《Solace of Solitude》


 Chapter 1

    The rain ran in streams off the pale green and silver scales of the wolf sized reptilian creature as it circled the motionless raven haired man lying supine in the mud on the shore of a large lake. Metallic debris and what appeared to be gravel floated on the surface of the water due to its high salinity. Mountains loomed on the far side of the lake in the distance, their peaks obscured by thick, ashen gray clouds. It was obvious from the mud coating the front of the man¡¯s scorched and tattered leather tunic and pants, the trail in the muck leading from the lake to his location, that he had laboriously pulled himself from the water on his belly before collapsing and rolling onto his back.


    The reptile flicked its long forked tongue over the throat of the unconscious man. Drawing in its tongue it opened its jaws, exposing rows of razor sharp teeth.


    A shrill whistle sounded, the creature raising its head and turning it in the direction of the sound before an arrow sliced through the rain, piercing the creature¡¯s eye, it falling dead onto its side. A figure approached slinging a bow onto their back, their body and visage concealed by a hooded dark butternut cloak, raindrops beading on the fabric¡¯s surface.


    Kneeling beside the man, the cloaked figure examined him, placing their hand on his chest, noting the scorched leather tunic and the angry reddish-purple discoloration of burnt patches on the exposed skin of his face, neck and hands. The cloaked figure moved their hand from the man¡¯s torso, resting their palm on his forehead for a few moments before withdrawing it, remaining still for a short time before reaching under their cloak, producing a dagger.


    The cloaked figure held the weapon over the man''s throat, hesitating, before returning it to its sheath, reaching into a leather drawstring bag attached to their waist, retrieving a vial containing an emerald green liquid. Flicking the stopper off with their thumb, they held it in their right hand as they slid their left under the injured man''s shoulders, raising him slightly as he emitted a weak, pained groan.


    ¡°Mother¡­?¡± the man spoke in an almost inaudible, raspy voice.


    ¡°Drink,¡± the figure in the cloak said in a low, husky feminine tone as she placed the vial to the man¡¯s lips.


    The man feebly opened his mouth just enough for the contents to pass into it, struggling to swallow, coughing anemically. Gently lowering the man and withdrawing her arm, the cloaked figure stood, staring down at him before walking around him and retrieving her arrow from the deceased reptile and moving off, leaving him lying in the mud.


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    Loki¡¯s eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as the rain washed over his eyeballs. The agonizing pain assaulting every nerve ending from the punishing cold of space and later the searing heat as he entered the planet¡¯s atmosphere had subsided to a dull ache. He had shielded himself as much as he could manage with his magic as well as what he had gathered around him using it, debris from the Statesman and remnants of space rock, to form a sort of protective cocoon. Gathering his strength he rolled himself slowly onto his side, blinking the water away, noticing the dead reptile. He watched as raindrops bounced off the surface of the scaly carcass and ran down its side, his brain fogged, his memory fuzzy,


    Finally Loki raised himself to a seated position, holding out his hands, the burned patches having faded to a pink discoloration, looking down at his palms before raising them to his throat. Slowly lowering them, he examined his surroundings. As he shakily rose to his feet, the soles of his boots slipped on the muddy ground sending him sprawling. He lay prone for a moment before making a second attempt, this time succeeding in remaining upright, and took a stumbling step forward as he followed the footprints in the mud, grass, and vegetation where the cloaked figure¡¯s boots had trod.


    Loki had no conception of how long it had been since his arrival. He could barely remember his own name, his memory of the events that had brought him there hazy, though snippets of his recent past flashed in his consciousness as he continued tracking the cloaked figure¡¯s path over an open valley devoid of any sign of civilization. Loki turned his head to look over his shoulder at the mountains and the lake which now appeared quite far in the distance. He had needed to stop and rest several times during the trek. It was moments like this he wished he wielded Mjolnir to fly as his brother once did.


    A scene flashed before his mind¡¯s eye, the broken remnants of Mjolnir falling to the ground followed by another¡­his brother, Thor, bound, screaming in agony as he was tortured by the Mad Titan.


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    ¡°Alright! Stop!¡± Loki cried aloud as he came to a halt, squeezing his eyes tightly closed, collapsing to his knees as rain continued to fall, ¡°Stop¡­.stop¡­¡± Loki pleaded as he gripped his head between his hands.


    ¡°You really are the worst, brother,¡± Thor¡¯s voice echoed within his mind.


    ¡°I am¡­I really am,¡± Loki said aloud, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother¡­Mother...Father...I''m sorry...for everything¡­all of it,¡± Loki sobbed, his tears mixing with the raindrops running down his face, his body shaking from the intensity of his sorrow and the chill of the air.


    Gathering himself, Loki struggled to his feet once again, staggering as he continued his journey, sighting smoke lazily rising into the sky in the distance.


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    Loki was on the cusp of keeling over as he finally reached what appeared to be a homestead consisting of a sod cabin with a thatched roof and stone chimney. Yards away stood a crude shelter constructed of chinked logs surrounded by a rail fence within which sheep-like animals covered in tan wooly coats huddled out of the rain. A handful of goats chewed at the vegetation around the cabin, identical to their counterparts on Earth, or Midgard, the name by which Asgardians knew the planet, but for double sets of horns, a smaller set positioned forward of the larger sprouting from their heads. They appeared unfazed by the rain or Loki''s presence as he made his way to the open door of the cabin.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Loki managed to croak. Loki put his hand out against the door frame to prop himself up, both the door and frame constructed of rough hewn wood, as he glanced around the interior. The walls were paneled with boards over the sod. Hanging from one wall, an old clock ticked, its pendulum swinging rhythmically. In the far corner sat a loom strung with wool thread. A rope bed just wide and long enough for one topped with a pallet was situated along the wall.


    The one room of the cabin was lit by the fire in the fireplace along with an oil lamp fueled by animal fat sitting on a wooden table in the middle of the room upon which had also been placed a clay mug and a large wooden bowl, steam rising from it. Soaked by the rain, cold and hungry, water dripping from his drenched locks, unable to muster even the miniscule amount of extra energy necessary to use his magic to dry himself, Loki staggered into the cabin enticed by the warmth from the fire and the smell of the stew.


    ¡°Eat,¡± the same husky, female voice said.


    Loki turned his head, looking over his shoulder at the entrance from which the voice seemed to have originated but could see no one, unsure if he was hallucinating.


    Loki would never have trusted food offered by a stranger in the past but his thoughts disjointed, his judgment skewed, more famished than he could recall ever having been in his almost millennium and a half of life, he dragged himself to the stool at the end of the table, collapsing heavily upon it. Taking hold of the mug and drinking from it he found it contained ale. Grabbing the spoon carved from animal horn, he devoured the contents of the bowl before picking up the mug once more and draining it.


    His thirst and hunger sated, he stared silently into the fire in the hearth directly opposite him on the far side of the cabin, entranced by the flickering flames and the popping and crackling of the burning wood. He was reminded of the flaming cauldrons in the palace in Asgard as his eyelids grew heavy, his mind and body shutting down from exhaustion before falling like the trunk of a felled tree from the side of the stool onto the stone floor.


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    As Loki regained a semblance of consciousness, he opened his eyes, blinking away the blurriness, to view Frigga seated at his side, mopping his forehead with a cool, damp woven cloth. He shivered uncontrollably as if he were suffering the cold of Jotunheim, though sweat beaded on his forehead and soaked the neckline of the long night shirt made from a fabric akin to linen he now wore as he lay upon the pallet of the rope bed.


    Frigga placed the cloth over the edge of a pail of water on the floor near the stool in which she sat, lifting a mug from beside it. As she had done on the shore, she slid an arm under Loki¡¯s shoulders, supporting him in an inclined position as she held the mug to his lips. After he had swallowed a few sips, she gently lowered him back onto the pallet.


    ¡±Mother¡­forgive me...I didn¡¯t know¡­I didn''t know...you...you were everything to me...¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Frigga replied softly as she sat the mug onto the floor and wet the cloth in the pail, wringing it out before returning it to Loki¡¯s brow.


    ¡°How¡­.how is it you''re here?¡± Loki asked, confused, ¡°I failed again...it didn''t work...I¡¯m dead¡­this¡­this is Valhalla...?¡±


    ¡°No¡­a fever...an effect of the elixir. It will pass,¡± Frigga replied.


    ¡°You told me...a true king admits his faults...Thor is dead¡­Father¡­Heimdall¡­so many others¡­because of me¡­¡±


    ¡°No one would have survived had you not returned. Your brother lives.¡±


    ¡°How? Thanos¡­the ship¡­¡± Loki asked, bewildered.


    ¡°You must rest.¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Loki fearfully begged, reaching out and grasping Frigga¡¯s wrist as she withdrew the cloth, "Don¡¯t¡­don¡¯t leave me. You won¡¯t leave me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Frigga answered, Loki releasing her wrist, relieved.


    ¡°I love you¡­¡± Loki said, his voice fading out as he closed his eyes, his body relaxing as he slipped back into slumber.


    Frigga returned the cloth to the edge of the pail and rose from the stool beside the bed. Reaching under her cloak, she wrapped her hand around the hilt of the dagger in its sheath as she stood over Loki, staring down at him with a blank expression before releasing her grip on it.


    ¡°Where would I go?¡± Frigga asked in a low voice.


    Turning she made her way to the door, taking a bow and quiver of arrows from a peg on the wall beside it and opened it, stepping out into the rain which had slowed to a drizzle, closing it behind her.

 Chapter 2

    The fever having broken, Loki awoke, disoriented and confused for a moment, unsure for how long he had slept. Had it been hours, a day, a week? The lack of windows left him unable to discern if it was day or night. Frigga sat in front of the fireplace dressed in a long beige woolen skirt and simple linen chemise, a stone pendant on a chain around her neck, her golden hair plaited down her back. She held Loki¡¯s leather tunic in her lap as she patched and mended it with a needle threaded with thin sinew. Finishing just as she noticed him stir, she rose, stepping to the table and placing his tunic with his folded trousers she had already repaired. Taking hold of a mug also sitting atop it, she dipped it in the crock beside it, filling it with water.


    Loki lay listless as Frigga approached with the mug, turning his head to look up at her before she kneeled beside the bunk, beginning to slip her left arm under his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡­ I can sit¡­¡± Loki said hoarsely, his throat parched, gathering his strength and sitting up, hunched over as Frigga handed him the mug.


    Gripping the mug in both hands, he struggled to lift it, his hands slightly trembling with the effort. Frigga placed her right palm under the mug, steadying it and assisting him to raise it to his lips, Loki emptying it in one long drink.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Loki expressed his gratitude.


    ¡°More?¡± Frigga asked.


    ¡°Please,¡± Loki replied as Frigga stood, taking the mug from him.


    Frigga returned to the crock on the table, refilling the mug and returning it to Loki who was now able to lift it without help.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± Frigga inquired as he lowered the mug he had once again drained dry.


    ¡°Like I crawled out of a swamp.¡±


    Frigga left Loki¡¯s side, crossing to a wooden tub propped against the wall beside the fireplace, dragging it in front of the hearth.


    "What are you doing?" Loki asked.


    "A bath," Frigga replied, grabbing two large pails setting nearby, carrying one in each hand as she made her way across the room to the door.


    ¡°Don''t trouble your¨C¡± Loki began before catching a whiff of the musky, stale odor of the sweat stained shirt he wore, ¡°A bath would be lovely.¡±


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    After several trips to the well Loki vaguely recalled catching sight of outside upon his arrival, Frigga had filled the tub halfway, returning to the well twice more to fill the pails and set them close to the fire to heat their contents. Once she had emptied the last two, steaming, into the tub and sprinkled in a handful of herbs, their scent in the warm water perfuming the air, she returned to Loki, helping him to rise unsteadily, pulling the long shirt over his head and leading him to the tub.


    Big band music emanated with the slightly tinny, staticky sound of an old record from the speaker of the circa Earth¡¯s art deco era wind up phonograph along the cabin¡¯s far wall, a male vocalist¡¯s voice joining the instruments.


    ¡°Is it a sin, is it a crime, loving you dear like I do? If it¡¯s a crime then I¡¯m guilty, guilty of loving you¡­¡± Al Bowlly, a well known singer from Earth during the 1930¡¯s, crooned.


