Loki wondered something then as she looked up at her father. "How did it happen?"

Anxiety spiraled suddenly through Odin's thoughts. This wasn't what he wanted to discuss with his child, or anyone. It was only because he had Sean's aid that he was able to make it through this the last time.

Stepping forward quickly, Sean smiled reassuringly at Lady Loki. It was still his opinion that Odin needed support in this issue since he was still the victim of crimes. "Good evening, Lady Loki. My name is Sean McCorrmick. I'm Lady Audhumbla's Truthspeaker, and I can assist you with this matter." When the small Lady's eyes went wide he made more effort at making his smile reassuring. "The events this scar stemmed from are traumatic for your father. I understand your curiosity, and it's justified. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to ask him to relive that memory."

Her gaze went immediately to her Amma. "You have a Truthspeaker?" This hadn't been mentioned to Loki so far. It was shocking enough that it was even considered. That Lady Audhumbla, the High Queen of the Nine Realms, had found someone worthy enough to be her Truthspeaker was truly shocking. This hadn't ever happened before. If her Amma wanted to speak she'd do it herself, or occasionally through one of her Norn handmaidens. Who could be worthy enough to fill the position? As she looked over the young man she noticed his eyes right away. They were some sort of crystal that shined in a deep violet where the irises should have been. They brought with them an air of the ethereal. That air was enhanced by the dots of sunny seidr crystal around his eyes, starting at the top of his eyebrows and curving around to the under of the eyes. Loki knew the moment she set her eyes on them that it was her uncle's seidr on her Amma's Truthspeaker. Something about it tickled her memories, but she couldn't place it.

Lady Audhumbla liked the honor her Truthspeaker displayed in stepping forward to defend someone he felt needed that defense. She wished she had the opportunity to view more of him in the currents of time, but she would never disrespect one of the Satska Soledras by looking without permission. She respected them and the bargain her Lord husband made with his Little Brother concerning the treatment of his Little Brother's descendants. With how very much Sean was like one of the Satska Soledras of old she wanted to simply ask if he knew who she and her Lord husband were. She wanted to, but didn't want to scare him off either. His father seemed to know who her Lord husband was. Unfortunately, Gabriel McCorrmick had been so shocked at being brought back to life that her Lord husband hadn't been able to get a straight answer out of the younger soul. She was still patient though. Gabriel and the rest of the dead of the clan had been retrieved from Midgard and would be rested soon enough. They would have their answers then. Looking to her litil-svass, she nodded and smiled softly. "He is worthy." Her voice was soft as her smile.

Her gaze went back to the Truthspeaker and Loki smiled tentatively. "Truthspeaker McCorrmick. It's so good to meet you."

"Please, call me Sean. There's no need for you to stand on formality around me. I'd prefer you be comfortable." While Sean did his best to exude calm reassurance. In that moment he was glad that James was there to actually exude that calm reassurance.

"Thank you, I will.., Sean. Please call me Loki, just Loki." Taking a quick pause, Loki formulated her questions. "You can answer my questions, instead of father?"

"There are some memories I would never ask you to relive, and it isn't because you're cowardly or weak. To ask you to relive these things would be cruel, dishonorable, and impractical. I would never be so heartless as to do that. Likewise, there are some things that I would never ask your father to relive. You're both brave warriors, but we both know that bravery has little to do with overwhelming memories. It's why I'm volunteering my services to both of you. I can discuss sensitive matters privately so that there's clarity with compassion." Honestly, you both need some help. You both need Eidesh. Sean missed Matt like he missed his mother then. There was never a time when he didn't miss his father and his reflected sibling. His twin brother, Aiden, would have been better at this, Sean knew, but he wasn't and couldn't be there, so Sean had to handle this and everything else himself.

The thought that her father sustained the same types of wounds to his mind as she had worried Loki greatly. "What did the Mad King do?" As she asked Sean her questions she held onto her father's hand tightly.

As Sean was extending his seidr to Odin to ask wat he could discuss with Loki, Odin flared out his seidr to him instead. Loki can know what happened, if he, if she wants it, the Asgardian monarch's seidr whispered to him. I'll see that it happens, Sean's seidr whispered in return. "Your father made a bargain with Lord Borr. Lord Borr sealed the bargain in blood by cutting Odin's hand in half, then cutting his own hand.