    Loki sat nude in the round wooden tub, his forehead resting on his raised knees, too weak to wash himself as Frigga kneeled on the stone floor behind him, scrubbing his back with a cloth and a small block of herb infused tallow soap before rubbing the block on the crown of his head and setting it aside, working the soap through his hair. Filling a clay pitcher with the warm water in the tub, Frigga emptied it over his head, the water cascading through his dark hair, over his shoulders, and down his back.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m wrong, dreaming of you, dreaming the lonely night through. If it¡¯s a crime then I¡¯m guilty, guilty of dreaming of you¡­¡± Bowlly continued, "What can I do? What can I say after I¡¯ve taken the blame? You say you¡¯re through. You¡¯ll go your way but I¡¯ll always feel the same¡­¡±


    Loki called up the fuzzy memories of his mother bathing him when he was a small child, after which she would magically dry him, a warm, tingly sensation descending over him from the top of his head to the tips of his toes that never failed to elicit giggles from the pint sized prince. Dressing him in silky pajamas he had chosen beforehand, Frigga would tuck him into bed, telling him a story or singing a lullaby followed by a kiss on his forehead before she quietly left his bedroom as he contentedly drifted off to slumber. Never could his young mind have imagined what the future held in store for him, for both of them.


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    Frigga lifted a comb carved from animal horn from her lap, running it from Loki¡¯s scalp through the locks at the back of his head. He winced as the comb became snagged in a tangle.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Frigga apologized quietly as she freed the comb, gently working the tangle out with it.


    ¡°The music¡­it¡¯s from Midgard,¡± Loki observed.


    ¡°A gift...from you,¡± Frigga responded.


    ¡°Why did you leave us?¡± Loki asked after a few moments as Frigga worked out another tangle, desperate to know why his beloved mother had borrowed a well worn page from his own book and faked her death, abandoning Asgard, everything and everyone she had loved, Frigga failing to answer as she continued combing his hair, ¡±Mother¡­please¡­tell me. I want to understand.¡±


    ¡°I am not your mother,¡± Frigga said lowering the comb, Loki hanging his head, water dripping from his hair, making round ripples in the tub.


    ¡°My last words to you¡­ever since that day...they¡¯ve haunted me. You were right about me. You were always right,¡± Loki responded dejectedly, self-loathing in his voice.


    ¡°No...you deserved to know.¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± Loki asked as Frigga grasped his bicep, helping him to his feet and to step out of the tub, drying him with the towel before wrapping it around his waist.


    ¡°The truth. I should have told you,¡± Frigga said.


    ¡°Is that why you left? You blamed yourself for all I did? I made my own choices...despite you, not because of you. I betrayed you," Loki said, his voice breaking before pulling Frigga tightly into an embrace, ¡°After everything...all you taught me...forgive me, ¡± Loki pleaded as Frigga stood stiffly in his arms as the clock ticked and the fire crackled, soft static emanating from the phonograph speaker, the record having ended though the turntable continued to spin.


    As Loki ended the embrace, looking mournfully with his tear filled eyes into hers, Frigga turned from him, stepping over to the table and retrieving his mended clothing. Returning to him, she helped him dress. As she straightened his tunic, Loki noticed the necklace Frigga wore which contrasted with her simple clothing. Reaching out, he lifted the pendant of green stone peppered with flecks of gold in his palm, examining it.


    ¡°Was this a gift from me as well?¡± Loki asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Frigga answered, taking the stone from Loki¡¯s palm, dropping it to hang once again from the chain around her neck.


    Loki¡¯s strength gave out, his legs crumpling under him, Frigga quickly taking hold of both of his arms and lifting him up before putting an arm around him, practically dragging him back to lie on the bed. Leaving him, she crossed the room to the phonograph.


    Lifting the needle she switched off the turntable and removed the record, sliding it into a paper slipcover. She returned it to the cabinet, selecting another and placing it on the turntable. After winding the phonograph, she set it spinning again before moving the needle over the record and lowering it. After a moment of static, big band music once again filled the room. Frigga stood before the phonograph as the music played before finally turning from it and walking to the tub, gathering the soap, pitcher, and comb and returning them to their places as Loki followed her with his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s all forgotten now, the trouble and the pain, forgotten every word I said, forgotten every tear you shed, we''re still in love...It''s all forgiven now, we''re back in Lover''s Lane and though we wandered from our way, the corner''s turned and we can say we''re still in love¡­¡± Al Bowlly''s voice sang.


    ¡°I must tend to the animals,¡± Frigga said, walking to the door and taking her cloak from where it hung from a peg beside her bow, donning it and stepping out as the record played on.


    "For you and I and everybody must learn to give and take. We''ll find like everybody it''s worth it for happiness''s sake. It''s all forgotten now, we''re happy once again, our troubles gone beyond recall and making up is best of all. We''re still in love..."


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    As the sky darkened, the horizon painted twilight purple, Frigga, her face obscured by the hood of her cloak, herded the sheep from the open field into their pen in the drizzle. After the last one had ambled through the entrance, Frigga closed and secured the gate. Sensing a presence, she turned to see a goat standing behind her, staring at her.


    ¡°Klarien¡­I knew you had returned some time ago,¡± Frigga said, not aloud but within her mind.


    ¡°Who is he?¡± a male voice replied telepathically.


    ¡°A wanderer, his ship destroyed by marauders.¡±


    ¡°Why didn''t you kill him? Others will come in search of him.¡±


    ¡°No one is coming for him.¡±


    ¡°It is forbidden! It is my duty to see that your sentence is carried out. You must pay for your crime,¡± Klarien responded.


    ¡°You are the only one of us remaining who cares any longer," Frigga said, walking past the goat toward the cabin.


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    Frigga stepped into the cabin, closing the door and removing her cloak, hanging it on the peg. Aside from the sounds of the fire and the ticking of the clock, the room was silent. The record on the phonograph had long ago ended, the turntable no longer turning, the gears having wound down. Looking to the bed, Frigga saw Loki lying asleep once again, one arm hanging off the bed, his chest slowly rising and falling.


    An identical arm suddenly materialized in a flash of green as Loki''s image in the bed vanished, wrapping itself around her from behind as she felt the sharp point of a dagger at the side of her throat.


    ¡°You are not my mother," Loki said testily from behind her.


    "As I told you. You saw me as who you wanted to see, who you needed to see. If you wish to see me as I am, you must clear your mind of any thoughts of your mother,¡± the false Frigga replied.


    ¡°She is always in my thoughts,¡± Loki responded.


    ¡°A moment is all that¡¯s necessary. Release me. If I meant you harm I would have killed you already.¡±


    Loki released the false Frigga, lowering his arms, yet ready to strike with the dagger at the slightest hint of danger. The woman stepped forward and turned to face him as Loki cleared his mind, Frigga''s form vanishing, replaced by a younger, muscular woman with broad shoulders and pale, ice blue skin, sharp features and long pointed ears, her snow white hair braided down her back. Loki, struck dumb, stared at her in disbelief.


    ¡°Farina?¡± Loki gasped, ¡°Fari¡­¡±

 Chapter 3

    "You remember me."


    "Yes¡­no¡­I...I don''t know...I know you..." a confused Loki replied.


    As if in a trance, Loki made his way to the phonograph to stand over it, staring down at the record on the turntable, "I gave you this."


    "Yes...It will all come back to you in time," Fari responded, as Loki removed the record and crouched down, opening the cabinet beneath the turntable, returning the record to its slip cover and replacing it on the shelf, searching through the others stored there until finally selecting one.


    Standing, Loki placed it on the turntable, sliding the brass switch of the turntable to the off position and winding the mechanism up once more, then switching it back on and moving the needle to the record. Once again staring down at the spinning record, he and Fari silent as Benny Goodman''s orchestra played, Fari having crossed the room to stand behind him.


    Loki turned from the phonograph, his eyes now falling on a mortal woman with reddish blond hair arranged in a style popular on Earth during the same era as the song, wearing a sage green, floral print mid 1930s era party dress accessorized with emerald earrings and the necklace with the green stone pendant. The interior of the cabin had been replaced with that of a dimly lit flat furnished and decorated in the style of the same time period as her dress. Reaching out she took his hand, the two beginning to slowly dance to the romantic yet sad tune before a female vocalist joined the orchestra.


    "A cigarette that bears a lipstick''s traces, an airline ticket to romantic places, a fairground''s painted swing, these foolish things remind me of you¡­" Helen Ward''s smooth voice sang, "A tinkling piano in the next apartment, those stumbling words that told you what my heart meant. Oh how the ghost of you clings! These foolish things remind me of you..."


    "You loved this one from the first time I played it for you," Fari said as they danced.


    "I was surprised to hear you play anything but Al Bowlly. I came to regret introducing you," Loki responded as the music came to an end, the two dancers separating, the flat fading around them replaced by the interior of the cabin, Fari''s mortal guise and clothing returning to her true appearance.


    "I knew you were jealous," Fari said with a smirk before a thought struck her, "Were you and he-"


    "No...no," Loki interrupted, shaking his head, "I didn''t know him all that well, a casual acquaintance, really. I doubt he''d have been interested. He mentioned his wife once, though I never met her. I suppose that didn''t mean anything¨C" Loki said, now Fari''s turn to interrupt.


    "He was killed during the war¡­the Germans...a bomb exploded outside his flat," Fari said sadly, bowing her head, "I¡­I tried to save him. I had a vision. I went to his last show. He remembered me. He invited me to the party after. I begged him to stay instead of taking the last train back to London. I would have told him what was to happen, allowed him to see me as I am, but there were too many people, I couldn''t get him alone. He was so adamant that he had to get back," Fari finished, a tear escaping her eye, sliding down her cheek.


    "It''s not your fault," Loki said, reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder, "A mortal''s lifespan is a blink of an eye, a heartbeat. He would be dead now in any event."


    "Interdites'' life spans are shorter than Asgardians. Did you view my life as of lesser value?"


    "Only by five or six centuries. Do you honestly believe I would have risked everything¨C" Loki began to ask before falling silent, a disconcerted expression falling over his features before he swiftly turned from her, striding to the door.


    "Loki?" Fari called to him as Loki reached it, throwing it open, "Loki! Where are you going?"


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    Loki trudged along in the darkness, his right arm extended in front of him, a glowing green ball of magical light he had conjured in his upturned palm illuminating his path.


    "This isn''t real. It has to be a dream¡­it''s all been a dream. I should have known...Father would never exile his golden boy," Loki said cynically as he trudged along in the chill darkness, "Me one of those monsters...it''s absurd...Midgard, that dullard beast, the damn dark elves...that second rate sorcerer dressed like the Wizard of Oz and Dracula''s love child. That''s all it was, a dream. Now that I know it''s a dream I''ll wake up," Loki rambled to himself before raising his hand and slapping himself across the face, "Wake up!" he angrily commanded himself, coming to a sudden halt and slapping himself again, "Where the hell is Sif when I need her, damn it! Wake up, you idiot!"


    "Loki! Come back!" he heard Fari call to him as she spotted the green glow in the distance.


    Turning his head to look over his shoulder he saw the dull orange light of a candle lantern headed in his direction. Picking up his pace, he once again made his way forward until he could just make out what looked to be the tree line of a forest.


    Loki entered the forest. Insects and various other small creatures chirped and croaked from the leafy canopy above. A large winged insect similar to a moth flew into his face, startling him for a moment, Loki shooing it away with his free hand. As he continued on his boot came down upon something soft and mushy as it made a sickening, squishing sound, a foul odor like rotting meat mixed with sewage assailing Loki''s nostrils.


    "Odin''s beard!" Loki exclaimed in disgust, screwing up his face at the smell as he looked down at the fetid viscera under and around his boot illuminated by the green light.


    Just as he went to lift his foot from it, Loki felt something grip his ankle, tightening around it before he was swiftly pulled off his feet to dangle in the air by one leg from the branch of a tree, yelping in surprise, his magical light going out, leaving him in darkness.


    Loki hung upside down as the ocher glow of the candle lantern drew nearer, Fari coming to stand below him, staring up at him.


    "Hoisted by your own petard," Fari said with a smirk, "Mine actually. A wynarg''s been stalking this area for the last week. I''ve lost a goat and a sheep to it. I was hoping to capture it before it could get its claws on any more," she explained, "It''s dangerous to be out here at night."


    "Where is here, exactly?" Loki asked as Fari removed a knife from its sheath on her belt, moving to the trunk of the tree and began to saw at the rope attached to it.


    "You don''t recognize it? You paid a visit not all that long ago¡­with him. It was a short stay. You had other business to attend to¡­in Midgard." Fari told him as she continued to cut through the rope.