Sealed in blood! That could easily corrupt! "What bargain?! For what?"

Taking a breath, Sean answered as best he could. "It was a bargain for your mother and uncle's lives. Your father would play three 'games' a week for two years with Lord Borr." As Loki was asking about these 'games' Sean held up his hand to silence her. "The 'games' were an hour long torture session three times a week where Lord Borr tried to see what damage he could inflict without leaving behind telling marks on the face and hands, or permanent maiming, that would betray his actions to others."

When her horrified gaze went to her father Loki could see a convincing awkwardness there that she didn't want to see. Her father liked talking about this as much as she liked talking about her time with the Chitauri and their master. It wasn't what she wanted to see though, even though it was something she needed to see. The knowledge spread like the light of dawn to touch on so many things that had been left in the dark. There were things she had to fight against as a parent with post-traumatic stress disorder, agitators that she was sensitive to. Loki could see that her father had the same things to fight against. She could also see how the curse fought against him causing him to lose many of the battles he waged against those dark things. Seeing herself reflected in her father's eyes should could also see her own part in it. She believed herself unloved, so she acted out and agitated him further. In the terrible light of understanding Loki could finally see how she and her father had clashed like dueling tornados when they could have easily flowed together. She lunged at her father again, hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry father! I should have spoken with you instead of acting out!"

Again, Odin held his daughter in a tight hug. "You owe me no apologies. It was my responsibility to see to you, not for you to see to me."

More little tears welled up in Loki's eyes to trickle down her cheeks and onto her father's vest. Regret filled her thoughts with a sudden forcefulness. There were so many things said and done that she couldn't take back, so much time wasted that she couldn't get back, that Loki wanted to begin weeping again. Before that regret could move too far through her mind, she felt a massive spike of hopeful calm launch itself into her thoughts. It was James again, she knew it. This was the calm that could bring her back from the jagged edge of her memories. The hope in the calm was new, but not unwelcome. It wound its way through her thoughts. She could feel James shepherding her towards hope instead of despair. There were many times before where she'd been tempted towards despair while he was near. He'd never once let her give in to that temptation, and she was as glad now as she was in all the other instances. Sniffling a little, Loki pulled back to sit next to her father again. "I'll do better from now onwards."

"We will do better." Odin hadn't expected, or even wanted, an apology from Loki. He was truly grateful that things had gone so well though. The real hope that he felt that the future would be bright felt validated and vindicated in this moment. The little yawn that Loki tried to quickly cover over reminded him that she was still recovering. Loki needed rest in order to recover. As little as he wanted to let his child go, he was going to have to so that she could get that rest. "You need more rest." His voice was soft in the quiet room.

As much as Loki wanted to protest and keep them here, she could still feel James in the room. He was a reminder that if she wanted to get to Anthony, she needed to be healthy. "I don't want to let go, but I do need to sleep." She spoke reluctantly, looking up and hoping that her father wouldn't be angry or offended or disappointed. Wonderfully, he didn't look like he was any of those things.

Odin outright didn't want to go, but he couldn't help but be surprised and proud of Loki for deciding to rest when she needed it. He was expecting a small fight to convince her that she still needed rest. Loki is changing as I am. It was another hopeful thought, so was the one after it, "Perhaps we could have breakfast together tomorrow. We could speak more then."

A wonderful expression of happiness came over Loki and she turned to her Amma and each Afi. Each Afi would give in to her wants in this. It was her Amma who she would need to convince. "May we please, Amma? It would be delightful!"

It was only because Odin, Frigga, and Frey had behaved so well that she was willing to acquiesce to the request. It certainly didn't hurt that James Rhodes was there to sing calm out for everyone. "Very well." Turning pointedly, she spoke to him. "James, would you care to join us as well?"

"Certainly, that sounds wonderful. I can bring everything we need for breakfast, if you'd like me to." James didn't mind adding something new to his schedule unexpectedly. His younger brothers added things to his calendar without consulting him first all the time.

"Do you take butter with your breakfast?" Lord Gin liked where this was going.

"Yes. Do you prefer animal or plant based butter?" James smiled pleasantly.

"Animal." He hadn't been aware that there was a plant based butter. Loki hadn't told him about that. Butter was a Midgardian treasure in his opinion. It was much like what his mother used to make when he was young.

"I have a lovely Irish butter that's quite nice. I'll bring it along. Is there anything else that anyone wants?" He looked to everyone else in the room, seeing if anyone was going to make a request. James waited patiently.

Lord Gin wasn't the only one who liked the thought of having a full Midgardian breakfast. Odin still didn't have explicit confirmation that James was the one who sent them the wonderful food from earlier. It was food that he wanted more of. Jay was certain that it was James who sent it to us. He hesitated for just a moment before he spoke up. "Do you have sausages for breakfast, as with the platter of food from earlier?"

"Those were snack sausages, but there are breakfast sausages. There are traditional breakfast sausages and sausage patties. There are chicken, turkey, pork, goat, beef, and wild game sausages. There are also sausages with fruit or blood or spices. I can bring a selection if you'd like." A moment passed and before Odin could answer him, James put forward an idea. "Why don't I just bring a selection of Midgardian breakfast foods? That way everyone could have something that they like."

Frigga was unsure about this, so she used a quick discreet Healing Spell on herself to check on the health of her baby. The baby was healthy and growing well. There was no sign of corruption as the Culinary College said there would be after eating non-College approved food. She wondered then if maybe there was something special about Midgardian food that prevented the corruption. If that was it, she decided, then Midgardian food had to be extremely healthy. "That would be wonderful, James. Thank you." Yes, thank you for the marvelous food, and thank you for being so calming for us.

"You're very welcome, Frigga." He nodded to the smiling Queen.

Loki knew that she shouldn't have been surprised that James was already on a first name basis with her parents. She was though. James' ability to ingratiate himself into any situation that he wanted to be in was always impressive to her. It was almost as impressive as the calm he was able to project to her at a moment's notice. Sitting there with her grandparents, one who was a Norn, one who was an immortal guardian King, and one who was a draconic Elder, she wondered suddenly if there wasn't more to James than she'd thought. Loki didn't have time to wonder more as her father leaned down and gave her another hug.

"Rest well, my child. May your dreams be peaceful." Odin whispered quietly to Loki before he pulled back, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and then slid off the side of the bed to make room for Frigga.

They were leaving too soon for Frigga's liking. She'd barely had any time with her child. She wanted more time with Loki but knew that her child was right to seek rest. In a way it made her happy to see her child finally taking care of herself. She slid off the side of the bed and moved up to give her daughter a hug. Frigga took Loki into her arms and held her smaller child tightly. When she finally pulled back she moved to place her hands on either side of Loki's face. Her daughter was so beautiful. "You're so beautiful, and I will love you always." Frigga placed a small kiss on Loki's forehead, whispering against her child's forehead. "Rest well, my child." Frigga moved back then to give Frey some room to say goodbye.

His beloved sister and his brother had said their goodbyes, so Frey leaned over and pulled Loki into an embrace. "I want you to rest, child. We'll see you again first thing tomorrow." Kissing her on the forehead, he pulled back and smiled at the peaceful love in her eyes.

The smile on Loki's face widened as she spoke. "I owe you a trinket. I'll have to find something to learn and make."

"You could make something for all three of us?" Frey hoped that she would. Frigga and Odin would do well with a symbol of Loki's love in their hands. Loki would do well making that symbol and having it validated by her parents. It would help everyone to heal and move forward.

Less hesitation filled Loki than she thought there should have been. It was certainly less than there normally would have been before that day. "You think…?"

"I know." Frey answered her question swiftly. His seidr flared out to Loki to whisper, They will love anything you make for them. They love you.

Leaning forward, Loki hugged her uncle again. "I will! I don't know what, but I'll make something for each of you. I promise that I will."

"That's good." He whispered as he returned her hug. Pulling back he smiled down at her. "Now rest well, child." Frey slid off the side of the bed and moved around to stand with Frigga and Odin. "We'll see each other soon."

Loki pulled her blanket up higher. She looked over to her parents and uncle. So much love filled her expression that even she felt it shining out to them. "Tomorrow morning then. I'll rest well. I love you all."

"We love you." Odin held Frigga's hand as he spoke to his daughter.

Lady Audhumbla moved briskly around the bed towards the door to the room. "We thank you for visiting with us this evening." She set her hand on the handle to the door and extended her sjel-seidr into the door. Once it was extended into the door fully she commanded it to align the room and the hallway in time. With them aligned she looked back to her grandson, his wife and Frey. "This was quite pleasant. We look forward to vising with you again."