    "Interdis?"


    "My affinity for you had already made me a criminal. I had been banished here upon my return. They believed I told you. They would have killed me, the half he left alive, as many had wanted to do from the day I arrived home in chains, had my brother not finally divulged how the Mind Stone came into my grandmother''s possession, how your father had relinquished it to her for safekeeping as it was too dangerous for two such relics to share the same realm."


    Fari finished severing the rope, gripping it in one hand as she sheathed her knife before beginning to lower Loki to the ground just as a shrill, piercing screech came from behind her.


    Before she could turn in the direction of the sound, two sets of claws fell upon her shoulders, tearing through the fabric of her chemise and digging into her flesh, Fari shrieking in shock and pain as she was pulled backward, losing her grip on the rope, Loki falling head first the last few feet to the ground.


    "Fari!" Loki cried out as she continued to scream, frantically freeing his foot from the rope in the darkness before quickly rising from the ground, conjuring the magical light once again, this time in his left hand as he produced a dagger in his right, illuminating the scene as the velociraptoresque creature wrapped its scaly appendages around her and sank its teeth into her already wounded shoulder as she struggled for her knife.


    As Loki charged at the wynarg it hissed, spitting venom as it released the bloodied Fari. Tackling the creature, Loki''s magical light once again went out as he drove his dagger into its torso, the wynarg writhing as Loki withdrew his weapon, continuing to stab it until it lay dead. Rolling off the creature, Loki remained beside it on his back for a moment, recovering, still weakened by his previous ordeal and illness, before rising unsteadily to his feet.


    "Fari?" Loki said as he once again conjured the light but far dimmer than before, searching for her, spying her sprawled face down in the detritus of the forest floor, her chemise shredded and stained with her blood. She groaned as he knelt beside her.


    "I''ll...I''ll be all right..." Fari said, slowly sitting up, Loki assisting her to her feet, "There may be others...we have to go," she told him in a labored voice, unable to fully mask her agony, as she took a few stumbling steps forward to collect her lantern that had been knocked over during the attack, it''s fragile flame snuffed out.


    Using his magic to relight it, forgoing using it to produce his own light to conserve his strength, Loki wrapped an arm around her in support as they staggered toward the edge of the forest.

 Chapter 4

    "I''m sorry," Loki said after they had trekked nearly a third of the way back to the cabin, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.


    "It can be overwhelming as the memories return. Your mind is strong. It wasn''t easy to obfuscate them from you. It''s also as impatient as I remember, if not more so," Fari replied.


    "It wasn''t the first time I''d learned something had been hidden from me, unsure what was real, what was a lie."


    "You speak of discovering your true heritage. In Asgard, when you first took my hand¡­it was not only your language I perceived. I saw what you had been too young to remember," Fari paused for a moment before continuing, "Would you like to know¡­about your mother¡­your true mother?"


    "Frigga was my mother," Loki responded after a moment of silence, "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    "It didn''t matter to me--"


    Fari slowed her pace, setting the lantern down and stepping away from Loki, sinking to her hands and knees and retching, emptying the contents of her stomach in the valley''s tall vegetation. Loki knelt beside her, moving to put his hand on her shoulder before recalling her wounds, instead placing it on her lower back.


    "Are you ok?"


    "Wynargs'' claws and bite are toxic...I''ll be fine...in a day or two. Wynargs aren''t common in this part of Interdis, nor are rylets," Fari explained, referring to the smaller reptilian creature who had been preparing to make the God of Mischief its next meal on the shore of the lake, "It''s too cool for their liking, especially during the rainy season. You weren''t scratched or bitten? Did it''s venom get into your eyes or mouth?" asked Fari with concern.


    "No¡­a little on my skin."


    "When we return to the cabin you must wash," Fari said, moving to a sitting position.


    "I haven''t had need of two baths in one day since I was a child. I believe the record was five. My mother threatened to throw me off the Rainbow Bridge if I needed another. I don''t think she was joking," Loki jested in an effort to cheer the stricken woman and to mask his concern before lightning flashed in the distance in the direction of the cabin followed by a rumble of thunder, "It seems I may be saved the trouble....May I ask you something?" Loki said, the approaching storm reminding him of how he had awakened alone on the shore in the rain, "I don''t remember much...about us...why did you leave me at the lake?"


    "When I looked into your mind¡­for the first time in your life, you were unsure if you wanted to survive. If you chose to, I knew you would find me. If you chose not to, nothing could save you....We have to get back."


    Fari attempted to stand on shaky legs, Loki taking hold of her arm, gently lowering her back to the ground, taking her hand in his, "As I said, I don''t remember much as of yet, but I know you''re strong¡­you don''t have to be strong all the time."


    "I used to tell you the same," Fari smiled wanly.


    "Why do I get the feeling I didn''t listen?"


    Loki stood, retrieving the lantern and handing it to Fari, picking her up in his arms to carry her for the remainder of the journey as the first sprinkling of rain descended from above.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Upon reaching the cabin door, Fari in his arms, Loki pushed the door open with his foot, entering the darkened cabin, the fire in the fireplace having died down to glowing embers. Setting her on her feet near the table, he took the lantern from her, placing it on the table before scooting a chair out from under it, Fari lowering herself into it as Loki made his way to the fireplace.


    Grabbing a poker, Loki stoked the embers before tossing more firewood onto them. Getting down on his knees and bending forward he took a deep breath, blowing into the glowing embers, the fire flaring up, catching the wood.


    Rising from the hearth, he stepped over to the still full tub a few feet from it and knelt down, washing his hands and face in the now cool water before returning to Fari.


    "Ale," Fari requested, "The cask," Fari pointed in the direction of the corner of the room to the left of the door.


    Taking an empty mug from the table, Loki made his way to the cask, removing the flat wooden top and dipping the mug into it, filling it. He sat it on the table in front of Fari before returning to the fireplace, grabbing the handle of a pail and crossing the room to the door, stepping out into the rain.


    Using his magic to create another ball of green light, Loki looked in the direction he recalled seeing the well, spying it and walking to it, hooking the pail onto the rope and lowering it as lightning illuminated the yard. Once filled, he raised it and removed the pail, turning from the well, startled to see a goat standing a few feet behind him.


    Loki stepped forward, expecting the goat to move off but it remained planted in the same spot, staring at him.


    "Shoo¡­out of my way!" Loki called out, the goat failing to respond.


    Walking around it, Loki returned to the cabin with the pail as the goat turned, watching him, as he entered and closed the door.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki moved the stool behind Fari, setting the pail on the floor beside it.


    "More...please," Fari said in a strained voice, placing her hand on her mug, Loki taking it and returning to the cask, refilling it and finding a rag before returning it to her, "Could you play something...the phonograph...something happy," she asked.


    Placing the rag over the side of the pail, Loki dutifully crossed the room to the phonograph, replacing the record he had played previously into the cabinet, searching through her collection before selecting one and putting it on the turntable, winding it up and starting it. The zippy notes of a jazzy tune emanated from the speakers as he returned to her once again, seating himself on the stool behind her.


    "Perfect," Fari commented on the tune.


    Loki stared in dismay at the shredded back of Fari''s blood stained chemise and the deep scratches and fang marks marring her flesh.


    "Happy days are here again, the skies above are clear again, let us sing a song of cheer again, happy days are here again¡­" a chorus of male voices sang.


    Loki grabbed hold of the back of the chemise, ripping it down the middle and sliding the two sides down her arms, revealing Fari''s back, Loki horrified to view along with the fresh wounds, the entirety of her back was crisscrossed with long, raised scars, the scar tissue almost white against her ice blue skin.


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    "Altogether shout it now. There''s no one who can doubt it now. So let''s tell the world about it now. Happy days are here again. Your cares and troubles are gone, there''ll be no more from now on¡­" the song continued.


    "Have you been attacked by one of those creatures before¡­or something else?" Loki asked.


    "No."


    "Your back...who did this to you?"


    "My brother."


    "Your brother did this?!" Loki asked, aghast and disgusted.


    "How many times have you stabbed your brother?"


    "I lost count a few centuries ago. It''s not as if I kept a ledger...that was different. I knew it would do him no real harm. It was all in good fun...most of the time."


    "I struck a deal with Klarien for the gifts you''d given me¡­so he would allow me to bring them with me, to keep them here¡­I''m not sure I could have survived without them. I barely felt it. I placed my consciousness elsewhere¡­reliving the night you took me to the Monseigneur and introduced me to Al. We drank champagne, you and I danced every dance."


    Loki sat silent for a moment, struggling to recall the memory she had related.


    "We must have had a wonderful time."


    "By the time we left you were so drunk I''m not sure you would remember it anyway. On the way back to my flat you almost got us arrested."


    "That sounds like the best part, actually," Loki said, grinning mischievously.


    "I went back years later during the war, with a soldier from America, but it wasn''t the same."


    "A soldier?" Loki asked, curious, taking the rag from the pail and dipping it into the water, wringing it out, as gently as he could cleansing the oozing wounds, the rag turning pink...then red.


    ""I was working for the Allies...volunteered, actually. You''d left me with enough money and gold, but after Al...I had to do something to help put an end to it. We''d only met days before. It wouldn''t have gone anywhere, it couldn''t have, of course. He was in love with another woman. He was sent on a mission not long after. He never came back," Fari explained.


    "I didn''t visit Midgard during that time¡­I doubted it would be much fun."


    "It wasn''t."


    "Do you have any bandages?" Loki asked.


    "No, but there''s fabric in the chest, beside the loom. It''s clean," Fari replied, "There''s salve in the cabinet where I store the soap."


    Loki crossed the room, coming to a halt as he passed the phonograph, the song having ended. Stepping back to it and following the same procedure as previously, Loki selected an album and set it to play, a piano tinkling a few notes before an orchestra joined in.


    Loki moved to the chest and opened it to find a length of off-white cloth folded atop a stack of what appeared to be men''s shirts, night shirts, and tan woolen trousers taking up half the chest, the other half filled with long skirts and chemises identical to what Fari was now wearing.


    "Was someone else here with you?" Loki asked, puzzled, as he stared at the clothing.


    "No¡­I''ve always been alone here. Klarien used to visit once or twice a year. He would bring me things sometimes."


    Loki closed the chest, stepping over to the tall cabinet and opening it, perusing the contents, spotting the small clay pot of salve, removing it from the cabinet and returning to stand beside Fari who was now shaking with chills, her pale blue skin even paler than before.


    "I''ll need to remove¡­" Loki trailed off, pointing at the shredded chemise, Fari understanding what he was hesitant to say, nodding in assent.


    Loki carefully slid the sleeves of the chemise down farther, Fari slipping her arms out of them. She made no effort to cover her exposed breasts as if modesty was a trait wholly unfamiliar to her as Loki dipped his fingers into the jar of salve and gently applied it to her wounds.


    "The very thought of you and I forget to do the little ordinary things that everyone ought to do¡­" Al Bowlly began to croon from the phonograph after the extended instrumental introduction.


    Loki produced his dagger, using it to slice the fabric before tearing it into long strips, winding them around Fari''s torso, over her shoulders, until the ugly gashes and fang marks were covered.


    "I''m living in a kind of daydream. I''m happy as a king and foolish though it may seem, to me that''s everything¡­" Bowlly suave voice continued from the phonograph.


    Loki returned the salve to the cabinet. Opening the chest, he removed a clean chemise. Turning from the chest, his eyes fell on a nude Fari standing beside the chair, her broad shouldered, muscular frame somewhat mannish yet exuding it''s own sort of femininity, the skirt and the ruined chemise in a crumpled pile around her feet.


    "The mere idea of you, the longing here for you, you''ll never know how slow the moments go til I''m near to you. I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above, it''s just the thought of you, the very thought of you my love¡­" Bowlly went on.


    Loki approached her, unfolding the chemise and placing it over her head, Fari slipping her arms into the sleeves. Loki adjusted the drawstring at the neckline, tying it into a neat ribbon so that the chemise hung loosely off her injured shoulders.


    "It''s just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my love¡­." Bowlly finished, the song ending with a few notes from the piano followed by static.


    Fari''s deep blue eyes locked with Loki''s as she reached out, taking both of his hands in her own, an electric sensation filling Loki''s skull.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki suddenly found himself standing in a candlelit bedroom, dressed in a shirt, tie, and trousers, a radio playing 1930s era music at a low volume in the background, the muffled sounds of traffic and an occasional car horn mixing with the music as he and Fari in her mortal guise passionately kissed beside the bed before she stepped away from him.