Odin stepped forward to speak for the three of them. "Thank you for allowing us in, Lady Audhumbla. We greatly appreciate it." Sudden motion to the side caught their attention.

There was a slim opportunity before him, so James took it. He walked quickly over to Loki. "Did the book help last time?"

A little flush of embarrassment chased across Loki's face. "It wasn't enough."

He summoned three cubed boxes from his interdimensional pocket. They were about a twelve inches on any of the six sides. James stacked them on the small bedside table. Looking down at her he aimed his soul song of stillness at her, stamping the song onto the white seidr of her forehead. It would help her dreams to be calm as she slept. "I know you have a hard time sleeping, and that it might take longer for you to get a full night's sleep," he nodded towards the boxes, "so you'll have these if you can't get yourself to sleep easily."

Excitement lit up Loki's eyes to flare brightly beside the love. "What do they have?"

Chuckling quietly, James smiled calmly. "You'll have to open them to find out." He held up his hand, pointing one finger at her. "But only if you can't sleep. Remember, you need rest to be healthy."

A half relieved, half excited sigh left Loki's lips. She was too tired to fight against him, not that she wanted to either. "I'll try to sleep first."

James summoned a small misty bottle from his interdimensional pocket. It was filled with a light lavender vanilla scented perfume. "For your pillows." He set the bottle on the table next to the boxes. After that he summoned a silken, glass-bead-weighted blanket that was folded neatly. He set it down on the bed next to her. The special protective wards on it were plainly obvious for how powerful they were. A light heat radiated from the blanket's enchantment.

"I'll sleep well tonight." A wide grin touched Loki's face, and she didn't think it was odd or embarrassing that James knew how she liked to sleep. He knew so much anyway.

Stepping forward, James leaned down and wasn't surprised to see Loki leaning forward some. He put his hands on the side of her head, turning her head so that he could place a kiss on the top of her head. "You are loved." He whispered against her scalp. Pulling back he gave her a small cheeky bow and a little, "My Lady," which drew a little laugh from her. He knew when to be serious in his decorum and was a very serious individual. Every now and again he injected some silliness into his decorum, and it always got a laugh from her. "Sleep well." He turned towards the two men in the room who Loki called 'Afi' and bowed with all seriousness. "Thank you for allowing us to visit." Turning towards Lady Audhumbla he bowed to her as well. "Thank you for allowing them to visit, and thank you for allowing Loki to have breakfast with them tomorrow. It's very kind of you and I appreciate it."

"You are very welcome James." Nodding to her grandson. "You are welcome also." Considering it for less than a moment she spoke again, looking Odin directly in eyes. "You did well this eve. Continue to do so." She pulled open the door and motioned for them to go through it.

23May2023 – Late Night

Vanaheim Royal Palace Hallway

Frey, along with Odin and Frigga, bowed to Lady Audhumbla before moving through the door into the hallway where the drengr took up their positions around Odin again. Sean bowed deeply to his Lady before following after them. As important as the timeless Lady was, she wasn't what occupied Frey's attention most. The three small boxes that James gave to Loki held his attention. He suspected that those were the 'activity boxes' he heard of yesterday. Since James was following them, he waited until they were in the hallway with the door closed before turning to face the Midgardian. "Do you mind if I ask what manner of boxes were those?" This had Odin and Frigga's attention too.

James smiled calmly at Frey and answered. "Those are specialty activity boxes. They help keep Loki in bed resting when she doesn't want to be, since all of the activities in them can be done in bed."

Nodding appreciatively, Frey knew he was right to think it yesterday. "An unconventional solution."

"But an effective one." James was glad that Frey wasn't condemning the boxes as 'undignified' or decrying them for 'getting in the way' of proper healing. Loki was always so certain that Frey would look down on the solution that Anthony found. He always thought that she was just embarrassed over liking a more mature version of the activity boxes that the children were given. "One of those boxes can keep Loki in bed for a few hours."

"What manner of activity do they have in them?" Odin was interested in anything that could successfully keep Loki in bed to rest. He knew well that his son's mind was just too active to lay in bed doing nothing. It suddenly seemed like his daughter might be better about staying in bed.