    "My people...this isn''t our way¡­it''s not like this...we must be chosen...it''s only done...I''ve never¡­" she nervously babbled, "You''ve done this before¡­"


    "A few times," Loki replied, with a hint of an amused grin.


    "I¡­I''m afraid I''ll¡­I don''t want to disappoint you."


    ''You have nothing to fear," Loki reassured her, closing the gap Fari had put between them and gently gripping her shoulders.


    "Why? Why would you want me? The women in Asgard¡­the men¡­they''re so beautiful."


    "You find Volstagg beautiful?" Loki chuckled, "I''m sure he''d be flattered. In my experience that sort of beauty is too often an illusion. You''re real. In every way that matters to me...you''re the most beautiful woman I''ve ever known."


    "More beautiful than your mother?" Fari asked with a sly smile.


    "You are new to this," Loki joked, "On most worlds, people generally avoid broaching the subject of a each others'' mothers as a topic of conversation when they''re about to make love...a sort of unspoken rule...but then I''ve never been an adherent to rules. If I was I''d be a boor like my father."


    "It''s acceptable to speak of fathers?"


    "Not usually, no."


    "It seems I have much to learn."


    "I have no doubt you''ll prove a quick study," said Loki seductively, moving his lips to hers.


    Ending the kiss, Fari, her hands slightly trembling, loosened Loki''s tie as he untucked his shirt from his trousers. After she had unbuttoned it, Loki let it fall from him onto the floor, taking hold of her forearms and guiding her to place her palms on his chest before gripping her waist as he kissed her once again.


    Fari turned her back, raising her arm to move her hair aside as Loki unzipped the zipper of her sage green dress, deftly unfastening the hooks of her brassiere, sliding its straps and the sleeves of her dress off her shoulders, the garments joining Loki''s shirt on the hardwood floor as he kissed and nuzzled her neck before Fari turned to face him once more.


    "I can be anyone you want me to be," Fari told him.


    "I would rather you be yourself," Loki said as she smiled, Fari now appearing to Loki in her true form as he swept her from her feet, carrying her the short distance to the bed.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    "Thank you," Fari said softly in appreciation of Loki''s care for her wounds, her voice jolting Loki back into the present, before a wave of vertigo overcame her, Loki steadying her, moving the Interdite woman to sit down once again in the chair, "I need the elixir, the same I gave to you. It cures many ills, though as you experienced it causes its own for a time."


    "Why didn''t you ask for it when we arrived?"


    "I wanted a drink first," Fari said in a tired voice her speech slightly slurred as she laid her head on her arms on the table, closing her eyes, "I would have rather had champagne but there seems to be a shortage in Interdis. The last time I had it was when I went to the Monseigneur with Steve. I only had one glass. He said he couldn''t drink¡­.he could, it just did nothing for him. He said he didn''t mind if I did but it didn''t seem right. I had ginger ale and grenadine the rest of the evening."


    "Where do you keep it?" Loki asked, concerned Fari would lose coherence or consciousness before she could divulge its location.


    "The cabinet¡­bottom shelf¡­the box you gave me¡­."


    Striding quickly to the cabinet, Loki opened it once again, searching the bottom shelf and retrieving the ebony wood box, gold inlaid stars on the top, rushing with it back to the table, setting it down and turning the key in the lock. As it opened, tinkling music played, a smile crossing Fari''s face as she closed her eyes, singing along.


    "Let me call you sweetheart, I''m in love with you. Let me hear you whisper that you love me too¡­" Fari sang in a quiet, weak voice.


    "There''s nothing in it," Loki said.


    "Keep the love light glowing, in your eyes so true¨C" Fari went on singing.


    "Fari!"


    "What?" Fari said, sounding drunk and annoyed, as she languidly raised her head.


    "It''s empty."

 Chapter 5

    Loki slid the empty box in front of Fari as the musical mechanism within it wound down, the last notes tinkling out slowly. She stared blankly at the gold velvet lining.


    ¡°Where¨C¡±


    Fari stood from the chair, stumbling to the door, struggling to open it, finally succeeding and rushing outside into the rainy night, doubling over as she vomited the ale she had drunk into the grass just as Loki appeared in the doorway carrying the lantern. Loki reached her as she stood upright, her body trembling,


    ¡°I waited so long¡­this isn''t how...I...I didn''t see this...¡± Fari said quietly, speaking to herself before turning to face Loki with fear filled eyes.


    Though Loki recalled little of his past with the Interdite woman, at the same time he felt as if he knew her intimately. Though empathy did not come easy to him, or rather he had learned long ago to tamp it down into the deepest depths of his mind where he had difficulty retrieving it, it now erupted within him like a fount. Cradling her head between his hands, he gently placed his lips on her forehead, closing his eyes¡­


    As he opened them he found himself standing in a long hallway warmly lit by art deco sconces casting jagged shadows on the rose hued walls, rich patterned carpet beneath his feet instead of stubby grass, Fari now stood at his left in her mentally cast mortal guise, hanging onto his arm as he held a key in his right hand, turning it in the door¡¯s lock.


    ¡°After you,¡± he said with a grin, gesturing after opening the varnished wood paneled door as Fari stepped through the doorway into the darkened flat.


    Entering behind her, Loki pushed the top of two round buttons on the wall, switching on the glass shaded pendant chandeliers hanging above, illuminating the large furnished sitting room, closing the door behind them.


    Bookcases of mahogany filled with leather bound volumes stretched almost to the ceiling along one muted gold painted wall. A settee and a matching set of chairs upholstered in thick wine colored brocade were arranged around a marble topped table, the shiny finish of the hardwood floors reflected the light where it wasn¡¯t covered with expensive handwoven rugs. An ornately carved clock hung on the wall, its pendulum swinging rhythmically from side to side as it ticked away the seconds.


    ¡°This is my home now?¡± Fari asked in wonder, walking to the middle of the room and turning slowly in a circle, taking it all in.


    ¡°The hotel was only temporary. It''s all yours...everything. Come see,¡± Loki told her, taking her hand and leading her across the room to what appeared to be a large standing cabinet, ¡°Open it.¡±


    Fari tentatively lifted the top, the hinges catching and holding it open as it was designed to do, to reveal the phonograph¡¯s turntable upon a green felt surface, a record already placed on it.


    ¡°What is it?¡± inquired Fari.


    ¡°It¡¯s rather clever¡­for mortals,¡± Loki said as Fari watched him turn the crank for a few moments before sliding the switch, setting the record to spin, lifting the needle and placing it on the heavy, thick black shellac disk. Brass horns, woodwinds, a piano, along with a banjo playing an upbeat tune flowed from the speaker, Loki opening the wooden doors over it to increase the volume and clarity, ¡°There are others in the cabinet below. There¡¯s a shop down the street where you can buy more. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s wonderful,¡± Fari replied, watching the record spinning in awe.


    ¡°Would you care for a dance?¡± Loki asked, extending his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never danced¡­I don¡¯t know how.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to it. Follow my lead,¡± Loki smiled, leading her away from the phonograph to the middle of the room, taking one of her hands as he moved her other to rest on his shoulder as he placed his at her waist, leading her through a simple, quick two step in time with the music.


    ¡°Keepin¡¯ out of mischief now, really I¡¯m in love and how! I¡¯m through playing with fire. It¡¯s you whom I desire¡­¡± the male vocalist sang, ¡°All the world can plainly see, you¡¯re the only one for me. I have told them in advance they can¡¯t break up our romance. Livin¡¯ up to every vow. Keepin¡¯ out of mischief now¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a lie,¡± Fari said after the music and their dance had come to an end, Loki releasing her.


    ¡°What is?¡± Loki asked, confused.


    ¡°The song.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Loki said, understanding her meaning, ¡°I suppose it is...in part. Do you think that bumbling bobby has located his hat yet?¡± he asked with an impish grin.


    Fari giggled, before the smile faded from her face as she turned from Loki, crossing to one of the windows, peering out of it at the traffic and people on the busy London street below. Loki, puzzled by her sudden change in demeanor, watched her for a moment before joining her.


    "What is it?" asked Loki.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving soon,¡± she said dolefully.


    ¡°I''m afraid I must. Some might begin to ask questions if I¡¯m away too often for too long. I¡¯ve seen to it you have everything you need.¡±


    ¡°When will you come back?¡±


    ¡°A week¡­ two, perhaps,¡± Loki answered.


    ¡°You''ve been so kind,¡± Fari said as she focused on a man and woman strolling by arm and arm down the sidewalk below, ¡°I sensed there are those in Asgard who don¡¯t believe you to be. Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­complicated. Too many in Asgard have the sense of humor of a bilge snipe, my father among them.¡±


    ¡°It was not always so. He has been king a long time. He has experienced much. The scars one can see are not the only ones he bears.¡±


    ¡°That may be,¡± Loki replied, appearing thoughtful, ¡°Like you, I know what it is¡­to feel you don¡¯t belong¡­to be different.¡±


    ¡°You are¡­different.¡± Far said, turning to face him.


    ¡°All will be well. I must take my leave now," Loki told her, lifting her hand to kiss it before appearing to rethink the gesture, lowering it, instead softly kissing her forehead, ¡°I will return. I swear to you.¡±


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki opened his eyes to find himself once again in Interdis, standing outside the cabin, soaked by the rain, realizing the memory that had been restored he had just re-lived had in real time lasted but a moment. As he led Fari back to the cabin, she clinging to his arm for support, out of the corner of her eye to her left she caught sight of a grayish white shape lying in the grass in the glow of the candle lantern. Releasing Loki¡¯s arm, she started in its direction, Loki at first assuming she was going to be sick once again.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Loki asked, joining her as she stared down at the goat lying motionless on the wet grass in the rain now illuminated by the candlelight.


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    ¡°Mileetza,¡± Fari said softly, sadly, as she knelt down, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on its furry side, Loki kneeling beside her, both of them simultaneously noticing the green ooze mixed with blood around its mouth and painting its beard, along with small bits of broken glass, more, the equivalent of several vials, scattered on the ground.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    After entering the cabin, Loki found he had regained enough of his strength to use his magic to dry both Fari and himself. Pushing the tub aside, he moved a chair closer to the fire, assisting Fari into it, her expression a mix of sorrow and fear, dark circles under her eyes. Crossing to the pallet he retrieved a blanket, returning to her, wrapping it around her before moving the stool in front of the fire as well, seating himself.


    ¡°If he was using the goat to spy on you, he knows I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know who you were. He¡¯s never seen you before. He didn¡¯t go to Asgard with my mother in search of me. Like most, he¡¯d never left Interdis before Thanos. He was here visiting me when you arrived with him. He returned home to find a massacre...every settlement. There were so few of us already¡­after the Badoons, the plague they left behind¡­it was then the elixir was discovered while searching for a cure. I was barely old enough to walk, but I remember the dead¡­there weren¡¯t enough who were strong and healthy to bury or burn them all¡­¡± Fari trailed off, disturbed by the memory.


    ¡°When did you return here? How did they find you?¡± Loki asked.


    ¡°A few years after the war. They didn¡¯t find me. I told them where I was.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Loki asked, stunned.


    ¡°There was already talk of another¡­though people were always fighting somewhere in Midgard. Even during times of peace there was so much suffering. I was able to block it out for a time but I was tired¡­of all of it. Interdites were peaceful people. Very few crimes merited death. Mine were not among them, though as I said there were some who believed they should. I would be banished. I welcomed it. I wanted¡­I needed the solace of solitude.¡±


    ¡°What happened between us? Why did you bury my memories?¡± asked Loki.


    ¡°After you have recovered them, I''ll explain. It would make no sense to you now,¡± Fari replied.


    Though he didn¡¯t voice it, in the state she was in, her condition clearly deteriorating, Loki feared the return of his memories might come too late.


    ¡°How did you know about Midgard, what I did there?¡±


    ¡°When I connected with your mind when I found you I saw all you have done since the last time we were together,¡± Fari answered, Loki bowing his head.


    ¡°And you let me live?¡± he responded darkly.


    ¡°I hoped the man I once knew was still there¡­somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Someone else said something similar to me recently,¡± Loki replied forlornly as he thought of Thor, ¡°You told me my brother is alive.¡±


    ¡°He is.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Look within yourself. You will know as well.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do what you can do.¡±


    ¡°You are stronger than you realize or you would not be here now,¡± Fari told him.


    ¡°If I wasn¡¯t here now...my father was right. Everywhere I go¡­You¡¯ll die without it?¡±


    ¡°I have heard stories of some who survived before the elixir,¡± Fari tried to reassure him, though unable to fully obscure the doubt in her voice.


    ¡°He brought them here. He knew I was coming.¡±


    ¡°My brother never experienced visions. For Interdites it¡¯s a bit like being left-handed,¡± Fari explained, her voice becoming strained, ¡°Could I¡­have more ale?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s taking everything¡­if I were to block it out completely I would have to go away¡­somewhere within my mind. If I am to die, I want to spend every last moment here¡­with you¡­it helps¡­please¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Loki acquiesced, rising and walking to the table, retrieving her mug and filling it.


    After returning it to her, noticing the fire was again dying down, Loki tossed in more wood, stoking it once more.


    ¡°Is there a healer? Someone else who might have it?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no one. After Thanos¡­after he took it...something changed. People began to fight, to murder each other. My mother lost control and was executed. My brother became the Arenark, the sovereign. He convinced the few who were left that our people had displeased Those Who Watch Over, that they must atone by leaving Interdis and settling on other worlds to live as hermits. Before they left they destroyed every settlement, everything in them.¡±


    ¡°Could there be any elsewhere?¡±


    ¡°The vault...in the mountains. It was built after the Badoons attacked us to house supplies in case something like that ever happened again. The elixir loses its potency after a time if it¡¯s not kept cool. That¡¯s why I only kept a few. I would make the journey once a year to replace them. It¡¯s treacherous. The only time before now that I needed it was due to an injury I suffered returning from the vault. It was slow to heal and became infected.¡±


    ¡°The mountains near the lake? Where in the mountains? How do I get there?¡±


    ¡°No, you can''t go. If this is Klarien¡¯s doing, if he intended you to be its victim, it would give him a second chance. It would play right into his hands,¡± Fari replied as Loki stood to stoke the fire.


    ¡°He''ll come for me eventually regardless. I¡¯ve battled far more menacing foes than a pathetic poltroon hiding behind a goat. In Midgard it took their five mightiest and my brother to subdue me,¡± Loki bragged, standing tall as he wielded the poker as he once did the scepter.


    ¡°From what I saw, it only took one,¡± Fari responded with a hint of a grin at the corners of her mouth, Loki falling silent, returning the poker to its peg protruding from the stone fireplace.


    ¡°The beast caught me by surprise. I was at a disadvantage.¡±


    ¡°You would be at a disadvantage again. You haven¡¯t fully recovered your strength. He used to spend much time in the mountains. He knows the terrain, the dangers, how to exploit them,¡± Fari attempted to reason with him, ¡°You couldn¡¯t leave until morning¡­even if he didn¡¯t accost you¡­it¡¯s unlikely you¡¯d make it back in time,¡± Fari paused for a moment as Loki stood with his back to her, his shoulders slumping, ¡±You told your brother you never wanted the throne. What was your glorious purpose? It was more than simply conquering a world, becoming a king...¡±


    ¡°I would have put an end to it¡­the suffering you spoke of¡­they slaughter each other in droves over trifles.¡±


    ¡°You slaughtered innocent people yourself.¡±


    ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped,¡± Loki replied in a hollow voice.


    ¡°One of the books in my flat¡­it¡¯s always stuck with me¡­¡¯Whoever fights monsters should see to it that he does not become a monster.¡¯¡±


    ¡°If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you...Frederick Nietzsche.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re familiar with him.¡±


    ¡°He died a madman,¡± Loki informed her, ¡°I¡¯m not going to sit before the fire drinking ale waiting for you to die! There has to be something!¡± Loki railed.


    ¡°There is¡­it¡¯s not a cure. It would only buy a little time,¡± Fari said as Loki knelt before her, taking her free hand in his as she held the nearly empty mug in the other, looking into her eyes before casting his down, bowing his head.


    ¡°When my mother was murdered¡­my brother told me¡­he arrived a mere moment after, my father a heartbeat after him¡­if they¡¯d had more time¡­just a few more seconds¡­¡± Loki said mournfully as the clock on the wall ticked, seeming to emphasize his words.


    ¡°Do you remember when you took me to the cinema?¡± asked Fari.


    ¡°No, but I would imagine I took you there a great many times.¡±


    ¡°It was a film about a monster but he looked like a man. He could turn into a bat.¡±


    ¡°Dracula?¡± Loki asked, not sure what Fari was getting at, ¡°Strange, I was just reminded of him recently. Why did I take you to see that dreck?¡±


    ¡°For the same reason mortal men take women to see a scary movie,¡± Fari said, a weak smile on her face.


    ¡°What does a boogeyman concocted by an Irishman likely drunk on absinthe have to do with anything?¡±


    ¡°You drank the elixir not all that long ago. It¡¯s still in your blood.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying¨C¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s other things that will need to go into it. I have them here. It may not work. I¡¯ve only heard of it being done once before. You¡¯re not an Interdite.¡±


    "No...I don¡¯t know what I am.¡±


    ¡°You are what Odin made you. You are his son. Every drop of blood within you is Asgardian,¡± Fari assured him, looking past him to see there were only two pieces of firewood left, ¡°I''ll need to boil water. We need more firewood...¡±


    ¡°There''s something you must know," Loki said, "I wasn¡¯t there...I was...but I left with him after they surrendered it to him. He told me if I could convince them to do so without a fight, no one would be harmed. I should have questioned why the others didn¡¯t leave when we did. I didn¡¯t tell him¡­about the Mind Stone. I didn¡¯t know¡­there was much my father never told me¡­obviously. I had no intention of relinquishing it or the Tesseract to him. I thought him a fool to hand it over to me. I knew he could never possess them. If he is able to claim them,¡± Loki said, releasing her hand and standing, "I''ll get more wood."


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Fari warned him.


    ¡°No need to fret. If he shows up as a rabbit, we¡¯ll have a nice stew,¡± Loki grinned.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki exited the cabin, the rain having slowed to a drizzle, standing in front of the closed door for a few moments as his eyes adjusted to the darkness before scanning his surroundings for any sign of danger. Making his way around the cabin to the stack of firewood on the far side, he began to collect it in his arms.


    ¡°She¡¯s lying to you,¡± a deep male voice said from behind him in the darkness.


    Startled, Loki dropped the firewood to the ground, spinning swiftly around, producing a dagger in each hand.


    ¡°Damned coward! Show yourself!¡± Loki called into the night, receiving no response.


    On his guard, Loki quickly gathered up the firewood he had dropped. As he retrieved the last piece, he spied an orange toad in the grass near his foot peering up at him.


    Before the toad could react Loki lifted his foot, stomping on it, grinding it into the wet ground under the sole of his boot.

 Chapter 6

    "Loki? Loki¡­" Fari said from where she sat at the table, her shoulders slumped, a stone mortar in front of her containing a collection of herbs she had been grinding with the matching pestle in her hand, her arm lying on the table alongside the mortar, her energy spent.


    Loki stood off to the side of the fireplace,a kettle hanging on a hook over the fire, leaning on his arm, staring stonily into the dancing flames as they consumed the wood.


    "Loki¡­" Fari repeated, struggling to raise her voice to jar him from his trance.


    "What is it?" Loki replied, finally turning his head.


    "Could you¡­I''m afraid I..." Fari trailed off in a tired voice,


    "Yes...of course," Loki said, moving from the fireplace to Fari''s side, sliding the mortar in front of himself and taking the pestle from her hand, using it to finish grinding the herbs.


    Loki emptied them into a small cloth drawstring bag, dropping it into an empty mug just as the kettle began a breathy whistle that quickly transitioned into a higher pitched squeal. Returning to the fireplace, Loki removed the kettle from the hook, using a rag as a hot pad to carry it back to the table, pouring boiling water into the mug.


    "It has to steep for a bit," Fari said in a feeble voice as Loki sat the kettle on the stone in front of the fireplace, making his way back to the table with the stool, placing it beside her and seating himself.


    "How long could it give you?"


    "Another day, maybe a bit longer¡­if it works."


    "It will," Loki replied, Fari struck by the confidence in his voice which didn''t sound in the least bit feigned.


    "How do you know?"


    "Something''s changed," Loki replied.


    "What do you mean?" Fari asked, puzzled.


    "I''ve often thought myself cursed. When something I wanted was within my grasp, when it appeared the fates might finally allow me to know my purpose, what it is to be happy¡­when I reached for it, it would vanish. A moment ago, I did as you spoke of earlier. I looked deep within myself¡­something''s changed."


    "I can never have children. That ability was taken from me before I was banished here," Fari informed Loki, he looking at her strangely, confused as to the sudden and unrelated change of topic, "We spoke of it once¡­what they would be like," she said, both silent for a moment as they watched the steam rising from the mug on the table.


    "I imagine they would have been some shade of blue¡­cerulean¡­cyan, perhaps," Loki replied, Fari turning her head to look at him, their eyes meeting before both burst into laughter.


    "Would you¡­play something?" Fari asked haltingly as their fit of mirth subsided, it seeming to have drained her further.


    Loki rose, crossing the room to the phonograph, returning the record on the turntable to the cabinet. He slid another from the shelf, crouching before the phonograph unmoving as if suspended in time as he read the title¡­


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    The orchestra played the closing notes of a song in the expansive, high ceilinged room lit by large ornate glass fixtures in London''s upscale Monseigneur Restaurant. Those on the dance floor directly in front of the orchestra departed the space, men escorting their partners. A tall, handsome, cleft chinned man in a tuxedo with dark brunette hair pomaded in a popular style of the 1930s approached a flat, round microphone on a stand a few paces in front of the musicians, speaking into it.


    "Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you all for joining us this evening. I hope you''re having a wonderful time. I''m going to give these fine musicians behind me, and yourselves, a bit of a rest. We''ll return shortly. Thank you."


    Loki, sporting a tuxedo of the era similar to the singer''s, led Fari in her mortal guise wearing a periwinkle blue formal evening dress in the direction of one of the tables lining the far side of the room. As they neared the table, Loki sent Fari on as he stopped a waiter, speaking to him, the waiter nodding and moving off.


    Loki joined Fari, seating himself and pouring the last of the champagne in the bottle on the table into the flute before him just as the waiter he had spoken to appeared with another bottle and flute. The waiter set the glass on the table before popping the cork of the bottle, placing it beside the glass, removing the empty bottle from the table, Loki thanking him before he moved off. Loki filled Fari''s flute from the full bottle before topping off his own and filling the extra glass.


    "Who is that for?" Fari asked, curiously.


    "Someone else will be joining us. I''ve arranged a surprise."


    "Should I be worried after the last one? You almost set my flat on fire," Fari said with a hint of a grin as Loki chuckled.


    "That didn''t go quite to plan, but I believe I made up for it later that evening," Loki replied.


    "Many times over," Fari smiled slyly before she noticed the orchestra''s handsome vocalist approaching their table.


    "Luke! I''m pleased you were able to join us," Al Bowlly said with a happy grin as Loki stood, Fari standing along with him as Bowlly extended his hand, Loki taking it, "This must be the lady you spoke of¡­I hope so, or else I''m afraid I may have just gotten you into a spot of trouble."


    "She is. Farina, this is Albert Bowlly," Loki introduced her to the singer.


    "Al¡­only my mother ever used my full name. When she did it was never a good thing. It''s a pleasure to meet you," Bowlly said, taking Fari''s hand, kissing it, "Farina, a lovely name for an even lovelier lady."


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    "Fari...my mother always used my full name."


    "Fari...I believe I like that even more," Bowlly said with a warm smile.


    "Please¡­sit," Loki said, gesturing to the chair at the side of the table to Fari''s left, the three seating themselves as Loki moved the champagne flute in front of Bowlly.


    "I''ve heard you on the radio. I have a few of your records. I wasn''t aware Lo¨CLuke knew you," Fari said, appearing starstruck.


    "I was pleased to make his acquaintance a few years ago. Like many did then and have since, I''d lost my position. I''d been forced to return to busking to try to make a go of it and keep a roof over my head. Luke happened by one day and remained through quite a few numbers before speaking to me. He returned from time to time over the next few months. He was always generous. He offered some very good advice as well which eventually led me here," Bowlly explained as he drank from his glass, "When I received his message a few days ago asking to meet, he told me of you¡­ that he wanted to introduce me. I was rather intrigued. On the occasions he and I have met before he''s never been accompanied by or mentioned anyone special. He didn''t say how the two of you came to meet."