"Any number of things. Weaving, sewing, basket making, porcelain making, painting, all manner of crafting projects." Giving it a moment of thought, he asked something important. "Loki doesn't know what's in the boxes when she gets them. The surprise is part of the appeal of the box. Would you be willing to keep the contents a secret from her?"

"If it assists in getting her to rest in bed then I can keep any secret." Seriousness covered Odin's expression. He didn't want to lie to Loki, or keep secrets again, but he was so frustrated with not being able to get his child to rest when recovering from illness that he was willing to do something simple like keeping a secret.

His seidr unfolded from his core as James then mounted three copies of the Learning Spell. It absorbed his memories. He formed the spells into a pearl of garnet seidr in his hand which he held up for each of them to take. "Anthony creates these just to care for Loki. Please don't share this with her." James voice was quiet as they each touched the pearl on his hand. Garnet runes steaked up from their hands to their eyes to sink in.

A complete catalogue of boxes filled with arts, handicrafts, artisan endeavors, light-weight scholarship and learning, and musical pursuits filled their minds. All of it miniaturized into a wooden cube and ready for Loki to use while resting in bed. Immense respect, both for Anthony's ingenuity and careful attention, bloomed in the minds of the three monarchs. It was a marvelous demonstration to Frey that there were other paths for healing than what was traditionally practiced in the Elder Realms. He was going to discuss it with his palace healers to gain their opinions. After that, he weas going to research with James and Anthony and publish a short book on it for healers. Many difficult patients didn't need to be difficult. As much appreciation bloomed in Odin's thoughts, there was also a very awkward feeling accompanying it. As complicated and downright intricate as the preparation for these boxes was, the idea itself was wonderfully simple. Odin was a little embarrassed that he hadn't thought to even consider it. At the last, Frigga felt more little tears well up in her eyes. This was another example to her of the overwhelming love that Stark held for Loki. It was like a sun shining in the sky to Frigga. Its light touched on everything; warmed, grew, and preserved everything. A short while later the garnet light in the three monarchs eyes faded away leaving understanding it its wake. James was waiting for them when their eyes cleared.

"It's so beautiful," was the first thing Frigga said. Everything put into the boxes was well planned and researched, and fabulously implemented in a serious and thoughtful attempt to better Loki's health. It couldn't be anything other than beautiful to her.

Looking to Frey, Odin could see the same level of appreciation in his Little Brother's eyes as was in his own. Looking back to James showed him a seriousness that he could also appreciate. This was the seriousness that James brought to bear when caring for his family. He could see that James wasn't relishing keeping the secret, it was simply for Loki's wellbeing. He could even see how keeping the element of surprise in the boxes was for Loki's benefit. "Those are quite impressive."

"A new way to pursue healing..." Frey muttered quietly, thinking out loud.

"Would you be willing to thank Stark on our behalf for caring for Loki so well?" Odin didn't know if Stark would be willing to hear his apologies and thanks, but he was willing to risk asking James to relay them. James could probably get through to Stark.

Without stopping to think about it, James pounced on this opportunity as well. "Would you like to compose a message for him yourself? I can pass it along through the Learning Spell."

Only stopping for a moment of shock, Odin turned his attention inward for a moment, closing his eyes. He quickly composed a message of gratitude and an apology. Unwinding his seidr from his core, he arrayed the Learning Spell which absorbed his memories of his message to Stark. He formed the seidr into a pearl that he held in his hand. The pearl was held out to James along with Odin's hopes for the future.

James took the pearl, letting the citrine runes race up from his hand to his eyes where they sank in. The message sank into his mind, and he smiled. It was perfect and precisely what he needed. "Thank you! This is just what he needs to finish processing these events. I know he's going to think over this several times. It's really going to help him." The message, combined with what he now knew about Odin's curse, were going to help his younger brother mentally and emotionally. Settling both of those would help his younger brother physically. He almost couldn't wait to share it with Anthony.

"That's wonderful. I truly hope it does." Odin held in the vast wave of relief that swept through him. He could believe it when James said it would aid the situation, that it would aid Stark himself.

Before going back to Anthony, James looked over the three monarchs. "Is there anything you need before I return to Anthony?"