    "I''d¡­had an accident¡­" Fari responded.


    "Her vehicle," Loki added.


    "He helped me," Fari finished.


    "Isn''t it strange how people are brought together at times? So many songs make mention of fate," Bowlly commented, drinking the last of the champagne in his glass.


    "More?" Loki asked, taking hold of the neck of the bottle.


    "No, thank you. I have to get back to it," Bowlly told him before returning his attention to Fari, "I would be honored if you would leave a space or two open on your dance card for me. There''s a few instrumental numbers coming up."


    "Of course. I would love to," Fari answered, awestruck as Bowlly rose.


    "Are you ready?" Bowlly asked Loki.


    "As I ever will be," Loki answered before Bowlly walked away in the direction of the orchestra who were gathering, preparing to play once again.


    "Ready for what?" Fari asked as Loki filled his glass and hers once more, standing and downing the contents of his in one swallow.


    "Excuse me for a moment," Loki said, walking away from the table as the orchestra began to play, patrons leaving their tables, heading for the dance floor.


    Fari, puzzled, followed Loki with her eyes as he wove his way through the crowd in the direction of the orchestra.


    "Ladies and Gentlemen," Fari heard Bowlly''s voice say as he stood before the microphone once again as the orchestra began to play, "Sometimes it isn''t easy to say what we wish to say, to speak what''s in our heart. It''s always a risk to tell someone special how you feel. A friend recently related to me his difficulty in doing so, seeking advice. When it comes to matters of the heart I''m no expert, having experienced my own trials and tribulations, but I told him that for me at least it''s always been easier to say it in song. Would you please give a warm welcome to our guest vocalist this evening, Mr. Luke King," Bowlly said, the audience applauding as he stepped away, making a sweeping gesture with his arm to the space before the microphone, retreating to sit among the orchestra, picking up a guitar and strumming it as Loki, to Fari''s shock, stepped with the confidence, outwardly at least, of a seasoned performer behind it.


    The song already having begun as Bowlly was speaking, Loki had only to wait a few measures before he began to sing as Fari slowly made her way to the dance floor, her eyes set on him as he spied her, locking his gaze with hers.


    "Somebody loves you, I want you to know¡­longs to be near you wherever you go¡­somebody loves you and right from the start happiness flew into someone''s heart¡­Somebody loves you each hour of the day...when you''re around, dear, or when you''re away¡­Somebody loves you, sweetheart can''t you see¡­and that somebody is me¡­" Loki''s smooth singing voice filled the room as people danced, Fari weaving between them.


    Loki''s rather short stint as the orchestra''s vocalist finished, though the orchestra played on, Loki bowed with a flourish as those not dancing applauded before stepping away from the microphone and crossing the dance floor to stand before Fari who had come to a halt,standing stunned and speechless, as dancers whirled around her.


    "You were brilliant...I¡­I love you, too," Fari managed to say, Loki putting a hand behind his ear as the music continued.


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t hear that last part," Loki said, with a puckish grin.


    "I love you!" Fari repeated, practically yelling as she competed with the din of the instruments, Loki kissing her before taking her in his arms to dance for what remained of the song and the next.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki slid the record back into place and selected another, setting it to play before returning to the table and grabbing an empty mug, crossing the room to the cask, filling it with ale before returning to Fari, seating himself beside her as he drank, both staring once more at the mug containing the herbal tea as they listened to the music.


    "Did you ever see a dream walking? Well I did. Did you ever hear a dream talking? Well I did. Did you ever have a dream thrill you with will you be mine? Oh it''s so grand and it''s too divine. Did you ever see a dream dancing? Well I did. And did you ever see a dream romancing? Well I did. Did you ever see heaven right in your arms saying I love you, I do. Well the dream that was walking and the dream that was talking and the heaven in my arms was you..." Al Bowlly''s voice once again sang from the phonograph.


    "I did remember you¡­in a way," Loki told her, "I woke up that morning in Asgard, in my bedchambers¡­I thought it had all been a dream. I tried to recall the details but every passing moment I was awake it slipped farther and farther away¡­like sand through my fingers. In the end all that was left was a feeling¡­along with a void within me that only whatever, whoever it was that had brought about that feeling could fill."


    "You''d spoken often to me of that feeling of a void within you. It existed before we met," Fari responded.


    "That''s true¡­but this was different. I''d now experienced what it was for it to be filled, even if it was in a dream, or what I believed to be a dream, which was worse than never knowing. I became quite a rake for a time¡­I suppose I was before but I''d always made it clear when I was interested in nothing more, which was most of the time. But after¡­when I would meet someone¡­something about them would give me a hint of that same feeling but that was all it ever amounted to in the end. I would betray them or do something to vex them, sometimes without realizing what I was doing or why, so they would walk¡­more often run away."


    "I''m sorry," Fari said softly, hanging her head.


    "I had long been fed up with feeling trapped in my brother''s shadow, never measuring up to him in my father''s eyes or in everyone else''s, feeling unworthy, all those things that somehow I knew in the dream I had no longer concerned myself with. I was tired...of the loneliness, the heartbreak of searching for someone I was now certain didn''t exist. I put it aside in the interest of pursing the throne. If there was no one who could fill that void, maybe it would," Loki paused for a moment, taking a long drink of ale, gazing into his mug, before continuing, "Did I wrong you in some way? Did I betray you as well?"


    "No¡­never," Fari answered.


    "If that''s true, you''re a rare specimen indeed," Loki said, rising and walking to the cask, refilling his mug and returning to his seat beside her, taking another long drink, "If you''re lying to me, if these memories are false, if you''ve been planting them, tell me now. If you are, rest assured I will learn the truth and when I do--"


    "You''ll kill me? I''m dying. Cutting my throat would be quicker...easier. Everything I have told you, everything you''ve recalled is true," Fari replied.


    "You pretended to be my mother."


    "I never told you I was your mother. I chose to allow you to see me as who you most wished me to be. Someone for whom you would desire to survive."


    "You were jealous of her," Loki said before taking another drink.


    "There was a time you would have given it all up to be with me, if not for her, but she has nothing to do with why I buried your memories."


    "I admit my mother would have been a hard act to follow¡­for anyone," Loki told her before drinking the last of the ale in his mug and setting it on the table before standing, "Is it ready?"


    "I think so."


    Loki removed his tunic, laying it across the table, magically producing one of his daggers and holding the blade against his extended forearm as he made a fist.


    "How much do you need?"

 Chapter 7

    Loki sat pressing a square of folded fabric over his inner forearm just below his elbow as Fari stared unblinking at the mug into which he had moments ago spilled his blood, both silent as the clock on the wall ticked.


    ¡°How will we know if it worked?¡± Loki finally asked, removing the cloth from his arm, the bleeding having stopped, the wound already healing.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ll just¡­know I guess,¡± Fari answered, both falling silent again, gazing at the mug before Loki stood, dropping the blood stained rag onto the table.


    ¡°This¡­is very old wine,¡± Loki said, doing his best Bela Lugosi impression as he lifted the mug, moving it closer to Fari, setting it in front of her, ¡°I hope you will like it.¡±


    ¡°I never drink¡­wine,¡± Fari replied in the same faux accent.


    ¡°That¡¯s my line, actually,¡± Loki said, Fari looking up at him with a tired grin, ¡°What about champagne?¡± he asked, the mug and his own he had refilled with ale both flashing green before transforming into glass flutes filled with bubbly golden liquid.


    ¡°It may look like it...but it won¡¯t taste like it.¡±


    ¡°It will if you want it to¡­isn¡¯t that how it works?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly¡­I would have to retreat into my own memories of a time I was actually drinking it.¡±


    ¡°I would venture to guess there¡¯s a selection to choose from¡­we could revisit it together.¡±


    ¡°Your mind¡¯s too strong¡­I don¡¯t have the energy.¡±


    ¡°Even the strongest fortress must have an entrance. If the sentries guarding it were to be relieved for a time¡­they¡¯ve been rather derelict in their duty since my arrival, to be honest,¡± Loki replied, extending his hand, Fari taking it.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki, dressed in a smart dark colored suit and a matching Homburg hat, walked over the same rich carpet down the same rose walled hallway as in his earlier memory, leading to the door of Fari¡¯s flat.


    Only a few meters before he reached it, he was surprised to see it open, a chocolate haired, mustached man appearing somewhat older than Loki, though of course Loki was by far his elder, in a brown suit and fedora stepping out, closing it behind him. As he started in Loki¡¯s direction, Loki slowed his pace as the man approached, the man nodding and touching his hat in a polite gesture of greeting as he passed him.


    Loki turned his head to look over his shoulder, watching the man continue down the hallway before placing his attention in front of him again, walking the last few steps to Fari¡¯s door. Glancing around, the man out of sight having rounded the corner at the end of the hall, Loki produced a bouquet of flowers in one hand, a bottle of champagne in the other, tucking the bottle in the crook of his arm before rapping on the door.


    ¡°Did you forget some¨C¡± Fari in her mortal guise said as she opened the door wearing a dark green frock with white polka dots and puff sleeves, ¡°Loki¡­this is a sur¨C¡±


    ¡°Who is he?¡± Loki asked tersely.


    ¡°Who? Oh...you mean Mr. Robinson. His first name is Arthur¡­Artie. He-¨C¡±


    ¡°He didn''t look to be a repairman. What was he doing here?¡± Loki asked in the same clipped tone.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Fari said, ignoring Loki¡¯s question for the moment, stepping aside as Loki entered the flat, Fari closing the door behind him.


    Loki''s hat vanished as it was traced with a green magical glow as Fari took the bouquet and champagne from his hands, smelling the flowers.


    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful¡­thank you. I was thinking of buying some for myself just yesterday. I¡¯ll get a vase.¡±


    Loki turned to his left, following Fari with his eyes as she crossed the room and disappeared through an arched doorway. He heard water running before she reappeared with the flowers in a crystal vase, carrying them over to and placing them in the center of the marble topped table in front of the settee before turning to Loki.


    ¡°Artie lives in the flat below. He owns a haberdashery. He does very well. He¡¯s made a few hats for King George and his daughter, Princess Mary. I decided to get to know at least a few of the others who also live here. It wasn¡¯t easy¡­Interdites aren¡¯t known for their sociability, but I thought it would be wise. I¡¯ve observed enough human behavior to learn that If one hides themselves away, others find it strange. It may call attention to them, people become curious,¡± Fari explained.


    ¡°Very true,¡± Loki admitted.


    ¡°I became friends with his wife. She fell ill. She''s in hospital,¡± Fari said, crossing from the table to Loki, taking his hand and leading him to the far corner of the room, ¡°He was having difficulty finding someone who was free with so many on holiday this time of year. His sister-in-law isn''t able to make it to London until tomorrow,¡± Fari continued as they came to stand in front of a bassinet Loki had failed to notice, he peering down at the infant in a white smock dress lying within it, kicking her tiny feet, having kicked the blanket that had been tucked around her off of herself, her hands balled into small fists waving in the air, ¡°This is Emma. I¡¯ve been minding her the last couple of days while her father is at the hospital with her mother. He was only dropping in to see how we were getting on, if I needed anything.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Loki responded, ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°You honestly believed¨C¡± Fari began.


    ¡°Of course not! I was only concerned for your safety. Midgard isn¡¯t Asgard¡­or Interdis for that matter. There¡¯s any number of rogues roaming about¡­a woman living alone¡­¡± Loki said, doing his best to sound convincing, Fari appearing cynical.


    ¡°Bringing me here was your idea. Interdites aren¡¯t quite as strong as Asgardians but I could still snap a mortal¡¯s neck like a matchstick if necessary.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the thought did cross my mind¡­only for a moment. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time¡­¡± Loki trailed off, staring down at Emma as she looked to be attempting to stuff her fist into her mouth as she made grunting noises and drooled, ¡°Is that¡­normal?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s hungry...I need to warm some milk. Would you like to hold her?¡± Fari asked, lifting the infant from the bassinet without waiting for an answer, transferring her to Loki.


    Loki stood stiffly, balancing the baby across his two upturned palms, staring down at it, obviously out of his element.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never done this before, have you?¡± Fari said, observing his demeanor.


    ¡°The opportunity has never presented itself¡­nor have I sought it out,¡± Loki replied, Fari taking Emma back from him.


    ¡°In almost a millennium and a half you¡¯ve never held a baby? Sit,¡± Fari told him, motioning toward the settee with her head and walking over to it, Loki following her command.


    After Loki had seated himself, Fari lowered Emma into his arms once again.


    ¡°Like this,¡± Fari said, adjusting his hold so that he cradled her in a more relaxed and natural manner, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡±


    Fari disappeared once again through the arched doorway, Loki looking down at his charge who stared back at him with hazel eyes.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t how I expected this day to play out,¡± Loki said to Emma, ¡°You have my sympathy regarding your mother...also for being born a mortal, but don¡¯t worry, it will all be over before you know it.¡±


    Sliding an arm out from under her, Loki conjured a handkerchief in his hand.


    ¡°You remind me of someone I know. He¡¯d eat his own hand as well if he wasn¡¯t fed,¡± Loki said, gently moving Emma¡¯s fist from her mouth, wiping the drool from her chin with the handkerchief.


    As the infant began to fuss, the handkerchief vanished, Loki moving her up a bit higher in the crook of his arm, holding his hand out flat in front of her, producing an illusion of a wolf chasing its tail in his palm. Emma quieted, intently watching the mini-wolf spin.


    ¡°You like that?¡± Loki asked, ¡°That¡¯s how I feel a great deal of the time, to be honest,¡± Loki said, closing his hand, opening it again, a miniature fireworks display erupting from his palm.


    ¡°You seem to be getting on well,¡± Fari said as she reappeared from the kitchen after a few minutes with a glass bottle of warm milk topped by a rubber nipple in her hand, a cloth draped over her shoulder.


    Seating herself beside Loki she handed the bottle to him, guiding him on the correct angle to hold it as Emma hungrily took the nipple in her mouth, ¡°See? It¡¯s not so difficult.¡±


    ¡°I thought you had no interest in children¡­that it was in part the reason you left Interdis,¡± said Loki.


    ¡°I never said that. I didn¡¯t wish to be paired, to have no say with whom, for it to be my only purpose.¡±


    ¡°No one else on Interdis has ever rebelled?¡±


    ¡°Not after the Materpalli, the ritual.¡±


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    ¡°What does it entail?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one speaks of it afterward and my mother is the only other present. I only know that when they leave the chamber they¡¯re¡­different somehow. They question nothing my mother dictates. It takes place once an Interdite comes of age but as a daughter of the Anerak who might possibly take my mother''s place in the future I was exempt¡­you have to burp her.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­¡± Loki said, removing the bottle from Emma¡¯s mouth and forcing a belch himself.


    ¡°Her, not you,¡± Fari chuckled.


    ¡°How exactly do I go about that?¡± Loki asked, the words barely escaping his mouth before Emma turned her head and spit up, a jet of milk arching from her mouth over his lap, splashing on his shoes.


    ¡°Too late,¡± Fari sighed.


    ¡°That was quite impressive. I¡¯m reminded of the time I slipped tergant root into Fandral¡¯s ale. It''s the strongest emetic in Asgard. It was the last time he boasted about drinking me under the table,¡± Loki said, utilizing his magic to clean his shoes and the rug.


    ¡°Give her the rest and I¡¯ll show you. I had planned to take her for a walk after she was fed.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s ready to walk quite yet.¡±


    ¡°I walk, she rides in the pram. It''s by the door. You didn¡¯t notice that when you came in either, did you.¡±


    ¡°I was joking. I¡¯m not that daft.¡±


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    As they walked the streets of London, Fari pushing Emma in the pram, she took note of how Loki seemed to be reveling in the attention that a baby garners, accepting people¡¯s compliments, mostly from women though from a few men as well, who praised the infant¡¯s beauty and calm temperament as they cooed over her, he neglecting to clue anyone into the fact he wasn¡¯t her father, nor Fari her mother, that they weren¡¯t a happy family out for a stroll. Fari soon found herself sucked into the ruse as well.


    After returning to Fari¡¯s flat, as Fari busied herself in the kitchen cooking dinner with the ingredients they¡¯d procured while they were out, Loki took charge of Emma, entertaining her with various illusions before she was ready to be fed once again, Fari peeking through the doorway intermittently to check up on them. Fari watched as Loki placed her in the bassinet, tucking the blanket around her after she had fallen asleep in his arms.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    ¡°Well done,¡± Loki said to Emma later that evening as she emitted a loud burp near his ear as he held her against his shoulder after finishing the last dregs in the bottle he had just fed her, ¡°That almost put my brother to shame.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know this wasn¡¯t the day you had planned. You could have gone out and enjoyed yourself. You didn¡¯t have to stay,¡± Fari, seated beside him on the settee, said as she took the infant from him.


    ¡°My mother has always said never to regret an act of kindness regardless of how it is received¡­though I have many times. This has not been one of them. It¡¯s been a novel experience. It is strange to consider¡­she¡¯ll have been dead for a couple millennia before we''ve sprouted our first gray hair. That day would likely come far sooner if we were ever to have our own. I have no doubt that I, and my brother to a lesser degree, are responsible for the vast majority of my father¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Is that possible?¡± Fari asked.


    ¡°Infinitely. He could likely relate the tale of my specific exploit that¡¯s responsible for any particular one.¡±


    ¡°No...I meant¡­could we...people of two different worlds¡­¡± Fari asked, Loki silent for a moment, thrown off balance by her question, considering his answer.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t necessarily mean ¡®we¡¯...either of us,¡± Loki stumbled over his words, ¡°Most humanoid species in the universe are compatible for the purpose of procreation, though there can be¡­logistical difficulties with particular pairings. You needn¡¯t concern yourself. It¡¯s easily prevented, which I¡¯ve always been diligent about whenever that has been a possibility. My father often charges me with irresponsibility, yet if he knew the number of grandchildren he would likely have scattered across the universe if he was correct in his assessment¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¨C¡± Fari began before being interrupted by a knock on the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Loki told her, rising and crossing to the door, opening it to find Emma¡¯s father on the other side.


    ¡°Artie, come in,¡± Fari said, standing from the settee with Emma in her arms, ¡°How is Margot doing?¡±


    ¡°Rather well. They believe she¡¯s turned the corner. They may discharge her by tomorrow evening. Her sister will be arriving in the morning to mind Emma and to assist Margot in her recovery after she¡¯s home. I can¡¯t thank you enough for your help,¡± Artie said before turning to Loki, ¡°You must be the beau my wife and I have heard so much about.¡±


    ¡°Yes. This is Luke King,¡± Fari said before Loki could respond as she approached the two men.


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Mr. King,¡± Artie said, shaking Loki¡¯s hand, ¡°I understand your business takes you away from the country for long stretches.¡±


    ¡°It does,¡± Loki replied.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t mention you were planning a visit or I wouldn¡¯t have impinged on your time together.¡±


    "She wasn''t expecting me. I unexpectedly found myself with a couple of days to spend in the city," Loki replied.


    "Well, I hope Emma wasn''t too much trouble."


    ¡°None at all. The three of us got on quite well,¡± Fari replied.


    ¡°We won¡¯t take up more of your time. I¡¯ll collect her things and return for her," Artie informed her and Loki.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get them,¡± Fari said, turning and heading for another doorway on the opposite side of the sitting room as Artie crossed to the bassinet, Loki following behind him.


    ¡°I think we can get it all in one go and save you a return trip,¡± Loki said, picking up the bassinet.


    ¡°Thank you. I suppose it was good practice¡­for the future, if things work out for you,¡± Artie told Loki as Fari reentered the room with Emma, a bag slung over her shoulder.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take her. Luke has kindly offered his services,¡± Artie said, approaching Fari and taking the bag from her, putting it over his own shoulder, Fari transferring Emma into his arms.


    ¡°Just a moment,¡± Fari said, disappearing into the kitchen, returning with two bottles, placing them into the bag.


    ¡°Thank you again,¡± Artie told her.


    ¡°Anytime. I¡¯ll visit after Margot has settled in. I¡¯ll ring first to be sure it¡¯s a good time,¡± Fari responded as she walked past them, opening the door for the two men.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Shortly after returning to Fari¡¯s flat, Loki popped the cork of the champagne he had brought with him, filling the two flutes sitting on the marble table and placing the bottle on it before seating himself on the settee beside Fari.


    ¡°I have something else for you,¡± Loki said, magically conjuring a gift wrapped box the size of a shoebox in the palm of his hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s the occasion?¡± Fari asked.


    ¡°Must there be an occasion? Actually, there is. It was on this day two years ago¨C¡± Loki began.


    ¡°We met,¡± Fari finished, ¡°I''m sorry...it¡¯s gone by so fast I¡¯ve lost track of time. I¡¯m surprised you would even mark it. It¡¯s different for mortals but for us two years is¨C¡±


    ¡°The longest I have remained with any one person¡­or that another has been willing to remain with me,¡± Loki confessed.


    ¡°Their loss is my gain,¡± Fari said with a smile.


    ¡°Open it.¡±


    Fari removed the top of the box, gazing down at its contents before removing an ebony music box, its top inlaid with gold stars. As she opened it, metallic music began to play the notes of a tune already at that time two decades old but still well known on Earth. On the velvet lining lay a necklace, a pendant made of smooth, polished emerald green stone peppered with gold flecks that glistened as they caught the light from above.


    ¡°They¡¯re lovely,¡± Fari said as Loki took the necklace from the box, putting the long gold chain over her head.


    ¡°The stone is Lifprasir, one of the rarest gems in Asgard¡­ the universe for that matter...as are you. The box, turn it over,¡± Loki said, Fari doing so to find a message carved into the wood in runic, painted in gold.


    ¡°All my love for all time, L.O.,¡± Fari read aloud.


    ¡°I thought I would have to translate it for you.¡±


    ¡°I can speak and read any language if I¡¯m able to make physical contact with one who knows it. When we first met, before you took my hand I had no idea what you were saying.¡±


    ¡°I saw it in a shop the last time I visited. I collected it on the way here. Few in Midgard can read the old language. For all the artisan who added the message likely knew, it could have said to go make love to your neighbor¡¯s cow,¡± Loki grinned as Fari giggled, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll return and have him carve something of that nature into a gift for my brother for Yule.¡±


    As Fari¡¯s laughter subsided, a silence fell between the two, Fari examining the pendant of the necklace.


    ¡°What do you think they¡¯d be like?¡±


    ¡°What would who be like?¡± Loki asked.


    "If we were ever to have children."


    ¡°Oh," Loki said, taken aback by the question, appearing thoughtful, "They would most definitely be striking as far as looks go, no doubt they would be cunning and full of guile...I¡¯m quite certain the universe isn''t prepared for such creatures, nor I believe are we.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve said there¡¯s little chance your father will choose you as his heir, that you¡¯re not respected as you should be in Asgard. We could go elsewhere, together, start a new life. There has to be somewhere people like us would be accepted.¡±


    ¡°Xandar¡­Contraxia, perhaps, though I would never endeavor to raise children there,¡± Loki replied, ¡°As much as the idea might appeal to me, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s outside the realm of possibility.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°A few reasons¡­my brother has the tendency to charge in where angels would fear to tread. His recklessness could very well cost him his life before he would father children, in which case I would be my father¡¯s sole heir. My mother for another. She taught me all I know. She¡¯s always been there for me. If she were on the throne instead of my father there would have been no question in granting you asylum. I could never abandon her.¡±


    ¡°No, you couldn¡¯t do as I have done. Your mother isn¡¯t like mine.¡±


    ¡°If I take the throne, of course the matter will be settled. You¡¯ll no longer have anything to fear. If my brother is seated on it, I¡¯m certain I can convince him to offer you sanctuary and protection.¡±


    ¡°That could be decades from now. I can¡¯t stay here. Others will notice I haven¡¯t seemed to age.¡±


    ¡°Midgard is a big realm.¡±


    ¡°Yes...of course...you¡¯re right,¡± Fari replied, doing her best to hide her disappointment.


    ¡°I understand...I know it''s difficult for you. Perhaps I can find a way to visit more often...to remain longer," said Loki, picking up both glasses of champagne from the table, handing one to Fari, ¡°To two years¡­and the many centuries yet to come.¡±


    Finishing the toast, the crystal ringing out as they clinked glasses, both raised their flutes to their lips.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki and Fari placed their empty flutes on the table in the cabin, the vessels converting back to mugs, as they returned to the present. Loki locked his gaze on Fari as she stared straight ahead in silence.