After everything that James had done for them, to take care of them, this offer truly drove it home for Frigga that he considered them to be family. He was taking care of his family, and she was so grateful for it. "Thank you so much for everything you've done today, James. It's more than enough." She bowed lightly to him. "Be well this evening. We'll see you tomorrow morning." Frigga was looking forward to it.

Bowing to Frigga in return, James replied. "You be well also." He nodded to the two Kings and made his goodbyes. "Until tomorrow morning then." He turned and went to the door to Anthony's room right across the hall. The door pulled open easily enough. Excited and happy orange flames came bursting out of the room into the hallway. They tried to head right past James. He easily caught them with a flare of his seidr and pushed them back. "Anthony?" He could see the long heavy half-cylinder that his younger brother was happily working on. More flames came bursting out of the quirky engineer to bounce around the room and leak out into the hall. They hit James in the face as he was catching them, forcing him to shake them off. They were pushed back as well then. "Anthony! Knock it off." A very quick, "Sorry Rhodey!" came after. He sighed quietly and shook his head as he entered the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Frey chuckled quietly not only at James' ability to handle Anthony's great power but at his casual attitude while doing it. There seemed to be nothing about Anthony that James couldn't handle. James was away for the evening, and Anthony seemed well enough, so he turned to his brother and beloved sister to make his own goodbyes. Holding out his arms to Frigga he smiled lovingly. She almost threw herself into his hug. "The future is ours," he said to her of the three of them.

"It will be bright indeed," she replied to him before letting him go. Warring emotions began to brew in Frigga's heart. She was still glad for everything that had happened that day because it brought them closer to a bright future that she could already see the outlines of. There was still the wailing despair in the depths of her mind over what Loki had endured. Strangely, it felt like less of it was there. The hope she'd felt all day stayed in her mind like a stalwart bulwark against that despair. It couldn't hold all of it back though. It did a decent job of holding enough of it back to let her get to their guest chambers with Odin. Perhaps there will be more hope tomorrow.

Moving over to Odin, Frey held his hand out, and smiled wider when Odin clasped his wrist as he clasped Odin's wrist. "Sleep well, brother. I think that tomorrow will be busy again. We must be ready for it."

"We will be. I have no doubt of that. We'll make it a good day, together." Odin squeezed Frey's wrist lightly at Frey squeezed his before they let each other go. "Rest well, brother." He turned to Sean next and gave him a small bow. "Thank you for everything you've done this day, Sean. It's most appreciated."

Sean returned Odin's bow with a sedate smile. "I'm glad to assist and support. Today, tomorrow, for however long you need my assistance I'll be here." For the rest of my short life.

"We're lucky to have your support." The comment represented such an overwhelming feeling in Odin's mind that it slid past his normal discipline. As grim as many of the details of the day were, they were still so lucky to have had Sean's assistance and support. James and Jay's aid and assistance was as critical as Sean's aid, and again he felt that they were so lucky. "Rest well this evening. We will need your support again tomorrow."

"We both will." Frey smiled at his young lover. It was an open and honest smile of happiness. Looking back to his beloved sister and Elder Brother, he smiled. "Rest well the both of you." With their goodbyes given Odin took Frigga's hand in his own and led them away to the guest chambers, with the security drengr moving around them. They turned the corner in the hallway and were out of sight in just a moment. It was just Frey and Sean in the hallway, and the pale monarch's gaze slid hotly to Sean. It was an opportunity that he wasn't going to miss.

Now that his duties of the day had come to a close Sean wanted to check on the nineteen individuals he and James had pulled from the captive Chitauri. He needed to give the healers a report on each of them. His gaze drifted down to the floor as he thought about what he still needed to do. What happened next Sean wasn't prepared for. Frey pulled him close, kissing him deeply. The pale monarch walked him quickly over to the wall to press him against it.

"Sean." He moaned deeply against the younger man's neck before he laid down a line of kisses across Sean's skin. One of his hands slipped down to grip his young lover's hand, to press it against the wall. His other hand gripped the young man's backside. Frey's seidr unfurled from his seidr core to blow down his arm into the hand gripping Sean's backside. He released a small burst of it to tease, but not enough to satisfy Sean.