    ¡°Would you like me to play something?¡± Loki asked.


    ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    ¡°Anything in particular?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Loki left the table, walking to the phonograph, searching once again through the cabinet and selecting one, winding the crank and setting the record playing. The sound of violins and a piano filling the cabin followed by Ruth Etting¡¯s vocals.


    ¡°This suspense is killing me. I can¡¯t stand uncertainty. Tell me now, I¡¯ve got to know whether you want me to stay or go¡­Love me or leave me and let me be lonely, you won¡¯t believe me that I want you only. I¡¯d rather be lonely than happy with somebody else¡­¡±


    Loki made his way to the fireplace, stoking it before adding another piece of wood, replacing the poker before joining Fari once more as she continued to sit in silence.


    ¡°You might find the nighttime the right time for kissing, but night time is my time for just reminiscing, regretting instead of forgetting with somebody else¡­¡± Etting sang.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± Loki inquired after returning to seat himself on the stool beside Fari.


    ¡°No different, really. It may take some time.¡± Fari answered as the record continued.


    ¡°There¡¯ll be no one unless that someone is you. I intend to be independently blue. I want your love but I don¡¯t want to borrow, to have it today to give back tomorrow¡­¡±


    ¡°You should rest,¡± Loki suggested.


    ¡°No...not yet. If this doesn¡¯t work¡­if it does but not for long enough¡­if you don¡¯t make it back in time¡­¡±


    Fari turned to face Loki, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately, Loki returning the kiss before she drew back, placing her palm on his forehead¡­


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    ¡°Strange that Heimdall didn¡¯t see whatever it is coming, only after it had landed,¡± Loki heard Fandral¡¯s voice say, turning his head to view Fandral on a horse beside him, Loki astride another as they rode across an open valley in Asgard dotted with yellow and white flowers, ¡°Maybe he was distracted, something more titillating catching his interest during its approach. It¡¯s probably nothing, an errant asteroid, a bit of debris from a comet¡¯s tail,¡± Fandral conjectured.


    ¡°If he believed that to be the case, I doubt he¡¯d be wasting our time. He was rather flummoxed as to why he couldn¡¯t make it out. There¡­¡± Loki pulled back on the reins of his horse, bringing it to halt, pointing out a thin stream of smoke rising into the Asgardian sky.

 Chapter 8

    ¡°It¡¯s a ship,¡± said Fandral, astounded, as they approached the source of the smoke, a small crumpled craft with its nose driven into the dirt.


    ¡°What a brilliant assessment. I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re here to tell me these things,¡± Loki replied sarcastically before spurring his horse to gallop speedily away from the warrior toward the crash site.


    ¡°Wait! Loki! We don¡¯t know¨C¡± Fandral called before realizing it was useless, setting his mount to follow the prince of Asgard.


    Loki practically jumped from the saddle, weaving his way around and leaping over twisted metallic debris, noticing the tops of trees shorn off in the forest in the distance, as he approached the burning ship, exposed wires still sparking. Noticing the hatch jammed part of the way open, he examined the ground below, discovering the vegetation matted down and stained with a substance he swiftly deduced to be blood.


    Fandral arrived and dismounted, sprinting after Loki as the God of Mischief followed the trail of red some distance from the remains of the ship until he came upon its source lying motionless on her side among the flowers, one arm stretched over her head, another out to her side. Her shoulder obviously dislocated, a hunk of metal jutting from her body just below her rib cage, her skin sooty and burnt in patches. Lacerations of various severity were evident over her face and body. Her clothing, a skirt decorated with beading and an intricately embroidered chemise, was singed and torn.


    ¡°There may be others,¡± Fandral said, turning and dashing back, jumping up to grab hold of the end of the hatch, forcing it down as metal screeched before climbing inside, reappearing a few moments later, ¡°There¡¯s no one inside,¡± he called out, apprising Loki before rejoining him, ¡°Who is she?¡± Fandral asked as both men stood over her motionless body.


    ¡°How would I know?¡± Loki replied.


    ¡°What is she¡­Centurion¡­Kree?...Sark, perhaps?¡± Fandral asked as Loki knelt beside her, moving her hair back from her face, exposing her ear.


    ¡°Interdite,¡± Loki said, hardly believing it himself.


    ¡°Interdite?¡± Fandral responded, befuddled.


    ¡°They ceased all contact with the rest of the universe and became recluses over a millennium ago. As potential heirs to the throne, both my brother and I have been educated about every race that has ever been known to exist throughout the universe. Of course I received superior marks.Thor would confuse an Ankaran and an Arcturan. Interdites psionic abilities are unparalleled. They¡¯ve even proven capable of blocking Heimdall¡¯s view of their realm. It would explain why he was unable to see her,¡± Loki explained.


    ¡°What is she doing here?¡±


    ¡°The ship appears old. It may have suffered some sort of failure.¡±


    ¡°Or she was attacked,¡± Fandral conjectured as the woman coughed, spraying bloody spittle over the grass.


    ¡°We have to get her to a healer or she won¡¯t live long enough to tell us,¡± Loki said as she groaned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll summon the corpsmen,¡± Fandral said, stepping away.


    ¡°Mati¡­uzala¡­sozu¡­¡± the woman muttered almost inaudibly.


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Loki said to the woman, her eyes opening to slits as she struggled to turn her head to peer up at him.


    ¡°Sateefa¡­zurfu¡­ezie¡­¡± she replied weakly, coughing once more, her breath coming in labored wheezes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡­of course you don¡¯t,¡± Loki reasoned, ¡°Loki¡­¡± he said, pointing to himself.


    ¡°Fa¡­Farina,¡± Fari, sussing out his meaning, managed to say.


    ¡°Farina,¡± Loki repeated, grasping her hand, ¡°Help is coming,¡± he told her, though he was certain she wouldn¡¯t comprehend.


    ¡°Thank¡­you¡­¡± Farina said haltingly.


    ¡°You do understand,¡± said Loki, ¡°Your shoulder¡­I can fix it. It will be painful, but only for a moment. May I?¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡±


    Loki took hold of her arm, straightening it in front of her as he deftly and swiftly twisted it, Fari yelping as the joint popped back into place.


    ¡°Is that better?¡± Loki asked.


    ¡°Yes¡­You are¡­son of¡­a king?¡±


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    ¡°I am,¡± Loki affirmed before Fari coughed once again, the blood now more copious, ¡°Speak no more. Save your strength,¡± Loki told her, ¡°Where the hell are they?¡± Loki asked Fandral, irritated, as he turned his head to look over at the warrior a few meters away just as he spotted a skiff sailing swiftly through the sky in the distance.


    The skiff hovered above for a moment before the pilot lowered it to the ground nearby, four armored men disembarking, quickly surrounding the injured Interdite woman as Loki released her hand as he began to rise.


    ¡°No¡­stay,¡± Fari said in a desperate voice.


    ¡°They¡¯ll help you,¡± he told her, ¡°I¡¯m in the way.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­leave me¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be far,¡± Loki reassured the frightened Fari before rising and moving off, rejoining Fandral as the corpsmen administered aid to stabilize the injured woman.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay with her. Return to the palace,¡± Loki informed him.


    Fandral, appearing somewhat surprised, nodded, making his way back to the two steeds and mounting his before riding forward and taking hold of the reins of Loki¡¯s mount.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t certain she would make it. She''s a testament to your skill,¡± Loki extended the rare compliment to Eir, the healer to the royal family and others serving his father who resided in the palace, as the two stood at the foot of the bed in the sterile, dimly lit and unadorned chamber into which Fari had been moved to recover.


    The Interdite woman lay unconscious beneath a gold field of energy. Her more superficial injuries, the gashes, cuts, and scrapes that were visible seemed almost to be healing before their eyes.


    ¡°Her injuries were severe and extensive. Fortunately her physiology does not differ significantly from Asgardians. It was necessary to revive her at one point. I believed I would be forced to do so again, most likely unsuccessfully, when she stabilized, though she is not yet safe,¡± Eir explained, ¡°I believe she has placed herself in a state of torpor.¡±


    ¡°How long will it last?


    ¡°There is no way to know.¡±


    ¡°Can she hear us?¡± asked Loki.


    ¡°My counsel has always been that it is wise to assume so,¡± Eir replied, ¡°This was all that was found on her person,¡± Eir said, handing Loki a dagger with a bronze hilt, he taking it from her, examining it, ¡°I will return to check on her periodically,¡± Eir told him, turning from Loki and exiting the chamber as Fandral entered.


    ¡°How is she?¡± asked the warrior as he took Eir¡¯s place beside Loki.


    ¡°Alive. I believe she will remain so, though as usual Eir is hedging her bets. It serves to enhance her reputation,¡± Loki answered.


    ¡°Thor sent me to invite you to join us at the tavern. You¡¯re the man of the hour,¡± said Fandral as Loki moved to the side of the bed, placing the dagger on a stand beside it.


    ¡°I did nothing,¡± Loki uncharacteristically replied in a somber tone, gazing through the sparkling energy field at Fari, ¡°She chose to survive.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how she was able to make it out in the condition she was in. There was barely enough room for her to squeeze through the hatch. It would have been difficult even if she¡¯d been uninjured,¡± Fandral stated.


    ¡°She¡¯s strong,¡± Loki said, reaching through the energy field to rest his hand atop hers, Fandral observing him with a curious expression.


    ¡°The engineers examined the ship¡­as you said, it was old¡­very old, but they believe it may have been sabotaged.¡±


    ¡°Sabotaged?¡± Loki said, turning his attention to Fandral.


    ¡°They¡¯re not yet certain.¡±


    ¡°Did they find anything else? Something that might explain why she left Interdis?¡± asked Loki.


    ¡°No, nothing¡­are you sure you won¡¯t join us?¡±


    ¡°I made a deal with her. She kept her part of the bargain...next time,¡± Loki said, returning his attention to Fari before Fandral departed, leaving him alone with Fari for the first time.


    Loki picked the dagger up from the stand, examining it more closely before setting it down again and moving a chair from its place along the far wall to the bed, seating himself, taking Fari''s hand.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked the unconscious young woman, ¡°A warrior¡­a criminal?¡±


    ¡°I thought I might find you here,¡± Frigga¡¯s voice said, interrupting Loki as he turned his head to view his mother standing just inside the chamber.


    ¡°Mother,¡± Loki said, startled at her unexpected appearance, quickly releasing Fari¡¯s hand and sliding his from under the energy field.


    ¡°¡°You were missed at dinner. Go enjoy the evening with your brother and your friends. I¡¯ll watch over her,¡± Frigga offered.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not in the mood for revels,¡± Loki responded as Frigga joined him at Fari¡¯s side.


    ¡°To form such an attachment under the circumstances is natural, but not always wise,¡± Frigga counseled, ¡°We know nothing about her. Asgard and Interdis have a history.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It was long ago, before you or she was born. Your father was a much younger man and king. Mistakes were made¡­on both sides. Even I am not privy to most of the details. If your father feels it is important that you know, he may choose to share it with you,¡± Frigga explained.


    ¡°She was only able to tell me her name. She was beyond speech soon after¡­I don¡¯t know how I know. She was running from something¡­someone. Her ship was sabotaged.¡±


    ¡°It is possible. There are many possibilities. Nothing is known of her people since they secluded themselves,¡± Frigga replied.


    ¡°Regardless of whatever history there may be, as an attempt on her life has been made Father will have no choice but to grant her asylum.¡±


    ¡°Your father keeps his own counsel regarding such matters,¡± Frigga said gently, ¡°You must eat something. You can request to be summoned if she awakens.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°As you wish. I¡¯ll have the kitchens send something for you,¡± Frigga told him, resting a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Loki expressed his gratitude before Frigga turned from him and exited the room, Loki once again taking Fari''s hand.


    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


    Loki sat facing the stand by the bed having just finished the meal his mother had sent. The food sitting heavily in his gullet, he was beginning to feel fatigued. Fighting back a yawn he considered returning to his chambers to rest and request to be summoned if there was any change in the Interdite woman¡¯s condition.


    Standing from the stool, he placed the silver cover over the platter on which the empty plate rested before noticing movement out of the corner of his eye as Fari stirred. Seating himself once more, he reached into the golden field of energy, taking her hand again as her eyes began to flutter before languidly opening.


    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Loki said with a grin.


    ¡°You kept¡­your word,¡± Fari said in a feeble, raspy voice.


    ¡°Of course. I always do.¡±