The younger man gasped softly at the burst of seidr, causing his manhood to harden as he bucked his hips lightly against Frey. That small burst of lustful seidr let him feel how his body was opening to welcome Frey in again. It almost wiped the thoughts of the others he'd saved from his mind. None of them were Frey. None of them could create a hot need in him, nor satisfy that need. As he felt a hot frisson cross over the junction of his thighs he considered checking on the people in the morning. He wanted so badly to open his himself to his lover and drown in the pleasure that his lover was capable of bringing to bear. "Frey..." The low moan left his lips quietly, taking more of his hesitation with it. When he would have preferred to see Frey naked, his mind threw up an image of the nineteen naked people who he and James pulled from the Chitauri bodies. They were helpless, stranded, and traumatized. He felt a little ashamed that he even thought of putting their care off. Sean pushed against Frey's chest with his one hand. His lover looked down at him with a curious expression on his face. "I have to check on the people.. we rescued from the mansion." Frey went to object. It had to be an objection Sean figured, since his own body was objecting to stopping. "Just a quick check," he said swiftly, "then we'll go to bed. We'll do anything you want, but I need to check on them first."

"I'll hold you to that." Frey's voice was a solid growl. He swooped in for one more deep kiss, furling his seidr back into his core.

Just hold me to you! The thought was a wild desire in his mind that tried to spread through his body. After a few hard clenches of his body, bucks of his hips, and a soft whine Sean was able to get himself back under control. It was hard to push away from the wall, away from Frey, but he had to. A few small breaths helped him to calm his thundering heart. Sean looked down the hall, then looked the other way confusedly. He couldn't remember which way the West Hall of the Vanaheimr Royal Palace was. The burst of seidr from his lover had disoriented him. "Oh fiddlesticks." He muttered quietly as he tried to reorient himself.

Frey smirked at the disorientation on Sean's face. It was a disorientation that he'd caused. He reveled in the reaction to him from his young lover. A moment later he touched Sean's shoulder and motioned down the hallway. "The West Hall is this way." A smile replaced his smirk, and they moved along towards the West Hall. It was a short walk through the white hallways. The doors to the West Hall were tall and white with silver accents. A makeshift healing room had been set up in the hall and Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson was still moving between patients and directing the healers around him. All of the rescued people were unconscious in beds that were spaced evenly around the hall. It looked to Sean that they were getting the care they needed.

Frey's appearance in the hall prompted people to stop what they were doing, turn to him, and wait patiently for him to address them. He smiled and nodded to them, saying confidently, "You are doing well. Carry on with your duties." Everyone went back to their duties quietly with fresh smiles on their faces.

"Ah! M'Lord, and Truthspeaker McCorrmick. It's so good to see you both." Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson greeted them as he saw them. He handed off the potions he had just brewed to a younger Heal Mistress. She scurried off to administer them. He drew in a breath and prepared to report to his Lord. The Truthspeaker spoke first though.

"Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson, may I ask how things are going here?" Sean looked approvingly on what was happening.

"Lord Truthspeaker, things are going well here. We've managed to halt the shock that they were in and have administered Calming Elixirs to each of them. They have all been clothed, and all but one of them has awoken," he motioned to a short, heavyset, grey-skinned man with bushy red mustache on a rough-skinned face and bowl-cut short red hair, "He hasn't awoken yet," he looked back to the Lord Truthspeaker, "but we've continued to check on him. He's still sleeping. Each of those who woke were offered small meals and drink. Most of them were fed, with only two declining food and drink. Those two mentioned that we didn't have what they needed to eat," he motioned to the two who hadn't eaten. "All of them are progressing well though." Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson looked back to the Lord Truthspeaker, hoping that what they'd done was enough for the Nornic emissary.

"That does seem like excellent care, Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson. Give me a moment to view them and see if I can come up with a report on each of them for you. With luck, I'll be able to determine what they need to eat." Sean smiled then turned and went to the first of the sleeping freedmen. Since each of their bodies were new, created by his Lady, he wasn't sure what he was going to find in their white seidr. He was shocked to find a complete record of the lives they led before Thanos captured and mutilated them. My Lady's work is truly impressive. Going person by person he was able to pull a complete report on each of their dietary needs, allergies, cultural sensitivities and much more. Each report that he composed was written out in his mind. He angled his seidr out into a large Conjuration Spell and a large Learning Spell. He let the Learning Spell soak up his report before he released the two spells together to create a scroll with a report on the individual in it. After each scroll was complete, he handed it to Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson, who was standing beside him.

When he came to the two humanoids who hadn't eaten, he noted that they were huge individuals, nine feet tall at least. They were heavily muscled bruisers both of them. They had bald, large heads and no eyebrows or beards. Their skin was a mottled mix of soft to dark greens. The tusks coming out of their wide mouths were strange when set neatly next to the small ears on the side of their heads. He hadn't really noted what any of them looked like when he was pulling them out of the Chitauri bodies. When he viewed them, he was surprised at what he was seeing. The report on each of them written out smoothly and handed over to Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson who had a curious expression on his face. "They're grown from sentient cave fungus, Elder Heal Meister. They eat clean soil and small stones, and drink mineral-infused water, like what's found in a cave. Decaying wood is acceptable to feed them. They also prefer to sleep on stone or soil or in grass. I've included the mix of soil that they need in their report." Sean handed over the reports. "Do be careful with them. They have the potential to be highly, lethally aggressive. No flesh or animal product is to go in their food. It makes them aggressive when they eat flesh, bone, or blood. They actually don't want to eat those things. Don't force them to." Turning to look at the Elder Heal Meister, he spoke. "They should be treated as children. The fungus they come from is sentient but not mature. They might not understand complex instructions. Be patient with them."

"Yes, Lord Truthspeaker. It will be as you say." The Elder Heal Meister took the reports with gratitude and wondered how this young man knew so much about them by simply looking at people. Then he wondered if the young man knew as much about him. The old Vanaheimr didn't know how to feel about that as the young man moved on to the last of the sleeping freedmen, the grey-skinned man who hadn't woken yet.

Looking over the sleeping man Sean could see a life well lead, but one that was ending painfully in Void Sickness. It was an unfortunate argument with unfounded accusations from volatile shipmates that got him thrown out into the void without a spacesuit. It was there that Thanos found him, changed him. From his view Sean could see an awe-inspiring and terrifying view of the void from the vantage point of a single individual. It was saddening to see a good man be falsely accused, killed, and then reanimated only to be killed again. It was all because he was splashed with a mysterious oily black substance from a meteorite that his shipmates accused him of being possessed by devils. Through it all Sean was able to find the things that he needed to create another report for the Elder Heal Meister. The report was handed over with a small frown on his face.

"Is something the matter, Lord Truthspeaker?" Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson took the report warily.

"I don't like seeing good people abused. The Chitauri didn't treat them well." Sean looked over all of the people there. Some of them were rough around the edges, but they were all good people. "They'll need a tremendous amount of care."

"They'll have it. Don't worry about that." While Frey didn't like the darker look on Sean's face, he also took it as a mark of the compassion Sean had for these poor people.

A calmer smile returned to Sean's face. He looked to his lover with that smile on his face. "Thank you, Lord Frey, for allowing these people to stay on Vanaheim and for providing this care to them." Looking back to the Elder Heal Meister he closed the loop. "Is there anything else that you need from me right now, Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson? Anything else I can do for these freedmen and freedwomen?"

Quickly, so as to not annoy the Lord Truthspeaker, Elder Heal Meister Alfarrson looked over one of the reports and was pleasantly surprised at what it held. "No, Lord Truthspeaker. These reports are just what we need to begin truly healing them. I thank you for them."

"You're most welcome. If there isn't anything else then I believe that Lord Frey and I have more business to attend to this evening." Looking to Frey with a twinkle in his eyes he spoke again. "We should get to that."

"Yes, we should," he turned his smile on his Elder Heal Meister and said, "You're doing well here, continue to so. You have our gratitude." Frey unfurled his seidr and formed a Teleportation Spell. He gripped Sean with it then keyed it to where he wanted to go. Releasing the spell took him and Sean to his bedchamber. It was still lit in dim candlelight. With his already extended seidr he gripped his clothes and shoes as well as Sean's. He dismissed them again to his interdimensional pocket, leaving both of them nude in the low light. Frey went to take Sean into his arms but Sean stopped him.

"Take your hair down," Sean cupped the side of Frey's face before speaking again, "I want to see your hair down tonight." Desire pulsed through him at the sight of his lover in the nude.

"Very well. I will take my hair down," Frey pulled Sean in close for another deep kiss, "then I'm going to have you straddling me."

"Yes!"